You may think that it’s a little crazy to prepare for Christmas in July. But since most of you (my readers) are crafters, many of you will be making Christmas gifts. So you know that you need to plan ahead. I’m here to help you get organized and get things done for Christmas. I’d love for you to leave a comment and let me know if you’ve started your Christmas projects yet.
This post contains affiliate links. You won’t pay any more when you use these but I will earn a small commission on any purchases you make after clicking on them and I greatly appreciate it. Thanks for helping support my little blog!!!
Join our “12 Days of Christmas Crafting” email list and starting in October, you’ll get 12 daily emails FULL of ideas for making your own Christmas decorations, ornaments, and gifts!
5 Things I Do in July to Prepare for Christmas
Make Lists
What kind of lists?
- gift list
- gifts to make — Handmade crafts and cookies or other homemade goodies.
- gift ideas for yourself — You know people are going to ask you. Give them a few ideas. Or share your Amazon wish list with them.
- parties & other events — Don’t forget school, church, family get-togethers, etc.
- menus — Keep a basic menu for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, open house, and any other parties you may host. This post, although not specifically Christmas, helps plan a party.
- recipes — Include favorites & new recipes to try.
- travel plans — Add to your calendar and start packing lists.
- Christmas cards to send
- supplies needed for handmade gifts and cards
- shopping list for decorations, wrapping paper, etc. — Keep this with you and then watch for sales. Try not to buy anything unless it’s on sale.
- Christmas books to read to and with your kids
Free Christmas Printables
Here are a few FREE printables to help you out in this area:
- Christmas Meal Plan Printable
- Gifts Lists Printables
- Christmas Shopping and Errand Organizer
- Address List for Christmas Cards
Choose Themes/Colors
You may not do themes at your house but I have a small house and LOTS of decorations. Instead of putting everything out every year, I simplify everything around a theme or a color. If I do this in July (or at least early in the season) I know exactly what I need (or don’t need) to buy when I see holiday decor coming out in the stores.
Here are some examples:
Heather used shades of blue and green for an alternative to traditional Christmas colors.
Here’s a tree with a theme — SNOW!
Organize
Check decorations, wrapping paper, and cards from last year. If you’re organized you’ll plan a whole year and buy these things AFTER Christmas and store them with your Christmas decorations. Just don’t forget what you bought and buy them AGAIN when the stores start putting out their Christmas decor.
Sort through last year’s decorations. Throw away things that are broken, outdated, or don’t fit your style anymore. Divide decorations into decor that fits your theme/colors and things you won’t use this year.
Plan Christmas Cards:
If you want to make them, buy or order your paper, ink, and other embellishments. If you want to do a photo card, put a photo day on the calendar now and start looking at card designs online.
Plan a Wrapping Station:
Of course, you don’t want to set up a permanent wrapping station in summer, unless you have space and you can include birthday, anniversary, birth, and wedding wrapping paper, too. Angie came up with a great alternative that uses an over-the-door shoe organizer. And Sadie won me over with her stool wrapping station. (Guess what color it is???)
Organize Your Craft Room:
This is especially important for all you crafters out there. Did you read my post about what to throw away in your craft room? Read that and then throw or give away as much as you can before going on to the next step.
Purchase Supplies for Making Gifts:
Look at the list of gifts you want to make for Christmas, then make a list of all the supplies you’ll need to buy. While you’re at it, you probably found some of the supplies you’ll need when you organized your craft room. Put them together in one place to make it easy and quick when you have time to create.
Add Deadlines to Calendar:
Part of getting organized is making sure all your events are on the calendar. You’ll also want to add deadlines for handmade gifts. Mine is usually December 1. If I don’t have projects finished by then, I’ll just buy a gift or get a gift card. This makes December a much more relaxed month and I’ll have time to spend with my friends and family.
Create Gift Storage Area:
Clean out a closet, or part of a closet, to use as gift storage. How many times have you bought someone a gift early, congratulated yourself, forgot where it was, and then had to buy ANOTHER gift? Keep everything in one place and that won’t happen!
Here are a few things from Amazon that might help you get organized:
Set a Budget
Start setting aside a little money every paycheck and you won’t feel the pressure. I read on one website, “The longer you wait, the more you will spend.” Be realistic and remember that it’s not the stuff that makes Christmas special.
Here are a few posts that might help you if you want to set up a Christmas budget.
- Printable Budget Binder
- 100 Ways Thrifty People Save Money on Christmas
- How to Create a Magical Christmas When You Have No Money
Pin
Start Pinterest boards for Christmas Decor, Recipes, Gifts to Make, Christmas Ornaments, etc. If you already have those boards, sort through and delete things you don’t want to try or don’t like. Edit, edit, edit!
