Holiday Gift Guide with Elmer's! #GlueNGlitter

I have been making gifts for as long as I can remember...and I even bet if I asked my mom she could pull out a few of my earlier creations (that could be scary!). Creating gifts for people (or even myself) is one of the things I really enjoy during the holiday season. I have found that even a simple homemade gift makes a huge impact.

I am a wee bit behind on my gifts this year, but luckily for me, this week I had the opportunity to be a part of Elmer's Holiday Gift Guide. I headed to Walmart to pick up some Elmer's and X-ACTO Designer Series supplies to create a few gifts (I cannot say specifically who they are for - they read the blog sometimes!) that you can replicate and that will hopefully put a smile on someone's face.
You can read all about my Shopping trip on Google+

I strongly urge you to consider making some holiday gifts this year. Some DIY gifts can be really simple to do...Seriously even think about giving craft supplies. Last year I created a art/craft box for my daughter and she loved it and continues to love it.
I will be willing it up again this year!

As for myself, I love my craft supplies and have a little crafty wish list going in my head (it will soon be transferred to paper and then to my hubby). Some requests are bigger ("more expensive"), like a new electronic craft cutter, a Brother Project Runway sewing machine, and a melting pot. 

BUT I always love getting smaller (not as expensive) tools that round out my craft workshop, like an X-ACTO Decorative Shapes template, an X-ACTO  12" rotary trimmer, and yes, believe it or not some Elmer's No Wrinkle Rubber Cement would be a good stocking stuffer (I go through tons of that!)

To get you moving in the DIY Direction,
here are THREE TUTORIALS that are fun and easy to do
and adaptable to different styles and tastes as well.

OH BUT WAIT...THERE IS A MORE -
$50 Walmart Giftcard GIVEAWAY!

SO KEEP GOING UNTIL YOU HIT THE END!

#1 Doodle Tote
(Look for tutorial #1 further in the post)
I always carry tote bags with me - to the grocery store, the library, even thrifting. My daughter has my love of bags too...as do many of my friends. I just wanted to create a simple (easy to do) bag with some personality! 

#2 Creativity On The Go
(Look for tutorial #2 further in the post)
A great gift for a new or experienced crafter. We can all use more supplies right!? I have been crafting a lot with friends lately and there is sometimes a shortage of glue sticks, scissors, and other supplies...Not now, everyone can have our own!

#3 Journal
(Look for tutorial #3 further in the post)
I keep notebooks and journals and so many of my friends do to. I also have a lot of friends with pre-teen and teenage girls, so I thought a personalized journal would be a perfect gift. This one was made to be more feminine but I am making one for my son too that (hopefully he will use) is more "manly."

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#1 Doodle Tote

I LOVE tote bags - in all sizes and for all purposes (does that make me a bag lady?)! I made this pink one for my daughter (she cannot read yet, so I am safe in proclaiming that). Then I was really wanting to do a feathered something, so I made another - I have so many more ideas for this...but I tried to control myself

Supplies

• Elmer's Painters Markers, choice of color, I used Pearlescent Pink and Blue (sold as part of a 5-pack) but they also sell open stock Painters Markers in various colors.
• Elmer's CraftBond Flexible Dual Tip Glue Pen
• X-ACTO Designer 8" Scissors
• X-ACTO Zero Centering Ruler
• Canvas bags (pack of 3 for about $6)
• Felt, choice of color (I used black)
• 5 mm Rhinestones crystals/button (your choice and optional)

Create It!

1. Wash, dry, and press the canvas bags.

2. Insert a scrap piece of cardboard (I used a cereal box) into the bag, just to be sure the Painters Markers do not go through the fabric. I had no problem with this (I did the pink bag without a cardboard barrier), but just to be safe, do it.

3. Determine design...this is inspired by doodling so there is no wrong (my favorite kind of craft!)...but here is how I did mine:

3A. Prep Painters Markers by removing cap and on a scrap piece of paper, press up and down a few times until the paint loads.

3B. Using a ruler, I drew lines - NOT PERFECT ONES - every 1" across the bag.

3C. Fill in the spaces between the lines with "arrows"...again these do NOT NEED TO BE PERFECT - in fact the more unusual and authentic the better!

3D. Fill in all the rows and repeat on the back side

3E. (Now I should have done this step before I embellished) Heat set the Painters Markers by using a scrap cloth over the design and an iron on high. Press, making sure the scrap cloth is between the iron and the bag.

Embellish: Flower

A. Cut 5-6 petal shapes (or your choice...a bird, a monogram, a heart, etc.) out of the felt.

B. Determine the placement on the bag, and one at a time remove the petals to apply the glue to the back of each petal and then re-position on the bag.

C. Add crystals/buttons, etc to the center of the flower and let dry.

This is great as a gift itself, or as the wrapping for another gift!

