Hey, crafty friends! It’s Taylor here! Creating handmade gifts for the holidays, incorporating handmade touches in the packaging, and watching a friend or family member as they open the gift is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season! Our “Handmade for the Holidays” Release includes lots of fun new items for creating home decor, gifts, and tags for wrapping. I’m excited to share so let’s take a peek at the new goodies!

Get ready for three days of blog posts (today, Wednesday, and Thursday) featuring a new video each day and inspiration from the TE Creative Team featuring the new products! Also, purchase the Foil It – Simple Tags Collection to get access to an exclusive video class! Check out the details below:

When you purchase the Foil It – Simple Tags Collection (Foil It – Simple Tags Holiday – Sugar Cube, Foil It – Simple Tags Holiday – Toffee, Simple Tags Holiday Layering Stencil set, and Simple Tags die) through Sunday, October 24th, you will get a free exclusive video craft along class with Taylor!

This mini version of our Online Crafty Classes is a great way for you to put your new goodies to use right away making holiday tags at your own pace! Watch the video as often as you like and learn some new tag-making tips and tricks!

Once you complete your purchase, you will receive an email (separate from your order confirmation email) with links to the class video on YouTube.

Although Taylor will recommend extra supplies (ink, foil, embellishments, etc.), you can use anything you have to make these projects uniquely yours!

Hurry! This offer is only valid through 11:59 pm (CT) on Sunday, October 24th, or while supplies last.

Click below to visit the new release products in the TE webstore and then keep scrolling for all of the inspiration!

Heather Nichols joins us today with a video showing how she created these adorable tags and gift boxes. Watch below to see how she made them:

In the video, Heather shows how to cut out and assemble the cute critters from the Critter Clips – Christmas die collection from felt. She adds the critters to tags created with the Pierced Tag Stacklets 2 and Tag Stacklets 2 die collections that are stenciled with the Candy Cane Stripes stencil, stamped with sentiments from the Itty Bitty Sentiments – Holiday stamp set, and embellished with Bits & Pieces – Snowflakes. The gift boxes are created with pre-cut boxes from the Gable Box – Christmas pack. Heather stenciled the boxes with the Polka Party stencil before assembling them and then tied the tags onto the boxes with burlap twine.

Make sure to stayed tuned at the end of the video for a quick how to for adding the felt critters to jumbo paper clips!

Even though these cute critters were originally designed for adding to clips, you can add them to tags, cards, gift boxes, and more! Heather created cute striped tags to add the critters onto and I love how she alternated between the Cherry Pop and Cilantro colors. Tags like these become instant keepsakes for the recipents. You can tuck them into photo albums, use them on scrapbook layouts, or even hang them on your Christmas tree as ornaments!

Heather added her cute tags onto gable boxes. She used the new Gable Box – Christmas pack to create her boxes, adding polka dots using the Polka Party stencil with Sugar Cube ink. The boxes come pre-cut and you just have to decorate and fold to assemble (a high tack adhesive is recommended). The boxes are perfectly sized to add sweet treats, a small gift, or even a gift card!

Now, let’s take a look at all of the new products that are making their debut today, along with inspiration from the TE Creative Team. First up are a selection of products perfect for embellishing your holiday gift wrapping:

You just saw this group of new products in Heather’s video above! Create the cutest Christmas critters using the new Critter Clips – Christmas die collection. The set of Mixed Media dies includes a main body shape that can become a reindeer, snowman, penguin, or Santa tummy. Cut out your critters from felt, cardstock, and more! Add the critters to a jumbo paper clip (the black clips are available in a set of 10) to create cute Christmas clips (a great gift or package embellishment!) or add the critters to cards, tags, and more.

We’ve put together a selection of felt colors that you can use to create with the Critter Clips – Christmas dies. The Critter Clips – Christmas Holiday Felt Bundle includes: 1 sheet each red and gold glitter 100% Wool Designer Felt and 1 roll 100% Wool Felt in Black Licorice, Marshmallow, Carrot, Cherry Blossom, Khaki, and Latte.

Package up holiday treat and gifts in cute gable boxes! The Gable Box – Christmas pack includes 12 precut boxes (4 each of Cherry Pop, Cilantro, and Toffee) that you simply decorate and fold to assemble.

Melody Rupple created the cutest Christmas clips with the Critter Clips – Christmas dies and the various colors in the Christmas Holiday Felt Bundle. She added the critters to the top of jumbo paper clips and they are ready to give as gifts and/or adorn pretty holiday packages. Which of the critters is your favorite? I don’t think I can choose, I love them all!

