Dolls and Blankets

These dolls are a lot of fun to make and personalize them for the child you are making them for! this one is for my sweet neice :) she is turning 1. One day I figure out how to post the patterns on here..and if anyone knows, please inform me! Otherwise you can check it out at Martha Stewart, black apple dolls. I have modified the arms and hair shape a little..so you can make it how you want. Also, I embroidered the face, rather than paint.

This blanket is also for my neice's birthday! it's a 34"x42" with a 2" satin ruffle trim. Minky swirl and cotton. I prewashed the cotton side before I sewed on the minky side...I think this is a good idea, so that the different type of fabrics can be even when made and washed again.

Christmas Card Wreath

You need: 14" embroidery hoop: paint it any color you like or wrap with ribbon with glue.
small clothespins about 3" apart, glue with hot glue. (I alternated the pins facing different directions, but you can have them all going the same way)
4" ribbon tied between each clothespins
Large ribbon for hanging

Next, pin your Christmas cards onto the clothespins!

Puffy Heart Pendant, Window Seat Cover

Fuschia & Pink swarovski puffy heart

I decided my window cill needed a padded cusion bench seat. So I measure it and got working. I bought 2 in thick foam for the seating. I used Amy Butler print fabric and decorative cord for the edge. I also plan on putting a piece of batting on the top for extra cushion. If you are interested in making one and don't know how, contact me :)

There is a free tutorial for the Puffy Heart Pendant! visit http://www.mydailybead.blogspot.com/

You can use swarovski crystals..which I plan to do the next time, but this one I made with plastic beads and it turned out super cute!!

You need about 76 of one color of bead (about 4mm size) and about 37 or so of another color, same size. 100 cm of bead wire (clear) and another 50 cm (2 seperate pieces).

You also need about 10 small silver balls for the bale and about 12in or so of the wire.

About 3 large beads to fill the inside to keep the heart shape :)

Great gifts for Valentines Day!!

Valentines Wreath

I have never decorated for Valentines Day before.. and thought I'd do at least a wreath to celebrate the Love month..haha

Things you need:

about a 10" styrofoam circle form, Ribbon, dried flowers, hot glue, scissors, large paper clip, utility knife, sand paper block, pliers.

This wreath is also found on Martha Stewart, but I did it a little different.

I started out by making a pattern heart from paper to make sure I get an even shaped heart and traced it onto the styrofoam. Then, cut the styrofoam with a large razor blade or something sharp along the lines. Next, angle the blade along the edges to make a beveled edge so you can make a more demensional shaped heart with your flowers wrapping around the edge. Sand the edges to make smooth corners and an even shaped heart.

Stretch out a large paper clip and make a cook the width of whatever size ribbon you use to hang. Make sort of a squared U shape and stick the 2 ends of the paper clip into the form and bed the ends back into the form out the other side with pliers. Glue where the paper clip is instered and comes out on both sides with hot glue to secure it.

Cut off the stems of the slowers to about 1/4" or so there's enough area to glue the flower to the form. Start in one section and work your way around the heart: make sure the edges look even all the way around. I used cockscomb dried flowers here :) (They are hard to find.. ordered them online).

Hang with your favorite matching ribbon and you are ready for Valentines Day!

Grocery bag holder

If you want your holder all one color - 1 piece of fabric, 20 x 25 inches. If you want strips like pictured here, you'll need 6 pieces of fabric, 20" x 5 ".
2 pieces of narrow elastic (1/2", 1/4" wide or smaller). 11 " and 6 1/2 ".
1 piece of ribbon - 14 inches long.
Thread

If you're using strips, sew all of them together along their long sides (a little larger seems than your elastic). Iron all of the seams open.

Then, make a casing for your elastic at each end. Turn over the fabric about 1/4" and then fold it over again a little larger than the size of your elastic. Sew really close to the fold so that your elastic can still fit. Do this to both ends.

Now, thread your elastic through each end and sew each end of the elastic securely to the opening of each end of the casing. Keep in mind, the larger piece of elastic is for the top of your holder (so you can shove many bags in) and the smaller piece of elastic is for the bottom (so that you only pull one bag out at a time).

Next, turn the holder right side out and pin the ribbon (I turned the end under once) into place, about 3/4 of an inch from the top. Sew the ribbon into place several times, making it secure.

Lastly, sew the 2 long sides together, with right sides together and sew other side of ribbon to other side of bag.

Stuff it and Hang it!

Blankets

This is an adult blanket size 72x60 with about a 1 1/2 in ruffled trim (satin). Both sides of the blanket are minky fabric.

First I start off and attach the satin to one of the fabrics on the right side; upside down along the edge and ruffled it as I sewed (raw edges together). First make sure you measure your length of the trim to be double the length of the fabric and pin along the edge so you ruffle evenly.

The corners sew the trim inside out together and flip! very easy.

Once it is sewn along the entire piece of fabric, then you put both fabric pieces right side together and sew 3 sides with the trim inside. Then, flip right side out and turn in the side without the trim and sew along the edge..almost done!

Last, you want to go along the edge and sew at the bottom of the trim to keep it all flat and together. For a blanket this size, you will need to quilt it, so I just hand sewed about every 4 or so inches around the entire blanket to keep it all together and flat. Now you're done!

(I sell these for $150)

Fun Homemade Crayons

These crayons are a blast to make and kids go crazy for them! Use old crayon nubs or soak any crayons with paper wrappers in water for a while to make them easier to peel. I use approximately 6 crayons per muffin tin hole. It is best to heat the wax at about 250 degrees in your oven for 8-10 minutes. Check them at 8 minutes. You will want the colors to just to have melted and still be able to see swirls. If you let them cook to long they ruin.

PS - I have an old rusty half dozen muffin tin that I use for this project so I don't have to worry about cleaning the wax ring that gets left behind from these beauties.