Cotton Clara It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year Cross Stitch Kit Review

My cross stitching mojo had been missing for the longest time, but it's returned again lately, and I've already finished a couple of small projects this December.

My most recent finish was the Cotton Clara It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year cross stitch kit, which was such a fun and easy little make. 

I picked the kit up during the summer when it was on sale, but it's one I'd had my eye on for a couple of years. The design looked so fun and colourful, and I thought the finished hoop would fit in perfectly with my Christmas decorations, so I couldn't resist.

I started it in late November, and it only took about fifteen minutes per letter. I mostly stitched three or four of them at a time, whenever I could spare an hour to sew, but you could stitch this one out in a day, if you've got the stamina. The stitching took about eight hours altogether, and it was one of the simplest, most low-stress things I've ever made!

I still need to finish the back so that I can hang it- which I plan to tackle this weekend- but that shouldn't take long to do.

I'm really pleased with how it turned out, although, I'll admit, I'm not the biggest fan of the fluorescent or golden-brown threads mixed with the others, so I might make the pattern again in prettier colours in the future.

It's the perfect kit to make during December because of how low-commitment it is. It's ideal for those new to cross stitching, but equally great if you're more experienced, and just want something fun you can quickly knock out in a couple of evenings in front of the TV.

The kit comes with everything you need to make it, including threads, aida (fabric), an embroidery hoop, the pattern, a needle, ribbon, and felt and a wooden circle for finishing up the back. All you need is a pair of embroidery scissors, and something to cross off the chart with as you go along. 

All the materials are fantastic quality, and I think it's excellent value for money. You can find it at Cotton Clara, Etsy, and John Lewis, and Not on the High Street.

Have you crafted anything yet this Christmas?

P.S. I wanted to take photos to show you the materials and finished cross stitch in better detail, but I've not been well enough, so apologies for this single crappy iPhone photo. If I didn't post this now, we'd have had to of waited another year. I'll try to update them after Christmas.

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Satsuma Street Deck The Halls Christmas Cross Stitch

A couple of Christmases ago, I began stitching Satsuma Street's colourful Deck The Halls cross stitch wall hanging, and a few weeks ago, I finally finished it! 

I'm so pleased to finally have it completed after all this time, and I'm really happy with the end result- especially as I had to make a couple of colour changes, and struggled to figure out what to do with it near the end.

It should have been a fairly quick project, and I was close to completing it last Christmas, but I stopped and started it, couldn't decide which colour thread to use for the snowflakes, and took ten months to make it down to Hobbycraft to choose. So something that could've taken me a month to stitch, ended up taking two years. 

I was drawn to the Deck the Halls pattern because of how unique and colourful it was. It's so different to all the other Christmas designs you see at this time of year, and while it has a Scandinavian feel, it's nothing like the typical red and white patterns that are everywhere at Christmas time. (Which I'm sooo bored of these days). It's bright, colourful, and cheerful, and I love that about it.

It's made up of five main sections, including a star, reindeer, Christmas tree, dove, and bell as the centrepieces, with smaller flowers, snowflakes, and arrows making up the rest of the design in lots of reds, greens, yellows, and pinks. It's been designed so that you can stitch it as one long wall-hanging picture, or as five separate pieces, which is really clever. I obviously chose to make it as one picture, but I think it would look just as beautiful broken up in to five. If you're new to cross stitching, you'll probably find it less intimidating that way, but it's an easy project with no complicated stitches or patterns, and anybody should be able to make it once they've mastered the basics.

The pattern comes as a full-colour downloadable PDF, with an easy-to-follow chart, and a list of recommended materials to help you get started. Satsuma Street suggest using a natural-coloured Evenweave, but that didn't appeal to me aesthetically, and I chose to make it on 16-count white aida to make the colours pop, and so that the end result would be a little larger. I'm so glad I did, as I personally think the colourful threads look so much better against the white background.

The only issue with using white aida is that there are white threads in the pattern, which obviously blend in to the fabric. I tried lots of different colours in place of white- cream, lemon, lilac, blue, silver, and more- but I didn't like any of them, and became chronically uninspired. I ended up putting the cross stitch aside last Christmas for ten months, until I finally made it down to Hobbycraft in October to shop for some new threads to try. In the end, after trying more colours, I went back to white for the lines through the arrows, and blended a strand of white and a strand of turquoise for the snowflakes. I'm not 100% happy with the colour choice for the snowflakes, but it's the best I could do, and I like to think it works with the other colours in the picture. Either way, I refuse to change them again. I actually got the picture framed last weekend, so there's no going back now!

Despite the colour-matching issues at the end, overall it was so much fun to sew, and has to be one of my favourite makes ever. The colourful projects are always the most fun to stitch. If you're looking for a modern, colourful cross stitch picture to make this Christmas, I couldn't recommend it to you more.

