Elf Jet

Are you looking for some gift-making inspiration? Do you have an inkjet printer? You may soon come to see it as your personal Elf-on-a-Shelf!

Here are some things I made for Christmas. Each project makes use of my inkjet printer.

Christmas T-shirts

The kids really loved these shirts mostly because they are personalized with their favorite images. Hayley's has a cover illustration from her much loved "Christmas Puppy" book and Paul Ray's had a dragon which was his "theme" for Christmas. I really had to get creative to help Santa find the other dragon gift Paul Ray wanted - a real dragon's tooth! Couldn't use my inkjet printer to make that one.

Here's what you'll need: Image or photo, blank T-shirt and inkjet T-shirt transfers.

Personal Contact Cards

I made these for my mom and dad. They travel often and meet new people that they want to keep in contact with. These cards give them an easy way to pass on contact information and the photo helps their new friends remember who they are.

Here's what you'll need: Photo, perforated business card paper.

Christmas Cards

Getting a good photo of my children sometimes requires a miracle. With my digital camera I can shoot and shoot and shoot until I get a good one. I set these up to print two on a page. Here's more samples of cards I've made with my inkjet printer.

Here's what you'll need: Photo, Photo paper.

Gift Stickers

I use the same photo from my Christmas cards and make little gift cards. I print these 10 to a page.

Here's what you'll need: Photo, white 2"x4" shipping label paper.

Calendar

I used photos of the kids taken throughout the year and added the calendar at the bottom. I laminated them and put a magnet strip on the back. They ended up a featured item all year long on the refrigerators of family and friends. Everybody remembered our birthdays this year since I highlighted them on the calendar, this year I'll add our shoe sizes ; )

Here's what you'll need: Photos, legal size paper, magnet strip tape, and laminator.

Bows

Okay this one is kinda crazy but I used the same group of photos of the kids I used on the calendar and printed them all over a sheet of plain legal size paper. I cut the paper into 2" strips, looped the strips and stapled them together in the center. I cut a notch (half circle) on both sides in the center of the loops. Then I pulled the loops apart to form a bow.

Here's what you'll need: Photos, legal size paper.

Mouse Pads

A little lame but the computer nerds of the family loved them. I used the same group of photos of the kids taken throughout the year.

Here's what you'll need: Photos, blank mousepad, inkjet T-shirt transfers.

Photos

I printed out my favorite photos and framed them. I made the frames using some of the kid's artwork, but that's another story.

Here's what you'll need: Photo, photo paper.

Pillows

I found fabric sheets made to feed through the inkjet printer (at Joann fabrics and crafts). I used a photo of the kids, Christmas fabric and made a Christmas pillow for the grandmothers. I have more samples of pillows if you'd like to see them.

Here's what you'll need: Printer fabric sheets, pillow insert, photo, clear sealer spray fabric, sewing machine.

If you have any questions about any of these I'd be glad to help, just email me.

There are more ideas for inkjet printer projects on www.printsville.com.