Hama bead Christmas kit inspiration for adults

This post contains Amazon affiliate links

I love a festive craft project, even better if it's something that I can display in my home as I celebrate the Christmas season. At this busy time of year sometimes you just want a simple project that you can work on when you have some quiet time, and Hama beads are the perfect craft that's both relaxing and satisfying. Working from a kit means that you have everything you need in one place without having to spend time gathering materials from around the house, and I've hunted down some gorgeous Hama bead Christmas crafting kits which would be fun to work on during those long dark evenings.

You'll notice that they are all official Hama bead branded items. While they can be a little more expensive than the cheaper options, I've learned the hard way that the imitation beads are just not as good!

First up is something that you can get a start on ready for next year! The Hama bead Advent Calendar (affiliate link) is a really fun Advent craft, and then when it's finished it can be re-used year after year. The kit contains 24 festive designs and shaped pegboards which can be kept for future Christmas projects.

If you want to make something simple which you can use to decorate your home then the simple Hama bead ornaments (affiliate link) or simple Hama bead decorations (affiliate link) are perfect. The designs are quick and easy to make, and can also be worked on together with small children for some family crafting fun.

I love these Hama bead Christmas trees (affiliate link) because once you have the included small Christmas tree pegboard you can really get creative with different designs. You could even make the trees in different colours to match your festive decor, for example in red/white or purple/silver. Then the completed trees can be used as Christmas tree decorations or turned into bunting.

Finally this Hama bead Santa Claus pegboard (affiliate link) is really fun, and again could be customised to suit your own decor. You could mount him on a stick to prop up in a flower pot, hang him inside a wreath, or prop him up on the mantlepiece.

Alternatively, you could just treat yourself to a big bucket of coloured Hama beads (affiliate link) or a selection of mini Hama beads (affiliate link) and browse my Hama bead Christmas crafts and projects which is packed with ideas for both simple and more complex Hama bead crafts which are perfect for this time of year!

Hama bead fairy light bunting

Christmas gift ideas for book lovers

This post contains Amazon affiliate links

If you have a book lover in your life, then finding a gift for them this Christmas is easy! Just think about what sort of book lover they are (or maybe they are like me, and could fit into every category!)

Gift ideas for book lovers...

...with a large 'To Be Read' pile

I always have a pile of books that I want to read, and I enjoy having a selection that I can choose from depending on my mood. Help your book lover to keep them organised with some pretty bookends (affiliate link),  a decorative shallow basket (affiliate link) or even a large book trolley (affiliate link)!

...who like to be comfortable while they are reading

I love to read in bed, propped up on cushions with a hot water bottle by my feet. Help make your reader more comfortable with a supportive reading pillow (affiliate link), a clip on reading light (affiliate link) or a foldable bed tray (affiliate link) to keep drinks and snacks handy.

Photo credit Micheile Henderson via Unsplash

...who read while away from home

I love my Kindle (affiliate link) for reading while I'm travelling, it means that I can have a book with me for every reading mood and also access to lots of free books to download. A waterproof Kindle case (affiliate link) comes in handy for reading, whether you are the beach, by the pool, or just at home and in the bath!

...who lend out their books

Most readers enjoy sharing their books with others, but sometimes a temporary lending situation can turn into a permanent one - I've replaced books several times that have never made it back to me. I use book plates or stickers (affiliate link) for my favourite books or you could take it one step further and buy a personal library kit (affiliate link) so that no book will ever go missing again!

...who have several books on the go at once

Readers always need bookmarks! I have loads, and yet I never seem to be able to find one when I need one. You could look for a personalised one, make one, or else buy a large pack of pretty bookmarks (affiliate link) so that your reader will always have one to hand. 

Another great idea is a set of sticky index tabs (affiliate link) which can be used to mark favourite chapters or passages. 

Photo credit Kelsy Gagnebin via Unsplash

...who have a particular favourite book or author

World of Books has a dedicated Rare Books section which I love to browse - you might find a first or special edition of a book, and the prices are very reasonable. You could also look for a biography of an author that they like, or a compilation book which includes their favourite author and other similar writers. There are plenty of websites which can suggest new books based on books that you've enjoyed, and you might help them to discover a new favourite.