I now want to try more of Satsuma Street's patterns, and have bought their set of Christmas baubles patterns, which I'm going to begin as soon as I get a spare second. I don't expect to get very far this Christmas, as there's always a million other things to do, but I'm sure I'll keep you updated on my progress on Instagram.

Have you cross stitched or crafted anything so far this Christmas?         

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The Make Arcade Gingerbread Man Christmas Cross Stitch Kit

I stitched the cutest little gingerbread man cross stitch ornament last December, but never found the time to post a photo of the end result anywhere, so it's time for it's debut. Better late than never, right?

This little gingerbread man kit came from an English brand called The Make Arcade who are known for their fun, colourful little craft kits, which are suitable for beginners and advanced crafters alike. I've made a few of their Christmas cross stitch ornaments in the past, and enjoyed them so much, I couldn't resist going back for this one two Christmases ago. It's cutesier than my usual style and much smaller and simpler than what I usually stitch, but his little face won me over, and I knew it would be a fun, quick project to sew while watching Christmas movies with the family.

I stitched it over a couple of evenings in front of the TV, and think it took about seven or eight hours of sewing to complete. It may only be a three inch design, but they take longer than they look! Once the sewing was done, I finished the back by cinching in the aida with a running stitch, and gluing on a circle of hot pink felt, which was provided in the kit. I also glued a yellow pom pom trim to the outside of the hoop. This wasn't part of the set- unlike the other three Make Arcade ornaments I made which came with pom pom trims- but something I purchased from Paperchase so it would match the others. Oddly, it also didn't come with some ribbon to hang it with, which is annoying, and I still haven't got around to buying something suitable. I must get myself down to Hobbycraft before Christmas so I can hang it. I don't understand why The Make Arcade have stopped supplying ribbons in their kits. It's such an inconvenience.

The kit comes with everything else you need to make it, including the aida (fabric), a three inch wooden embroidery hoop, threads, a needle, felt, step-by-step instructions to help beginners get started, and of course, the pattern. You'll just need some sewing scissors and something to cross the chart off with as you sew, and you're good to go. (A glue gun and glue would be helpful for attaching the felt, but you can sew it on instead. I just glued it on as I was being lazy). It all comes presented in a little cardboard box with a hot pink sleeve, so it would make a lovely present for any crafter this Christmas.

The Make Arcade seem to have updated their gingerbread man cross stitch kit design for Christmas 2021 (and I personally don't think it's as cute), but this design is still available to purchase from John Lewis here. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a fun, quick cross stitch project to enjoy this Christmas.

Have you cross stitched anything lately?

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What's In My Christmas Eve Box? 2020

Merry Christmas Eve!

I'm sorry this post is coming to you last minute. I had hoped to have it published a few days ago, but I'm stupidly unprepared this year, and I was only able to take the photos this morning. It might be a little bit late for you to gain inspiration to put your own Christmas Eve Box together (although, not impossible), but I hope you enjoy seeing what I've put in mine just the same.

This year, thanks to Covid, and Boris Johnson's last minute cancelling of Christmas in the UK, more of us will be staying home on Christmas Eve than ever before. 

My family would usually spend Christmas Eve mixing with family and friends at my Auntie's Christmas Eve party, but this year, we'll be spending it quietly at home. (Although, I have done since I developed chronic pain, anyway, so this year won't be any different for me). We won't be letting Covid spoil our Christmas, though; we'll just be making the most of the little things that make Christmas Eve special. We'll be baking tasty treats, watching Christmas movies together, and enjoying a Christmas Eve buffet for tea in the evening. I've also put together a Christmas Eve box full of festive things to enjoy as we count down the last hours 'til Christmas Day, because we need little treats to enjoy more than ever right now.

If you've never put together a Christmas Eve box before, this year could be the perfect time to start the tradition to make your Christmas Eve a little brighter. If you're facing a quiet night in, it will give you something to look forward to, and help make the night more special.

The idea is to put together a gift box full of little things for the perfect festive night in- think cosy new Christmas pyjamas, Christmas movies, chocolates, popcorn, hot chocolate, festive books, scented candles, etc.- whatever you consider necessary for a great festive night in. (If you're making it last minute or are just on a tight budget, you don't have to use all new things; just gather together items from what you already own, and add in a few edible treats)! 

I can't think of a better time to make one than during a pandemic when we're all stuck at home, and can't be out celebrating with our families and friends.

You can make one to share with your family, partner, or housemates, to gift to your kids or friends, or even just to enjoy alone. All you need to do is add in age-appropriate items, and the recipient's favourite treats.

Being a childless old maid hasn't stopped me from making my own Christmas Eve box to enjoy again this year- sometimes you've just gotta treat yo'self! I've added in a few things to share with my family, including chocolates and Christmas movies, but most of the contents will be enjoyed when I'm back upstairs winding down before bed.

