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Christmas Crafts to Make the Most of Lockdowns
The run up to Christmas 2020 is going to be very different to any we have ever experienced before. We are unlikely to be able to see our friends and family face to face, and Christmas video calling is likely to be the closest we get to seeing many of our loved ones this December.
As we will be spending at least the whole of November in lockdown in England, and with significant restrictions in the rest of the UK, this could be the opportunity to make Christmas - quite literally. It is the perfect opportunity to sit down with the kids and try some new craft skills to make handmade cards and gifts instead.
However, bear in mind that different does not necessarily mean bad. Christmas might look different, but it is still going to be Christmas, so find new ways to celebrate. Here are a few ideas for you to make the most of a lockdown Christmas and make beautiful gifts and decorations.
Make a Christmas ornament
A pretty decoration for your Christmas tree or to send to friends and family is a lovely way to start Christmas, and something that can be made ahead of the big day. This can be as simple as gluing cotton wall balls to a circle of card to make a snowball, or for older children, making a felt wreath. For this, make a circle out of wire for your wreath shape, and using two different shades of green felt (or green and red if you like a contrast), tie strips all around your wreath shape until there's plenty of fabric to fluff out like leaves. To make it more Christmassy, glue small ornaments to the felt, or leave it plain for a more rustic look. Fix a wide ribbon so that you can hang it on your front door.
Make an Advent calendar of Christmas things to do
This can be a wonderful way to build memories together that will last a lifetime. You can even make your own advent calendar that will last for years and that you can get out for future Christmases. Get a piece of fabric with a pretty Christmas pattern - this should be about the size of two A4 sheets of paper, or at least large enough to sew 24 (or 25 if you like an extra bonus on Christmas Day!) pockets. Cut pieces of fabric - felt is best, as it does not require extra hemming - to make your pockets. These do not all need to be the same size - that is up to you - but they should be big enough to put a slip of paper and a small gift. Embroider a number from one to 24 (or 25) on each pocket, and stitch them to your Christmas material. Again, you can sew these on in neat rows, or make them more higgledy piggledy so that it is more fun finding the right day.
Write a different Christmas activity for each day onto a slip of paper and put one into each pocket with a Christmas cracker-type toy or a wrapped sweet (the perfect excuse to break out the Quality Street!). Activities can include things like baking mince pies or watching a Christmas film together.
One special activity could be a virtual visit to Santa. Seeing the big man face to face this year won't be possible, but in true 2020 fashion, Santa has got to grips with the internet, and is looking forward to talking to children through live Santa video calls straight from the North Pole.
Being able to Zoom Santa means that children do not have to miss out on visiting Santa (or Father Christmas, if you prefer) after all, Covid Christmas or no Covid Christmas. After the disruptions and anxieties of the year, children might find talking to Santa too daunting, even with the grown-ups there to support them. If this is the case, talking to the kindly and sensitive Mrs. Claus, or to one of Santa's helpful Elves instead might feel less scary.
Make your own Christmas cards
Even if you do not usually send Christmas cards, this is the perfect year to write a short note and send it to friends and family as a festive greeting.
Even more personal is to make your own. The only limitation is what will fit in an envelope! You can make them as simple or as complex and fancy as you choose, and they are an ideal craft activity for the children. Break out the glue sticks and the glitter, and experiment with making your own Christmas-shaped paint stamps with potatoes. Christmas-themed templates for the children to draw around and colour or paint in will look very pretty. If you are short on things to make stamps or templates with, then little fingertips dipped in paint can make pretty patterns and pictures.
Send a 'make-along' kit to a friend
If the kids cannot visit with friends or family this year, they can at least be doing the same thing at the same time over Zoom.
Put together two identical craft kits, or dry ingredients for a recipe, and send one to a friend. Then make a Zoom date, and craft or bake together online. This can be a particularly good activity for friends or relatives who would normally be a big part of the Christmas holidays, such as grandparents or other older relatives.
Christmas Crafts are a great way to fill the time with children during lockdowns. If you are stuck for other ideas, visit Santa's grotto live online
and ask one of the North Pole residents for ideas on things you can do to make a memorable and fun Covid Christmas for everyone. Just book a call to chat to Santa about anything from which presents you would like in your stocking this year to how reindeer fly. The ability to call Santa will mean so much to children at this time, and help to reassure them that although things are different this year, everything that matters is still there for them, and Christmas is going to happen come what may.
Chief Elf (James Bartlett) of Santa's Calling You has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Great British Entrepreneur Awards - Creative Entrepreneur of the Year!
The Grotto is Open! But here’s why it’s still better to book your guaranteed video call with Santa and stay COVID safe this Christmas.
One treat the whole family can enjoy is our new Secret Santa Box, available as an add-on to your video call with Santa. Packed full with items for the whole family to enjoy together, the Secret Santa Box enhances our message that ‘it is not what is under the Christmas Tree that matters, but what is around it that counts’.
