Category: Tips for Crafters

Technology is not the only factor that has profoundly affected the way people interact with one other in our times. The media, education, developments in global politics and movements of people all lead to a change in attitudes, behaviours and what is considered to be “normal”. New generations coming through experience life differently to how it used to be and as experiences differ, so do values, ie. what is most important to each generation.   

It’s hardly surprising then that traditions change with the people who practice them. Some traditions are even becoming less of a ‘thing’ in our Celebration Economy where consumers are increasingly creating their own special occasions rather than waiting for life’s traditional milestones. 

One such is Galentine’s Day, celebrated on February 13th, as an addition or alternative to Valentine’s Day. It evolved out of a fictional television series and became a major global phenomenon. Created in an episode of Parks and Recreation, the day is dedicated to “ladies celebrating ladies”—a time for women to honor their friendships, often with brunches, gifts, and heartfelt tributes.  

In the TV programme Parks and Recreation, Leslie Knope hosted a brunch for her friends, leaving husbands and boyfriends behind. Then, over the next 15 years, it shifted from a niche, fan-driven event to a mainstream cultural touchstone, particularly favored by Gen Z and Millennials. In the US, searches for “Galentine’s Day” have surged over 554% since 2019. Now it has been added to the dictionary, defined as a “day for women to celebrate their friendships with their lady friends”.  

Why is Galentine’s Day so popular among the younger generations? 

It certainly provides a pressure-free alternative to the romantic expectations of February 14th, allowing people to celebrate love regardless of relationship status. Amidst a rising tide of isolation in society, Galentine’s addresses a fundamental human need for connection and appreciation and emphasises the crucial contribution of friendships to our mental and physical well-being. The day has even been extended further into “Palentine’s Day” where anyone can get involved! 

How is Galentine’s Day celebrated? 

Celebrations might include brunch, exchanging of thoughtful gifts such as handwritten notes, chocolates or flowers, spa days and themed parties (often red, pink, and white) whilst other groups go for activity-based outings like pottery classes or cooking workshops. But whether it’s a cosy brunch or a climbing session, laughter and heartfelt chats are going to take centre stage. It’s a wonderful excuse to pause from the hustle of everyday life and make lasting memories with your closest friends. 

Galentine’s Day and hand made crafts 

There is a wealth of opportunity for crafters surrounding Galentine’s Day. For starters, people are searching for meaningful gifts and cards to give and many retailers stock dedicated Galentine’s Day merchandise. There’s also the fact that many groups of friends will be seeking crafting activities to do together on Galentine’s Day and crafters have the ingenuity to kit people out with ideas and resources to create some fabulous memories and crafts that will keep.  

Here are a few ideas for Galentine’s Day activity packs and resources to provide for time-poor customers looking to enjoy some quality time crafting with their friends! 

Friendship bracelets  

Probably one of the most appropriate activities for a day celebrating friendship! Packs of embroidery thread cut to the appropriate lengths and bagged could make a simple but effective activity pack for a Galentine’s Day party.  

Canvas tote bags 

You could also offer sets of inexpensive plain canvas tote bags with acrylic paint – these would even be useful afterwards and everyone can make their own design.  

Card decorating  

Provide a set of plain cards and resources to decorate them with. The group could then present them to each other with heartfelt messages inside to treasure.  

Photo frame decorating  

Why not provide a set of inexpensive photo frames and resources to decorate and personalise them. The group could even take a group pic to put inside! 

Crafters and Galentine’s Day 

As crafters, we can help inspire people to make the most of this relatively recent tradition. After all, working on hand made crafts together is itself a time-honoured tradition that has always provided an opportunity for conversation and relationship-building. 

Our gifts, cards, ideas and resources will help those either planning a big event or a quiet catch-up over coffee, also helping those women who work hard and struggle to “fit it all in” to show their friends how much they mean to them. It’s not about grand gestures or expensive plans but the thought and effort put into making the time to connect. 

Galentine’s Day is about celebrating the people who make life brighter. It’s a reminder that friendship deserves just as much recognition as romantic relationships. So this 13th of February, take a moment to raise a toast to the women in your life. Whether near or far, their support, laughter and love make all the difference. Let’s keep celebrating these bonds in ways that are as unique and wonderful as the friendships themselves. 

We may have got through the winter solstice, and the days are perceptibly lengthening, but we are still very much in winter here in the UK. Scotland has seen heavy snow falls, the South West of England endless days of rain and we’ve all shivered through the dark mornings and been blown around by great gusts of wind as we trudge, head down, about our days. With all this we may feel the need to indulge in some escapism and plan our summer holidays. Do you dream of sunny beaches, walking barefooted along the warm sand to the sound of gently lapping water? Or maybe of exploring ancient towns, wandering through cobbled streets and enjoying balmy evenings at a local taverna. Perhaps you like a more active holiday and your planning involves maps of mountain terrain and checking over your camping and walking gear.

The great thing about day dreaming is that we can go anywhere, without the confines of a budget, the hassle of airport queues and the stress of organising home, work, pets and the multitude of other minutia before we leave.

Crafters can add an extra dimension to these kinds of sunny dreams and get ahead at the same time. It’s not too early to start planning a summer selection of gorgeous products to entice your customers and help them get ready for their own holidays.

We’ve put together a tempting selection of summer craft ideas to set you on your way.