So, what's in my Christmas Eve box this year?

♥ A cosy pair of Pusheen slipper socks from Truffle Shuffle.

♥ A pair of Christmas pyjamas to relax in, and hopefully look presentable in for photos on Christmas morning. (I couldn't afford a new pair this year, so I just added in an old pair from my collection).

♥ A couple of Christmas movies on DVD, including Last Christmas and The Muppets Christmas Carol for some fun festive viewing. (Even though we'll probably just end up streaming something).

♥ A beautiful clothbound copy of A Christmas Carol to read before I go to sleep.

♥ A bottle of The Body Shop's Festive Berry Shower gel so I can smell festive over Christmas.

♥ A tub of The Body Shop's Festive Berry body yogurt to give my skin a little TLC.

♥ A Body Shop Warm Vanilla soap to put by the bathroom sink so our hands smell festive over Christmas.

♥ A L'Oreal face mask to give my skin a treat.

♥ A red OPI nail polish in 'I Love You Just Be Cusco' so my nails look festive for Christmas.

♥ A new Erstwilder Christmas brooch to wear on Christmas Eve.

♥ A Cath Kidston mug for all those hot chocolates. (I forgot to add in the hot chocolate for the photos).

♥ Some mint chocolate Lindt Lindor truffles and Cadbury Jingly Bells to share with the family.

♥ A Make Arcade gingerbread man cross stitch kit to sew in front of the TV when I'm relaxing with my family this Christmas. (I never did manage to make it last year).

♥ A couple of Christmas Yankee Candles (Snowflake Cookie and Frosty Gingerbread), and a Nest Grapefruit candle to make the house feel extra cosy and smell delicious.

♥ My Too Faced 'Let It Snow, Girl!' snowman make up palettes to use over the holidays.

Here are some more ideas for things you could include in your own Christmas Eve boxes:

♥ Christmas face coverings.

♥ Festive-scented hand sanitiser.

♥ Cosy Christmas slippers.

♥ Novelty Christmas socks.

♥ A new Christmas dress / top / shirt.

♥ Christmas earrings or other jewellery.

♥ A Christmas colouring book and coloured pencils / crayons.

♥ Little Christmas craft kits- such as a mini cross stitch or ornament kit.

♥ Festive stationery.

♥ A hot water bottle. (Heat patches might also be appreciated for someone with chronic pain, since Christmas can be very demanding on our bodies).

♥ Christmas false nails or nail wraps.

♥ Festive bath bombs.

♥ Seasonal-scented bubble bath.

♥ Hand cream or body lotion.

♥ A cute soft toy.

♥ A gift card or subscription to Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney +, or another streaming service for Christmas movie watching.

♥ A Christmas scratch card.

♥ Something alcoholic.

♥ Marshmallows.

♥ Favourite edible treats.

♥ Festive treats like mince pies, stollen, panettone, cakes, biscuits, chocolates, cheese boards etc.

♥ A new ornament to hang on the tree.

♥ A Christmas cracker.

♥ A selection of Christmas books for young readers, and a new festive-themed novel for older kids and adults.

♥ Small toys.

♥ A new Christmas stocking to leave out for Santa.

♥ A bag of reindeer food.

♥ A special plate to leave Santa's mince pie on.

I wasn't able to source a special Christmas Eve Box to present everything in (yet again) because I'm on a tight budget again this year, but it doesn't really matter since I'm only gifting it to myself. I just repurposed one of my slightly-festive-looking star-print storage boxes, and it does the job just fine.

You could use a pre-bought Christmas Eve Box, a gift box, gift bag, wicker basket, crate, Christmas stocking, tote bag, or any container you like to present your gifts in. You could even go all out, and decorate it with ribbons, pom poms, garlands, or all kinds of different decorations. It's totally up to you.

If you're planning to make a Christmas Eve Box as a gift, I'd recommend wrapping everything up in wrapping or tissue paper to add to the Christmas Eve fun and excitement, but you can leave everything unwrapped if the thought of wrapping any more presents fills you with dread. I get it. I never want to wrap another present, either.

I'm really looking forward to enjoying the contents of my Christmas Eve Box tonight, after a busy day of celebrating and getting ready for Christmas Day. It will be lovely to finally relax, indulge, and find time for some self-care after such a hectic month. Ah, I can't wait!

Merry Christmas, guys! I hope you have a wonderful few days despite this awful pandemic. 

Have you made a Christmas Eve Box this year? What would you put in one for the perfect Christmas night in?

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Happy Christmas Eve, everyone!

I can't believe it's only more sleep 'til Christmas! Where has this month gone?!

