After seven weeks in lockdown, you wouldn’t be alone in running out of ideas to keep life interesting, the days fulfilling and your time feeling productive and enjoyable.
There are only so many movies one can watch on DisneyPlus, series’ to binge on Netflix, cakes to bake, Zoom quizzes to host and, let’s face it, if you’ve cut your hair during lockdown you’re probably only doing that once.
Crafts and creative kits that inspire you to create have been a small blessing during lockdown, providing both a constructive way to while away time and an activity that can relieve stress and soothe anxiety.
If you’ve not tried your hand at cross-stitch or are yet to pick up a paintbrush, then now might be the perfect time.
While Christmas is still a strong seven months from now, spending so much time away from our loved ones has us dreaming of happier times and gatherings of friends and family.
The crafts and kits you’re using to pass time now could actually make gorgeous homemade gifts for your loved ones this December and if you start now, they will be more than ready to go by the time the first Christmas song plays on the radio.
Last minute Christmas shopping be gone!
So if you’re in the market for a new lockdown activity to pass the time, take a look at our list of ideas below that can be grown, infused, created, built, brewed and beyond to make lovely handmade Christmas gifts.
Christmas gifts to make in lockdown
Below is a round up of cool crafts and easy kits that you can order online to produce products that make perfect gifts.
Or, if you’re looking for gift ideas that you can make without an online kit, scroll down to the bottom.
Fashion-forward festive crafts
We don’t know about you but if we could make a cable knit jumper that looked this cool and cosy at home we’d struggle not to keep it. But, if you’re feeling a little more selfless, this knit kit comes with everything you need to create a chunky jumper perfect for Christmas and there are 25 different colour options to choose from.
Cable knit jumper kit, Lauren Aston Designs, from £60
Crochet, but make it fashion
Yes, reader, it is possible to make your own shoes at home, or in this case – espadrilles! This simple crochet kit from funky brand Wool and the Gang (check out their website for a full catalogue of knitwear that will have you dreaming of autumn) shows you how to create handmade summer shoes. 12 different colours to choose form.
Espadrille crochet kit, Wool and The Gang, £45
Handmade candles
Get busy with a craft project that yields good smelling and soothing results with this Luxury Candle Making Kit from eco-friendly company Willow & Finn. Experiment with different scents and combinations of essential oils to create fragrant candles that you’ll struggle not to keep for yourself.
Luxe Candle Making Kit, £49, Willow & Finn
Paint a keepsake box
There’s nothing more calming or better at beating anxiety when it comes to arts and crafts than colouring or painting. Artist Annie Sloane sells wooden boxes packed with tins of chalk paint, brushes and wax cloth so that you can let your imagination run wild decorating the box. Paint it, personalise it and give it as a gift either on its own or filled with another surprise for the lucky recipient.
Paint-Your-Own Keepsake Box, Annie Sloan, £49.95
The nostalgia knit
Knitting a blanket is all well and good but if you want to take your needlework to the next level, why not try your hand at making a jumper? This kit from Stitch & Story contains everything you need to make an adult-sized Peanuts jumper, inspired by none other than Charlie Brown.
Peanuts Charlie Brown Sweater, Stitch & Story, £110 (without needles), £115 (with needles)
Create bespoke jewellery
This kit contains all the tools and guidance you need to create a bespoke ring. Simply create the piece you want using the jewellers wax in the kit and send it off to Cast’s workshop, then they will make your creation in solid Sterling Silver. They aim to return your finished piece to you within 3 weeks, but even if current delivery times means it takes a little longer than usual, you’ll still have the jewellery back in plenty of time before Christmas.
Bespoke Jewellery Making Kit, Not On The High Street, £89
Natural soap making
Turn your kitchen into your very own Lush-style soap dispensary by learning how to make organic bars of soap. This simple DIY kit has everything you need to make six herbal natural soaps.
DIY organic soap making kit, Etsy, £31.14
Cross-stitch Christmas gifts
Cross-stitch yourself to a sense of calm and feel your stress slip away as your work with a needle and thread to create these colourful crafts. Whether you’re a first time cross-stitcher looking to learn the craft or ready to take on a more challenging project, any of these kits will produce gorgeous gifts that can be framed or turned into a present for someone special this Christmas.
Amazon Handmade Cactus and Succulent Cross Stitch Kit, Amazon.co.uk, £18
Wham Cross Stitch Wool Craft Kit, Not On The High Street, £65
Peacock Lightning Cross Stitch Kit, BoBo Stitch, £30
Cosy handmade throw
Perfect for beginners, this chunky tassel throw isn’t as hard as you might think to make and the results look pretty pro all the same! Stich & Story, who create the easy kits to help you knit a throw at home say: ‘One of the best things about our kits is how reusable our packaging is – once you’ve finished making your gift, wrap it in tissue paper and pop it back in the gift bag.’
Chunky Tassel Throw, Stich & Story, £116 (without needles), £124 (with needles). Multiple colour combinations available.
Festive gifts
If you’re ready to feel festive already (big emphasis on the if there) then you could turn your attention to crafting personalised Christmas stockings to give as gifts this December. Available in a traditional stocking shape or a bone for any pampered four-legged friends. No sewing or stitching needed, just a steady (ish) hand and an iron.
Personalised Christmas stockings, Harrow & Green, £20
Handmade Christmas gifts: No kits necessary
If ordering a kit online to make your own Christmas gifts isn’t quite your thing, try getting creative in the kitchen or the garden with these homemade gift ideas.