Firstly, think clothes and accessories. For those who can wield a needle, strappy tops and maxi skirts, flowing dresses and beach shorts are all must haves to pop in the bag as we head off in search of summer sunshine and blue skies. If you’re looking for something a little less complicated to whizz up, what about a range of over the shoulder or tote beach bags? Let your creative juices flow; think about your material choice (cotton, jute, beach stripes, floral fun, bold and plain), your decoration (appliqué, beading, embroidery), lining and pockets and come up with a unique design. Bags can be customised too, allowing customers to choose from a range of colours and designs.

Jewellery is next on the list of summer craft ideas – an ideal for first time craft sellers as it’s possible to start with fairly low set up costs. From bold and funky to understated and stylish, the sky is the limit. Beads and resin are both good starter materials. For the skilled and experienced jewellers amongst you, remember to create some eye-catching ranges for all the upcoming summer weddings. You might also consider, if you have not done so before, creating bespoke items for the bride and bridal party.

Cosmetics are next on our list. For those of you who already run successful cosmetics or bath products businesses, take the opportunity to develop some new ranges as well as recreating those which sold well last year. For those new to this, bath bombs are great as they require minimal start up costs. Think fresh summer colours and fragrances evocative of long summer evenings. You might consider delicate and floral, exotic and tropical or zesty and citric. Add a sparkle with biodegradable glitter and give your customers a luxurious treat for the end of a hot day.

Handmade cosmetics find their niche at any time of year, but with hot summer weather, natural products may seem even more appealing. Natural beeswax, essential oils and other natural oils (coconut, olive etc) are both good for dry and dehydrated skin and for our beautiful world which we all enjoy as we go out and about these summer days. Have a think about promoting products which travel well. For example, shampoo bars are great to pop in a beauty bag and won’t leak, and a small pot of lip salve is a must have for hot days.

While we all look forward to going away for a summer holiday, most of the season will be spent at home, so here are some summer craft ideas to make which will decorate our homes and gardens and usher in some warm summer vibes.

Starting with our front doors; what about creating a range of summer themed wreaths? You could go for a floral theme; generous bunches of dried flowers, delicate felted bouquets or whimsical crotcheted blooms. If you live by the seaside, you could muster up a sea breezes and wanderlust vibe with shells and starfish on a wreath beautifully constructed out of driftwood.

Summer themed bunting is another great summer craft to make and sell. Whether it is strung between bookcases and cupboards indoors, or flutters gently in the breeze in the garden, it is guaranteed to bring out some smiles and to create a relaxed, festival atmosphere. It’s great as decoration for parties and barbecues, but also to have up all summer long, ready to welcome gatherings of family and friends for a leisurely meal or long catch up over tea and cake.

As you plan your gorgeous summer products, remember to take a look at what craft fairs, markets or festivals you could book yourself into over the summer. You may be required to book early for the larger ones. If this is your first time selling, you will need to consider insurance, probably public and product liability. This can sound daunting and costly, but let us reassure you that it need be neither of these. As a family run business ourselves we are both aware of the importance of value for money on your part and of valuing our customers on our part. We therefore communicate with each of our customers personally; no long call queues. So, as part of your summer planning, pick up the phone or drop us a line and either Sam or Naomi will be here. We look forward to hearing about your summer craft ideas and will make sure you get the insurance you need for your unique business.

January arrives with a mix of emotions. For some crafters, it’s a burst of fresh energy: new sketchbooks, new planners, new ideas waiting to be stitched, painted or printed into life. For others, the New Year can feel heavy. The calendar changes, but the challenges don’t, and motivation can feel harder to come by. 

This is where a light craft workshop idea such as vision board making can be wonderfully refreshing. Who doesn’t enjoy time to focus on what they really want out of life? Vision boards are simple, creative, uplifting projects that don’t demand specialist tools or advanced skills. They offer gentle structure, plenty of creative freedom, and meaningful results. Better still, vision boards aren’t just for personal inspiration – they can also become a thoughtful, sellable craft product. Why not help kickstart a January of a different kind for your customers by offering them a kit to put together a light craft workshop with family or friends and visualise a different kind of future? Or even make one yourself? 

So, whether you’re a maker looking to refocus your own goals, or a small creative business thinking about new product ideas for the year ahead, vision boards tick a lot of boxes. 

What is a Vision Board? 

A vision board (sometimes called a dream board or goal board) is a visual representation of your goals, intentions and dreams. Using images, words, colours and textures, you create a collage that reflects what you want from your life or your business. 

As a product to encourage buyers to indulge in a light craft workshop, vision boards are ideal. They’re accessible, low-pressure and adaptable to different styles – from minimal and modern to colourful and eclectic. That flexibility is exactly what makes them appealing to so many crafters and customers. 

Why Vision Boards Work So Well 

1. They make you slow down and get clear Creating a vision board forces you to pause and think properly about what you want. Not in a vague “someday” way, but intentionally. What matters to you this year? What do you want more of – creatively, financially, emotionally? Putting those ideas onto a board takes them out of your head and gives them shape. 

2. They get you moving in the right direction! Creative people are often busy people. Orders, deadlines, admin and everyday life can leave little room for reflection. Vision boards break routine. Cutting images, playing with layouts and following intuition can reawaken creativity and help you step outside autopilot mode. 

3. They provide daily visual motivation Vision boards work best when they’re seen regularly. Hung on a wall or propped near a workspace, they act as a daily reminder of what you’re working towards. Visual cues are powerful; they keep goals front of mind even on difficult days. 

4. They build emotional connection Seeing images that resonate with you can spark excitement and belief. That emotional connection is what turns ideas into action. When you feel inspired, you’re more likely to spot opportunities and take small, consistent steps forward. 

