💀 What’s this? What’s this? A stocking full of flair!
💀 What’s this? A gift card hiding there!
💀 What’s this?! A Sally-inspired DIY so hauntingly fun!
🎃✨ That’s right, my fellow crafters—we’re stitching together some serious magic today! Inspired by everyone’s favorite Halloween Town seamstress, Sally, this Nightmare Before Christmas pull-top gift card holder is packed with whimsical patchwork details, bold colors, and eerie elegance!
🖤 Perfect for:
✔ A Tim Burton-loving friend
✔ A crafty sewing enthusiast
✔ A Disney die-hard who loves Nightmare Before Christmas
✔ Or ANYONE who appreciates handmade surprises with a spooky-cute twist!
With stitched details, layered embellishments, and a pull-top surprise, this stocking isn’t just a craft—it’s an experience! So grab your cardstock, Cricut®, and shimmer brushes, because we’re about to stitch up some serious magic! 🧵✨
DIY Nightmare Before Christmas Sally-Inspired Pull-Top Gift Card Holder: What You Need
Before we jump in, gather your supplies! Here’s the “recipe” for bringing Sally to life:
•Cardstock:
• Basic Black 12x12 Two-Tone Cardstock: Stocking base, cuff, zig-zag seams, heel & toes,
• Pretty Peacock, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock (or Sundance-CTMH): Patchwork pieces
• WHITE WILLOW 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) CARDSTOCK: Deckled Circle die cuts
• Stampin’ Blends:
• Azure Afternoon, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Smoky Slate Pool Party (Light & Dark for all)
• Dies & SVG Files:
• Deckled Circle Dies: Heel, toe, centerpiece
• Design Space®️ SVGs: Sally’s face, needle, scissors, thimble, spool, “To & From” banners, zig-zags
• Poinsettia Petals Dies: Holly leaves (in brushed silver foil)
Inks & Embellishments:
• Balmy Blue Classic Stampin’ Pad for edging
• WINK OF STELLA GLITTER BRUSH or CTMH Clear Shimmer Brush: Add sparkle to Sally’s hair
• Brushed Silver Foil: For metallic accents like scissors and needles
• White Gel Pen: Hand-drawn stitching details
• Ribbon: For the stocking loop (I used WHITE 3/8" (1 CM) FRAYED GROSGRAIN RIBBON)
Stitching the Plan: Start with the Design
Design Space - My Crafting Blueprint!
Every great craft begins with a vision! Using Cricut®️ Design Space, I mapped out my project. While the final design might evolve as I work, seeing it on-screen helps bring my ideas to life. I think of it as my crafting blueprint.
Pro Tip: Print your SVG files in black and white. Use your Stampin’ Blend Markers to color them. Coloring them yourself will add depth and dimension that you don’t usually get from an SVG file!
💜 Patchwork Perfection: Crafting Sally’s Signature Look, Step by Step
It’s all about that patchwork charm! Follow these steps to recreate Sally’s iconic style:
Bringing Sally to life with patchwork charm, sewing-themed embellishments, and holiday sparkle!
1. Create Your Patchwork Template
The foundation of your patchwork masterpiece starts here! Cut a stocking base into your desired shapes and sizes to create a custom patchwork template. Don’t worry about precision—patchwork is all about charm, not perfection!
2. Cut, Cut, Cut!
Bring your patchwork to life by cutting shapes from Pretty Peacock, Melon Mambo, and Pumpkin Pie (or CTMH Sundance) cardstock. Use your template pieces created in the step above as guides to ensure your shapes fit perfectly. These bold, colorful cardstock choices will make Sally’s signature patchwork pop!
3. Lay It Down
Arrange your cut pieces on a Basic Black cardstock stocking base. Remember, this step is all about positioning—no adhesive just yet!
4. Zig-Zag It
Cover the seams with black zig-zag strips to mimic a stitched effect. These can be cut from Basic Black cardstock using an SVG file in Design Space®️ and a Cricut®️.
5. Once everything is in position, glue it down!
6. Double The Fun
Repeat steps 1–4 for the back of the stocking to create a seamless, double-sided design.
🖤 “Put your completed stocking pieces on standby—they’re about to come to life! Next up, the magic-making details
Stitching the Details: Bringing Sally’s Stocking to Life 🖤
With the patchwork base complete, it’s time to add some signature stitched charm!
✔ Cut two cuffs from Basic Black cardstock—this will give your stocking that classic finished look.
✔ Hand-drawn stitching: Use a white gel pen to add whimsical stitch details to the cuffs, toe, and heel—just like Sally’s dress!