....who read while they are eating

Maybe it's a bad habit, but if I'm settling down with a book in some peace and quiet I'll often make myself a hot drink and a selection of snacks, or else I will read while I'm eating a meal. Choose food which can be eaten with one hand and doesn't make your fingers messy - think healthy options like nuts or dried fruit, or more indulgent treats like suger coated chocolates, mints and jelly sweets.

An adjustable book stand (affiliate link) or a simple hand book holder (affiliate link) can make reading while eating much more comfortable.

...who enjoy book reading challenges

There are plenty of scratch off posters with top books (affiliate link) which are fun to use and display, and a great way to find some reading inspiration. You can also look for a book filled with book suggestions, like 1000 Books to Read Before you Die (affiliate link) which would certainly keep even an avid reader busy!

...who want to remember what they've read

You can choose a dedicated book journal (affiliate link), or else any pretty notebook and pen can do the job. There is plenty of reading journal inspiration online, so if you are feeling crafty you could even take the time to set up some reading journal pages to get them started. If they are crafty, add some bookish stickers (affiliate link) or a set of pretty washi tapes (affiliate link).

Photo credit Ayako via Unsplash

I hope that this has given you plenty of ideas for the reader in your life this Christmas!

Mini Christmas cross stitch gift tags craft

Last year I shared some free mini Christmas cross stitch designs which can be used for all sorts of pixel crafts. I've written about lots of different ways that you can use mini Christmas cross stitch motifs in your crafts, and today I thought I'd share the latest one that I've been working on! These mini Christmas cross stitch gift tags with a glittery frame are really quick and simple to make and add a sweet personal touch to Christmas gifts.

You can find the cross stitch designs here - free mini Christmas cross stitch patterns.

I chose four of my favourite designs to turn into Christmas gift tags. They are really quick to stitch up, and are a great way to use up scraps of fabric and thread from your stash. When stitched on 14 count Aida fabric each design measures about 2cm square. Make sure to leave a border around the stitching to allow for a frame, I used a piece of fabric that was 5cm square. 

To make the frames I used some glittery card. I cut out a frame that measured 5cm square with a 1cm border. I trimmed my cross stitch pieces slightly, then used some tape to stick them to the back of the frame, making sure that the design remained central.

To back the gift tags I used white card so that the recipient's name can be easily seen. I used double sided tape to stick the cards to a backing piece of white cardboard.

Then I used a single hole punch to make a hole in the corner of each gift card, and I threaded through some festive string to attach to a present or gift bag.

I'm really pleased with how they turned out, and I think that they look really sweet!

Hama bead mini Christmas wreath magnets

These Hama bead wreath magnets are really simple to make and make a lovely gift at Christmas, especially when they contain the photograph of the giver!

The mini Hama bead wreath design can be made on any size circular pegboard, and all you need are some green and red beads. If you have them it's nice to have a selection of different green beads, but if you only have the one shade then that will work well too. You could also use different colours instead of the red beads - maybe a variety of different colours to look like coloured fairy lights!

Once the beads have been ironed, I like to leave them flat under some heavy books until they are cool, so that they keep a nice flat shape.

Related post - Ironing tips for Hama beads

In the centre of each wreath you need to glue a photograph. I like to keep the sample photographs that come from our school photographer as they are the perfect size for crafts like this and I know that my children will be looking smart!

To turn the Hama bead wreaths into a magnet I used some magnetic tape. The tape is self-adhesive, and I find that it sticks really well for small Hama bead projects like this. But you can use any type of magnet, and if you aren't confident in the quality of your glue you can also add a piece of tape over the back to hold it firmly in place. I've found that glue dots work very well for sticking magnets down. 

The wreaths are finished off with a small bow made from some narrow red ribbon glued into place. The children loved making these magnets, and it would be fun to make some each year with updated photographs so that we can see how they change over the years!

If you enjoyed this craft you might like to see some more of my Hama bead crafts for Christmas.

Christmas gift ideas for readers

If you are looking for a fun or useful gift for the reader in your life this Christmas then look no further - I've collected together a lovely range of book and literary gifts that you may not have thought of, and that will definitely be appreciated by the book lover on your gift list!