5. They’re genuinely fun to make There’s no pressure to be perfect. Vision boards don’t have to follow rules, colour palettes or design trends. They can be messy, bold, calm or playful. That sense of freedom is why they’re such a satisfying activity. 

Turning Vision Boards into a Craft Product 

For craft businesses, vision board kits are a great product idea. Easy to package, post and personalise, they are ideal for online shops and craft fairs. 

You could offer themed kits such as “Creative Business Goals”, “Mindful Living”, or “Seasonal Intentions”. Customers love products that feel thoughtful and purposeful, especially in January when reflection is top of mind. 

Vision board kits can also work well year-round. Goals change, seasons shift, and many people enjoy refreshing their boards several times a year. 

Vision boards are also wonderfully low-cost and adaptable. You won’t need more than a cork or mounting board, recycled cardboard, scissors, glue, tape, magazines for images and words, printed images from Pinterest, Google or Instagram, stickers, markers, photos, quotes or handwritten notes. 

Do They Really Work? 

They can, but only when they’re used actively. A vision board isn’t magic on its own. It works because it reinforces focus, intention and motivation over time. Stored away in a drawer, it’s not that powerful. Visible and revisited regularly, it becomes a quiet but consistent source of encouragement. 

Crafting Confidently 

If you’re selling vision board kits, it’s important to make sure you’re properly covered. If you’re unsure what cover you need, or want friendly advice tailored to your craft, you can always call into the office and speak to Naomi or Sam. They’ll be happy to help you understand your options and make sure you’re crafting with confidence this year. 

Here’s to a creative, inspired start to the year –  it’s time to start dreaming! 

A visit to an artist’s studio, a wander around an Arts Quarter or an evening spent with a Knitters’ Circle are just a few of the ways we can catch a glimpse of the incredible skill and creativity of these crafters. As with any masterpiece, natural talent needs to be honed by years of practice, self-discipline and sacrifice to produce the stunning creations that we can both enjoy and which generate in us a sense of awe. These master craftsmen and women deservedly gain our praise and admiration, and our homes and lives are richer from the beauty their products bring to us. 

However, we all need to start somewhere, and if you are in a position where you have a few spare hours a week and are looking for some way of earning a little extra cash around your already fairly full life, please be inspired by these veteran crafters, rather than intimidated by them. Very few of us will reach the level of craftsmanship displayed by some of our incredible artists, but most of us, with a little natural creativity, some extra time and a lot of determination, can begin small and then see how it develops. Many small businesses have begun life as a kitchen table venture, often by a mum with small children at home working away during nap times. Others start as side hustles, alongside full-time work, where passion eventually turns into a fully-fledged business. Yet more begin as retirement looms, when the decrease in income and increase in time are an impetus to step out into that long-held dream.  

So, if you are in a position where you have some flexibility in your day and need to earn some extra cash, making and selling crafts could be just the thing for you! You may have a particular skill which you want to develop, or you may be happy to try your hand at anything and looking for some easy craft ideas to make and sell. If this is so, then you’re in the right place! If you’re just dipping your toe into the mighty and exciting waters of selling handmade crafts, you will want low set up costs and some easy ways to market and sell your products.  

We’d certainly recommend scrolling through Pinterest for easy craft ideas to make and sell but here are some of ours. Greetings cards are a great starter as the initial cost is low, and you can use a huge variety of techniques to create them. There will always be birthdays, weddings, babies born and new homes, and as this circle of life continues in its rhythm, we love to mark these special events with cards. There are also lots of possibilities to expand, maybe into packets of note cards, gift cards or even wrapping paper. The possibilities are endless! 

The next in our lineup of our easy craft ideas to make or sell are resin-based products. These will probably have a slightly higher startup cost, but this is still low compared with buying a kiln or a potter’s wheel.  Again, there are endless possibilities with resin crafts, and potential products include jewellery, coasters, paperweights, key chains and candleholders. 

If you’re looking for something a little niche but with universal appeal and within most budgets, why not consider making some bird seed ornaments? You could tie marketing in with the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch which takes place on 23-25 January. Awareness of our feathered garden friends will be heightened and as the days get longer an item which both provides nourishment for the birds and looks good in the garden could be a winner.  

Bath bombs are another low budget gift idea. While making soap and creams take more skill and equipment, if you’re looking towards the beauty product arena, bath bombs are a good place to start. Once you’ve made the base mix to the correct ratios, the colours, fragrances and botanicals are open to your own brand of alchemy! Get mixing and come up with some gorgeous products; a perfect present for mum, a great birthday gift for a girlfriend or an indulgent self-care treat for any weary, hardworking lady.  

One of the many advantages of buying locally produced, hand-crafted products over mass produced ones is that their production has a lower impact on our planet. You could further reduce this by making products from recycled items. If you live near a beach, why not head out for a blustery walk and do some beachcombing? Then try your hand crafting them into beautiful products you can sell. If you live in an urban area, you might like to visit a scrap store and have a rummage for some materials you could repurpose. Or use everyday items such as bottle tops or plastic bottles to create your own unique range of recycled gifts.  

Once you have decided upon which direction you will take, you will need to think about promoting and selling your products. Initially, go for free or low budget options. Use social media to your best advantage to promote and sell your new range of goodies. Depending on how IT savvy you (or a family member or good friend) are, you could also set up a website and sell directly from there. Then think about booking yourself into some local craft fairs or markets. Check out some of our previous blogs about these but suffice to say they are great ways of both selling your products and making good connections with other crafters. You could start with a school fair, a church bazaar or any other local fundraising event. These are generally very friendly and good fun.  

