How to Slow Down & Make Something this Christmas: Ideas From Cards to Sketchbook Play

Christmas has a way of sneaking up on us. One minute it’s September, the next you’re knee deep in wrapping paper, half written lists, and a calendar full of social plans. It’s brilliant, but it’s a lot. This is exactly why, every year, more people reach for a sketchbook, some craft supplies, or even a fresh A4 sketchbook as a way to slow down and make the season feel a little more thoughtful.

Creativity and Christmas go hand in hand. Whether it’s crafting decorations, sketching on a quiet evening, or letting the kids loose with an A5 sketchbook, the festive period gives us permission to make things again, properly with our hands. This also avoids the mindlessness of online checkouts.

Where Creativity Fits Into a Busy December

You don’t need to be an “artist” to get something out of an art sketchbook. A sketchbook is essentially a stress free zone. A place that doesn’t care if your snowman looks mildly haunted or your tree resembles a carrot.

That’s the beauty of it, the point isn’t perfection. It’s taking 10 minutes to sit down with a brew, open your pocket sized A5 sketchbook or A6 sketchbook, and switch off from the chaos for a minute. Even a tiny small sketchbook becomes a little bit of calm.

Lots of people love using a watercolour sketchbook at this time of year. There’s something so satisfying about painting simple winter washes on proper 300gsm watercolour paper. If watercolours feel intimidating, a classic cartridge paper sketchbook, with smooth 150gsm paper is perfect for doodles, marker art or quick sketches of your tree, a mince pie, or the cat sitting in a box full of tinsel.

The Return of Handmade Christmas

There’s a nostalgic sort of joy that comes with making things for Christmas. It takes us back to being kids at the table with glue everywhere and a paper snowflake that definitely wasn’t symmetrical… but we loved it anyway.

Now, homemade crafting feels less like schoolwork and more like a small luxury. Personalised wrapping, hand painted cards, illustrated gift tags and much more! They all look and feel amazing, and they feel more meaningful than grabbing a multipack in a rush.

A simple roll of Kraft paper becomes beautiful with a handful of markers. Your recycled sketchbook offcuts can be turned into gift tags. A black paper sketchbook page torn cleanly at the edge makes striking, modern-looking labels (gold paint pens look incredible on black paper).

If you’ve got a square sketchbook, those pages are perfect for geometric Christmas patterns or repeat motifs you can scan and turn into printable wrapping paper. (People love this idea and it’s weirdly addictive.)

If painting is your thing, using an A4 watercolour sketchbook or A3 watercolour sketchbook to create snowy scenes or loose festive florals gives your cards that proper “I actually made this” charm.

Why not also try doodling and creating patterns with paint markers on perfect for paint marker paper. The super smooth surface allows for endless movement and fun across the page.

Making Decorations You’ll Actually Want on the Tree

There’s a rising trend of making your own decorations rather than buying plastic ones that end up stuffed in a box for years. Some families even start a tradition where each person creates one new decoration a year.

A few sheets from a thick paper sketchbook can become:

• Folded paper stars
• Hand drawn baubles
• Painted wooden discs
• 3D paper trees
• Modern minimal ornaments from black paper sketchbook sheets

A spiral sketchbook makes it easy to tear pages out cleanly, and a larger A3 sketchbook gives plenty of space for templates and cutting shapes.

If the kids want to join in, an A4 sketchbook or scrapbook becomes their festive art zone for scribbles, stickers, attempts at reindeer, the works!

Festive Family Creativity (That Doesn’t Involve Screens)

One activity that always goes down well is a sketch-off. It’s as simple as it sounds: everyone grabs a sketchbook, A4 sketchbooks, A5 sketchbooks, whatever you’ve got. Next pick a theme, set a timer and draw!

Themes could be:

• Santa on holiday
• The world’s worst snowman
• A Christmas film character
• “Draw a reindeer from memory” (always chaotic)

Using sketch pads or A4 sketchbooks keeps it level for everyone. If you’ve got a square sketchbook, those make brilliant “tile-sized” entries for judging.

The drawings always end up hilarious, and the competition becomes a yearly tradition. Even people who say, “I can’t draw” somehow end up producing masterpieces… or disasters. Both are equally entertaining and lovely traditions to look back on.

Using a Sketchbook for Some Much-Needed Headspace

December is loud. Lovely, but loud. Between social events, families visiting, last-minute prep, and the general buzz of the season, it’s very easy to burn out.

A hardback sketchbook can become a quiet little escape.
Lots of people use their sketchbook to:

• Journal lightly alongside sketches
• Plan gift ideas visually
• Track festive memories
• Create a “December daily” sketch page
• Unwind with quick pencil drawings or watercolour blobs

Whether you prefer a big, open A3 sketchbook size or a compact small sketchbook you can carry around, having a space that’s just yours makes a real difference.

Bringing It All Together

The tools you use matter. A good quality sketchbook, whether it’s A4 sketchbook or A3 sketchbook, a watercolour book or all media 150gsm sketchbook, they can make creativity feel easier, smoother, and far more enjoyable.

The Artgecko range includes:

• cartridge paper sketchbooks for everyday drawing - The Classy Gecko Range
• watercolour sketchbooks for painting festive scenes - The Splashy Gecko Range
• recycled sketchbooks for sustainable crafting - The Eco Gecko Range
• black paper sketchbooks for bold, modern designs - The Shady Gecko Range
• large sketchbooks for bigger projects - we have Classy Sketchbooks that go up to A2 sizes
• small sketchbooks for on-the-go ideas - Our Classy's also start at A6 and A5, as well as Swanky travel Sketchbooks starting at size A5

Whether you’re sketching to unwind, crafting shared memories, making decorations, or turning your ideas into handmade gifts, there’s a perfect book for it.

So as Christmas approaches, give yourself permission to create, even if it’s for five minutes at a time. Make the season yours. Draw something. Paint something. Craft something. Enjoy the process.

Because creativity is one of the few parts of Christmas that slows everything down in the best possible way.