Today I have a very special Valentine…just for you! It’s a fabric envelope filled with sweet-smelling heart sachets stuffed with some of last summer’s lavender from my garden. Super easy and super fast – your favorite fat quarter, a fast2fuse® Craft Pack, and a couple sheets of Lutradur® will get you started.

These would also make great party favors or thank-you gifts. And don’t forget the men in your life…just swap out the lavender for some cedar shavings.

Not only is this fun and easy to make, you’ll also get to enjoy a little aromatherapy while sewing….making it the perfect project all the way around! Read on for the project instructions…

1. To make the envelope sheet, cut two pieces of your favorite fabric and one piece of fast2fuse each to 9” x 18” (approximately). Sandwich the fast2fuse between the wrong sides of the fabrics and fuse the fabric to both sides of the fast2fuse with your household iron, following the package directions. I raided my stash for this cute black and white heart print.
2. Trim your envelope sheet to 8” x 17”, making one of the short edges come to a point like an envelope. Then make a tight zigzag stitch all around the cut edges of the envelope. Fold up the straight edge roughly 6″ toward the pointed edge, then use a straight stitch to sew up both sides of the envelope, just inside of the zigzag edging.
3. For the sachets, cut out 2 hearts (approx. 4″ wide)  from a couple sheets of 70gm Lutradur. Sew the hearts together, leaving a small opening to pour in the lavender, then sew the opening closed. Four of these puffy hearts will fit nicely in your envelope.
4. Glue a romantic embellishment or diecut to the front of each heart and handstitch a length of red embroidery floss through the top as a hanger.
5. Place your hearts inside your envelope and tie the entire treasure closed with some ribbon; I place a vintage velvet ribbon rose beneath my love knot.

Have a happy Valentine’s Day!

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1. Fabric and fast2fuse Heart Ornaments
2. Caged Creature—free Halloween project
3. Skulls Deelybopper Headband Halloween Project

Ahh, the bulk of holidays have passed, and now it’s time to prepare for the New Year…maybe even make some resolutions. Here are a few free projects you can download from PatternSpot.com to help!

Resolution #1:  Keep those toys and awesome new techy gadgets that Santa brought you safe. Those little devices are known to take a tumble now and then, but an embroidered gizmo cozy by Shiny Happy World will keep each one protected and pretty darn cute.

Resolution #2:  Always be ready for that cough, sniffle, or sneeze. Dig into your stash of fabric scraps to make this tissue holder by Angie Padilla.

Resolution #3:  Take relaxation seriously. Bring on the heat with this microwaveable rice bag by Shiny Happy World. Use it to warm up cold hands, relieve stiff muscles. or toss it to the foot of your bed for warm tootsies. You can also pop it in the freezer to use as a cold pack.

Happy New Year – enjoy your celebrations and we’ll see you in 2012!

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What child wouldn’t be thrilled to see this pachyderm peeking out from under the tree?  I know I’d hug it.  Click here to download a free pattern for Charlie the Patchwork Elephant designed by Bustle & Sew.

Angie Padilla has a free pattern for you to make this fun game called an I Spy Bag. Great for keeping kids entertained during car travel!

I’m pretty sure this season sports more bows than any other. If you find making the perfect bow a struggle, then this free Bow-making tutorial might be for you.

Still need more handmade gift ideas?  Visit PatternSpot.com, where you’ll find hundreds of designers selling thousands of sewing and quilting ePatterns for instant download…and some freebies are posted too!

Merry merry!

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So here’s my last-minute gift giving tip. Last weekend I was in search of a holiday party hostess gift. It occurred to me to check out our own PatternSpot.com. Not only did I find a quick and simple project, but I filled some other holes in my list, too!

For my hostess gift, I was able to instantly download (the beauty of this site!) this free coaster pattern by Angie Padilla and I had a few made in just over an hour.

All the free patterns are listed together, so in no time I found this free hobby apron pattern by Get Sewing. Perfect gift for my niece who loves crafting and can never find her scissors or tape. Another check off the list!

