Christmas is coming, so let’s not stress: Here are fifty things you can do between now and the 25th of December to help you spread the chores, have more fun and cut the cost of Christmas this year…
What are your family traditions for Christmas Eve? Is there something you love to do in the run-up to Christmas each year? Today I’m sharing some of my own traditions and those essential items you might need for Christmas Eve…
If you’ve got little ones in your household, why not make them an advent calendar that encourages them to read a festive story each night? Here’s an idea to DIY your own book advent for the 12 days of Christmas…
If you love a bit of Christmas crafting in the run-up to the big day, here’s a cute crochet project that’ll help you to make your own string of fairy lights to add a fun retro vibe to your festive decorations…
I always feel more excited about baking at this time of year and I love to incorporate delicious festive spice flavours like cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Here are some delicious recipes to add a little spice to your seasonal bakes and makes…
There are so many gift options out there for children this year that it’s difficult to choose something suitable. That’s why I’ve come up with a list of books and board games that combine fun activities with an educational touch…
If you want to find the filming locations of Ed Sheeran’s music video for his festive tune ‘Under the Tree’, here’s all you need to know about where the coastal scenes were shot by Richard Curtis…
When you’ve got teenagers to buy for at Christmas, it can be tricky to find something they’ll like or that suits their interests. So, here are some interesting tech treats, arty items and thoughtful gifts that a teen will love…
If you’re planning a festive gathering this year, whether with family, friends or colleagues, here are some of the Christmas party essentials you might need to celebrate the season in style!
If you’ve got friends or extended family visiting you this Christmas, now’s the perfect time to start creating the cosy – and practical – kitchen of your dreams in time for the big day…
If you want to spread the cost of Christmas, it’s exactly three months away so now is the perfect time to start shopping so that you don’t end up with credit card bills in January. Who’s with me..?
When your favourite festive jumper gets felted in the wash, don’t despair! Why not turn it into a cosy cushion for Christmas? Here’s a handy guide to sew your own festive jumper pillows:
If you find it difficult to fit a Christmas tree into your home, here’s a handy solution: build these DIY shelves in the shape of a Christmas tree! It’s ideal for the festive season and beyond. Check out the easy step-by-step to make a unit like this for yourself…
With Christmas fast approaching, here are some slightly different ideas for festive gifts for children. These toys, games and treats will help to keep them entertained during the festive holidays – and beyond!
It can sometimes be tricky to find Christmas gifts for adults and teens that they’ll enjoy all year round. But look no further for some festive inspiration – perhaps you’ll find the ideal present in this gift guide…
If you fancy taking on a festive knitting project to work on during the dark winter evenings, why not create your own knitted Christmas stocking? Here are the instructions, charts and materials you’ll need to DIY one yourself…
If, like me, you prefer to choose handmade gifts and artisan pieces created by local makers, November is the perfect time to start your Christmas shopping to make sure your customised presents are ready by the big day…
Even though we’re often reluctant to talk about Christmas too early, September is the ideal time to make a start on your festive prep. In fact, you can save money if you start your planning early – here’s how…
At this time of year, everything seems to be about ‘doing it before Christmas’. The celebration provides a handy marker to complete your goals before the end of the year. But what if moving into a new house is your goal? Here are some ways you can achieve it before
I’m taking a break for Christmas so I wanted to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a brilliant new year!
