If you’re looking for the perfect gift idea for a housewarming party, these new homeowner gifts are spot on! When you’re done, you’ll also want to check out our favorite list of gift ideas for recent moms. This post contains affiliate links and gifted product.

Attending a housewarming party?

I’m here to help you choose the perfect gift idea for a housewarming party! As someone who has purchased new homes twice in the last eight years, and moved just a few short years ago, I am happy to help you choose something that’ll hit all the right notes.

Cooking and Hosting Gift Ideas for a Housewarming Party

Since we moved into our new house, I’ve been hosting a LOT and know that’s a pivot that often comes with an upgrade in living conditions.

So if someone you care about is hosting a housewarming party, contribute to that hosting spirit with some fun gifts!

And if you have someone in your life who is establishing their first home, even if it’s a small apartment, these are fabulous for getting them into the housekeeping mood too!

Forest Decor Live Edge Olive Wood Bread Bowl

Decor that is timeless, functional, and gorgeous is always a win. Throw in handmade and unique and you really scored!

Forest Decor is a family owned business that handcrafts gorgeous wood pieces. I love their olive wood bread bowl for those who love to entertain, as it’s a fabulous piece to lay out sliced bread in a homestyle but elegant way – kind of like they do at restaurants. And I love the idea of patronizing family businesses when purchasing gifts for a housewarming party – it’s so suitable!

The bread bowl is handcrafted from actual olive wood, so each piece will look different. I recommend filling it up with something nice to gift it. I staged it with apples, but you can go more exotic, fill with grapes, or a nice artisan baguette and cheeses.

Both the recipient and you will be charmed by the beautiful detail that only nature can craft (and man can bring out) in the bowl.

GoodCook Healthy Ceramic Titanium-Infused Cookware Set 

A good set of pots makes life in the kitchen a breeze! But nonstick coatings can be meh.

GoodCook’s titanium-infused ceramic cookware is so much healthier, and guess what? It doesn’t stick. So you can still reduce the grease-factor without a sticky mess.

This set is perfect for a single or couple who’s moving out and setting up home for the first time.

It includes two wooden utensils as well – a spoon and a turner, and a steamer basket that fits into a 2 qt saucepan for more healthy cooking.

This perfectly-giftable set comes in a dusty light blue color with wooden accents so that even when it’s out it looks gorgeous!

The set comes with 7″ and 9.5″ fry pans, 1.25-quart and 2-quart sauce pans with lids, a bamboo steamer, an egg pan, spoon, and slotted turner. Everything besides for the egg pan is induction-capable.

Full Circle ‘Simply The Zest ‘ Zester with Food Catcher

I love some life-enhancing kitchen tools, and it’s so practical… but as a gift? I dunno…

The trick is: get cool and innovative tools, with aesthetic appeal and bundle a few!

For this gift idea for a housewarming party, we took Full Circle’s innovative tools that are eco-friendly and ethically created. They use kraft paper and resin to create the core of their handles, as well as other high-quality materials for an upscale feel.

To gift it, we combined our favorite tool – the Simply the Zest zester with food catcher with two other practical options: The Ring bamboo fruit and vegetable brush and Smooth Operator, Smooth-Edge Stainless Steel Can Opener.

The zester’s cover doubles as a food catcher, making zesting so much easier – and it works incredibly well. The can opener creates a smooth edge, has an ergonomic silicone knob, and a built-in bottle opener.

HotMat Connect

If you host frequently, the HotMat foldable warming plates are the perfect way to keep food hot for prolonged periods of time, without drying or overcooking it.

I placed a soup on it for a party, and it did not boil at all, but was piping hot.

The Connect model allows you to connect multiple models for an expandable solution.

Unlike other warming trays, the HotMat Connect folds small and is super easy to store, take out, set up, and put away.

It comes in fun colors – including black if color isn’t your vibe. It’s the perfect gift idea for a housewarming party for someone who loves to host often!

Home Gadgets that make life easier

If you spend enough time on TikTok, you’ll know that life is full of super cool gadgets! We’re beyond my parents’ days where every vacuum cleaner was a big deal – today, we go far beyond that.

I personally find that I invest in better cleaning gadgets because it’s just that: an investment. Much of it reduces my need for more household help (especially since my kids love using them!) So if you’re in the mindset of gifting household help, the cleaning gadgets fit that bill in a super gifty way!

And others are just perfect for the homeowner who has everything and will love a good, practical gadget!

Zafferano Olivia Lamp

One of my favorites in this post, the Zafferano Olivia lamp from Sabavi Home is the type of thing that anyone can use. The slim design LED light fits anywhere and the minimalist profile suits any decor – as you can see from my photos! I’ve placed it in my modern kitchen and my traditional living room and it fits right into both.

But the best part? It’s totally modular! Have it sit at “home” on the base where you can best plug it in, and move it where you need it as you need it. Use it in your bathroom on the regular, then let the guest room “borrow” it when needed. Bring it to the craft room when you need a little better light, but store it on your nightstand for bedtime reading…

The high end finish is gorgeous and yes, it comes in other neutral finishes as well. The style neutrality makes it a super giftable decor item.

Kenmore AquaLite™ 3-in-1 Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner

For busy parents, the mess never ends, and having a tool that can be grabbed for five-minute cleanups makes a huge difference. And for me cordless is an absolute requirement – I’m not shlepping around heavy cords anymore.

The Kenmore AquaLite hard floor cleaner is the gift of a clean house. Not only does my tween want to use it, but it’s just so easy and lightweight. It washes the floor while vacuuming and keeps things dust-free. Its self-cleans in the base and then dries, making it almost maintenance free.

I find that it glides smoothly around my baby’s high chair, and it does a perfect clean. It’s my ideal solution for wood floors that can’t handle a real mop, but it’s great on tile too. If you know someone who just entered the world of wood floors this is a MUST – especially if they have kids! For me, it’s the gift of lots of housekeeping help.

Casabella Power Spin Scrubber

Since we redid our bathroom all beautifully with modern fixtures and tile (including yes, some gorgeous but impractical penny tile), it’s been hard to maintain. Turns out we were simply missing the right tools.

Casabella Power Spin Scrubber let’s me reach all areas of bathroom, up to the high ceilings in my 90+ year old house! It lets me actually scrub the rain head, and the upper tiles, and in one use, we removed so much built up grime that I’m embarrassed to show you.

Multiple head options reach into corners and crevices, or cover larger surface area.

It takes a lot of the grunt work out of cleaning, once again, making it the perfect “household help” gift. And it’s surprisingly affordable. It extends up to 47.5 inches and has up to 100 minutes of run time on each 3-5 hour charge. And you can use it throughout the house – including on glass, grout, laminate, and more.

Teslong Two-Way Articulating Borescope

While not quite a cleaning tool, here is another money-saving gadget that’s perfect for the new homeowner that has everything. the Teslong Two-Way Articulating Borescope features a camera that you can send into your pipes, walls, or wherever you need to see a little further.

It features a camera at the end of a 5-foot semi-rigid gooseneck cable that can move around at the tip using a handy lever on the front. An LED at the end allows you to see all sorts of things, just like the LEGO minifigures we found hiding in our radiator…

You can insert it into a hole in the wall to diagnose issues or evaluate things before deciding on renovations. Take photo or video using the button on the back and view what’s going on on the large 4.5 inch screen.

