Canadian Crafter's Calendar - Seasonal ideas

Running a craft business means planning ahead for seasonal demand and holidays. In Canada, we have unique seasons and celebrations that drive sales, from spring’s fresh start to winter’s festive rush. This Crafter’s Calendar highlights craft ideas for each season. Keep in mind that shoppers often start hunting for seasonal goodies earlier than you’d expect, so we’ll note timing tips (e.g. when to start creating stock). Resin art and laser-cut products remain hot trends, so focusing on these can boost your craft business. Let’s dive into seasonal ideas, followed by some year-round bestsellers to keep your income steady in every season!

Crafter's Calendar - Key Timings for Canadian Craft Businesses

Season	Occasion / Event	Start Crafting	Peak Selling Period
Spring	Easter & Spring Decor	February	March - Early April
	Mother's Day	March	Mid-April - Early May
	Spring Weddings & Showers	March	April - June
	Teacher & Graduation Gifts	April	May - Early June
Summer	Father's Day & BBQ Season	Early May	Late May - June
	Canada Day	May	June
	Summer Weddings & Festivals	April - May	June - August
	General Summer Decor & Markets	May	June - August
Fall	Back-to-School & Teacher Gifts	July - August	August - September
	Thanksgiving & Fall Decor	August	September - Early October
	Halloween	August	September - October
	Early Holiday Prep	October	November
Winter	Christmas & Holiday Decor	October	November - Early December
	Handmade Gifts & Stocking Stuffers	October - November	Late November - Mid December
	New Year's Eve Party Items	Early December	Late December
	Valentine's Day	January	Late January - February 14
All Year	Evergreen Bestsellers	Ongoing	All Year

Spring (March – May)

Spring in Canada brings fresh energy and plenty of occasions for gift-giving. Key dates include Easter (March/April) and Mother’s Day (May), plus the lead-up to summer weddings and graduations. It’s time to shake off winter and offer bright, cheerful creations. Start working on spring items in late winter so you’re ready as soon as the snow melts!

• Easter & Spring Decor: Celebrate the season of renewal with Easter-themed crafts and spring decor. For example, you can laser-cut adorable bunny and egg shapes from cast acrylic or pre-finished wood to make basket tags, ornaments, or shelf sitters. Resin crafters can create pastel-colored egg ornaments or kid-friendly trinkets by mixing resin with bright mica powders and even a touch of glow-in-the-dark powder for a fun surprise. Floral motifs sell well now – think resin coasters or magnets with dried spring flowers embedded inside. Timing: Begin designing Easter and spring items by February so you can list them by early March (most Easter shoppers buy in the month leading up to Easter).

 

• Mother’s Day Gifts (May): Mother’s Day is a major sales peak in spring. Small businesses do great with sentimental gifts for Mom. Consider resin jewelry with pressed flowers – for instance, pendants or earrings made by embedding dried blossoms and a touch of sparkle in clear resin for a glass-like, elegant effect. Laser cutters can make custom name signs or keychains from acrylic that say “Mom” or are shaped like hearts/flowers. Another idea is a photo frame or plaque using our laser-ready plywood (it’s pre-finished, so it’s easy to sublimate a family photo or engrave a message without heavy sanding or sealing). Timing: Start creating Mother’s Day items in March so you’re stocked up by April; many shoppers start looking for the perfect gift at least a few weeks before May.

 

• Spring Weddings & Showers: Wedding season kicks off in late spring and summer, so spring is ideal for making wedding decor and gifts. Laser-cut cake toppers from cast acrylic or wood (e.g. a bride and groom’s names, or a topper that says “Just Married”) are always in demand. Acrylic cake toppers in trendy fonts or wood cutouts that brides can paint to match their theme sell well. Think about table decor too: engraved wooden place names, thank-you favour tags, or guestbook signs. Resin artists can offer bridal party gifts like resin coasters swirling with the wedding colours, or delicate pressed-flower keychains as bridesmaid favours. Timing: Savvy makers start on wedding items by early spring (March) to be ready for June brides – many couples plan months ahead, so listing your wedding goodies by April can catch those early orders.

