How to Make Decorative Bows - Grace Grits and Gardening

Talya is here today from Grace Grits and Gardening...


The next time you wrap a gift, why not make your own bow? This creative process is a simple way to recycle magazines, newspapers and scrap paper.

For my two examples, I used scrapbook paper and a magazine page.  

Cut the magazine page into nine strips, ¾ inch wide. Leave three of the strips the length of the magazine page (about 9.5 inches long). Cut one inch from the top of the next three strips. Cut two inches from the next two strips. Cut the last strip three inches long.

magazine page

The same method is used for any type of paper. Measurements do not have to be perfect. I guestimated.

scrapbook paper

Loop each strip and staple through the center or secure with tape or glue.

The smallest strip will make a single loop for the center of the bow.

Stack and layer the pieces, adhering with tape or a staple through the center.

Easy and personalized!

talya

Grace Grits and Gardening

DIY Photo Coasters - My Favorite Finds

Hi Everyone, we are so excited to have Carrie from "My Favorite Finds" here at the Cafe today....

 

We are blessed to still have grandparents living.  Our children are growing up with great-grandparents, and we are so thankful for that!

 At Christmas, we love to still give gifts to our grandparents...but what do you give someone who already has and is content with everything?

I whipped up these cute photo coasters, and I was so pleased with how they turned out, that I want to make some for our new living/game room in the basement.

Supplies:

*4 square tiles, 4"x4" (I found these at Home Depot in the shower/tile section.  They were only about 19 cents a piece)

*Mod podge

*Printed photos, trimmed to 4"x4"

*Sponge brush

*Oil paint brush

*Clear polyurethane

*3/4" felt pads

*Hot glue/glue gun

Directions:

1.  Print your photos, on regular printer paper, in black and white.  I cut and pasted mine into a Word document and printed them.  I chose black and white because I like the dramatic look of that, and I didn't want to risk the color running or smearing when I applied the Mod Podge.

2.  Trim your photos so they are 4"x4".

3.  Using the sponge brush, apply a thin coat of Mod Podge on the surface of your tile and lay the photo on it.

4.  Smooth the air bubbles out and repeat this for the other three tiles.

5.  Apply a coat of Mod Podge over the face of your photo.  Allow it to dry, then repeat this two more times.

6.  Let your photos dry for a few hours.  Using the oil paintbrush, apply a few thick coats of quick drying polyurethane

to the surface of your tiles.  Let this dry for 24 hours.

7.  After the polyurethane has dried, turn your tiles over face down.  Apply a small amount of hot glue to each corner and adhere the felt pads.

I think these will make cute gifts for Grandparents Day, birthdays, and Mothers/Father's Day.  

I am sure that before too long, all the grandparents and Godparents will be the recipient of a set of coasters.

Reversible Sleep Mask from Amy at Clippie Dips

Amy from Clippie Dips  is here today....

Supplies:

-fabric scraps

-fusible fleece

-thread

-scissors

-rotary cutter and mat (optional)

-sewing machine or needle if sewing by hand

-elastic

-fabric marker for tracing

-template-print and cut out

From your scraps, cut (4) 2.5" x 5.5" strips. (I'm using a Chemistry jelly roll but this project is great for scraps.) These pieces will be sewn together to make the front.

For the back, cut (1) piece 5.5" x 8.5". Set aside.

Cut 2 pieces of fusible fleece 5 ¼” x 8 ¼”. If you don’t have any fusible fleece, you could also use batting. Set aside.

Lay out the 4 pieces of scraps you previously cut, long sides together in an order that's pleasing to you.

Take your first strip and flip it over the second one so that they are right sides together. Sew down the left side using a 1/4" seam.

Once done, it will look like this.

Now, take the third strip and flip it over onto the last one so that they are also right sides together. Sew down the left side using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Take these 2 pieces to your iron and press seams open.

Now, lay out  your sewn pieces so that they are in the same order as when we first began like shown below.

Flip the first sewn section over onto the second one and sew down the left side with a 1/4" seam. 

Once done, press the seam open.

