Have yourself a crafty little Christmas

If you’re worrying about how much you’re spending on Christmas presents, why not save money by making them yourself?

New research from Cricut has found that nearly three in ten (27%) people plan to craft their Christmas presents from scratch this year.

For many, it’s simply because they enjoy being creative and want to give something genuinely unique.

But many are also conscious of the financial benefits, with crafters expecting to save more than £80 by making personalised gifts rather than buying them.

What gifts are people making?

Crafty Brits are creating all sorts of thoughtful, personalised gifts, including:

• baked goods
• homemade beer
• personalised t-shirts
• embroidered tote bags
• personalised candles
• handmade jewellery

And they aren’t just stopping at producing one bespoke creation, as on average, they’re making four different types of gifts.

Save time as well as money

Creative people are typically spending almost seven hours making all their homemade Christmas presents.

On the face of it, that might sound like a lot.

But when you compare that to how long many of us will be traipsing round the shops or browsing online hoping to find the ideal gift, they could actually be saving themselves lots of time.

“A crafty Christmas brings a sense of warmth and meaning that shop-bought gifts can't always match,” said Luisa Beck of Cricut.

"The act of making something by hand slows the season down and lets people reconnect with the joy of creating. 

“It's also a brilliant way to add personal touches that feel genuinely thoughtful.”

How to make your own DIY gifts

If you're feeling inspired to produce your own Christmas creations, then remember our five handy tips.

1. Start small

Simply making your own Christmas cards, tags and labels will save you money.

These are a great place to start as you don’t need specialist equipment or loads of artistic ability.

2. Look for inspiration online

If you’re struggling for ideas, you’ll find plenty on platforms like YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest, along with tutorials on how to bring them to life.

3. Use what you already have

You don’t always necessarily to need buy new materials to make DIY gifts. 

For example, if you still have last year’s Christmas cards shoved in the back of a drawer, cut bits out from them and turn them into gift tags.

And if you have baking supplies in the kitchen, you could make a cake or a loaf of bread without having to make a special trip to the supermarket for ingredients.

4. Look for cheap items you can customise

Discount retailers like B&M and Home Bargains will be full of unbranded items that you can turn into unique gifts, such as blank tote bags that you can embroider.

Charity shops are also great places to source cheap items that you can make your own, such as clothing and accessories.

5. Make DIY an annual tradition

If you get in the habit of making your own gifts now and find that you enjoy it, you can do it again next year and perhaps go even further and get more ambitious.

Spending just a little time getting creative each Christmas could ultimately help you save huge amounts of money.