For reading in bed

Bed is my favourite place to read, it's warm, cosy, and away from the rest of the house. We don't have many cushions so it can get a bit uncomfy, I'd love a proper support cushion so that I could sit up properly! I've also got my eye on one of these portable tables that you can prop up over your lap, the perfect place to keep a notebook and pen, a drink, and a plate of biscuits!

For reading on the move

When I go on holiday or for travelling I always take my Kindle, because I like having access to as many books as I can, including new titles and old favourites, so I always have something that I'm in the mood for reading. I find a waterproof case really useful, it's great for reading on the beach or by the pool (and I also use it at home for reading my Kindle in the bath!) A personal reading light is always useful, as the ones on planes don't always point where you want them to or might disturb fellow travellers. If you are reading while sitting in once place for long periods I like this tool that holds the pages open without causing you cramp in your hands

To mark a place

You can never have too many bookmarks! I know that I have loads, and yet I'm always hunting for a scrap piece of paper to use when I need one! You could buy a lovely personalised bookmark, or even have a go at making one yourself.

To make sure that books come back home

My library is very fluid, I'm always lending out books and passing on the ones that I've finished with. If you want to make sure that a particular book always returns to you it's a good idea to mark it in some way, whether that's with an embossed stamp or just a simple book plate.

To store and display the book collection

I love having my books on display, and there are some really unusual bookshelves around if you are looking for something a bit different. I can't also never have too many bookends, they are a great way of making your shelves look tidier, especially if you like to display other items as well as books.

I hope that you find some inspiration here!

Photo credit - Prasanna Kumar via Unsplash

Hama bead gift ideas for all ages and abilities

Where would my Hama bead craft blog be at this time of year without a Hama bead gift list? I've used many different Hama bead products and kits over the last few years, and so I thought I'd put together some gift ideas if you are thinking about buying Hama beads for friends and family. I've included some ideas for Hama bead crafters of all ages, as well as a couple of extra ideas for those people that already enjoy Hama beads and might be looking for something a bit different.

For young children - the very first Maxi Hama bead kits

Maxi Hama beads are the very largest size of bead, and are aimed at children around 3 or 4 years old. I must confess that my children started on the next size up, the Midi beads, straightaway so we never used this size of bead, but they look like a brilliant product for young children and would also be very easy to reuse if you didn't actually iron them - a great way to improve fine motor skills. A kit would probably be a good place to start although might be a bit limiting as the boards can only be used to make one shaped design. A tub of beads and a simple pegboard or two would be a fab way to spark their creativity.

For older children - working with the Midi Hama beads

The Midi Hama beads are the most popular size, and are aimed at children aged five and over or adults. They can be used by younger children (I wrote here about my daughter using them when she was two) but little ones will need to be very carefully supervised to make sure that the beads don't end up somewhere that they aren't supposed to be.

If you know that your recipient already enjoys using Hama beads, then you can't go wrong with a large box of mixed colours. If you want to introduce them to the craft then there are some brilliant gift sets available to get them started by working on some fun and easy projects. In my experience these kits always contain plenty of beads so that there will be some left over to make some other items, and they often come with some fun, shaped boards.

For adult crafters - making projects using mini Hama beads

Related post - Hama bead projects for adults

I personally love working with the Mini Hama beads, because you can use them to create some really intricate and detailed projects. They can be fiddly to use though, especially at first! If you are buying Mini Hama beads for an adult crafter I'd recommend beginning with a kit to get them started. However if you know that your recipient already enjoys using the mini beads, then there are some really good value packs of mixed beads available which include many beads in a wide range of colours.

Related post - A guide to mini Hama beads

For seasoned Hama bead crafters

I'm pretty sure that any regular Hama bead crafter would be very happy with a massive tub of mixed Hama beads in either mixed or plain colours - I know that I would! But there are also some fun themed Hama bead kits available that might inspire them to try out some new ideas. Finally, a pretty and practical storage solution for all those beads would definitely be welcome!

You could also point them towards my blog post sharing an entire year of Hama bead project ideas - An entire year of Hama bead project ideas

Gift guide - Pixel art style craft kits for adults

This post contains a gifted review item.

I really enjoy working on crafts that give a pixel art style effect - where tiny coloured elements are placed together to form a larger picture. My favourite craft of this type is probably cross stitch, but that can be a very time consuming hobby - one of my cross stitch samplers took me seven years! 

