Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Well, I finally did finish my Shamrock swag and I took it to work to be hung on my unit.  I can't wait to see how it looks when I go in later today.  I also wore my shamrock pin for my "green" and gave one to my sister, the staffing coordinator at work and my Director of Nurses (who was wearing a navy panysuit with no green anywhere!).

Here's what the finished swag looked like:









So, may the 'Luck of the Irish' visit you and yours now and forever more!

Crafting for St. Patrick's Day

As usual, I'm a day late and a dollar short!  Well, I did finally get started on those St. Patrick's Day crafts that I posted the tutorials on.  I had to work quickly, since tomorrow is the day.  However, I had lots of fun making the pins and will continue to explore this concept for other holidays. 

As you can see from the pictures, I am still working on the Shamrock swag.  I hope to sew the shamrocks all together tonight, but if not then I will have to do it EARLY in the morning so I can take it to my work and hang it in the window on my unit.  I love it when my unit is festive and happy, so if this is what it takes, then I'm in for it!

Below you can see my progress.  Let me know what you think.

 Here's the shamrock pins ready to wear on my lapel tomorrow.  I know I will have my GREEN on, will you?

These are the shamrocks for the swag all ready to be sewn together and hung up to announce the holiday!

Related articles

• St. Patricks Day Crafts Roundup (craftzine.com)
• Why Do We Pinch People Not Wearing Green On St. Patrick's Day? (sfist.com)
• Your Favorite St. Patrick's Day Treats -- the Healthy Way (self.com)

Another St. Patrick's Day Craft for you!

Here's another fun craft you can whip up quickly for St. Patrick's Day.  I am having so much fun.  I try to keep my work area cheerful and timely, so this is an easy craft to do just that.  Try it out and let me know how you like it, won't you?

I found this at Kirstikoo Handmade Gifts and thought I needed to put it here, too.  Please visit her site and let her know how yours turns out, won't you.
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St. Patrick's Day Garland Tutorial

Excerpt from:  Kirstikoo Handmade Gifts

Here's the tutorial for the Shamrock Felt Garland, complete with the template and all :) This seriously was the easiest sewing project ever- hardest/most time consuming part was the cutting. And it only cost me $1.25 for supplies. Doesn't get better than that!!

Here's what you need:

Shamrock Template (Email me if you want it!) kirstikoo{at} gmail {dot} com

8X10 Felt Sheets (1 in each color): Green, Light Green, Dark Green, and White

White Thread (or green!)

Ribbon Scraps (about 4 inches each)

2 Buttons

Embossing Thread or other thick thread for buttons

Here's what you do:

Print and cut out the shamrock template. I folded the felt sheet in half lengthwise to cut 2 at a time and got 6 shamrocks out of each color. You might get a callus from cutting, but this is the most time consuming part.

Figure out the order you like and put them in piles...

Sew along the middle of each shamrock, placing the next one at the edge of the one before it. Backstitch and the beginning of the first one and end of the very last one.

Continue chain-stitching all your shamrocks.

Once you are done, get out your embellishments-- cut ribbon into two 4 inch pieces.

Fold the ribbon and make a sandwich with the end felt piece in between the ribbon and button

and sew button onto the felt & ribbon, leaving a tail to knot-

then make a square knot in the back.

And you are done!!

I had a hard time taking down my Valentine's decorations, but I do love me some green!

I especially love this pot of {chocolate} gold. The best part? My kids don't know it's candy!

Here's a great tutorial for St. Paddy's Day!

I found this lovely tutorial and felt like I should share it here.  Be sure to go to the original site,  A Fanciful Twist and view all the comments and maybe leave her a comment as well.  This looks like such fun, so I'm off to try this out!

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 Excerpted from A Fanciful Twist Blog


    
You see that shamrock brooch there?  Well, I invented a fun and super easy way to make it.  I created a PDF cutout for you!!  Not only that, I have some FREE PDF Saint Patrick's Day Greetings for you too!  I always want to think up ways to say thank you, and add some easy fun to our lives...
I decided to created all different sizes and colors of shamrocks, and layer them... You know, how once a year, you are in your car and realize it is St. Patrick's day, and then you wish you had something cute to throw on?  Without having to dress in all green?  Well, here ya go...
      
There were very fancy ways to attach the shamrocks to eachother.  However, I decided, if you are going to make them with your kids, or whip one up for yourself to wear, it should be super duper easy.  Especially if you are going to make more than one, maybe for friends? 
The PDF file you will be able to print out (especially good on nice thick white cardstock) is shown below...

Make sure to Click on this link for printable version.