 

• Teacher & Grad Gifts (Late Spring): As the school year ends in May/June, there’s demand for teacher appreciation gifts and graduation keepsakes. Use our dry-erase coated plywood to laser-cut and print reusable message boards (e.g. “Best Teacher” signs that kids can decorate or a “Class of 2025” autograph board for grads). Acrylic keychains or bag tags with school motifs (graduation caps, apples for teachers) can be big hits – personalize them with names using laser engraving or vinyl. Resin can play a role too: for grads, think class-year keychains with school colours or glitter, and for teachers, perhaps a pretty resin paperweight with a motivational quote. Timing: Have these ready by mid-spring – start in April to target teacher gift days in May and graduates in early June.

Summer (June – August)

Summer in Canada is full of patriotic pride, outdoor markets, and celebration events. Key occasions include Father’s Day (June), Canada Day (July 1), and the height of wedding season. It’s also festival season (think Pride Month in June and numerous summer fairs) – perfect for fun, vibrant crafts. Many crafters also use the summer lull after July to start prepping for fall and holiday rushes. Keep your products seasonally bright, durable for outdoor use, and think of all those tourists and market shoppers looking for unique items!

• Father’s Day & Outdoor Entertaining: Early summer brings Father’s Day and lots of backyard BBQS. Crafters can cater to these with giftable items for dads. Laser-cut or engraved bottle openers, BBQ grill signs, or beer caddy labels from our plywood make great masculine gifts. If you have acrylic, create fun “#1 Dad” keychains or a desk nameplate in acrylic with a cool font. Resin ideas: how about coasters with embedded bottle caps or fishing lures inside, tailored to Dad’s hobbies? Many people also host outdoor parties now, so consider resin serving trays or charcuterie boards accented with mica powder in “grill master” themes, or sets of coasters with campfire and beer motifs. Timing: Launch Father’s Day products by early May, since shoppers often seek gifts in late May to early June. For general summer entertaining items, anytime in spring/early summer is fine – but try to catch the wave of people shopping for patio season in June.

 

• Wedding Season & Summer Events: Summer is peak wedding time. Small businesses can do well with wedding décor and bridal party gifts. Popular sellers include custom laser-cut cake toppers (like the elegant “Love” topper with a rose design shown above) and scripted signs for sweetheart tables. Our pre-finished plywood is ideal for making guestbook alternatives (e.g. a laser-cut tree where guests sign leaves) or table numbers that are ready to paint in the couple’s colours. For resin artists, beach-themed wedding favours are trending – think resin keychains or magnets with sand and seashells embedded for those ever-popular beach weddings. Don’t forget bachelorette party and shower items: acrylic “Bride” and “Team Bride” pins, or resin wine glass charms with glitter. Outside of weddings, summer has graduations, family reunions, and festivals – all opportunities for personalized merch. For example, rainbow-themed crafts for Pride Month (June) can be huge sellers: use colourful acrylic to make Pride pins/earrings or create resin art in pride flag colours. Timing: Aim to have wedding items and summer event products ready by late spring. Couples often order a month or two in advance, so have listings up by May for July weddings. For Pride or Canada Day-themed items, start in May so customers can receive them in June.

 

• Canada Day (July 1) Specials: Canada Day is like our version of the 4th of July – a patriotic shopping spike. Red-and-white decor and accessories will fly off your table (or online shop). Use cast acrylic (in red, white, or mirrored acrylic) to laser-cut maple leaf ornaments, keychains, or cake toppers. An idea: acrylic maple leaf drink stirrers or cupcake toppers for July 1st parties. The laser-friendly wood sheets can become rustic Canada flags, wall signs, or coasters engraved with “O Canada” lyrics or the flag image. You can even sublimate images of Canadian landscapes onto our special plywood for unique coasters or plaques. Resin crafters might create Canada Day coasters too: pour resin in red and white swirls, maybe add a touch of glow powder so the coasters glimmer during late-night fireworks. Timing: Start designing Canada Day items by May and have them available in early June. Canadians tend to shop in June for their holiday decor and party supplies, and many local July 1st craft markets happen in late June – be ready for those.