Today’s home tour of a converted barn provides plenty of Christmas decor inspiration for creating a minimal and modern interior that’s full of festive touches and cosy details…
It’s now easier than ever to create your own Christmas light design or neon sign at home. Here’s the step-by-step DIY guide to making any festive design you like using neon EL wire…
It would be nice to enjoy a bit of family time over Christmas but, these days, it’s more likely that each member of the family will be glued to their own phones or devices rather than spending time together. Here are a few suggestions to get your family to spend
It can sometimes be a challenge to find a gift for teens that isn’t tech-related but I’ve come up with a few present suggestions to help encourage your youngsters away from their screens and to start interacting with fun activities…
If you’re looking for special gifts for the children in your life, this gift guide has some of the most adorable, fun and educational gifts available this year. So, if you want to want to teach kids about recycling, magnetic forces, bees or being creative, here are some ideas to
If you’re shopping for gifts for the grown-ups in your life, why not buy handmade pieces or shop with indie businesses this year? You’ll support a small company or independent maker to stay in business and can treat your loved one to a unique gift at the same time…
Yes, that’s exactly what I did. I’ve been back at the sewing machine and have made some Christmassy covers for my Ercol studio couches. Here’s what I stitched…
Not just an early gift, Christmas Eve boxes are a combination of treats, presents and entertainment – so what should you include in one? Here are five essentials you’ll need to create the ultimate Christmas Eve box…
I love to make wreathes to decorate my doors at Christmas and create something special from garden foliage or leftover materials. Here are a few ideas for different styles of festive wreath to get you started…
There’s nothing more luxurious than receiving a lovely skincare or haircare treat at Christmas. Even though we all joke about getting a pack of ‘smellies’ each year, it actually feels rather pampering to receive a cruelty-free, natural product, especially if it has the added bonus of being recyclable too. Here
After a tough 20 months, you may want to cut the cost of Christmas 2021. That’s why I’ve provided are some thrifty tips for you – both my own and from the experts – to help you save money on gifts, decorations and entertainment…
Whether you’re buying presents for your family or a Christmas Gift Appeal, it’s a good idea to make sustainable choices when shopping for those presents. I’ve put together this festive gift guide for children to get you started…
Do you wish your money would stretch further at Christmas? I certainly like to make sure I’m getting the best deals when I’m doing my seasonal shopping so I’ve put together a few ideas to cut the cost of Christmas – and you can start right now..!
Seeing as it’s only 15 weeks until Christmas, I thought I would share some super-easy ways to start putting money aside now, so that you’ll be much more prepared when December rolls around…
If you want inspiration for a cosy home that can easily take you from winter into spring, Amy from Cuter Tudor has kindly allowed me to share some photos of her beautifully styled home to provide all the design inspo you need for a transitional interior…
Last year I discovered just how handy those empty tubs of chocolate can be after Christmas, especially if you have lots of fairy lights to put away like we do. They’re fab storage for LED lights & decorations & all it takes is a little bit of adjusting…
When you’ve got a spare half-hour and fancy watching something festive why not re-watch some classic Christmas TV shows?! Here’s a handy list of all the seasonal episodes of your favourite TV series & sitcoms ready for you to enjoy this December…
Beautifully decorated for Christmas with twinkling fairy lights, homemade decorations and cosy corners for curling up in, this barn is exactly where I’d like to be right now. Take a peek inside this warm & welcoming renovation to inspire your festive decor…
Christmas can be busy at the best of times so I’ve come up with some ways that we can use modern technology to make December easier than ever. From gift shopping to entertainment, there are so many festive things you can enjoy without lifting a finger…
For me, Christmas always evokes a feeling of nostalgia so I’ve raided my childhood toybox to decorate my Christmas tree with retro toys. Here’s how to upcycle any small plastic animals or metal cars to create festive decorations for your tree…
If you’ve decided to get a potted Christmas tree this year (that you can use next Christmas!) you may want to jazz up the pot when you bring it indoors. Here are a couple of ideas to dress up the plant pot of your real spruce tree for the festive
Yes! You CAN enjoy a fun & fulfilling Christmas without spending a fortune – you just need to get a bit creative with your time & money. And I’m here to help you! Here are some seasonal step-by-step guides & money-saving tips for a cracking Christmas…
I think Christmas traditions are more important than ever this year, especially as many of the festive things we would usually do are cancelled. So, if you don’t already have a tradition of gifting new pyjamas on Christmas eve, why not give it a try?
Let’s face it, as soon as December hits, it’s going to be full-on Christmas mode this year. Here’s are 3 ideas to help you get organised & make space so you can enjoy a stress-free December and crack on with the festive fun..!
I have many creative folk in my life so when it comes to selective a Christmas gift for those talented makers, I’ve certainly done plenty of research over the years. Here are a few ideas for festive gifts that artists, sewers and photographers will love…
I’m excited to tell you that on Sunday 15th November is the Makers Market From Home Christmas Bonanza so I’ll be doing all my Christmas shopping with indie businesses from the comfort of my own home. Here’s some of the talented Etsy makers involved…
If you’re at home this month, why not take this time to get organised and start your Christmas shopping? My gift guide focuses on activity-based presents for kids and teens. I hope you’ll find some inspiration for your own festive shopping right here…
It’s been a while since I shared any of my article writing updates with you so I thought I’d pop on a few photos so you can see what I’ve been up to, including Reclaim magazine (the Christmas issue!!) a project for Recycle Week and All Things Christmas!