I love Christmas Eve. In some ways I find it more fun and festive than Christmas Day itself. This year, I'll be spending it popping in to town with the sister and brother-in-law for last minute shopping, baking and making my trifle for Christmas Day, munching on a buffet of delicious goodies and watching Christmas films with the family, and hopefully finding the time to make my Christmas crackers because I'm so disorganised this year. I suspect I'm going to run out of spoons by lunch time and spend most of it in bed, though. Haha!

I'm also looking forward to enjoying some of the contents of my Christmas Eve box tonight, and I thought it would be fun to show you what I've put in it this year... but before I do, let's back up for a sec... If you're unfamiliar with the Christmas Eve box (where have you been?), a Christmas Eve box is basically a hamper of goodies to enjoy as you wind down on Christmas Eve and get excited for Christmas morning. Think cosy new pyjamas, slippers, Christmas movies, hot chocolate, tasty snacks, scented candles, a festive-themed book, a face mask... and anything else you might need for the perfect festive night in. 

You could make one for the whole family, for your kids, to enjoy with your partner, or even just for yourself. There are no rules to conform to here; the beauty of the Christmas Eve box is you can personalise it for your needs, and use it however you like. Gift it, share it, or make one for yourself; it's completely up to you! 

The Christmas Eve box is a lovely tradition to add to your Christmas Eve rituals, particularly if you have young kids or have just got married, and are looking to implement some new family traditions you can look forward to every year. It's the perfect way to enjoy a quiet Christmas Eve evening at home, and having a box full of treats to discover should help distract children (or big kids at heart!) from that unbearable longing to open all the presents under the tree during that millenia-long wait for Christmas morning. 

As I'm single and don't have kids, I've just put one together for myself again, but added in plenty of goodies to share with my family, like chocolates, soaps, and Christmas movies. I've been putting the finishes touches to it this week, and now I'm done, I can finally reveal what's inside.

So what have I put in my Christmas Eve Box this year?

♥ A couple of Christmas movies on DVD. I bought a copy of The Nutcracker and the Four Realms as I've never seen it before, and have also added in some old favourites like The Muppets Christmas Carol and Santa Claus The Movie.

♥ A beautiful copy of A Literary Christmas: An Anthology, which is filled with festive prose and poems.

♥ A gingerbread man Christmas cross stitch kit from The Make Arcade to sew in front of the TV.

♥ A cosy pair of Christmas pyjamas. I couldn't afford a new pair this year, so I've just added in an old pair from my collection.

♥ A new Christmas brooch from Erstwilder.

♥ A pair of red heart earrings from Erstwilder to wear over Christmas.

♥ Some Juicy Pear shower gel and body yoghurt from The Body Shop's festive range and a peppermint shower gel from Bath and Body Works so I can smell nice for Christmas.

♥ A couple of Lush Christmas soaps to put by the bathroom sinks to use this Christmas.

♥ A face mask to give my skin a treat.

♥ A couple of Essie nail polishes in festive colours (red and gold glitter) so I can do my nails for Christmas Day.

♥ A couple of Yankee Candle votive candles to make the house smell delicious and feel super cosy.

♥ Some Ferrero Rochers, Lindor Mint Chocolate Truffles and candy canes to enjoy with the family.

♥ A bag of salted popcorn for snacking on while watching Christmas movies.

♥ A Cath Kidston Christmas mug to drink hot chocolates from. (I would've added in hot chocolate, too, but we've ran out so I need to go buy some today).

♥ A pack of pastel film for my Instax mini 9 camera so I can take some fun photos on Christmas Eve / Day.

Here are a few more ideas for things you could include:

♥ Slippers.

♥ Novelty Christmas socks.

♥ A hot water bottle. (And heat patches may be handy if you have a chronic illness or injury!)

♥ Little Christmas craft kits- such as a mini cross stitch kit or felt ornament kit.

♥ A Christmas colouring book and coloured pencils.

♥ Festive stationery.

♥ Christmas false nails or nail wraps.

♥ Seasonal-scented bubble bath.

♥ A Christmas bath bomb.

♥ Hand cream or body lotion.

♥ A cute soft toy.

♥ A Netflix / Amazon Prime gift card / subscription for Christmas movie watching.

♥ A Christmas scratch card.

♥ Something alcoholic.

♥ Marshmallows.

♥ Favourite edible treats.

♥ Mince pies, stollen, panettone, cake, biscuits, cheese boards, etc.

♥ A new Christmas dress / top / shirt etc.

♥ A new ornament to hang on the tree.

♥ A Christmas stocking so you can hang it up ready for Santa.

♥ A bag of reindeer food.

♥ A selection of Christmas books (for younger readers), a novel for adults.

♥ Little toys.

♥ A special plate for Santa's mince pie.



