Oh, and the RSS feed for these posts is here, the mailing list is over there on the right, and I’m also on Facebook here. I’d love to be friends.

So when I left for Idaho last week (to manage a couple concerts for singer-songwriter Mindy Gledhill) Utah was cold and gray. But when I came back, everything was green. The formerly brown mountains looked like they belonged in Ireland. Okay, maybe not Ireland (wishful thinking) but you know what I’m saying. The lifeless, spindly trees that I’d watched disappear in my rear-view had, within a matter of four days, sprouted blossoms and leaves. Green leaves! Spring sprang and what a welcome sight it was.

And so it feels only appropriate that I share a happy, flowery, colorful craft with you today. Que the Spring Wreath. Here’s how you can make your own:

Supplies: 1 14″ straw wreath . 5 strips (3 to 4″ wide, 45″ long) of colorful fabric . super moss . 2 crocheted doilies . embellishments (birds, flowers, lace, ribbons, etc.) . hot glue gun . scissors

Steps:

1. Wrap the fabric strips around the wreath, securing with hot glue.

2. Hot glue one doily to the wreath.

3. Hot glue the moss to the wreath, overlapping the doily.

4. Hot glue the 2nd doily, overlapping the moss.

5. Add embellishments. I used singed fabric flowers (see my tutorial here), a craft bird and pink lace tied in a bow. You could also use butterflies, rolled fabric rosettes (see my tutorial here), beads, buttons, pearls, or ribbon. There’s no right or wrong way to embellish.

6. Tie a ribbon to the top and hang.

All done! Seriously easy craft.

**For an added measure of fun if you have children … add a small gift box to the wreath. Doll it up with ribbon and lace and leave presents inside for your kids “from” the fairies and gnomes that live in your garden. Just little things like gemstones or shells or pebbles or butterfly wings. The kids will be so excited to see what surprises await. Heck! I kind of want to leave mySELF presents from the fairies!

Have fun! I hope you take some time to be creative today.

p.s. in honor of the sunny warmth we’re enjoying here today please enjoy one of my favorite songs:

So welcome to any new readers who found me via Good Things Utah! I’m Krista, a photographer, writer, and sometimes publicist/marketer. This site is where I share my pictures and words. Sometimes it’s about my work. Sometimes it’s a craft. Sometimes it’s about my roommate or my family. Sometimes it’s about my dating life (haha, jk. Those posts, like, never happen. But when they do … they’re pretty great.). Sometimes it’s my thoughts on my faith. And always it’s me trying to make sense of this life I’m living.

Today–it’s about how you can make your own Crocheted Lace Bib Necklace.

I made these necklaces to give as favors at the bridal shower I hostessed for my baby sister last week (more on that soon!). They are seriously so easy and take maybe 30 minutes to make. I’ve decided to give a few away, so you can enter to win one by signing up on the email list over there on the right column. I’ll draw three names Friday morning–right before I give my total attention to the day-long coverage of the Royal Wedding (Is anyone else as excited as I am?! Gaah!).

But if you just want to DIY…here’s how:

Supplies // 1 crocheted lace doily . 1 necklace clasp . 1″ wide strip of cotton fabric (1/2″ longer the center width of the doily) . 14″ of necklace chain . Needle n’ Thread . Iron . Scissors . Sewing Machine (optional)

1 // Begin with a small crocheted lace doily.

2 // Cut the doily across the center.

3 // Cut a strip of cotton fabric 1″ wide and 1/2″ longer than the width of your doily.

4 // Fold sides of fabric strip in about 1/4″ and iron. Then fold strip in half lengthwise and iron again.

5 // Place the unfinished edge of the doily inside the folded fabric strip. Pin in place if needed.

6 // Sew along fabric strip edge, being sure to catch the doily in your stitches. (Can be hand or machine sewn.)

7 //  Hand-stitch 7″ of necklace chain to each side of “bib.”
8 // Attach necklace clasp to ends of chain. (May require jump rings depending on sizes of chain links and clasp.)

All done! Easy right?! Lemme know if you have any questions!

And don’t forget to enter to win one by signing up on the email list over there (on the right near the top).

So. If you’re finding me through Good Things Utah … thanks for coming! I’m so glad you stopped by. Feel free to take your time and look around, sign up for the post feed, or check out some of my other DIY tutorials and crafty ideas. Or you could browse through my photos or favorite posts. If you’re interested in getting the patterns for the other projects featured in today’s segment, just sign up on the mailing list (over there on the right) and an email will be sent out next week with all the instructions.