 

• Summer Decor & Markets: Throughout summer, people love décor that suits the season, and tourists or locals at summer markets are looking for unique finds. Garden and patio items are a hit: you can laser-cut charming garden stakes/markers (e.g. herb markers from acrylic or wood, since our pre-finished plywood can handle outdoor sealant nicely) and wind spinners or mandalas from acrylic for porch decor. Glow-in-the-dark powder isn’t just for Halloween – mix it into resin to create glowing garden ornaments or camping-themed keychains that charge under sunlight and glow at night (great for campers or kids at the cottage). Also consider cottage/cabin decor: a laser-cut “Welcome to the Lake” sign in wood or a family name sign for the cabin (acrylic letters on a wood backer for contrast) appeals to those with summer homes. Summer craft fairs are frequent, so having an array of affordable travel-friendly items like keychains, magnets, and jewelry is smart for tourists. Timing: These general summer items can be made in small batches all season. However, try to have a good inventory by June when farmers’ markets and the tourist season peak. If you’re eyeing mid-summer craft fairs, stock up in early summer.

 

• (Prep for Fall) By late August, start thinking ahead. Back-to-school and fall holiday prep will begin soon (see Fall section below). Some veteran crafters even use the quieter late summer weeks to start on Halloween or even Christmas prototypes. For instance, if you have downtime in August, it’s not too early to test out a new ornament design or fall product idea.

Fall (September – November)

• Fall is a huge season for craft businesses in Canada, with kids back to school, Thanksgiving in early October, and Halloween at the end of October, all leading into the big winter holiday build-up. Shoppers start seeking cozy, rustic decor and gifts. It’s also when many makers ramp up production for the Christmas rush (by November). Focus on autumn themes, spooky fun, and the warm, thankful vibe of the harvest season. This is the time to use those glow powders and warm-toned mica colours! 🍁

 

• Back-to-School & Teacher Gifts (September): As September rolls in, parents and teachers love fresh organizational items. Our laser pre-finished plywood (with its dry-erase friendly surface) is perfect for first-day-of-school boards – you can laser-cut a fun shape (an apple, a pencil, or a speech bubble) and it doubles as a reusable dry-erase sign for those first/last day photos. Also popular are teacher name plaques for classroom doors (cut from acrylic in bright primary colours or pastels). Small thank-you gifts sell now too as some parents buy teacher gifts ahead of time: think wooden bookmarks with quotes (easy to laser engrave) or personalized keychains with school mascots. If you have sublimation equipment, you could even sublimate cute classroom sayings onto our coated plywood for decorative signs. Timing: Have school-related products ready by mid/late August. Parents often start shopping as early as late summer for back-to-school goodies, and teachers set up classrooms before September.

 

• Thanksgiving & Fall Decor (October): Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving in early October, so fall-themed decor peaks early. Emphasize autumn motifs like pumpkins, maple leaves, and warm sayings. Laser-cut wooden centrepieces or door signs (“Happy Thanksgiving” or “Give Thanks”) from the plywood – since it’s pre-finished, you can easily paint or stain these in fall colours without much prep. Leaf-shaped coasters are a great item for fall: cut them from wood or acrylic, or even cast them in resin with real pressed leaves inside for a wow factor. Resin artists can also create autumn-colored geode coasters (rich golds, oranges, and browns with metallic flakes), which double as lovely hostess gifts during Thanksgiving. Timing: Because Thanksgiving here is in early October, start listing fall and Thanksgiving decor by early September. Many shoppers will decorate for fall as soon as September hits (pumpkin spice season, after all!), and by the last week of September, they’re buying their Thanksgiving table accents.

 

• Halloween Spooktacular (October 31): Halloween is a monster of a holiday for craft sellers – and not just for kids. Both home decor and party items sell great. Leverage our glow-in-the-dark powder and resins for spooky effects: for example, make glow-in-the-dark resin keychains in shapes like ghosts, skulls, or pumpkins, which kids and teens adore. You can cast resin coasters or wall plaques with spooky scenes (bats, haunted houses) and mix in glow powder so they eerily glow during Halloween night – a unique selling point to mention in your listings. Laser-cutting shines here too: create wooden jack-o’-lantern ornaments, witch and cat silhouettes, or engraved pumpkin stake signs for the yard. Cast acrylic in orange, black, or fluorescent green can become Halloween cake toppers (“Boo!” or a witch on a broom) and reusable party decorations. Timing: “Start prepping for Halloween in August,” as the saying goes – and it’s true. Serious Halloween enthusiasts start buying decor as early as September 1. Aim to have your Halloween line ready by the end of August or very early September. That way, you capture the early birds and also have time to restock before October 31. (Nothing is scarier than missing out on sales because you prepped too late!)

