It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for a pretty table. I just love making it look nice and creating a special seat for everyone!

Last week I shared ideas for a Patriotic Porch Party and got quite a few comments about the tablescape.

I thought it might be helpful to share a mood board with some similar items so that you could easily recreate the look for your own patriotic celebration.

All of the items shown in the mood board are available via Amazon Prime, so even if you’re late to the game and are just starting to plan, you can still get these goodies…in some cases, the very next day after you order. Gotta love Amazon!

Take a peek below at a few pics from the porch party, then follow the links to similar items on Amazon so you can shop the look!

Shop the Look

Click on the images below to shop the look and create your own pretty patriotic tablescape!

If you like these ideas, please "Like," "Pin," "Share" or "Tweet!"  Or, you can just shout it from the rooftops, if that's your thing.  Thanks bunches!!!  :) 

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It’s summertime, and the sippin’ is easy!

Front porch sitting and sipping on some cold drinks in the summer is one of my favorite things to do! So when the 4th of July rolls around, I’m all about giving the porch a little patriotic glow-up and spending some quality holiday time out there with our friends and fam.

A nice tablecloth, some simple tableware and a few fresh flowers are all that are needed to transform a porch table into a pretty, patriotic tablescape. Tuck a few flags into the flower arrangements and you’ve got instant festive flair.

To give your 4th of July celebration the proper dose of red, white and blue, try hanging some paper party fans on the porch wall. Party fans add great texture and instant pizzazz, and they’re so affordable! I used them as the backdrop for our dessert table, then just added a few pretty plants at the base of the table to give depth to the display. Super easy and gave the porch a really cute patriotic feel!

Classic, old-fashioned games are fun to have on hand for your porch party. We painted some wooden games from Oriental Trading with some red, white and blue paint for the occasion, then sat them out on a table by some rocking chairs to encourage a little friendly competition. It was such a fun day!

To see more of this Patriotic Porch Party, head over to Oriental Trading’s FUN365 website!

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Do you remember the paper chain advent calendars that we used to make as kids to countdown the days until Christmas? Well, this Memory-Making Activity Advent Calendar was inspired by that concept, but with a really special twist!

Consider this a modern version of the vintage classic, with the paper chain links representing magical memories to be created with your kids throughout the holiday season.

All you need to create this advent calendar is the Memory-Making Paper Chain Activity Advent Calendar Printable Kit (available in my JenTbyDesign Etsy shop here) and some tape. Oh, and of course, lots of Christmas cheer! ;)

25 Christmas season activity links are included for the calendar, as well as 6 pretty patterned paper links...all hand-drawn by me…so you won’t find them anywhere else!

Use all 25 of the activity links in your chain or pick and choose your favorites...whatever works best for you. The paper chain is completely customizable to fit your schedule and lifestyle!

The Christmas Paper Chain Advent Activities Include:

~ Bake Cookies
~ Decorate the Christmas Tree
~ Donate or Buy a Gift for Someone in Need
~ Decorate a Gingerbread House
~ Watch a Christmas Movie
~ Have a Cup of Hot Cocoa
~ Go See Christmas Lights
~ Go Visit Santa
~ Write a Letter to Santa
~ Make Reindeer Food
~ Go Ice Skating
~ Build a Snowman
~ Make a Christmas Ornament
~ Read a Christmas Book
~ Wear Christmas PJs
~ Go Sledding
~ Roast Marshmallows
~ Sing Christmas Carols
~ Make Paper Snowflakes
~ Decorate Your Room for the Holidays
~ Play a Game as a Family
~ Make a Gift for Someone
~ Have a Snowball Fight
~ Attend a Christmas Parade
~ Sit by a Cozy Fire

December is such a busy time of year, so build your chain based on your availability.

Is an activity a day too much for you? No problem!

Simply refer to your family calendar when assembling your paper chain to coordinate activity dates, then use the simple patterned links for days that you’d like to keep activity-free.

Do you have multiple kiddos? Print a chain for each of them so they can each experience the magic of tearing off a link every day!

Wanna know what’s really cool? Once you purchase the Advent Calendar Kit, just save the files to your computer and you are able to use them over and over again each year to make magical memories with your family!

I would be so very honored if you’d consider incorporating this paper chain advent calendar into your holiday traditions. It was a true labor of love and would mean the world to me to help you create some happy memories for your families!

Be sure to take lots of pics to capture all of the special moments, and be sure to tag me on Facebook or Instagram so I can see!

Happy Holiday and lots of love ~ Jen ❤︎

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If you like these ideas, please "Like," "Pin," "Share" or "Tweet!"  Or, you can just shout it from the rooftops, if that's your thing.  Thanks bunches!!!  :) 

Move over, “You’ve Been Booed,” there’s a new craze in town…

…You’ve Been Brewed!

I came across this “Scream and Sugar” coffee when I was in TJ Maxx one day and I instantly thought it would make a cool Halloween gift. A little stroll down the Halloween aisle led to the “Basic Witch” mug and some cute witch napkins, resulting in the perfect little gift idea for my best witches!

I arranged all of the goodies inside a cauldron, and for a personal touch, I added a printable “You’ve Been Brewed” Halloween Gift Tag to tie around it. If you can’t find a cauldron, I think a black wire or woven basket would look equally as awesome!

This is such a fun gift idea for friends, your kiddo’s teachers, bus drivers, neighbors, co-workers, you name it!

The tags can be found in my Jen T by Design Etsy Shop, and all of the other goodies can be found at places like TJ Maxx, HomeGoods and Target. I also took a peek on Amazon and found some things there that can be delivered next day with Amazon Prime if you’re short on time.

If you like this idea and would like to scale it down just a bit, you can always skip the full basket and just tie the tag around a mug handle…

…or a bag of coffee.

It still makes a really awesome gift and the scaled down version is super affordable if you’d like to “brew” multiple people!

I hope you love this idea and can use it to gift your best witches with a fun Halloween surprise!

If you do use the idea, please be sure to tag me on Instagram (@jentbydesign) or Facebook (@Jen T by Design) so I can see what you come up with. It makes me so happy to see how you’ve been inspired by my ideas!

See More Halloween Gift Tags, You’ve Been Booed Signs, Halloween Invitations and Decor in my Etsy Shop here.

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Halloween is such an exciting holiday for little ghouls and goblins! Visits to the pumpkin patch, carving pumpkins, dressing up in costumes, candy…there’s so much fun to be had!

Halloween can be a little scary, though, especially for the younger kiddos. I recently styled a “Too Cute to Spook” Party for Oriental Trading Company that celebrates all of the spooktacular things that Halloween has to offer…minus the fright. It’s the perfect celebration for all of the little ones that are too cute to spook!

I created this super cute kids Halloween party invitation for our “spookless” soiree, and it’s available as a free download that you can use, too!

