Check out these simple Christmas gift wrapping ideas to take your packages to the next level with minimal effort. 

Thank you to DaySpring for sponsoring this post. All opinions are mine alone. I pinky promise! Some of the links below are “affiliate links.” This means if you click a link and purchase an item, I will receive a small affiliate commission that helps me to be able to continue with this blog and hopefully continue to inspire you as well.

I am a total gift wrapping nerd! I’m actually obsessed with it. I love to pull out all the gifts and wrapping goodies and wrap to my heart’s content in one day. Of course while I am watching a Hallmark Christmas movie too. 😉 It doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive either. I can’t wait to share these simple Christmas gift wrapping ideas with y’all today too. 

First of all make sure you have some killer wrapping paper that is not only beautiful but also good quality. The last thing you want is your paper tearing when trying to get crisp edges. I have been so impressed with the gift wrap from DaySpring. And I’m not just saying that! I have used so many different brands before and this is one of my top favs!! Durable and gorgeous while also being reversible!! 

They also have some beautiful gift bags that come with tissue already in the bag ready for you to go. This is ideal for those last minute gifts or White Elephant Christmas party games that totally slipped your mind. 

For my wrapping supplies today, I am also using gift tags that were part of DaySpring’s new Holiday Helper set. It comes with gift tags to match the wrapper paper, two different designs of cards, and a notepad. The work is really taken care of when everything is already matching. Plus this week only use the coupon code FREESHIP for FREE shipping on DaySpring’s entire site. 

I also added some other goodies I found in my stash including washi tape, bakers twine, mini bottlebrush trees, mini wreaths, bells, mini clothespins, and more. 

Now check out the video below to see how all these pretty packages came together!

This year’s wrapping party is going to be so much fun! Who else wants to join me with some hot cocoa, a Christmas movie, and wrapping fun?! Also don’t forget to check out the wrapping supplies from DaySpring while you can get free shipping too! God bless! 

Watch this tutorial for your own DIY personalized Christmas tea towel using Cricut Maker that is perfect for a little handmade Christmas gift. 

Thank you to Cricut for sponsoring this post. All opinions are mine alone. I pinky promise! Some of the links below are “affiliate links.” This means if you click a link and purchase an item, I will receive a small affiliate commission that helps me to be able to continue with this blog and hopefully continue to inspire you as well.

Christmas is coming!! So let’s not stress at the last minute when it comes to trying to find the perfect gift for that special someone. I’ve got you covered today with this adorable personalized tea towel that is simple and easy to make. What’s even better is that you can customize it with anyone’s initial and really make it their own thanks to the Cricut Maker. 

I love having a handmade gift that is more personal than just picking up a random gift card. These towels are perfect for teachers, coworkers, neighbors, and more. I have special women in my life that love spending time in the kitchen and cooking for their families. I thought these would be great for them to see when doing just that. 

Plus it’s like two gifts in one with this leather engraved gift tag that can also be used as an ornament on their tree each year. I used the Maker QuickSwap tools with the engraving tip which made it easy peasy. I can’t even believe the Maker can cut out leather and over 300 other materials. 

Let’s get started making our own DIY gifts in time for Christmas. You can grab the whole cut file HERE in design space and then personalize it for anyone before cutting it out. 

Check out the video below to see a little bit more in detail and up close how it all came together. 

Along with the kitchen towels, I’m using Cricut’s iron-on designs which take most of the work out of it for me. I also used their everyday iron-on, leather sheets, and deluxe paper. 

With the iron-on designs, think outside the box when using them. You don’t have to use them as a whole design, but instead you can cut them up and use them how you like. You can also get more bang for your buck this way to make more towels. 

I layed out the towels and iron-on designs to get an idea of how I wanted them to look. Then I measured for the monogram iron-on and cut it out using the Cricut Maker. Be sure to mirror your design in Design Space when using iron-on.

I used the EasyPress 2 to iron everything on and used the EasyPress mat underneath to protect my work surface. 

I love these new QuickSwap tools for the Maker because now I can make just about anything with them. I loved being able to engrave these Christmas trees with the engraving tip while it also cut out the leather to make these gift tags. 

