This Blue-inspired pull-top stocking was a special request from a grandma for her granddaughter, and oh boy—this project turned into a funny little story about mishaps, fixes, and middle-child energy! If you’ve ever crafted something and thought, “It’s just not there yet,” you’ll relate.
Let me walk you through how this stocking came together—bumps, laughs, and all!
A Special Request: Where The Bluey-Inspired Pull-Top StockingAll Began 🎁
When a grandma asked me to make three stockings—one sewing and patchwork-themed, one Sonic-inspired, and one Bluey-inspired—I knew I was in for a fun challenge.
What you might not know is that the Bluey stocking was the first one I made, even though it’s showing up as the last blog in this little trio. I wasn’t familiar with Bluey, so I did what any crafter does—I hit Etsy to find some SVG files. I landed on two adorable designs, one for the front and one for the back.
With the SVGs in hand, I knew the colors needed to match Bluey’s iconic look. I pulled out:
• Stampin' Up! Azure Afternoon and Night of Navy cardstock for the base,
• Stampin' Up! Real Red for accents, and
• CTMH Jade for holly leaves I already had on hand. *Can Substitute Stampin' Up! Garden Green
Start with the Basics: General Stocking Construction 🧵
If you’re new to pull-top stockings or curious about how I construct them, be sure to check out my Pull-Top Stocking Gift Card Holder Tutorial for a step-by-step guide. It breaks down the general assembly process, focusing on creating the pull-top mechanism.
Once I had the basic structure ready, it was time to dive into the details—and the mishaps!
Design Space to the Rescue: Santa Hats & Early Mishaps 🎅🎨
Design Space is my go-to tool for visualizing projects before I bring them to life. Whether it’s finding the perfect placement for elements, resizing SVGs, or layering pieces for a cohesive design, this tool makes crafting SO much easier! For this Bluey-inspired stocking, it allowed me to:
• Experiment with ideas: I played around with the Christmas tree and Santa hats to make sure they fit perfectly.
• Save time: I reused the Santa hat I designed for my Grinch stocking—no need to start from scratch! I always start in Cricut® Design Space to visualize my project before cutting anything.
•Avoid mishaps: (Well, Usually!! LOL) Seeing the design on-screen first helps me ensure everything flows together, from the colors to the focal points.
If you’ve ever struggled with visualizing a project or second-guessed yourself, give Design Space a try. It’s a game-changer that saves time, paper, and a whole lot of guesswork!
Now here’s where it gets funny…
I had proudly finished the stockings, snapped some photos, and sent them to the grandma. She loved it! 🎉
But the next day, she messaged me: “This stocking is for my granddaughter Everly, not Oliver.”
Oops. I had somehow mixed up the names! Thankfully, that was a quick fix, but I couldn’t help but laugh at myself. Let’s just say I triple-check names now.
Marsha, Marsha, Marsha! – Why the Bluey Stocking Got a Redesign
After finishing all three stockings (except name change) and lining them up for photos, something about Bluey didn’t sit right. Compared to the sewing-themed and Sonic stockings, this one looked… well, blah. It needed something.
I called the grandma to explain why I wanted to tweak it, and she kept saying, “It’s fine, it’s fine! You don’t have to change it.”But then I found out something important—this stocking was for the middle child.
Cue the iconic phrase from The Brady Bunch: “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!” Poor Jan! I couldn’t shake it. This stocking definitely needed some extra love to make sure everyone felt special—middle child or not! So back to the craft table, I went.
Adding Festive Flair: The “Fixes” That Made It Shine ✨
Here’s what I did to make Bluey sparkle:
• Double-Matted Centerpiece: I layered the Deckled Circle Dies with a double mat—Real Red for the inner mat and White Willow for the outer. This extra pop of red made the Bluey SVG truly stand out!
• Wrapped Gifts & Candy Canes: From the CTMH Home for Christmas Digital Art Kit. Since I’d already used them for other stockings, I just updated the colors to match.
• The original Bluey SVG I planned to use wasn’t printing correctly (don’t you just love it when technology throws a curveball?). So I switched gears, grabbed another adorable Bluey design, and placed them standing in front of a Christmas tree I found in Design Space®️.
• To give the tree that extra holiday sparkle, I used Real Red & White Adhesive-Backed Peppermints as ornaments. It was the perfect finishing touch—sweet and festive!
• Holly Leaves: I tucked in Jade colored holly leaves under the Deckled Circle Die on the front of the stocking and at the top on the cuff to add a bit of dimension and color.
• White Gel Pen Stitching: Faux stitching on the toe and heel gave it that handmade, whimsical feel.
