Christmas

If you are sick of Christmas posts around here, I am sorry.  I cannot help myself.  This time of year is just SO fun and I have too many projects to share – like this DIY Christmas Wall Art that graces my Christmas mantel this year.  

You’ll love how easy this is to make. Let me show you.

DIY Christmas Wall Art Supplies

These are the supplies I used to make this reindeer art as shown in this post. Feel free to substitute anything to make the project your own! Also, this post contains affiliate links and you can read more about those in my disclosure policy.

• Stretched linen canvas
• Christmas-themed scrapbook paper
• Electronic cutting machine (like a Cricut Joy), or make a reindeer stencil by tracing a reindeer shape onto cardstock
• Mod Podge
• Foam brush
• Paint marker or permanent marker
• Small red pom pom

How to Make DIY Christmas Reindeer Art

First, I used my cutting machine to cut nine reindeer head silhouettes on different pieces of Christmas pattern scrapbook paper.  

If you don’t have a Cricut or cutting machine, Google “reindeer silhouette,” print an image you like, and trace it onto your cardstock to cut.

Next, I put a thin layer of Mod Podge onto the backs of each of the reindeer.

I pressed them onto the canvas and tried to keep them equidistant from one another. It wasn’t perfect but it was close enough!

Once they were all in place and had dried, I added a thin layer of Mod Podge to the top of each reindeer to seal them into place.

After that, I glued a red pom pom onto the last reindeer’s face, because obviously Rudolph needs a red nose!  

Then I used a green Sharpie to write each of the reindeers’ names, just in case anyone was confused about who was who.  (And yes, I had to Google the song lyrics so I would be sure to spell their names correctly.  Who knew it was “Donner” and not “Donder?”)

And I love my reindeer art!  It looks great next to my DIY Reversible Wood Sign, too!

This DIY Christmas wall art adds such a fun look to my mantel that’s filled with other DIY art and thrift shop finds.

I’m happy every time I look at it.  (My husband – not so much.  He says it’s too cluttered.  But what does he know?)

Looking for adorable bottle brush tree crafts to make this winter or Christmas? Here are ten bottle brush tree ideas not to miss!

This year I am having a total love affair with bottle brush trees.  They are so charming and adorable, and I cannot get enough of them!

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Around the holidays you can buy bottle brush trees at just about every craft store, Amazon, and also at Dollar Tree.

Stock up because after you see all of the adorable bottle brush tree craft project ideas in this post, you’re going to need a lot of them!

Bottle Brush Tree Winter Scene

I grabbed a few packages of them mini bottle brush trees during a recent trip to Michaels. They also had tiny plastic deer (my heart skipped a beat when I saw them), a small metal plaque, and some pom pom trim.  

A little hot glue and fake snow later, and I had an adorable bottle brush tree diorama that I love!  

It makes me think of third grade when I had to make dioramas for school projects.  Those were the days.

 A smaller version of this would be adorable as a Christmas ornament!

Ten Other Adorable Bottle Brush Tree Crafts

There are so many other darling ways to incorporate these trees into your holiday crafting, too!

Here are some of my FAVORITE bottle brush tree crafts to give you more inspiration on how to use these fuzzy little guys.  Click through the links to get all the details on each project!

Bottle Brush Tree Centerpiece by Re-Fabbed

Well, I know what my Christmas centerpiece will be this year! This simple yet beautiful bottle brush centerpiece is easily recreated by anyone!

Bottle Brush Trees Ornament via Todolwen  

The vintage appeal of this gorgeous Christmas ornament made with white bottle brush trees can’t be denied!

Vintage “Bleached” Bottle Brush Trees via Rachel Teodoro

And while we’re on the subject of white bottle brush trees, learn how to bleach them to create that white vintage look all by yourself!

Giant Snowglobe via Inside the Fox Den  

For larger bottle brush trees, a larger-than-life snow globe is perfect! Learn how to make your own large snowglobe in this post.

Vintage Inspired Christmas Cloche via DIY Beautify  

Transform a domed cake plate to a winter wonderland complete with bottle brush trees. This is a wonderful way to use a serving piece you already have!

Bottle Brush Tree Frame via Yesterday on Tuesday  

This charming DIY bottle brush tree decor would look perfect on a mantel or shelves styled for the holiday season!

Bottle Brush Tree Wreath by Gluesticks

Jazz up an evergreen wreath with bottle brush trees and some mini houses to create a welcoming holiday wreath for any home!

Snowglobe Ornament via It All Started With Paint  

The iconic little red truck with a Christmas tree on top gets a retro twist when it’s on top of a little red Cadillac! How charming is this DIY bottle brush tree ornament?

Waterless Snowglobe via Simplistically Living  

No fancy supplies needed for this bottle brush tree craft: just a jar, glitter, pom poms, and of course – a bottle brush tree!

Bottle Brush Tree Gift Toppers by Satori Design for Living

So simple and so beautiful! Dress up those Christmas gifts with these darling bottle brush tree gift toppers. They couldn’t be easier!

