So I have decided that this year for the Holiday’s I’m going to try to be more crafty. I want to fill my home and my life with things I have made, even if they look like they were created by a 2-year-old (I seriously am terrible with the technical side of things). I will try though and maybe even post some of my ventures here or on Instagram…maybe (see note above lol).

For todays post, I wanted to share some fun kitschy Christmas Craft ideas that I have found from other creators, that you can make this holiday season.

So lets get crafty friends!

The Vintage Inn Blog Christmas Blog Post: 10 Awesome Kitschy Christmas Craft Ideas

I have created a collection on Etsy for Christmas Craft Ideas if you need a bit of help getting started. Happy Crafting!

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

10 Awesome Kitschy Christmas Craft Ideas

1. How to make a Rainbow Ornament Mantel. I love this look! So Colourful!

Chirstmas Craft: How to make a Rainbow Ornament Mantel

Source: Martha Stewart

2. How to make Winter Village Jars/or Kitschy Christmas Scenes

My friend created these last year and I am madly in love with them and would love to recreate one for myself. Unfortunately this year I dropped the ball on it as I have no vintage Christmas decor to use, but I will start collecting for next year.

Christmas Craft: How to make Winter Village Jars/or Kitschy Christmas Scenes — Source: eclecticallyvintage

3. Here is another one: ‘Car in Jar Snow Globe‘

4. Pastel Christmas Bottlebrush Trees by Saturday Finds

Christmas Craft: Pastel Christmas Bottlebrush Trees — Source: Saturday Finds

5 & 6. Another Bottlebrush Tree Craft idea PLUS Snowfall Garland & Snowball Lights (love this!) by Mod Vintage Life.

Christmas Craft: Bottlebrush Tree Craft idea PLUS Snowfall Garland & Snowball Lights — Source: Mod Vintage Life

7. Vintage Christmas Ornament Wreath by Retro Renovation

Christmas Craft: Vintage Christmas Ornament Wreath — Source: Retro Renovation

8. Festive Felt Trees by Allsorts Makery. I love how colourful these are.

9. Christmas Garland by Creative Breathing

This one has multiple steps but I was really intrigued with just one part, the skate pictured below.

Christmas Craft: felt skate ornament for a Christmas Garland. — Source: Creative Breathing

Here is the full garland if you are feeling really crafty.

Holiday Vintage Felt Garland Christmas Craft — Source: Creative Breathing

10. Now this is cool! Twinkle Lights Shadow Box by The Glamorous Housewife

Christmas Craft: Twinkle Lights Shadow Box

Oct 2023 Note: It appears that you can no longer purchase this handy little resource. I will update the link below if this changes.

Lastly, Fellow blogger Brittany at Va-Voom Vintage has actually written an E-Book on Kitschmas Crafting which you can purchase HERE. Fantastic! More Kitschmas Crafting for everyone!!

kitschmas crafting with va voom vintage retro christmas crafts tutorials ebook

So I have been thinking…can someone make all of these for me instead? lol! Happy Crafting..everyone else.

Further Reading: Collection of Vintage Christmas Blog Posts from the 1920s-1960s

Liz 🙂

I have fond memories every Christmas season waiting for the big Sears Wish book to arrive at our doorstep so I could circle all the toys that I wanted Santa to bring me. It was a big deal in my home and the only time my brother and I would not fight as we turned each page together pointing and squealing with delight at everything that appeared before us.

1950s Vintage Catalog -A Sears Wish Book featuring an illustration of Santa and a Christmas Tree.

The Sears wish book still exists today but other Christmas Catalogues that appeared long before Sears did were the Canadian department stores Eaton’s and Simpsons (which would later join forces with the American store Sears to become Simpsons-Sears).

Just like I dreamed of the toys in the Sears Wish book, Children before me dreamed about Christmas morning when they looked at the pages of the Eaton’s & Simpsons catalogues, knowing that they would receive only a few gifts from their pages but were still very excited none the less.