 

• Fall Fairs & Early Holiday Prep (November): By November, fall craft fairs and holiday markets are in full swing, and many shoppers transition to winter holiday mode. However, November itself still has a big event: Remembrance Day (Nov 11) in Canada, which is solemn rather than a retail holiday, so there’s not much to sell for it aside from perhaps respectful poppy-themed items (if you do charity crafts). More importantly for your business, use early November to launch Christmas/holiday items (see Winter section) – many Canadian holiday craft markets start in November, not to mention Black Friday in late November when online shoppers look for early deals. So consider this your crossover: keep some autumn items on your table, but start displaying Christmas ornaments, winter wreaths, etc., by the second half of November. Timing: In summary, wrap up your fall offerings by Halloween, and have your first batch of holiday stock ready by early November. Some experts say to be holiday-ready by October’s end – it helps you capitalize on those early bird shoppers and craft show opportunities.

Winter (December – February)

Winter is the busiest season for most craft businesses, dominated by the Christmas holiday rush. In Canada, this means craft fairs, online sales, and custom order requests skyrocket from late November through December. Key points on the calendar: Christmas (Dec 25) and the broader “Holiday” season, followed by New Year’s Eve/Day, and then Valentine’s Day (Feb 14), which is a late-winter bump. Winter is all about cozy, festive, and heartwarming creations. This is the time to pull out all the stops with your ornaments, decorations, and gift-worthy crafts. (And after the holidays, you can catch your breath – but savvy crafters might already be planning for Valentine’s and spring by January!)

• Holiday Ornaments & Decor (November/December): Ornaments are a cornerstone of winter sales – nearly every craft seller offers them, but unique handmade ornaments always find eager buyers. In fact, Christmas ornaments are consistently among the most profitable laser-cut products, so it’s worth developing a few standout designs. Use cast acrylic sheets to create personalized acrylic ornaments (for example, clear acrylic circles engraved with a family name and year, or fun shapes like snowflakes and reindeer in frosted acrylic). Acrylic ornaments can also be filled with a touch of resin or paint for colour, or combined with vinyl decals – lots of possibilities. Our pre-finished plywood is fantastic for wooden ornaments: you can laser-cut classic shapes (trees, snowflakes, angels, etc.) and they’re ready to sell as-is or with a bit of ribbon. Consider offering customization (e.g. add names or cut-out year dates) for an extra charge – people love personalized pieces for their tree. Beyond ornaments, laser-cut holiday signs (door hangers that say “Merry Christmas”, wall art of a winter village) are popular. Resin crafters can create beautiful holiday-themed coasters or trinket dishes – for instance, coasters with red, green, and gold swirls of mica, or a resin dish with snowflake glitter embedded. Timing: It’s crucial to have holiday decor items ready early. Many shoppers start buying ornaments and decor in November, and by early December, they’re in full swing. Aim to list these by the beginning of November (some even do October). If you sell at Christmas markets, you’ll want a big inventory by late November. Keep in mind shipping deadlines for online orders (many Canadians order by mid-December latest to get items on time), so front-load your production if you can.

 

• Handmade Gifts & Stocking Stuffers (December): Alongside decor, winter sales are driven by gift-giving. Think about giftable products using your materials. Custom name keychains (either acrylic or resin) are year-round sellers but especially hot as stocking stuffers in December – you can offer holiday designs or just everyday styles that people gift each other. Resin art pieces make wonderful gifts: e.g. a small resin charcuterie board or serving board with an ocean wave design (blue resin with white froth) for the coastal decor lover, or a set of resin agate slice coasters tied with a ribbon. These higher-end pieces can fetch good prices for holiday gifting. Don’t overlook laser-engraved gifts: using plywood or acrylic, you can make things like custom fridge magnets, engraved photo plaques (family photo on wood), bookmark sets, or even ornamental earrings (acrylic snowflake earrings or wood reindeer earrings). Bundle items as gift sets where possible (e.g. a coaster + wine stopper set). Glow-in-the-dark ideas can work for kids’ gifts – perhaps a resin night-light ornament or a glow pendant. Timing: By the first week of December, you’ll want to have most gift items ready to ship or sell. Last-minute shoppers might buy up until Christmas Eve for digital or local pickup items, but most online orders for gifts taper off around December 15-20. Plan for a rush in late November through mid-December. (Many makers literally make half their annual income in this period, so stock up!)