This can save loads of moolah – even from avoiding just one diagnostic visit from a technician, repairman, electrician… It can save on massive wall repairs by pinpointing where the issue is through a smaller hole (or an existing opening.)

It’s the perfect gift for a new homeowner who’s just that wee bit handy and prefers to avoid unnecessary home costs.

Airthings View Plus

For the homeowner who really has everything Airthings creates air quality monitors that can really help improve quality of life. Airthings View Plus is a smart comprehensive air quality monitor that keeps track of seven air quality components.

The device itself fits in smoothly with any home, and features a classy eInk display that looks in place in our rustic-traditional living room. It measures humidity, temperature, radon, CO2, PM 2.5 and more. A new home is a new environment, and Airthings View Plus can help a new homeowner understand it better.

Air quality factors can also affect things like fatigue, mood, and energy levels. Knowing where our problem areas are helps us take steps to improve it, helping us turn that house into a home.

I decided to give it an informal test and breathed REALLY hard on it. The display glowed a soft red and showed high CO2 levels. Airthings View Plus connects easily to the Airthings app which gives you all the data at your fingertips. It shows stats for the time frame we choose. It’s grouped by which factors impact different things, so that I can have an answer to things like extra sneezes, wheezing, or migraines.

Gift Ideas for a Housewarming Party To Relax and Connect

A new home means new opportunities to unwind, connect and… feel at home.

These gifts are slightly less obvious gift ideas for a housewarming party, but totally appropriate and cool to gift!

They’re open-ended gifts that can suit lots of types of recipients, are unique, but easy to love.

Dink Buddy 6-Foot Portable Pickleball Net

Got Pickleball fans in the house? Even if you don’t yet, you can definitely create some. The perfect backyard game, it has a cult following for a reason.

Dink Buddy’s 6-foot portable net is perfect for the new homeowner who may not know yet exactly what they want to do with their yard, but already wants some fun.

When we moved to our current home, it was our first time having space to really run around and play, and my kids thrived on it. Dink Buddy is the perfect gift for families, couples – or even those who like to host active outdoor get-togethers.

It stores really small and is easy to set up in minutes. It’s a low-commitment but super fun outdoor recreational solution.

Our new pickleball set hadn’t arrived yet so we tested it by playing volleyball with a beach ball and according to my boys, it lived up to the hype.

Daily Rituals Shower Steamers

Moving took the biggest toll on me – physical, mental, emotional. Packing was hard, unpacking was in a way harder, and yes, I was sore and tired. That means that my end-of-day shower was heaven sent each time.

But of course, our new master (which we are so thankful for , after a single bathroom at the other end of the apartment) fearured a shower only – no bath. An amazing shower, no less, but there was no room for real aromatherapy or bath bombs. Plus, I’m really more of a shower person anyway.

Daily Rituals creates shower steamers that turn those post-moving showers into a spa-like experience.

When the shower steam hits these tablets, it diffuses the scents and adds essential oil aromatherapy to every shower. The starter gift set comes with four tablets and a bamboo plate. The refill packs have six steamers.

Daily Rituals Shower Steamers are the perfect gift idea for a housewarming party where you know the people in charge need that break.

What is your favorite gift idea for a housewarming party? Got any go-tos that you usually gift? Comment below!

The post Gift Ideas for a Housewarming Party appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Are you looking for some simple end-of-the-year organization tips? Now is the time to put a plan in place for organizing kids’ papers at home! 

Can you believe that our kids will be back for summer break in just a couple of weeks? It may feel like the school year has just started, but the piles of kids’ crafts and papers are stacking up from the year. All of this paper and memorabilia can feel overwhelming, yet each year, we find ourselves with stacks of fun things our kids did during the year – that they don’t want to let go of. 

As a mom of creative kids, we needed a better system to organize all of those papers and finally put together a plan that works for my kids and me. 

Today, I’m going to share some tips and tricks for organizing kids papers.

What are some general tips for organizing kids papers?

When it comes to artwork and paper organization tips for moms, you can never be too prepared! Before starting to make a plan on how to be organized, just remember that consistency and maintenance will be key.

You can’t start an organization system at home and then not follow through with it – that defeats the entire purpose. 

Having a solid ongoing system in place will allow you to keep things organized, minimizing the need for organizing kids papers again and again.

How can I organize faster – and keep it that way?

My best tip for organizing kids papers or ANY kids stuff? Get the kids on board to help! They can easily be a part of the organization process to help make sure that everything is good to go for the year.

Not only can this help you, but I recommend this for a few more reasons:

• This is a fabulous skill to teach them – a hands on approach to how to organize.
• They’ll appreciate the organization if they participated in it as well.
• Personally, I find that the only way my kids will stay organized is if they helped create the system. That way they really understand how it works.
• I don’t believe in going through and organizing my kids’ papers – some of which might be personal – without them.

To keep things moving along while organizing kids papers:

• If they want to look or read something they find, give them a timer of about thirty seconds and then move them along.
• Allow them to sort things into “look through” in addition to “keep” and “purge.
• Have organization tools handy and ready to use.
• Set a limit for your “keep” stash. This can be based on the capacity of organization tools you choose.
• Differentiate between the “catch all” location for future keep items and the “keep to have” location for things they just can’t let go of (yet).

Have a solid strategy

In a nutshell, having a future strategy that the kids understand will ensure it stays under control. You can do a weekly backpack purge, sorting papers into the above categories that I recommended (look at, keep, purge).

Make sure your kids completely understand it. Like I said, the way I do this is by involving them in the process. If this doesn’t work for you (or even if you do implement it) here are some more tips:

• Don’t overcomplicate it. Keep categories simple. Some ideas “things I created” and “things I wrote”. “Things I’m proud of” and “Projects I made”. Or just a simple keep binder can do the job too.
• Label EVERY FREAKING THING. Kids will not just “know” where things go like you do. Include visual labels as well where needed. Have a label maker or Cricut Joy handy when creating.
• Monitor it. At least for the first few months, stay on top of the process.

Favorite tools for organizing kids’ papers

Here are my top essentials for organizing all of those sentimental goodies you and your kids want to hold on to.

Letter Trays

A great way to organize all of those papers is with a letter tray. You can have one for each child, which makes it easy to organize papers as they come in. Keep this in a central location (such as the family desk) and purge it regularly (such as monthly).

I recommend getting a stackable one to help make it easier and so it will take up less space.

I put any incoming papers that are “Keepers” into this sorter to help make it easier to organize, keeping everything in one place. Tip: photograph everything as it goes onto this sorter so that you have a backup!

Accordion Folders

My kids each have an expandable file folder with their “personal stuff” for these kinds of papers. It’s fun for them and easy to use – and you can get really cute ones!

They take up very little space, and if needed, you can have one for each year, storing them upright like you would books.

Sturdy File Boxes

If you really end up with a lot, you can go for boxes. This is fabulous for those who like to save loads of art projects in addition to paperwork. Use file folders to organize it and place things where they belong as they come in, keeping things from piling up.

This could be art projects they did at school, certificates for things like perfect attendance, and more. Limit each kid’s things to one bin, and at the end of their school journey, they will be able to decide what they want to keep and what to discard.

I recommend going through them during the first few weeks of summer after the school year is done to downsize these bins for long-term storage.

Scrapbook boxes can work fabulously as well, with a lower capacity.

