The Cozy Holiday Wreath

Welcome to December!
It's officially here.

I'm working on decorating my house and finishing up as many Christmas preparations as I can, so I will be able to enjoy the Holidays instead of running around like crazy desperately trying to finish everything up at the last minute.

In the midst of my preparations, I designed a little something I wanted to share with you today that will be 'warming' up my home this year.

All it requires is a few cheap supplies, a little time, and beginner skills with a needle and thread.
(my sewing machine is broken at the moment, so all projects must be done sans machine)

What I used:

Thrift store wreath form $1.00
Thrift store over-sized red sweater .50 cents

a needle and thread

 My sweater had a ribbed band at the bottom that I cut off.
It measured 19 inches x 6.5 inches. I used this as my first layer.
I had a little extra that I trimmed off.
(the size fabric you need all depends on the size wreath you are making.)

 I laid the wreath form on top of the band of sweater material,

 then I folded one side over the other and used a quick (and rather large) whip-stitch to hold the edges together.
For help with a whip-stitch watch THIS video.

 I continued all the way around...

 And ended up with this.
I made this my first layer because I wanted the finished wreath to be a little thicker with the sweater material.

 I cut a strip of sweater slightly wider than the first strip to compensate for the fabric already sewn onto the wreath form.
Then, I wrapped it around and finished it off with a whip-stitch just as I did with the first ribbed layer.

If you are using a wreath form that is already thicker, than you won't need a second layer.

 Then I cut one more strip of ribbed sweater material
(from the collar of my over-sized sweater)
and in the same fashion as THIS tutorial, I made a big bow.

The only difference is that I hand-stitched the pieces together and didn't do a top stitch.
Then, I just hand-stitched the bow to the covered wreath.

There you have it.

A nice, new, cozy wreath to welcome all the cold Holiday nights to come.

 

Earmuffs Tutorial

It's not a secret that I have a lot of hair.
Don't get me wrong....I love my hair, but when you have a lot of hair, hats are out of the question.

I've tried lots of different options when it comes to winter head wear, but most don't fit well, or leave me with lots of smashed curls. After finding earmuffs at the donation center for $1.00, 

I decided to try earmuffs.

You want to make some for yourself?

So easy and inexpensive.

All you need is some scrap faux fur (mine was about $2.00)

and a set of earmuffs.

Tools you need:

sewing machine

thread
seam ripper

 Take apart the old earmuffs...

and use your seam-ripper to take off the old elastic,
but be careful because you are going to re-use the elastic

 When you are done put the old fabric circles down on your new fabric and mark it.

 Cut out your circles.

 Now you are ready to re-assemble.

 Pin your elastic to your new fabric and then stretch it out as much as you can. Hold in place and stitch about an inch.
Then stop, and stretch out the elastic again and repeat.
Continue this way until you are all the way around the circle.

  Reassemble your muffs with the new fabric.

 And you are done!

 $3.00 + 30 minutes = warm ears.
Or a cute, inexpensive gift!

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Easy Elbow Patches

I don't know about where you live, but it's getting all sorts of cold around here.

I'm not one to crank up the heat as soon as we start shivering so we are breaking out all the sweaters instead.

I found this vintage mens sweater thrifting for $2.50 and I knew it's purpose as soon as I laid eyes on it!

Comfy and cozy with the perfect buttons!

First, I resized the sweater to fit me. 

I learned how last year from Miss Kathleen at Grosgrain.

You can see that tutorial HERE. 

She is A.MA.ZING! She's taught me sooo much!

Then, I cut out some ovals from brown polka dot scraps I had in my stash. These are going to be my patches.

I put the sweater on and bent my elbows. Then, I marked my sweater accordingly to know where to place my patches.

 I pinned my patches to the outside layer of my sweater...

Then I took thick brown thread and a tapestry needle.
I hand stitched, with a whip stitch, around the outside edges of the patches.
That's it!

Now, I have myself a brand new sweater!

plans put on hold for now....

I'm holding a little boy who just can't stop crying. 

I can't figure out what is wrong but we've been sitting here for over an hour now and I've tried everything.

Along with lots of other plans for today, I planned on finishing a little bit of THIS 

 source

 from A Beautiful Mess ...

and a little bit of THIS from Miss Martha.

But everything must be put on hold today. 

My priority is to help dry the crocodile tears streaming down these chubby cheeks.

Have a great Tuesday you guys! 

I'll be enjoying snuggles....even if they are sad snuggles.

Bunnies...

I decided a while ago that this Christmas is going to be mainly a handmade Christmas....I know, I know...