I also found a great stocking stuffer to boot! What kid wouldn’t get a kick out of finding this Five Stones Game (from Shiny Happy World) filling the toes of their stocking?

Wow…no lines, no parking, no waiting and free! Phew, I might just join the “finished shopping” crowd yet.

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Sometimes the holidays bring unexpected guests…“Quick, we need a stocking for cousin Max!” Or maybe you’d like to fit in one last “make the house merry” project?

The super sweet Santas and lettering on these stockings are fusible web appliqué patterns from Christmas with Possibilities by Lynda Milligan and Nancy Smith. They are perfect for not only stockings, but also for a small wallhanging, an embellishment for your front door, or even a holiday table runner.

Click here to download the FREE appliqué patterns along with instructions for sewing up some new stockings to stuff…enjoy!

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Here is a fast and functional notebook that is easy to make and so helpful to have handy for jotting down ideas, inspirations and the ever-necessary grocery lists…

I used our new Visi-GRID™ Quilter’s Tempate Sheets, Harriet Hargrave’s Quilter’s Graph Paper, and 3 binding rings.

I cut the template sheet in half (the plastic was very easy to cut with my rotary cutter) and rounded two corners with my Corner Chomper.

I cut the graph paper a bit smaller than the covers to keep the pages protected.  Using a gridded cutting mat as a placement guide and my japanese screw punch, I drilled holes in the covers, then the papers.

Next, I put the book together with the binding rings. I did add a pen tied on with string so I would have something to write with when inspiration struck.

Now if you’ve been following the projects I make for this blog, you know I really couldn’t just leave the project completely plain and simple. With the help of my handy dandy stash of scrapbook embellishments, die-cut machines, and card stock…I was able to add just a few things to make this into a 2012 organizer.

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3. Free Project: Summer’s End fabric postcard

"Pinwheel" by Emily Cier

Pinwheel by Emily Cier, seemed befitting as a free project this season. The flow and movement purvey a strong resemblance to falling leaves as they swirl and twirl in their autumnal dance.  These instructions from Emily’s book, Quilt Remix, provide for various sizes, but wouldn’t a lap quilt be perfect for cuddling up during a chilly afternoon?

Click here to download the free project instructions – enjoy!

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Halloween is just around the corner and I can’t wait to get the house decorated for all the spooky festivities. This year when I have the “ghouls” over, I want to send each of them home with their very own pet crow…just what everyone needs, right?!!  So after rummaging through my craft room, here is what I came up with.  They go together so fast, I’m sure you’ll want to create some treasures for your own group of friends!

Caged Crow Project

Materials:

• fast2fuse^® – 6” x 15” piece
• Fabric – 15” x 15” piece with matching thread
• Oval pattern roughly 4″ wide (I used an oval die with my handy die cut machine)
• Paper shreds
• 6″ long twig, a toy crow and spider
• Craft glue
• Heavy gauge wire – 8 pieces, each approximately  15″ long
• Medium gauge wire to match
• Black lightweight craft wire
• Small napkin ring (or something similar) painted to match fabric base
• Wire cutters, pliers, drill punch

1.  Fuse fabric to both sides of fast2fuse following manufacturer’s instructions.

2.  Cut out 3 ovals from the fast2fuse using template.

3.  Stitch around the edge of each oval using a wide zigzag stitch.  Pull threads to wrong sides and tie off.  With wrong sides together, use a straight stitch to sew two ovals together along the inside of the zigzag stitching, to create a firmer foundation for the cage.

4.   Using the drill punch, drill 8 small holes evenly spaced around oval, being careful not to drill through any stitching.

5a.   Bend heavy gauge wire into dome shapes, place ends of wire through opposing holes on fabric base. Use pliers to bend wire ends underneath cage base. Repeat with remaining lengths of wire.

5b. Using fabric glue, adhere the last fabric oval over the bent wires at the bottom of the birdcage. Use clothes pins (optional) to hold in place while glue dries.