There are however plenty of different crafts that give a similar look to cross stitch, and are much easier and quicker to complete. I thought that I'd round up a few craft kits that would make the perfect gift for someone that wants to create something beautiful, without it taking too much time or requiring too much skill.

Dot Art Sticker Books

Firstly, I was recently sent this Van Gogh Dot Art Sticker Book to review, one of two sticker art books which represent famous and popular paintings in London's National Gallery. You can choose from Van Gogh's "A Wheatfield, with Cypresses" and George Seurat's "Bathers at Asnières", and each book allows you to understand how the artists used colours to create vibrant and luminous scenes, by recreating the work of art in stickers.

The kit contains a large poster canvas formed of coloured outlines, along with thousands of coloured round stickers. You just need to match the stickers to the outlines on the poster to recreate the painting, and it doesn't matter if you don't get it exactly right as you'll still end up with a beautiful and unique work of art.

Diamond painting

Diamond painting has become very popular over the last few years, and it's easy to see why. It's a very satisfying craft that can be completed quickly and easily, and you can buy a wide range of different kits which include everything that you need and are very reasonably priced. I bought my sugar skull diamond painting kit in the US, and we bought my daughter a Unicorn diamond painting kit which was a lovely project and looks brilliant when framed in her room.

Mini Hama beads

Regular readers will know how much I love working with Hama beads, and while they are a little more fiddly than the crafts above I really like the intricate results that you can achieve. This Russian Doll mosaic picture was adapted from a design that I found online, and I also like the small kits that you can buy which have some lovely designs and plenty of spare beads to use for your own projects.

I hope that I've given you some inspiration for gifts for that crafty person in your life, or maybe even for yourself!

Hama bead gifts for adults

With Christmas approaching fast, if you want to get creative and craft some of your own Christmas presents it's definitely time to be thinking about it. A few weeks ago I shared a blog post with some Hama bead projects that children can gift to their friends, and so I thought that I'd follow this up with a post on Hama bead projects that make great gifts for adults.

Some of these crafts are brilliant for children to make for the adults in their life, but there are also some projects, particularly those using the tiny mini Hama beads, that are fun to make for your own adult friends that can be both useful and decorative!

Related post - Ironing tips for Hama beads

These Hama bead covered pen holders are really easy to make, and take advantage of the way that an ironed Hama bead piece is pliable while still warm and can be moulded into different shapes. The Hama beads are ironed as a flat design, and then curved to fit the shape of the jar or tin before being glued into place. They are a fun way to brighten up the desk, and also make useful storage.

I love the Tiled Russian doll picture that I made a few years ago, and it sits on a small wooden easel above my desk. It's a really nice decorative piece, and the mini Hama beads make for a really intricate design. I think a picture like this would make a lovely and unusual gift!

Related post - A guide to mini Hama beads

I also used mini Hama beads to make these Mini Hama bead decorative plant markers. They were fun and simple to make, and a great way to brighten up plant pots.

Another decorative piece that I love is my Hama bead quilt style picture. This picture was a way to use up the odds and ends of Hama beads in different colours that we had left over from various kits. I keep it in the bathroom and it makes me smile while I'm brushing my teeth! A small child could easily put together a picture like this which would look lovely framed, and you could help them out by letting them choose from a selection of Hama beads in colours which work well together and which suit the recipient's decor.

Coasters are always useful, and I've written a whole post with lots of different designs for Hama bead coasters, also with different themes like Halloween or Easter. A set would make a lovely gift!

Hama bead photo frames are another good present that children can make for adults, and they can then be gifted containing a photo of the child, or a relevant print or postcard. I've made several different types of Hama bead frames over the years, and I think that these cheerful summer themed ones are my favourites so far.

Finally, magnets are always a useful gift, and these retro Tetris inspired Hama bead magnets will definitely appeal to adults like me that remember spending hours playing Tetris when they were younger! These designs are super easy to make and are also a lot of fun to play with!

And if you think that your adult recipient would also enjoy crafting with Hama beads themselves, you might like to point them towards this blog post - Ten Hama bead projects for adults!