Thinking about Christmas before Halloween. Crazy!??!

I don't know....I just think of it as smart planning.

I've been starting preparations and gathering supplies like I showed you HERE and I have one project done.

I found the tutorial HERE and if you click through to HERE you can see the instructions with pictures - 

my favorite!

(It took me a little over an hour from start to finish. 

That includes hobbling up and down the stairs to reach my sewing machine with my still healing knee...so that most likely means less than an hour for you!)

The only step I changed from the tutorial was that I sewed the facial features BEFORE sewing the body pieces together....I thought that would cut down on time and frustration!

Now I will just stash these away and hope some littlies in my life will be happy to drag these cute bunnies around come gift giving time!

Felt Rose Tutorial

My knee is healing slowly and in between physical therapy, icing, bandaging, and taking care of my family in a slow, crippling, crutch carrying way...I've been working with my stash of felt.

Today I'm going to show you a little something I've been cooking up. 

What you need to make a felt rose:

one piece of felt 

(scraps will do)

needle and thread

Start by cutting one strip of felt measuring 1.5 inches x 12 inches.

(12 inches is the length of most pieces of felt sold at craft stores)

You are going to start from one end of the felt strip and cut out your petals.

They are about 3/4 inch wide from the bottom to the top of the petals.

Don't try to make them perfect, the imperfections will add to the character of your rose.

They should look something like this:

Now turn your strip over and cut a smaller length of petals. 

They should measure approximately 1/2 inch wide from the bottom to the top of the petals.

Now you will have two sets of petals: BIG and medium.

The leftover is going to look like this:

but don't throw it away....we're going to use it!

Carefully cut off all the points on one end to make a straight edge.

Now round off the points to make very small curves.

This is your small strip of petals.

Start with your small strip of petals and begin rolling it up tight, keeping the straight edges lined up.....like this:

Now take your needle and thread 

(I used contrasting thread so you could see it clearly.)

You can use a similar color to your felt to better hide your stitches.

 You are going to stitch straight through the bottom (straight edges).

Start on one side and pull the needle straight through to the other side. 

Do this a few times while you are rolling up your small strip to secure the center.

After you feel the center is solid and won't fall apart, start only stitching the sides as you roll starting from the center....like this:

When you are done rolling the center, you will have a tiny rose.

Now add your medium and large strips of petals, one at a time, continuing to stitch the sides together to hold it tight just as you were doing with the small strip.

I tried to keep all my straight edges lined up as I went along, but as my rose got bigger, the more the center sort of collapsed in. 

If that happens, no worries. 

Just make sure all the petals are secured with your stitches and you'll be just fine.

When you are all done, tie your thread in a knot.

Your rose should look similar to this...

Every one of the roses I made came out looking different so don't get frustrated if your rose doesn't look just like mine...they are all uniquely beautiful!

If you want to change the size of your rose, just add or subtract strips of petals.

Experiment with different shaped petals to change the shape and style of your rose. 

Just have fun! 

This is a quick and easy craft that can turn into LOTS of different things!

I'll be showing you one tomorrow! 

See you then!

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Felt Hearts of Courage

My green boy started Kindergarten today. 

We made it to the school and I sent him off with no tears 

(from either one of us.)

I think I was more excited for him than he was for himself, though.

My green boy is a natural worry wart...

he's always been a worrier and I'm sure he will always struggle with that. 

Leaving Mom for a full day of school sure brought on the worries so I made him a little something special to override the worry with courage today. 

Felt Hearts of Courage

 

I saw a picture of a little something similar recently and it sent my mind searching for a way to make it work for my little man. 

What you need to make your own hearts of courage

Felt

Needle

Contrasting thread

Polyfill

10-15 minutes (recorded making one heart.)

First, cut squares 2.5 x 2.5 inches - however many you would like.

Now, double up your felt and cut as many hearts as you would like.

Then you will have yourself some of these...

I made my hearts small enough for little hands and little pockets.

 (about 2 inches from the top of the heart to the bottom point of the heart)

Now take some contrasting embroidery thread of your choice and start a blanket stitch around your heart. 

You need help with a blanket stitch? go HERE.

Leave a small opening to fill up your heart with courage and love.

Fill it up...

and finish your blanket stitch...

Make all the different color combinations you know you little one will love.

Put them in a little jar...

and when your little one is ready to go to school he/she can grab a little heart ...

 

 put it in his/her pocket and whenever he/she feels nervous, lonely or scared he/she can just hold onto it and remember they have unconditional love from a family at home cheering for their success.

Green boy loved them and had a great first day!

No worries, little one ... just courage.

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