We hope we’ve inspired you with some easy craft ideas to make and sell. Dream a little and then gather what you need to get started and go for it! Enjoy the process and let us know how you get on!  

Happy New Year to all our crafting family! We hope you feel somewhat refreshed, if not totally rested, and ready to begin a new year of growing your business and branching out in more creative endeavours. January can be slow for sales, but is often a good time to dream some big dreams, to design some new ranges, to plan ahead and then to hone your vision into practical, achievable and measurable steps. If you are an experienced crafter but have not as yet stepped out into making your passion pay, why not take a good look at what you would need to put in place to dip your toe into running a crafting business? It could be an exciting year ahead for all!

What then, are some artisan business ideas you could consider either as you start a business or to boost sales in your existing business? Whatever your craft, here are some marketing ideas which you could implement throughout the year ahead.

Why not consider creating some seasonal ranges? If you start planning and creating now, you could include Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Easter, Father’s Day, Guy Fawkes and Christmas as well as products which reflect each of the seasons. For example, if you make soap and other bath and beauty products, you can theme colours, oils and botanicals around these occasions; glorious pink frothy valentines bath bombs; luxurious soap for Mother’s Day; fun, fizzy bath bombs for kids around autumn; spiced Christmas fragrances in December. If you work with textiles, your range could include seasonal bunting as well as some for Easter and Christmas, over the shoulder beach bags for the summer, cosy looking cushions for autumn and stockings, tree decorations and gift bags for Christmas.

Focusing on special occasions opens up another arena for artisan business ideas. Weddings, birthdays, christenings, a new job, retirement….there are many significant milestones as we walk through life and it’s good to mark and celebrate them. For card makers these are bread and butter, but they can also be incorporated into other crafting ranges. If you work with wood, photo frames make great gifts for many of these events. Jewellery also can be designed around celebratory occasions with distinct ranges as well as bespoke items. Ceramics lend themselves to speciality gifts as friends and family are often looking at a higher price range than they would normally consider to celebrate significant occasions. At the lower end of the pricing scale, themed resin coasters, paper weights or tea light holders make personal and welcome presents to mark achievements such as a new job, a graduation, or a retirement.

The next of our artisan business ideas to add to your planning calendar is around the seasons; spring, summer, autumn and winter. These can be reflected through just about any medium, using colours, patterns, textures, fragrances or words. Lift your customers’ spirits after a long, grey winter with vibrant yellows, blues, pinks and greens, an exuberant display of the colours of nature which are bounding back to life after a season of hibernation. As the vivid greens and yellows of spring give way to summer, your palette could include the bountiful spread of warm and blowsy colours which adorn our flower gardens and hedgerows.

With the diminishing of sunlight hours and drop in temperature come the rich array of autumn golds, reds, yellows and browns. This is the time when our thoughts turn to home so is an opportunity to produce items which will add a sense of coziness and warmth to the darkening evenings. Finally, winter comes, usually overshadowed by all the fun and festivity Christmas. However, once the twinkling lights and cheerful Christmas trees have been taken down, our homes can look empty and cold. We still have a couple of months until the sun strengthens and the days lengthen, so why not consider making a range of products for this time, using cool, crisp palettes of wintery white.

Focusing your thoughts onto your immediate locality, are there any regular festivals, carnivals, fairs or other traditions within your area? Or any landmarks or local history which could be recognised within your products? Scotland has the glorious celebration of Burns night to brighten up the dreary winter months, and each of our four nations have a Patron Saints day to celebrate; David, Patrick, George and Andrew. All these could be springboards for some crafty artisan business ideas.

Once you have come up with your unique rage of goods which will reflect seasons and celebrations, you will need to have some promotional tools at the tips of your fingers to make sure your products stand out from the rest. One of the benefits of buying hand made items over mass produced ones is that customers can have a connection with the skilled crafters behind their purchase.

If you have a website, spend some time over how you introduce yourself and your business. Customers will be interested to know how your passion turned into a paying concern. Did you start as a side hustle, or jump in at the deep end? What are the challenges and rewards? How does it fit in with your home life? (consider what you are comfortable to divulge). You could write regular updates in a blog; new ranges both current and upcoming, some background to the materials or techniques you are using, any craft fairs or exhibitions you will be a part of. You may like to hone it in a little more on yourself, giving customers a glimpse into your life and how your craft business blends in with and reflects who you are. You could do a ‘day in the life of…’ or write about somewhere you’ve visited or a walk you’ve taken from which you’ve gained fresh inspiration. You could include videos of yourself working, showing some of the techniques you use, or of snippets of non craft related parts your week. Use social media to your advantage!

We hope we’ve given you some fresh artisan business ideas as you start your year, and wish you success and joy as you grow your business.

For most of us these days, Twelfth Night hardly registers, arriving quietly as it does on 5th January, it serves as a gentle nudge that Christmas decorations should come down and normal life should resume. Trees are dragged to the curb, fairy lights are boxed away and thoughts turn firmly (and sometimes with relief) toward a return to routine — and to the craft workshop. Yet for centuries, Twelfth Night was anything but ordinary. It marked the climax of Christmas, a night of feasting, role reversal and merriment that rivalled Christmas Day itself.

Twelfth Night was the final evening of the twelve days of Christmas which began on Boxing Day, with Christmas counted as the First Night. The twelfth night, falling on 5th January, ushered in Epiphany on the 6th — a feast commemorating the arrival of the Three Wise Men in Bethlehem. Epiphany once held immense importance, long before it faded into a footnote on the calendar.