The printable invitation can be customized with your own party details prior to printing; simply download the invite, click in the text boxes to enter your info, save to your computer, then print! So easy and so very cute!

Download the free “Too Cute to Spook” Kids Halloween Party Invitations here.

The Decorations

The decor for the party was kept simple and sweet. What I love most about this setup is that the backdrop doubles as both party decor and an absolutely adorable photo booth! The moon, stars, bats and banner are all available as free downloads that are included in the printable pack that I designed for this party. All of the details to recreate it can be found here and the printables can be accessed here.

Is it even a Halloween party if there aren’t costumes? I don’t think so! Encourage all of the kid-a-boos to come dressed in their Halloween best…it totally adds to the fun! And just look how cute that photo booth is when the little ones pose in front of it. Can’t. get. enough!!!

If you need some ideas for Halloween costumes, you can find some great ones here.

Sidenote: Speaking of that little guy right there that’s striking a pose, do you recognize him from last year’s Monster Mingle Halloween Party? That’s our little Jax! He was only four months old at our party last year…now he’s 16 months old and soooo much fun!!! There is nothing better in this world than being his Shoogie!

The Table

One of my favorite tricks while party planning is to incorporate things that can serve dual purposes. A great place to put this practice into use is at the party table. Basic buffalo check plates and solid napkins get elevated to the next level with reusable pumpkin-shaped cups and plush bouncy ball bats that first serve as table decor but then become party favors when the celebration is over.

The Party Favors

Filling plain metal buckets with Halloween treats effortlessly transforms them into spooktacular boo baskets. Finish them off with the free printable tags and flags (available here) for the perfect finishing touch!

Head over to Oriental Trading’s FUN365 website to see more details from this fun party and to shop the look!

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Whether you’re celebrating Independence Day with a big bash, a small backyard BBQ or you just want to add a patriotic pop of fun to your decor, these 4th of July Ideas with Patriotic Printables are a super easy way to add some flair to your fourth!

Easily Elevate Simple 4th of July Treats

Ordinary treats become spectacular star-spangled snacks with a little help from a star-shaped cookie cutter and some printable 4th of July Cupcake Toppers! The red, white and blue cereal adds a fun pop of color to the treats, making them even more festive! If the colored cereal isn’t available in your area, you could always drizzle some white frosting on top of the treats and sprinkle with patriotic sprinkles.

The printable toppers are also great for adding a festive touch to cupcakes and other snacks, napkin rings, paper cups and favor bags!

A Fresh 4th of July Decorating Idea

Simple flower arrangements are the easiest way to give just about any space a festive facelift.

Looking for an easy centerpiece for your backyard BBQ? Fresh flowers. Want to add a simple touch of patriotic decor to your home? Fresh flowers. They just always work! Any variety of red, white and blue flowers is great for adding a simple splash of Independence Day pride to your decor.

If you want to elevate the arrangements and give them a more celebratory vibe, Printable 4th of July Pennant Flags tucked inside look so pretty and they are such an easy finishing touch! They look especially amazing as centerpieces on a group of tables at a larger gathering!

Super Simple 4th of July Gift Ideas

If you’re looking for the perfect 4th of July gift, look no further!

Not only are fresh flowers amazing as decor, they make fantastic gifts! Bundle up some of your favorite buds, tuck a 4th of July Pennant Flag inside, and gift to friends, neighbors, co-workers, hostesses…whomever you’d like to give a smile to!

These are really fun as a July 4th Door Drop Gift. Just leave them on someone’s doorstep as a sweet surprise!

A Red, Wine and Blue Gift Basket is an amazing gift idea, especially for hostesses or a new neighbor!

Simply top a patriotic-looking wine bottle with a printable Red, Wine and Blue Tag, then tuck it inside a basket with some cute patriotic napkins and wine glasses!

I found these goodies at Marshall’s for a really reasonable price and they had a super cute selection!

If your gift recipient prefers cocktails over wine, a few simple changes to the wine basket give you an adorable Red, White and Booze Gift Basket!

Simply trade the Red, Wine and Blue tag for a Red, White and Booze Tag, and swap out the wine glasses for some festive cocktail cups and straws!

Once again Marshall’s wins for the cute and affordable patriotic goodies to tuck inside the basket!

Add a “Happy 4th of July” Tag to the front of the basket for the perfect finishing touch. The tags come in red, white and blue so you can choose the color that looks best with your gift.

Adorable 4th of July Treat Bags

This just may be one of the easiest (and cutest) 4th of July Ideas ever!

If you’re looking for a 4th of July party favor, a sweet treat to serve at your cookout, a patriotic snack to hand out to your kiddos’ teammates, or a little gift to give to someone special, this is for you!

All you need to do is fill a simple ziploc sandwich bag with your favorite patriotic treat (cookies, snack mix, Rice Krispy treats, patriotic popcorn, etc.), then fold a printable 4th of July Treat Bag Topper over the top.

Seriously so cute and so, so simple!

Sidenote: I found these cookies at Target, of all places! They were selling them individually wrapped or by the bucket. Keep an eye out for them at your local Target on your next visit!

Spectacular 4th of July Sips

Bottle labels are an incredibly simply way to add pack some pizzazz into your Independence Day!

Since most 4th of July celebrations are outdoors and the temps are typically soaring, Gatorade is always a great drink choice to keep cool and replenish some electrolytes.

Why not kick those power drinks up a notch with some festive 4th of July Bottle Labels? They instantly upgrade 12 ounce bottles for the holiday and they are super cute!

The decorated Gatorades are fabulous for handing out to your kiddos’ teammates during practice or after a game, and they’re perfect for adding to your cookout cooler!

The labels are not waterproof, so to use them in a cooler, place them in a trash bag then sit the bag on ice in your cooler to keep the bottles dry but cold.

Pin for Later!

I hope you’ve been inspired by these 4th of July ideas and that they can help you as you plan your Independence Day festivities! If you decide to give any of the ideas a try, I’d love to see what you create! Be sure to follow me along on social media (just follow the links below) and tag me so I can see your creations!

Have a Happy 4th! Jen :)

If you like these ideas, please "Like," "Pin," "Share" or "Tweet!"  Or, you can just shout it from the rooftops, if that's your thing.  Thanks bunches!!!  :) 

Hostess gifts never go out of style. I can’t name one single hostess who would ever say “I’m so mad that you brought me a nice little something to thank me for having you over, cleaning my house like a mad woman and cooking my butt off all day for you.” In fact, after all the work the hostess has put into making your visit special, a little gift of appreciation is actually very welcome. (Take it from a girl who’s almost always the hostess)!

Today I’m sharing with you two 4th of July Hostess Gifts that are super affordable and very easy to put together. All you need is one basket, some filler and our patriotic printables for the base of each gift, and then you just swap out what you fill the basket with to create two unique patriotic gift ideas!

