Gift ideas |

Handmade Christmas Ornaments to Make Your Festive Gifting Extra Special

If you’ve been following me on social media for a while, you’ll probably know that Little Blue Fawn began as a passion project for me. I’ve been making handmade cards and keepsakes for friends and family as long as I can remember. I think there’s just something extra special about receiving something that someone has not only thought about but also taken the time and effort to make by hand.

Over time, what began as thoughtful gifts for loved ones grew into a small business, dedicated to helping others add that same warmth and joy to their own special moments.

Christmas is my favourite time of year – the festive atmosphere, the twinkling lights, and that feeling that people are just a little kinder and a little more joyful. It’s also the perfect moment to make someone feel appreciated, to let them know you’ve thought of them and that you care. A small gesture can go such a long way and adding a personal touch to your greeting cards or Christmas gifts makes it all the more meaningful.

This is why I love creating small, thoughtful Christmas gifts – the kind you can give to neighbours, coworkers, teachers, or as a Secret Santa gift. Something heartfelt and personal and just a little more magical than the mass-produced gifts you find from big corporations.

Personalised Christmas Greeting cards with a keepsake

One of the easiest ways to make your festive greetings feel more meaningful is to start with the card itself. My personalised Christmas cards each come with a handmade ornament attached, turning your message into both a heartfelt greeting and a little keepsake for the Christmas tree that your loved ones can treasure year after year.

If you’ve seen an ornament that you love that isn’t already available as a card, just get in touch, I can turn any of my ornaments into a personalised greeting card for you.

Personalised Christmas Ornaments

I also make a range of small clay keepsakes that are perfect for Christmas gifting. They’re affordable, personal and fit through a letterbox – ideal for sending to friends and family through the post.

Gingerbread Family Ornaments

One of my favourites over the last few years has been my gingerbread ornaments set. I make them is two sizes: a larger one that’s perfect for adults, and a smaller one designed especially for children’s names. They’re a sweet, thoughtful way to share a little Christmas cheer with families, giving them a personalised Christmas tree decoration they can hang on their tree year after year.

First Christmas ornaments

For families who have welcomed a new baby this year, I make First Christmas ornaments, personalised with the child’s name and the year – a lovely keepsake to celebrate such a special milestone.

And for couples who’ve welcomed their first little one just in time for Christmas, I create a onesie-shaped ornament featuring the baby’s name and birth details. It’s a sweet way to celebrate their first Christmas as a family and becomes a decoration they’ll treasure for years to come.

Personalised Christmas ornaments for couples

For couples, I create heart-shaped ornaments personalised with their names. It’s a simple but meaningful keepsake, perfect for marking a first Christmas together, an anniversary, or just to show someone how much they mean to you. A little heart they can hang on the Christmas tree year after year.

And for couples who have just moved in together, I make a house-shaped ornament personalised with their names and the date they moved in. It’s a lovely keepsake to mark the start of a new chapter.

There’s something so special about giving a handmade gift that can be treasured for years. If you’d like to see more of my personalised Christmas ornaments, you can browse the full collection here.

Tutorials |

How to apply vinyl decal stickers (a beginner’s guide with photos)

This is a beginner’s guide on how to apply vinyl decal stickers. If you’ve never used a vinyl decal before it can be a bit overwhelming as the application differs slightly from that of a standard sticker. But I hope this detailed, step-by-step guide will show you just how easy it is to apply a vinyl decal to your item!

What Surfaces Can Vinyl Decal Stickers Be Applied To?

Vinyl decal stickers are becoming increasingly popular as they are an easy and inexpensive way to add a bit of a personal touch to your items. They can be applied to any clean, smooth and non-porous surface such as glass, plastic, ceramic etc. and are especially popular for personalising water bottles, organising pantry and laundry room or custom wedding decorations and bridal gifts such as bridesmaids boxes, champagne glasses or seating charts.

I have a lot of different vinyl decal stickers available in my shop so I thought I would show you how easy it is to apply vinyl decals stickers to your items.

How to Apply Vinyl Decal Stickers in 5 Easy Steps

  1. 1.Clean item’s surface

    How to apply vinyl decal label - clean surface

    First, make sure that the surface you’ll be applying the vinyl decal to is clean and dust and grease-free. Use water or rubbing alcohol, if necessary, and use a paper towel or a microfiber cloth that won’t leave any lint or fibre on the surface. Make sure that the surface is completely dry before moving to step 2.

  2. 2.Peel away backing sheet

    Vinyl decal stickers are usually made of three layers – a backing sheet, the vinyl itself and a top layer which is a transfer (application) tape. Before attaching the vinyl decal to your item you will need to remove the backing sheet which protects the sticky part of the vinyl decal.

    How to apply vinyl decal label - rub over design

    First, put the vinyl decal on a flat surface, the transfer tape side up. Use your fingers (you can also use a credit card) to rub over the design using moderate pressure. This will help attach the vinyl decal to the transfer tape and release it from the backing sheet.

    How to apply vinyl decal label - peel away backing sheet

    Next, turn your vinyl decal over (backing sheet side up). Start from one of the corners and carefully peel off the backing sheet at a 180-degree angle. If the vinyl decal is lifting off with the backing sheet instead of staying attached to the transfer tape, drop the backing sheet back into place and rub over the transfer tape (top layer) again, paying particular attention to the parts of the design that were peeling off with the backing sheet.

    You should now be left with the transfer tape and the vinyl decal sticker attached to it.
    The transfer tape helps ensure that all individual pieces of the vinyl decal are positioned correctly. It also makes it easier to transfer the vinyl decal from the backing sheet to your item.

  3. 3.Place vinyl decal on the item

    How to apply vinyl decal label - apply vinyl to item

    Carefully lay your design vinyl decal side down (that’s the sticky side) onto your item.

    How to apply vinyl decal label rub over applied design

    Rub over the transfer tape, applying pressure to the parts with the vinyl decal. This will help ensure the vinyl decal sticker is well adhered to your item’s surface and will not peel off with the transfer tape.

  4. 4.Peel away transfer tape

    How to apply vinyl decal label - peel away the transfer tape

    Slowly peel away the transfer tape at a 180-degree angle.
    If the vinyl decal is lifting off with the transfer tape, try rubbing over the transfer tape and the vinyl decal again. You can also leave the transfer tape to sit for a few hours and then try removing it again. This will give the glue in the vinyl decal more time to adhere to your item and will make it easier to remove the transfer tape.

And that’s it, you are all done! The vinyl decal is now applied to your item.

To ensure the longevity of your vinyl decal sticker hand-wash only and use a soft, non-abrasive cleaning cloth and water.

Here’s a link to the vinyl decal sticker I used in this guide:

How to apply vinyl decal stickers a beginners guide with photos