Amanda

Christmas Jingle Bell Key Chain Tutorial

December 4, 2014 by Amanda 2 Comments

December is well underway and there is so much to be done! Is anyone else going crazy!!! I love these fabric key chains – they make it super easy to find your keys in your purse and you can slide your keys on your wrist. I wanted something festive for the holidays so I made candy cane stripe ones and added a jingle bell. I love the fact that I jingle where ever I go!! These make great gifts and you can whip up a bunch in an afternoon.

Supplies:

10″ red cotton webbing 1.25″ wide, I bought mine here

10″ x 2″ strip of striped fabric

Spray n Bond

Key fob hardware, I bought mine here

Jingle Bell

strip of card stock 1″ wide

Begin by cutting the fabric 2″ x 10″. Center the 1″ strip of card stock in the center of the wrong side of the fabric. Use the card stock as your guide to press the sides in evenly. Remove the card stock.

In my previous keychain tutorial I suggested using fusible hem tape to fuse the fabric to the webbing. While this works great, I choose to use Basting Spray – it’s faster and goes farther. A few tips about the basting spray: put down a disposable protective surface because there will be some overspray. I made quite a few so I used some old wrapping paper which could be rolled and discarded to give me a clean surface. If you are doing a lot I would wear gloves because you may get it on your hands.

Open the folds and spray a line down the center of the fabric. Pat the folds in and smooth to hold in place. Spray the folds again with the basting spray and center on the 10″ strip of webbing.

Top stitch about 1/8″ away from the edge.

Using pliers with some padding attached, fold the strip in half and pinch the hardware around the ends to secure. Add a split ring and jingle bell.

I packaged mine up with some Holiday Bath and Body Works soaps and lotions. Now I’m off to deliver them!

Filed Under: Christmas, FEATURED, gift, Heat n Bond, sewing, Therm O Web, tutorial

Christmas Wall Hanging

November 22, 2014 by Amanda 1 Comment

I recently read Molly Hanson’s Free Motion Quilting for Beginners. While I don’t consider myself a beginner (I’ve been FMQing for 16+ years) I found that reading this book gave me courage to break out of my quilting comfort zone – you all know what that is! Mine is stippling and loop-de-loos! I decided to try something new and try “pebble” style. Beginning a free motion quilt pattern is like curling your hair – once you start you have to finish the job weather you like it or not!! I am super happy with the way it turned out and my family was in awe at my creation! You can check out the tutorial for this wall hanging over at the Therm O Web Blog!

Filed Under: Christmas, FEATURED, quilt, sewing, Therm O Web, tutorial

Christmas Deer Pillow Tutorial

November 17, 2014 by Amanda Leave a Comment

Sometimes fabric is so cute you just don’t want to cut it up! I love deer and this fabric is one of the cutest deer prints I’ve seen. I love that it is in a siver/grey color. I keep my Living Room pretty neutral at Christmas: metallics, grey, cream, white, taupe, and a touch of aqua. This fabric is perfect!

Supplies

20″ pillow form

20″ square front fabric, I used Rudolph in Grey by Blend

20″ square for the back fabric

1.5 yards grey crochet lace

Spray n Bond Basting Spray

22″ or longer zipper

20″ pillows are my favorite – so I cut a 20″ square of the Rudolph fabric. I added a strip of grey crochet lace to give it a little texture. I always use Spray n Bond basting spray when sewing lace – it keeps it from moving when you sew.

Since the pillow is pretty plain, I added some white pom pom trim.

For the back of the pillow, I cut a 20″ square of the back fabric. Cut a strip 3″ to add the zipper. Click HERE for a tutorial on putting a zipper in the back of a pillow. I used the same lace as a zipper cover.

I love it! It has such a winter wonderland feel!! And only took about 30 minutes to make!

Filed Under: Blend Fabrics, FEATURED, pillow, sewing, Therm O Web

Treelicious Christmas Pillow Tutorial

November 15, 2014 by Amanda 2 Comments

If the Christmas sewing doesn’t get done now, it will never get done!!! I love this pillow and it is super fast and easy to make! The fabrics are from Blend’s Treelicious line – which of course I am in LOVE with! I am so hoping to get a tree skirt made before Christmas gets here. The inspiration came from this print Tis The Season:

I also think this line goes great with last year’s Hip Holiday Line. This pillow will be at home with last year’s pillow:

Here’s how you can make one:

Supplies:

fat quarter or
yard cut of Garland Green Tree Fabric for side strips

1/2 yard solid white fabric

1/2 yard for backing fabric

Small cuts of fabric for the trees

Tree Pattern, click HERE

20″ or longer zipper

3 yards of decorative trim

Fiber fill

Heat n Bond Lite EZ Print Sheets or Heat n Bond Lite

Therm O Web Fabric Fuse

Accent trim for the trees

Begin by cutting (2) side strips of Garland Green Tree Fabric 15.5″ x 4.75″

Cut the white fabric 15.5″ x 18.5″

Sew the side strips to the sides of the white fabric using 1/4″ seams, press toward the dark. I pressed this piece to Heat n Bond light weight fusible stabilizer to give it a little more strength – it will turn out fine without it.