Hanging File Folders

Put some hanging file folders in your file boxes to categorize each type of thing you’re keeping. This could be essays, report cards, etc. If you are trying to keep quantity down, you can use a single file folder per grade to further limit how much of each item you keep. At the end of the year, whittle the whole collection down to the one file folder which goes into a central box.

These folders keep things from getting ruined or buried in the box where no one will find them.

Labels

Did I mention that labeling is a must? That goes for storage too, not just for your kids’ systems!

You’ll want to have a good and sturdy label that will stand the test of time. You can print your child’s name, grade (if you have one box for each grade), and anything else you might want to include. This will make organizing your bins easier and is great if you have more than one kid. At a glance, both you and your kids can easily find the bins and add to them whenever they need to.

Got any other tips for organizing kids’ papers? Comment below!

The post Tips & Tricks for Organizing Kids’ Papers & Projects appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Do you find that each time your kids look for something, they dump everything out and can never clean up? Time for a huge purge.

We just did a mega purge of the boys’ (ages 9 and 6) room.

By mega, I mean that we threw out two stuffed kitchen garbage bags. Donated a few items. Had a contractor’s garbage bag equivalent of recyclables. Moved a kitchen garbage bag’s worth to appropriate playroom play areas… The before and after is telling.

The bins:

The desk:

The shelves:

About our Project

You might be used to seeing picture-perfect storage solutions, with matching acrylic containers with perfectly square edges because clearly that will fit the max…

But I’m not a professional organizer. I’m a mom working with my kids on a budget, not trying to get aesthetic results for a client. So the goal was FUNCTION and of course, if you want to get that beautiful look, go ahead and get nicer containers!

My tricks will still help you.

There’s a very specific system that I used that I figured I’d share with fellow moms.

Why the Kids MUST Help with Organizing Kids Stuff

Before I get started with my system, it’s important for you to understand: what exactly gets stored in the boys’ room? Why did I involve them? And are these toys we’re purging or not?

Many parents have advised things like “I purge without my kids” or “you just gotta sneak things away” or “DON’T STORE TOYS IN THEIR ROOM!!”

Shared toys in our home are stored in the playroom – and most toys are shared. However, items that belong specifically to one child gets stored with their “stuff” – in their own spaces in their shared bedroom. This includes some birthday gift toys, but is mostly kits, prizes, fidgets, keychains, memories, and those small “treasures” that kids insist on keeping. The main LEGO is in the playroom, but those few personal sets are with their stuff.

In a nutshell, I believe strongly in allowing kids to have their own storage spaces and “valuable property” to teach them about personal privacy and rights. They need to know that there are things that are THEIRS and that they do not need to share it if they don’t feel comfortable doing so.

Giving them this value in a tangible property-focused manner helps them learn about the value of privacy and body rights as well.

Therefore, I would not touch it without them. I would not throw out THEIR stuff or give it away without their express permission. We worked one-on-one, which also carved “together” time in a calm, non-timed manner.

And a final perk: Organizing kids stuff with the kids’ help means that they know how it works. They understand the systems you’ve created – they even participated in the decision making process! This means that they can maintain it, figure out where to store new items, and know how to organize in the future.

They are both absolutely delighted with the results. And their room has stayed MUCH cleaner in the month plus since we did this. Cleanup takes five minutes max.

A Bit of Background on the Bedroom Space

We moved into our almost-hundred-year-old home two years ago. Parts were renovated by us, parts were renovated recently, and parts look like they haven’t been touched since the 50’s. The boys’ room falls into the last category.

It has charm (think a metal pencil sharpener, built-in bookcases and dressers) but it also has quirks (wood paneling in an awful color, linoleum flooring.

When you move into a new house, you don’t really know the systems you need. You kind of just need to unpack. It takes living there a bit to learn the new space.

So this is our first reorganization since we just “landed” in the room.

Organizing kids stuff is just the start. One of the tricks to staying organized is to have good systems, some of which I share with you here.

How We Got it Done

Process Outline for Organizing Kids Stuff

As I mentioned, I worked with each child individually on their things. The only exception was the desk, which is shared. Because we hadn’t partitioned it until now, we worked on it together, carving out shared spaces and individual spaces for each.

They also each have a built- in bookcase, and three large bins from an IKEA TROFAST unit.

This is our system for organizing kids stuff together

I highly recommend this printable visual workbook for doing this with the kids! Print as many of each page as you need. It was designed with Passover in mind but there is a year-round cover for you to use PLUS it follows the same process and includes purging tips for kids!

• Work kid by kid, space by space

• Remove items from shelf or bin

• As you remove, sort into keep, donate, trash, store as a family toy

• When storage spaces are empty, sort the “keep” items into piles based on category.

• Find appropriate storage for each category once you have a pile and know how much there is. Choose something that will have a little extra space.

• Label every single storage container. We used a paint marker so that it just gets done and may Cricut labels at a later date. The Cricut Joy with writable vinyl is a fabulous, fast way to do this.

• Return them to the shelf in a logical manner.

Here are some of the categories we used

Toys and prizes: We ended up with small bins for private LEGO sets (most LEGO is shared), fidgets, small toys and medium toys. Larger toys sit loose on the shelf. They are all single part or self-storing toys. Toys with more parts would get a case and a label.

We could have put the larger toys in the Trofast bin, however, I’m trying to see if we can actually get rid of that whole unit. Right now only one bin is in use. I don’t want the kids dumping in and out.

Books simply sit on the bookcase. This includes things like their Pokemon card albums, personal books (most are shared but there are a few personal ones), memory books, etc.

Memories and other papers: This was a HUGE clutter maker and the kids really purged a lot. But there was a bit left. Each kid has a small coupon file and a larger expanding file for memories, photos, and artwork. When it’s full it means it’s time to purge. Both of theirs were really far from full by the time we finished. You want these to be easily accessible so that they’ll put future memories away nicely.

Treasures: One thing that the kids love to keep but really doesn’t get used much and is just a mess-maker is those little treasures. Think: gems, pretty rocks, cool (or uncool foreign) coins, etc. This got its own container.

Cards: Any category that didn’t have enough for its own album got a pencil case.

Art supplies: I encouraged most of them to go into a single bin in the shared portion of the desk. This means they’re sharing with each other, but still not with their marker-monster toddler sister. Anything not shared got a personal pencil box in their desk drawer. All coloring and sketchbooks went there too, with some reverting to “shared”.

Kits: There were so many craft kits in the room! I convinced M to consolidate some that I couldn’t get him to purge, and most of them were moved to the basement art desk, which is where they do this stuff anyway. Those I allow them to keep for themselves as they are high up and not with regular toys

A few tricks

Open storage: one of the best pieces of advice that I got when starting this project was to use OPEN STORAGE! This makes it easier for kids to just dump things into the correct bin! I applied this only for “mixed” bins – that is, bins that contain a category of heavy-use item, not a single item. So the small toys bin, the fidget bin, etc would be open. The art case wouldn’t. That you pull out, use, cover, put away.

Click or zip shut storage – There’s no such thing as a lid that doesn’t latch here. It’s either open, or it closes securely.

Keep to use or to have? Another great bit of advice that I received was to categorize all “keep” items as keep to use or keep to keep. This helps you prioritize where you store it, allowing memories to not get in the way of heavy use items.

Parental guidance: I definitely encouraged them and taught them as we worked. They LEARNED new skills themselves. How will you enjoy those toy dinosaurs more? In your small toy bin up here or with the other animal toys downstairs? What about the five Hot Wheels cars you have here?

