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As the nights draw in, Christmas begins to loom. One of the best ways to get into the spirit of the season is to spend time making decorations or gifts. Crafts can be great value for money while being a fun way to pass the time. Jasmine Birtles, Founder of MoneyMagpie, said: “Crafting is a great way to pass the time on a budget. It’s a sociable activity if you want it to be – and is much cheaper than meeting friends for dinner or down the pub.” Crafting is great for your mental health because it helps you spend mindful time creating. It also is satisfying to finish something, whether it’s a short half-hour project or a months-long investment of your time. Craft kits are one of the best ways to learn a new skill. They come with all the materials you need to complete a project, which means you don’t need to buy everything separately. This is perfect if you’re not sure if you’re going to enjoy the craft yet or if you know you only want to do one specific project. Look for value deals, such as 3-for-2, to save money on Christmas craft kits. Or, when shopping online, register for a retailer’s newsletter or download their app to shop from to claim new customer discounts on your first purchase. Remember to use cashback websites, too. These give you a small percentage back on your purchases, which effectively discounts the price. The Works is pretty much unbeatable on price when it comes to craft kits and supplies. This year, their Christmas craft kits start as low as £1 for a Gonk Cross stitch card set, £2 for a Paint Your Own Christmas Canvas kit , up to £6 for a Santa Crochet kit . But what’s great about The Works is how many individual craft supplies are available for even small budgets. Choose from ribbons to bells to holly leaves and far more, to adorn homemade decorations or Christmas cards and customise items to your heart’s content. Lovecrafts is a one-stop-shop for all kinds of fibre arts, from knitting and crochet to quilting and embroidery. There are lots of free patterns for every craft type, from beginner to advanced, as well as paid designs which support independent designers, too. The Christmas embroidery kits are ideal for someone who wants a long-lasting decoration or a festive gift for someone. The Moda Fabrics Tannenbaum embroidery hoop (£21.49) has a classic Nordic feel to it, while the DMC Winter Landscape embroidery hoop (£19.99) is a bright pastel take on a classis winter wonderland. Wool and the Gang is known for high-quality real wool kits, particularly its super-chunky yarn that knits up into a hat or scarf in just a couple of hours even for beginners. Their beginner kits start from £18 for a beanie hat, easy mittens, a bandana, a head band and more. Get cosy with knitting or crocheting your own winter warmer, or make some for Christmas gifts for others. For those who want to experiment more or have advanced skills, there are loads of patterns available as well as yarn bundles that save up to 20% off. A quick money-saving tip: sign up for the newsletter for 15% off your first order. A bright budget-friendly favourite, Flying Tiger is always filled to the brim with quirky and fun kits for every seasonal occasion. This year, they have over 75 products in the Christmas DIY category, with prices starting from just £3 for a paint-your-own wooden ornaments set . The most expensive options in this section of the expansive site are just £12: a DIY countdown to Christmas wooden advent calendar with a twist, and a set of three paint-your-own stackable Nutcracker mugs . Mulberry Bush specialise in traditional and innovative toys, gifts, and games, and that’s why their Eugy Puzzle decorations (£8.99) are an interesting twist on Christmas crafting this year. Choose from Santa, Reindeer, or a Snowman, and put together the 3D puzzle to finish up with a cute cardboard ornament. The pre-cut pieces mean it’s easy and safe to do with kids, or entertain yourself on a quiet evening. The Hobbycraft Make Your Own Stocking Kit (£3.50) comes with felt pieces and decorations to create a small Christmas stocking. It’s perfect for kids, as the holes to sew are pre-punched, and the supplied needle is a safe plastic one. The Hobbycraft website also has a huge number of blogs about Christmas crafts to inspire you to find more things to do to get into the festive spirit. Finally, many people are taking up the skills of digital art to practice mindfulness while using the incredible technology we have at our fingertips. Whether that’s drawing festive landscapes on ProCreate on the iPad, or designing their own Christmas cards for print, there’s something for every skill level. Apps for tablets such as Affinity Design or browser-based software like Kittl , mean digital creativity is available at everyone’s fingertips. What’s great about digital crafting is that it is so easy to turn your finished artwork into multiple personalised gifts. Sabine Léveiller, VP of Marketing Europe at VistaPrint , suggests a personalised artwork gift is one of the most meaningful ways to show someone you care. “It’s more than just a present – it’s a memory brought to life. “Whether it's a photo mug for Nan, a giant chocolate bar for your partner, a personalised candle for a friend or a family photo book, these gifts are thoughtful, fun to create and surprisingly affordable. They offer something store-bought gifts often don’t: a lasting emotional connection that continues well beyond the festive season.”
