Easter Eggs Past and Present

One of my favorite things to do around Easter time is decorate eggs! You might have caught my recent Twitch stream where I created some for this coming holiday. You can watch it HERE.

Back in 2014, I had one of my most productive Easter egg-making years when I decorated one a day for 20 days leading up to Easter. I used a different style for each day, and had fun finding different ways to photograph them as well. I even submitted one to a Martha Stewart decorating contest on social media (the quilt-inspired one seen in the slideshow below) and it was featured in the final round of voting!

I’ve experimented a little throughout the years. Once, I painted Cadbury mini eggs with food coloring—so cute! I added rhinestone embellishments another time. Last year, I tried my hand at carving an egg shell with a Dremel tool. I have yet to master that, haha. Most of those have ended up cracked and ruined.

Although I would love to one day learn some of the traditional methods of decorating Easter eggs, such as the Ukranian process of pysanka, I mostly stick to just using markers and pens. It’s easy, quick, and not as messy as dyes and paint. If I use water-based markers, they blend very well but I do have to be careful not to touch with wet hands or risk smudging. Once in a while, I blow out real eggs, but have lately resorted to fake craft eggs—again easier, and also more durable. My kids got ahold of some of my past Easter eggs I had saved and smashed them to bits. Sigh.

For a closer look at the eggs I made this year using brush markers, go to THIS POST.

Anyway, enjoy the slideshow of some of my past and present Easter egg designs!

—Nicole

You might also enjoy some of my recent spring and Easter products…

Last-Minute Holiday Crafts

I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas! I was recently introduced to the word “pro-craft-inating.” I believe there are several possible definitions. Sometimes you decide not to buy gifts because you want to give something handmade—but then you leave it till the last minute and suddenly realize you have to get going if you want to get it done in time. Or maybe you have lots of important things to do, but instead of getting those done, you spend an afternoon crafting. I am guilty of both this year, LOL.

While I do have some work to do, none of it is urgent, so I’m trying to slow down this holiday week. I’ve been wanting to make more ornaments this year. I guess today is as good a day as any. I made some simple gingerbread-inspired ornaments out of cardboard. I created and cut out cardboard shapes with my Cricut and drew on them with a white gel pen. Easy peasy, and super cute.

If you are a procraftinator like me and think these look like fun, here are some free cut files for you to have fun with! Some tips…

• I made these with recycled cardboard/box board (i.e., cereal boxes, cracker boxes, etc.).

• I found these work best with the Cricut Explore Air (or Maker). I couldn’t find good settings with the Cricut Joy that would cut all the way through the cardboard. I used the Custom/Light Chipboard setting with pressure set to More.

• No cutting machine? These shapes are simple enough that you can print out the PNG shapes to use as a template for cutting by hand.

• To make them sturdier and double-sided, cut two of each shape and glue the wrong sides together.

• I’ve provided both PNG and SVG files. Most cutting machines take SVGs. There are two versions of each—the ones labeled as “ornament” include holes to hold strings, while the others are just the shape.

• I used a white gel pen to decorate, but feel free to get creative with other colors and materials!

Download here:

GINGERBREAD SVG/PNG CUT FILES

(Personal use only please)

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Nicole

Free Snowflake SVG Files

‘Tis the season for holiday crafts!

Here’s a fun little freebie for you—four snowflake SVG cut files. Use them to make a snowflake banner, decorate Christmas cards, or however you like.

As you may have noticed, I’ve been obsessed with using my new Cricut Joy lately, so the SVGs are sized so that two can fit on a small Cricut Joy mat, but the files can be used on any cutting machines that are compatible with SVGs and can be resized to suit your needs. The download also includes high resolution PNGs.

DOWNLOAD SNOWFLAKE SVG AND PNG FILES HERE or click the image above.

(Personal use only, please. Do not redistribute, resell, or use in branding or commercial products for profit.)

If you’re looking for more Cricut crafts, be sure to check out my Cricut Joy insert card holiday sets and more in my Etsy shop as well!

Enjoy!

Nicole