The National Museum of Scotland contacted a few illustrators based within the Edinburgh area around November time and asked us to design and illustrate some Christmas crafts for a special craft event to celebrate the holiday season at their location. I’m one of the illustrators they chose and it’s a great that they chose the “Make Your Own Christmas Ornament” design that I came up with. As a note the event is only being held for two weekends, this weekend and next weekend (6-7th and 13th-14th December).

The National Museum of Scotland team asked us to create something related to both Christmas and the Museum and this craft could be any kind of age group but of course they would still prefer children of all kinds of age. So I decided to design something that’s not too difficult to make, not at all dangerous to make and something that people can draw on and decorate themselves. They can then of course take their efforts and home and use them to decorate their homes and also to remind themselves what a great time they had at the National Museum of Scotland.

As I have a nearly three year old daughter, i used the experience of being a parent as a starting point for designing the crafts for this project. I’m always thinking about what I can do with my daughter on our days off together but as Chris and I both have a lot of work during the week we don’t really fancy any activity that is too much hassle or hard work. Also young children don’t cope very well with things that are too complicated and will get frustrated and upset. So I created this Christmas ornament template. Children can easily colour it in, they can easily stick glitter on and they can write words on it, for example Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. Children can complete the illustrations with minimal help from their parents.

So here are some of the photos we took during this craft event at the National Museum of Scotland. As mentioned before it’s only running on the 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th of December in the Grand Gallery on Ground Floor Level at the National Museum of Scotland between 12pm and 4pm. Come and have a look at what I made. Thanks again to the staff in the National Museum of Scotland for this opportunity who have been very friendly and helpful while we were there making our crafts.

Three ornaments templates I illustrated and designed for National Museum of Scotland: 

Super friendly and helpful team at the National Museum of Scotland: 

It’s a really amazing experience and feeling to see lots children making the craft I illustrated and designed:

My daughter and I making the Christmas ornaments together:

People enjoy this craft event at the museum: 

It’s a serious business sticking glitter in the right place and even a toddler knows that. Look how serious and focused we looked. Amelia especially we fully concentrating on some serious decorating:

Now we are happy and relaxing. We just need a cup of coffee or hot cocoa then this will be one of the best day ever:

My designs: