Make it Monday // Last Minute DIY Holiday Gift Guide

We've only got 7 days until Christmas, Hanukkah is in full gear, and Kwanza is starting soon.  Not to mention we've got Yule or the Winter Solstice on the 21st and I'm sure I'm missing other solar & seasonal festivals that are going on around this time of year.  Today I wanted to share with you some last minute gifts you can put together for some of the rad gals (and guys) in your life.

this post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here.

Whether you need stocking stuffers or just a small gift for friends, check out the gift guides below for some easy. last minute ideas.

The Planner Girl

These little gifts make the perfect individual stocking stuffers or blend them all together to create a gift set!  Get the cut file for the Happy Planner tabs here, make washi bobbins or portable washi storage here & here, then digitize your hand writing to cut with your Cricut Explore here!  Looking for more planner DIYs?  Click here!

The Essential Oil Enthusiast

Whether the recipient is on a spiritual journey or just plain into scents that smell amazing, handmade gifts for the essential oil enthusiast are sure to excite!  Create a special mala necklace for your loved one to help them focus on their intentions and meditate.  Learn how to make and use a mala here.  Create a nice, soothing bath salt with your favorite blends of essential oils.  Throw in a crystal or two and you've got a great gift set.  Find the DIY here.  Crystals and essential oils go together like holly & jolly.  Make this howlite and lava bead bracelet so that your loved one can diffuse their favorite blend all day long.

The Handmade Aficionado 

If your best friend, sister, mom, or aunt loves any & everything handmade consider getting creative with these three gifts.  Create this mixed metal pennant necklace with some simple jewelry making tools.  Crochet a quick boho inspired bag with scrap yarn - only 3 granny squares are needed!  Got some more scrap yarn?  Whip up some easy coasters using a large crochet hook to make the project go faster.

The Memory Keeper

Journalers and scrapbookers love new paper products to play with!  Spruce up a store bought notebook with a fabric spine.  Create a custom travelers notebook from cover to accessories using your Cricut Explore.  Make a mini spiral bound journal using your Cinch and a few leftover journaling cards.

Quick, creative, and super easy gifts.....now you've just gotta wrap them.  Happy holidays everyone and don't forget to use Ebates when doing your holiday shopping!  You'll get cash back to spend!  Sign up here.

xoxo, Moe

ps. Check out more gift guides here.

Favorite Places for Custom Holiday Cards // Zazzle & Minted

Now that Thanksgiving is officially over and we can now freely admit that our trees are up (and have been up for about 2 weeks), it's time to start on the holiday cards you know you should send out each year.  I have to say - this year is the year to send them.

this post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here.

all images are used from minted.com and zazzle.com

There are two places I highly recommend ordering your holiday cards from - Minted and Zazzle.  And don't forget this weekend is prime savings time (details below!)

Minted

this card features real foil detail!  Find it here

Minted is an A+ place to order anything from, in all honesty.  This site offers artwork, notebooks (and planners!), holiday cards, wedding invites, and much more (like, look at this fabric!) all created from quality artwork and customized by you.  This amazing online market places sources talented artists to create works for you to purchase as designed or customize yourself.  The curated works on the site are truly inspiring and breathtaking.  The images appeal to a vintage meets modern aesthetic while offering a wide variety of designs.

this card features silver foil!  Find it here.

An interesting part of the site is that the artwork and designs featured aren't just curated by the site itself, but by the consumer.  Artists submit their works and the consumers of the site rank and vote on each design.  Minted then curates the most popular designs for customization and print.  Each designer can upload to their design shop and have Minted fulfillment process turn the design into a reality.

find this design in assorted colors here.

When it comes to Holiday cards, the designs are limitless.  Choose from a modern postcard to a chic letterpress and wow your relatives with your custom creation.    You can even get free printing of addresses on the envelopes!

Right now, they've extended their Black Friday pricing - 20% off holiday cards & gifts $150+, 15% off no min. Code: BF2015, exp 11/29 (see details here)

Zazzle

A broad market place for all things custom, Zazzle offers countless products to be customized countless ways.  From acrylic trays (see a DIY here) to custom flasks, to wedding invitations (check out the wedding suites offered in the Five Sixteenths shop here.), to holiday cards, Zazzle is a market place for anyone any everyone with a creative bug.  Catering to a wide variety of aesthetics, the endless products on Zazzle allow for any Plain 'Ol Joe to Design Team Suzie to create and sell their creations.

Through Zazzle's fulfillment process anyone can post a design for sale - meaning that the variety is clearly endless.  Choose from post cards, folded cards, die cut cards, matching postage, and envelopes - there are combos galore.  Feel like you have what it takes to design your own card?  Use your favorite design machine (or even PicMonkey!) to create a design 100% custom to you!  Zazzle's fulfillment process will bring your dream into reality!

find this design here.

I love the new die cut cards feature.  The different shapes make your holiday cards (or any cards or invitations) very unique.  Creating a one of a kind holiday memory to send to your friends and family.

Right now Zazzle has an assortment of sales going on, including 50% off site wide!  Details are here.

So, if you haven't yet decided on your holiday cards this year, I urge you to fiddle around with both of these sites to find the one design that makes you feel merry and bright.  And, like I mentioned above...don't forget that it is sales time!! Not only are both sites having AWESOME sales, Zazzle has 10% cash back through Ebates!  So if you haven't signed up for Ebates - an awesome, no joke way of earning cash back on your online purchases - do so here!

Hope you had a wonderful holiday with your friends and family, and I can't wait to get started on the Christmas posts!

xoxo, Moe

Make it Monday // PicMonkey + Zazzle for the Perfect Gift

It is nearly Thanksgiving which means we all really need to be on top of our Christmas shopping.  Mine is nearly done - I picked up a lot of things on one of our mini trips to northern Michigan - I just have to pick up a few things mainly for people that are hard to buy for in my family.  If you have some of those hard-to-buy-for-people on your list, I have an idea to share with you today.

this post contains affiliate links, please see my full disclosure here.

Have you ever heard of the site Zazzle?  Not only is this site great for invitations, announcements, and more (check my shop here), Zazzle.com has an amazing array of personalized gifts.  Not only can you choose from customizable designs but you can also create your own!  There are tons of blank canvases to work on and tons of inspiration.  I chose to go with creating a vanity tray gift since I thought it was super unique. 

I decided to work in PicMonkey even though I know Zazzle has some fun design tools.  PicMonkey offers some clipart, backgrounds, and fun fonts to play with.  I'll be using one of the brand new fonts available on PicMonkey!  They've added 7 new fonts and some of them are the ever popular calligraphy style.

First start off with an 8x10 canvas.  Crop it to the 16x9 selection to get the closest ratio to the small vanity tray.  This will give you a canvas to start designing on.

If you'd like to do a new take on a monogram, add a label overlay.  There are plenty free options to choose from but the Royale (or paid option) from PicMonkey offers more fonts, more overlays, and way more fun creating!  The cost of Royale is totally worth it - $4.99/mo or $33/year!  PicMonkey is an awesome design tool.

After adding the label overlay, use a fun calligraphy font to add the last name of the family you are creating for.  Under the Overlays tab, there is a floral option.  Use this option to place some flourishes on the scrip text.

There are a few floral overlays that play well with this design.  Adding them to the corners works great for a feminine touch!  Save your design, but don't close out of your PicMonkey window in case you need to make any changes.

Now it's time to move over to Zazzle.  Choose the small vanity tray and using the Add Image button, upload the design you've created in PicMonkey and saved to your computer.

For the most part, your image should fit in the constraints of the tray but you can also use the crop to fit button to trim off a little excess on the left and right sides of the image.

View your tray from multiple angles to make sure you like the way your design is displayed.  Then add to your cart!

If you'd like to make similar designs for multiple gifts, keep your PicMonkey Screen open and design as many as you'd like.  If you'd like to have something similar to this design, click here to download the floral image.  Then open it in PicMonkey to customize your design.  You can read more of my PicMonkey tutorials here....you know you want to!