I’ve created a DIY video to show you 3 no-sew ways to make a Christmas stocking without ever picking up a needle and thread! Check out how super-quick they are to make – they’ll be hanging on your fireplace in no time..!
It’s only 99 sleeps until Christmas! And you know how fast those days go. So I thought I would share a quick blog post about saving money for Christmas 2020, and how you can make some extra cash to add to the piggy bank…
Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and get the chance to relax over the festive period. And good luck for 2020 – let’s make it a year to remember!
If you want to get into the festive spirit but don’t want to splash the cash on a new Christmas jumper, I’ve come up with an easy DIY version that you can make at home. I’ve used a T-shirt that I picked up from the charity shop for just £2
If you’ve got guests visiting over the festive season, are planning a big New Year’s Eve party, or simply want to dress up your dining table for a special family Christmas today’s easy DIYs will help you create magical place settings for next to nothing..!
I love listening to festive music at this time of year. In the car, on the radio and via YouTube playlists when I’m in the bath. But most of all I love listening to music on a record player. I have countless Christmas compilation LPs, from carols to contemporary, and
Over the years I’ve lived in some rather small homes and it’s been difficult to decorate for Christmas in such a compact space. However, that’s never stopped me from filling my home with festive decor each December and, in fact, I’ve quite enjoyed the challenge of making my own DIY
If you have a quite few people to buy for this Christmas, the thrifty way to give your friends & family a treat is by creating a gift hamper. My friend Alina loves to make her own things so this year she decided to make her mum a DIY Christmas
If you’re as excited about Christmas as I am this year, you’ll be feeling ‘fizzy’ today – which is exactly how I felt when I turned on my laptop and realised that it’s the 1st December! My days just run together at times and I often lose track of the
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday sneaking up on us, this seems to be the weekend that people really throw themselves into their Christmas shopping. And sometimes, when there’s a big discount on offer, it can be so tempting to splash the cash – and really difficult to stick your
If you’re wondering what to get your youngsters for Christmas this year, or are planning to donate to a charity Christmas gift appeal, I’ve put together a wonderful collection of fun and educational gifts for all ages – from toddlers to teens. Plus, you can win a kids’ microscope kit
If you want to add some festive touches to your walls but don’t want to go all-out with tinsel and garlands, today’s DIY star wreathes could be the solution. They’re a minimalistic, Scandi-style and look great in both contemporary or rustic homes so here’s how to recreate this simple Nordic
Do you enjoy making things? Do you love to save money? Do you want unique decorations that no-one else has? Then it’s time to make your own! I’m getting a head start on my Christmas preparations this month and have made three scandi-style decor projects that you can easily replicate
Ooh the Christmas countdown has really snuck up on me this year and now it’s just 100 day until Christmas! So? That’s ageeees away, right? Well, in the world of thrifty living and financial planning, it’s actually a great time to start thinking about Christmas and I’ve written a little
Happy Christmas everyone! I wanted to send you all my best wishes for the big day in advance. I hope you have a very happy and peaceful Christmas.
Ever wanted your home to look like Buddy the Elf has decorated it for Santa’s arrival? Here’s 14 low-cost and easy DIY projects to help you spread Christmas cheer throughout your rooms (using things you already have) in time for the big day…
Fancy making your own neon snowflake light to decorate your home for Christmas? I’ve shared the full DIY project along with photos of my own minimalist snowy white festive bedroom…
Christmas trees? Nah! Santa? Who? We all know that the real star of Christmas is the sprout. Whether you love them or loathe them, they’re the most hotly anticipated visitors on the 25th December and I think they deserve to be celebrated. So I’ve DIYed my own stalk of sprouts,
If you haven’t got a Christmas tree or simply can’t fit one into your home, this DIY copper-pipe tree is a great slimline option. You can make it yourself using offcuts from your plumbing project, a broom handle and a piece of pallet wood, so it’s practically free!
Here’s another DIY festive décor project for you – a glittery light-up neon snowflake. You can hang it on the wall to create a fabulously festive feature or use it as a lamp on your bedside table.
Who needs shop-bought Christmas lights when you can make your own, eh? This wall-mounted Christmas tree project uses electroluminescent wire to DIY a light-up neon Christmas tree using pallet wood…
Christmas is about so much more than materialism but it’s also nice to buy or create something that lets people know you are thinking about them at this time of year and that you enjoy having them in your friendship circle. Sometimes all it takes is a Christmas card so
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