When was the last time you used this? Does it get in the way when you want to find your favorite (enter favorite toy here)?

Kids don’t necessarily have those skills ingrained, and it’s overwhelming for them. Having full-time one-on-one parental guidance for this was essential to teach them these skills, keep them on track, and ensure that it’s done properly. But ultimately every final decision was theirs – even if I disagreed. Because it’s THEIR stuff. Period.

The Storage Tools We Used for Organizing Kids Stuff

Before we started, I pulled together the items I purchased special (listed below) as well as any spare storage supplies I had around the house and we set up a “store”. The kids REALLY had fun with this part! They did it – not me!

The kids did have some items that they wanted to keep that were really storage. Think: that pencil case I personalized for M in first grade, the wood box he built in camp… So we used those as storage as appropriate so that they’re not just saved.

I also did a huge stock-up on the smaller storage items before we started organizing kids stuff. Leftover items will be used as storage in other parts of the house.

Dollar store bins – these help keep medium items corralled. I had these left over from other organizing projects.

Open containers – Ditto.

Traditional pencil boxes – these are the classic sized ones that we grew up with. I got a style that stacks nicely. We had it handy for items that required this size.

Smaller pencil boxes – these pencil boxes take up so little space and stack so nicely. They are FABULOUS for kids who have a zillion little categories of stuff. Use them!

Pencil cases – I also bought a huge pack of mesh pencil cases that’s great for small odd assorted items that just need to be consolidated. If you have more than just a few of these for a kid, you’ll want them in their own storage bin. However, since we just used a few per kid, they are lined up like books on the shelf.

Drawer organizers – this was mainly used in the shared desk space.

Keeping Things Clean after Organizing Kids Stuff

Now the trick is to keep it clean! And it almost does that on its own.

First of all, the kids don’t dump a whole bin every time they want something. Previously, a couple of days after we’d clean it would already be messed up from their morning play. Now, they haven’t cleaned their room in the five weeks since we did this and there are only a few things out of place!

(I do have them do a weekly laundry pick-up on my laundry day.)

Second, every time I see they have a new prize, and it’s left around the house, I don’t just tell them to put it away. I ask them: where are you going to keep this? They usually give a good answer. The fidgets! The medium toys!

I’ve also told them that we have extra containers so if there’s something new they need to store, we should find a container for it.

It’s also important to acknowledge that there will always be clutter accumulating. The more flat surfaces (such as the desk, the TROFAST unit) the more clutter there will be.

But keeping that minimal makes cleanup more doable.

In a nutshell, this process was overwhelmingly successful, and I felt I’d be selfish if I didn’t share. I hope it helps!

Got any tips to add for organizing kids stuff? Comment below!

The post Organizing Kids’ Stuff: The Big Kids Room Purge appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

There’s nothing like an efficiently organized craft room to get the creative juices flowing, and Cricut storage provides its own set of challenges.

Today, I’m going to share with you some of my favorite Cricut storage ideas and solutions that I’ve tried over the past couple of years. These include ideas for Cricut vinyl storage, as well as other materials, tools, blades, and other supplies. I also shared a couple of hacks for how to keep your mats handy, and general Cricut workstation ideas.

I truly hope this is helpful!

Cricut Vinyl and Material Storage Ideas

Cricut vinyl presents a unique storage challenge. The rolls seem to have a mind of their own and jump all over the place! But because they are rolled, they avoid creases, even in longer lengths. Here are some Cricut vinyl storage solutions that I’ve tried:

1. Store rolls and other materials upright in a cardboard box:

I currently have most of my materials, excluding a few bulk rolls, stored upright in a cardboard box. Eventually, I hope to remove the flaps and decorate the box, but for now it’s a fantastic solution.

This solution is great for those of us who have a Cricut workstation based on a mobile cart, with extra shelving for storage.

Alternatively, you can simply use a storage container that’s at least 13 inches deep and the right size for your work area.

2. Use magazine files to corral like rolls

Even within the cardboard box, I have additional organization to keep things in place.

First, I like to use magazine files to keep certain rolls grouped together, and to help them stand upright. I even use this on open shelving sometimes to help corral items.

Smart Vinyl rolls that come in boxes don’t need this.

3. Store vinyl rolled in inner tube, label the outside

For vinyl that comes wrapped around cardboard tubes, you can roll it a bit tighter and store it inside the tube to keep it rolled. This is great for thinner vinyl types that don’t hold closed in a roll.

You can also label the cardboard roll with scraps of the vinyl that’s inside (but I don’t think that trick will work for iron-on).

4. Organize scraps in file folders

Can’t seem to find the correct scrap at the correct time? I used folio file organizers to sort them by color family. I haven’t finished organizing this, but when I do, I plan to place a scrap of vinyl on the tab to showcase the color family. It’s less important to have each shade featured and more important to give a general idea of what’s inside.

Got too many? Use a 3 ring binder with sheet protectors or individual binder envelopes and colorful divider flags to organize your scraps.

5. IKEA shopping bag organizer

This is a super popular Cricut storage solution that I’ve just implemented in my craft room! For those vinyl and iron-on rolls that you use the most and want to keep on hand, the Ikea Variera shopping bag holder has holes just the right size for vinyl rolls!

6. In scrapbook paper boxes

I’m a big fan of these scrapbook cases from Michaels and I use them for loads of my storage!

I store scrapbook paper that I use with my Cricut, as well as leather – both sheets and scraps! I also store my Infusible Ink materials in these.

Vinyl rolls fit nicely in this too, making it a great solution for organizing vinyl on book or wall shelves. You can also label them. One day, I’ll get to it!

Cricut Tool, Blade, & Supply Organization

Tools need to be kept as handy as possible, so storing them well means having options that suit your workspace. I keep mine in the actual machine cup as much as possible, but here are a few additional solutions.

1. Cricut blade organizer:

I haven’t tried this but it looks great! It’s designed for storing your blades, so it’s very space-efficient, and it doesn’t look too shabby either!

This is the perfect solution for those of us who tend to forget to remove the correct blade from the machine storage before starting a project.

2. Use a shoebox sized storage container for assorted materials and writing tools

I keep a storage container with all the odds and ends I use a lot. This includes pens, infusible ink markers, masking tape, rubbing alcohol, my XL scraper, and more.

3. Craft Cart

A popular option that I don’t personally use, a craft cart is a great mobile solution. You can pull it to your Cricut workstation to have things handy, without occupying the area when you’re not creating on your Cricut.

4. Coffee can/mason jar

I keep additional tools in a mason jar and Cafe du Monde coffee can (I couldn’t throw away a classic New Orleans souvenir, could I?!) Sometimes centuries old solutions are the best way to store our gadgets!

This is a great option for Cricut crafting tools and weeding tools that are often brought to a separate surface to work with. If you tend to weed at a separate desk, you can simply store these there. Your scraper and spatula, however, which are used for securing and removing materials on the mat, are more convenient near your machine.

5. Insert for machine storage

This cool Design Space project hacks the inside of your machine to work better for your tools. They float around less and stay super organized. There’s nothing like a Cricut project made for your Cricut, right?!

Cricut Mat Storage Hacks

Cricut mats need to be kept super handy, but have a mind of their own! They slip and slide… so how do you store them? Here are some super clever Cricut storage ideas for your mats.