Be sure you check out if there are any coupon codes going on with Zazzle at the time of your purchase and don't forget to use Ebates to get money back on your purchases!  This a great way to whip up a custom gift after you've stuff your face with a delicious Turkey dinner!

You can check out the stationery, invites, announcements, and more in my Zazzle shop here.

Who in your family is hard to shop for?  Would they like a personalized gift?

xoxo, Moe

Make it Monday // Thanksgiving Coffee Cozie

Remember when I shared this crochet coffee cozie for Halloween?  Well now I'm addicted to making themed coffee cozies!!  They are super simple to whip up and great creative practice if you're a beginner crocheter because not only are your practicing crocheting in the round, you can also practice different stitches!

this post contains affiliate links, pleas read my full disclosure here.

For this cozie, I used a single crochet in the back loop only of each round.  This project is a great stash buster!  You could work through about a dozen in an afternoon - talk about instant gifts for the holidays.

Pattern

Using worsted weight yarn in two colors and a size H hook

ch 30, slp st in first chain to join, sc in each ch around.  Be careful not to twist your work, join with slp st by picking up second color, ch 1, do not turn.

Using second color, sc in back loop only of each st around.  Join with slp st by picking up first color, ch1, do not turn.

Alternate colors for every row, 11 rows in total. 

Bind off and weave in ends.

To add an embellishment, I used a little bit of E6000 and the stickiness on the back of a premade felt applique in the shape of a Turkey to add to the front of the cozy.  Now is the time to find Thanksgiving stuff at the craft store for like 40% off!  I used these same little appliques to make these paperclips, too!

If you're thinking about getting into the craft of crochet (do it! do it!) I'd suggest this Crochet Basics & Beyond class from Craftsy to get you started!

Are you ready for Turkey day?  I looooovvvee Thanksgiving!

xoxo, Moe

Make it Monday // Printable Table, Stocking, or Gift Tags with PicMonkey

I'm excited to wrap up some gifts before we head down to Virginia! My sister is the queen of wrapping Christmas gifts....& in the past she's taken so much time & color coordinated everything. I sort of just wrap it up in what ever santa themed paper I can find. I do like a nice wrapping paper now & then but even the plainest of wrappings can be spruced up with a lovely gift tag. Like last week's Make it Monday, we'll be using PicMonkey again to make some customized & personal gift tags! 

Like last week, navigate to PicMonkey & select create a collage.  I selected the Card Collage option again & chose 5x7 in size.  You can make your collage any size you'd like by pulling on the sides & top to make it wider & longer.  For a table tag, you may want to make them smaller to fit in with your decor.  But make sure there are two halves, this will allow you to fold the card in half so you can write a message or prop it up on a table.

I used the winter textures that PicMonkey offers because I'm in love with pale blues for winter!! Once you've filled your collage with your textures, save it & open it in the photo editor part of PicMonkey.  Add your text & any clip art:

For a table tag, make each half matching so that everyone at the dinner table can see each other's names!  Make sure to flip the text over, however, so when it's folded in half you can read the name correctly.  An example is below:

These little tags are also great if your stocking don't have names on them.  The stockings at my grandmother's house were the inspiration for these because they have our names pinned to them with regular gift tags.  

As always, I've included some templates you can use below to personalize in PicMonkey:

table tags

(click image)

 Blank Foldable Card

(click image)

Blank Merry Christmas Card

(click image)

I can't believe Christmas is so close!! I'm still waiting on a few gifts to come in the mail & I still have to put together a few more as well. I'm sort of procrastinating but at least everything is ordered! Just an FYI if you want your order in time for Christmas, the last shipping day is December 15th so make sure you've got all your vintage shopping done from 516VINTAGE before December 15th!

Hope you enjoy this little tutorial & that you're getting all your holiday things squared away.  Let me know if you use these little tags!