OH! And if you would like to purchase any of the fleece flower pin embellishments featured on today’s projects, they’re on sale in the shop for a squealin’ deal. Seriously. Squealin’. And they look so stinkin’ cute on hats, sweaters, handbags, headbands, etc. You can totally change it up!

Click Here for the :: Orange Flower Set . Blue Flower Set . Large Single Purple Flower

p.s. a little bird told me there are some really great illustrations (1 & 2) for sale in that shop too. And a custom pendant that was featured in Nie Nie’s Handmade Christmas Gift Guide. You should check those out too.

Now. On to the Easy Fleecey Mittens!

Supplies
A piece of fleece (needs to be big enough to cut 4 pieces that are slightly larger than the wearers hand), sewing machine, thread, embellishments (optional)

Steps
1. Trace your hand (with fingers closed and thumb extended) onto a piece of paper.
2. Use the traced hand as a guide to draw your pattern. Be sure to leave 1/4″ around all sides for the seam and about 1″ at the bottom so that it extends past the wrist when worn. *Also be sure that the opening is large enough to slide a hand in.
3. Cut out 4 pieces of fleece, using the pattern you just made.
4. With wrong sides together, pin 2 fleece pieces together and sew around the edge, leaving the hand opening open.
5. Fold the opening down (towards inside of mitten) 1/4″ and sew close to edge.
6. Turn right side out.
7. Embellish and enjoy!

*Optional step: If the wrist opening is too large and drafty, you can easily add a piece of elastic. Simply increase the fold over in Step 5 to a 1/2″. Sew close to edge, but leave a 1″ opening to insert elastic (cut to wrist size). Sew ends of elastic together and then sew the 1″ opening in seam closed).

+++

Stay in touch…

Sign up on the email list –> over there on the right, near the top.

Facebook

Twitter

Subscribe to the feed

Today I demonstrated how to make these darling rolled fabric rosettes. They are so easy and quick! And once you get the hang of it, you can create dozens to adorn headbands, winter coats, earrings, clothing, pillows … anything!

And if you don’t want to make them yourself, visit the shop where all rosette accessories are 30% off through the end of the year (discount refunded after purchase).

Here’s how:

Supplies
fabric of any style, fabric glue, scissors

Instructions
1. Cut a strip of fabric measuring 1.5″ wide and about 2′ long. Adjust this depending on the size of rosette you wish to make. i.e. make the fabric strip thinner and shorter for a tiny rosette or fatter and longer for a large rosette.
2. Tie a knot in one end of fabric strip.
3. While holding the knot in one hand, dab a line of glue on outer edge (of knot) and wrap the fabric strip around the knot, twisting the fabric every so often, and securing it to the glue.
4. Continue in this manner until about 1″ of the strip is left.
5. Glue end of strip to underside of rosette.

All done! Now just glue it to a pin back or headband and you’ve got a brand new, trendy accessory!

Visit the Shop for 30% off all rosette accessories.

If you’re finding me through GTU … Welcome! Grab a cup of cocoa and browse around a while. My blog is a big ‘ol mishmash of crafting, photography, life, and faith. If you’d like to be on the mailing list, you can sign up over there on the right. I send out a periodic email with extra ideas, thoughts, and tidbits that you can’t get here on the site. You can also find me on Facebook. p.s. I’m really glad you’re here.

So … the flannel bags. They’re inexpensive and can be easily made in all different shapes and sizes. Plus, it’s a gift your neighbors can enjoy beyond the holiday season. Here’s the simple tutorial.

Supplies
Fabric (flannel or heavy cottons work best) . uncooked rice . herbal tea bags (chamomile or peppermint) . sewing machine & thread

Steps
1. Cut two pieces of fabric in the size/shape you want.
Soothing eye pack: 4 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
Mini hand warmers: 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″
Relaxing neck wrap: 6″ x 18″
Bed Bag: 9″ x 13″

2. With right sides together, sew 1/2″ seam around all four sides, leaving a 3 to 4″ opening for turning.

3. Turn right-side-out and fill 1/2 to 3/4 full with uncooked rice.

4. Cut open a few tea bags and pour into bag with rice. *Note: Do not use lavender as lavender will burn in the microwave.

5. Turn open seam in, pin together and top stitch the opening closed.

6. Move the bag back and forth between your hands to evenly mix the tea and rice together.

7. Tie with a ribbon and instruction card for gifting.

*Instruction Card
To enjoy this soothing heating bag, simply place in microwave and heat on high for 1 to 2 minutes. Be careful with heated bag. Do not place directly on skin if too hot. Heat longer or shorter if needed. Reheat as many times as you like.

