DIY Balloon Drop - 2025

 

Star Balloons are all from Party City (closing February 2025) so I'm on the look out in 2025 for the next best place to get high quality balloons. Everything else I used other MAKE our balloon nooner drop.

Gold string

Gaffer Tape

Air Balloon Pump

White Vinyl or Sticker Numbers

Silver Backdrop (cut off top + hang over string)

Video demo on how-to MAKE this can be seen here.

Full disclosure: I highly encourage adult supervision (as shown in the video) as this balloon drop has a few strings in it and depending on how you like to do "balloon drops" (by either standing right underneath or in front of) I want you and loved ones to be safe. We've never had an issue though I value being safe and having fun!

Warmly, Steph 

DIY Gift Toppers That Wow

And the best part? It's simple enough to MAKE with kids this holiday season!

Step 1: Step up your 2.0 Cheeks Brand craft mat by placing paint brushes in the clean cup attachments (to the right) and water in the dirty cup (to the left). Then add desired arcylic paint to the pallet and setup your first wooden piece

Step 2: For 3D wooden pieces such as the Tree here. I used gaffer tape in the shape of a "triangle" around its base to help stay in place for my youngest for when she goes to paint.

Step 3: Let them paint!

Step 4: Next, we let our painted pieces sit for about 20 minutes (with the fire place on) and then used glitter glue and another clean paint brush from the clean cup attachments for really MAKING our painted shapes shimmer.

Step 5: As the glitter glue drys, detach and rinse all add-on magnetic pieces leaving your base of the 2.0 craft mat for the final MAKING step. Done by "you!" The parent. 

Step 6: Glue gun the top of a clothes pin and then secularly press the decorated wooden shape on.

Step 7: Once dry, we could then add clip on our DIY gift toppers to the center part of each bow for a few packages I wrapped this past week. 

That's it!

All supplies you’ll need to MAKE these:

Wooden Ornaments 3D

Wooden Ornaments 2D

Acrylic Paints (this my fav first set to recommend!)

Paint Brushes 

Painting Smock (for kids)

2.0 Cheeks Craft Mat (New design allows you to take off the attachments)

Gaffer Tape (for 3D pieces)

Gold Clothes Pins

Glue + Glue Gun

Not only are these super fun for kids to paint though I love that we turned them into useful "wow" accents to our gifts this year for family and friends. Duo craft activity x gift. Win-win!

Happy MAKING! I can't wait to see your pretty presents all dressed up

Warmly, Steph

This post was sponsored by CHEEKS Brand though the thoughts, opinion, and the this craft design is 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands which support the Mama Jots brand! 

 

Christmas Crafts Round-Up

Almost all of these projects have supplies list (including links to exact things I used). If you have any questions when you go to MAKE. Let me know!

DIY Bow Garland For Tree

https://www.mamajots.com/2023/12/diy-bow-garland.html 

DIY Bow Ugly Sweater

https://www.mamajots.com/2024/11/diy-ugly-bow-sweater-made-sweatshirt.html 

Gingerbread School House Gift Bag

https://www.mamajots.com/2023/11/diy-teacher-gift-card-holder.html

DIY Gingerbread Teacher gift card holder

https://www.mamajots.com/2024/11/gingerbread-handmade-gift-card-holder.html

Santa 2-sided photo gift ornament

https://www.mamajots.com/2024/11/christmas-handmade-ornament-x-gift-from.html

Snowman/girl 2-sided photo gift ornament 

https://www.mamajots.com/2023/11/kids-craft-x-photo-gift.html 

Kids Gingerbread House Night Light

https://www.mamajots.com/2023/11/diy-gingerbread-night-light-kid.html 

Kids Craft Kits (Santa + Rudolph - Etsy/Mini Maker Design CO)

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MiniMakerDesignCo?ref=shop_sugg 

DIY Snowman Gift Card Holder 

https://www.mamajots.com/2023/11/diy-teacher-gift-card-holder.html

Candy Cane Gift Box

https://www.mamajots.com/2024/11/candy-cane-christmas-gift-wrap-idea.html

Cardboard Box Snowman/gal

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzT4lwgLH2J/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 

Faux DIY Ornament Count Down to Christmas

https://www.mamajots.com/2023/12/diy-faux-ornament-x-kids-advent-calendar.html 

Happy MAKING! 

Warmly, Steph

All That Shimmers + Glitters✨DIY Craft Kit (Minus Glitter!)

 

Sometimes DIY is the only way to go and a "All That Shimmers +Glitters Craft Kit" is certainly one✨Restocking my girls art and  craft supplies with some very intentional glitter, glitz and shimmer tools for creating and making. Including an upgraded storage box in the name of glitter, shimmery and sparkle. 

What I use to MAKE these DIY Craft Kits?

Glitter Craft Storage Box

Glitter Crayons 

Glitter Pens

Glitter Watercolor Gel Markers

Glitter Scissors

Reindeer Bead Kit

Gingerbread Bead Kit

Glitter Glue Sticks

Glitter Felt Sheets

Then I personalized each bin with vinyl letters + stars.

Happy MAKING! 

