Christmas crafting in Utah Valley has a set of local sources behind it: a Forest Service permit for the tree, a downtown yarn shop and a thrift store built for makers, two paper and baking-supply shops, a library that lends cutting machines, and one large charity event that takes handmade entries. This page is organized by who the craft is for, with the dates that matter at the end.
For the tree
- Felt ornaments. Felt is cheap, forgiving and needs no machine. Making Space Thrift at 475 North Freedom Boulevard in Provo sells donated craft supplies at thrift prices; one shopper's review mentions felt at 15 cents, and others mention beads and ribbon. It is open Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday to Saturday until 8. A blanket stitch, a little stuffing and a ribbon loop make a star, a mitten or a gingerbread figure in an evening.
- Knit or crochet mini stockings and hats. Small enough to finish several in December. Heindselman's Yarn and Needlework at 176 West Center Street in Provo is open Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday until 8 and Saturday until 6, and reviewers describe a maker table where people sit and work. Harmony at 275 East Center Street carries yarn, fabric and, reviewers say, inexpensive trim and lace for finishing. Our yarn shops guide lists the stitch nights.
- Vinyl-lettered ornaments. Clear or plain ornaments with a name and year cut in vinyl. The Provo City Library lends three Cricut machines for one-week checkouts to cardholders; you bring the vinyl, and holds go through the catalog. The machine's roots are in Provo, which our Provo Craft and Cricut history explains.
- Dried-flower ornaments. Small clear ornaments filled with the flowers you pressed or dried in summer and fall. There is no local fresh-flower market in December (the Utah Flower Market's season runs April to mid-October), so this uses what you saved; our summer craft ideas cover drying.
For the door
The fresh-greenery rule first: the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest lists boughs and cones among the forest products you may not remove without a permit or other authorization. Your greenery comes from a tree you bought or cut legally, and from your own yard.
The permit tree. The forest lists Christmas tree permits at $20 each, one per household, for a tree up to 20 feet with no topping, sold online at recreation.gov with a $2.50 fee; permits from the BLM or the state don't work on Forest Service land. The forest says 2026 permit information will be posted by November 1, 2026. Our guide to Christmas tree farms and cut-your-own permits covers where you can cut.
A tree lot in town. Baum's Christmas Trees at 1650 North 1250 West in Provo was listed on Google as open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., in October 2026; reviewers mention lodgepole pines, firs, pinon pine and hand-flocked trees.
- A wreath from your tree's trimmings. The lower branches you cut off to fit the stand, wired in overlapping bundles onto a wire ring. Add pinecones from your own yard and a ribbon.
- A greenery swag with battery lights. Dry greenery near candles is a fire risk; battery lights avoid it.
For neighbors
If you take treats to neighbors in December, the craft is in the packaging.
- Jarred mixes with printed labels. Hot cocoa or cookie mix layered in a jar, with a tag cut on the library Cricut or printed. Bosch Kitchen Center at 176 West Center Street in Orem was listed as open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in October 2026; reviewers mention canning supplies, cookie cutters, candy supplies and bulk foods.
- Decorated cookies in a handmade box. Baking Me Crazy at 4801 North University Avenue, Suite 125, in the Riverwoods in Provo is a baking-supply shop listed as open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; reviewers describe its sprinkles, colors and decorating tools and mention cookie-decorating sessions and classes. A folded cardstock box from The Paper Store and More (1786 South State Street, Orem; Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday until 3) finishes it.
For people you won't see
- Handmade cards. The Paper Store and More sells cardstock and envelopes, and its reviewers mention it ordering hard-to-find envelope colors. Stamped, watercolored or Cricut-cut cards suit a long list. For a family history twist, our ward craft night ideas include a family history night that adapts well to cards with an ancestor's photo.
For a cause: the Festival of Trees
The Festival of Trees is a showcase of handmade Christmas craft that anyone can contribute to. The Intermountain Foundation's page lists the 2026 general-audience days as December 2 to 5 at the Mountain America Expo Center, 9575 State Street in Sandy, after an invitation-only opening night on December 1. Tickets go on sale November 1, with early-bird pricing through Black Friday. Proceeds benefit Intermountain Health Primary Children's Hospital. The foundation describes its displays as dazzling decorated trees, handcrafted wreaths and gingerbread houses, and says the event draws more than 80,000 people in a week and takes more than 3,000 volunteers.
- A gingerbread house or wreath entry. The festival invites the public to register to design and donate an item for its silent auction or donate items to its shops. A family, a youth group or a ward can take on a house or a wreath together; register through the festival's page early and ask the foundation for its drop-off dates.
Our guide to Christmas in Salt Lake from Utah Valley covers the drive north and other events to pair with a visit.
For yourself: a class
A class is a gift you make for yourself, or the way to learn the skill behind next year's gifts. Sundance Mountain Resort's Art Studio, open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., runs drop-in make-and-take projects and scheduled classes; our winter craft ideas have the details. In the valley, see our guides to craft studios and paint nights and candle, soap and resin studios. Planning a group version for church? Our ward Christmas party idea book covers the handbook rules and budgets.
Dates to know, 2026
- November 1: Festival of Trees tickets go on sale; Forest Service tree-permit information due by this date.
- November 21: Provo Farmers Market winter market opens at Provo Towne Centre, 1200 Towne Centre Boulevard (Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., through December 19).
- December 1 to 5: Festival of Trees (opening night December 1 by invitation; public December 2 to 5).
- December 10 to 12: UV Christkindlmarkt, Provo Historic Courthouse, 51 South University Avenue, noon to 9 p.m., as listed on the Provo Farmers Market's site.
- December 25: Christmas falls on a Friday. Our what's open on Christmas Day guide covers the day itself.
To buy rather than make, the Christmas boutiques and craft fairs guide and the local makers' gift guide cover the valley's sellers. To give, see our holiday giving guide.
Related Guides
- Christmas in Provo: Events and Lights
- Winter Craft Ideas in Utah Valley
- Craft Stores in Utah Valley After JOANN
- Thrifting Craft Supplies in Utah Valley
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026 Festival of Trees?
Can I make a gingerbread house or wreath for the Festival of Trees?
Can I cut greenery for wreaths in the national forest?
Where can I borrow a Cricut in Provo for Christmas projects?
Where can I buy cheap craft supplies for ornaments in Provo?
When is the Christkindlmarkt in Provo in 2026?
Where do I buy jars and cookie supplies for neighbor gifts in Utah County?
What day of the week is Christmas 2026, and are craft stores open Christmas Eve?
Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- Permits (forest products, Christmas tree cutting, plant collection), USDA Forest Service, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Crafting: creator kits, Cricut machines, kids' sewing machines, Provo City Library. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Festival of Trees 2026, Intermountain Foundation / Intermountain Health. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Provo Farmers Market home (summer, winter and Christkindlmarkt dates), Provo Farmers Market. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Utah Flower Market (hours and 2026 season), Utah Flower Market. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Art Studio & Gallery, Sundance Mountain Resort. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Making Space Thrift home page, Making Space Thrift. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Google Places listings (addresses, hours, reviews): Making Space Thrift, Heindselman's, Harmony, Baum's Christmas Trees, Bosch Kitchen Center, Baking Me Crazy, The Paper Store and More (Oct. 2026), Google Maps. Checked October 19, 2026.