I wasn't able to source a pretty Christmas Eve box this year as I'm on a tight budget this Christmas, so once again I've just presented everything in a slightly-festive-looking storage box I already owned. If you have got the means for buying the perfect Christmas Eve box, you could use a box, wicker basket, gift bag, Christmas stocking, crate, festive tote bag, or any container you like. If you're giving it as a gift, I'd recommend wrapping everything up in festive wrapping paper or tissue to make it look pretty and add to the fun and excitement, but you can leave everything unwrapped if the thought of wrapping any more presents is making you shudder. 



If you want to go all out, there are so many ways you could then decorate your Christmas Eve box, from adding the recipient's name using stamps or individual letters, to embellishing it with pom poms, garlands, or little decorations. The possibilities are endless. I haven't decorated mine as the box I've used is actually my memory box and needs to be refilled after Christmas, but one of these days I'm going to have to try something more creative.

I have to say, I'm really looking forward to enjoying the contents of my Christmas Eve box tonight. I always find these boxes make my Christmas Eve evenings so lovely and relaxing, which is always welcome after such a hectic month. I'm looking forward to changing in to my festive PJs, watching a few Christmas movies with my family, indulging in a few treats, and snuggling up with my book before I fall off to sleep in the early hours of Christmas morning. Ah, I can't wait!

Whether you have your own Christmas Eve Box to enjoy tonight or not, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Eve with your family and friends whatever you have planned, and an even happier Christmas Day! Merry Christmas, everyone!

Have you made a Christmas Eve Box for anyone this year? What goodies would make up your perfect box?

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My Christmas Cross Stitch Makes

It's been a while since I last shared photos of my cross stitch makes- mostly as I haven't done a lot this year thanks to worsening arthritis in my hands. I am currently working on a colourful Christmas cross stitch from Satsuma Street (this one, but on white aida), but as I have a long way to go until that one's finished, I thought I'd show you some of the pieces I stitched during the previous two Christmases. I don't think I ever got around to sharing photos of them online.

Last Christmas, I made three modern little cross stitch ornaments from a British brand called The Make Arcade- a Christmas tree, a gingerbread house, and a reindeer. I bought these little kits to stitch while I was relaxing in front of the TV with my family over Christmas, and they were perfect for keeping me busy while we watched Christmas movies from Christmas Eve through to Boxing Day. They were really fun to make, and as they're only little three inch hoops, they didn't take too long to complete- I think they took about five or six hours worth of stitching, each, completed over a couple of evenings. Once each one was done, I then used a hot glue gun to attach felt circles to the backs, and pom pom trims around the hoops. All the materials you need to make them are included in the kits- aida, embroidery hoop, DMC threads, ribbon, pom pom trim, felt, and I think even a needle. You just need a pair of scissors, a hot glue gun and glue so you can attach the pom poms.

They're great little kits for getting your craft on over the festive season, and would make ideal stocking fillers or Secret Santa gifts for any cross stitcher this Christmas. I particularly love the gingerbread house design, but the Christmas tree is a close second. I've picked up the gingerbread man kit to make this year, and am tempted to go back for the penguin and the snowflake. I'd love to make the entire collection so I can hang them all up on my Christmas trees for future Christmases. With several cross stitchers in the family, we've always had cross stitch ornaments on the tree- albeit, more traditional ones- so it's satisfying to add some of my own work to the ornament collection, and in a different, more modern style.

Two years ago, during Christmas 2017, I made two cross stitch Christmas cards from two different card kits from a Cornish brand called Riverdrift House. The Fa La La card is from the Jolly Holly Card Kit and the Silent Night card was part of the Christmas Carols Kit, which doesn't appear to be available anymore- although, there is a similar Christmas Carol Card Kit with colourful threads. I still haven't got around to making any of the others from either kit, but these two were fun to make and only took about half a day of work each.  Each kit has everything you need to make six cards, including the cards and envelopes, but when I eventually get around to making the rest, I'm planning to either turn them in to tree ornaments or frame the sets together because I'd rather keep them.

Back in 2017, I also stitched a Scandi-style red and grey Christmas sampler from Riverdrift House with a Glad Tidings We Bring design. This was another easy project with lots of simple little motifs to stitch like snowflakes, snowmen, robins, and Christmas trees, plus a cute little house, some hearts, and borders using just two shades of red and two shades of grey threads. It took me about two months to sew, putting in just an hour or two a night, and I'm really pleased with the end result... even if I still haven't got it framed! This is another kit that doesn't appear to be available anymore, but they do still stock a similar Happy Christmas design.

I also stitched this Riverdrift House Christmas Alphabet sampler in 2017, y'know, just in case I need to remember my ABC's at Christmas time or something. It could happen! Especially with my brain fog! Haha! This sampler is much bigger than it looks- I think the fabric is at least A3 size- so it involved a lot of cross stitching and took several months to complete. Even though it was big and time-consuming, it was pretty simple to sew, with no complicated patterns or stitches; just simple shapes and cross stitches in Riverdrift's signature Scandi style and seven shades of threads. Despite the simplicity, I think it came out pretty well. I think this may be another discontinued cross stitch kit as I can't find it online anymore, but if you like the style and can't track it down on eBay, Riverdrift House has lots of other Christmas cross stitch kits which you can find here.