• Snowflakes: Scattered across the stocking using Pool Party cardstock. These added the perfect wintry touch and broke up the darker tones. In the center of the snowflakes, I added RHINESTONE BASIC JEWELS.
• To make this Blue-inspired stocking truly shine, I pulled out my CTMH Clear Shimmer Brush. I added a tiny shimmer dot to the tips of each snowflake, and brushed it along the white cuffs of the Santa hats, the white areas of the Santa jackets, and even the insides of the white Deckled Circle Dies surrounding the characters.
• For an extra pop, I swept a little shimmer onto the red Santa hat on the front—because what’s Christmas without a little sparkle, right? These subtle touches made all the difference, taking the stocking from cute to magically festive!
Suddenly, Bluey wasn’t blah anymore—it was beautiful!
Why Crafting is About More Than Just Pretty Projects 💙
Here’s the thing: This wasn’t just a stocking. It was a gift made with love from a grandma to her granddaughter. Knowing that Everly would smile when she saw Bluey having all of that additional sparkle, made this project extra special.
And that Marsha, Marsha, Marsha! Moment? It reminded me that sometimes, crafting isn’t about getting it perfect the first time. It’s about stepping back, trusting your creative instincts, and giving your project a little extra love when it needs it.
The "Final" Materials List for This Bluey-Inspired Stocking 🎨
Cardstock:
• Azure Afternoon 8-1/2" x 11": Stocking base
• Night of Navy 8-1/2" x 11": Topper
• Real Red 8-1/2" x 11": Toe, heel, topper accents, and tree bulbs
• CTMH Jade: Holly leaves *Can Substitute Stampin' Up! Garden Green
• White Willow 12x12: Circle matting
Dies & Tools:
• Stampin’ Up! Deckled Circle Dies (any circle dies or punches will work)
• Poinsettia Petals Dies (any Ivy leaves will work)
Additional Supplies:
• CTMH Home for Christmas Digital Art Kit: Gifts and candy canes
• Real Red & White Adhesive-Backed Peppermints: Christmas tree bulbs
• CTMH Clear Shimmer Brush: For adding sparkle
• White Gel Pen: For stitching details
• Basic Crafting Tools: Glue, foam adhesive strips, and paper trimmer
Shop the Supplies & Start Crafting! 🛍️
Want to make your own pull-top stocking? Check out my Stampin’ Up! store for all the cardstock, tools, and inspiration you need to get started.
Please Note: Some items used in this project may no longer be available, as many products are seasonal or part of limited-time collections. But don’t worry! Stampin’ Up! offers a wide range of products that can be used as great replacements. Whether it’s finding a similar die, embossing folder, or cardstock color, we’ll make sure you have everything you need to bring your creative vision to life.
Looking for More Inspiration? 🎄
Here are some other pull-top stockings you’ll love:
• Sonic-Inspired Stocking – A colorful take on a holiday favorite.
• Sewing & Patchwork Stocking – Inspired by Sally’s iconic dress.
• Jack Skellington-Inspired Stocking – A spooky twist on Christmas.
Conclusion: Crafting is About Second Chances 🎨❤️
Take a look at the transformation! The original Bluey stocking (left photos) was cute, but let’s be honest—it was missing that extra something. The updated design (photos on the right), with added sparkle, playful details, and a touch of holiday magic, turned out so much better.
Sometimes, stepping back and reimagining a project is all it takes to make it truly shine. Whether it’s fixing a name mix-up or giving every stocking its moment to stand out, crafting is about more than pretty paper and glue—it’s about making memories, sharing stories, and embracing those Marsha moments that make us laugh along the way.
Here’s to creating projects that bring joy and make every recipient feel a little extra special!
Merry Christmas,
April – This Chick Loves Paper
Share Your Creations! 🎉
Have you ever made a project that didn’t sit quite right the first time? Did you redo it? I’d love to hear about it! Share your creations in the Members Gallery and inspire others to trust their creative instincts.
Photo Disclaimer:
All photos and projects are subject to copyright ThisChickLovesPaper.com.
Images @ Stampin’ Up!©
Blog Disclaimer:
The content in this blog is the sole responsibility of April Raine - This Chick Loves Paper as a Stampin’ Up!® Independent Demonstrator. The use of and content of classes, services, or products offered is not endorsed by Stampin’ Up!®.
Learn how to craft a Bluey-Inspired Pull-Top Stocking with this fun, step-by-step guide! From SVG details to festive fixes, this handmade gift card holder is the perfect Christmas craft. | This Chick Loves Paper
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