Warmly, Steph 

Candy Cane Christmas Gift Wrap Idea

Flipped a "J" into candy cane gift wrap magic as this is just the right size for a mini kids craft kit (or any theme you want really!) and can't wait to share a few more fun ideas I have for gifting coming soon : )

Supplies to MAKE your own candy cane gift wrap box

"J" shaped bin (mine is from hobby lobby though you can also get it here)

Tissue paper (purple, pink)

Purple paint tape (red here)

Washi tape glitter

Washi tape colored

Can’t wait to see all your DIY candy cane gifts this season.

Happy Making!  Warmly, Steph

Arts + Crafts Gift Guides For Kids

Reindeer Bead Kit

Glitter Pink Craft Storage

Purple + Key Lock Journal

1.0 or 2.0 Craft Mats (best brand on the market!) for 2.0 version on Amazon apply promo code: 1010CRVMJ24 on there for 10% off of the already 15% off Black Friday early deals. Just for our community! : )

Bath Bomb Kit

Wooden Paint-Me Gingerbread Kit

Thin Pastel Markers 

Glitter Glue Pens (soft + easy to use!)

"Just Add Glitter" book

Gel Watercolor Crayons

Wooden Paint-Me Gingerbread Kit

Gingerbread Bead Kit

Glitter Dark Pink Craft Storage

Scalloped Kids Easel 

Play Dough (soft + pretty colors -my girls fav!)

1.0 Craft Mat (best brand on market! + this version has all attachable parts) 

Curated this year's guides to include a mix of brands we (my girls and I) LOVE as well a few fun new new releases from them that I plan on giving myself! 

Next, I have SUPER fun new way to wrap and give a handful of these items coming up on social media soon.... Snag what you want, need + LOVE now then be on the look out for a creative way to wrap a few of them!

 : )

Warmly, Steph 

DIY Ugly Bow Sweater MADE "Sweatshirt"

 

🎄Ugly sweater, but MAKE it. sweatshirt cute! ✂️✨Originally was thinking of MAKING something crafty and tacky for a family friendly ugly sweater party, but now I’m over here considering wearing it to the grocery shopping and for family Christmas movie nights. Yes, I just might.

Want to MAKE one for your own holiday event?

Here's everything I used to MAKE it.

Blank white sweatshirt

Iron on vinyl gold glitter

Scissors 

X-Acto knife (highly recommend for the making gold bows!)

Iron 

Various ribbon textures + colors (teal,  purple,  silver,  glitter pink)

Merry MAKING!🎄✂️✨

Warmly, Steph

Christmas Handmade Ornament x Gift From Kids

 The ultimate gift for Grandparents - handmade, photo of kids + holiday decor. Each year we keep hearing that grandparents truly love and appreciate any of the above though adore how we MAKE and create something which fits all 3. So this past weekend, we did just that.

Santa face is a two sided Christmas handmade ornament featuring our kids (and now yours too!) darling smiles. Just another way you can "give" those school photos out too : )

What I used to create + MAKE this design?

Wooden Ornament 

Photo of Kids (school pic, family pics or summer photo enlarged?)

High Quality Scissors

Mod Podge 

Felt (pink, purple)

CHEEKS 2.0 Craft Mats - Available on Amazon! AND you can use promo code: 1010CRV2MJ24 on there for 10% off of the already 15% off Black Friday early deals. Just for our community! : )

Glitter fabric felt (white, teal, gold)

Felt Glue

Glue Gun

Yarn (teal, pink, white, purple)

Pom-pom maker (used smallest size)

Acrylic Paint (brown, white, pink, black)

Q-Tips

Silver Glitter Ribbon

Directions:

Step 1: Apply 1 coat of Mod Podge on your wooden ornament then place your photo of top. Apply one more layer of Mod Podge on top of the photo to seal it. Let dry.

Step 2: Mix together brown and white acrylic paint to get your desired skin tone color choice in the mixing containers (far circle containers) on 2.0 Cheeks Craft Mat.

Step 3: Paint one full blank side of the wooden ornament with your mixed acrylic paint color.

Step 4: Using Q-Tips, dab on small black circles for the eyes. Then another Q-Tip for the nose. Let dry.

Step 5: Trace your wooden ornament with a pencil on top of two pieces of felt stacked. Then Cut .5 inches away (out from) the traced lined for your santa hat. You should have two pieces total 

Step 6: Cut up in a rectangle shape on one side and then all the way 2/3 and across to make your Santa hat shape.

Step 7: Taking cardboard, cut and measure the length of one rectangle piece and double it to fold in half for the both sides of the hat trim. Tie a knot on the cardboard with yarn. Then wrap all the way around it.

Step 8: Glue the yarn rectangle piece you just made onto your 2 felt Santa hat pieces mirroring each other (leaving the end of the hat open/non-glued) so you can pull it through on top to fall down on his face.

Step 9: Glue gun a pom-pom to the end of your Santa's hat.

Step 10: Trace the bottom portion of Santa's face for the bread. 

Step 11: Cut your trace line in scalloped pattern. Then cut 2 small rounded diamond shapes for the mustache. Glue gun all pieces onto painted acrylic side (Santa Face).

Step 12: Glue gun hat to painted acrylic side (Santa Face) and then flip to see child wearing Santa hat!

Then, If you and your kids decide to MAKE this, feel free to tag either Nicole (@cheeksbrand) or I! STEPH @mama.jots and we'd be delighted to share your take! 

Warmly, Steph 

This post was sponsored by CHEEKS Brand though the thoughts, opinion, and the this craft design is 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands which support the Mama Jots brand!