So, those are some of my Christmas cross stitch makes from the last two years. If you'd like to see more of my cross stitching, you can find all of my cross stitch posts here.

Have you cross stitched anything this Christmas?

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DIY Easy Christmas Hoop Art

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone!

I can't believe it's Christmas Eve already; where has this month gone?? December has just flown by this year, and I've been so busy preparing for Christmas, I've barely had a chance to stop and enjoy it. I wish time would slow down a little! I haven't even managed to get in to the Christmas spirit yet. For some reason, I'm just not feeling it this year.

I'm sure all that will change today, as Christmas Eve has always been one of my favourite days of the year. My sister and brother-in-law are arriving home from Germany this morning with their dog, Mia, and I'm planning to spend the next few days enjoying Christmas at home with my family, and having a well deserved rest after a hectic month. After I finish the last few errands today, I'm fully intending to watch lots of Christmas movies, eat my body weight in delicious food, spend some quality time with the family, and maybe even push the boat out and play a board game or two. I can't wait!

I'm sure most of us will be busy wrapping presents, prepping food, and travelling to spend Christmas with our families and friends today, but I wanted to squeeze in one more Christmas craft before Christmas Day. You probably won't have time for any last minute crafting, but if you're looking for a fun festive project to make over the next few days, or need some unique last minute Christmas gifts or decorations you can easily make by hand, I have one last Christmas craft I think you're going to love. And that's my easy DIY Christmas fabric hoop art.

I recently realised that while I've featured photos of my hoop art on my blog and social media pages before,  I've never shared a tutorial on how to make them, so I thought it was about time I did.

I started making my own hoop art a few Christmas ago by framing patterned fabric in simple wooden embroidery hoops, sometimes adding embroidery but often leaving the fabric plain, and finishing the backs with some felt, I find the process and end result so satisfying, I haven't been able to stop making them since! It's such a fun and simple craft to make, but they look so effective and make a great statement on any wall- especially when multiple hoops are displayed together in a big group. A hoop art wall will certainly add a unique and personal touch to your Christmas decor, and is sure to be a conversation starter with your guests this Christmas.

Hoop art doesn't just make great Christmas decor, but can also make lovely presents for friends and family, too- especially those who appreciate crafts, and handmade presents. You can even personalise them for the recipient by using fabric and colours relating to their likes and interests, and embroidering their name, a quote they love, their favourite things, or even their pet(s) on to the fabric. A piece of hoop art would make a lovely stand-alone gift, or you could also add one to stockings, hampers, or even Christmas Eve boxes. It's up to you to decide how to gift them. Hoop art doesn't even have to follow a festive design if you don't want it to- you can use non-festive fabric and create them for any occasion throughout the year! To date, I've made lots of Christmas and Easter hoop art, and even some colourful designs for every day, too. The hoops in the photos are a selection I've made over the years using fat quarters from Hobbycraft. (You can find the polka dot fabric here).

If you'd like to learn how to make your own hoop art, follow my super easy DIY below. (Step-by-step photos coming soon).

How To Make Christmas Hoop Art

You Will Need

♥ Embroidery hoops in various sizes. (The hoops I used range from 3 to 10 inches).

♥ Christmas print fat quarters / fabric.

♥ Felt.

♥ Scissors.

♥ Fabric pen / pencil. (If you don't have one a pen or a pencil will do).

♥ Sewing needle.

♥ Thread.

♥ Glue gun and glue stick. (Optional).

How To Make a Piece of Hoop Art

1. Gather your supplies.

2. Iron your fabric until it's completely crease-free.

3. Take a piece of fabric and an embroidery hoop. Place the inner hoop underneath the fabric and the outer hoop on top, move them around until you find a layout you're happy with, and frame the fabric in the hoop.

4. Pull on the edges of the fabric and tighten the screw on the hoop until the fabric sits tightly in the hoop like the hide on a drum.

5. Trim the edges of the fabric at the back, leaving them about an inch long.

6. Thread your needle with two strands of thread, and use a running stitch to cinch in and secure the fabric at the back of the hoop. You could alternatively trim the fabric down further, and glue it tightly to the back of the hoop with hot glue.

7. Take a sheet of felt, a fabric pen, your hoop, and scissors.

8. Lay your hoop on to the felt, and draw around it.

9. Take your scissors and cut the circle out of the felt.

10. Now attach the felt to the back of your hoop. You can either sew it to the back of the fabric using a blanket stitch OR glue it to the hoop using a hot glue gun. You just want to ensure the felt is nice and taut once you're finished.