Prepare the appliqué by printing the pattern on Heat n Bond Lite EZ print sheets or tracing the pattern on Heat n Bond Lite.

Press it to the wrong side of the tree fabrics and cut out along the pattern lines. Peel off the appliqué backing.

Position the trees as pictured and press to adhere.

Using dark thread, outline stitch each of the trees at least twice.

Using Fabric Fuse glue, adhere the trims on the trees. You can also sew them if you want. I was anxious to try out the Fabric Fuse and I really liked how it turned out – it holds great!

I put a little of the Fabric Fuse on the ends of the Ric Rac to prevent from fraying.

Top stitch 1/4″ on both sides of the side seams for some added detail.

Prepare the back. Cut the back fabric 27″ x 15.5″.

Then make a cut at the 3″ mark.

Sew the zipper in.

Trim off excess zipper.

Select the trim you want and baste it all the way around the pillow front.

Curve the corners so the trim lays nice:

Leaving the zipper open, place the pillow top and the pillow back right sides together and sew using a generous 1/4″ seam all the way around. Turn right side out. I know this is an odd size pillow form, but you can just stuff with fiberfill and zip it shut.

Filed Under: appliqué, Blend Fabrics, FEATURED, Heat n Bond, pillow, sewing, Therm O Web, tutorial

Handmade Holidays Blog Hop – My Favorite Zipper Pouch

November 8, 2014 by Amanda 12 Comments

I LOVE zipper pouches! I have million and I still need more! I love that all my friends have one of my zipper pouches in their purses. They are fabulous gifts because you always need another one! I call this pattern My Favorite Zipper Pouch Version 2.0, click HERE for version 1.0 🙂

my favorite zipper pouch

How cute is it to make one of these pouches and then put a few necessities inside: Kleenex, lip balm, hand sanitizer, gum, a handmade pouch of fabric bandages, and my favorite idea which I got from my friend Jennifer, a hair elastic with safety pins and bobby pins attached to it! Brilliant! Below you will find the tutorial for the zipper pouch, fabric bandages, and clear bandage keeper. I hope you enjoy making these.

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fabric bandages

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Supplies:

Fat Quarters or 1/4 yard cuts assorted fabrics

The fabrics used in this project are from Blend’s Turkish Delight. I am totally loving every combination in this collection!!!

Therm O Web Fusible Fleece

Therm O Web Spray n Bond Basting Spray

1/2 yard of lace

zipper, at least 12″ – I buy my zippers long and then I can always cut them down

Key charm for the zipper pull

Let’s get started!

Cut the coral floral fabric (2) 5″ x 9″

Cut the white floral fabric (2) 2″ x 9″

Cut the lining fabric (2) 6.5″ x 9″

Fusible Fleece (2) 6.5″ x 9″ zipper pouch tutorial 5

Cut the lace (2) 9″ pieces. Using the Spray n Bond, spray baste the lace into place, lining the top edge with the top raw edge of the coral floral fabric. Do this to both pieces.

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Using 1/4 inch seams, sew the white floral to the top of the coral floral. Press. Layer this piece on the fusible fleece and press according to the directions. Do this to both the floral/lace pieces. Using 1/8″ seam, top stitch next to seam on both pieces:

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For the zipper tabs….Cut (2) strips of fabric 2″ x 4″. Press in half then press the ends in 1/4″ like this:

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Lay out the zipper, tabs, and one of the floral/lace pieces – note, the zipper tabs are larger than needed, we will cut off the excess

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Open one of the zipper tabs and insert one end of the zipper (cut off metal stop). Sew 2 times along the edge holding the zipper into place. Then position the other tab. There should be about 1″ of tab on each side, the extra will be cut off and discarded. If your zipper is really long, you will trim down the zipper then place inside the tab. It should look like this:

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Cut open the folded end of the zipper tabs. Cut out the zipper so it only about 1/4″ remains. This photo was taken before the zipper was cut out. The reason for this is to reduce the bulk in the zipper pouch seams.

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Place the zipper and one of the zipper pouch sides right sides together, aligning the edges. You can trim off the excess tabs.

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Now place one of the bag lining pieces right side down, lining up the raw edges with the zipper and the zipper pouch front. Pin into place. Sew along the edge using a zipper foot.

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Now that the one side of the zipper is sewn in, press and trim off excess tabs.

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Now it’s time to sew the other side of the zipper pouch to the zipper. Lay the second floral/lace piece facing up. Then lay the piece with the zipper on top, matching right sides. Line up the top edge of the floral piece with the zipper, like this:

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Now lay the second piece of lining fabric right side down and align the top edge as well. Pin. Sew using zipper foot.

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Press the second side so the zipper lays flat. Top stitch 1/8″ next to both sides of the zipper.

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To finish the bag…. MAKE SURE THE ZIPPER IS OPEN Match right sides together beginning at the zipper. Match the zipper seams line this and pin: Do this to both sides.

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Continue pinning all the way around the bag like this: Then sew 1/4″ all the way around the bag, leaving an opening about 2.5″ on one of the sides of the lining.

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Before turning right side out, cut a 1.25″ square out of each corner. I use a piece of paper 1.25″ square and cut with scissors.

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This is what it looks like after all 4 corners have been “notched”.

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Open each notched corner and match the seams, pin, sew 1/4″ seam, backstitch to start and stop. Do this to each corner.

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Turn the bag right side out, topstitch the opening closed. I like to add a little charm to the zipper.

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Now, to make the Fabric Bandages….

fabric bandages and case tutorial

You can make fabric covered bandages several ways. I’ve seen some tutorials and they use a double sided permament sticky tape. I decided to try using iron-on adhesive hem tape, which happens to be the exact width as most bandages, 3/4″!

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To make the fabric covered bandages, cut a piece of Heat n Bond Hem tape the length of the bandage. Place it in-between the bandage and the fabric. Using a pressing paper for protection, press. TWO IMPORTANT THINGS…. FIRST, make sure you flip the bandage/fabric over to press so the iron hits the fabric first and not the bandage. SECOND, only iron with hot dry iron for 2-3 seconds max. If you heat any longer, the heat will melt the bandage adhesive and the bandage won’t be sticky.

Please note, these are just for fun and to be used on minor scratches or “boo boos”. For serious injuries or wounds, use a real first aid kit and seek medical attention.

fabric bandaids

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Once the adhesive has cooled, cut the bandage out.

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To make the bandage “keeper” cut a piece of clear vinyl 2.25″ x 7″. Fold in half. Cut a little notch out of the front. Use a decorative stitch to sew up the sides.

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Place the colorful bandages inside. I can’t wait to use mine, I guess I should sew some more for gifts!

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Filed Under: bags, Blend Fabrics, FEATURED, Heat n Bond, Therm O Web, tie-dye, zipper pouch

Riley Blake Flannel Blog Hop Wrap-Up

November 4, 2014 by Amanda Leave a Comment

Did you get a chance to see all the amazing projects these fantastic sewists created for the Riley Blake Blog Hop? Here is a list of all the projects if you missed any! Also, Riley Blake Designs is giving away 3 Flannel Fat Quarter Bundles!

9/5 Riley Blake Designs – Flannel Play Dress

9/9 Quiltscapes – Pajama Pants & Pillow

9/12 Fishsticks Designs – Reversible Button Bibs

9/19 The Stitching Scientist – Toddler Nightgown

9/23 Sassy Quilter – Patchwork Dog Bed

9/26 Simple Simon & Co. – Flannel Pajamas

9/30 Fabric Mutt – Seat Cushion

10/3 Just Let Me Quilt – Nightgown & Quilted Cape

10/7 Jedi Craft Girl – Baby Blanket & Burpers

10/10 Rose and Odin – Christmas Pillowcase

10/14 Sew We Quilt – Newborn Nightgown

10/17 Haberdashery Fun – HST Baby Blanket

10/21 Leigh Laurel Studios – Personalized Pet Bed

10/24 Riley Blake Designs – Chenille Baby Blanket & Pillow

10/28 Flannel Queen – City Gym Shorts in Flannel

10/31 Lucy Blaire – The Cora Dress

11/4 Riley Blake Designs Final Post + Giveaway

Filed Under: Riley Blake

An Attitude of Gratitude Quilted Journals

November 3, 2014 by Amanda Leave a Comment

I am so excited it’s November! Yes, it’s all going a bit too fast, I will admit 🙂 Every year we do a “thankful campaign” in the month of November. When my children were small we wrote what we were thankful for on leaves and taped them to a big tree I had placed on the back of the front door. As the children got a little older, we wrote what we were thankful for everyday and then put it in the “Thankful Bucket”; we read all the thankful papers out loud on Thanksgiving. This year I want something a little more meaningful and something that can be adopted into a habit. Gratitude journals are not a new idea, but I decided it’s time every member of my family have a Gratitude Journal and we write each day at least 10 things we are grateful for. Pretty much, you open the book and you write what ever it is you are thankful for – it can be a word or many paragraphs.

I’ve done a lot of reading on Gratitude and I even have a Pinterest board for all the wonderful Gratitude ideas and quotes there are out there. My favorite quotes are:

Gratitude Turns What We Have Into Enough and A Thankful Heart is the Parent of All Virtues

I am hoping by helping my family turn our hearts into grateful hearts, we will have more love for each other and for those around us and we will feel closer to God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Here is how you can make a Quilted Gratitude Journal!!

Supplies:

fat quarters or small cuts of fabric for the pieced journal front

1/3 yard fabric for lining

1/3 yard for journal cover flaps

cotton batting

hair elastic

button

Spray n Bond Basting Spray

Scrap of burlap

“An Attitude of Grattitude” printable, click HERE

For the “boy” journal I used fabric from Blend’s “Hammer and Nails” line – I love finding mature boy fabric – it’s hard to come by, but I thought this was perfect for my 11 year old son and my husband with out being cheesy 🙂

For the “girl” journal I used fabric from Blend’s “Good Company” line – super cute – reminds me of feminine fall fabrics

Therm O Web’s Heat n Bond’s EZ Print Transfer Sheets

Begin by cutting the strips for the outer part of the journal:

For the boy version, cut the blue fabric 5″ x 16.5″, the measuring tape fabric 2″ x 16.5″, and the wood fabric 5″ x 16.5″ . Sew them together in this order using 1/4″ seams.

For the girl version, cut the top pink piece 6″ x 16.5″, the owl & squirrel print 4″ x 16.5″, and the blue print 2″ x 16.5″. Sew together in this order using 1/4″ seams.

Basically, the final measurement should be 16.5″ x 11″ if you want to design your own pattern.

Using Spray n Bond, baste the journal top to the cotton batting and quilt as desired.

On the girl journal I quilted loop-de-loos…..

On the boy journal I quilted straight lines….

Square up the journal top by trimming the excess batting. It’s OK if the journal top shrinks a bit due to quilting.

Next, prepare the “gratitude saying” by printing in reverse on the EZ Transfer Sheets.

Cut out a rectangle of solid cream fabric the size you want it – the girl’s one was 4.75″ x 3.5″ and the boy’s one was 4.75 x 3″

Trim down the EZ transfer sheets and read the directions on the package. Pretty much you put it face down on the cream fabric and press with a dry hot iron. Then peel off the backing paper. I love using these sheets – expect to see more projects with words and quotes 🙂

Cut the burlap so as to “frame” the word square. Using the basting spray, baste the word piece to the burlap, then the to the journal cover.

Position as desired.

Sew around it twice with dark brown thread.

Cut the “flap” fabric (2) 10″ x 11″ squares and press in half lengthways.

Cut the lining fabric 16.5″ x 11″. then lay the flaps like this matching raw edges.

Baste the hair elastic in the center of the back of the journal cover:

Place the journal top right sides together with the lining/flap piece an pin all the way around. Sew around the whole piece using 1/4″ seams and leaving an opening to turn at the bottom center. Turn right side out. Press. Top stitch the opening closed with matching thread.

Insert the composition book into the cover and mark where the button should go. Sew the button on with needle an thread, careful not to catch the flap.

I love how they turned out and my children were super excited to receive one of these tonight during our Family Home Evening!!

Filed Under: Blend Fabrics, crafts, fall, FEATURED, FHE, Heat n Bond, projects, sewing, thanksgiving, Therm O Web, tutorial

Modern Black & Orange Quilt – Blogger’s Quilt Festival Entry

October 29, 2014 by Amanda 1 Comment

Thanks so much for stopping by! I always look forward to the Blogger’s Quilt Festival presented by Amy’s Creative Side. I love seeing all the fabulous quilts out there! I am entering my Modern Black & Orange Quilt in the “Modern Quilt” category. I made this quilt last month and it is one of my all-time favorites. I love the traditional Halloween colors of Black & Orange.

This quilt was fun to put together – it’s a Disappearing 9-Patch. I love the many variations on this quilt pattern and I love how the colors play together in this design.

The quilt measures 49″ x 62″

It’s machine quilted by me with an all over meander pattern.

The binding is hand-sewn.

This is how the block looks once the 9-Patch is cut up. I love how making the center of the 9-Patch black, it makes the small black squares that pop in the quilt. If you would like the exact pattern, click HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by!!! Hugs 🙂

Filed Under: Blogger's Quilt Festival, FEATURED, quilt

Fall Friends Applique Quilt – Blogger’s Quilt Festival Entry

October 29, 2014 by Amanda Leave a Comment

It’s that time of year again, the Blogger’s Quilt Festival from Amy’s Creative Side! I am entering my “Fall Friends” quilt in the “appliqué quilt” category. I am so in love with this quilt that I just finished sewing today! The woodland animal appliqué patterns are from Jennifer Heynen’s book “A Walk in the Woods“. I came up with the design of the quilt – it’s a disappearing 9-Patch with sashing. The fabric’s are also from Jennifer’s “A Walk in the Woods” fabric line. I don’t know about you but I am in love with hedgehogs, squirrels, and foxes!!!

The quilt measures 56″ x 72″. The appliqué is fused with Heat n Bond Lite and then straight stitched around the edges. The quilting is long-arm machine quilted and the binding is hand-sewn.

Thanks so much for stopping by! and Happy Fall!!!

Filed Under: appliqué, Blogger's Quilt Festival, fall, FEATURED, Heat n Bond, quilt, Therm O Web

Taylor Swift 1989 Launch Party

October 28, 2014 by Amanda Leave a Comment

taylor swift 1989 party ideas

October 27th 2014 could not come fast enough in our house! We are big time Taylor Swift Fans!!! To celebrate the much anticipated day, we threw a 1989 Launch Party with all our friends. It was fun to come together and celebrate our favorite artist Taylor Swift!

We had everyone come dressed in 1989 inspired outfits. When the girls arrived, we put fluffy bows in their hair. We watched a special message from Taylor Swift then put on the Shake It Off video and danced around.

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1989 TRACK SCAVENGER HUNT

Then we went outside where and had a scavenger hunt. I had printed off a paper that listed each track on the 1989 album and we had previously hid an items representing the track. The girls had to figure out which item went with which track. Here is the list:

Track #1 Welcome to New York – I Heart NY T-Shirt

Track #2 Blank Space – White piece of paper

Track #3 Style – Make Up

Track #4 Out of the Woods – Large Stuffed Deer

Track #5 All You Had To Do Was Stay – Stuffed “sitting” dog

Track #6 Shake It Off – Salt & Pepper Shakers

Track #7 I Wish You Would – Birthday Candles

Track #8 Bad Blood – Syringe from toy doctor set

Track #9 Wildest Dreams – Tiger in a baby bed

Track #10 How You Get the Girl – a small doll in a net

Track #11 This Love – Heart Doily

Track #12 I Know Places – Road Map

Track #13 Clean – glass cleaner

We put all the papers in a basket and drew a winner and she got a prize.

After the scavenger hunt, we had Welcome To New York refreshments, Out of the Woods cookie decorating, and Shake it Off shirt painting.

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WELCOME TO NEW YORK

NY Pizza Dip, recipe HERE – my husband declared this his new favorite food, served with bagel ships and baguettes

NY Cheesecake

Jewish Rye Deli Sandshiches

York Peppermint Patties

Yankee Stadium Popcorn Balls

Black and White Cookies, recipe HERE

The Big Apple apple dip, recipe HERE

OUT OF THE WOODS

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We made sugar cookies inspired by the woods: acorns and leaves. The girls decorated them. 1989 taylor swift_19

SHAKE IT OFF

I cut stencils on the Cricut that said “Shake It Off” and the girls painted shirts. They turned out super cute. We just used acrylic paint and a stencil brush.

Shake it Off

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DRAW MEREDITH AND OLIVIA

We had to get Taylor’s kitties involved in the party, so each girl was given a sharpie and a paper plate. They were to draw a picture of Taylor’s cats by holding the plate on their head and not looking at it. 3 of the moms were the judges and the winner got a prize.

LYRIC CHALLENGE

Throughout the night we stopped the music and had 3 girls come up for a Lyric Challenge. I read a line from one of Taylor’s newest 3 singles and they had to correctly say the line that followed. This was super fun and the girls totally know all the words to the songs!

For the prizes I got the latest InStyle magazine with Taylor on the cover, some cute infinity scarves, knee socks, and a few other items.