In Tudor England, Twelfth Night was celebrated with great enthusiasm. At court, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I marked the occasion with lavish banquets, masques, music and pageantry. Records from 1532 describe over 200 dishes being served, with temporary kitchens erected to cope with demand. Elizabeth I even employed a personal gingerbread-maker, creating edible likenesses of the queen and her guests. At the heart of these celebrations was deliberate chaos and a joyful turning upside down of the social order.

This spirit of reversal extended far beyond the royal court. In towns and villages, households gathered to share food, drink and the famous Twelfth Night Cake. Hidden inside the cake were a dried bean and a dried pea. Whoever found them in their slice was crowned King or Queen for the evening, regardless of their usual status. Servants ruled masters, rules were gleefully bent, and laughter reigned.

By the 18th and early 19th centuries, Twelfth Night revels were still going strong. Regency households hosted lively parties featuring charades, games, wassail and punch. The Twelfth Night Cake grew increasingly elaborate, decorated with frosting, gilded paper and ornamental figures. Guests often drew character slips from a hat and were expected to remain in role all evening. Jane Austen herself is recorded as embracing the tradition with enthusiasm.

Literature preserves much of Twelfth Night’s original energy, none more famously than William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Commissioned around 1600 and first performed in 1602, the play was written specifically to close the festive season. Its plot — built on mistaken identities, disguised gender, and social confusion — perfectly mirrors the spirit of the holiday. Characters swap roles, servants outwit nobles, and order is only restored at the end, just as Christmastide itself gave way to everyday life.

Although Twelfth Night has waned in Britain, it remains vibrantly alive elsewhere. In Spain, for example, the night of 5 January, la Verbena de Reyes, is as significant as Christmas Eve. Children leave out shoes for the Three Kings to fill with gifts, and colourful parades flood the streets. (In Barcelona on 5th January, the Three Kings arrive in the port by boat!) On 6 January, families gather to give each other presents and share a Roscón de Reyes, a crown-shaped cake hiding a small figure and a bean. The finder of the bean must buy the cake the following year. In France, La Fete des Rois is also celebrated with a special cake, La Couronne Des Rois (King’s Crown). As in Spain, the Couronne des Rois contains a tiny figure of which the happy finder gets a crown and the status of King or Queen for the day!

So why has Twelfth Night faded here in the UK? Partly, it is the consequence of modern schedules and commercial Christmas front-loading celebration into December. By January, most of our energy is spent, along with most of our money! The feast that once rivalled Christmas now marks its conclusion as a practical deadline rather than a joyful finale.

Twelfth Night has always been about endings as much as excess — the last laugh before the rules return, the final spark before work resumes. Today, that return may be less festive, but the rhythm is the same. As the tinsel comes down and tools come out, there is comfort in a return to the norm.

It’s time for a return to creativity, no less for occasional crafters who aren’t full-time business owners. Even if you only sell at the occasional market, this week will probably involve packing away decorations and returning to your creative side hustle. If you are an occasional seller, don’t forget that one day public liability insurance gives you flexible, affordable cover just for when you need it.

You’ll be protected if someone claims they’ve been injured or had property damaged as a result of your actions, or even something as simple as a trip hazard at your table. Whatever kind of events you are attending this year, one day public liability insurance ensures you’re not financially exposed if something goes wrong. Just give us a call, and we’ll help you get the right cover without overcomplicating things.

So, as our modern day Twelfth Night draws in, and the last pine needle is swept away, we look forward to another year of supporting our amazing community of crafters as they head back to the craft workshop to start dreaming for 2026.

We thought we would have a look back this year at some of the history behind the traditional UK Christmas. Where did these well-worn, much-loved practices that we return to year on year originate, and what is it that covers Christmas with such a strong sense of nostalgia?

Well, perhaps no other period in history has shaped the way we celebrate Christmas in the UK quite like the Victorian era. Many of the traditions we now think of as timeless – and which continue to inspire festive arts, crafts and handmade gifts today – emerged during Queen Victoria’s long reign from 1837 to 1901. From decorated trees and Christmas cards to gift-giving and family gatherings, the Victorian Christmas laid the foundations for the season we recognise and cherish today, a legacy that still covers much of how we celebrate.

Before Victoria came to the throne, Christmas was often a far less cosy affair. Celebrations were limited, sometimes rowdy, and rarely centred on family life. Many people worked straight through the festive period, with little time or money to spare for leisure or celebration. By the end of the 19th century, however, Christmas had become the most important annual celebration in the British calendar. Industrialisation brought new wealth, especially to the growing middle classes, while changing attitudes placed greater emphasis on home, children and charity. The royal family played a crucial role in setting the tone, with their customs widely reported and eagerly copied.

For much of the population before 1837, there were no Christmas cards, no crackers, no decorated trees and no turkey dinners. Most people did not receive time off work, and festive meals were modest at best. As factories and industries expanded, however, families in England and Wales increasingly gained the ability to take time away from work to celebrate Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Boxing Day itself takes its name from the boxes in which servants and working people collected gifts or money from wealthier households – a reminder of the strong charitable element that covers the Victorian Christmas story.

Gift-giving as we know it today truly flourished during this era. While presents had previously been exchanged at New Year, Christmas became the focus for family gifts, particularly for children. Advances in manufacturing meant toys could be mass-produced, making dolls, games, books and clockwork toys more widely available – at least for middle-class families. Adults tended to receive practical or modest gifts such as books or fruit. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert helped popularise the tradition through their “present tables” at Windsor Castle, where unwrapped gifts were laid out for the family, much as they were for royal birthdays. Victoria’s diaries record the many gifts exchanged, from jewellery and artworks to sculptures and paintings. Particularly charming are the handmade items she received from her children and grandchildren, including embroidery, drawings and handicrafts – a tradition that still resonates with makers and crafters today.