Supplies

2 pieces of fabric measuring 14 1/4″ x 18 1/4″ (although you can certainly increase this depending on the size of your plates and table) . 1 piece of contrasting/coordinating fabric measuring 14 1/4″ x 4″ . lightweight fusible interfacing (14 1/4″ x 18 1/4″) . sewing machine . thread . pins

Steps

1. Iron long sides of contrasting fabric strip under 1/4″.
2. Pin strip to placemat top 4″ from left edge.
3. Stitch in place along long sides 1/4″ from edge.
4. Iron fusible side of interfacing to wrong side of placemat top.
5. With wrong sides together, pin placemat top to placemat bottom.
6. Sew 1/4″ from edge, leaving about 3″ open for turning.
7. Trim corners, being careful not to cut seams.
8. Turn right-side-out and iron flat, making sure to iron under your opening for turning.
9. Topstitch 1/8″ from edge along all 4 sides.

Plus, using them means less paper waste in the landfills. And it’s so easy to just toss them in with the loads of laundry you already have to do. It really takes no extra effort to use cloth napkins.

OK. I’m off my soap box now. Here’s how to make your own so that you can customize your tablescape to the desired look you want. They’re SO easy!

Cloth Napkins

(makes 4 napkins)

Supplies

1 1/4 yards of fabric (44/45″ wide) . scissors or rotary cutter . sewing machine . thread . iron

Steps

1. Wash, dry, & iron your fabric.
2. Cut four 21″ squares.
3. Fold raw edges of each square over 1/4″ on wrong side of fabric and iron in place.
4. Fold again 1/4″ and iron.
5. Sew 1/8 of inch from edge along all four sides of square.

____________________

Matching Yo-Yo Napkin Rings

(makes about 7 rings)

Supplies

1 foot of coordinating fabric (44/45″ wide) . scissors or rotary cutter . sewing machine . needle . thread . matching button or bead . fabric glue

Steps

1. Cut one 12″ x 3″ strip of fabric and one 7″ x 3 1/2″ strip of fabric.
2. Fold the short ends of the 12″ strip under 1/4″ (on wrong side) and iron in place.
3. Now fold the same strip in half, lengthwise, with wrong sides together.
4. Hand stitch (over, under, over, under) along raw edge, close to edge, pulling and gathering to create the round yo-yo.
5. Close yo-yo by stitching ends together. Set aside.
6. Take the 7″ strip and fold in half, lengthwise, with right sides together.
7. Machine stitch 1/4″ from raw edge to create a tube.
8. Turn tube right-side out and iron flat.
9. Overlap raw ends of tube 1/4″ and sew together to create ring.
10. Turn seam to inside of ring and iron to one side.
11. Using fabric glue, attach the yo-yo to the ring at the seam.
12. Glue button or bead to center of yo-yo.
13. Allow to dry before using.

The following tutorial is for the table runner featured on today’s segment. On Friday I will be sending a free mini-book download of all the items from the tablescape (napkins, placemats, napkin rings, & runner) as well as a few other Thanksgiving tutorials, ideas, and recipes to everyone on my email list. So be sure your name is on the list! You can sign up over there on the right.

Have a wonderful day!

xo

Harvest Table Runner
(final measurement: 20″ x 28″)

Supplies:
3 types of fabric in Fall colors (hereafter referred to as fabric a, b, and c), scissors or rotary cutter, sewing machine, interfacing (if needed)

Steps:
1. Cut fabric a into three 5″ x 5″ squares.
2. Cut fabric b into four 5″ x 10″ strips (hereafter referred to as b1) and six 9″ x 5″ strips (hereafter referred to as b2) .
3. Cut fabric c into eight 9″ x 10″ strips.
4. Back flimsier fabrics with lightweight interfacing (if needed).
5. Layout cut fabrics on a flat surface in the following pattern …
Top row: c, b2, c, b2, c, b2, c
Middle row: b1, a, b1, a, b1, a, b1
Bottom row: c, b2, c, b2, c, b2, c

6. Begin sewing top row together at matching sides.
7. Repeat for middle and bottom rows.
8. Sew finished top row to finished middle row, making sure to match up corners and seams.
9. Sew finished bottom row to the now-joined top and middle.
10. Fold raw perimeter edges under 1/4″ and iron flat.
11. Fold under again 1/4″ and sew.

Felt Trick-or-Treat Bag
Supplies: purple felt*, yellow felt*, sparkly black felt, scissors, sewing machine, thread, bat template. *Be sure you chose a durable, heavy-weight felt. I do not recommend using the inexpensive pre-cut felt for the actual bag. It is flimsy and will not hold up well. It is fine, however, for the appliques.