💡 Now that you’ve prepped your stocking pieces, it’s time to assemble them and create the interactive pull-top mechanism! 🎁 Head over to the [Pull-Top Gift Card Holder Tutorial], where I walk you through the full construction step by step. Then, come back here for the finishing touches that make this Sally-inspired design truly magical!
🖤 DIY Holiday Crafts: Embellishment Magic
Now that your stocking is assembled, it’s time to bring the details to life! These embellishments will add dimension, character, and that signature Sally-inspired charm! 🎃✨
🔪 Die Cuts: Crafting the Perfect Layered Details
To create a bold, dimensional look, we’ll use the Deckled Circle Dies for key design elements:
✔ Basic Black Cardstock:
• Cut one 3” x 3” circle for the background centerpiece on the back of the stocking.
• Cut two 2-3/4” x 2-3/4” circles for the front and back heel & toe pieces.
✔ White Willow Cardstock:
• Cut one 2-3/4” x 2-3/4” circle to layer inside the black background centerpiece (back of the stocking).
✨ Pro Tip: Layering contrast colors makes these die cuts pop, adding depth and visual interest!
🖤 SVG Files: Customizing Your Spooky Stocking
Now, let’s add the signature Sally details! You can keep the pre-colored versions or print them in black and white to color yourself using Stampin’ Blends! 🎨
🖤 Here’s what you’ll need to print and cut:
✔ Sally’s Face – You’ll need two:
• One for the stocking
• One for the cuff
💡 SVG Link & Measurements: A direct link to my Design Space®️ file will be added here so you can grab the exact measurements I used!
✔ Sewing-Themed Details:
• Buttons
• Spool of thread
• Scissors
• Needle & thimble
✔ Sentiments & Banners:
• “To & From” banners
• “Merry Christmas” sentiment (Create in Design Space®️ or use stamps & dies you already have!)
✨ Pro Tip: Want a custom look? Print your SVGs in black and white, then color them with Stampin’ Blends for a perfectly matched, hand-drawn feel!
🖤 Metallic Shimmer: Adding a Touch of Haunted Elegance
For a luxurious, eerie shimmer, let’s add some brushed silver foil!
✔ Cut metallic embellishments like:
• Scissors
• Needles
• Thimbles
✔ Festive Sparkle:
• Add holly leaves using the Poinsettia Petals Dies for a touch of holiday magic!
✨ Pro Tip: Don’t have a stamp set small enough for the banners? Let your Cricut®️ do the work! Design Space®️ makes it easy to create custom tiny details for any project!
💀 Bringing Sally to Life with Stampin’ Blends Magic! 🎨✨
If you print your SVG files in black and white, use Stampin’ Blends markers to add rich, dimensional color. This technique allows you to match your cardstock perfectly and gives your embellishments a seamless, hand-colored look!
Here’s the color breakdown for my Sally-inspired stocking:
✔ Azure Afternoon – bow accents
✔ Melon Mambo – bow accents
✔ Pumpkin Pie – Sally’s hair
✔ Daffodil Delight – Subtle color pops mixed with Puppkin Pie
✔ Smoky Slate – bow accents
✔ Pool Party – Sally’s skin
💡 Pro Tip: Blend light and dark shades together for extra depth! This makes Sally’s patchwork pop and gives her that hand-sewn, stitched-together charm!
Assembling Sally’s Signature Look: Flawless Alignment Between the Cuff & Stocking 🎃🖤✨
Now that our stocking and cuff are ready, it’s time to bring Sally to life—with precision! Since part of her head and bow spans across both the cuff and the stocking, we need to carefully place, cut, and layer our pieces for a seamless final look.
1️⃣ Anchor the Merry Christmas Sentiment First!
Before we attach Sally, we need to adhere the ‘Merry Christmas’ piece in the top left or right-hand corner of the cuff, just inside the hand-drawn stitching. Which side you glue it on depends on the placement of your loop of ribbon. You want the sentiment to be in the opposite corner.
• Why? Because the leaves will be positioned around the lopp. Once the sentiment is in place on the opposite side, Sally’s bow will be slightly underneath it in the next step.
2️⃣ Position & Partially Adhere Sally’s Bow & Head
• Lay Sally’s bow and head on the cuff to align her design properly.
• Adhere only the right side of her head and bow onto the cuff.
• Leave the top side of the bow with the loop unglued for now! This will allow us to tuck in the silver holly leaves later.
3️⃣ Trim the Overhang
• Once Sally’s head is positioned, carefully trim off any excess overhang along the cuff’s edge for a clean, polished look.
🖤 Ensuring a Seamless Pull-Top Design
Now that the cuff and stocking are prepped, it’s time to create a seamless transition for Sally’s design when the pull-tab is opened! This extra step makes all the difference, ensuring there’s no awkward gap when the stocking is in full display.