And voila, your first piece of hoop art is complete!

Yes, it really is that simple! There really isn't a lot to this style of hoop art, so even the most inexperienced crafter will have no trouble with this DIY.

If you're in a rush, or want to create some temporary hoop art just for the holidays, you can get away with not adding felt to the back of the hoops, as you aren't going to see the backs once they're on the wall. Leaving them unfinished will make it easier to switch up the hoops with new fabrics if you want to change them for different seasons, trends, or occasions. However, if your walls are a dark colour, the colour will likely show through the fabric as fat quarters are generally made of thin fabric, so finishing them with felt is always recommended. It will also keep your hoops looking their best for longer.

I've kept the majority of my hoop art plain and simple because I think the fabrics make a great statement as they are, but you could do so much more with them than I have. You could use any fabric you like, and add embroidery, sequins, buttons, beads, pom poms, present toppers, ribbons, and even applique other fabrics on top. As for the hoops, you could paint them in different colours, or wrap them in colourful threads, yarn, or even washi tape. You'll find so many amazing examples on Pinterest and Instagram that put mine to shame!

I wish I had painted or wrapped all of my hoops- adding some colour to the wood definitely gives them a little something extra. Lately, I've also thought about turning them in to baubles for the festive season by adding some light grey felt in the shape of a bauble hanger to the top of the hoops, but I haven't found the time to customise them this Christmas. I'm definitely going to give it a go next Christmas, though, and I'm already planning on making more elaborate designs in 2019 by adding embroidery and designs in other fabrics, so keep your eyes peeled for those!

To display your hoop art on the wall, play around with different layouts on a flat surface until you find one you like, and then you can start hanging them. Start from the centre point, and work your way out. I find command strips are perfect for hanging hoop art on concrete / brick walls, but you may need to trim them down for the smaller hoops. Of course, you could also hang them with nails or picture hooks etc., the choice is yours.

And that is how to make your own Christmas hoop art.

I hope you've found my tutorial helpful! If you decide to make your own hoop art, make sure you leave me a link to your photos in the comments below so I can check them out! I'd love to see any hoops you make.

Have a wonderful Christmas, and a very Happy New Year!

Have you ever made your own hoop art and will you be giving my tutorial a go?

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DIY Christmas Pudding Pom Pom Wreath

It's been a year since I made my first ever Christmas wreaths- some simple DIY felt and pom pom wreaths-  and now I know how fun and easy they are to make, I've been looking forward to making some new festive designs ever since.

As you'll know, Christmas wreaths are traditionally made from foliage- most commonly boughs of evergreen or holly decorated with natural decorations like dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, pinecones, berries, and seed pods, and finished with festive ribbon. The wreath I made a few weeks ago? It's about as far from traditional as you can get!

I decided to do something a little different this year and made a Christmas pudding pom pom wreath! A wreath in the shape and colours of a Christmas pudding made almost entirely out of pom poms!

I was inspired to create this wreath after stumbling up on a Christmas pudding pom pom wreath craft kit in John Lewis this Autumn. I'll admit I was tempted to buy it but it was expensive and over-priced, and I knew I could make my own for a fraction of the price, so that's what I decided to do. If I can make something myself, I will usually give it a go. I got myself down to Hobbycraft, bought the supplies, and saved myself about £15 in the process! The materials for the wreath came to just £7- although, I already had my own glue gun, glue, and pom pom makers, which will set you back around a further £10. £17 is still extremely reasonable for a wreath- especially a handmade one- and much cheaper than many mass-produced wreaths you will find in store. I personally think it was worth every penny!

Back in November, I set to work, and spent a few evenings making close to fifty brown and white pom poms while relaxing in front of the TV. Once I had enough, I was able to start building my wreath. This part was so easy and therapeutic, and while I spent two evenings putting it together, it only took me two or three hours in total to complete the construction process. You could easily make the entire wreath in an afternoon if you'd prefer to make it all in one go, so it's the perfect rainy day craft. (And let's face it; we've been having a lot of those kinda days this December!)

I'm really pleased with how well my wreath turned out for a first attempt. I don't know why I'm so surprised it worked out, because it was one of the easiest and simplest crafts I've ever made, but I didn't expect it to take shape so well.

If I'm honest, I would have liked to have added an extra circle of pom poms to the centre, and a another layer of pom poms along the middle of the two rows I've created, but I ran out of wool, and decided to keep it simple to keep the cost down. If my wreath is a little flat and uniform for you, though, you could add more pom poms to make it fluffier. You'll just need to buy two balls of each shade of wool instead of one, and attach the extra pom poms to the others with hot glue.

