Customized Dollar Tree Elves

When I first saw these elves years ago, I couldn't figure out why they were such a big deal. I mean, they are cute, don't get me wrong but ok...  Then I saw some on a recent trip to the Dollar Tree and thought, hmmm, I'll buy a couple.

Oh my...now I get it! They are adorable! I need to go back and get some more because I now want to customize them for every child I know! 

Using the Mini Press from Cricut made pressing these small letters and images easy and took less than a few minutes to add the HTV to all three areas for all four elves. 

Watch the YT Short HERE!

ps:  The background is a small portion of the painted wrapping paper that my granddaughters, daughter and I painted earlier this week. So cute and such a fun project for all ages!

TGIF: Thankful Friday #347

Happy Thankful Friday! Wow, another week to be thankful. This is my very last work week since I'm officially retired as 4:30 p.m. today!

I'm thankful for all the well wishes that I've been getting from my office mates as well as people from around the district, past retirees, my friends and family AND to top it off, it's also my 60th birthday week!

Wow, there's a lot going on and all the holiday festivities it's been very jolly to say the least. I'm thankful for all of that but especially for my family who have been greeting me every day this week with a Happy last Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc., each day this week.

Iron Crafter Challenge YT Hop

I love challenges and opportunities to use my stash and this one was definitely doable while in the midst of Christmas projects.  Be sure to hop a long and watch all the videos for this Iron Crafter Challenge!

Layout Details:

I know I need to include more journaling and I will but for now, I was really concentrating on the photos and getting them on one two page spread (there's another layout to follow). Even though the page is photo heavy, I always need to find a way to add some embellishments. I feel like I did a good job of adding exactly what was needed to make it pretty. 

The HOP details:

Join a fun group of crafty peeps each month as we take on the Iron Crafter Challenge! Each month Tara from @thepapersnob will select a challenge ingredient to use on a layout. This hop goes live on the THIRD FRIDAY of the month. We will have a hop on YouTube and Instagram to show how we used the challenge ingredient(s) for the month. The mystery item for the month will be announced on the first of each month.

The mystery challenge ingredient for December is mini paper pads. 

Here is a playlist with ALL the videos of the participants:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCfSqErOPJoq0GaltPb76rffdanFGnHTa

If you want to learn about the mystery item and play along, come over to the Paper Snob Community Facebook group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepapersnobcommunity/

Here is a list of the folks playing along, please check out their Instagram or YouTube channels to subscribe and say hi!!

Instagram:

Simera https://instagram.com/scrappysimi

Brandi https://instagram.com/scrappy.boymama

Laurie https://www.instagram.com/scrapbookingbits/

DawnLyn https://www.instagram.com/dawnlynsdesigns/

Tina www.instagram.com/tinamcmmvr

YouTube:

Tara https://www.youtube.com/@thepapersnob

Rona https://www.youtube.com/@ronamallard8547

Mel https://www.youtube.com/@MelWScrapping

Christine https://youtube.com/@scrappingharden?si=fi2rO35Dh8PYUII-

Kristen https://www.youtube.com/@scrappingonthefly1217

Briana https://youtube.com/@lovemylifeonpaper?si=emvejnUeiM8UdPPM

Kathy https://www.youtube.com/@kathyloves2scrap617

Janet https://www.youtube.com/@galaxygirlcreations

MK https://www.youtube.com/@SomeAssemblageRequiredMKGunn

Narelle https://www.youtube.com/c/NarelleFasulo

Lynda https://www.youtube.com/@thescrapbookingphotographe3607

Dorlene https://youtube.com/@dorlenedurham?si=w14nbSlrkl7fPKFd

Fun Gift Cards

Oh my goodness! I made the cutest and fun gift card holders. I know what you're thinking...fun gift card holders? What is she talking about?

I was commissioned to make some gift card holders for specific themes (fishing, golfing, BBQ and gamer). I thought ok, I'll just make some basic gift card holders but use papers to showcase the themes. Well, I didn't have any golf or gamer paper or embellishments so I took a peek in Design Space projects. 

Whoa! Hold up! I've been missing out on some pretty cool gift card holders so I bookmarked some, purchased one and created another but here they are:

Unfortunately, I didn't film while I was putting these together but I do have a process video of how I customized them to give a Christmas/holiday spirit using items from my Christmas gift tag container, blank tags & red embroidery thread bows!

Watch as I give some tips and advice when making these!