4th of July Hostess Gift: Red, White & Booze

The first gift idea includes booze. Actually, both of these July 4th Hostess Gift Ideas include alcohol. Firstly, because…yum, and secondly, because the hostess can opt to use the gift right then and there at the get together, if she chooses.

Now, you could just purchase a nice bottle of liquor and tie a Red, White and Booze Tag onto it with some pretty ribbon and that would certainly be a nice gesture. But, with just a little extra effort, why not take it a step further and elevate that gift into something more special?

Obviously the hostess will be wanting to create some yummy cocktails with that booze, so why not help her out a little bit? Arrange that bottle of liquor in the basket I mentioned earlier with some cute patriotic cups, straws and napkins, and now she has what she needs to serve up the cocktails!

I found these cups, straws and napkins at Marshall’s for just a few dollars each and they really elevated the gift to the next level. I mean, would you be mad if someone showed up at your house with a gift like this? Nope, me either. ;)

4th of July Hostess Gift: Red, Wine and Blue

If wine is more your speed, just swap out the liquor for a nice bottle of wine, and change out the printable patriotic tag to a Red, Wine and Blue Tag.

For this hostess gift idea I traded the cocktail cups for wine glasses (would you believe I found these at Walmart for only $1.98 each?!!) and I still included some cute napkins to round out the basket display.

And there you have it! Two super easy, really affordable 4th of July Hostess Gifts that will surely secure you an invite to the next get together!

For a pretty presentation, secure a Happy 4th of July Tag to the front of the basket.

The printable patriotic tags come in 3 colors so you can mix and match for different gifts, or choose the one that looks best with your gift basket.

I hope you can use these ideas, and if you do, I hope you’ll share some pics and tag me on social media. I love to see how my ideas inspire you! My social media channels are all below…be sure you’re following along!

Happy Celebrating! Jen :)

PIN FOR LATER

If you like these ideas, please "Like," "Pin," "Share" or "Tweet!"  Or, you can just shout it from the rooftops, if that's your thing.  Thanks bunches!!!  :) 

The first time we ever got booed we had just moved into a new neighborhood. Our doorbell rang, but when we answered the door, no one was there. We looked down and saw a basket full of Halloween goodies on our step. Tucked inside the basket were two “You’ve Been Booed” Halloween Signs.

One sign said “We’ve Been Booed.” This sign was to be displayed in our front window to let our friends and neighbors know that our house has already been booed. The second sign said “You’ve Been Booed.” It explained to us what had just happened and instructed us that we had two days to “boo” someone else that hadn’t already been booed.

Well, anyone that knows me and my family knows that this means, GAME ON, buddy, and from that day forward, a new Halloween family tradition was born!

Fast forward to today, the crazy year of 2020, and this “booing” business seems more important than ever. I don’t know a single person that wouldn’t love a little extra dose of happy right now!

To help spread some joy, I’ve created three super cute printable “You’ve Been Booed” Halloween Sign Sets that are available for instant download. Purchase and download them today, put together your goodie bags tomorrow, and you can be booing your friends and starting a fun family tradition this weekend!

There are three adorable Booed Sign Designs to choose from:

• Pink + Orange Pumpkins

• Spooky Spiders

• Orange Gingham

Be sure to pin the image below so you can refer back to this post later, and so your Pinterest friends can join in the fun!

If you decide to use these signs, I would be thrilled! Please tag me on social media so I can see! My social media accounts are below. Happy Booing, and I hope you have an awesome time bringing some smiles to those around you this Halloween!

If you like these ideas, please "Like," "Pin," "Share" or "Tweet!"  Or, you can just shout it from the rooftops, if that's your thing.  Thanks bunches!!!  :) 

You May Also Like These Coordinating Trick or Treat Signs:

Bright, festive colors make this Halloween table more silly than spooky. DIY Monster Plates are a huge hit with the kids…especially the candy corn teeth! The kids also really loved the Monster Cardboard Stand-Up that we had set up in the driveway. This is great for capturing some fun Halloween pictures!

To add a festive flair to the table, I created some printable Monster Bottle Labels and Monster Treat Labels to coordinate with the party invitation. Both sets of labels can be found in the Halloween section of my shop. DIY Monster Eye Drink Stirrers were created by hot gluing a black yarn pom to a striped straw, then adding a googly eye to each pom. They were a super cute way to emphasize the monster theme.

Ready to recreate a Monster Mingle for your own little ghouls and goblins? Head over to Oriental Trading for all of these spooktacular details!

This post is sponsored by Oriental Trading Company.

Don’t forget to dress the part for your party! Get super easy, monstrously cute Monster Costume DIYs here:

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I don’t know about you, but finding the perfect costume can be a real struggle! The process usually ends up involving some form of DIY project because I can never find exactly what I’m looking for. That’s what happened for the Halloween Monster Mingle that I recently hosted for Oriental Trading Company.

I wanted everyone to be dressed in their “monstrous” best, but none of the costumes that I found were striking my fancy. So, as I tend to do, I pulled out my Cricut machine and started crafting up some designs. About an hour and a half later, a few solid tees and a solid baby romper were transformed into some super cute DIY Monster Halloween Costumes! Take a peek below to see how you can recreate these monstrously adorable costumes for your own little ghouls and goblins!

Matching Monster and MOMster Costumes

I can’t get enough of these Mommy & Me Monster Outfits. Aren’t they perfect for a new mama and her sweet baby? I mean, just look at that monster hat, would ya? So daggone cute!!!

How to Make the Little Monster Costume

You’ll Need:

• This project in Design Space
• Cricut Cutting Machine (an Explore Air 2, Maker, or Joy will work)
• Cricut Iron-on Vinyl (I used black and silver)
• Cricut EasyPress or Iron
• Cricut EasyPress Mat or towel
• Solid Romper
• This Crochet Monster Hat from MRocheCrochet

Instructions:

1. Begin by opening the project in Design Space and clicking “Customize.” Measure the width of the romper, then decide how wide you’d like the “Little Monster” text to be.

2. in the “Size” section of the top menu in Design Space, enter your desired width in the width box, then hit enter. The height will adjust accordingly. Adjust the sizes of the polka dots to your liking.

3. Click “Make It.”

4. Toggle the “Mirror” button to the “on” position. When working with iron-on, you want to cut the vinyl in reverse so that it reads properly when applied to your project.

5. Follow the prompts in Design Space to connect your machine, load your material and cut your design.

6. Weed the negative vinyl from the design.

7. Preheat your Cricut EasyPress using the Cricut Heat Guide as a reference (or preheat your iron based on the vinyl packaging instructions).

8. Once the EasyPress has reached the desired temperature, on a protected surface (I use a Cricut EasyPress Mat) place the EasyPress on the romper where you’d like to apply the vinyl, then press for 5 seconds. This removes any excess moisture from the material and helps create a better adhesion.