1. Command hooks

The hang holes on the mats make them perfect for hanging on smaller sized Command hooks. The only drawback is: you need a good hanging surface for this. I have mine on the side of a bookcase that I store some of my Cricut supplies in.

2. Multi level skirt hanger on hook

In my old place, I stored them on a skirt hanger hung from a wall hook. This allows you to use a sturdier hook as it doesn’t need to fit the mat hole. However, there’s a limit to how many you can store on one hanger. Too many gets overwhelming. It’s great for when you only need to keep 1-2 of each type handy (max) and it’s not ideal for 24 inch mats.

3. Pull-out keyboard tray

If you’re storing your machine on any type of computer desk with a pull-out keyboard tray, that’s the perfect place to park your mats! When you need it out of the way, close it. When you’re crafting, you can use it as a surface for applying materials to your mat.

And even if your desk doesn’t come with a built in keyboard tray, there are plenty of aftermarket options. Look for the deepest one that you can find that makes sense for your desk.

This is what I use for my mats now, and it’s my favorite solution. I still keep my backup mats on Command hooks on the side of my bookcase, but this is my main mat storage right now.

Got any more Cricut storage ideas to share? Comment below with your favorite solutions!

The post Cricut Storage Ideas & Hacks appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Being a new homeowner is an incredible experience. There is nothing quite like having your own space to live in and personalize. There’s a pride that comes with it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Even if some people end up purchasing more than once and moving around, there’s nothing quite like the first time!

If someone you know and love is a new homeowner, an appropriate housewarming gift is a fantastic way to celebrate with them. And even if it’s their second or third time, or if it’s a rental, all of these make for fantastic housewarming gifts for every budget!

First, a few tips for buying a New Homeowner Gift

• Unless the person you are purchasing for is very close to you and you know their style, any decor you purchase should be very neutral.
• When purchasing decor, be aware and forgiving of the fact that it may not be displayed prominently.
• Try to know the general makeup of their home. Do they have space for certain extras? Do they have a guest room?
• It also helps to know their style. Do they enjoy hosting get-togethers? Are they neurotic about cleanliness? Do they struggle to keep their lives organized?

Even if you don’t know them well, these new homeowner gift ideas are all really practical, neutral, and versatile.

Keep in mind that buying a home is very expensive. It’s often five figures more expensive than the new homeowner anticipated – between moving costs, closing costs, necessary home repairs to satisfy the bank and insurance companies, unaccounted for home renovations – it can seem endless.

So while the new home owner may be excited to break things in and start accessorizing, they are often very strapped for cash after buying. The right housewarming gifts can really help serve that purpose of starting to make that house a home, before they are financially able to do it themselves.

New Homeowner Gift Ideas for Hosting in the New Space

Does your new homeowner love hosting? Maybe they always lived in a smaller space where it was harder to host get-togethers? These are all along the lines of gathering together with family and friends. However, these are also cool kitchen and home items to have that double as decor too AND are practical. So if you’re not sure, they’re beautiful gifts regardless.

For the Party Thrower: Fab Slabs Antibacterial Cutting Boards

Fab Slabs makes beautiful natural antibacterial cutting boards from sustainable Camphor Laurel trees in Australia. They come in different shapes and sizes and are fantastic for making charcuterie boards and grazing platters, like we did at Princess A’s first birthday party.

Camphor Laurel trees are permanently naturally antibacterial so they remain hygienic as you give them lots of love. And the beautiful wood also doubles as decor, especially in kitchens with open shelving!

For the Coffee Snob: Gorgeous Chefwave Artisan Series French Press

True coffee snobs are very particular about how their Joe is brewed. Some prefer more grounds, some prefer less. There are different temperatures coffee can be brewed at. Traditional and single-serve coffee makers don’t usually offer these options.

This French Press coffee maker from Chefwave’s Artisan series is so beautiful, it’ll be put on display instead of being put away! It also has all the qualities of a great French press. It’s double insulated stainless steel to keep the coffee warm much more effectively than glass – which is why it’s my French press of choice for family get-togethers. Make a batch and then guests can come and enjoy it as they feel the need.

It has a double screen filtration system so that fewer grounds get through. It’s incredibly durable and the craftsmanship is beautiful. And the final perk? It’s got a 3 minute hourglass built into the handle!

Use code MOMS20CRAFTS for 20% off

For the Modern Kitchen: Turkish Kitchen Towels from Olive & Linen

Towels can double as decor too, as these beautiful ones from Olive & Linen show! But they’re not just pretty. They’re really absorbent too, and they can match practically any kitchen!

And since it’s a very affordable item, you can gift a set as large as you’d like, to fit your budget! So gift two or ten – just bundle them nicely (or get a premade bundle).

For Overnight Hosts: Rae Dunn Foldable Towel Rack

Buying a new homeowner gift for someone who always wished they had a guest room… and now does? Yep, that was me too!

This foldable towel rack by Design Styles x Rae Dunn is a great way to offer an assortment of towels to overnight visitors while decorating that guest space! We have a huge guest bathroom with no linen storage, so this stands in our bathroom. It can also sit in the guest room, and you can add jars of cotton swabs, toiletry samples, or similar items to pretty up the top shelf.

And if you ever need more space in your guest room for a pullout cot or play yard, you can simply fold it up and store it flat.

Decor that’s Neutral

When gifting decor that’s purely decorative, you don’t want to go too specific – unless you’re REALLY close to the recipient. Go with subscriptions that offer variety, neutral and subtly trendy items, as well as unique pieces that aren’t in your face.

For the Seasonal Decorator: Decocrated Subscription:

Got someone who pulls out the Christmas decor the second Thanksgiving dinner is done – or earlier? Decocrated offers quarterly decor boxes, full of unique home accents. The one that I got to try was a fall theme. Most of the box included items that can be displayed on open shelves or the mantel all year round, but there were a few functional items too!

My favorite is the teal pumpkin (which you should know, if displayed outdoors, indicates the presence of allergy-friendly or non-food treats). It also came with two beautiful woodsy pillar candle stands which are great for mini plants too. The moon mirror is a sweet little touch and the wooden bead garland adds movement to a stacked display shelf.

A mini ladder can hold the two very seasonal tea towels, which, along with the pumpkin, were the only items that are purely seasonal and get put away the rest of the year. It also comes with mini art to frame and display.

For a Little Hygge: Olive & Linen Handcrafted Throw Blankets

When expanding from a one-couch-apartment to a two-couch home, one of the first issues Y, my cozy little boy, encountered was the fact that we were short a throw blanket (I call it first world problems)!

Olive & Linen’s Turkish throw blankets are so classy, I reserved it for the living room! And yes, it’s soft and comfortable.

As a side note, I love it for nursing Princess A when others are around. It’s large enough to really offer privacy and it’s thin enough to throw over our heads completely while I set things up. It’s made from fine Turkish cotton, so it’s really soft and breathable.

Since it’s really absorbent, it can be used as a towel too – a towel that totally envelops you. That makes it a very versatile and affordable new homeowner gift.

To easily convert a house into a home: Premium Quality Modern Art Deco Pillows

Nothing accessorizes a home quite like throw pillows – and makes it feel like a home. And once again, going from one couch to two plus accent chairs, we had more spaces for decorating!

I designed these art deco pillows to be neutral but with a touch of color! For the base, I chose a premium quality pillow so that you’re really getting the best out there.

[show_boutique_widget id=”1109708″]

Since it’s solid on the back, they can be mixed, matched, and combined to easily adjust the home’s style.

