No Sew Felt Flower for Headbands or Hairclips Tutorial

These flowers are adorable and so simple to make. They are also very versitile, you can add them to anything. I adapted this flower from the many other tutorials I found online.

You will need two coordianting colors of felt, petal pattern, scissors and, and hot glue, and an embellisment for the middle. I used flatback faux rhinestones of various sizes and colors. But you can use vintage buttons, bottlecaps, flatback resin shapes, or even another felt piece.

Start off by making a felt circle 1.5 to 2 inches.

Take petal pattern (you can find one by googling petal pattern, or use this one I found from feltorama. I only used the smaller of the two) and cut out 6 of each color. Petal should be around 1.5 inches, which is the size of the smaller petal.

Next start with 1 petal put a dab of glue at the bottom (flat part not rounded) and squeeze together now repeat for all petals.

Now glue 6 of petals on the circle, and layer the other color on top. Then add your embellishment to the middle and Voila you're finished,. Now you can add to an elastic head band or a partially lined clip, or to a pin for a brooch, or a bag. The choices are endless, have fun!!!!

Reversable Elastic Bandana Hat Tutorial

This tutorial was invented out of my neccesity to get my girls to wear hats. They would never keep them on in the sun. They love these bandanas and they can leave them on all day. If you have this problem too, try out this fun tutorial?

Materials needed

 fabric (2 coordinating)

Thread

scissors

elastic
Cutting Board and Ruler

Sewing machine

1) Measure top (ear to ear) and bottom portions of  your subjects head. Keep the measurments handy for later.

2) Now Using the top measurement you will be cutting a triangle making sure to keep the widest part of the triangle with the ear to ear measurement. Cut 2 one out of each of your coordinating fabrics.

3) Cut Two strips about 2 inches wide by thw length of your bottom measurments, and cut your piece of elastic 1 to 2 inches shorter. If you want to keep the raw edges from showing fold down the top on each side and iron. It will be sewin on the inside of the triangle, so if you don't care you can skip that.

4) Sew the strips together right sides together to make a tube. Turn tube right side out by placeing a saftey pin on one side and feeding it through to the other.

5) Sew your triangles together (right sides facing) leaving the width at the top to turn right side out. Once your triangle is right side out fold the top pieces down poin together and sew, so you don't see any raw edges.

6) Feed your elastic through the tube by place one saftey pin on each side of the elastic and feeding it through.

7) Now to attatch the tube and triangle makeing sure to push the elastic to the tip of the tube, then sew on the inside tip of the triangle. Then you will need to scrunch down the fabric tube a little to get the end of the elastic on to the other side then sew the two together on the other side.

VOILA you're all done

Handmade Craft Ideas For Valentines Day

Wow it's almost Valentines day!! I am not a huge lover (no pun intended) of V day but I love anything handmade and love a theme, so I went on a hunt  to find some great ideas for decorations and gifts that can be easily made with or without kids. Here is a list of what I came up with.

Felt Valentines Banner
 http://www.creationsbykara.com/2012/01/felt-valentine-banner-creative-carousel.html

Paper Flower Bouquet
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/valentine/paper-flowers.shtml

Hole Punch Valentines Card (great for kids) http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/valentine/holepunchval/

Burlap Heart Wreath
http://www.allcrafts.net/crochetsewingcrafts.htm?url=www.skiptomylou.org/2010/01/21/burlap-heart-wreath/

Paper conversation Heart Wreath (great for kids)
http://crafts.kaboose.com/paper-conversation-heart-wreath.html

Mail Pouch For Valentines (To do With kids)
http://www.allfreeholidaycrafts.com/Valentines-Day-Crafts/Mail-Pouch-Valentine-Holders/ct/1

Valentines Votive
http://www.craftbits.com/project/valentines-day-votive

Hopefully you find something you like, enjoy!!

A Couple More FREEBIES for Download

I never got to finish my Christmas giveaways. I got sick and couldn't do anything, and then when I got better I got busy. So here are 2 more freebies. Make sure you click to enlarge image, and right click to save. Enjoy.

Please do not attempt to sell either of these collages, may be used in your art for items to sell.

Love this Tutorial....

In my never ending quest to repurpose plastic bags, I found this awesome tutorial! Here the crafty Gemini makes a wallet out of a plastic shopping bag. Genius!! If you have one too many plastic bags give this one a try.

Handmade Christmas Gift Idea Clay ornaments

With the holidays fast approaching, we wanted to make sure we gave to everyone on our list handmade style. In an effort to save money, give from the heart, and for an added bonus, kept my kids busy for an afternoon or two.  We decided to make our own Christmas ornaments to give along with our cookies. These make great gifts to friends neighbors, teachers, and especially grandparents, who interestingly enough gave me the idea to make them.

So what you need to make these:

1) Clay ( either bakable or air dry) we used air dry because we had some on hand  I have a hunch that bakeable might be a little better. My mom used Sculpy brand.

2) Cookie cutters  (any will do, we used our Christmas themed)

3) Rolling pin

4)  Paint and Glitter to decorate

This idea is really self explanatory, but just in case.... Roll out your clay about 1/2 an inch to an inch thick. Cut out, don't forget to leave a hole at the top for hanging. Now follow directions for baking or set out to air dry. Air drying usually takes 24 hours depending on thickness, bakeable is much faster. You can however against recommendation on the clay package put the air dry in the oven on a low temp for a few minutes, but keep a close eye, otherwise they crack. Then when the clay is all dried out decorate till your hearts content!! :)

Hope this inspires some great gifts!!

FREEBIES For Dowload 125x125 Shop Sale AVATARS

Here are giveaways 4,5,6, and 7 for my 12 days of Christmas. Shop Avatars to advertise your sale. These are great to put in your avatar spot when you are having a sale because everyone you email can see you are having a sale!!  The avatar will show up in your shop.  You can download all 4 or just pick your favorites.  If  you would like something more personal to your shop just stop by www.pixelsfromthepast.etsy.com and I can fix something up for you. Don't forget that you get 10% off  (code blog 10)



Click on image to enlarge and right click to save.