Now, here are the pieces you should have: front, back and 2 fusible fleece.

Iron the fleece on to back side of both pieces of fabric. I always cut my fleece a tad small so I won't get sticky stuff on my iron. When you're done, trace the template onto both your front and back pieces. I use a Disappearing Ink marker. 

After tracing, cut both pieces out. They will look like this.

Now, place your back mask piece on your sewing mat, right side up. I cut my elastic to 14". You may want to measure your own head to get the right size. Pin each end of the elastic onto both edges of your mask piece. From the picture, you can see that I pinned my elastic slightly above the 2" mark on my mat. But you can eyeball it-it doesn't have to be perfect!

Take pinned piece to your machine and make tiny stitches across the elastic about an 1/8" from the edge. Do this on both sides. This is just to keep the elastic in place. I took this picture without a flash so you could see the tiny stitches.

Pin the elastic out of the way. You can see I pinned mine in the middle.

Mark a 2 1/2" long section on your front mask piece as shown below. This will be our opening for turning.

Place your mask front piece on top of the back piece, right sides together and match up the outer edges. Pin all the way around.

Now we're going to sew a 1/4" seam allowance all the way around. Start sewing at one of your marks and sew all the way around stopping at the other mark. Do not sew in between those 2 marks! Backstitch at the beginning and end. 

Remove from your machine and reach in through the opening and pull out that pin you used to secure the elastic in the middle. Then take your scissors and make little snips along the rounded edges of your mask. Be careful not to cut the thread!!

Reach into the hole and pull your mask out through the opening. Press if you like. Then pin the opening closed and sew all the way around, closing that opening as you go. 

And you're done! Reading through this, it may seem complicated because of all the pictures and the fact that it's such a LONG post. But, I do that so that even a beginner can use my tutorials to make pretty things!

Love Letters by Posh Pink Giraffe

We would like to welcome Becky to the Cafe today!

Can you believe January is over?  That means Valentine's Day is just around the corner.  Have you thought about what you're going to do for kids Valentine's this year?  Looking for something that has a little pizazz?

How about love letters.....

Can we say, LOVE IT (in a sing song voice, of course)?  You could fill these little envelopes with just about anything.  The possibilities are endless.  Here are just a few ideas....

Make it a Pencil Pouch:

Add pencils, tag it "You're all write, Valentine." 

Make it a Sticker Book:

Add stickers & paper, tag it "I'm stuck on you"

Make it a Candy Pocket:

Add sweet treats, tag it "You're so sweet"

I'm sure just about anybody would love to get one of these for Valentine's Day.  So what do you say, are you in on this little project with me?

Begin by gathering the following supplies:

Two pieces of felt (8.5"x11") 

an envelope to use as a template

template for the x and o if you want

 (My font is "arial black" set at size 150.)

Start by using the templates to cut out the x's and o's.  You could do as many or as little as you want.  Fold your template at the line of symmetry.  Fold the felt also or you'll only have half the letter.  I found it was easier to work with the felt when I trimmed it from smaller pieces rather that the whole sheet.

Next step is to sew on the letters.  I did several stitches across here, but I like the pink one better where there are only three straight stitches across it.  Here's a tip:  I used spray adhesive on the back of the letters when I made the second one (the pink one) and found it was easier for the needle of my machine to go over the letters without trying to push them away.

Now you're ready to stitch the sides up.  Start at one of the smaller sides and take it around to the top of the other small side, making sure to back stitch at the beginning and end.  I decided to run a stitch along the top as well to help make it lay down better, but it is totally optional.  Last step is make a small slit in the back of the flap and sew in a button.

I know everyone doesn't have oodles and oodles of time to make a bunch of these and that is perfectly alright.  

Consider making just one.  You could write a love letter to your child using words of encouragement.   New Valentine's Day tradition, anyone?

Thanks for stopping by today.  

Before you go, will you please be a sweetheart and leave a comment?  Everyone could use some words of encouragement, right?

If you like these little Love Letters, make sure you check out my latest post, a teachers Blooming Valentine Gift.