9. Situate the vinyl where you’d like it to appear on the romper, then press with the EasyPress using the time and temperature settings from the Cricut Heat Guide.

10. Turn the romper over and press the back of the design for 15 seconds.

11. Allow the vinyl to cool for about a minute, then peel away the carrier sheet.

12. Repeat the process to apply the dots, being sure not to let the EasyPress or iron touch any exposed vinyl.

13. Add the monster hat to complete the costume.

How to Make the MOMster Shirt

You’ll Need:

• This project in Design Space
• Cricut Cutting Machine (an Explore Air 2, Maker, or Joy will work)
• Cricut Iron-on Vinyl (I used white)
• Cricut EasyPress or Iron
• Cricut EasyPress Mat or towel
• Solid Tee

Instructions:

1. Begin by opening the project in Design Space and clicking “Customize.” Measure the width of the shirt, then decide how wide you’d like “MOMster” text to be.

2. in the “Size” section of the top menu in Design Space, enter your desired width in the width box, then hit enter. The height will adjust accordingly.

3. Click “Make It.”

4. Toggle the “Mirror” button to the “on” position. When working with iron-on, you want to cut the vinyl in reverse so that it reads properly when applied to your project.

5. Follow the prompts in Design Space to connect your machine, load your material and cut your design.

6. Weed the negative vinyl from the design.

7. Preheat your Cricut EasyPress using the Cricut Heat Guide as a reference (or preheat your iron based on the vinyl packaging instructions).

8. Once the EasyPress has reached the desired temperature, on a protected surface (I use a Cricut EasyPress Mat), place the EasyPress on the shirt where you’d like to apply the vinyl, then press for 5 seconds. This removes any excess moisture from the material and helps create a better adhesion.

9. Situate the vinyl where you’d like it to appear on the shirt, then press with the EasyPress using the time and temperature settings from the Cricut Heat Guide.

10. Turn the shirt over and press the back of the design for 15 seconds.

11. Allow the vinyl to cool for about a minute, then peel away the carrier sheet.

How to Make the Candy Monster Costumes

You’ll Need:

• This project in Design Space
• Cricut Cutting Machine (an Explore Air 2, Maker, or Joy will work)
• Cricut Iron-on Vinyl (I used black, silver glitter, mint, pink, lilac and blue)
• Cricut EasyPress or Iron
• Cricut EasyPress Mat or towel
• Solid White Tees (I used these from Amazon)
• Colorful Tutus (I used these from Amazon)

Instructions:

1. Begin by opening the project in Design Space and clicking “Customize.” Measure the width of the romper, then decide how wide you’d like the design to be.

2. in the “Size” section of the top menu in Design Space, enter your desired width in the width box, then hit enter. The height will adjust accordingly.

3. Click “Make It.”

4. Toggle the “Mirror” button to the “on” position. When working with iron-on, you want to cut the vinyl in reverse so that it reads properly when applied to your project.

5. Follow the prompts in Design Space to connect your machine, load your materials and cut your design.

6. Weed the negative vinyl from the designs.

7. Preheat your Cricut EasyPress using the Cricut Heat Guide as a reference (or preheat your iron based on the vinyl packaging instructions).

8. Once the EasyPress has reached the desired temperature, on a protected surface (I use a Cricut EasyPress Mat), place the EasyPress on the shirt where you’d like to apply the vinyl, then press for 5 seconds. This removes any excess moisture from the material and helps create a better adhesion.

9. Since you’re working with several layers of vinyl, you’re going to want to arrange the pieces in order from bottom most layer to top layer before attaching them to the shirt. Once you’ve got them arranged, starting with the bottom-most layer of the design, situate the vinyl where you’d like it to appear on the romper, then press with the EasyPress using the time and temperature settings from the Cricut Heat Guide.

10. Turn the shirt over and press the back of the design for 15 seconds.

11. Allow the vinyl to cool for about a minute, then peel away the carrier sheet.

12. Repeat the process to apply the other colors of vinyl, being sure not to let the EasyPress or iron touch any exposed vinyl. This can be done by covering the applied vinyl with the carrier sheets when applying a new color.

13. Complete the costumes with colorful tutus and leggings.

Now that your costumes are done, you’re all ready to celebrate! Start planning your Halloween Monster Mingle here:

More Halloween DIY Projects You May Like:

If you like these ideas, please "Like," "Pin," "Share" or "Tweet!"  Or, you can just shout it from the rooftops, if that's your thing.  Thanks bunches!!!  :) 

Football season definitely looks different this year, but that doesn’t mean that we have to miss out on all the tailgating fun! A Socially Distanced Tailgate Party is an awesome way to still celebrate the season on a smaller scale. All you need are a few of your closest friends or family, some of your favorite game day snacks, and an outdoor space for hanging out.

Bales of straw are perfect for seating, and can be arranged so that there is a comfortable distance between everyone.

Head on over to Oriental Trading’s Fun 365 site to see more of our Socially Distanced Tailgate Party and get all the details to host your own! Gooooooo Quaran-Team!

This post is sponsored by Oriental Trading Company.

If you like these ideas, please "Like," "Pin," "Share" or "Tweet!"  Or, you can just shout it from the rooftops, if that's your thing.  Thanks bunches!!!  :) 

Just in case you’re one of the few people who hasn’t heard me shouting it from the rooftops, we have a grandbaby on the way!!! Our daughter got married last year and is pregnant with our very first grand little and we couldn’t be more excited!

With her due date fast approaching, and with Mother’s Day right around the corner, I wanted to give my “soon-to-be-mama” baby girl something special to celebrate this incredible time in her life. You know I’m all about personal touches, so it will come as no surprise to you that I chose to “Cricut up” some custom goodies for her. What might surprise you, however, is what I used to do it!

Let me introduce you to the newest member of the Cricut cutting family…the Cricut Joy! This machine is small but mighty, weighing in at less than four pounds! It’s cute, petite and portable, making it easier than ever to craft when and where you want.

If you already have a Cricut Maker or Explore Air 2, you might be wondering what benefit you would get from the Cricut Joy. Well, as someone who owns both a Maker and an Explore Air 2, let me tell you a couple of reasons why I love this little machine:

• It literally allows me to create anywhere! I can take it down to my living room, plug it in, send a project to it from my phone, and cut it out within minutes…all while sitting in front of my TV. If I’m styling for an event, I can take it with me and create any last-minute touches right there on the spot. I LOVE that capability because I am notorious for wanting to add “one last detail” to a setup before go time! The Joy allows me to do that.

• It’s ideal for small, quick projects! These gift ideas that I’m about to share with you are the perfect example. When you just need to make a quick cut with one color and don’t want to go hook up your big machine, just pull this baby out, send over the project via Design Space on your phone or tablet, and you have you can have your project complete in minutes…literally. Just cut, apply and you’re done. Honestly, it’s that simple. Need a quick decal? Done. Want to whip up a quick card for a last minute birthday gift? Easy peasy. Need to add a quick label to the dish you’re taking to the potluck? Done and done. The possibilities are endless!

