How to make hand made hearts - Whatever Wednesday

If you are stopping by expecting to see a fashion post, you have actually stumbled on to Whatever Wednesday, the one day of the week that I use to post whatever it is that I'm working on other than fashion.

Today I'm sharing how to make these sweet fabric hearts to give away or keep for yourself.

I wanted to make the ladies at my bible study table something to remind them of our time together so

free tutorial - how to make fabric gift tags

I love adding a little something handmade to any gift that I give and one of the easiest ways to do that is with a fabric tag.  Because they are so quick and easy to put together I will usually make a few extra to use whenever I need them.

I put together an easy tutorial for these fabric tags to share with you today.  Even if you are not a

Spring craft ideas - creating paper nest pins - a tutorial

Last spring as I was trying to think of something special to give to a few friends for Easter I came up with this sweet Spring craft idea, paper nest pins.  They were such a hit that I thought it would be fun to do a quick tutorial so that you can make some for your friends, too.

The supply list -

how to make mini fabric flags

Edited: This giveaway is now closed.

I was feeling kind of crafty yesterday so I decided to gather some pretty fabric and see what came of it.  As I started to pull out various prints and colors and laid them side by side it occurred to me how cute they would look waving hello as sweet little fabric flags.

And since it's been a while since I did a tutorial I thought this simple project would be perfect to

how to make scrappy tutus

Oh, how I wish I was five years old again!  I would have loved having one of these little scrappy tutus to twirl around in. 

Just like I thought, they went together so sweetly.  I just love how flirty and flouncy and full they turned out.  I know my nieces and granddaughter (yes, even though we have already celebrated our Christmas together, I had to make her one as well) are going to have so much fun playing and dancing around in these.

They were so simple to make.

1. First cut 10 strips of  2" x 22 - 23"  pieces of fabric in four or five different coordinating colors.  You will need around forty strips total give or take depending on fullness.
2. Cut a piece of one inch elastic the same measurement as your child's waist.  Then join the two ends together using a half inch seam allowance.  Don't add extra to the waist measurement this will keep the elastic taught around her waist.
3. Then just tie the strips over the elastic circle knotting them in the center so that equal amounts of fabric hang on each side.  Continue all the way around until the elastic is completely covered.

I can't decide which is my favorite, the purple...

the pink...

or the truly scrappy multi-color one.

Since I don't have a toddler girl in residence I used this old lamp from my craft studio as a model.  Now I think I just may have to make up one to keep on it permanently.  What do you think?

That's it from me today.  I still have a little more Christmas sewing to finish up and I may just make up a few more tutu's for my friends to give away. 

Happy Thursday!

xo, Patty

How to make wooden Halloween blocks

I put together a little tutorial of the wooden block Halloween sign for you.  I had an extra set of wood blocks already cut out so it only took me hour to complete it from start to finish.  This is definitely a project you can get done in an afternoon.

To start I had my hubby cut out small wooden blocks (130 of them) from some 3/4 x 1.5 inch scrap lumber he already had laying around.  My finished blocks are roughly 1.5 x 2 inches but whatever size you have will work out fine.  You could even use store bought wooden alphabet blocks.

Once cut I lightly sanded the sides so that there was no rough edges that might splinter and then I painted them black with some crafters acrylic paint.  As you can see, I left one side partially unpainted since I was going to be adhering paper to it anyway.

One light coat is really all you need and it should dry rather quickly.  In fact, by the time I finished the last block the first one was dry enough to continue onto the next step.

Cut Halloween paper slightly smaller than your wooden blocks.  (I used "Thrilling" by Authentique.)  Using a gel medium such as Modge Podge begin adhering the paper to the unpainted side of your blocks.  When you modge podge always layer gel/paper/gel being careful to press down firmly and rub out any air bubbles beneath the paper.  Nothing does a better job of doing this than your fingers.

I used my Silhouette machine to cut out the letters in black cardstock but you could use stamps, punches or even print them out on your computer.  Once you've adhered the paper, attach your letters in the same manner, layering gel/paper/gel.  The gel will dry clear but I always rub as much of it off as possible so that it doesn't look gloppy.

Allow blocks to dry thoroughly before distressing the edges with black chalk ink.

Told ya...Easy. Peasy. 

I have a set of these blocks and a Harvest banner to give away to two lucky readers.  All you have to do is follow me here on the blog, like me on facebook and leave me a comment telling me you did so or already do.  Easy as 1, 2, 3.  I will draw one name for each item on Monday, 9/23/2013.

Let me know if you make a set, I'd love to come over and take a look.

xo, Patty

next week

Next week I am going to close the door to my craft room and really begin to tackle a few things on my to do list.  I have been on a creative binge and have neglected my poor house so that now there is no way to rearrange the stacks and hide the dust bunnies any longer.

I have been sewing up a storm and working on some fun mixed media projects including this one.

Isn't she pretty?  I think she may be my favorite girl so far.

I will be teaching this Julie Nutting stamp panel at my next mixed media class on June 22nd here in Southern California. 

I am also having a couple of girlfriends over for a beginners quilt class that I think I will be opening up to all of you as a sew along.  How about it?  Ever wanted to learn how to make a basic quilt but didn't know where to begin?  I will have all the details for you on Monday and we will get started soon there after.

Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!

xo, Patty

a cute little book

Good morning.  It is still on the cool side here on the West Coast  as we are knee deep in what we affectionately call June gloom.

I have been enjoying some productive hours behind my sewing machine and am busy putting a super simple pattern together for a summer quilting class I will be teaching here in my home. 

I've been thinking that I will post it here on the blog as well, so that you all can sew a long.

I had to share a few photos of the cute little book I made for the shower I went to on Sunday.

These little memory albums are so fun to put together.  I think we'll have a book a long in the near future, too.

I just finalized the details on one of the doors that has opened to me recently and I can't wait to share it with you soon.  There are still a couple of puzzle pieces that need to come together and so my learning to wait skills continue to be sharpened.  Ha!  I guess they must have been pretty dull to start with to require so much work now.

I guess that's it for me this lazy Tuesday morning.  Now it's your turn, what's keeping you busy?  And does it feel like summer where you are?

xo, Patty