For the Artist or Crafter: Built Quilt tea light holders

Built Quilt’s quilt block inspired tea light holders are gorgeous graphic pieces to display. But they’re still quite subtle, retaining that neutral feel in a unique decor item.

The designs are UV printed on birch wood blocks and come with tea lights. The Lone Star art are replicas of actual artwork by Troy Murrah.

Practically Speaking

There’s often a fine line between super practical and giftable, and all of these try to broaden that line! Gifting items that will make life easier or mundane tasks more pleasurable is a great approach for those who avoid clutter and tchochkes.

For the Visual Type A: 1thrive Home Command Center (Pictured: the Susan)

This incredible command center can be customized and adapted to a family’s needs – and looks fantastic! It offers creative opportunities for letting your life and then showcasing it. Keep everyone’s schedules handy at a glance, store mail and keys, hang your handbag, track family to-do’s – the options are endless.

The white and dark surfaces use the same markers (you get two with your purchase and can add on more). Magnetic and cork surfaces allow you to display art, photos, and invites, keeping your fridge free of clutter.

The command center is quite large and a statement in a family room, mud room, or home office. And it even comes with built in storage for accessories or whatever you need to dump somewhere….

For a spa at home: Beautiful Bath Towels from Olive & Linen

One of the things we did before moving was create a master suite by splitting a huge bathroom into a tiny powder room and a small master bath. While it’s quite small and gasp! has no tub (hey, I’m a shower person!) it does have spalike touches. We invested in our shower heads, in pebbled tile, and things like that to make it luxurious.

Of course, the right towels finish things off! Olive & Linen makes terry towels too! They are classy and sooo soft, completing the spa-like experience. And again, their neutral colors ensure that you don’t need to study your recipient’s bathroom before gifting it.

For Help Keeping House: Eufy Robovac

My husband actually got this for me for my birthday soon after we moved. It’s the gift that keeps giving in the form of household help! Often, after moving to a much larger space, just cleaning more area can be exhausting while the body adjusts!

While I don’t find that it takes the place of a good thorough sweep, it’s great for daily touch-ups. And if you have wood floors, especially dark ones, everything shows. A run of Robovac makes it look like you just cleaned up.

For the High Tech Labeler: Cricut Joy

A new home often brings with it a new commitment to staying organized! I absolutely love the Cricut Joy for quick projects, including labeling.

Their Label Making Bundle includes the writable vinyl, a super cool organizing tool for non-crafters. It’s really portable, making it the machine of choice for labeling and organizing projects – for everything from pantry to toys.

For an Organized Start: Pantry Organizer Set

It took me half a year to have a functional pantry. It’s surprising how expensive pantry containers can be. Gifting a nice set of pantry organizers is a great way to help house become home much sooner.

These from Better Homes & Gardens are on the more affordable end, stack nicely, look great, and are easy to use. They are airtight and the sizes are fantastic for decanting and organizing pantry items.

Got any new home owner gift ideas to add to the list? Comment below!

The post New Home Owner Gift Ideas appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

These grab ‘n go sensory bin ideas are the solution to your at home activity needs and the playroom hack you’ve been waiting for! Keep this in your activity closet for instant rainy day sensory play. This post is sponsored by Spin Master.

A typical school vacation day consists of Y asking me, before I’ve even had coffee, to do an activity. I try scrambling with A in one hand, and my coffee cooling on the counter for something for him to do.

That’s it. I’m changing it.

I’m using advance planning and a cool playroom hack to change that. And that’s thanks to an insanely smart new limited-edition collab: Kinetic Sand X Rubbermaid!

Yes, you heard right!

Kinetic Sand, makers of the awesome, insanely satisfying, moldable sand that my kids love, teamed up with Rubbermaid, makers of awesome storage containers, to create this brilliant bundle that I like to call “sand in a box”. That is, 3 lbs of Kinetic Sand in a reusable Rubbermaid box.

Table of Contents:

• The Game-Changing Playroom Hack: Grab ‘n Go Sensory Bins
• Your Basic Sensory Bin Stash
• 5 Sensory Bin Ideas to Grab and Go
• The Kinetic Sand X Rubbermaid is a limited edition, so grab yours now while supplies last!

The Game-Changing Playroom Hack: Grab ‘n Go Sensory Bins

This cool collab inspired me to create grab ‘n go sensory bins, built around a few specific sensory bin ideas.

The idea is to keep a basic stash of prepared materials in our closet. When the mood strikes, we just need to grab a few containers for an instant sensory bin.

The Kinetic Sand X Rubbermaid containers were designed to stack and to be easy to grab, with handles and ridges on the lid, making this the perfect time to start that stash.

To do this, I prepared a few themed containers with fillers that make for fantastic sensory bin ideas. Keeping to a specific theme for each one helps keep it fresh.

This also allows multiple children to each choose their own theme so that they feel like they’re the ones planning their activities.

In case you haven’t tried it yet: Kinetic Sand is a long-lasting sensory bin filler that my boys really enjoy. It’s an easy to clean, reusable sand that sticks to itself, doesn’t dry out, and is great for tactile play providing endless imaginative play opportunities.

We absolutely LOVE Kinetic Sand. It’s the most played with sensory material in our home because of how creative and versatile it is. There are so many ways to play with it – whether it’s the sensory bin ideas below, practicing forming letters, having a beach day at home… or a combination of these!

The Kinetic Sand X Rubbermaid containers also make an incredible gift for any occasion, any gender, any interest… as you’ll see from my filler ideas. The Rubbermaid containers just make it that much more giftable. And a toy with built-in storage, especially built-in high quality storage to keep it fresh, is always a win for parents! While Kinetic Sand is super fun to play with on its own as well, having it handy with themed containers to add to the mix makes it feel like a new toy each time.

August 11 is Global Kinetic Sand Day, and you can use code KSDAY20 for 20% off the limited-edition Kinetic Sand X Rubbermaid while supplies last.

You get loads of play benefits with Kinetic Sand: kids can work those fine motor skills and practice spelling with it. The resistance that Kinetic Sand offers is great for writing practice. You can cut, mold, mix, and dig, and really get creative with Kinetic Sand.

You also have all the usual benefits of sensory play: social and emotional development, and of course sensory awareness.

In this cool Kinetic Sand playroom hack, I’ve made the most of the qualities of Kinetic sand for the perfect themed boxes as you’ll see below.

Your Basic Sensory Bin Stash

These sensory bin ideas start the with basic makeup of a good sensory bin:

A Bin: you want something contained for the kids to play in, but spread apart so that the kids can discover. For this, I got a 1.5 gallon container for a single child.

Tools: One of the coolest perks of Kinetic Sand is the ability to mold it. So some molding tools are essential! I store the tools from the Kinetic Sand Sandisfactory set in the container that I use as a base bin. You can also store these in the Rubbermaid container that the Kinetic Sand comes in.

Filler: The Kinetic Sand X Rubbermaid container just gets added to the shelf as-is!

Themed items to discover and play: While not necessary to play with Kinetic Sand, these are fantastic ways to up your game and the possibilities are endless! I’ve shared in this post a few specific ideas, and then some general thought starters for further grab-n-go sensory bins.

5 Sensory Bin Ideas to Grab and Go

Here are a few sensory bin ideas that I put together for my own kids. I store them in 5.5 cup Rubbermaid containers, stacked neatly and labeled.