 

• New Year’s Eve Party Items (Late December): Right after Christmas, there’s a small window for New Year’s party-themed sales. If you want to capitalize on it, consider quick-turnaround items like 2025-themed decorations. Laser-cut “Happy New Year 2025” cake toppers or banners from acrylic or wood can sell to party hosts. Glittery resin champagne coasters or wine glass charms in gold and black could attract those planning New Year’s Eve parties. These items have a very short selling window (essentially the last week of December), so only invest if you have time or leftover materials, but they can be a nice bonus. Timing: Immediately after Christmas, people might shop for NYE, so have a few designs ready by Dec 26. Even better, list them by mid-December for those super-organized party planners.

 

• Valentine’s Day (February 14): Winter isn’t over after New Year’s – Valentine’s Day is a major gift occasion and a bright spot in the mid-winter lull. Transition your product line in January to focus on hearts, love, and romance. Romantic gifts and decorations are the focus. Resin artists can make heart-shaped jewelry (heart pendants, earrings, keychains) filled with red or pink mica pigments, dried rose petals, or even tiny love-note text pieces inside – these make heartfelt gifts. Laser-cut “Love” signs (like script words or plaques) and heart motifs do well; you can create cake toppers for V-Day parties or acrylic tokens with love quotes. Personalized keepsakes are great: how about a laser-engraved acrylic puzzle piece set that fits together with a couple’s names (“You complete me” style), or wood keychains for couples (two halves of a heart)? Another idea: Valentine’s cards with a twist – make a thin wood or acrylic card that is actually a keepsake ornament (people have done this with messages etched into wood, something the recipient can hang up). Timing: List Valentine-themed items shortly after the New Year. Many people start looking in January for unique handmade valentines, especially for custom or made-to-order items (they know to allow time). Early February is the peak for last-minute shoppers. If you do custom orders, set a cut-off date (maybe the first week of Feb if shipping) so everything arrives by the 14th.

 

• Winter Cozy Decor (All season): Aside from holidays, winter in general is a time for cozy home décor. You can keep selling winter-themed items in January, too: things like snowflake decorations, winter scenes, and candle holders. For example, laser-cut layered wood scenes (multiple plywood layers creating a 3d snowy village) can double as Christmas decor and general winter decor through January. Resin tea light holders or lamp shades with glittering snow effects could find buyers who love winter ambience. These aren’t tied to a specific date, so they can also fill the gap after Christmas. Timing: Throughout winter, but best to market them just after Christmas as New Year's “treat yourself” home items.

Year-Round Bestsellers

Every small craft business should have a stable of year-round bestsellers – products that aren’t tied to a single season and can sell in any month. These keep cash flowing during the quieter times and often become your signature items. For laser cutting and resin, some niches consistently perform well no matter the date. Here are a few ideas that Canadian crafters find sell strongly all year:

• Personalized Keychains & Tags: Customized keychains are an evergreen hit – whether acrylic name keychains, engraved wood key fobs, or resin charms with initials. They’re quick to make and universally useful. Etsy and other marketplaces are saturated with these because they sell extremely well. Use cast acrylic to cut names or shapes (like pet tags, luggage tags, etc.), or pour resin into letter moulds to create chunky initial keychains (you can add glitter, dried flowers, or company logos into the resin for variety). These are great impulse buys and gift add-ons year-round (think stocking stuffers, party favours, teacher gifts, you name it). Keep a variety of trendy designs in stock – for example, currently popular are keychains with tassels, galaxy-themed resin pours, and acrylic motel-key style tags with funny sayings.

