Cracking DIY Christmas Gift Ideas

Sick of socks and tired of ties? Think outside the box in 2024 and make this festive season one to remember with one of our fabulous Christmas gift experiences instead! Not only do they make the perfect alternative to the usual material presents, they can also help you master the skills you need to make the best homemade Christmas gifts for your nearest and dearest!  

If you’re looking to up your gifting game this year, an experience present is definitely the way to go — your loved one will get to relax, socialise and learn some new skills at the same time. But if you really want to take it to the next level, why not sign up for a craft class or learn to cook at a culinary workshop, learn a few fancy new techniques and whip up a beautiful homemade gift for them instead? After all, nothing says ‘Merry Christmas’ in 2024 like something you’ve crafted with your own two hands!

Think that handmade gifts automatically mean personalised key rings and badly knitted scarves? Think again! DIY Christmas presents can be as simple or intricate as you like, and we’ve got a wonderful workshop that will help you whip up the perfect surprise for your loved one, whatever they’re into; from the homebody who loves furnishing their castle to the eco-warriors who want a fuss-free festive season, there’s something for everyone! (And if you want to learn to knit the best scarf ever to keep them cosy this Christmas, we can help with that too!)

DIY gifts for interior aficionados

Is your fabulous friend or dashing date the king or queen of their castle? If they love nothing more than feathering their nest and keeping up with the latest interior trends, our craft classes will show you how to create a beautiful handmade Christmas present that will help turn their house into a home. 

Help them learn to knit or discover how to crochet and transform a humble ball of yarn into a super soft and fluffy blanket for their sofa — not only will it keep them warm in the winter, it’ll also add a beautiful handmade touch to their living area. Better with sewing needles than the knitting variety? Boost your textile design skills and head off to one of our sewing classes, where you can learn how to use a sewing machine, master some embroidery techniques and whip up some wonderful cushions for them to sink into at the end of a long day.

Keen to help make their gallery wall dreams a reality? If they’re surrounded by blank space, one of our art classes or craft workshops can teach you everything you need to know to create gorgeous art that will really brighten up their abode! A screen printing class or brush lettering workshop will help develop your art skills as you spend an afternoon creating some seriously frame-worthy artwork; think lino printed pet portraits or landscapes and calligraphy word art filled with meaningful places and dates. Alternatively, get to grips with rope at a macrame class, and learn how to whip up a wonderful DIY wall hanging — keep it natural and add fringing if they love all things boho, otherwise opt for brightly coloured rope in a variety of jewel tones to really make it stand out. 

Handmade Christmas present ideas for eco-warriors

Got a planet-loving pal who’s sworn off material items? Our Christmas gift experiences make a great alternative to a shop-bought present, but if they’re strapped for time or don’t have a crafty bone in their body, why not take their place and make them something planet-friendly this festive season?

If they want to make their home an eco-friendly haven, help them ditch the plastic and chemicals with one of our super sustainable craft classes; a beeswax wrap workshop will show you how to make environmentally friendly covers for all their lovely leftovers, while a soy candle making class will teach you all the techniques you need to melt, pour and scent your way to cruelty-free DIY candle success.

Fancy giving them a real treat? Head off to one of our sustainable beauty and fragrance classes, and learn to make organic DIY skincare, natural soaps and DIY hair care products from the kindest ingredients — add some homemade printed labels and some fabric gift wrapping, and you’ve got a bath hamper to rival any Christmas gift you could find on the high-street! If they’re a fond foodie who likes a tasty treat, sign yourself up for a vegan cooking class, bakery workshop or chocolate making session and whip up some delicious dairy-free cakes, biscuits and vegan chocolate truffles. The perfect stocking stuffer! 

Great gift ideas for passionate plant parents

Shopping for Christmas gift ideas for a nature lover who’s smashing with secateurs and already has some pretty impressive flower arranging skills? Our floristry courses make great Christmas gift experiences (particularly the ultra-festive wreath making workshops!) but if they already have their floral design techniques down, sign yourself up for a creative plant class instead and help them add some perfect perennials to their home!

If they’re a real nature lover, a glass terrarium making class will teach you all the skills you need to build them a miniature ecosystem to add to their shelf, desk or window sill — it’s the perfect accompaniment to any indoor plants they might already have, and is just as easy to look after! For something a little more quirky, try a kokedama workshop, where you’ll learn to make a Japanese moss ball that sits comfortably on a shelf or hangs from the ceiling like a little green planet. Give them a single hanging kokedama to add interest to a small spot, or make several and group them together in a beautiful bowl or on a tray — they’ll brighten the room and be a great talking point for social occasions!

Worried about January blues? Discover how to keep spirits up with January festivities.