Gift ideas for crafty Mums

With Christmas approaching, I thought I'd take a look at some gift ideas for Mums that enjoy crafting. Crafting is something that can easily be put to one side when children come along and reduce the amount of free time available, but I've always found taking time to craft really important for relaxation and a sense of accomplishment. So whether you are buying for a crafty person or looking for ideas for yourself, I hope that there's something here that appeals to you!

Mini Hama beads

If you are a creative Mum then it's pretty much a given that you'll enjoy doing creative things with your children, and perhaps being inspired by the crafting products that they use. That's how I discovered Hama beads, and I particularly really love the tiny mini Hama beads.

Related post - A guide to crafting with mini Hama beads

You can buy some lovely little kits like Hama Mini Bead Owls or Mini Hama bead butterflies which are quite quick to make up. This isn't a craft to do around young children though, I've learned from experience how easily the boards can be knocked over and all your hard work destroyed!

Colouring books and pens

One very popular craft that you can easily do around small children is colouring. I have quite a selection of colouring books now, and I was recently sent some lovely new ones from Phoenix Yard Books to try. The One and Only Mandala Colouring Book and The Second One and Only Mandala Colouring Book contain some lovely, detailed mandalas to colour in a range of styles. Mandalas are a traditional source of meditation and wisdom, and colouring them in is great for some relaxing creative time.

If you enjoy colouring alongside your children I also love the idea of The One and Only Enormous Colouring Book for Adults. It's a large format book filled with gorgeous patterns that can be easily removed from the book and worked on by several people at once. We've been having a lot of fun colouring in together and it's lovely to see how differently everyone interprets the patterns.

Personally I like to colour with felt pens, I have these ones - Stabilo Cappi Fibre Tip Felt Coloured Pens - which are lovely to use and come in a good range of colours. For more detailed work though many people prefer to use coloured pencils, and you can get some lovely sets, like these Faber-Castell colouring pencils in a tin.

A cross stitch kit

Another craft which I've found good to get on with around small children is cross stitch. I like it because you can pick it up and put it down easily so it's good if you are constantly being interrupted, not like knitting or crochet where you have to concentrate on counting stitches! You can make some lovely samplers to display your baby's birth information like this Dimensions Birth Record Cross Stitch Kit. There are also some gorgeous cross stitch designs that you can use to decorate your child's room, like this The Stitching Shed Village Sampler Cross Stitch Kit. I chose to make a sampler for myself based on a historical design, and although it took me years and years I'm so proud of it!

Classes to learn a new craft or skill

A session of evening classes would make a lovely crafty gift, especially for things like stained glass or pottery that are difficult to try out at home, and it saves having to invest in expensive equipment. And for me it's not only the monetary value of the classes that I'd appreciate but a set evening each week where I knew that my 'me time' was booked in!

Crafting with friends

You could also consider money or vouchers towards a crafty evening with friends. One of our local garden centres runs crafting evenings where you can enjoy a glass of wine while you craft, and pottery painting together is always fun. Some companies will loan a basket of materials so you can do pottery painting at home and then pay for what you have used, or you could give enough vouchers for a group of friends to go along together.

Pretty craft storage

Make it clear that these craft materials belong to Mum! For storing sewing supplies you could look for a gorgeous traditional wooden cantilever sewing box or a more modern printed fabric sewing box. If you are buying for someone that loves organising they might light a set of little plastic drawers to keep tiny bits and pieces safely out of the way of little fingers.

A craft kit to try out something new

I love craft kits because they contain everything that you need for a craft, so if you give a craft kit as a gift you can be sure that the recipient won't need to go out and purchase any extra materials. How about a kit for something like Decopatch - I received this décopatch Love Kit a couple of years back and it kept me happily occupied for ages. I've also enjoyed kits for soap making and candle making which were quick and easy to use and gave lovely results.

A kit to make something for the children

I've seen some gorgeous kits which have everything you need to knit or crochet a baby blanket like this rainbow crochet baby blanket kit , or else I've already mentioned cross stitch samplers. I remember my Mum shopping at Clothkits when I was younger, and I still have the doll with clothes that she made me.

I hope that this gives you some gift buying inspiration for the crafty Mum (or indeed Dad!) in your life!

I received the adult colouring books to review but all other products have been purchased or selected by me without any incentive.