I used a sharp crafting tool to make a hole through the leather ornament and scrapbook paper to add the twine for the gift tag. You could also have the Cricut cut out a small circle at the top of each one. Add the recipient’s name to the paper candy cane too. 

Tie some ribbon around your towels and attach the candy cane tags. Then they can hang the candy cane ornaments on their tree once they have opened it. 

I love that this tea towel can be made special for anyone with their family monogram. Plus it’s even more personal for those who love to get in the kitchen and bake Christmas cookies and all the yummy treats. 

Make sure to check out the Cricut Maker and grab yours now so you can start making all the fun handmade Christmas gifts this year. Don’t forget to make something fun for your self too. God bless!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

Learn how to make keepsake letters to Santa with felt envelope using the Cricut Maker. You can cut the felt using the rotary blade and even draw your own custom stationery.

Christmas is HERE finally, and I seriously couldn’t be happier! I anticipate this time of year all year long. Seriously, I just can’t help myself. This year is particularly special now that I have my baby boy. It’s his first Christmas which means I get to experience the joy of seeing Christmas for the first time through the eyes of a child. There aren’t too many things much better than that.

As a fun and new tradition that we can start in our home this year, I had to design a fun keepsake letter to Santa for baby boy to send to the North Pole each year. Of course I know what he wants even though he is only 8 months old. Mommy and Daddy will fill out his letter for now. 😉 I can’t wait for you to see how this whole little felt envelope and letters to Santa stationery comes together. Grab the design and cut files HERE.

I used my Cricut Maker to literally do everything for me except actually writing the letter. It makes this whole project a breeze and something that would even be fun to give as a gift for another family to enjoy too. Check out this post HERE too if you want to know more about what all the Maker can really do.

To make it easier to walk through the steps, I created a video that does just that if you want to check it out too. Below you will also find more pictures and me sharing my heart behind this cuteness if you enjoy that too.

Once you open the project in Cricut Design Space, it will prompt you to follow all the steps to cutting out all of the different elements. Let’s start with weeding the iron-on vinyl. To weed the iron-on vinyl for the front of the envelope, I used my BrightPad. There are several intricate cuts which are so much easier to weed with this little beauty.

The Cricut Maker also cuts fabric and felt. It’s almost unbelievable. I used the rotary blade for both of these and the scoring wheel made it a breeze for the creases in the envelope when I put it together.

You can’t apply iron-on vinyl and fusible fabric any easier than with the EasyPress 2. I used the 6″ x 7″ and loved how it was done in less than a minute.

Once you have all the elements in place on the envelope, use a hot glue gun to assemble the envelope on the back.

Now what’s an envelope if it’s empty. You have to have the letters to Santa stationery. Your Cricut Maker will not only cut out the notecards but also write on the letters for the cutest design using the Cricut Pens.

Now all you need to do is have your kids fill out their letters and stick them in the felt envelope to be “mailed” to Santa Claus. I love the idea of having this every year for kids to fill out and then us Moms can keep them as a sentimental memory to look back at each year of what the kids wanted. You could even make an envelope for each child to store their letters in each year.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

It is never too early to start preparing for Christmas fun now so why not start with some early shopping and planning to kick off the celebration. Check out these goodies to share with your family today.

This post is sponsored by Dayspring. All opinions are mine alone. I pinky promise! Some of the links below are “affiliate links.” This means if you click a link and purchase an item, I will receive a small affiliate commission that helps me to be able to continue with this blog and hopefully continue to inspire you as well.

Just the small task of typing “Christmas” out for this post has made me so giddy and excited inside. I love and adore Christmas so much that I wish we could truly celebrate Christmas all year long. Maybe I should just move to one of those Christmas towns you see in the Hallmark movies. I’m sure they exist, right?

So when Dayspring asked me to check out some of their goodies for Christmas this year and share them with y’all now, I couldn’t wait! It was truly like Christmas morning getting that package on my front door. You are going to love what was inside and being able to start some fun and new traditions with what they have.

Check out the unboxing video below to see what all was included more up close and personal. Then come back here to find out where you can get yours.

Below are links to the items that were included so you can check them out here and pick up a few things. Early Christmas shopping never hurt anyone!

