These super cute Christmas cookie cutter tea towels are one of my favourite easy festive crafts. They’re simple enough for kids to help with, look surprisingly stylish when they’re finished, and make such thoughtful homemade gifts for teachers, grandparents, neighbours or anyone who appreciates something a bit more personal. They’re also a lovely cosy activity for a December afternoon when you want to feel productive without spending a fortune.
What you need to make Christmas cookie cutter tea towels
I had most of the supplies for this already in my stash but I’ve linked similar supplies below on Amazon so you can get the idea, but you can absolutely pick up similar bits in The Works, Hobbycraft or even the supermarket craft aisle if you don’t already have them in.
• Fabric paints – I used red and green because they feel extra Christmassy, but honestly, any colours work
• Cookie cutters in whatever shapes you like
• White flour sack tea towels or any plain tea towels
• A paper plate or tray for the paint
• Scrap paper or card to protect your surface
How to make your own Christmas cookie cutter tea towels
This is one of those crafts that really doesn’t need step-by-step instructions because it’s so easy, but here’s how I do mine.
Pour a little of each paint colour onto a paper plate. It’s easier to dip the cookie cutters into something shallow.
Lay your tea towel out flat on a protected surface. Smooth out any creases so the paint prints cleanly.
Dip your cookie cutter into the paint, making sure the edge is coated, and start stamping your design onto the tea towel. You can go for neat rows or scatter the shapes randomly. Both look lovely.
Keep stamping until you’re happy with your design, switching colours and shapes as you go.
Leave the tea towel to dry completely before moving it. Most fabric paints also recommend heat-setting with an iron, so check the label just in case.
That’s honestly it. No sewing, no fancy tools, no mess (well… minimal mess). It’s a brilliant way to get kids involved because the results always look good, even if the stamping goes a little rogue.
Why I use flour sack tea towels
I like flour sack tea towels because they’re thin, 100% cotton and absorb paint really nicely, and they feel like the sort of thing you’d actually want to use in your kitchen. They also wash well once the paint has been set. But you can use any plain tea towel you already have. They don’t even need to be white as long as your paint colour stands out.
Ideas to personalise your tea towels
If you want to make them a bit more special, here are a few extra touches you can add.
• Tie a ribbon around a set of two or three tea towels for a lovely homemade gift.
• Add a little handwritten tag saying Made with love with a tiny doodle or date.
• Stamp initials or a name using alphabet cookie cutters if you want something personalised.
• Mix metallic paints into your design for a slightly more grown-up look.
Not just for Christmas
These tea towels don’t have to be festive at all. They work perfectly all year round, and you can match the designs to the season.
• Autumn leaves in oranges and yellows
• Hearts in pink and red for Valentine’s Day
• Flowers for spring
• Snowflakes in blue for winter
• Stars for birthdays or celebrations
It’s such a simple craft but the finished tea towels look so sweet, and they’re the kind of gift people genuinely use. It’s also a great project for using up leftover fabric paint or extra cookie cutters that don’t get much action the rest of the year. A perfect mix of thrifty and thoughtful.
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