Embellish: Birds and Feathers

For the Bird Bag, follow the same basic process as above.

You can get the Feather Template HERE (email me if it does not work)

(My template is a little more feather-like than what I have on my bag - I just freehanded this feather)

and

The BIRD TEMPLATE HERE (email me if it does not work)

Bird and Feather TOTE

A. Determine placement (transfer feather to the bag using transfer paper, light pencil lines, or just "eyeball it" - remember there is not a wrong). 

B. Draw one line across the bag as the spine of the feather. Fill in the "feather" lines with Painters Markers.

C. Heat set with iron.

D. Cut out bird on felt; use the wide side of the Flexible Dual Tip Glue Pen to brush glue all over; place bird and let dry; use the small side of the glue pen, add a small dot and apply a rhinestone for the eye.

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#2 Creativity On The Go
I happen to love mason jars, jelly jars, any kind of jars...now fill it with crafty goodness - and...swoon! I have been holding craft days at my house (for a few ladies) for the last three weeks, and we have had fun. I have a lot of supplies, but thought it would be nice if each of the ladies had some of my very favorite basic supplies from Elmer's and
X-ACTO.

SUPPLIES:

• Elmer's CraftBond Flexible Dual Tip Glue Pen
• X-ACTO Designer 8" Scissors
• Quart Canning Jar and lids with bands . You could use other types or sizes of jars. A quart jar was tall enough to hold the products I wanted to include in my kit.
• Scraps of fabric
• Small amount of batting or stuffing
• Scrap piece of cardboard (I used a cereal box).
• A few paper clips or clothespins (to hold after gluing)

Supplies to Fill It With...
(I chose my favorite adhesives and everyone needs an X-ACTO Craft Knife!)

• Elmer's CraftBond Extra Strength Glue Stick
• Open Stock Painters Markers, your choice of color
• Elmer's Rubber Cement
• Elmer's CraftBond Flexible Dual Tip Glue Pen
• Other ideas are small scissors, X-ACTO Craft Knife, Straight pins, buttons, etc.

Create It!
1. Really what you need to work on here is the lid, if you want to make it a pin cushion. If you do not want a pin cushion on top, you can follow the same steps, but omit the batting/stuffing and wrap the fabric to be flat on the top of the lid.

2. Remove lid and band from the jar. Use the lid to cut the batting (if you are using stuffing, you do not cut it), and then cut a circle about 3" larger than the lid measurement (this is excess fabric - you can trim it later, but better to have too much than not enough)

3. I used batting for the filling (it is what I had) so I traced the size of the lid on the batting and cut out 2 pieces. If you are using stuffing, grab a handful and place it on the lid.

4. Center the fabric circle on top of the batting and wrap it around to the bottom of the lid. Have your Flexible Dual Tip Glue Pen handy....on the bottom of the lid, place 4 dollops of glue around the outside edge - at four points. Pull fabric taunt (but not too tight) and secure it at four points using a clothespin. You just want to get the glue to dry and hold the fabric in place. Once dry enough, pleat the fabric that is left, apply glue and secure with clothespin to dry.

5. INSIDE (or Underside) OF JAR: Cut a piece of cardboard (or chip board, etc.) that is the same size as the lid, and cut 1 circle of fabric that is 3/4" larger than that circle (this is for the inside of the jar to finish off the lid on the underside)

6. Layout you fabric circle (cut in step 5) for the inside lid, right side down; apply a line of glue around the outside edge of the cardboard; place it on top of the fabric (as centered as possible); wrap edges of fabric up and press into the glue line. I got a little messy, but it almost worked better, I just rubbed the glue into the edge of the fabric/cardboard connection (it is a little messy...BUT you will not see this part).

7. Once the lid/pin cushion is dry, use the Flexible Dual Tip Glue Pen and run a line of glue around the top outside edge of the lid. quickly, push down you band over the lid and push it right into that glue line. Now, I got a little mess on the inside band, but I just wiped it clean with a paper towel. Screw the band down on to the jar and let this pressure help adhere the band to the lid as it dries.

8. Once dry, flip over to show the inside of the lid (it won't look that pretty if you craft like me); place glue around the edge, and then all over; press the fabric covered cardboard circle p into the bottom of the lid. 

9. I set the lid upside down on the jar and another smaller jar on top to hold it down while it dried.

Then, voila...you have a cute little pin cushion and a jar ready to be filled with goodies. 

Attach a cute tag and ribbon and you have a perfect crafty gift!

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#3 The Journal
I had my nieces in mind when I began this project, so I used more sophisticated colors, but embellished it in a fun way (in fact, I am making  myself one). Decorating for each persons personality is really fun.