(give it several seconds to open)

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Tuesday Tutorial -- Martha's Bath Fizzies

Here's a tutorial from Martha Stewart that we all could use.  I know that the holidays are over, but there are many more gift giving opportunities in the coming year and with money as tight as it is right now, we can all probably enjoy a gift that someone made just for us.  Bath fizzies are a great way to de-stress and relax.  What a great way to pamper someone!
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Ice-cube trays serve as molds, giving the fizzies their shape. Using a flexible silicone model lets you slide the cubes out smoothly without breaking them.

Show off the colors of the bath fizzies in glass jars with screw tops, the kind used for storing sugar and flour. Pack each type of fizzy in a separate jar so the scents won't meld. Write the name of the scent on a vellum tag (choose a shade that matches the fizzies), and punch a hole in the top. Thread the tag with ribbon, and tie it around the jar.

Citric acid, a common food additive, is available at wine-making-supply stores, some spice shops, and online. When citric acid is combined with baking soda and placed in water, a chemical reaction creates bubbles.

Makes 1 dozen (use 2 per bath)

Tools and Materials
1/2 cup citric acid
1 cup baking soda
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup organic cane sugar
About 6 drops food coloring
10 to 15 drops essential oil(s)
Special equipment: 2-ounce travel-size spray bottle, plastic pipette, silicone ice-cube tray, storage jars

Directions
1. Stir together citric acid, baking soda, and cornstarch in a glass measuring cup.
2. Pass mixture through a fine sieve or a flour sifter into a mixing bowl. Stir in sugar.
3. Fill spray bottle with water, and add food coloring. Spritz mixture lightly (it should become damp but not fizzy) until you can pack mixture with your hands.
4. Using pipette, add oil, 1 drop at a time, until strength of scent is to your liking. Using a metal spoon or your hands, mix ingredients until color is even throughout (mixture will begin to dry out; when this happens, spritz until packable again).
5. Spoon into ice-cube tray, pressing firmly. Let dry at room temperature overnight. Pop out of tray gently. Transfer to jars.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Bath Fizzies - Martha Stewart Crafts

Related articles

• Luxury Bathing the Green Way (brighthub.com)

Free Heart Book Template

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought I'd post something easy to do that would be a nice valentine to give to others.  I found this really cute tutorial for a Valentine Heart Book on About.com and I hope you enjoy making at least one of these cute books to hold special mementos from this year's Valentine's Day.

On another front, we started to decorate the nurses' station at work yesterday, but decided that it looked too much like a baby shower because we could only find pink and green valentine cards and pink streamers.  We just gave up and went to the store next door for rootbeer float supplies instead.  I think the floats were a hit!

Here's the tutorial.  Enjoy.  After you make this book, go to the original site and see all the other wonderful templates and tutorials they have to make beautiful boxes and cards.

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Folded Paper Heart Book

Folded Paper Heart Book

Kate Pullen

This folded paper heart book is deceptively easy to make. The book is formed from a single piece of paper. When the cover is added the book contains four pockets, each providing a space to hold a heart shaped billet-doux or love note. If you don't want the book to contain pockets then simply glue the pockets together. Although this book is small in size, it contains plenty of space for decorations, small photos, special notes and more.
The heart book is made using this free printable template - Heart Book Template. While I normally suggest printing templates onto scrap paper and using these as templates to transfer the design to best paper, in this instance, where the folding and cutting needs to be reasonably precise in order to get a neat finish, I suggest printing the template onto best paper. I have included two versions of the template, one in black and the other in a light gray. The gray template is ideal for use on lighter paper. Although the print is on the reverse of the book, the light gray ensures that the folding lines will not show through the paper and this is ideal if you are using a lighter weight paper.

Materials Required

• Template
• Paper and card
• Scissors, glue, paper folder or folding bone and ruler
• Ribbon
• Rubber stamps, inks and other embellishments as required

Cut Out the Template

Cut around the template

Kate Pullen

Print the template directly onto best paper or onto scrap paper and transfer the image to best paper as required. Cut around the edges. Add decorations to the paper now or at a later stage if more appropriate. This is the best time to stamp on the paper as it is still flat.

Fold the Paper

Fold the Paper

Kate Pullen

Use a paper folder or folding bone to score and fold the paper. With the right side facing, fold the first heart under and continue folding the rest of the hearts in concertina style. This will give you a book with four pockets. Folding it the other way will give you three pockets. I prefer the four pocket version, however this is just a personal choice.

Make a Cover

Make the Cover

Kate Pullen

Cut a cover from a piece of paper or card stock. Use the hearts as a template to cut the cover, making it slightly larger than the hearts. Score and fold the cover.

Attach the Ribbon

Add the Ribbon

Kate Pullen

The ribbon that ties the book is sandwiched between the cover and the first pocket. Cut two lengths of ribbon. Mark the point on both sides of the cover where the ribbon is to be attached. Glue the ribbon in place on the inside of the cover. Glue the cover in place.