One of the coolest things about the Cricut Joy is that mats are optional! No more wondering which mat is needed for which material, and no need to carry mats along with you when you take your Joy on the go. This machine has a full suite of “smart” materials that don’t require a mat…just load and go!

I didn’t use a mat for any of the goodies that I personalized in the pic above, and I customized all of those gifts combined in less than an hour. So amazing, right?

Take a peek below to learn how you can customize Simple New Mom Gift Ideas using the Cricut Joy!

Aren’t Mommy and Me Matching Shirts just the sweetest idea? I can already picture my daughter and my sweet baby Jax wearing these and looking so cute I could just eat ‘em up!

For the Onesie You’ll Need:

• Cricut Joy
• This project in Design Space
• A solid onesie (I chose grey)
• Cricut Joy Smart Iron-On (I chose white)
• Weeding Tool
• EasyPress or Iron

Begin by opening this project in Design Space and clicking “Customize.” Measure the width of the onesie to determine what size you’d like your design to be, then enter the design width in the top toolbar. Click enter and the height will adjust proportionately. Then click “Make It.”

Design Space will prompt you to choose the material that you will be cutting, will tell you to toggle the “Mirror” button to the on position, and then will prompt you to load the material and cut. No mat required with the Smart Iron-On!

After the cut is complete, use the weeding tool to peel away the negative vinyl.

Allow to cool for about a minute, then while still warm, peel away the carrier sheet.

Look how cute!

To make the mama’s shirt:

I wanted to include some useful gifts for the mom-to-be in the gift box, and cozy socks are always a good idea! Have you seen the socks on Pinterest that say “If you can read this, bring me some wine” on the bottom? Well, when the new mama is able to get the baby to sleep for a nap, taking a minute to put her feet up will be a welcome break! I thought it would be cute to add a fun twist to the wine socks, so I added “If you can read this, Baby Jax is sleeping!”

So cute, right?

To Make these “Baby is Sleeping Socks” You’ll Need:

• Cricut Joy
• This project in Design Space
• Socks
• Smart Iron-On (I used white)
• Weeding Tool
• EasyPress or Iron

We all know that once a baby arrives, finishing a cup of coffee before it gets cold is not an easy task. I chose to add an insulated mug that keeps coffee warm for hours to our New Mom Gift Box so that when she finally gets around to sipping her coffee, it will still be warm.

To customize it, I added a “Mom, est. 2020” decal.

To Make a New Mom Coffee Mug You’ll Need:

• Cricut Joy
• This project in Design Space
• Insulated Coffee Mug
• Cricut Joy Smart Vinyl (Permanent)
• Cricut Joy Transfer Tape
• Weeding Tool
• Scraper Tool

Begin by opening this project in Design Space. If you need to customize the year, simply click on the design, click “Detach,” edit the year, then select the entire image and click “Attach.” Click “Make It.”

Design Space will prompt you to choose the material, then to load the material and cut. Once the vinyl is cut, unload it and use the weeding tool to weed away the negative material.

Cut a piece of transfer tape large enough to cover the design. Peel the backing away, then place the transfer tape over the design. Use the scraper tool to rub over the design and help adhere the vinyl to the transfer paper. Peel away the vinyl backing.

Position the decal where you’d like it to be on the mug, then rub over the design well with the scraper tool. Peel away the transfer tape.

The permanent vinyl is sturdy enough to withstand hand washing but cannot go in the dishwasher.

And because a good smelling candle can really have a calming effect, when the new mama really needs to relax, I customized a candle for her to burn. Follow the same instructions as for the coffee mug, just use this project in Design Space.

One of my absolute favorite features of the Cricut Joy is how easy it is to make custom cards. I mean, would you look how pretty that is?!! You know what makes it even better? It was so FAST to make! And did I mention that the Cricut Joy can write, too?!! Gahhhh, I love this little machine!

Card making is super easy with the Cricut Joy thanks to their Insert Cards and specialized Card Mat. The pre-folded cards slide right into the mat, then the machine can write on and cut the top page of the card while protecting the back page. After the card is complete, you simply insert a background card behind the cuts and you’re done! So easy and really classy looking!

To Make this New Mom Card You’ll Need:

• Cricut Joy
• This project in Design Space
• Insert Cards (I used the Macarons Sampler)
• Black Pen (included with the Cricut Joy)
• Card mat

To begin, open this project in Design Space. Remove the protective cover from the mat, then slide the bottom page of the card under the mat sleeve. Press the top page onto the sticky top side of the mat.

In Design Space, choose the appropriate card size, then follow the prompts to load the mat and pen.

Once the writing is complete, Design Space will prompt you to remove the pen and re-insert the blade. Click continue and the machine will cut out the design.

Unload the mat and peel the mat away from the card. Typically you can cut slices in the card design that allow you to slide the insert cards right into the slits without any adhesive being needed. For this design I didn’t want the slits, so I used some double-sided tape to attach the insert cards to the inside front of the card. I also used a glue stick to attach the inside pieces of some of the letters. Doesn’t that look so nice and classy? LOVE that easy card making capability!

So, here’s everything all laid out together. Doesn’t it all look so cute? And it’s personal. My favorite kind of gift!

I’m still in awe of the fact that the Cricut Joy allowed me to make all of this within an hour. Isn’t that awesome?!! I think it’s a gift that any new mom would love to receive and I sure can’t wait to gift all of this to my baby girl. I hope she loves it!

The Cricut Joy is now available in stores and online. To learn more about this cute little machine and all of it’s capabilities, visit Cricut.com.

If you like these ideas, please "Like," "Pin," "Share" or "Tweet!"  Or, you can just shout it from the rooftops, if that's your thing.  Thanks bunches!!!  :) 

I call my Maker the dream machine, because it really is! It can cut hundreds of materials…literally…and it does so with ease. I have used my Maker to cut everything from dainty, delicate crepe paper to more sturdy supplies like chipboard, wood and leather, and it handles each material like a champ.

And, thanks to the Maker’s unique adaptive tool system, the machine can also write, draw, deboss, engrave, perforate, score, make wavy edges and more! I’m tellin’ you, guys. It’s amazing! I could go on and on, but instead of talking about it, how about I show you some of the amazing things that you can create with this machine?

Here are SIX of Our Top Cricut Maker Projects

3D Party Garland

This project is the most popular project made with my Maker that I’ve ever posted about. Maybe it’s the rainbow colors that are drawing people in. Or maybe it’s because the garland can be customized to suit just about any occasion. Having a graduation party? Use school colors + grad cap cutouts. Having a baby shower? Use card stock in your theme colors + onesie or bottle cutouts. Holidays, birthdays, whatever the occasion, this garland can be customized to fit in perfectly.