1️⃣ Insert the Pull-Top Mechanism:
Slide the pull-tab into the stocking so that it is fully closed. This step helps you perfectly align the next piece.
2️⃣ Align & Attach the Cut-Off Cuff Piece:
Take the trimmed portion of Sally’s cuff (the piece you previously cut off) and position it exactly where it should sit within the stocking design. Once perfectly aligned, adhere it directly to the stocking.
3️⃣ Remove the Pull-Top Mechanism:
Now that the cut-off piece is secured in place, carefully slide out the pull-tab mechanism to keep it protected while moving on to the next step.
4️⃣ Double-Up Sally for a Seamless Look:
Take the second Sally SVG and adhere it directly over the first Sally on the stocking, aligning it perfectly. This layered technique ensures that when the pull tab is lifted, Sally extends up the stocking instead of revealing a space.
5️⃣ Trim the Overhang:
You’ll notice that part of the second Sally SVG extends past the top of the stocking—trim it so that it is flush with the stocking’s edge.
🖤 Adding the Final Embellishments: Stitching Up the Details! 🖤
Now that our Sally-inspired stocking is fully assembled, it’s time to add those finishing touches that make this project a showstopper! Follow these steps to bring it all together with depth, detail, and just the right amount of shimmer magic! ✨🧵
🔹 Step 1: Adding Flat Embellishments
✔ Attach the toe and heel pieces to the front of the stocking as shown in the photo. Trim any excess for a clean finish.
✔ Position your sewing-themed embellishments—spool, scissors, needle, and button—and adhere them in place.
✔ Once dry, flip the stocking over and repeat, lining up the toe and heel pieces with the front for a seamless design.
🔹 Step 2: Creating the Back Focal Point
✔ Ink up the edges of your white Deckled Circle using Pool Party for a subtle pop of color.
✔ Adhere the sewing machine embellishment to the center of the circle.
✔ Insert the pull-top mechanism into the stocking before positioning and adhering the Deckled Circle to the stocking’s back.
✔ Add extra sewing embellishments
around the base of the sewing machine for added detail.
🔹 Step 3: Adding Sentiments & Final Embellishments
✔ On the cuff—add a sentiment label on the left-hand side, with a small “To” label positioned underneath.
✔ On the stocking—add the “From” label next to a silver brushed foil needle (cut using Cricut).
🔹 Step 4: Holly Leaves & Bow Finishing Touches
✔ Secure the silver holly leaves under Sally’s bow and glue down the remaining section of the bow.
✔ Flip to the back of the stocking, align another set of silver holly leaves, and top them with a button embellishment for a polished look.
💡 Final Flourish: Add a Hauntingly Perfect Touch of Sparkle!
✔ Use a CTMH Clear Shimmer Brush to add subtle shimmer to Sally’s hair and the sewing machine embellishment. It’s the perfect finishing touch for that magical, stitched-together holiday glow! ✨
🎃 And just like that—your Sally-inspired stocking is stitched to perfection! 🎃
From the hauntingly fun patchwork design to the interactive pull-tab magic, this stocking isn’t just a holiday craft—it’s a Halloween Town masterpiece! Whether you’re gifting it to a fellow Nightmare Before Christmas fan or keeping it as a handmade keepsake, one thing’s for sure—this project is SEW much fun to make!
✨ So tell me—who’s getting a Sally-inspired stocking from YOU this year? Let me know in the comments! 🎃🖤
🧵 Explore More Spooky-Cute Handmade Holiday Inspiration!
👻 Love this project? Here’s more magical inspiration to keep the creativity going!
💀 SHARE YOUR CRAFTY CREATIONS!
🖤 Did you make your Sally-inspired stocking? I’d LOVE to see it! Share your project in the Members Gallery and spread some spooky crafting cheer together! 🎃✨
🖤 Have a different take on this design? Tag me on social media so we can all be inspired by your creative spin!
📌 Let’s build a crafting community as magical as Halloween Town itself!
Winter Wishes & Happy Crafting!
From my crafting corner to yours, may your holidays be full of creativity and joy.
April – This Chick Loves Paper
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All photos and projects are subject to copyright ThisChickLovesPaper.com.
Images @ Stampin’ Up!©
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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!®.
💀✨ “Stitch together some serious crafting magic with this Sally-inspired pull-top gift card holder! Inspired by ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas,’ this DIY tutorial walks you through creating a one-of-a-kind, interactive stocking featuring patchwork details, stitched edges, and hauntingly fun colors! Perfect for spooky season gifting or Disney-inspired crafting—this is one surprise that’s worth unwrapping! 🎃🖤✨
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