30% Off SVGs + Dec Blog Hop + FREE File!

Welcome to our December 2022 Creative Team Blog Hop!  The creative team has been working hard on some new projects to share with you that will get you in the holiday crafting mood. We also have a FREE FILE for you! 
This week we have a 30% OFF SALE going on at Lori’s SVG SHOP including ALL digital files and commercial licenses now through Saturday, December 17th ! Be sure to use coupon code: DEC2022 (case sensitive) at checkout in the SVG SHOP
 
To thank you for joining us in the hop today and sharing the hop with your friends, we have a gift for you! TODAY ONLY, You can download this Christmas Tag Santa Claus 2 file absolutely FREE! This is such a darling tag and will so cute labeling your Christmas packages. Be sure to go grab it while you can.  (Simply add the file to your cart, it will be FREE at checkout.)
 
We have some fun new files this week and they are all 30% off this week when you use code DEC2022 in our SVG Shop!  And, as always, my new files are available in the Silhouette Design Store as well. This week I have an awesome new style of card called a 5×7 Grid Pop Up! It’s so easy to put together and it’s super cute when assembled. There are 2 new bundles — Christmas and birthday themed. Check out this quick video showing how it works….
We also have new files from Bella Blvd, Jillibean, Quietfire, SAS, and Sweet Elsie.

***CLICK HERE TO SEE NEW FILES***

And, last but not least… would you like to see what our amazing team has created? Click the links below for some wonderful inspiration. If you get lost come back here to get on track Lori Whitlock, Traci Penrod, Kathy Skou Anita Mulcahey, Brandie AdamsAshley Cook , Marcia Dehn-Nix.  Thanks again for dropping by! Have a GREAT day!

Friday $5 SVG Bundle Ends at Midnight!

This awesome Friday $5 Bundle is available until midnight and when it’s gone it’s gone.  These SVG files can be used with Cricut Explore, Silhouette Studio (with the Designer Edition upgrade), Scan N Cut, and any other cutter that will work with SVG files. Help spread the word by telling your friends and announcing it on social media!

Be sure to pick up this Holiday Cocoa Mug Bundle including 5 SVG files for just $5**!!

 

The cost of this bundle is $5, for $12.45 worth of SVG files, over a 59% savings! But don’t wait, this bundle will only be around until TODAY at midnight!
 
** Because Friday $5 Bundles are already heavily discounted they are not eligible for further discounts including monthly, seasonal and flash sales.

Have a great day!

A New Friday $5 SVG Bundle!

Hi Everyone! Today we have a new Friday $5 Bundle! It will ONLY be available until Midnight Sunday and when it’s gone it’s gone. These SVG files can be used with Cricut Explore, Silhouette Studio (with the Designer Edition upgrade), Scan N Cut, and any other cutter that will work with SVG files. Help spread the word by telling your friends and announcing it on social media!

Now through Sunday, you can pick up this Holiday Cocoa Mug Bundle including 5 SVG files for just $5**!

The cost of this bundle is $5, for $12.45 worth of SVG files, over a 59% savings! But don’t wait, this bundle will only be around until Sunday at midnight!
 
** Because Friday $5 Bundles are already heavily discounted they are not eligible for further discounts including monthly, seasonal and flash sales.

Have a great day!

24 Day Christmas Train Advent Calendar Tutorial

Have you seen Lori’s latest Advent Calendar?  It’s an adorable train run by a sweet little snowman!  I was lucky enough to get to help her put it all together, and I have a tutorial for you today.   A couple of notes… I recommend you use a good quality (at least 80lb) cardstock for the base for sturdiness.  Lori and I both like American Crafts 12×12 cardstock.  I also recommend using a good liquid glue.  I use Zip Dry.  Another good one is Lori’s favorite, Scotch Quick Dry Glue.  You will also need one 12 x 12 piece of chipboard.  This is the one I used.

First, I downloaded my file.  It’s the 24 Day Christmas Train Advent Calendar (SVG, Silhouette).  It’s a big file, with lots of pieces, but its really not hard if you break it down into sections. Lori also has added a number of notes to the file to help.   I started with the little boxes first.  You want to cut 24 of them.

Start by folding all the score lines in the same direction. Fold it into a box shape first gluing the side tab, then folding up the 3 triangle tabs on the bottom of the box and adding adhesive.  Fold the bottom up and you have your box…. now do that 23 more times (lol)

Next I assembled the train base.  The top photo shows the 2 pieces that make up the base.  I started by gluing the extra rectangle to one of the tabs on the “straight” side of the base piece (top right).   It makes up the back end of the box.  I then folded into a box shape.  I glued it together along the long side tab.  Then I folded up the back end of the box.  Lastly I folded up the angled front of the box and glued.

The next part that I assembled is the conductor’s box part of the train.  It’s done much like a box card, with an insert.  I started by piecing together the snowman insert.  There are 2 sides to this piece with duplicate snowmen.  (you want the snowman to show through both windows in the final project)  Add the completed snowmen to each side of the black insert piece.