Get the full DIY here.

Wooden Farmhouse Sign

Get the DIY to make your own farmhouse sign here.

Crepe Paper Flowers

Get the DIY here.

DIY No-Sew Throw

Get the DIY here.

Debossed and Engraved Wedding Invitation Sleeves

Get the DIY here.

DIY Gift Tags

Get the DIY here.

I hope these ideas have inspired you to get to making with your Maker! The possibilities are truly endless! If you decide to give any of these projects a try, be sure to tag me on social media. I love seeing what you guys are creating!

Chat soon, Jen :)

If you like these ideas, please "Like," "Pin," "Share" or "Tweet!"  Or, you can just shout it from the rooftops, if that's your thing.  Thanks bunches!!!  :) 

More Cricut Projects You May Like:

Your little girl will be the cutest clover in the patch when she sports this adorable DIY Sassy Little Lassie St. Patrick’s Day Shirt! Whether you’re heading to a St. Paddy’s Day celebration or just want your little one to show off her sassy spirit, this shamrock shirt is just too cute to resist. We created it for a St. Paddy’s Day Shenanigans Party and it was the perfect attire! Take a peek below for step-by-step instructions for creating one of your own.

You’ll Need:

• A white shirt (I found this shirt on Amazon)
• Cricut cutting machine (I used the Cricut Explore Air 2)
• Black Iron-on Vinyl
• A rainbow assortment of iron-on vinyl. You can choose your own assortment of shades here, or use this rainbow value pack
• Cutting Mat
• Weeder
• EasyPress 2 or Iron
• EasyPress Mat or Towel

To begin, open this project in Cricut Design Space and click “Make It.”

When working with iron-on, you will need to cut your design in reverse so that it doesn’t appear backwards when you apply it to your project. Always be sure to toggle the “Mirror” button on for each vinyl color that you will be cutting. Simply click on each mat to the left and click the button to the on position prior to cutting.

Follow the prompts in Design Space to load each color of vinyl onto the cutting mat and cut your design.

Use the weeding tool to peel away the negative vinyl (the vinyl around the outside of your design) from each piece of material.

Preheat an EasyPress 2 or iron to the settings required for your shirt material. Heat settings for an EasyPress 2 can be found here, and iron settings can be found on the iron-on vinyl packaging.

Situate the carrier sheet with the black text onto the shirt to determine where you would like to apply it. Once you know where you’d like for it to go, remove the text and preheat the area of the shirt for about five seconds to remove any moisture and ensure a better adhesion. Replace the text and follow the heat instructions to apply it. Flip the shirt over and follow the heat instructions again to apply heat from the back side. Allow to cool for just a minute or so, and while still warm, peel away the carrier sheet. The carrier sheet should peel away easily, but if it doesn’t just apply a few more seconds of heat and try again. SAVE THE CARRIER SHEET.

Applying the next colors requires some careful attention. It is important to make sure that the hot EasyPress 2 or iron doesn’t touch any vinyl that has already been applied to the shirt. I typically situate the next color of vinyl where I’d like it to be applied, then use the previous carrier sheets to protect any exposed vinyl that is already on the shirt so that I don’t accidentally touch it. Repeat until all of the colors have been applied.

That’s all there is to it! So easy and SO cute!

I hope you’ve been inspired to make one of your own! If you do, please be sure to tag me on social media using one of the channels at the top or bottom of this page so that I can see. I just love seeing what you guys create!

Also, don’t forget to check out the St. Paddy’s Day Shenanigans Station for some really adorable St. Patrick’s Day ideas for kids. It’s a ton of fun and the kiddos will love it!!!

If you like these ideas, please "Like," "Pin," "Share" or "Tweet!"  Or, you can just shout it from the rooftops, if that's your thing.  Thanks bunches!!!  :)

Do you have a friend that’s always there for you when you need her, or a gal pal that might need a little pick-me-up this Valentine’s Day? Why not show her a little love and surprise her with this cute Galentine’s Day gift idea!

All you need to whip this gift together is an insulated bottle, our free printable Valentine’s Day tags and about 15 minutes to cut and apply some vinyl that you probably already have on hand. Easy peasy, affordable, and so cute! Get the quick “how to” below.

What You’ll Need:

• An insulated water bottle (we got this one from Amazon prime and it was delivered the very next day)
• These free printable Valentine’s Day tags (See below for instructions to download)
• This project in Cricut Design Space
• A Cricut cutting machine (I used the Cricut Explore Air 2)
• White Premium Vinyl (permanent)
• Weeding Tool
• Transfer Tape

To begin, open this project in Cricut Design Space.

Next, measure your bottle and determine how wide you’d like your decal to be. Enter your desired width into the size box at the top of the page, making sure that the lock icon is toggled on. The height will adjust proportionately. If you’re using the same bottle that we did, just for your reference we chose for our decal to be 2.25” wide.

Click “Make It” and follow the prompts to cut the project. Use a weeding tool to weed away the negative vinyl, then use transfer tape to apply the vinyl to the cup. Be sure to rub the vinyl well all over so that it forms a good adhesion to the bottle.

Once your bottle is done, click here to sign up for the free printable tags. Just enter your email address to get access to the printable library, then download these free printable Valentine’s Day tags from the “First Friday Freebies” tab.

Signing up for freebies will earn you a free printable on the first Friday of every month, delivered right to your inbox, and it will also grant you access to all of the free printables that are already in the library!

After you’ve downloaded the tags, just print them off, tie one onto your bottle, and give to your Galentine and watch the smile that it brings to her face. Super cool. :)

The permanent vinyl will stay in place for hand washing, but is not suitable for the dishwasher.

If you’ve been inspired to make one of these Galentine’s Day gifts for one of your own pals, please share a pic and tag me on social media using one of the methods below. I absolutely love seeing what y’all make!

Have fun, and Happy Valentine’s Day! Xoxoxo, Jen :)

More Valentine’s Day projects you can make with your Cricut machine:

If you like these ideas, please "Like," "Pin," "Share" or "Tweet!"  Or, you can just shout it from the rooftops, if that's your thing.  Thanks bunches!!!  :)

I’m a lover by nature, so anything Valentine’s Day related gives me all the happy feels. :)

What breaks my heart, however, is that we parents spend an outrageous amount of cash on classroom Valentines that just get a quick glance and then end up in the trash can. What a waste, right?

I decided that I wanted to come up with some Valentine’s Day Classroom Gifts that would actually be useful and might stick around for a while. So, I pulled out my Cricut Explore Air 2 and created some interactive Valentines that the kiddos can actually use…and they turned out pretty darn cute!

Take a peek below for two easy Valentine’s Day DIY Gifts that the kids will love!