6.  Wrap a 3 – 4″ piece of medium gauge wire around intersection of heavy wires at top of cage to keep all in place.

7.  Place twig diagonally across inside of cage and twist bits of lightweight wire around ends of twig and attach to cage wires.

8.  Cut three lengths of medium gauge wire (2 @ 6″ and 1@ 8″). Coil each of these lengths around a pencil or similar object,  leaving about 1.5″ wire straight at the end, to create springy embellishments for the paper shred nest.

9.  Use the napkin ring to stabilize the crow; glue the ring on to desired place on the twig and position the crow inside the ring.

10.  Arrange paper shreds inside the cage around the crow and spot glue some shreds if needed to cover the ring.  Add wire “springs” and spider.

As an alternative, I used craft wire to create the Spider’s cage,  added a felted bead at the top, some painted wood block feet, and assorted embellishments from my scrapbook stash.

 Happy Halloween!!

Related posts:

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2. Skulls Deelybopper Headband Halloween Project
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Then I found that my coworker Mary also likes selvage edges, so I used some to upcycle an old canvas tote for her (which has since become Mary’s young daughter’s favorite bag for carrying her favorite things on family camping trips).

I dug into my jar and ironed a bunch of selvage strips on to a rectangle of Shape-Flex to quickly stabilize them.  I then faced the rectangle to a piece of muslin, stitched all around, leaving a small opening for turning inside out, then “scribble” quilted around through the layers to flatten it out.

I stitched that rectangle, on two sides and bottom, to the front of a canvas bag to cover up an ugly faded out logo, and then stitched a twin-needle line down the center, to make a double pocket.

 A quick and easy way to upcycle both the bag and the selvages! Now if I can only figure out how to reuse all these leftover bobbins of threads from my longarm Nolting…actually, I admit I now use those bobbins on the top thread holder on my sewing machine for piecing. Reduce, reuse, recycle…isn’t it fun?

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September brings the last days of summer and the first days of fall.  Before looking ahead, take a moment to reflect back. Better yet, share those memories with friends and family via a homemade postcard!  The key ingredients to making these, fast2fuse^® and TAP Transfer Artist Paper, make this a quick and fun project. These examples are all about summer fun, but could certainly translate to year-round events.  The sky’s the limit to how many extra embellishments you might add…paint, stitching, glitter…what a cool holiday mailing that could make!  Read on for project instructions.

Summer’s End Postcards

Makes 4″ x 6″ postcards using fast2fuse® and TAP Transfer Artist Paper.

Materials:

• 1 piece fast2fuse® – 4.25” x 6.25”
• 2 pieces white or light colored fabric – 4.5” x 6.5”
• TAP Transfer Artist Paper
• Postcard backer – click here to download a template
• Silicone Release Paper or non-stick ironing sheet
• Your favorite image(s) – 4” x 6” overall size

Instructions:

1. Using a graphics or photo program, size your image(s) to 4” x 6”.  This is the time to add any text or other graphics to your image if you choose.  Now arrange to print on an 8.5″ x 11″ sheet.  (Note: placing 2-3 images on an 8.5” x 11” sheet is more economical, or position both your image and postcard back on the same sheet).
2. Print both your image(s) and postcard back(s), in reverse or mirror, onto TAP according to manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Cut out both your front image and postcard back.

postcard images in reverse on TAP

4.  Simultaneously iron the white fabric onto both sides of fast2fuse according to manufacturer’s instructions.

white fabric on fast2fuse

5.  Iron on postcard front to one side and then the postcard back to the other side, according to manufacturer’s instructions.  Important: You will need to have a Silicone Release Paper (or non-stick ironing sheet) on both the top and bottom of project to protect your iron and prevent the bottom image from releasing.

ironing TAP onto postcard using Silicone Release Paper to protect surface

removing TAP after ironing

6.  Using a rotary cutter cut to final size at 4”x 6”. Optional: sew around edges, paint, etc.

Write your message with a fabric marker, glue on a stamp and mail away!

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