1. Animal Life – My kids love creatures, so I took some toy animals and added some fake plants for an animal life theme! You can also go in a specific direction with this: safari, rainforest, etc.

2. Things that go – We love playing with toy cars in Kinetic Sand because of the marks you can with them! Tractors add a little extra fun. Road signs and cones are a fun extra.

3. At the Beach – Toss in some rocks, shells, and sea creatures for an instant beach! Add a drink umbrella for an extra touch.

4. Dig for Treasure – anything that can pass as “precious” can go into this – gems, Mardi Gras beads, fake coins… You might want to put them in the main bin first and then add your Kinetic Sand so that kids can actually dig for them using the Sandisfactory tools.

5. Writing practice – A mix of alphabet stamps that leave an impression in the sand, and tools to trace or copy the letters make for a fantastic writing or spelling practice bin.

Some more idea starters:

• Holidays
• Favorite Characters – we love using our PAW Patrol pups and small vehicles in our sensory bins!
• Specific locations in anticipation of trips
• Building blocks (kids can build AND mold the Kinetic Sand)
• Natural materials (let the kids collect these!)

The Kinetic Sand X Rubbermaid is a limited edition, so grab yours now while supplies last!

What are your favorite Kinetic Sand sensory bin ideas? Comment below!

The post Sensory Bin Ideas with Kinetic Sand appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

When Princess A was first born, she had a nice selection of bows, stored neatly in a storage bin, like the rest of her stuff….

Then I discovered the art of making bows and things spiraled out of control. Plus, I discovered the art of shopping for bows and things mega spiraled even further. And then I received a load of hand-me-down bows fro a friend and things reached rock bottom and I new I needed help.

And who will help me if I do not help myself?

So I sat down and made a DIY baby headband holder.

How to make a DIY baby headband holder

Now, I wish it went so smoothly. Half my things were already in moving boxes (would you believe I packed my craft supplies first? I don’t know what got into me.)

The beginning went smoothly but the end ended up being somewhat “hack-y”. But overall it’s a really cool and EASY DIY.

I was looking for a good neutral color to paint my base, and decided on silver. I used FolkArt Treasure Gold in Platinum, using two coats.

And, incredibly, it actually looks like metal – at least in real life! More than one person who saw it, wanted to know how it was done and was surprised it wasn’t metal. I was quite impressed with this new-ish paint and will definitely be keeping it handy for more faux metal crafts.

I used cup hooks to make this DIY baby headband holder, mainly because the shape is very secure, allowing me to put a few headbands on each hook.

The headbands are arranged in rainbow order for aesthetics and practicality. Incredibly, there are over 60 headbands on this DIY baby headband holder.

The very thick banded ones need their own hooks, but since we only have a few of those, we can fit plenty of the regular elastic (and even wider elastic) ones.

And finally, don’t limit yourself to headbands! This tutorial is fantastic for necklaces and bracelets too. You can make it as a key holder, a mask holder, or anything that fits on cup hooks.

What you need to make a bow holder

• A wooden base
• Treasure Gold paint in Platinum (or your favorite acrylic craft paint)
• A flat paint brush
• Drill
• Cup hooks – mine were white coated 7/8 inch hooks- this exact set
• Ribbon
• Ruler
• Pen
• Sawtooth picture hangers – get ones with nails – not screws (that was a mistake on my part)
• Optional: a good hot glue gun (this is the hack-y part)
• Optional: narrow duct tape

Baby Headband Hooks Tutorial

1. Paint your base, dry completely, and if you’d like paint another coat

2. Using a ruler, mark the placement of your hooks. I placed mine every inch because I wanted to fit a lot of headbands. It’s tight but functional, and I prefer to have more hooks with fewer bows.

3. Drill holes where you marked.

4. Screw your cup hooks into the holes.

5. Tie a single length of ribbon around each end of your holder. Note: this is the part that got a little hack-y. It might hang better if you screw an eye at the top and hang it from that. I did hot glue my ribbon in place. Then, I decided that a ribbon isn’t the best way to hang this, but it looks pretty, so mine ended up being decorative anyway.

6. If your wooden base was just a bit too thin for the cup hooks (whoops), run a piece of duct tape along the back to cover up the slightly-peeking-out screws.

7. Finally, attach a sawtooth hanger to each side. The screw-in ones were really difficult to work with so I hot glued mine on! This will only work if you have a good hot glue gun. Use this as your main hanging mechanism.

Time to load your DIY baby headband holder with loads and loads of pretty bows and enjoy it with the pride that comes with DIY!

The post DIY Baby Headband Holder – Easy Bow Storage Solution! appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

If you want a fun Halloween decor idea you can make with your Cricut, this one is so perfect! It’s got a touch of irony to it: it’s a spider web that says “spooky” but it’s really a simple, classy, neutral piece of decor, perfect for your front door or for perching on a mantel, bookshelf, or anywhere.

It adds a touch of Halloween spirit (see what I did there?) But it doesn’t get tacky or overwhelm.

The free SVG can be used in other Halloween decor applications as well. The hoop art is very easy to assemble, and the SVG is designed for use on a round surface, but you can work with wood rounds too, canvases, or whatever you want.

Start with black iron-on and a length of cotton fabric. The sample project is simple and monochromatic, but if you really want to add an extra touch, you can paint the fabric, use another color, or hang some spiders from string on the bottom macrame-style.

Download your free Cricut Halloween Decor SVG

You’ll receive a ZIP folder with the SVG. If you need help, this article can help you unzip your file (it’s really easy once you learn).

To download: enter your email address in the form below and submit. Your download will arrive in your inbox. By submitting your email address you’re consenting to receive email updates from me and me only. I will not share your information with anyone.

If you have any issues or need help, please reach out to me at menucha@momsandcrafters.com.

 

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What you need for your Cricut Halloween Decor

• Spider Web SVG (download it above)
• Embroidery Hoop, pictured is a 10 inch hoop
• 100% cotton woven fabric
• Cricut Maker or Explore Air 2
• Everyday Iron On Vinyl, Black
• Cricut Standard Grip (green) Mat
• Weeding Tool, scraper, and spatula from the Basic tool set
• Scissors
• Cricut EasyPress 2
• EasyPress Mat

How to make this Cricut Halloween Decor

Before you start

1. With a pencil, trace the outside of the embroidery hoop on the fabric. 

2. Leave about 2” around the pencil line and cut out a circle shape.

Setting it up in Design Space

1. Open Cricut Design Space.

2. Click on the “+” sign to start a new project, opening up a blank canvas.

3. Click on the Upload button from the toolbar to insert the Spider Web SVG file onto the canvas.

4. Maintain the size at 10.125” across for a 10 inch hoop, or adjust by highlighting the image and clicking on the size box in the top toolbar. 

Cutting your Halloween hoop art

1. Select “Make It” in the upper right corner to proceed with cutting.

2. Click the “Mirror” toggle button to on. This is necessary for ALL iron on vinyl cuts.

3. Cut the Everyday Iron-On Vinyl width to fit on the standard grip mat. Press continue.

4. Choose Everyday Iron-On Vinyl from the list of options in the drop down menu.

5. Place the Iron-On vinyl directly onto the standard grip mat with the SHINY SIDE DOWN. Scrape out any air bubbles.

6. Following the instructions prompted on the screen, cut out the vinyl.

Preparing the spider web decal for application

1. Remove the Everyday Iron-On Vinyl from the mat. The Spatula tool might help you here.

2. Cut around the image and put aside the left over vinyl for another project.

3. Using a weeding tool, peel away the excess vinyl leaving only the spider web image.

Applying the Image with the Cricut EasyPress 2

1. Position the EasyPress mat on a flat surface with the cotton fabric on top.

2. Set the temperature and time on the machine following the chart for the type of vinyl and material being used or use Cricut’s Heat Guide.  