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Make It Monday // Monogramed Holiday Sign with Martha Stewart Paints

This isn't our first Christmas together but is our first Christmas in our new house!  While we're still working on the house, I've been getting my creative juices flowing in gearing up to decorate a bit for the holidays.  I was super excited to get a box of awesome Martha Stewart Paints & Stencils from Plaid to get started on making our home warm for the holidays.  I've always loved Christmas & the way handmade decorations add warmth to any home.  My grandmother still has a load of handmade decor from when my dad & aunts were little and things that she's made and added over the years.  I couldn't wait to have something to add warmth to our home.

I thought of about a million things I could make with all the awesome goodies but I knew I wanted to keep it on the traditional White Christmas side.  I may be a mix of kitsch contemporary when it comes to everyday home decor but with Christmas I love everything just how mom would decorate....if that makes sense! Green, Red, White, Gold, & Silver mean christmas to me & I'll never change!  I think this turned out rather nicely & the glitter is much better in person & really pretty by candle light.

Supplies: Martha Stewart Glass Paint in Opaque Metallic in Antique Pewter, Translucent Fine Glitter in Florentine Gold, & Translucent Frost in Wedding Cake, Martha Stewart Acrylic paint in satin white, assorted holiday stencils - Snowflake silkscreens, Script Font Silkscreens, & Letter Stencils, Newspaper to cover your work area, a picture frame, dobbers, a stencil brush, small paint brush, scissors

Optional: Measuring tape & pencil, scrapbook paper

step one: Disassemble your frame, setting the backing & all the insides aside.  Clean the glass with soap & water then clean the surface with alcohol per the glass paint instructions.  Set it aside on another news paper & avoid finger prints.

step two: Since I wanted a distressed, frosted look on my frame I used the stencil brush not as it was intended & pounced on some of the white acrylic paint.  I made sure to cover the entire frame but leave parts of the dark wood showing through.  I really like trying to find multiple uses for craft supplies & this came out exactly how I wanted it - frosted & distressed.  Now I want to do this to every frame!

step three: If you are unsure how to use any of the stencil/silkscreen products, there are little leaflets inside that will give you detailed instructions.  I was so nervous to use the silkscreens but with the leaflet I felt more comfortable & after doing this project I can't wait to use them for other projects!

The leaflet mentioned that there are a bunch of ways to use your stencils - measure our your placement or place them randomly for an organic feel.  I sorta did both.  In order to make sure everything was even, I used a pencil & measuring tape to find the center of the glass -which I lined up with the center fold of the news paper, how convenient!  Then I placed my stencils.  They are adhesive, so they stay in place but you can remove them easily to adjust or re apply.

step 4: Paint! Use your little daubers to tap on the glass paint!  I used the silver color for the monograms at the top & the translucent frost in Wedding Cake for the Christmas & 2012.  Just pounce, pounce pounce.

step 5: I needed to reposition my stencils through this process since I needed another s & another 2.  Remove the stencils while the paint is still wet, carefully, & reposition where you need them to be.  Then pounce, pounce pounce.  Once you're finished, removed the stencils while the paint is still wet.

If you're going to do another set of stencils, let the first layer of paint dry so if you bump it, you won't damage it.  Repeat the steps for your next layer of stencils.  To finish mine up, I used a little bit of glitter around the snowflakes.

step 6: Assemble your frame back together.  Put the glass in, then decorative scrapbook paper or the backside of the place holder paper that came with the frame - that's what I did - & your backing.  I used the white side of the place holder paper the frame came with to give the monogram & text more dimension.  You get almost a 3D look with the way the shadows play with the image.

To cure the glass paint you can bake it in the over, but since this will never see the dishwasher I opted for the air cure for 21 days option.

My favorite of the paints was the translucent frost in Wedding Cake.  I almost didn't use it because I thought it was too translucent.  But I'm glad I did because it ended up looking a bit like etched glass!  Of course you could use etching cream for this but if you're doing this project with kids, the translucent Frost paint is another option to make it more kid friendly.

This would be a great wedding gift or First Christmas gift for a couple.  Bring the kids in on it because the stenciling is that easy!  Use a smaller frame (mine was 14" by 7") & just do a monogram or just a snowflake.  It would even be a great sun catcher sort of deal.  Seriously, the possibilites are endless!

