There is no better time to get crafty and add a personal touch to gifts or

decorations than Christmas. Let your imagination go with fabric, scissors,

string and bits of nature and you’ll be surprised at what you can create.

Here are a few little ideas to help you get started. Don’t be shy, dive

straight in!

A homemade stocking is an easy one to start with. Simply cut two

stocking shapes, leave an opening and sew the fabric together. Trim with

faux fur, ribbon or consider personalising for every member of the family.

This is a cute and thoughtful present that you could stuff with something a

little extra such as pyjamas or be a stand-alone gift.

If you are hosting then consider whipping up a table cloth or place mats

with matching napkins for the special day. The May Gibbs X Nerida

Hansen Fabrics Christmas themed collection will set the festive mood.

Scatter gum leaves or place in vases and you’ve got yourself an Australiana Bush Christmas.

Forage for pine cones, twigs, pampas grass or palm leaves to display

either a la natural or paint to complement your chosen colour theme.

Arrange them in a bowl, vase or sprinkly over the table. Easy and cheap!

Who does not love a homemade card? Tackle this task with your own

drawings or use stickers or decals for showstopping front covers. The kids will be quick to get involved here.

Jumping into the kitchen and baking delicious goodies to share with others

sings of Christmas. Pump out your favourite carols (in our house Chris

Isaak and Gwen Stefani tunes makes a return in December) and before

you know it you’ve made enough shortbread to feed the neighbourhood.

Bundle up your homemade treats in any leftover Christmas fabric from

making the stockings and tie off with string. A little tip with small

remnants is to cut the edge with pinking shears for a zigzag pattern and

use as jam or chutney jar covers.

If you are lucky enough to have a rosemary bush in your garden, then try

creating a rosemary wreath as the basis for a fun and festive antipasto

platter. Trim a generous amount of rosemary, wash and then assemble in

the desired shape on a circular plate. Garnish with olives, cheese cubes,

sundried tomatoes and other finger food favourites.

Hang a length of string and peg handwritten messages to be revealed

each day. Some suggestions could be ‘watch a Christmas movie together’,

‘invite a friend over to bake with’, ‘leave a surprise note in someone’s

letterbox’ or ‘call a friend or family member and wish them a Merry

Christmas’. If there is a year to spread kindness and flash a smile at a

stranger it is 2020. After multiple lockdowns and ongoing uncertainty, we

all need a little uplifting boost!!

Fabric is an eco-friendly option for wrapping presents. One method, that is

known as furoshiki, is a Japanese technique using cloth to cover presents.

The item is completely concealed in the fabric and then tied in a knot at

the top. Either leave the edges raw or sew a small hem for more of a

polished tea towel. The idea is that the giftee repurposes the material.

That gets a big tick from us!

There’s also an option of bringing the little people on board for an

afternoon activity of painting wrapping paper. Go it free hand with

splashes of colour, draw reindeers or carve out a potato Christmas tree

and stamp away.

Remember once the hoopla of Christmas is over salvage your winning

pieces for following years. Box together in a clearly labelled storage

container for stress-free retrieval.

Words by: Jacqui Taylor