I am so excited to be joining the Home for the Holidays Tour, hosted by Sondra Lyn at Home, for the second year! If you’re just joining in the fun, be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post to check out the other bloggers who have been sharing their beautiful Christmas decor, recipes, and more this week!
Today’s Home for the Holidays theme is Christmas crafts, and I’m going to share how I made this glittery reindeer hoop art! It’s sparkly, festive and perfect for the holiday season!
My mom used to do counted cross-stitch, and I think that’s why I’ve got a soft spot for embroidery hoops and all things cross-stitch related. I haven’t picked up a needle and thread in a loooong time, but thankfully, there’s no need to in order to create this glittery reindeer hoop art! I made this hoop art “wreath” using my Silhouette Cameo and glitter HTV (heat-transfer vinyl). If you don’t have these materials on-hand, you could create a similar piece using felt and an iron-on adhesive.
This was my first HTV project, and it was much easier than I expected it to be. I was nervous that it would be a huge hassle or take forever, but it ended up being a quick project to put together. I think I spent more time searching for the right reindeer design than I did cutting out and ironing the reindeer shape onto the fabric!
Here’s the step-by-step break down:
I started with a Google search for stag/reindeer silhouettes. I found one I loved and imported it into Silhouette Studio (I have V3). Then I traced the image, deleted some extra lines and re-sized it to about 7″ x 8.5″Ā to fit in, but not fill, a 12″ embroidery hoop I’d purchased.
To cut out the reindeer shape: I adjusted the cut settings on my Cameo for Heat Transfer Material (flocked), adjusted my blade, then stuck a piece of red glittered HTV to my cutting mat with the shiny side down. Once it was loaded into my Cameo, it cut in minutes and then I was ready for the ironing stage.
I ironed the wrinkles out of a piece of white cotton fabric, then placed the reindeer shape in the center. For ironing, you want the shiny side of the HTV facing up. I placed an old pillow case over it, then applied my iron for about 45 seconds. Be sure to press down on the iron, but don’t run it back and forth over the design.
Once the glitter HTV had adhered, I peeled away the clear layer and popped the fabric into the embroidery hoop! I had to trim the edges of the fabric once it was in the hoop, and wound up using clear tape to secure it to the back of the hoop. I also considered using hot glue, but I think I may want to re-use this hoop for a non-holiday project and wanted to be able to easily remove the fabric.
I absolutely love the sparkly red glitter HTV! And since I seem to have a thing for reindeer this year, this embroidery hoop art is fitting in perfectly with my Christmas decor!
Many thanks to Sondra Lyn for the Home for the Holidays Tour! There are over 25 bloggers sharing some incredible holiday ideas and inspiration, from gorgeous home decor to delicious recipes!
Welcome to the 2nd annual Home for the Holidays Blog Tour hosted by Sondra Lyn at Home. We have a great week of holiday celebration ideas lined up for you from some of the most awesome bloggers around!
All week, right here, you will be able to tour their homes, taste their delicious recipes, recreate their innovative crafts and even get some new ideas on gifting! Wow, do we have a great week of holiday celebration ideas lined up for you!
Join us each day for inspiration from nearly 30 of the today’s finest blogs!
You’ll see everything from gorgeous decor to yummy holiday recipes… and everything in between!
Home for the Holidays Blog Tour 2015
Monday – Holiday Decor
featuring…
Just a Girl and Her Blog | Lilacs & Longhorns | What Meegan Makes
Windgate Lane | Worthing Court
Tuesday – Holiday Recipes
featuring…
Duke Manor Farm | Graceful Order | Rhubarb and Honey
Snappy Gourmet | The Happier Homemaker | Two Thirty-Five Designs
Wednesday – Mantles and Tablescapes
featuring…
Dandelion Patina | Organize and Decorate Everything | {Home-ology} modern vintage
Sondra Lyn at Home | StoneGable | The Everyday Home
Thursday – Holiday Crafts
featuring…
An Extraordinary Day | Cottage at the Crossroads | Making it in the Mountains
Our Southern Home | 2 Bees in a Pod | Two Purple Couches
Friday – Gifts and Wrapping
featuring…
Addison Meadows Lane | Domestically Speaking | DIY180
My Creative Days | Southern State of Mind | unOriginal Mom
Thank you for joining us for the 2015 Home for the Holidays Blog Tour! I hope you were inspired by something you saw, and you’re ready to tackle your holiday preparations!