Either hang your frame (like we will after this year) or use it as a center piece.  Our dinning table is rather small but with the two of us it's alright to have a larger center piece.  We've resolved to use the dining room table more so it will be a nice little touch to bring our dinners more holiday warmth!

If you're dying for more inspiration, check out Plaid on Facebook, Twitter, & Pinterest.  Want some more cool ideas? Check this Cupcake Gift Jar...pretty cool!

How do you decorate your home? Who will you gift a monogramed sign to?

I wrote this post as part of a paid campaign with Martha Stewart Paint & Stencils by Plaid and The Blueprint Social. The opinions in this post are my own

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Merry Christmas!

I am doing a little internet browsing while waiting for Santa tonight.  I wonder where he's at right now.......

I stumbled upon this on etsy:

from Stolkholms Stadsmission

Check out the article on Gingerbread Houses on Etsy

in the mean time

Merry Christmas!!

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Tempted Tuesdays: DIY Stocking

So Anthropolgie has these amazing stockings that I recently saw on Skunkboy Creatures's blog.

via holiday @ Anthropologie

If you know how to knit this would be so perfect! I can also see a crocheted version in a whole bunch of scrap yarn (which I totally have!)

I've only ever crocheted 3 stockings in my life.  My ex-boyfriend & I traded gifts in them one xmas & then I made (a pitiful) one for my dog.  This has given me inspiration to make another one for my little pup. I hope I get it done in time for xmas!

I've also seen stockings made from a wool thrift store sweater.  Here's the idea from Crafting A Green World.  Use a crazy "Cosby" sweater or recycle that Ugly Sweater Party pullover you bought into a cool little stocking.

I am so tempted to buy these, but I know I can DIY!

What Christmas decor have you been tempted to buy but have DIY-ed instead?

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Free Holiday Printable Card

Oh, man....it's almost time to send out holiday cards.  I am excited but sheeze how time flies?!?!

I have made a cute little printable holiday card for you to send out to your loved ones this holiday season.  You can also include it as a gift tag or stocking stuffer.  Perfect for a little gift card too!

Ok, here it is:

click the image to enlarge

The theme for my holiday this year is all about handmade.  Which is why I love the hand drawn part of this card.  So cute!

Wouldn't it look great if your kids colored it? What the heck, go a head and grab a crayon too.

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Dorm Dec Wednesday: I can Hear the Jingle Bells!

I can not wait for the Christmas season.  I love it, love it, love it.

I don't mind when stores put out their holiday decorations right after Halloween.  For me it symbolizes the start of the Holiday transition.  I guess my favorite part of the year is from about October 15th until January 2nd.  I love the transitions of the seasons & the transition of people into a spirit of giving.  Oh, heck, I like to sing carols & I love things that sparkle too.

I was browsing through Urban Outfitters today & while I am all about a vintage Christmas, these ornaments couldn't hurt:

these mushroom ornaments are so cute!

& these gnomes! 

How great would these look on a tree?  I can not wait to start decorating.  My grandmother has already said she's set up the tree, her little snow village, & brought out the stockings.  My grandmother is one tough chick, she'll get down & dirty to make sure her house is cozy enough for Santa to come sit a spell.  She out does herself, but she just wants to make it something we want to come home to & remember from our childhood.

Believe me, because of this, I never want the holidays to end.  I'll have to take time this year to appreciate it :)

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Tempted Tuesdays: DIY Holiday Gift Wrap Bow

If you also follow Cross My Hooks, you'll know that I've been doing a little Handmade Holiday series where feature a video tutorial every week.  Each tutorial is a simple & DIY gift idea for the holidays.  This past week I made a cute little bow to wrap around a holiday present (or just a present in general!)

This tutorial features my new Hand Spun Tissue Paper Cord in my shop

Here is the video:

You can use rafia, yarn, twine, hemp, anything looks pretty cool!  I am going to use this technique to make some garland for my little silver tree & for new years :)

Happy Week Before Turkeyday :)

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