Supplies

• Elmer's CraftBond ScrapBooking Tape - Permanent
• Elmer's CraftBond Extra Strength Glue Stick
• X-ACTO Designer Series #1 Craft Knife (I actually have the regular X-ACTO Craft Knife)
• X-ACTO Decorative Edge Scissors 
• X-ACTO Corner Rounder Punch (I actually used a corner punch I already had, but X-ACTO makes one)
• X-ACTO Zero Centering Ruler
• *****X-ACTO 12" Metal Ruler would be recommended when working with the X-ACTO Craft Knife
• Composition notebook
• Scrap/decorative paper
• Ruler (metal edge if you have one)
• Optional: Paper tape, ribbon, buttons, embellishments

Create it!
1. Lay composition book face book on your desired pattern paper, and trace outline of book. I only traced the width from the edge to the black spine (of the one I purchase). I want the book to open easily and it will without paper wrapped around it. (I am kind of in love with this Zero Centering Ruler!!!!)

2. Cut 2 of this size of paper for the cover - be sure to cut a mirror image for the back cover. Open the book and trace off the book for the interior covering (there was no spine showing on the inside, so my insides were about 1" wider than the cover.

3. I wanted to really make sure the cover paper was secure, especially around the outside edges. I used the Permanent Scrapbooking Tape and first ran it along the line where the spine/cover meet, then I added it to the top and bottom and opening edge of the book, making sure to line it up right to the edge. Remove the backing from the tape along the side of the spine, and match up/place cover here.

4. Run the Extra Strength Glue Stick all over the cover (not on the tape though); remove backing from the other taped areas and slowly smooth out the paper/cover. If you have some overhang on the paper, just trim it up using your X-ACTO Craft Knife. Repeat for the back cover and the inside front and back covers as well.

5. Optional: Finish off the spine with the decorative paper (or washi) tape. I simply lined it up where the "new" decorative paper cover and "old" black spine met. I ran it down and through the inside, and up and around - I used about 4 lengths of tape. This is totally optional...I just like the little extra touch it gave the book.

To Embellish - Bottom Border:
It is pretty as it is, but I added some bottom detail using the X-ACTO Decorative edge scissors and scrapbook paper:

A. Cut a 1" strip of coordinating paper with your X-ACTO Craft Knife.

B. Cut another strip 2"wide, then use the Decorative Edge Scissors to embellish one edge.

C. Glue the 1" strip under the decorative edge with about 1/2" peeking out.

D. Line up the short side with the spine and long side with the bottom of the journal, then trace off the bottom front cover's corner and any overlap...and trim.

E. Use the Extra Strength Glue Stick to adhere it to the bottom of the cover.

To Embellish- Pennant
A. Using the X-ACTO Craft Knife and a metal ruler, cut 5 (actually 7 if you use them for securing the closure - see below) triangles, about 1.5" wide on top and 2.5" long. You can make these triangle smaller or larger...it depends on what you want to "write" on them and personal style.

B. Lay them out (without glue) to determine placement; then come back in with the glue stick and one at a time apply glue and adhere to the cover.

C. Add buttons at the points using the Flexible Dual Tip Glue Pen.

D. I used some left over scrapbook alphabet stickers to write "dream" on my pennant. The person's name or just about anything else would work too.

For a Closure (optional):
A. Cut 2 triangles (or circles, squares - whatever shape you want) and cut 2 lengths of ribbon about 12" each.

B. Measure to the center point of the length of the book and make a small mark...use about 1" of the Scrapbooking Tape and secure the ribbon on the inside of the cover on this line.

C. Place glue all over the triangle and center and press down over the ribbon.

Present the Journal it with the Thick 'n Thin Journaling Pen for a great gift!

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There you have it...
3 relatively simple Creative DIY gifts!

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NOW for the
GIVEAWAY 
****GIVEAWAY CLOSED****
How about a $50 Walmart giftcard to help fulfill your Christmas/Holiday wishes!

Enter to win a $50 gift card to Walmart
Giveaway open December 8, 2011 through December 15th, 2011 midnight PST
Open to U.S Residents
Winner will be selected at random
Your email must be linked to your profile or in the comment

MANDATORY - LEAVE ONE COMMENT- Pick your favorite Elmer's Memory Keeping item from the Elmer's site and come back to tell me what it is.

OPTIONAL - LEAVE ONE COMMENT PER ENTRY-
2. Tweet the contest with a link to your giveaway - Can be done once a day. Be sure to tag @504Main and  @Elmers. Include the following link: http://bit.ly/szUUEn
3. Share this on your facebook page. Be sure to tag @504Main and @Elmer's
****GIVEAWAY CLOSED****

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Do you like to DIY your holidays?

What have you made this year?

A little giftcard magic can help you do just that!
(enter...enter...enter!)

While you are at it, don't miss a thing, follow

Elmer's on Twitter 

Elmer's on Facebook

and

X-ACTO on Facebook!

There is great inspiration and great products to be discovered!

This project has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Elmer's #gluenglitter #collectivebias #CBias

****GIVEAWAY CLOSED****