Have A Holiday Craft Party

Decide on a date at least six weeks in advance to give you time to plan the party and send invitations. It will help to know now whether you want your party to be on a weekend afternoon, weekday afternoon or an evening. To know that, you need to know what you'll be doing at the party, etc.

The best way to get started with with just a plain old piece of paper and your calender. Read through this page for ideas you like (or ideas you get!) and make some notes for yourself.

Now use your notes as your outline for planning your party & assemble any other information you need. Who will you be inviting? Will there be kids? Might want to include some simple kids activities for them.

What would you like to make at your craft party? This is the perfect chance to get good friends together and craft up some wonderful handmade Christmas gifts. Need some ideas? Here's just a few:

*Christmas ornaments (of course!); each person can make one or more for themselves or for gifts. There are lots of cute and quick Christmas ornament kits or patterns to choose from. Ornaments make great holiday gift ideas for co-workers, neighbors, even the mailman!

*Christmas stockings; again, each person can make one or more for their family or for gifts. Felt stocking patterns are adorable and fast.

*Christmas decorations; same here--each person can make one or more Christmas decorations for their family or for gifts. Try wreaths, garlands, centerpieces, door hangers and more.

*Christmas gifts; now here is where you can really have some fun. Each person can make one or more Christmas gift for their family or friends, of course. So as a group, try soap-making or candle-making. Make gifts in a jar. Bead some bracelets together. Make scrapbook pages or Christmas cards together.

Another wonderful theme for a Christmas craft party is to make items for charity. Homeless shelters need scarves, hats and blankets. Nursing homes would love small handmade gifts for their residents. Veteran's Hospitals would also love to receive gifts for our veterans. What to make?

*Working as a team, create a lap quilt or granny square lap robe for nursing homes, the homeless or our veterans.

*Winter hats & scarves work up fast; rent a movie and knit or crochet up a storm. Maybe plan a prize for each person that finishes their item that day.

Helmet liners for troops; scarves, hats & socks for troops ~ these would be so appreciated!

Can you think of more?

How about washcloths, baby blankets, chemo caps, etc?

What fun activities can you plan for your Holiday Craft Party? Besides just having wonderful time visiting with your friends...well,

*Rent a movie - the latest released romantic comedy? A Christmas movie?

*If you're going to have food at your craft party, try to eat first so that everyone can have a happy full tummy and clean hands! Try finger sandwiches, a vegetable tray with dip, or holiday cookies!

*Set it up to where one person shows how to do a craft. For example, teach everyone else how to knit or crochet & have a pattern for something like a washcloth, placemat, etc. that everyone can practice on and maybe even finish during the party.