And remember…
there’s no place like…
Emily – Your embroidery hoop art is adorable. We too have a thing for deer and your sparkly red silhouette is Christmas perfection! So fun sharing tour week with you! Merry Christmas!
Vicki and Jennifer 2 Bees in a Pod recently posted…DIY Christmas Banner – Be Merry
Thank you ladies! I really have a thing for deer this year; they’re popping up all over my decor š Merry Christmas to you, too!
What a great project! You had me at glitter .;-) My mom used to cross stitch all the time. I need a Silhouette. I love all the projects I see people do with them! It has been fun touring with you this week! Happy Holidays!
Lindsay Eidahl recently posted…Desktop Christmas Countdown :: Thrift Store Swap
I love glitter, too, Lindsay! Maybe Santa will bring you a Silhouette this year š Have a wonderful holiday season š
I love your glittery reindeer hoop art! It looks great displayed with your ceramic Christmas tree!! So glad to have you on board the HFTH Tour again this year!
Sondra recently posted…Holiday Buffet with Mercury Glass
Thank you Sondra! And thank you for organizing another fantastic HFTH Tour! It’s been a wonderful week so far š
Cute!! I’ve never heard of Silhouette Studio! Going to check it out now, thanks!
Lisa Huff recently posted…Gingerbread Cookie Cups Recipe
Thanks Lisa! Silhouette Studio is the design software that comes with the Silhouette cutting machines. They’re wonderful for crafting!
I really need that adorable reindeer in my home! It’s just too cute! I used to spend summers with my grandmother at our lake cabin, and we would always have a cross stitch project going on. Such a great memory! Happy holidays, Emily!
sarah @ {Home-ology} modern vintage recently posted…A Modern Traditional Holiday Fireplace
Thank you, Sarah! Maybe next time I’ll incorporate some cross-stitching into my project š Happy Holidays!
I’m dying over this! Hoop art and glitter are my favorite things ever! I love how clean and simple it is! You can send it my way, it goes perfect with my decor this year. š
Leanne recently posted…Hershey’s Kisses Christmas Countdown
Thank you, Leanne! I love the simplicity, too. At first I was going to add some greenery or something, but I think it’s perfect the way it is!
You can’t go wrong with glitter and a reindeer! š
Maryann @ Domestically Speaking recently posted…Easy Snowball Wreath with Cotton Balls
That’s what I was thinking, too, Maryann š
Wow! Looking awesome! I am in love with hoop art lately š
Helen Gullett recently posted…Advent Reading Resources For You And Family
Thank you Helen!
Love this Emily! So simple but it doesn’t need anything else – the glitter HTV is the star! And I can’t believe you’ve never tried HTV before…are you hooked yet? š I’ve never tried it on anything except apparel before, though, so using it as decor has me intrigued. I think I might have to make one of these this year! Thanks for the inspiration š
Meredith @ unOriginalMom recently posted…Rustic Stained Wood Gift Tags
Thanks Meredith! I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to try HTV, but now I can’t wait to do more with it. I’d love to try it out on apparel next š
oh it’s perfect…and I love the glittery touch. Hope you are enjoying the holiday season.
laura@duke manor farm recently posted…Magical White Christmas Tree
Thank you, Laura! Happy Holidays š
Hi Emily, I sure wish Santa would bring me one of those Silhouette machines! I love your glittered deer in the hoop, and I have some glittered paper that I found at the Dollar Tree store. You’ve inspired me to trace something onto it and then cut it by hand (until Santa makes my dreams come true, that is!)
Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads recently posted…Handmade Gingerbread Boys and Girls
Thanks Jane! These machines are pretty fantastic, but you can definitely replicate this project with a good ole pair of scissors š I hope Santa brings you a Silhouette this year š