Make the Inserts

Make Inserts

Kate Pullen

Cut four heart shapes for the billet-doux inserts, these need to be a fraction smaller than the heart pockets. Add any decorations as required and attach a ribbon tab to each insert.

Put the Inserts into the Pockets

Place the Inserts into the Pockets

Kate Pullen

Add any decorations as required on to the inserts. Place the inserts into each pocket. If you are looking for inspiration for things to write on the inserts, take a look at these short love poems or why not turn them into fancy conversation hearts!

Finish the Book

Add any finishing touches as required to the book. I added a row of beads around the edge of the one in the photograph.

Related articles

• How To Fold A Paper Heart (mademan.com)
• Projects " How-To's " Paper Valentine Hearts (cutoutandkeep.net)
• How to make Swedish paper hearts (guardian.co.uk)
• Valentine's Day Ideas (socyberty.com)
• Free Printable Valentine Cards (brighthub.com)
• 10 Cute Valentine Heart Templates & Patterns (brighthub.com)
• Free Lonely Hearts Valentine's Day Sampler (forthemommas.com)
• Valentine's Day Cupcakes: Three Lovely Recipes (education.com)
• Throw a Valentine's Day Cookie Decorating Party (education.com)
• Men's Guide to Crossing the Valentine's Day Minefield (psychologytoday.com)

Here's a great tutorial for making a really pretty hostess gift

 I frequently come across tutorials that I think are exactly right.  Below is one I found on Design Sponge.  Originally, I though these would be cool to make for yourself (and I still think that) but I now think these would make the most wonderful gifts to give your friends.  They are super easy and I think you could adapt this idea to many different  shapes, so you don't have to stick with the "leaves" theme (although I particularly like these leaves).  Think about up-coming holidays.  Wouldn't these be cute for Valentine Day presents to friends?  How about Easter gifts for co-workers or church friends?  I simply love this idea and can not wait to get my hands on some felt!  Hope you enjoy!

 

 

 

 

sewing 101: wool felt pot holders

Add a little fall flair to your kitchen with these quick and easy wool potholders. They’re super simple to make — just cut out the leaf shapes, add the decorative stitching and you’re done! You can finish one in an hour or less, and they’re a great beginner project for those of you still afraid of your sewing machines. (You know who you are!) Keep these cuties for yourself or pass them along with a homemade pie or a jar of apple butter as a sweet hostess gift. — Brett Bara

CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump!


Materials

• about 1/2 yard each of three colors wool felt (Note: be aware that felt made of synthetic fibers can melt when it comes in contact with high heat, so wool felt is recommended here. A good source for a wide range of wool felt colors is www.purlsoho.com.)
• sketch paper to draw a leaf template, or a picture of a leaf to use as a guide
• sharp scissors
• pencil
• contrasting thread
• sewing machine

Instructions
1. Create a leaf shape.

To begin, draw or trace a simple leaf shape about 8″ wide and 8″ tall. Don’t worry about making it perfect — an imperfect shape adds to the charm! You can use a real leaf as a guide, or look for a leaf shape in a free clip art collection. You can also print out my photo above and trace it (enlarge it on a copy machine, if necessary).
2. Cut all three layers from felt.

Cut one piece of felt from your leaf shape, then lay it on top of another color of felt. Cut out the second piece just slightly larger than the first, then repeat with a third color of felt. You’ll have three layers of leaves, each slightly larger than the previous layer. Again, don’t worry about making them perfect!
3. Make the hanging tabs.

Cut a strip of felt about 1″ wide and 4″ long.

Fold it in half lengthwise, then stitch down its center using a zig-zag stitch.

Fold the strip in half and pin it to the bottom edge of the largest leaf piece.

Stitch it in place about 1/2″ from the raw edge of the leaf, using a straight stitch.
4. Add the veins.

Layer all three leaf pieces and pin them together. (Be sure that the raw edges of the hanging loop are sandwiched inside the layers so that they’re not visible on the finished pot holder.) Set your machine to a slightly longer than average stitch length. Beginning at the base of the leaf, sew a line all the way to the tip of the leaf.

When you reach the tip, raise the presser foot, pivot and sew back to the base. Repeat this to make several lines of stitching along the same path.

Repeat to sew another vein up each section of the leaf, always returning to the same beginning point at the leaf base. You can add all of this stitching in one continuous line, constantly sewing back and forth and always returning to the same beginning point.

Continuing in the same manner, add smaller branches off of each main line.

And you’re done! That’s all there is to these simple pot holders. Now go cook up a big batch of something warm, and put them to use! (I highly recommend apple pie.)

Read more at Design*Sponge http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/10/sewing-101-wool-felt-pot-holders.html#ixzz1CeIi00sZ