What do you think of these easy DIY bottle brush tree craft ideas? Will you be making any of them? I know I will! 

Need a holiday gift idea for your favorite crafter? Look no further! Here you’ll find the best gifts for crafters in every price range.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, friends!  And that means I’m back with another gift guide (updated in October 2023).  

I worked hard to design a guide that will give you lots of AWESOME gift ideas for crafters, makers, and DIY’ers (some of the best people around, if you ask me!)!

I have gathered some of the MOST FUN products on the market for the creative types!  You’re sure to find something for anyone on your list who fits the bill.

Please note that some of the links included are affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission at no added cost to you, should you purchase through them.  You can read more in my disclosure policy. 

Crafter Gift Idea: DIY & Craft Kits

With the explosion in popularity of DIY’ing and crafting, there are SO many awesome preassembled kits on the market, which are sure to please any maker on your list.  Here are some of my favorites!

Soy Candle Making Kit

This candle making kit comes with everything you need to make boutique-style candles: from scents, to beautiful containers, wax and more! This looks like a very fun and unique gift idea for any crafty person!

Paint Your Family Peg Doll Craft Kits

These little peg doll family kits are so endearing!  There are a wide variety of them and they are a perfect project for a sentimental crafter.  Plus, they’re from a small business, so you’ll be shopping small!

Brush Lettering Starter Kit  

Calligraphy is back in a big way!  This little kit is a perfect way to get started with modern brush lettering! Who wouldn’t enjoy the relaxing art of brush lettering?

Intro Needle Felting Kit

Needle felting is all the rage right now!  I have never tried it, but know it involves punching wool with needles and creating beautiful things.  Sounds like a perfect way to release some stress, if you ask me!

Gift Idea for Crafters: DIY & Craft Classes

The gift of learning is one that keeps on giving.  (Ha! I sound like my mom.)  But seriously, there are some fabulous resources for crafty types to hone their skills, and they make great gifts!

Creativebug Online Classes

With over hundreds of online craft and fine arts classes to choose from, a Creativebug membership is an amazing gift for anyone!  Classes range in topics from cake decorating to furniture painting to knitting and more.  They’re really awesome and fun!

Shoot Fly Shoot Online Photography Courses

Although my photography is far from perfect, let me just say that Shoot Fly Shoot’s online courses have made a WORLD of difference in my skills!  I totally love these classes, which are broken down into 10-15 minute segments.  

I am sure that the beginner photographer in your life would love them, too!  Once you purchase a class, you have lifetime access to it, so you can always go back and refresh your skills.

Gift for Crafters Idea: Craft Tech Machines

A little help can go a long way, and with these machines your crafter’s projects will get to the next level!

xTool M1 Laser and Blade Cutting Machine

This amazing machine cuts and engraves hundreds of materials including wood, acrylic, slate, vinyl, and more! You can read more about it in my post about 10 Reasons You’ll Love the xTool M1, and you can save 10% with code ABI10!

Minc Gold Foil Applicator Starter Kit  

For the sparkle and shimmer lover in your life, the Minc is the go-to gift this Christmas!  It lets you add gold (or other metallic) foil to just about anything!  This starter kit will get the recipient started with everything they need to foil all.the.things.

Resin Bubble Remover Machine

If your crafty person does resin crafts, consider this amazing bubble remover machine! Bubbles in resin are a crafter’s worst nightmare, but this machine removes 99% of bubbles to help ensure quality work.

You can watch my review video of this bubble remover machine on TikTok!

Cricut Joy Cutting Machine

If your crafty person doesn’t have an electronic cutting machine yet, the Cricut Joy is a great place to start! This compact machine cuts vinyl, cardstock, and more, and it can create stickers and labels.

This starter pack comes with some materials to help your maker get up and running quickly.

Epson Expressions XP-420 Wireless Color Photo Printer with Scanner and Copier  

My husband gave me this printer as a gift and at first I thought it was the weirdest thing ever.  But now I LOVE it!  It prints awesome color photos as well as the free printables (and ones I purchase on Etsy), that I love so much.

It’s also great for printing gift tags, greeting cards and embellishments for scrapbooking.  It can be wirelessly connected to the user’s computer and it’s compact so it fits in small spots.  I definitely recommend it!

Glowforge Aura Craft Laser

I was part of the social media launch team for the new Glowforge Aura, and let me tell you: what a privilege it was! This craft laser machine is so much fun!

Much like the xTool M1 mentioned above, this is a laser cutter and engraver that works with hundreds of materials. It is a lower wattage than the xTool M1 so it’s a bit slower, but the tradeoff is that it is more portable than the M1.

Pair it with the personal air filter (shown in the photo), and you can use the Glowforge Aura anywhere.

Gifts for People Who Like Crafts: Craft Books

Although Pinterest is obviously a great resource for crafting inspiration, sometimes the best (and most beautiful) ideas can be found in books.  That is definitely the case with these craft book picks!