For today’s blog I wanted to share some festive vintage cover photos from these catalogues because they are to darn wonderful not to share. Lets browse shall we?

Vintage Christmas Catalogue / Catalog Covers

Christmas 1903-Eaton’s featured a wonderful looking Gibson Girl, all fantastically decked out in reds and furs. This is some delightful artwork.

1900's Vintage Catalog-Eatons vintage christmas catalogue 1903 featuring an illustration of a stylish Gibson Girl in winter / Christmas Outfit. — Source: The CDR

1905 catalog I believe is focusing in on all the toys that the kids are dreaming of getting as they write Santa their wish lists (seen to the right leaving with their letters).

1900's Vintage Catalog-Eatons Christmas Catalogue 1905 — Source: Archives of Ontario

1906 Simpson Christmas Gifts Book. Santa is a bit scary looking in this photo I must say.

1900's Vintage Catalog-Simpson Christmas Catalogue from 1906 featuring an illustration of Santa. — Source: Library & Archives Canada

Eaton’s Catalogues were also distributed in the Western Provinces and from my understanding usually had a different image then central Canada.

1900's Vintage Catalog-Eaton's Christmas catalogue 1908 — Source: Wikimedia

This 1937 Sears Christmas book I think is my favorite of all the images shown here. The excitement on these children’s face is perfect and exactly how I remember being on Christmas morning. I also am loving the little boys head of curls, adorable!

1930s Vintage Catalog-1937 Sears Christmas Catalogue featuring an image of 2 kids waiting to see Santa. — Source: Wish Book Web

1944 Sears Christmas Book-Dolls and Stuffed Animals for every good little good girl & boy.

1940s Vintage Catalog: 1944 Sears Christmas Book featuring vintage 1940s toys. Dolls and Stuffed Animals for every good little good girl & boy. — Source: Wish book web

1947 Sears Christmas Book with mini Santa or a very big present and regular sized Santa.

1940s Vintage Catalog: Sears 1947 Christmas Catalogue featuring an illustration of a large Christmas Present and Santa tying the bow. — Source: Wish Book Web

Punkinhead

Eaton’s launched Punkinhead, the teddy bear with the thick woolly tuft of hair, for the Christmas season of 1948.

The story of the little bear who eventually gets to be in Santa’s Parade charmed children for the next decade and everyone would cheer for Santa’s little helper in the Parade.

Eaton’s distributed story booklets of the sweet little bear’s adventures and featured Punkinhead on records and television commercials (Source).

1950s Vintage Catalog: Eaton's Mail Order Christmas Book, 1954-55 (Toronto) featuring the Mascot Punkinhead. — Source: Ontario Archives

All I want for Christmas is a cute and cuddly-Punkinhead! 1956 Eaton’s Christmas Catalog.

1950s Vintage Catalog: Eatons Christmas Catalogue 1956 featuring an illustration of a young girl holding her teddy bear Christmas Present.

Cute Giraffe alert! This is such a great image, I want a hug from Santa now. Simpsons-Sears Christmas Catalogue.

1950s Vintage Catalog: Simpson-Sears 1957 Christmas Catalogue featuring Santa Claus holding kids toys.

Eaton’s 1959 Christmas Catalog. Is there a message in this image? Because why is Santa being a puppeteer to these children? Maybe Santa equals the stores/retail and they run the show?? ohhhh maybe. Or maybe it’s just a picture and nothing more? Who knows.

1950s Vintage Catalog: 1959 Eatons Christmas Catalogue featuring an illustration of Santa playing with kid puppets. — Source: Ontario Archives

So many fun catalogue images, I could go on and on but I will end it here today.

Question for todays blog: Do you have a memory of looking thru a Sears book or maybe an equivalent department store for your Christmas presents? Or maybe it was a family trip to the toy store to look that way? Whatever it is I would love to hear your memories.

Further Reading:

Vintage Christmas Blog Posts from the 1920s-1960s
Vintage Magazines & Vintage Catalogs (Archived blog posts)

Happy Holidays!

Liz 🙂

Category: Vintage Christmas