Create a Matching Gift Set for Your Loved Ones

Supplies I Used for these Projects

Disclaimer: I receive no commissions from any products, nor do I lend my endorsement to any companies I reference.

• Red hued Plaid Hand Towel
• 8 x 10” matted picture frame
• plaid layering stencil: Amazon. https://a.co/d/8fPF6KU
• ink pads in colors: cherry cobbler, night of navy and old olive: Stampin’Up!
• ink pad in color: bee sting: Simon Hurley. https://a.co/d/fvAUNcL
• Solar paste in color: bee sting: Simon Hurley. https://a.co/d/jdX5Tpn
• 80 lb. Black Cardstock
• 80 lb. White Cardstock
• Cardstock in the color: Cherry Cobbler: Stampin’Up!
• Black Puffy HTV: Four oh Five from Hobby Lobby
• White Puffy HTV: Four oh Five from Hobby Lobby https://www.hobbylobby.com/scrapbook-paper-crafts/machines-vinyl-accessories/vinyl-specialty-sheets/puff-iron-on-vinyl/p/81204499?queryId=f0330cde8a0e7c90b0cc4d3c1e16bf82
• photopolymer stamp set: Happiest Day— Stampin’Up!
• Cricut Smart Cutting Machine & Cricut Design Space
• Home Iron or a heat press
• Optional: use a matching plaid designed paper and skip the stenciling.

The heat transfer vinyl or HTV from Hobby Lobby called Four Oh Five is a great product and it’s quite inexpensive! The puffy vinyl is the best I’ve ever used!

This entire set only uses 9 supplies if you use a matching plaid designed paper, and only 11 supplies if you use the layering stencil.

PART A: FRAMED ART, GREETING CARD, GIFT TAG

If you are making this project for yourself, there is obviously no need to make the greeting card or gift tag, yet you can totally make them as stand alone items for a later time! For these 3 projects, gather all of the above supplies except the vinyl. We will start with the framed art project.

• Trim a piece of the solid ( cherry cobbler ) cardstock to 4.75 x 6.25” for the matting that goes behind the plaid.
• Trim another piece of the solid cherry cobbler CS to 5.5 x 8.5” for the base of the greeting card.
• Trim 2 pieces of plaid cardstock to 4 by 5.25”—one for the frame and one for the greeting card.
• go into Cricut Design Space and a new canvas: make an item search of the trees: I chose this one: ( #m505f9be8) type this in lowercase into search bar of image search
• type this ( #m4fd8334d) in lowercase into search bar for the polar bear I chose. Of course you could always choose whichever trees and polar bears you like.
• Size the trees to 3.5 x 5” and duplicate so you cut the trees for the frame and the card at the same time. Then duplicate again but size the trees to about 1.5” h for the tag.
• Size the polar bear to 2 x 2”; duplicate the bear so there should be 2 bears, one for the frame and one for the card
• place black cardstock on the cutting mat in the Cricut and cut the trees and layer 1 of the polar bears, there should be a total of 5 items to cut in black. Remove from the cutting mat and set aside.
• place the white cardstock onto the cutting mat and cut the polar bear layer 2. There should be a total of 2 white items to cut in white. Now, adhere the white polar bear layers to the black polar bear layers and set aside.
• At this point I decided to add some depth to the trees by choosing a textured embossing folder and running the trees through an embossing machine- this is totally up to you but I think it added some interest to the projects.
• Okay, so IF you decided to make your own plaid paper, get out your layering stencils and on a piece of white CS trimmed to about 6 x 6” start with cherry cobbler, then night of navy, then old olive. And finish with the “bee sting” solar paste and set aside to dry. Now make another one for your greeting card. If you have never used layering stencils or solar paste, I suggest you go to YouTube and watch some of Simon Hurley’s videos on using these types of products-That’s who I learned from. This was actually my first time using layering stencils and I fully enjoyed the process! Having the plaid layering stencils allows me to choose whatever colors I want. Plaid is a fun design to use year around. But honestly, for this project, if I’d have had some matching plaid paper, I would’ve used it.
• Once your inked plaid CS has dried, trim down to 4 by 5.25”
• Now, make sure the glass in your picture frame is clean… Adhere the tree silhouette to the plaid CS, then adhere the polar bear to the front of the trees. Now, adhere the plaid to the cherry cobbler background piece and tape into your open panel of the picture frame, replace the backing and you have completed the framed art project!
• Next, layer the same items in the same order onto the card base, stamp a sentiment and fussy cut it and glue it to the upper right corner of the greeting card. Take a piece of white CS and trim it to 4 x 5.25, stamp your interior greeting and then adhere it to the card base and now your matching greeting card is complete! Next, adhere the tiny trees onto a small piece of plaid CS sized to about 2.x 2.5”- then adhere that to a small piece of cherry cobbler CS trimmed to about 2.5 x 2.75”. Stamp a sentiment like “for you” on a scrap piece of white CS and fussy cut it out and adhere it to the front of the trees. Punch a hole at the top and now your matching gift tag is complete!

At this point, you have completed Part A of this project and you’ll be amazed at how quickly it goes even if you are using the stencil. By using the Cricut to cut the trees and the polar bears all at once, it makes for quicker designs.

PART B: MATCHING HAND TOWEL

• Okay, get your towel and iron or press out and turned on to preheat
• Go into your Cricut Design Space app and size the trees we used above to about 4.25 x 7” then size the polar bear to about 2.75 x 3”
• Be sure to mirror your design for iron on projects like this one
• Now simply cut your tree and polar bear by placing the puffy HTV on your cutting mat following instructions on the brand you are using. Always read each brand’s instructions because they can vary.
• Once your design has cut successfully, weed out the extra bits
• Lastly, iron your trees onto the center of your towel, again, following the instructions on the product you are using. Then iron the black layer of the polar bear onto the trees, lining up the bottom. Then, iron on the white layer of the polar bear onto the black layer making certain to line up the layers.

At this time, you have completed this plaid towel with the puffy trees and polar bear! If you have never used this type of vinyl before, I think you will love it as much as I do. The finished design feels soft like felt! I realize this post may seem kinda long and involved, but just take it one step at a time and you’ll be amazed how easy it actually is. If you make this project for yourself, you will enjoy walking into a room and seeing your own designs. If you’re gifting this set to someone, I believe they will love it and feel as if you really cherish them having made all of the matching elements yourself! No matter which way you go, I hope you tap into your creative juices and create! Never be afraid to take ideas and just make them your own! The choices are truly endless.

Thank you for joining me today in creating this multifaceted project. Keep in mind you can make some or all of these projects because there are no rules in crafting! Just remember to Keep it Krafty! You can follow me on Pinterest as kelliskraftstudio12 or visit me here on my website kelliskraftstudio.com to see more craft projects throughout the year and to see some of my latest blog posts.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!