Looking for more ways to prepare for Christmas? Read and pin these posts for later in the year:
- 5 Things to do in August for Christmas
- How to Get Ready for Christmas in September
- 5 Things to do in October to Prepare for Christmas
- What to do in November to Prepare for Christmas
- 4 Things to do in January to Prepare for Christmas
Are you ready for Christmas? Leave a comment and let me know what I forgot to put on my list. Originally published on Jul 27, 2016. Thanks for reading!
‘Til the next project,
Ann @ Duct Tape and Denim
Victoria says
Thanks for mentioning my 100 Ways Thrifty People Save Money On Christmas piece. This is a great list of ideas. I love starting now making homemade gifts for Christmas so that I am not rushed to finish them in December. It makes the Christmas season so more relaxing when I do this.
Happy Happy Nester says
Love this, since I was thinking about Christmas the other day!!! You are so on top of things!
Mary Johanson says
It is never too early to start planning! I love this! 😉
ducttapeanddenim says
Thanks, Mary!
Thea says
Thank you so much for recommending my post about how to plan a party. I really appreciate it!
Judy Biggerstaff says
Nice post! I enjoyed reading your ways to prepare for Christmas. I have been working on a quilt that is a Christmas gift but quilting takes a while so projects have to be started early. I have my colors worked out for Christmas and I and planning a Christmas table runner I want to make. Thanks for the reminders.
Kathy A says
I love to do simple crocheting or knitting when my SO is driving us somewhere. I especially love scarves made with 2 kinds of yarn (worsted and maybe fun fur) on size 13-15 needles; it goes quickly. Right now I am making granny squares which I am sewing into cornucopias; they will hold Christmas candy, small gifts, and gift cards for the grands! Also making extras for the church bazaar and some to sell. I buy Christmas patterned cloth after Christmas and make gift bags with simple ribbon ties sewn into the side seams. Double knit scarves, material, tablecloths, and napkins found thrifting work well too; I utilize hems to minimize sewing. We used to fill the woodstove 4 times with used wrapping paper; no more! Again, a good bazaar item. I Christmas shop all year long; recently found fall/winter clothing in J C Penney’s (50-90% off) and K-Mart (spend $50, get $50 back in points to spend!). This helps stretch my retirement dollars and dress grandchildren (my 1, his 5, and 2 almost grands) for less for back-to-school, birthdays, and Christmas.
Sara @ Magical Mama Blog says
I adore this! I am ALWAYS ready for Christmas. I have a gift closet so I can spread out buying gifts for people. When I see something someone will love, I go ahead and buy it and gift it to them for either their birthday or Christmas. I’m always packing and that has been my biggest saving grace so I’m not sudden;y poor at Christmas time!
Fabulous post! #mmmblockparty
Isadora Guidoni says
A perfect list for the perfect time of year. Thanks for the ideas!
Kippi says
Wow! Great idea to have a plan and budget and not gert so far behind that I never get it all done. Great finding your post today on the link party. Happy Summer and Merry Christmas!
Liz says
Once my kids finish school for the summer, I like to set up my Christmas pages in my bullet journal, so I can add things as I think of them. Some great ideas here for Christmas forward-planning!
Becca says
I grew up in the northern hemisphere but have spent my adult life in the southern hemisphere. If you ever want to get super-organised for Christmas, just move hemispheres! When the weather turns cold I think, Oh, Christmas! And although the calendar tells me it’s June, I still can’t help but polish off my Christmas shopping, address those cards, and make sure the stocking stuffers are all in order. So now it’s mid-way through July, and everything is ready to roll.
But, there’s a hitch. I’ve spent half my life now in the southern hemisphere – so now, about the time the weather warms up, I think, Oh, Christmas! So I always leave a couple of crafts for December, and I try to spend only half my budget for the kids early, so that way I can do a bit of Christmas shopping if I want (or if they decide try absolutely must have something – but in 12 years of parenting, !t kids have never asked for anything in particular,so half the time, I just come in under budget.)
ducttapeanddenim says
lol… I never thought of that Becca. Thanks for sharing!
Jann Olson says
Christmas is always in the back of my mind. 🙂 I am always on the look out for vintage Christmas any time of year. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Sheri says
Thanks for linking up at our To Grandma’s House We Go DIY, Crafts, Recipes and More Link Party! Pinned!
Stephanie says
I love christmas and getting prepared for it. This year I’m trying to simplify a little more. My husband bought me two garbage bags of yarn for Valentine’s day at a yard sale for $5. Whoohoo for me. Lol. I’ve already crocheted 3 gifts for christmas and working on 2 more. And made 2 baby blankets for shower gifts. Plan on making several more gifts too. Thanks for your tips, I’ve already implemented several of these and getting closer to my goal of being done by thanksgiving.
Stella Gough says
I didn’t knew we can do so many things to celebrate Christmas in July. I already have a Christmas tree n place. Now, I am gonna do more exciting things to decorate my house.