• Jesus is the Gift Boxed Note Cards
• Joy to the World – Christmas Door Banner
• The Shepherd on the Search – Advent Activity Set
• The Shepherd on the Search – 25-day Family Devotional Advent Book
• The Shepherd on the Search – Children’s Activity Book

Now let’s get some Christmas shopping done! Click here!!

Find out the answer to your question, “Will I be required to use cartridges with the Cricut?” and also a fun and simple tutorial using Cricut pens and cardstock. 

Thank you to Cricut for sponsoring this post and making it possible for all of us to enjoy crafting so much more. All opinions are mine alone. I pinky promise! Some of the links below are “affiliate links.” This means if you click a link and purchase an item, I will receive a small affiliate commission that helps me to be able to continue with this blog and hopefully continue to inspire you as well. 

So many people love the idea of having a Cricut cutting machine and everything they could make. Then they get their machine but still have so many questions and feel overwhelmed not knowing where to even start. One of the most popular questions people have is “Will I be required to use cartridges with the Cricut?”.

Will I be required to use cartridges with the Cricut?

I am here to answer that question and share a step-by-step tutorial to get even the most beginner started crafting in no time and in confidence. But first make sure to check out my Cricut Intro post if you are interested in more about what the Cricut is exactly and what all it can do.

The previous Cricut machines would require cartridges at times to be purchased and placed into a slot on the machine which could then be accessed directly on the machine and cut out. The more updated machines still allow you to use previous cartridges with a slot on the machine, but it certainly isn’t necessary. The Design Space software gives you access to tons of images and files that you can cut. You can also purchase an Access Membership giving you access to the files at a discounted price.

The other beauty of Design Space is the Make It Now Projects. You will find tons of projects with cut files and directions to get started right away. You don’t have to have a cartridge at all with these. You don’t even have to think up your own idea. Get started using others creations and have some fun of your own.

One category of the Make It Now Projects that I want to feature are the Cards. You can find tons of ideas for just about any card you want. Everything is already there and just waiting for you to cut them out.

For cardmaking, you are going to need some pretty cardstock. Let me suggest a couple different packs that Cricut has. The quality is superb with a thicker paper that is sure to be durable and professional looking.

Sorbet Paper Pack

Pearl Paper Sampler

The beauty about Cricut and cardmaking is that the Cricut will not only cut out everything you need but also write any phrase or design on the card as well. Below is their Ultimate Pen Set full of bright colors and a white stand to even hold them all.

Another fun extra to use with cardmaking is Cricut’s Paper Crafting Set.

It includes:

• Piercer
• Quilling Tool
• Edge Distresser
• Craft Mat

This set is just a fun way to top things off and take your cards and paper projects to the next level. It truly is all in the little details.

Now that we have our supplies pulled together, let’s walk through step-by-step how to create Make It Now card projects in Design Space.

On the home page of Design Space, click on the right category box to see the full drop down menu of projects. I selected the Father’s Day cards.

Then I chose the “Rock that Stache” card.

You will see the supplies needed and directions to complete the card. You can customize the project but clicking the “Customize” button in the bottom right or click “Make It Now” to get started.

The next preview screen will show the different cuts and mats that will be needed. Press GO in the bottom right to start the process of loading your mat and cutting. *Don’t worry about knowing exactly what tools are needed for which mat. The software will prompt you when needing to change different colored pens or scoring stylus, etc. 

The next screen will then walk you through loading your mat, making sure the machine dial is set correctly, changing the different cardstock and tools between each mat, etc.

Once all the cuts are done and the phrase is written, you just need to assemble your card as stated in the project directions.

This “Hello Sunshine” card is another Make It Now card project that is adorable and uses several different pens for some gorgeous color combos. 

And that’s all there is to it. You don’t have to worry about understanding all of Design Space right away or having to buy cartridges to be able to use your Cricut. The Make It Now projects make it so easy to get started right away no matter what your experience level may be.

If you are interested in getting started with this type of project and any of the supplies used above, GET TO SHOPPING NOW!!! You will have a blast doing it too!

The hard part now is going to be choosing which colored pens and cardstock to buy. They are all so gorgeous! Have fun!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.