Instructions:

1. Cut two 14″ x 18″ rectangles from the purple felt (Bag). Cut two 3″ x 22″ strips from the purple felt (Handle Straps). Cut one 10″ circle from the yellow felt (Moon). Cut three bats from black felt using the bat template as a guide.

2. Place the yellow circle on one of the purple rectangles five inches from the top and centered between the sides. Stitch in place, close to edge.
3. Place bats on the yellow circle as desired. Pin in place and stitch close to edge.
4. With right sides together, sew a 5/8″ seam along sides and bottom of purple rectangles.
5. (Optional Step) Pinch bottom corners so that the seams touch and are even (almost creating a triangle). Sew perpendicular to side seam 1 inch from sewn corner. This will create a “boxed” bottom. Trim close to seam.
6. Fold top edge down one inch and lightly press in place. Fold over again and pin in place. Sew 1/4″ seam around top rim edge.
7. Fold handle straps in half length-wise and sew closed close to edge.
8. Pin one strap to each of the top rims, with edge of strap 3 inches from side seams, and end of strap 1 1/2 inches from top rim.
9. Sew each handle in place with a rectangle where the strap overlaps the bag. Reinforce by sewing an “x” inside the rectangle.
10. Trick-or-Treat!

Other applique templates:

Click Here to Download the Frankenstein template

Click Here to Download the Cat & Bat Silhouette templates

Click Here to Download the Pumpkin template: Pg 1 & Pg 2

Additional Ideas:
1. Make it extra fun and mix up your felt colors!

2. Use your imagination. You could applique witches, ghosts, the word “Boo,” your child’s name, polka-dots, stripes, etc. You could even applique a “mini me” version of your child’s costume. There are so many options!

3. Tie bows or ribbons to the handle straps or sew buttons.

4. Instead of sewing your applique, use an iron on transfer to print an image from your computer.

Now on to the tutorial!

Repurposing is all the rage these days. And what better way to repurpose an old placemat, than to turn it into a chic clutch that looks like it came straight out of the hippest boutique?! Yep. You heard me. Placemat to boutique chic clutch. Here’s how …

Chic Clutch a la Placemat

Supplies:
1 placemat (in good condition), fabric for lining, foam sheet, tape measure, rotary cutter and mat (or scissors and flat surface), magnetic clasp, 1″ x 1″ piece of med. to heavy weight interfacing, embellishments (like lace, ribbon, flowers, etc.), sewing maching, thread, fabric glue

Instructions:

1. Cut lining fabric to exact same size as the placemat. (A placemat measuring 16 1/2″ x 12″ was used for this tutorial. Measurements may need to be modified to scale based on size of placemat being used.)

2. On the right side of the placemat, centered between sides, and 4″ from bottom edge, attach back-side of magnetic clasp.

(front)

(back)

3. On the wrong side of the lining, centered between sides, and 1/2″ from top edge, iron interfacing square (remember: tacky side down). Turn lining over so right side is facing up. Center magnetic clasp on interfacing square, and attach.

4. Place lining and placemat right-sides together (the magnetic clasp back should be at the bottom, & magnetic clasp front should be at the top). Pin sides and bottom and sew 1/4″ seam along sides and bottom, leaving top edge open.

5. Turn right-side-out and iron seam flat.

6. Cut two pieces of foam sheet measuring 5 1/4″ x 12″, and one piece measuring 4 1/2″ x 12″.

7. Insert one of the 5 1/4″ x 12″ sheets into the clutch, slide to bottom. Secure tightly with pins. Sew a seam along the open edge of the foam (width-wise) to secure hold.

8. Insert the second 5 1/4″ x 12″ piece of foam sheet. Secure open edge with pins. Sew a seam along the open edge of the foam (width-wise) to secure hold.

9. Insert the 4 1/2″ x 12″ piece of foam into the top of clutch. Secure with pins and sew along top edge. (You do not have to turn raw edges under.)

10. With clutch on a flat surface, placemat side down, fold up bottom third at seam line in-between the two lower foam pieces. Due to the thickness of the foam, pinning is difficult, so with a tight hold on the edges (keeping them lined up) sew from top to bottom as close to edge as possible to close clutch sides.

11. Cut a coordinating piece of ribbon (you could also use seam or quilt binding) 2 inches longer than the width of the clutch.

12. Fold in half, lengthwise and iron.

13. Encase ribbon along raw top edge of clutch and glue in place, wrapping sides under before gluing the underside.

14. Embellish the clutch as desired.

15. Never tell a soul that your chic new clutch used to be a placemat!

+++

Stay in touch…

Sign up on the email list –> over there on the right, near the top.

Facebook

Twitter

Subscribe to the feed