 

• Home Decor Signs: Folks decorate their homes year-round, not just seasonally. Laser-cut signs, therefore, are always in demand. This could be family name signs, welcome signs, or inspirational quotes for the wall. Our laser-friendly plywood (especially the pre-painted or white finish boards) is excellent for this – you can cut out cursive words like “home” or “love” or do cut-out panels that people hang. Small tabletop signs (“Hello Gorgeous” for vanity tables or cute kitchen quotes) also sell steadily; you can make them by cutting words or shapes and attaching a little stand. Custom orders for last names or nursery names are a profitable avenue – new parents love wooden name cutouts for nursery décor. (Tip: Offer a few font/style options and paint colours.) These items aren’t tied to a season but tend to spike whenever someone is moving into a new house, getting married (new last name sign), or having a baby, which is constant. Why it sells: Personalized home decor feels special to customers, and laser cutting achieves a professional look easily.

 

• Coasters and Kitchenware: Functional crafts like coasters are perennial bestsellers. In fact, laser-engraved coasters rank high among profitable products because they’re inexpensive to make and easy to customize. You can create coasters from wood (engrave mandala patterns, witty sayings, or scenery – Canadian landscapes or city maps are popular themes), or make stunning resin coasters (e.g. agate geode style with metallic gold edges, or ocean wave designs). Coasters sell year-round as housewarming gifts, barware, or décor accents. Similarly, items like cutting boards or serving boards with resin art or laser engraving (like a cheeseboard with an engraved family name or a resin river running through it) have consistent appeal. While boards might not be made from our plywood sheets (you’d use a thicker wood piece), we mention them if you branch out – you could inlay cast acrylic pieces or resin into a wood board for a mixed-media wow effect. Also consider trivets, spoon rests, or fridge magnets – small kitchen/home items that people pick up any time.

 

• Jewelry & Fashion Accessories: Handmade jewelry is a steady seller if you find your niche. With resin, you can craft resin earrings, pendants, bangles, etc., embedding beautiful elements like dried flowers, gold flakes, or pigments – these have a high perceived value when done well. (Resin and polymer clay jewelry were highlighted as trending for 2025, indicating strong demand). Laser-cut acrylic can also be turned into jewelry: think acrylic earrings (geometric shapes, feathers, name earrings), pendants, or even acrylic pins/brooches. One advantage is that you can theme them to trends (cacti, galaxy, animal shapes, etc.), and small items are easy to ship. Don’t forget laser-engraved leather or faux-leather earrings and bracelets – if you diversify materials. Year-round, people buy jewelry for birthdays, anniversaries, or just because. Keep some classic designs in stock (like floral resin earrings, which are great for spring but honestly sell anytime because they’re pretty) and rotate seasonal ones (snowflake earrings in winter, beach shell earrings in summer) to keep things fresh.

 

• Pet Accessories: Pet lovers spend money all year on their fur babies. With your laser cutter, you can make custom pet name signs or wall hooks shaped like a bone with the dog’s name. Acrylic or wooden pet ID tags are a big market (engrave the pet’s name and owner’s phone number – you can offer many shapes like a paw, bone, cat head, etc.). Resin can be used to create decorative pet keepsakes – for example, casting a paw print or a small tuft of fur in a resin keychain or ornament as a memorial or new pet gift. These items don’t depend on a holiday (though they can spike around Christmas as people gift to friends with new pets). By offering pet-themed products, you tap into a passionate customer base that’s constant. Many makers find success at any time of year with cute pet-themed merch (like “Pet parents” keychains or leash holders).

 

• Glow-in-the-Dark Novelties: If you love our glow-in-the-dark powder, don’t relegate it just to Halloween. Glow items can be marketed for kids’ decor or novelty gifts year-round. Examples: glow star and moon mobiles for kids’ rooms (laser cut stars from acrylic, coat with glow powder resin or use glow acrylic if available, hang as a mobile), light-switch cover panels cast in resin with glow (so kids can find the switch at night), or glow keychains and pins for backpack accessories. These are niche but can sell steadily online to the right audience (night owls, parents, science geeks). They set your shop apart as well. Promote them as fun safety or decor items for any time – e.g. a glow-in-the-dark name tag for a child’s bag, which is both cool and helps them find it in the dark winter mornings.

Conclusion: By aligning your creative output with this seasonal calendar, you can maximize sales and avoid the last-minute rush. Stock your online store or craft booth with timely items (while still offering those year-round favourites), and you’ll attract customers during every Canadian holiday and trend. Remember to plan ahead, enjoy the creative process each season brings, and keep an eye on what’s trending for small business crafters. Here’s to a year full of creative making and successful selling!