The rise of Christmas cards was another Victorian innovation. The introduction of the Penny Post in 1840 transformed communication, allowing letters and cards to be sent anywhere in Britain for a single penny. This simple reform paved the way for the first Christmas cards, which quickly grew in popularity. When the cost was reduced further with the introduction of the halfpenny post in 1870, card-sending became a widespread festive habit. Early cards were often beautifully illustrated and reflected the era’s love of design, print and decoration.

Food traditions also evolved significantly. Although turkeys had been brought to Britain from the Americas long before Victoria’s reign, they were initially too expensive for most households. Regional traditions varied: roast beef was common in the north of England, goose was favoured in London and the south, and poorer families often made do with rabbit. At royal Christmas feasts, Queen Victoria’s table featured beef and even roast swan. Over time, however, turkey rose in popularity, aided by royal approval. Victoria herself came to enjoy turkey at Christmas, and gradually it became the centrepiece of festive dinners across the country.

Christmas trees, another enduring symbol of the season, gained prominence during the Victorian era. Although Queen Charlotte, the German wife of King George III, had introduced the tradition earlier, it was Prince Albert who truly popularised it after bringing a tree to Windsor Castle in the 1840s. The royal household reportedly had multiple trees – one for the Queen and Prince Albert, others for their children and for the Queen’s mother. In 1848, the Illustrated London News published an image of the royal family gathered around a decorated tree, and the fashion quickly spread. With it came a demand for ornaments made from glass, metal and brightly coloured materials designed to shimmer in candlelight. Mass production and improved printing made decorations more affordable, while many families combined shop-bought items with handmade ornaments and edible treats tied on with ribbon.

The Victorians also gave us Christmas crackers. Invented in 1846 by London sweet maker Tom 

Smith, crackers evolved from simple paper-wrapped sweets into the familiar festive staple containing mottos, paper hats, small gifts and a cheerful bang. Music, too, flourished during this period, with many beloved carols written in the mid-19th century, including O Come, All Ye Faithful, Once in Royal David’s City and O Little Town of Bethlehem.

Together, these traditions reflect a Victorian love of creativity, craftsmanship and togetherness – values that continue to inspire Christmas celebrations, handmade gifts and festive crafts to this day.

From all of us at Craft Insurance, we’d like to echo some of the sentiments of a creative, Victorian-style Christmas and send heartfelt goodwill from our family to all of our customers. 2025 has been a year of hard work and progress, and we are looking forward to the New Year and everything it promises. We wish you and your families a truly wonderful Christmas and New Year.

As we hurtle toward 2025’s end while preparing for the arrival of 2026, many artists and crafters will be considering the best ways to reach their audience and sell more handmade items. Most craft sellers will be aware of the opportunities that the internet offers but not all may know how to take full advantage of them. In this blog, we have put together some suggestions to help both the unititiated and the seasoned online seller who wants to grow their craft business to make 2026 the year that they take their place in a successful community that is selling crafts online.

What is best for those who are new to selling crafts online?

For those who are new to selling crafts online, Etsy is a good place to start.

Etsy is a marketplace platform where customers come to shop for handmade and creative products. If you have never sold on Etsy before, you’ll be relieved to know that only minimal technical knowledge is required to get going. You start by creating an account and opening an online “shop”. There you can list your products with photos, descriptions, and prices.

The Etsy platform handles everything regarding search visibility and basic payment processisng which is good news! The other good news is that Etsy offers you a built-in audience and low upfront costs.

Etsy also offers you the option of running Etsy Ads for which you can control the budget. You have to pay extra for the ads but the minimum spend is actually only £1 per day. The ads will appear in Etsy search and on external platforms (like Google).

For those starting on their online journey, it’s worth noting that, with Etsy, competition is high

And you have limited control over branding and customer data (with your own website you can build and establish your brand thoroughly and also use your own site analytics to understand your audience better.)

What about those who want to grow their online business by selling more crafts online?

For those who have experience of using online selling platforms such as Etsy, you’ll have had the opportunity to test and see which of your handmade products are the best online sellers before investing in your own website or Google Ads. This is great news!

In order to increase your online presence and start selling to a wider audience with more control over how you grow your online business there are options that Google offers to businesses for free.

One option is to start selling via Google Merchant Centre with Google Ads

Google Merchant Centre is not a marketplace itself like Etsy, what it does is to connect your product listings to Google Shopping Ads and drive traffic to your own website or online store.

Needless to say, you will need to have your own website, and when you have one, you will need to set up a Google Ads account. The website might cost you something to build (there is a wide range of possibilities and prices available). However, setting up a Google Ads account will cost you nothing! It’s relatively straightforward, just persevere and reach out to Google when you get stuck. There is a lot of online help and advice when it comes to Google Ads, especially on YouTube. You’ll need to set up a Google Ad Shopping campaign but there are a few steps you need to go through to do this:

You need to set up an online shop linked to your website and a lot of people report that “Shopify” is the easiest to use. Your site must clearly show prices in GBP (£), shipping costs (UK + international if offered), returns & refunds policy (Consumer Contracts Regulations), contact details (email required; address recommended) and offer a secure checkout (HTTPS)

Then it’s time to create a Google Merchant Centre Account. Again, this is free of charge! You sign up with your Google account, select the United Kingdom as your target country, then verify and claim your website. You’ll need to enter your business details (sole trader is fine)

You’ll have to list your products. For each handmade product, you’ll need the following product info: Product title (include “handmade” naturally); Description (materials, size, care instructions);

Price in GBP; Stock status (in stock / made to order); High-quality images (minimum 100×100px, ideally much larger). Lastly, and very important for handmade items, you will not need to add a GTIN / barcode! Google will ask for one and reject products that don’t have one but you can specify that the item is handmade.