BBQ:  NovaeMakersMart
Fish:  Design Space
Golf Bag: Design Space
Gamer:  Bearly Arts for the image but I added a pull tab insert for the gift card & a backing.

Mrs. Claus Gift Pick; Printable Cuttable Creatables

Are you knee deep into Secret Santa stuff right now?  Yup, samesies!

 
I bought a cute coffee mug & some holiday shaped mini candy bars to give to my coworker.  Well, you know when you’re crafty, you don’t stop there!  I uploaded and put together Cute Mrs. Claus Face SVG from Printable Cuttable Creatables to make a decorative pick to jazz it up. Didn't she turn out so cute?!? She's the perfect addition to this simple gift.

She is 3.5” tall which is perfect for slipping into the coffee mug.  I attached her to a red and green paper straw for the pick and tied a Christmas ribbon just under her neck. 

While in Design Space, I created a blank solid piece to add to the back and to cover the straw. To do that, take the entire image and duplicate it. 

Once duplicated, click on Unite to get a solid image.  I changed the color to black so it really popped!

I pretty much cut and assembled as is with these two exceptions.  1) her cute face has two different color layers but I used the same color cardstock for both layers and then used some ink to shade the ear areas (these were the only parts that were going to show through).  I did this because I didn’t have a darker skin tone shade that I thought would work for her and 2) also used the same color ink to add shading around her cheek areas.

Before adding adhesive, I always stack the layers first so I don’t get adhesive where it shouldn’t be.  The SVG cut files are simple and easy to figure out, but it’s always a good idea to do this just in case.

I used a liquid glue with a fine tip and also a sheet of Sticky Specs to get adhesive on those smaller pieces. Check out my Adhesive Talk YT Video HERE. It sure is helpful to have the right supplies!

You could definitely use the same idea to create an adorable cake topper or even cupcake toppers, just change the size of the image. 

Take a look at the YouTube video on how this was created!

Be sure to click over to the Printable Cuttable Creatables Blog to get inspiration from other DT members. Use 3SONS15 for an additional 15% off your order!

Handmade Holiday Cards

Do you make and send Christmas cards? I don't and I'm not sure why. This year, in the midst of my tag series, I joined a Christmas card swap.

I created an easy cut out using basic shapes in Cricut Design Space and then used lots of scrap papers to fill it.

Watch the process video and see how easy they were to create. 

I then decided to stamp, ink, add faux stitching and add glitter ornaments. They turned out so cute!

Whatcha think?? Cute and a great stash buster!

TGIF; Thankful Friday #346

Happy Friday! I have so many things to be thankful for this week. I'm only one week away from retirement and I feel like I'm on my Farewell Tour. I've had many visitors coming by, a surprise breakfast and presents! It's also my birthday month so it just feels so overwhelming.

My people really get me!

I'm ending my Christmas Tags series and jumping right into Christmas crafting and everything else I have committed myself to. But it's all good!

What are you thankful for this week? I'd love to hear about it. Leave a comment here or on my IG @3sons_and_astar.

12 Days of Christmas Tags Series 2024; Day 12

It's here! Day 12 of the 12 Days of Christmas Tags series. Whew! I made some great tags this year and if you haven't had a chance to look back, you must! There's still a little time to go back and leave comments either here on my blog, my YouTube channel or on IG for entries in the giveaway. Each comment = one entry!

For these tags, I thought I'd pull out all the random items in my "Christmas Tags Container" and put together some tags. Well...that didn't exactly happen. I had a huge creative block and ended up making most the same with little differences. It's ok because I still like how they turned out and you know what...sometimes we have creative blocks!

The deer are the inside of the cut outs of the reindeer I made on Day 7. Look, I'm a waste not want not kinda gal so these were so perfect to reuse. I used the Cricut to create the banners on the bottom and stamped the To/From before adhering them to the tags.

Which was your favorite? 

Remember, leave a comment for your chance to win one set of one of each of the 12 tags made for the 2024 series. Good Luck!

Watch how these were put together on my YouTube channel:

12 Days of Christmas Tags Series 2024; Day 11

We're almost to the end of my 12 Days of Christmas Tags Series! Each tag is so different and so fun! I hope you're seeing one or more that are perfect for your wrapped gifts. 

At the end of the series, I do a giveaway. The winner will receive a set of one each of the 12 tags made this year. To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment here, on the YT video and/or IG post. Each comment = one entry!