Make marmalade and jam
As long as you’ve got a heavy based pan and wooden spoon at home, and can get your hands on some ingredients and a handful of jars, you can make preserves at home. If unopened, preserves will last for up to two years in their jars, as long as you store them in a cool, dark, dry place.
How to make homemade conserves, according to Pam Corbin:
Step 1 – Pick approximately 1kg fruit of your choice and 750g sugar (it can be less, according to your taste – all you need is sugar and fruit of a ratio 0.6:1)
Step 2 – Chop the fruit into small chunks and then put it into a pan to boil with the sugar. Let it bubble away gently for approximately five minutes. For a hard texture, continue boiling for around seven minutes.
Step 3 – To test whether the jam is ready, take your mixture off the heat and drop a little jam on to a cold saucer and allow to cool. Once cool, gently push the jam with your finger – if it crinkles, it is ready to set.
Step 4 – Run eight or so bought jam jars or collected spare jars under hot water, then dry them in a low heat oven. Pot your preserves while the jars are still warm from the oven and make sure to do the tops up tightly when you store the jam to preserve it.
Top tip – Pam recommends making jam with a fruit high in pectin such as cooking apples, plums, gooseberries, black-currants and redcurrants.
Homemade chutney, pickle and Piccalilli
Chutneys and pickles have at least a year’s shelf life once they’ve been made, as long as the jar they are stored in is airtight and unopened. Make a batch now and they’ll make great gifts come Christmas – just make sure to mark on the jar when they were made and need to be used by.
Ingredients (makes 12 jars)
- 3kg tomatoes, peeled and finely chopped
- 600g apples, peeled and finely chopped
- 300g white onion, peeled and finely chopped
- 200g shallots, peeled and finely chopped
- 6 garlic cloves, peeled
- 350g dates, finely chopped
- 350g raisins
- 1kg soft dark brown sugar
- 700ml malt vinegar
- 200g fresh ginger, peeled and very finely chopped or grated
- ½tsp cayenne pepper
- ½tsp coriander seeds, ground in a pestle and mortar
- 1tbsp salt
Method
Step 1 – Prepare all the ingredients, peeling and chopping all fruit and veg, and place into a large, wide heavy-based stainless steel pan. Bring to boil then simmer gently, uncovered, for 1hr. If it’s not reduced to a chutney-like consistency, continue for another 10-20min, checking regularly.
Step 2 – Sterilise some sealable, oven-proof jars by washing them in very hot, soapy water and popping them into an oven for a few minutes to dry. When the chutney is dark and reduced, let it cool a little then place in the jars. Leave in a cool, dark place to mature for at least two weeks before eating.
Sloe gin and other alcohol infusions
You only need caster sugar, sloe berries and gin to make this festive spirit and because sloe gin only gets better the longer it has to mature once made, it couldn’t be a better time to make some bottles that will be ready to gift once it’s richly infused come December.
If gin isn’t your drink of choice, try infusing vodka, tequila, white rum or whiskey instead.
You can infuse vodka with pretty much anything, from fresh strawberries and cherry to coffee or ginger.
Blanco tequila and white rum are especially good with citrus flavours or tropical fruit like pineapple, mango or lychee and mild bourbons.
Irish whisky takes well to being infused with fruits of the forest flavours – so think cherry, blackberry, apple and so on.
You can tailor the spirit and what you infuse it with to the tastes and preferences of whoever you plan to gift a bottle to!
Like with sloe gin, the longer you leave your spirit to infuse, the stronger the flavour will be. Don’t just spice your rum or add coffee to your vodka and leave it for six months without checking up on it, because you might regret it.
Elderberry, sloe and cardamom liqueur recipe
Ingredients:
- 200g caster sugar
- Zest from 1 orange (use a vegetable peeler for big strips)
- 4 green cardamom pods (or 2 tsp cardamom powder)
- A few handfuls of sloes
- A few handfuls of elderberries, washed and stalks removed
- Vodka
Method:
Step 1 – Put your sloes in the freezer overnight then remove and prick them all over with a pin.
Step 2 – Use a funnel to pour the sugar into the empty spirit bottle. Add the orange zest. Half fill the bottle with sloes.
Step 3 – Bash the cardamom pods to open them up then add them, shell and all, to the bottle. Fill with the elderberries then use a funnel to pour the vodka in until it fills the bottle. Shake the bottle to mix.
Step 4 – Put in a dark place and shake every few days until the sugar has completely dissolved.
Step 5 – Leave for at least 6 weeks then taste, if you want to sweeten it add more sugar and leave a while longer, shaking every now and then until the sugar has dissolved. Once you are happy decant the liquid off into a fresh sterilised bottle through a sieve or some muslin and store in a cool dark place. You can drink it straight away if you like but it will improve with time and be perfect by Christmas.
Plants and herbs
May is the perfect month to plant sunflowers, poppies, cornflower, basil and perennial herbs, such as rosemary, sage, and thyme. Buy a pot and test out your gardening skills by planting the seeds now and nurturing them over the months ahead. If all turns out well, you will have beautiful potted flowers or herbs to give as gifts later on in the year and may even be able to season your Christmas roast with those handily home-grown perennials.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/09/christmas-gifts-make-now-lockdown-will-ready-gift-december-12658192/
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