Then it’s time to create and upload your product feed

Your product feed sends product data from your website to Google. The Shopify & YouTube app is rumoured to be the easiest to achieve this. Once you have set up your feed you can set up shipping in Merchant Centre and add UK shipping rates (flat rate or weight-based). Only add international shipping if you ship abroad (obviously). It’s important to ensure that shipping prices match your website exactly.

If you are not VAT registered you can show your prices without VAT, so do not add VAT in the Merchant Centre. If you are VAT registered then prices must include VAT with VAT consistent across your site and feed.

If you turn on “Free Listings” in Merchant Centre your handmade items can appear on Google Shopping at no cost! This means slower traffic, but zero ad spend! Great if you want to test Google visibility.

Finally, it’s time to run your Google Shopping or Performance Max Ads. Connect your Merchant Centre to your Google Ads campaign and you are away. A typical starter budget for ad spend is £5–£10 per day.

Focus on your best-selling or high-margin handmade items and use specific titles such as “Handmade Oak Jewellery Box – UK Made”. You can monitor product approval by checking diagnostics in Merchant Centre regularly. When products are approved they will start to appear online when people are searching for items of that nature. N.b. Niche products (with specific rather than generic names) perform best.

Phew! Now, after all that hard work you can sit back and wait for the sales. It is a bit complex to set it all up but if you can push through, the rewards are waiting for you on the other side. You’ll have full control over branding and pricing and your business will scale. Just be aware that ad spend is required but you can spend more at times of the year when you expect people to buy (Christmas for example) and your ads will become more visible and then you can drop your spend at other times.

So, to all those planning to take the leap in 2026 and start selling crafts online, we hope that some of these tips will help you to sail gracefully through digital waters! And if you need help with insurance for your online craft business, please do give us a call and Samantha or Naomi will be delighted to help you.

What is your immediate, gut reaction when someone talks about the wonders of memory making at Christmas time? A cosy glow, a sinking feeling, a sense of loss, a mental menu plan…These are but a few of the multitude of emotional responses we might have. While the Christmas season does offer us many opportunities to meet up and enjoy spending time with family and friends, we want to acknowledge that this is not always a wholly warm and joyful expectation. Our world appears somewhat fractured, many relationships are under pressure, and we can feel fragmented or torn in different directions. The expectation of fun and laughter with friends and of deeply fulfilling family time can heighten any pain we feel around these areas.

How then do we navigate this discrepancy between the expectations all around us and the sadness or stress within us? Can we still enjoy Christmas and the making of memories? Maybe part of the answer is in rearranging our expectations. If getting together with family is always stressful, are there any tweaks you can make to help the day run more smoothly? If you have a child for whom Christmas is very overwhelming, what practical steps can you take to reduce the overload, ensure some good sensory input and manage anxiety? If you have lost a loved one, how can you hold this and yet still enjoy time with those dear to you? Christmas might need to be different, but it can still be good.

Traditions, habits and customs are a part of Christmas for most of us. We each have our own, some passed down from our own childhoods and some new ones we’ve initiated as adults. Traditions engender a sense of identity; “in our family we….” or “every Christmas Eve we….” They root us in our families and communities and draw us together with an invisible cord. They give a sense of security and stability in what seems to be an increasingly unstable world.

Why not do something different with the youngest people in your family to kickstart a new tradition? It’s good to encourage children to look outwards at this time of year. One simple tradition which could be woven into your family is a ‘Smile Jar’. This is so simple to put together. All you need is an old jam jar, some crafting lollipop sticks and maybe a ribbon, gems or some glass paint. Decorate the jar and then write a caring suggestion on each stick that will create a warm memory. This could be ‘hug someone’, ‘give your sibling a compliment’ or more time-consuming tasks such as ‘make a card for a teacher’, ‘put together a care package for someone you know is having a hard time’. Any of these activities is guaranteed to bring a smile to someone at Christmas and it doesn’t have to cost the child a penny.

Seasons change in our lives and as some traditions fade, maybe as children grow up, we have an opportunity to create new ones. Often the best are those which are small and inexpensive; hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows, baking Christmas cookies, gathering greenery to make a wreath or decorate the house, or listening to some of John Rutter’s wonderful carols.

The years go by so swiftly and it’s important to record the memories we make. While we take photos of big events, it’s often the small, humble traditions woven into the rhythms of of lives which create the most heart-warming memories. It’s these ones which we may not always capture on camera. However, we could make a point of doing so this Christmas and then pop them in a frame to enjoy over the coming year.

Picture frames make great gifts, especially at Christmas or other significant dates and festivals e.g. Valentine’s Day, birthdays and anniversaries. A frame is very versatile and can be made out of a wide variety of materials, from traditional wood through to resin, a comparatively recent innovation. They also lend themselves to personalisation, with names and dates or with bespoke colours and design.

Resin is a comparatively new ‘kid on the block’ when it comes to handmade crafts, and with the rise of resin and art and its growth in popularity, resin picture frames could be a good stock item to have over the coming year. The chemical reaction which produces the epoxy resin used today in resin and art was discovered less than a century ago. Its versatility and creative potential were harnessed by innovative crafters and since then we have seen an exponential leap in its popularity worldwide and in the imaginative ways in which it is used. Resin and art have become firmly established in the crafting world and its boundless potential and glorious, glossy products make it a winner for many.