3. For 100% Cotton fabric and Everyday Iron-On Vinyl, set the EasyPress 2 to 315F.

4. Preheat the fabric (the cut circle shape) for 5 seconds. This will prep the fabric for the vinyl, removing all excess moisture as well as help to remove any creases and wrinkles from the fabric.

5. Place the cut image on the fabric with the shiny side up.

6. Press the image on to the fabric for 30 seconds with light pressure. If the entire image doesn’t fit under the EasyPress, then move the EasyPress over and heat press the image a second time. 

7. Turn the fabric upside down and apply heat for another 15 seconds.

8. Peel the plastic part of the vinyl off carefully once it cools and discard. 

Assembling the Halloween Hoop Art

1. Insert the fabric into the embroidery hoop, after centering so that all vinyl edges are sandwiched inside the hoop, tighten the  screw.

2. Trim away the excess fabric, display, and enjoy! 

Where will you be displaying your Halloween Cricut decor? Comment below!

Get that Cricut on – more ideas right here

The post Cricut Halloween Decor – Spider Web Hoop Art – free SVG appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Turn the ugliest, rattiest cardboard box in your home into a gorgeous DIY storage bin to stow diapers, towels, or anything, really!

You can even use a box that the kids have finished plastering with stickers and coloring.

This box was made using a pair of repurposed jeans. You can use any sturdy fabric in a color that works with your decor.

Check out my master list of ways to reuse denim here.

Use delivery boxes or packaging boxes. Since the box makes up the base of your DIY storage bin, if it’s sturdier, your box will be sturdier. If you’re planning to store lighweight items, it doesn’t matter which box you use, but if you plan to give it a solid run, make sure to use a strong base box.

Technically, you can make this in any size, but for starters, use a small or medium box. You’ll want to try it on a smaller scale before getting ambitious with a huge box.

And finally,  to finish things off, this box is wrapped in jute twine, with rope handles. A line of rope in the middle gives it a polished look, and seals in your handle ends.

What you need to make a DIY storage bin:

• Empty cardboard box
• Jute twine
• Rope
• Denim or similar fabric – you can use an old pair of jeans
• Hot glue gun
• Good fabric shears

How to make a basket out of a cardboard box

1. Collect an empty cardboard box in the size you want your box. You can either cut off the lid sections or you can simply push them inside so that they lay flush against the sides of the box.

2. Measure and cut a length of fabric long enough to cover the inner sides of the box and a few inches down on the outside. Start to wrap the fabric around the inside of the box, gluing down as you go along.

3.  Cover the inside of the box as neatly as you can. Keep those few inches extra along the top of the box. Fold that part down when you’re done with the inside and glue down as you go along. Glue down and secure any loose ends of your fabric cover.

4. Measure the bottom surface of the box and cut out a piece of fabric with an extra inch along each side.

5. Flip over your bottom portion of fabric so that the wrong side is up. Cut the corners of the fabric an inch deep and fold over your sides. Glue the sides down.

6. Flip the bottom fabric back over so that the right side is up and glue it to the bottom of your cardboard box.

7. Start wrapping your jute twine from the bottom of your box, gluing as you go along, every few inches. Keep your wrapping even and consistent.

8. Continue to wrap until an inch or so (depending on the size of your box) is left on top. Trim your twine and make sure to glue the end well into place.

9. Cut two pieces of rope the same size to make handles for your box. It should be somewhat proportionate to the size of the box, which is why I’m not advising on a specific size.

10. Wrap your box with a final piece of thick rope that divides between the twine and denim, and overlaps the exposed ends of the handles.

Your DIY storage bin from a cardboard box is complete!

What is your favorite way to repurpose cardboard boxes? Comment below!

The post DIY Storage Bin from a Cardboard Box appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

I have a hobby.

It’s called “shopping for craft supplies”.

So unique is it in its nature, that I am willing to drive out quite far to discover new craft stores.

Case in point: our closest Joann store is about a 45-50 minute drive away. And yet, on one glorious day off, I drove all the way out there to see which treasures I might discover.

One such treasure was a remnant of this mustard velvet fabric (they call it gold!) that my 15 year old self would be horrified at. Also, it completely matched my living room.

So I picked it up to make a DIY pom pom pillow for my couch.

My couch, by the way, is an IKEA couch that I got more for practicality than aesthetic, but it’s also piled with throw pillows and begging for more. It’s gray, making it a blank slate.

Now let me tell you a little something about me: while I do sew, I don’t have serious equipment, and I am seriously lacking in patience.

So I tend to do things strategically, rather than professionally – especially since I’m crafting for myself and not to sell.

So here I am, with mustard yellow velvet, and pom pom trim and I’m dreading carefully laying it out so it sits nice ‘n straight, even when I sew. And then I discover that my equipment will not be happy with sewing so many thick layers.

So I do what every good crafter does.

I pull out that glue gun.

And I run with it.

I decided to go with horizontal stripes of pom pom trim instead of working it around the edge (because it’s easier – and hey, it looks good too!)

So the trim is glued, the pillow is sewed. The parts that my machine complained about (where the trim enters the seam) I sewed by hand, and not very neatly.

And no, there is no pattern involved with this DIY pom pom pillow. Why would you need one? You simply cut two squares or rectangles that are a little bigger (1/2 inch taller, 1/2 inch wider) than you want your final pillow to be.

I made this as a complete pillow (and not a cover) because I did not have a spare insert. I upcycled an old throw pillow that was stuffed directly in the fabric (does that make sense?) I pulled out the stuffing and used it for this one.

With that, here’s your how-to…

What you need to make a DIY pom pom pillow:

• Fabric – I used mustard velvet
• Contrasting pom pom trim
• (Optional) glue gun
• Sewing machine (check out my recommendations for the best sewing machines for beginner sewers here!)
• Thread
• Pins
• Hand sewing needle
• Filler

How to make pom pom pillows:

1. Cut two identical squares or rectangles with 1/4 inch seam allowance in each direction.

Lay out your pom pom trim on the good side of one of your halves. If you want you can pin it in place. I placed 3 rows about four inches apart.

2. If you want you can sew your pom pom trim in place, but I did glue mine. I first glued then ends in place, then worked my way through the line of trim. Keep your glue gun set to dispense a thin flow of glue.

3. Keep the pom pom trim side face up, and place the second half of your pillow face down over it. Pin in place.

4. Sew around the edges, leaving an opening big enough to pull the design through and reverse it, as well as to fill you pillow.

5. Turn  your pillow right-side-out, poking out corners as much as you’d like to.

6. If you had trouble sewing over your trim, just stitch it by hand.

7. Stuff your pillow but don’t over-stuff it. Test it by holding the opening closed and distributing the filling.

8. When you’re done, hand-sew it closed.

9. Your DIY pom pom pillow is complete!

Will you be gluing or sewing on your trim? Which room do you plan to make a DIY pom pom pillow for? Comment below!

The post DIY Pom Pom Pillow Instructions appeared first on Moms and Crafters.