Don't worry if you're new to crafting or not particularly crafty at all, this Christmas pudding pom pom wreath is so easy to make. Anybody could make it- even older children. You don't need to have craft skills or experience to be able to make one, just the ability to use your hands, and a little patience (because making forty-two pom poms soon loses its appeal). Trust me, if I can make this without following a tutorial, you sure can! I'm not a skilled crafter. If you'd like a little guidance, however, I'm here with a tutorial for you to follow.

Unfortunately, I don't have step-by-step photos to guide you today, as the ones I took turned out so badly I couldn't salvage them or share them with the world. I've had to make do with these photos as I've not been able to reshoot them, but I will try to add tutorial photos at a later date if you want to bookmark this post and return to it later. In all honesty, this wreath is so easy to make, I think you'll know how to make it just by looking at my finished wreath.

How To Make A Christmas Pudding Pom Pom Wreath

You Will Need

♥ Flat wreath frame. (I used a metal 10 inch frame. You can go bigger or smaller if you'd prefer; you'll just need more wool for the pom poms if you go with a larger size).

♥ 100g ball of brown wool.

♥ 100g ball of white wool.

♥ 45mm pom pom maker.

♥ 4 small red pom poms.

♥ Dark green felt. 

♥ Scissors.

♥ Hot glue gun and glue stick.

♥ Fabric pen / pencil. (If you don't have one, a Biro will do).

♥ Green embroidery thread.

♥ Sewing needle.

How To Make The Pom Poms

1. Gather your brown and white wool, pom pom maker, and scissors.

2. Take your pom pom maker, and wrap wool tightly around one side until the arch closes in (about five layers), then close it shut.

3. Repeat step 2 on the other side of the pom pom maker.

4. Using your scissors, cut through the centre of the wool on both sides, being careful to hold the pom pom maker tightly closed as you work.

5. Thread a length of wool through the centre of the pom pom maker, tie it tightly in place, and double knot.
6. Carefully open your pom pom maker, and remove the pom pom.

7. Roll the pom pom between your hands, and use your scissors to neaten it by trimming off any uneven strands of wool.

8. Repeat until you have approx. 22 brown pom poms, and 20 white. (You'll obviously need more if your wreath frame is larger than mine).

How To Make The Holly Leaves

1. Draw two holly leaves on to the green felt, and cut out with sharp scissors. (If you're not good at drawing free-hand, just Google for a holly leaf template, print or trace it, and draw around it).

2. Thread a needle with two strands of green embroidery thread.

3. Backstitch a line of thread down the centre of the leaf, and add four or five pairs of diagonal stitches either side of the line so that they each form a v-shape. This will create the 'veins' of the leaf.

If you're not handy with a needle, you don't have to embroider the leaves; they'll look just as great without it, too. I am a stitcher, so I decided to embroider mine at the last minute to give my wreath a little extra something, and to add some texture.

How To Assemble Your Wreath

1. Take your wreath frame, pom poms, scissors, glue gun, glue, and holly leaves.

2. Starting at the bottom centre of the wreath frame, take a brown pom pom, and tie it tightly to the outer ring of the frame. Double knot it in place, and trim off the excess wool.

3. Now tie a brown pom pom directly above it on to the inner ring. Tie, knot, and trim.

4. Continue tying brown pom poms to the frame besides the others until you've filled at least half of the wreath frame.

5. Now repeat the process with the white pom poms, until the rest of the frame has been filled, and the circle is complete.

6. Next, take your glue gun, and add a little glue between pom poms to stick any loose pom poms together. This will help to keep everything in place. You can do this as you go along, but I personally think it's best to wait until all the pom poms are in place, and you know you're happy with your layout before gluing anything together.

7. Add a little glue to the back of the holly leaves, and stick them at an angle just off centre at the top of the wreath.

8. Take your little red pom poms and glue them in a diamond shape between the two holly leaves at the top centre of your wreath.

9. (Optional). Tie a length of ribbon to the back of the wreath at the top centre to hang it from. I'd recommend using a wide ribbon and matching it to one of the four colours in the wreath. You could also hang the wreath using a wreath hanger, command strip, or a nail on the wall, so you don't have to add a ribbon if you don't want to.

10. Voila, your Christmas pudding pom pom wreath is complete! Well done!

And now all you have to do is hang it on your door or above the fire place, and admire your hard work! I'd recommend hanging it indoors, unless you have a sheltered porch, as it's not weather-proof, and will get ruined by the elements.

So, there you have it; that's how easy it is to make your own Christmas pudding pom pom wreath. There really is nothing to it, so what are you waiting for?

If you decide to make your own Christmas pudding wreath, be sure to leave me a link to your photos so I can check it out- I'd love to see them! If you haven't got time to make one this Christmas, why not bookmark this post to come back to next Christmas?

Will you be making a Christmas pudding pom pom wreath this Christmas?

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