For tag number 11, I used a cut file from Printable Cuttable Creatables and it's a good one! How cute is this Mrs. Claus boot? A little risque for the big guy's wife and oh so cute! The cut file actually includes two different style stiletto boots but I chose this one for the tags. If you place an order with Printable Cuttable Creatables, use code 3SONS15 for 15% off your order!

The boots are 5" tall and are embellished with two jingle bells and twine. I love the gold glitter paper buckle. So cute!

Check out the YT video and see how I put those small buckles on without any stress!

12 Days of Christmas Tags Series 2024; Day 10

Day 10! We’re almost done with the 2024 series. So with these tags, I got real artsy. I decided to do a little water painting. I cut these watercolor paper into 2.5x5" tags. I've had this pad for a while now so I was fine with using three sheets. 

Originally I thought I would use buttons for the ornaments but changed my mind. I'm glad I did because I think the buttons would have given the tags a more whimsical feel and as I was painting, I realized that I didn't want them that way.

I used three different greens for the pine needles, gold and frost glimmer daubers, white splatter, and a fine tip black pen for the string, edging and detailing. 

So pretty! I know I'm not winning any art contest with these but I love the way the ornaments turned out and the overall look of these tags!

Watch the process video to see and hear my process.  Also Be sure to leave a comment here, on my YT channel or IG to be entered into a drawing at the end of the series. The lucky person selected will win a set of one of each 12 tags!

12 Days of Christmas Tags Series 2024; Day 9

Day 9! I can't believe the 12 Days of Christmas Tags Series for this year is more than half way done! Each year I'm surprised at all the different types of tags that are created. Take a look at the past tags by clicking on the 12 Days of Christmas Tags label at the right.

For today's tag, I used an ornament stamp that gifted to me by Rubber Paws and some glittery vintage snowflakes by Ann Griffin that were also gifted to me. I don't usually create vintage type projects but when I saw these snowflakes, I knew I had to use them somehow and this ornament stamp was perfect as their base!

I did minimal coloring and added an embossed To/From tag to finish them off.

Be sure to leave a comment here, on my YT channel or IG to be entered into a drawing at the end of the series. The lucky person selected will win a set of one of each 12 tags!

Check out the YT process video:

Adding a Photo in the Junk Journal

I haven't played in my Little Golden Book Junk Journal in a long time. I don't know why not. I love playing with art supplies and see what I can create using junk. 

I'm thinking about creating small packages of lots of junk journal goodies to gift out. What do you think?  Will people want them?

I don't have a problem adding a photo in my junk journal because I look through it often. If it's not in a journal then it's probably in a box.

The cool embellishments were gifted from a swap.   Aren't they fabulous?!?

Watch the YouTube process video to see how this was made.

12 Days of Christmas Tags Series 2024; Day 8

It's Day Eight of my 12 Days of Christmas Tags series and I swear they keep getting cuter and cuter. If you haven't seen the other seven, scroll back and comment because you do not want to miss an opportunity to win a set of these!

For Day Eight, I used the print/cut function on my Cricut to create these super cute Santa tags. I could have cut them, but the pieces for the face would have been so small so I decided to make it easier on myself!

The tag base, frames & one star were cut so I can give these a little dimension. Check out the YouTube process video to see how they were made.

Be sure to leave a comment here, on my YT channel or IG to be entered into a drawing at the end of the series. The lucky person selected will win a set of one of each 12 tags!

12 Days of Christmas Tags Series 2024; Day 7

It's Day 7 of my 12 Days of Christmas Tags series. I always have so much fun with these tags and these are extra fun because I used a product that I wasn't sure I'd ever use! Corrugated Cardboard! I found these at a clearance sale for next to nothing and thought, hmmm...I could use these for something. Well, I experimented with cutting these sheets with my Cricut and they cut perfectly!

Be sure to leave a comment here, on my YT channel or IG to be entered into a drawing at the end of the series. The lucky person selected will win a set of one of each 12 tags!

I'm not sure if this made the difference, but I put the corrugated side directly on the mat so the blade wouldn't catch in the grooves.

I embossed the first set of these reindeer and used the corrugated cardboard for the other set. The fine tip on the glue bottle really came in handy with the white "icing" on these tags!

Then I used three different types and colors of twine to finish them. The "to/from" is stamped on the back. So cute!

Watch the process on the YouTube video