You can cut out the critters from the Critter Clips – Christmas die collection from cardstock (or other materials) for your projects too. Emily Mydlowski used the snowman and reindeer to decorate the sides of gable gift boxes. The gable boxes are created with the Gable Box – Christmas pack and then Emily added cute little tags tied to the tops of the boxes that are created with the new Itty Bitty Tags dies and Itty Bitty Sentiment stamp set – see below to learn more!

Tie on tiny greetings to your Christmas gift, treats , and more with the Clearly Crafty Itty Bitty Sentiments – Holiday stamp set and Itty Bitty Tags – Holiday dies. The stamp set includes 17 tiny sentiments plus coordinating patterns and holiday icons perfect for creating itty bitty tags for your treats. You can use the sentiments from the stamp set on their own too!

Look at the pretty layered tags that Noriko Fairchild created to top this adorable set of gable gift boxes! The tags start with the bases that are cut out with the Tag Team dies, next are notched strips from the Simple Strips die and vellum snowflakes cut out with the Make a Snowflake dies, and finally on the top are Itty Bitty Tags – Holiday die cuts that are stamped with sentiments from the Itty Bitty Sentiments – Holiday stamp set. The gable boxes are stamped with various background stamps: Jolly Holly Background, Boughs & Berries, and Backstory Christmas.

Tag making has never been easier than with the new Simple Tags products:

Add foiled accents to the tags you create with our Foil It Simple Tags – Holiday panels. Simply top the panel with the foil of your choice and run it through your foiling machine. Foil It Simple Tags – Holiday are sets of 12 pre-printed panels on TE Premium Cardstock (each measures 4.25″ x 5.5″) available in both Sugar Cube and Toffee.

Add color, texture, and more to your foiled tags with the Simple Tags – Holiday Layering Stencil set. This set of two stencils coordinates with the Foil It Simple Tags – Holiday panels. Use the alignment guides on the stencils to add leaves, berries, and holiday lights to the tag designs using ink, glitter paste, and more!

Cut out the tags on the Foil It Simple Tags – Holiday panels with one pass through your die cut machine using the innovative alignment guides on the Simple Tags die.

Heather Nichols gives you a look at the Simple Tags done on both the Toffee and Sugar Cube panels. She foiled the Foil It Simple Tags – Holiday panels using the Gold Shattered Glass Deco Foil, added color with the Simple Tags – Holiday Layering Stencil set with Cherry Pop and Cilantro inks, cut out the tags using the Simple Tags die, added Cherry Pop Tiny Diamonds to embellish the tags, and added burlap twine to tie the tags into gifts. These tags are perfect for mass producing. They come together quickly and you can make a whole bunch in a short amount of time!

The new Snow Squad Die & Clear Combo set includes three winter critters designed to work with our tag die collections. Cut out the pieces to assemble a bear, snowman, or penguin to adorn your tags or add them to cards too! Use the clear stamps in the set to add faces and other details.

Vicki Parson was the lucky winner of a guest design spot from our birthday celebration in September and we’re so excited to have her join us for this release! Vicki used the new Snow Squad Die & Clear Combo set to create this adorable card and tag set. I just love the soft green and peach color combination that she used to create the cute winter scenes. The background is created with the Let it Snow Layering Stencil set and Vicki added glittery snow using white glitter cardstock cut out with the Build a Scene – Rolling Hills dies. I spy an Itty Bitty Tag – Holiday die cut stamped with the Itty Bitty – Holiday stamp set on the penguin tag!

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The next group of products enables you to create cute items you can use to decorate for the holidays!

Create dimensional trees to decorate your home or give as a gift using the Accordion Tree die collection! Cut out the trees from cardstock, fold them in half on the impressed line, adhere the trees back to back to create a 3D tabletop decor, and top with a star. We are also offering walnut wood Tree Trunks that can be adhered to the base of the tree (we recommend using a hot glue gun) to add height to the trees, if desired. The walnut wood tree trunks come in a package of 10.

Emily Mydlowski went all out with a whole forest of trees created with the Accordion Tree die collection! Emily stamped red and green cardstock with the Backstory – Christmas Background and Buffalo Plaid Background stamps, using the same ink and cardstock color for a tone on tone effect. She added the die cut trees to the Accordion Tree Wood Stumps and added stars to the tree tops, some cut out with glitter cardstock. You could add the trees to a Christmas village scene, scatter them around your home, use them as ornaments, and more!

If you’re looking for a fun holiday project to do with the kids, be sure to grab our Deck the Halls Ornament Kit! This kit comes in a resealable pouch and includes everything you need to make a dozen ornaments that can be hung on the tree or tied onto packages for cute personalization! Each kit includes: 12 Birch Wood Ornaments, 12 – 3″ x 3″ stencils, a set of 16 colors of acrylic paint, a set of 9 sponge applicators, Jute twine (3 yds), and an inspiration guide. Limited quantities available.

Additional Birch Wood Ornaments are also available (set of 12 with 3 yards of just twine included.)

Jill Hawkins crafted ornaments with her son using the Deck the Halls Ornament Kit! Here’s a sampling of the ornaments they made – didn’t they turn out cute? Use the stencils to add the details with acrylic paints onto the wood slices to create a snowflake, penguin, snowman, and Santa tummy. These ornaments would be perfect to gift to teachers, grandparents, friends, and more!

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In addition to the holiday items above, we have a few new items to make handmade gift making even easier:

Our Group Text collection is designed to work similarly to our Simple Strips collection so you can stamp one image and use the coordinating Group Text die to instantly cut out 12 sentiment strips. Group Text – Occasions is great for stamping multiple sentiments for card mass production or to create a card set with separate sentiment ready to adhere. The stamp includes 4 each of 3 sentiments: thank you, happy birthday, and thinking of you.

We’ve put together our Stamp & Give Card kits which include pre-cut and coordinated card pieces to create a set of cards for gifting. Simply add a design to the card panels, attach them to the card bases, add ‘ready to adhere’ sentiments, and package them up in a clear card box along with envelopes! Each Stamp & Give Card kit includes: 6 A2 card bases, six card panels, six A2 envelopes, 1 small glassine bag, 1/4 package of TE Foam Sticky Strips, and 1 clear card box. Here is a breakdown of the colors you receive in each of the kits pictured above:

1. Stamp & Give Card Kit – Toffee Rainbow: Fruit Punch, Guava, Peaches ‘n’ Cream, Potato Chip, Mint Julep, and Blue Raspberry A2 card bases (1 of each color); 6 Toffee A2 Layer Panels; 6 Toffee A2 envelopes
2. Stamp & Give Card Kit – Sugar Cube Rainbow: Cherry Pop, Candy Corn, Lemon Meringue, Lime Zest, Cookie Monster, and Jelly Donut A2 card bases (1 of each color); 6 Sugar Cube A2 Layer Panels; 6 Sugar Cube A2 envelopes
3. Stamp & Give Card Kit – Sugar Cube Trio: Guava, Pineapple, and Confetti Cake A2 card bases (2 of each color); 6 Sugar Cube A2 Layer Panels; 6 Sugar Cube A2 envelopes
4. Stamp & Give Card Kit – Toffee Trio: Dijon, Blue Corn, Olive A2 card bases (2 of each color); 6 Toffee A2 Layer Panels; 6 Toffee A2 envelopes

Melody Rupple used the Stamp & Give – Sugar Cube Trio kit along with the In Bloom Cling & Clear Combo set to create this cute set of cards. The sentiments are stamped with the Group Text – Occasions stamp on Guava, Pineapple, and Confetti Cake cardstock to coordinate with the card bases in the set and cut out with the Group Text die. The card set recipient can add whatever sentiment they need onto the cards and send them out with the included envelopes. Melody packaged up the card set in the clear card box, tied is up with a cute bow, and added the ‘a gift for you’ sentiment from the Itty Bitty Sentiments – Holiday stamp set onto a tag from the Itty Bitty Tags – Holiday die collection.

If you enjoy making Designer Dangles earrings, you’ll love giving them as gifts using the Designer Dangles – Pretty Pouch die set. The set includes a die for a folding pocket, as well as one for an earring card that’s perfectly sized to tuck inside. Stamp or decorate the final product and enjoy giving a unique gift in one-of-a-kind packaging!

Jen Shults put the Designer Dangles – Pretty Pouch together with a rustic holiday look! She cut out the pouch from Toffee cardstock stamped with the Wood Plank Background stamp and added a berry branch sprig to the front of the pouch cut out using the Branch Out die collection. The pouch is secured with twine and a tiny tag from the Itty Bitty Tags – Holiday die set and a sentiment from the Itty Bitty Sentiments – Holiday stamp set. Tucked inside the pouch are handmade earrings created with the Knock on Wood – On Point Frames and Designer Dangles – On Point dies.

Join me live for “T Time” at 1pm Central today on the Taylored Expressions Facebook Page. I’ll be sharing an unboxing and closer look at the items in the Handmade for the Holidays release. We hope to see you there – come join in the fun! (Don’t worry, if you miss the live you can always watch the saved broadcast afterward!)

Thank you so much for stopping by today! Make sure you check out the rest of the TE Creative Team and our special guest designer Vicki Parson‘s projects using the Handmade for the Holidays release products – click their faces below to hop to their blogs! Stop back again here on the TE blog on tomorrow for more inspiration, including a video from Emily Leiphart. See you then!