Valentine’s Day Tic Tac Toe Game

What You’ll Need:

• Cricut Cutting Machine (I used the Cricut Explore Air 2)
• This project in Design Space
• Mini drawstring bags
• Stones (You'll need 10 per game. Bags of stones can be found very inexpensively at the Dollar Store and Walmart)
• Black Everyday Iron-on
• Red Premium Vinyl
• Weeding Tool
• EasyPress or Iron
• Red Cardstock
• Black Cricut Pen
• Patterned Paper
• Twine or Ribbon

To begin, open this project in Design Space and click “Customize.” Click on the heart tag that has text in it and click “Detach.” Click on the name text, backspace to delete, then enter your child’s name, resizing, if necessary. Select the heart, “love,” and your child’s name then click “Attach.” Click “Make It.”

We will be cutting three different types of materials for this project, so it’s important to pay attention to which boards are selected before making each cut. You will move the Smart Dial accordingly. My machine prompted me to cut the Tic Tac Toe board first. This portion of the project is iron-on, so I set my dial to “Iron-on” and then cut. Next up was the vinyl for the stones, so I changed the dial to “Vinyl.” Lastly, set the dial to cut the paper for the gift tags.

When it’s time to cut the gift tags, Design Space will prompt you to load the pen into Clamp A. The machine will write all of the text, then go back and cut out all of the shapes. This is my favorite part…it’s so cool to watch the pen in action!

Use the Weeding Tool to peel away all of the negative vinyl from your Tic Tac Toe board and stone decals. Apply the iron-on to the drawstring bag. The EasyPress Mini is the perfect size for this! You could also use any other EasyPress or an iron, depending on what you have available to you.

Peel the “x” and heart decals away from the carrier sheet and apply them to the stones. Be sure to rub them onto the stone’s surface well so they get a good adhesion.

Tuck the playing pieces inside the bag (ten pieces per bag, five of each design), pull the drawstring, and tie the gift tags on using ribbon or twine. So cute, right? These are bound to be a classroom favorite!

Valentine’s Day Sewing Activity

What You’ll Need:

• Cricut Cutting Machine (I used the Cricut Explore Air 2)
• This project in Design Space
• White Kraft Board
• Black Cricut Pen
• Yarn
• Kid's Sewing Needles

To begin, open this project in Design Space and click “Make It.”

The base paper for this project needs to be fairly sturdy, so we used Kraft Board. Set the Smart Dial on your machine to “Custom,” then on your computer, scroll down the materials list to select “Kraft Board.”

Prior to cutting, Design Space will prompt you to load the pen into Clamp “A.”

Once you press the blinking “C” on the machine to begin, the machine will do all of the writing for the card, then will go back and make all of the cuts.

Have your kiddo sign each card, then fill a clear snack bag with yarn & a kid’s needle and attach it to the back of each one. So cute!

I hope you’ve been inspired to make some of these cute Valentine’s Day Classroom Gifts for your own kiddos to hand out at school. If you have, please share a pic and tag me on social media using one of the methods below. I absolutely love seeing what y’all make!

Happy Valentine’s Day! Xoxoxo, Jen :)

If you like these ideas, please "Like," "Pin," "Share" or "Tweet!"  Or, you can just shout it from the rooftops, if that's your thing.  Thanks bunches!!!  :)

Football game? What football game? When it comes to the Super Bowl, I am there for the snacks, y’all! Man, how I love football food! Warm + gooey dips, sticky chicken wings, savory sliders, super soft pretzels with cheese sauce…yum, yum, YUM! And it’s always greatly appreciated if everyone could keep quiet when the awesome commercials come on…please and thanks.

Anyone else feel the same? If so, this DIY Super Bowl Shirt is for you! You can make this baby for sooooo much less than a fancy football team jersey will cost ya, and you can wear it year after year, no matter what teams made it to the big game. That’s a win, if you ask me! Scroll down to learn how to make this shirt in a jiffy using your Cricut machine.

What You’ll Need:

• Cricut Machine
• This project in Cricut Design Space
• Shirt
• White Iron-on Vinyl
• Ruler
• StandardGrip Machine Mat
• Weeding Tool
• EasyPress 2 (I used this one) or an Iron
• EasyPress Mat or Towel

Begin by determining what size you want your design to be. Lay your shirt out flat and use a ruler or tape measure to help you decide what width would look best on your shirt. For my shirt, I decided that I’d like my design to be eight inches wide.

Next, open this project in Design Space. Click on the image to select it, then scroll to the menu at the top of the page and find the “size” option. Making sure that the lock symbol is active, change the width of the design to the dimension that you decided on in the step above. The height will adjust accordingly. Click “Make It” to begin making your project.

When cutting iron-on vinyl, you’ll want to cut in reverse so that the image displays properly on the shirt when you apply it. To do this, toggle the “Mirror Image” to the on position, then choose iron-on as your material. Once you choose iron-on, Design Space will remind you to mirror your image, just in case you forget. :)

Place your iron-on vinyl onto the cutting mat, making sure that the vinyl is shiny side down. This is a very important step, so don’t skip it (unless you’re into wasting your material, which is never fun)!

Follow the prompts to load your mat and cut your design. Then, use your weeding tool to pull away all of the excess vinyl away from your design. Once you think you’ve weeded away everything that needs to come off, double check. I got a little excited and didn’t realize until my shirt was all done that I forgot to weed out the negative vinyl in the “S”s of my design. Happens to the best of us, but a quick double-check will keep you from making a mistake like I did. :)

Once your design is all weeded (and you’re sure of it, haha), prepare your transfer space. A hard countertop works best. Protect the surface with a towel or an EasyPress Mat, then preheat your EasyPress 2 or iron. Temperature settings for using an iron can be found on the Cricut Iron-on packaging, and settings for the EasyPress 2 can be found in the Cricut Heat Guide. Lay your shirt out flat and preheat the area where you’ll be applying your design for five seconds. Situate the carrier sheet where you’d like the design to be applied to your shirt, then apply heat using the settings that work best for your shirt material.

Flip the shirt over and heat the back side of the design for 15 seconds.

Let cool for about a minute, then while the material is still warm, peel the carrier sheet away from the design. If the iron-on isn’t completely adhered for some reason, apply a few more seconds of heat until the materials are completely binded.

How easy was that? And so cute, right? I can hardly wait to wear my DIY Super Bowl Shirt and eat allll the yummy snacks! If you decide to make a shirt for yourself, please share a pic and tag me on social media using one of the methods below. I absolutely love seeing what y’all make!

Until next time, gooooo team snacks!

Xoxoxo, Jen :)

If you like these ideas, please "Like," "Pin," "Share" or "Tweet!"  Or, you can just shout it from the rooftops, if that's your thing.  Thanks bunches!!!  :)

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Baseball hats are basically part of my every day attire. Chances are, if you see me out and about running errands or if you pop by my house on any given day, you’ll catch me wearing a hat.

I’ve really been digging the State Pride Hat trend lately, but I haven’t been able to find a Virginia one that I love.