Wood, resin and a number of other mediums all work well to craft picture frames. An advantage of wooden frames is their environmental credentials, so if this is the material with which you work, make sure to highlight its sustainability, whether that be reclaimed wood, driftwood or wood which comes from well-managed forestry. Consider your customer base and let your creativity run wild with a range of beautiful frames. With so many moments to capture, you might consider multi-frames which will hold a number of photos and make perfect presents, especially if filled with delightful and heartwarming photos.

Traditions, whether they involve favourite festive food, special decorations or long-held household rituals all help to cultivate a family culture which is totally unique. They are like a glue which hold you together during the tough times and add sparkle to your celebrations during the festive times. They are there in all their familiarity to welcome adult children home and give us a soft landing into which we can sink back as we take time out from the pressures of normal life.

This Christmas, let’s enjoy our much-loved traditions and begin one or two new ones. Let’s immerse ourselves in all that is good and beautiful at this time of year and make precious memories that we can carry in our hearts (and in some carefully created handcrafted picture frames) throughout the coming year.

Imagine a couple of scenarios. Firstly, a shopping mall three Saturdays before Christmas. The stress is almost tangible as you jostle with the crowds to reach a long queue at the till. Piped music blares out the festive songs you have already been hearing for a month. Central heating is blown out through regularly placed vents and garish lights and decorations assault your senses in every shop you enter. The cafes are hot and overcrowded so by the time you get home, you’re thirsty, tired and somewhat overwrought. Your bank account is considerably dented, and you wonder if your purchases will really bring the joy you had intended.

Next, turn your imagination to a local Christmas craft and food fair. A towering Christmas tree, sparkling with lights, adorns the town square and underneath it the Salvation Army brass band are playing age-old carols. You join other shoppers in throwing some cash into their collection, knowing it will be going towards feeding those without permanent homes this winter. You slowly wander around the different stalls, chatting to some of the sellers you know from regular markets. It is cold, and the wind bites at your face and fingers. Time for some sustenance. You have a choice of locally produced, delicious treats to eat and a steaming mug of fairly traded coffee. As you restart your shopping, you enjoy browsing the gorgeous and individually crafted products as well as choosing some perfect gifts. There is a hot brazier out of which rises the sweet fragrance of roasting chestnuts, so you grab a bagful to eat on your way home. As you head off, you feel tired but elated and inspired. It’s been a fun outing; you’ve brought some gifts which you know will be enjoyed and you’ve put your pounds into the local economy. 

Which one of these sounds more appealing? We may be biased, but the second one wins hands down over here at Craft Insurance. Not only is the shopping experience much more enjoyable and enriching in itself, but a gift from an independent producer means so much more than one bought from a large chain, and in addition, it will contribute directly to the local economy. 

If you are a newly fledged crafter and are wondering where to sell handmade products thisChristmas and into next year, here are a few ideas. You might still be able to squeeze into a small Christmas fair organised by a local group with the purpose of fundraising. It could be a school, Scout group, a church or any other community-focused group. In these instances, table prices are generally very reasonable, and you know your money is going to a good cause. It’s worth finding out the age range/average budget of clientele as this will direct your product range. Often the event will attract families with young children, so pocket money purchases and other lower priced items will sell well. 

Another location to add to your list of where to sell handmade products would be a Farmers’ Market. These are often bustling and buzzing with shoppers, intentional about buying good food fresh from source and directly supporting their local farmers. Many markets have a few stalls reserved for other local producers, including crafters. In the run up to Christmas they are especially convivial affairs, often with live music and plenty of festive cheer. Customers know that buying in this way will ensure their hard-earned cash is ploughed straight back into the local economy, thus helping small businesses to keep going, keep providing employment and keep producing high quality, locally made wares to be enjoyed.

A third venue to consider when you’re looking for where to sell handmade products is in small, local, independent stores. Buying some shelf space is likely to cost you more than a table at a local fair or market, but if footfall is good, it could be worth the investment. The advantage is that your products are available all year round, and not just on certain days or during specific seasons. Furthermore, selling is not quite so weather dependent!

Buying local is gaining traction and that’s not just because it is a better shopping experience. A locally made gift means so much more than a mass-produced one. Each item is totally unique and tells a story. Each is a testament to its creator’s talent and hard work and is often a reflection of local culture and heritage. 

Buying locally made gifts this Christmas will, more often than not, mean you can purchase with a clear conscience. Most small producers have much better environmental credentials than large companies, sourcing raw materials locally or if from further afield, ethically. They will have lower carbon footprints within both their manufacture and marketing and will often use recycled products or even upcycle whole items.  As we have said before, the money goes right back into the local economy, boosting small businesses, encouraging local artisans to flourish and keeping traditional crafting skills alive.

In an age when many of the foundations we have historically put our trust in feel somewhat unstable, there is something very appealing about rooting ourselves in the richness of our regional heritage and traditions; skills and customs which have been passed on from one generation to the next and have withstood many upheavals and storms.

So, this year let’s celebrate the host of crafters who are among our nation’s dependable independents. Let’s both create and give gifts which are unique, well made and come with a story behind them. Let’s support and help build strong local communities and networks by putting our pounds directly into the local economy. Let’s choose shopping experiences which are enjoyable and uplifting and give gifts which are thoughtful, creative and support our local artisans. Merry Christmas to the wonderful network of gifted crafters across Britain, our dependable independents!