Next I added the decorative panels to the sides of the conductor box, and glued the 2 pieces that make up the box together along the long tab.

Flip this piece over so you are looking at the “inside”.  You want to add the snowman insert at this point.  I glued one tab in the center of the solid side of the box. (3rd photo)  You want the snowman bottom to be aligned slightly below the window so you don’t see the insert through the window.

Flip the insert to the other side (4th photo) and add adhesive to the other tab.  Fold the conductor box over, securing along the long tab of the box, and pressing the side to make sure the tab is adhered properly to the inside wall of the box.

Fold up the bottom of the conductor box and glue.  Do the same for the top of the box.  Finally, glue the roof squares together for sturdiness and glue to the top of the conductor box.

Next I put all the pieces I made together to form the train.  I started by gluing my 24 boxes together.  You want to glue 2 grids of 4 across, and 3 high.  Put them back to back (openings on either side) and glue.  Once they are all together, Add the white covering panel to the top and one side of the boxes to cover the seams.  Add decorative panels to these pieces (red).
Glue the completed bank of boxes to the base. You want the end you added the cover panel to be on the side of the angled end of the base  and for the boxes to be justified to the straight end of the base. (3rd photo) Then glue the conductor’s box to the back of the boxes and base (along the straight edge).  Make sure the windows are on the sides so the snowman peeks out. (4th photo)
Add the decorative panels to the long and short white pieces that make up the wheel guide as shown. (5th photo) Glue one long and one short strip to each side of the train as shown. (6th photo)  The wheel pieces will stick below the bottom of the train base.
Put together your wheels.  Each wheel is made up of 3 chipboard pieces glued together for sturdiness.  I painted the edges of my wheels white with some acrylic paint.  Next layer the wheel pieces (patterned papers) to finish.  I added some enamel dots to my wheel centers.
Glue the wheels to both sides of the base using the wheel “bumps” as guides.  The bottom of the wheels will align with the bottom of the wheel guides on the red strips.  Let dry completely.

 

There are 3 cylinders that make up the train smoke stack and the vent on the top of the train.  They are all assembled in the same manner.  Above I’m showing how to assemble the train vent piece.  Repeat this process for the other 2 cylinders.

Each cylinder has 3 circles and the notched side piece.  One circle is slightly smaller than the other 2.  Put that one aside.  Next I ran the notched side piece along the edge of my desk to curve it.  It makes it easier to form a circle.  Glue into a circle shape.  Fold down one side of tabs.  Place on a flat surface (tabs folded inside).  Add some glue around the edge of the smaller circle and slide into the tube formed, pressing to the tabs. (3rd photo)  This helps keep the cylinder round when you put on each of the ends.  Add the two remaining circles to the outside of the cylinder, one to the open side and one to cover the tabs on the other side.

Once you have your cylinders formed, glue to the top of the boxes as shown below.

Add the embellishments to the front of the train.  The two circles are each made up of 3 layers of chipboard and a patterned paper cover.  The grill is made up of a black background piece and the grill piece.

To complete the train, cut 24 of the box covering panels, and add to the fronts of the boxes.  Print and cut the included box numbers.  Add to the boxes.

And…done!  I promise you will be so happy with the end results!

All that’s left is to fill each box with a fun little treat!  The boxes are good sized…. they are approximately 2″w x 1.25″h x 1.6″d.  I was able to fit a Hershey Kiss, a Rolo and a Lindt ball in one box.

If you make one, please be sure to tag Lori on Facebook & Instagram, we love to see your creations!

That’s it for me today, thanks for stopping by to peek!

 

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New Essential Christmas Tag Bundle

Just in time for the holidays, I have a fun new Essential Christmas Tag Bundle, which is perfect for your gift wrapping needs!  There are 12 new tags…each also available individually in the Lori Whitlock SVG Shop and in my gallery in the  Silhouette Design Store.  Take a peek…
Christmas Tag Stocking 2 (SVG, Silhouette)
Christmas Tag  Hot Cocoa (SVG, Silhouette)
Christmas Tag Gingerbread 2 (SVG, Silhouette)

Christmas Tag Snowman 4 (SVG, Silhouette)
Christmas Tag Tree 3 (SVG, Silhouette)
Christmas Tag Poinsettia (SVG, Silhouette)

Christmas Tag Penguin 3 (SVG, Silhouette)
Christmas Tag Snowflake 2 (SVG, Silhouette)
Christmas Tag Polar Bear 3 (SVG, Silhouette)

Christmas Tag Present (SVG, Silhouette)
Christmas Tag Santa Claus 3 (SVG, Silhouette)
Christmas Tag Reindeer 3 (SVG, Silhouette)

These designs are simple to assemble, the designs are simply layered.  All of these tags, including the bundle are 25% off this week in the Lori Whitlock SVG shop!

Have a great day!