Creatively Christmas by Jennifer Rizzo  

I have had the pleasure of getting to know Jennifer Rizzo, and let me tell you that she is amazing – as is her Christmas crafting and DIY book!  

It’s filled with simple holiday projects that contribute to a gorgeous holiday home.  The photographs are stunning and the inspiration abounds!

Felt Flower Workshop by Bryanne Rajamannar

Doesn’t this book look so pretty? It makes me want to make felt flowers immediately! Package it with pretty felt sheets and sharp fabric scissors, and you’ve got yourself a beautiful gift.

Quick and Easy Paint Transformations: 50 Step-by-Step Ways to Makeover Your Home for Next to Nothing by Annie Sloan

Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint book will have novice and experienced chalk painters completely excited to get started on their next project!  Beautiful images and detailed instructions make each project completely “doable” for all.

Stocking Stuffers for Crafters

Finally, what gift guide would be complete without some great stocking stuffer ideas?  Here are some that Santa should definitely bring with him this year!

Gold Scissors  

Take making to the next level with glamorous scissors.  Seriously – any fancy pants will love these.  Trust me.

Hot Glue Gun Ornament

Have you ever seen a more perfect ornament for a crafter or maker? I haven’t! This adorable hot glue gun ornament is perfect on a Christmas tree, or hung in a craft room or maker space!

Pom Pom Makers  

This little kit lets you make four sizes of fluffy yarn pom poms! They’re the best for adorning blankets, pillows, wreaths, buntings and more.  Pop this into the stocking with some pretty yarn and it will be fabulous!

Artist’s Brush Set  

I ALWAYS need small artist’s paint brushes and I NEVER have the ones I need.  Ever.  With this set, any crafter who uses paint will be in good shape for their next painting project.  I love how the little canvas roll will help keep them in order, too!

Wood Burning Tool  

Wood burning is not just for country-style projects!  In fact, it’s a big trend in the craft world right now.  This small wood burning tool is really versatile and allows for many tips and shapes to be attached.  It would be a fun gift in any maker’s stocking!

Cordless Glue Gun

I love love love love my cordless glue gun!  It might sound crazy but not having a cord makes working with a glue gun so much easier.  I got a cordless glue gun for Christmas last year and cannot emphasize how great of an addition it has been to all of my projects!

Glitter Set

Glitter: you either love it or hate it, but chances are most crafters love it! This set is filled with so many colors and styles of glitter. Any paper crafter, resin crafter, or general crafter would love to receive it!

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Well, that’s it for my holiday gift guide!  Thank you SO much for stopping by to check out my gift ideas for crafters, makers, and DIY’ers!  I hope you found some gifts that will help you with your shopping!  Best of luck with your holiday preparations!

Looking for a way to recycle Christmas cards? Let me show you how to repurpose them into a decorative banner you can enjoy all winter long!

I received so many gorgeous Christmas cards this year!  It was as if everyone I know decided to send out their best card ever.  Seeing all of the beautiful holiday greetings displayed throughout my home helped make Christmas even more special!

Because of that, it was really hard to part with the holiday cards when putting away the Christmas decor (like my DIY Holiday Card Holder).  

So I got to thinking . . . instead of throwing them out, why not extend the fun and recycle the holiday cards into something else? And that’s when I decided to upcycle my Christmas cards and turn them into a decorative banner to enjoy all winter long.

This was a totally mindless project that only took about 20 minutes to put together – perfect for when you’re watching those reruns at night!

Recycled Christmas Card Banner Supplies

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

All you need in the way of supplies are the following items:

• Christmas cards or holiday cards (photo cards with printed backs worked best for me!)
• Large shape punches in the shapes and sizes of your choice: I used a 3″ circle punch. (Note: you could use a Cricut machine to cut shapes, too!)
• 1/8″ hole punch
• Bakers twine or thin string
• Optional: extra cardstock if you want to substitute in some non-Christmas card pieces

How to Make an Upcycled Christmas Card Banner

First, spread out all of your holiday greeting cards and separate them into piles arranged by color scheme and/or style. Then, pick the colors that work with the overall look you’re going for.

Once you have selected your Christmas cards (and supplemental cardstock, if you’re using it), use your large hole punch to cut out lots of circles.  

Next, use a small hole punch to put two holes in the top of each circle.  

Next, thread bakers twine through the holes in the top of each circle to create your bunting or banner.

Hang it up and you’re all set!   You may need to adjust the placement of some of the shapes on your banner or bunting, but that’s an easy fix.

This DIY banner made from old Christmas cards is such a great way to recycle holiday greetings! It adds a fun pop of color wherever you hang it, and helps brighten some of those gray winter days!

I must say that it’s also a nice way to ease some of the pain of putting away all of the Christmas decorations.

What do you do with the Christmas cards or holiday cards once the holidays are over? Tell me in the comments below!