I thought about making my own with my Cricut machine and EasyPress, but because the front of the hat doesn’t lay flat, ironing the vinyl onto the hat with the EasyPress wasn’t really going to work well.

Then, almost like they were reading my mind, Cricut announced that they were releasing an EasyPress Mini!

This tiny little machine is not only cute as a button (I mean, it’s so itty bitty that it looks like a toy!!!), it’s absolutely perfect for hard to reach spaces, or uncommon objects like hats!

The EP Mini offers the same benefits as it’s larger predecessors, featuring an even heat plate and easy-to-use heat settings, allowing you to achieve effortless heat transfers every time. It also comes with a base stand to rest in while you’re working your way through your project, which is super convenient.

So, let’s talk about how to make this State Pride Hat, shall we?

To Make this State Pride Hat You’ll Need:

• A Cricut cutting machine (I used the Cricut Explore Air 2 for this project)


• This project in Cricut Design Space


• Cricut EasyPress Mini


• A Standard Cutting Mat


• A plain baseball hat


• Cricut Patterned Iron-On (I used the Natalie Malan Gray Blush Sampler)

To begin, open this project in Design Space. If you’re not a Virginia girl, but still like this idea, you can browse the images library in Design Space for an image of your state and use that, instead.

Set your material to “Patterned Iron-On” and mirror your image.

Place the material pattern-side-down on the cutting mat, then load the mat into the machine. Follow the prompts to cut, then weed the image.

Next, go to the online Heat Guide to determine what temperature your EasyPress Mini needs to be set to.

Simply click on the EasyPress Mini, enter the material that you’re using, then the material you’re ironing onto, and the guide will tell you what temp you need the EasyPress Mini to be set to, as well as how long to press.

Once your EP Mini has reached the ideal temperature, preheat the hat material by running the EP Mini back and forth over the area you’ll be ironing onto for about five seconds.

Arrange the iron-on cutout where you’d like it to be on the hat, then using constant movement and light pressure, press the EP Mini over the design for 25 seconds. Lift a corner of the carrier sheet to check adhesion, and heat a bit more to adhere, if necessary.

Allow the design to cool, then peel off the carrier sheet. So cute, right? I absolutely love how it turned out, and you can bet your booty that I’ll be sporting this baby tomorrow! I’m already brainstorming other hat designs to add to my collection, and I hope you are, too!

If you decide to give this project a whirl, please share a pic with me by tagging me on social media (follow the links at the bottom of the page for my account handles). I absolutely love seeing what you create!

Until next time, happy celebrating! xoxoxo, Jen :)

If you like these ideas, please "Like," "Pin," "Share" or "Tweet!"  Or, you can just shout it from the rooftops, if that's your thing.  Thanks bunches!!!  :)

The thing I love most about weddings is seeing how the bride and groom’s personalities and interests get infused into the wedding decor. It’s so cool to see all of the different styles and decorating ideas customized to fit the couple, don’t you think?

If you’ve been following along with me at all, either here on the blog or on social media, you know that we had two of our kiddos get married within 7 months of each other over the past year. It’s been a whirlwind year to say the least!

We used the heck out of both my Cricut Explore and my Cricut Maker to create absolutely perfect wedding decor for each kiddo’s special day…customized to fit each of their personalities. It’s those little, customized details that make the celebration so special!

When Cricut launched the Cricut Maker two years ago, it promised that new tools capable of cutting an array of materials would be coming down the pike. They released the knife blade which allowed me to create this incredible farmhouse sign for my daughter’s wedding, and they also released two scoring wheels that I used to create some customized Christmas gift tags.

They’ve recently released four new Maker Tools to take all of your creative projects to the next level, and they are AMAZING! I was fortunate enough to have Cricut send me the new tools to try out, and since it’s wedding season and I have weddings on the brain, I thought I’d show you how to use these tools to create some customized Wedding Invitation Sleeves.

For this project I’ll show you how to use the Fine Debossing Tip (which adds professional polish and elevated elegance to your paper crafts) and the Engraving Tip (which allows your to inscribe your own personal touch into your creations). These tools are mind blowing, y’all, and I’m so excited to show you how they work!

To Make these Wedding Invitation Sleeves You Will Need:

• This project in Cricut Design Space

• Your wedding invitation suite

• Cricut Metallic Posterboard

• Cricut Foil Kraft Board

• Cricut Maker

• Cricut Maker Tools (Fine Debossing Tip, Engraving Tip, Double Scoring Wheel, Fine Point Blade). The new tools are part of an Adaptive ““QuickSwap” Tool System, so you only need one housing and you can easily switch out the blades.

• Cutting Mat

• Foam adhesive circles (I call them pop dots, but they’re basically adhesive foam circles that give your projects a little bit of dimension)

To begin, open the project in Design Space. Connect your Maker and select the material that you will be using for the wedding invitation sleeve. I used the Cricut Metallic Posterboard.

Design Space will guide you through the project by showing prompts on your computer screen. The process is really so easy!

You will first be prompted to load the Double Scoring Wheel. Secure your posterboard to the cutting mat and press the blinking arrow button to load the mat. Once properly loaded, press the blinking “C” to begin scoring.

You will then be prompted to load the Fine Deboss Tip. Leave the mat in place.

What I love about the Maker is that it’s virtually foolproof. The machine can actually detect if you have the proper blade loaded, so if you accidentally load the wrong blade or forget to change it, the machine will let you know. SO AWESOME!!! Press the blinking “C” and watch the tool work it’s magic on your paper. It’s seriously so mesmerizing to watch!

Next you’ll switch to the fine point blade which will cut the sleeve out. Unload the mat.

Now it’s time to inscribe the initial for your sleeves. Secure the Foil Kraft Board to the mat and load the Engraving Tip into the machine. Follow the prompts to engrave.

Without unloading the mat, load the fine point blade into the machine and cut out the initial coin. Unload the mat.

Using the score lines, fold the sleeve so that the debossed design is at the bottom front of the sleeve.

Being sure to leave plenty of room for the invite to fit between the glued sides, apply two very thin lines of hot glue down the inside sides of the folded sleeve. Fold the sleeve and hold until secure.

Attach a foam adhesive circle to the back side of the engraved coin, then adhere it to the center of the debossed design.

Layer your invitation suite inside the sleeve, then take a step back and admire your work. Doesn’t it look so good?!! Your guests are gonna love it!

If you decide to give this project a whirl, please share a pic with me by tagging me on social media (follow the links at the bottom of the page for my account handles). I absolutely love seeing what you create!

Until next time, happy celebrating! xoxoxo, Jen :)

If you like these ideas, please "Like," "Pin," "Share" or "Tweet!"  Or, you can just shout it from the rooftops, if that's your thing.  Thanks bunches!!!  :) 

You may also like these Cricut projects: