I love doing a countdown of my top 10 favorite projects at the end of the year.

#10: 3D LETTERS & NUMBER SHAKERS

Starting with #10 … 3D letters and numbers. If you can believe it, both the 94 and 10k were done in January. Hitting 10k was so momentous for me back in January. I could hardly believe it and now sitting at 31k, I’m feeling …. Well … Sometimes I forget to be happy with my progress because of how often I’ve edited my goals and re-raised the bar… and then missing those elevated goals. I’m sure many of us are in the same boat. So here’s to kicking butt all year long and remembering how kick ass we’ve been the entire year. Who’s with me?

Ok back to 3D letters… my favorite file from Nilmara Quintela on Etsy. I like using Bearly Arts Glue and my hot glue gun with all the pretty papers. This is a wide range of themes - 94 was a birthday order, the 10k represented my top three YouTube videos (the grinch, the little mermaid, and paper flowers with butterflies), and BOO for Halloween. These 3D letters are pretty much perfect for any party decor. If you haven’t tried them, I promise it’s worth it. AND I have a bazillion tutorials…lol.

3D LETTER AND NUMBER SHAKERS - TUTORIAL COLLECTION (DESIGN SPACE, ASSEMBLY, RESIZING & EMBELLISHING!)
3D HALLOWEEN “BOO” LETTERS

#9: mugs

I’ve lost count on the number of mugs I’ve made using the cricut mug press … but I know for sure the number of mugs I’ve made on my heat press with the mug attachment … Z E R O. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂🤯.

Many months later, many projects later … my assessment remains the same. The cricut mug press is soooo fun, easy to use, produces great projects, and I love it!!! It has one button on the machine… anyone can use it. I love using the infusible sheets (you can use the sheets twice by using the negative weeded areas like I did with tennis mom) and I love using my sublimation printer with it (the colors are vibrant and you can see the comparison with my daughter’s drawing of her favorite president 😂😂😂).

CRICUT MUG PRESS REVIEW AND FIRST PROJECTS

#8: HTV Projects: globe mandala, backpack and LOVE IS LOVE T-SHIRT

Heat Transfer Vinyl (aka HTV or iron-on vinyl). So it’s no secret that my favorite HTV is from Poli-Tape It cuts and weeds so easily even for the smallest, most delicate design. And it presses in 3-5 seconds so that it’s practically impossible to ruin your project. You can see that I cut .15 inches and it worked!

I use htv when I want to add a different texture or color (like the mandala project for the details on the frame), when it’s super detailed/delicate and I don’t want to deal with the million pieces in cardstock (like the names for the Halloween marshmallow treats) or … when I need a kickass backpack for me and the mini 😁. I’m super proud of that backpack - it is safe with the reflective paws AND my daughter chose this backpack over the expensive pottery barn kids one for school. High praise lol 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 - check out my story for the finished project ❤️❤️❤️❤️.

Htv can be purchased at Vinyl Outlet - you’ll have to let me know what you think of it ❤️❤️❤️😁.

CARDSTOCK 3D GLOBE MANDALA
DIY BACK TO SCHOOL BACKPACK
DIY LAYERED HTV LOVE IS LOVE T-SHIRT

#7: Gifts - Riley's truck, Haley's snow chalet, and Six

I absolutely love to buy wrapping paper and ribbons, and I love to see the reaction when we show up with the gift ❤️❤️❤️. Hoping to bring some inspiration for those last minute Christmas wrapping fun 🤣😂🤪😁🎄.

COFFEE AND DONUT SHOP BIRTHDAY BANNER
DIY BIRTHDAY BANNER GIFT TOPPER

#6: signs - wedding & celebration of life

I loved that Valerie told me to experiment with gold flakes and to just go for it. Lol. And I absolutely loved how it turned out. My secret to acrylic signs is to draw out the design and use it as a template for the spacing and to ensure the sign is straight. It’s a few extra steps, but it alleviates the stress and pain of having to redo it. 😁.

DIY ACRYLIC WEDDING SIGN
DIY ACRYLIC WEDDING SIGN WITH GOLD FLAKE
DIY LARGE ACRYLIC SIGN

#5: pringles cans

Pringles Can Party Favors! I started making them for the first time the year and absolutely love them. ❤️❤️❤️❤️.

PRINCESS AND THE FROG PRINGLES CAN PARTY FAVORS
LUNAR NEW YEAR WAND AND PRINGLES CAN FAVOR
AMERICAN GIRL PARTY: CAKE TOPPER AND PRINGLES CAN PARTY FAVORS

#4: CUSTOM CHIP BAGS & PARTY FAVORS

Customized party favors. These are soooo easy to make and the MVPs would be: Bearly Arts glue, The Corru-gator paper crimper and photo paper 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻.

CHIP BAG PARTY FAVORS
ALICE IN WONDERLAND CHIP BAG PARTY FAVOR

#3 CAKE TOPPERS

The toppers ranged from simple to crazy … but the common denominators were always using beautiful paper and adding layers.

A few shoutouts:
Mommy Lhey Designs for the beautiful Alice character and flowers;
Bearly Arts- perfect glue for cardstock;
12x12 Cardstock Shop - many of the beautiful cardstock;
Ground Up Creations - the glitter cardstock 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND CAKE TOPPER
LIGHTNING MCQUEEN - CARS CAKE TOPPER
WATER AND BUBBLES THEMED CAKE TOPPER / SHAKER
EVIL QUEEN CAKE TOPPER

#2: wands

These are so fun for parties. They make for great photo opportunities. Add an envelope to the back and you can capture wishes and/or congratulations.

I didn’t have the opportunity to make more of these, but I love the one I made for Rihanna’s graduation. I hope when she looks back at it years from now, she will enjoy the notes from her family and friends.

DIY BABY SHOWER GIFT TOPPER RATTLE / SHAKER
CELEBRATION OF LIFE SHAKERS
LUNAR NEW YEAR WAND

#1: Off the Mat - SELENA, baby frida, TUC avatar, It clown, and Bearly Art

Last day of the countdown of my favorite projects … you knew it had to be Off The Mat … these were my absolute favorites:

❤️ Selena - it was my first time not doing a character;
❤️ Baby Frida - she had so much going on between the rolled 3D flowers, the textured blue line in the dress, swinging earrings… and it was my winning project for a paper crafting contest;
❤️ my avatar - that was a momentous celebration for 25k followers but also it was my time to rebrand with my logo and website;
❤️ It clown - using Poli-Tape luminous htv!!
❤️ Bearly Art bear - lots of depth and swivel hearts

OFF THE MAT: FRIDA
OFF THE MAT: SELENA
CUSTOM OFF THE MAT AVATAR
OFF THE MAT: PENNYWISE - IT
OFF THE MAT: BEARLY ARTS “GLITTER BEAR”