Getting Craft Ready for Christmas

I don’t know about you but Christmas is my absolute best time of year. It’s the time when I think of slowing down in terms of work so that I can get to spend maximum time with family and friends. Of course, in preparation for meeting up with them and enjoying the festivities, I usually get crafty.

Everyone knows by now that what they will get from me is a unique piece that I have crafted myself. So now, in the run-up to Christmas, I am getting prepared. To get myself in the mood, I usually light a really sweet smelling orange zest and cinnamon candle, put some Christmas music in the background and I’m ready to craft away.

My plan for getting craft ready for Christmas

Preparing my craft stash

Apart from organising my craft stash this year, I’ve invested in a few more storage boxes in which to keep the stuff. You know you’re a crafter when you have to keep getting more and more storage for your stuff. IT’s either that or one room in your house is just overrun with everything craft. Those were the days!

Earlier this year I invested in this storage cabinet that holds all (almost) of the craft stuff. I’m really pleased with how it looks and how handy it is.

It does have a light that allows me to do craft stuff on the desk section.

Both doors at the bottom can be opened. And so I’ve designated the bottom right to storage for craft things and the bottom left for craft stuff. Of course, that makes it super handy so it helps me find things quicker. I might just label the drawers but not quite yet. I want to get used to using it first and agreeing that that’s where I want things to be.

Going over my list and checking it twice

All 14 names have been listed and as soon as I have decided what I am making for each person, I list it beside their name, make it and tick it off my list.

This year I would love to make a bespoke ‘welcome home’ mat for a special friend. Especially since her son is expected to come home from the army in late January, I think she will really appreciate this gift. I have sourced the doormat and now I want to find a suitable template of some sort with the words and suitable image to do the transfer. My friend Jane told me about this site where I could find a wide array to choose from. I was so glad I found it. It was very easy to navigate and sure enough, I was inspired with ideas for some of the other gifts I have to make.

I know for definite that I want to create really classy designs on multi-use water bottles for my nieces and nephews. I am well aware of what they like, mostly. I can also find out from their parents, especially for the younger ones.

What is a toddler boy or girl into? I don’t know! Do you? Back to the Disney channel for some inspiration. I found some super cute SVG files and cutting dies which I can use with my Cricut maker as well as with my Sizzix die cutting machine. Get in!

Being economical this year has been a priority of mine so I was really grateful to have found this site where there is a sale on. In the run-up to Christmas, this is truly amazing! I’ve been eyeing a Christmas bundle to use for my cards and other craft and I see it is now on sale for only £1.62! There are loads of bundles to choose from too!

The same svg cuts can be used for the main part of my designs with a little tweaking. There is so much on offer! This has made things so much easier for me.

I like the idea of getting the svg files from Design Bundles because once I purchase the files, they are mine to keep forever! You can download the files to your computer and keep then for as long as you want.

Here’s an easy and quick video for how to purchase and use svg files. I found it really useful and I know you will too.

Wanna see some cards made using SVG files? Here goes:

When you realise the amazing things you can make, you’ll always want to make them.

I have one more name on my list to create for and every year, he has always remained the last on the list – my significant other.! What do I get him? What do you give a man who, according to him, has everything he needs when he found me? That is so sweet and melts my heart each time I think about it! But I do want to get him something and I don’t want to leave it to the last minute and then just get him the usual Prada aftershave! He is a fellow crafter as well so that makes it extra hard!

I know, I’ll get him some of the SVG files and cutters that he can use over and over!

The tree, does it need more?

Last year we were gifted this amazing 7 foot Christmas tree that we really want to customise some decorations for this year. If you have any exciting ideas for us, do send them our way. But what we plan to do is to have a bauble decorating competition one evening where each of us will design two baubles that we will personalise for the tree. You know, just to make it even more homely. I’m sure that will be lots of fun.

This year, I am mega organized and can say that Christmas (at least the gift part) is sorted! Now you can see why I say Christmas is my favourite time of the year and why I start preparing from as early as possible.