Fat Quarter Gift Bags

Are you like me, always looking for a new way to present small gifts.  I came across a quick and easy pattern to make a gift bag from a fat quarter and it also has two little hideaway pockets.  It is lovely and stable due to the way it is folded.  Are you intrigued?  Do you want to see mine?  Do you want to find the blog of the talented Australian lady who has the tutorial?

OK, I will not keep you in suspense ...

Photos of the first two I have made... let me tell you that many more are going to be made and put in my gift box

For a Sewing Friend

Xmas bag

This Christmas fabric bag is for my best friend, who like me, loves everything about Christmas

You can find the instructions here from Kelly Rachel at "em ay kay ee" - {Make}. 
Now the challenge, I dare you to make ONLY one!

Have fun
Judy

Ribbon Bookmarks

I mentioned in a previous post that I had made some ribbon bookmarks - they were such a hit with family and friends, that anyone that visited me last week, went home with one ...

Therefore while I was watching a movie on Friday night, I made about another dozen.  They are so quick and easy to make and they will make wonderful gifts to pop into a card.

Can you see them just hanging out of either side of the book I am currently reading.  I love Jodie Picoult, however I do not think this is one of her best.

I used instructions from The Answer Is Chocolate and have the ribbon clamps in store.  You could personalise them for your friends, with charms that reflect their interests.

Judy

Tiny Spool Trees

Tiny spool trees - these will make lovely desktop Christmas decorations. Maybe even use them with my handmade Santa's - Just playing ...

Wooden spools - wood stained, wrapped with fabric - greenery glued in  - these were the largest spools I had, but I think they would look better if the spools were taller?

Until next time

Judy

Hot Chocolate Cozy

My niece requested a "coffee cozy" for her hot chocolate that she purchases from the school canteen.  If possible could it be green with kangaroos.  After going through my fabric stash I came up with this ...



Front of Cover

Back - showing cute button

Judy

Two cards from La Mode Buttons

My sister Sue has created these two cards using the new La Mode buttons from my store - they are simply lovely and show how easy it is to use buttons as embellishments and accents.

Celebrate button - 21st card

Joy button - Christmas card

Thanks Sue for letting me show everyone how you used the buttons

Judy

Creative weekend (no photos)

Although I do not have the photos to prove it (yet) I had a very creative weekend.  The weather was wet, cold and miserable, so what better way to cheer myself up than to craft?

I finished -

• two coffee cozies
• five ribbon bookmarks  - The Answer is Chocolate
• two fat quarter gift bags - em ay kay ee
• four wooden spool christmas trees

It was too dull to take photos, either inside or outside, so will load them up later in the week.

Believe it or not, I also had time to do the housework, grocery shopping, bake, visit, process and post orders - all in all - a great weekend

Hope you had a great one also
Judy

A pretty 5 minutes

I have had a busy day on the computer, updating the online store. I have completed two boxes of products, and now only have two more to go.  However a day is not complete if you cannot do a little craft, even if it only takes 5 minutes, it is still counted, isn't it?

I purchased some magnetic needle cases, they were plain / boring, but not now. They went from this:-

to this:-

Much cuter, I think and a lovely little gift to give to sewing friends.  The graphic and idea came from Happybirds Crafting Haven  - thank you

Judy

Coffee Cozy

I used my new coffee cozy for my early morning take-away coffee from McDonald's this morning, and the lovely girl serving me asked where she could get one ...yes I would make her one!

Then when I arrived at work, I got another request from a workmate, she had not seen anything like it before.

These are very simple to make, and there are many free templates on the web - I am not sure where I got my pattern from, as it was a few years ago - if you recognise it as your pattern, please let me know so that I can give you the credit .. 

Judy

Sewing Book Find

I found this delightful sewing book at the second hand shop on Friday - it was published in 1969 by The Singer Company.

I love the introduction - "Did you know that surveys show boys are impressed by girls who can sew?"

I doubt if that is still true today .. but I am sure it would have been a helpful tip to get girls sewing!

It is full of basic tips, like :

Pressing

How to thread a needle

How to tie a knot

Sewing on buttons

How to sit at a sewing machine ...

Lovely little book - a great find

Judy

Playing with Owls

I love all the little owls that have been popping up on the web the last few months, so I thought I would see if I could make some.

I only wanted something that could be popped on a shelf or in a bowl - unobtrusive, however needed to be cute.

This is what turned out, the first two were a little short, so I added another 1" to the pattern (?) / scrap paper and made another two - yes I am happy.

Quick, easy - filled with bear pellets, so they can be flopped anywhere - mostly all glue gun used in this project ... and scrap fabric used also

FUN

Judy

Cat Pin Cushion

One of my favourite blogs is "The Olde Country Cupboard" Sandy is a remarkable talented lady and her daughter is following in her footsteps.  I purchased Samantha's new Cat Pin Cushion pattern yesterday and could not wait to make it!

It was one of the quickest and easiest patterns I have made in a long time - so easy I made two .... if you like cats or have a friend that likes cats this would be an ideal gift ...

The first one, I made with sawdust in the pin cushion ...

The second I just used toy filling in the base - it turned out much plumper, and I put a lovely big ric rac tie around his neck

I cannot decide which one I like the best, it was so much fun, and they have such character.

I also purchased Sandy's New Ernie Elf pattern, which I hope to be able to start this weekend, fingers crossed.

Oh it feels so good to have time to craft again

Have a good weekend
Judy

Calendar Recycle

You may not know it (my family does) but I am a "hoarder"!  I cannot bear to throw things away, I always think there must be another way to use items once they no longer serve their initial use.

I have been having a cleanup while the painters have been in and found this really cute 1998 calendar that I had put to one side ... well, I started thinking .... how can I use these pages.

The light bulb went off - Gift Bags

The first was made using a simple pocket style which could be used to hold a CD, DVD,a Gift card, Lotto tickets or even Money

Pick the focal point of the picture and fold the sides into the back - join by using double-sided tape, fold up the bottom and again use your double-sided tape to secure.  You could also use decorative scissors across the top edge.

The second style was a little more difficult, however with a few trial runs I was able to produce a little gift bag with a boxed bottom.  These would be lovely filled with chocolates or a small gift.  I would not recommend putting anything heavy in these bags.

NB: The size of the gift bag will depend on the size of your calendar page 

I will make another one taking step-by-step photos, so that you can see how they are made ..lovely gift bags that do not cost anything, you have to like that?

Judy



Exercise and Me

Graphic purchased from Sunflower Friends

No words are needed, he he

Judy

Little Wooden Signs

I finished off these little wooden signs today, I had already cut them from a length of timber - easy

Stage 1 - Cut length of timber into 4 inch pieces, and small holes drilled - no photo (sorry)
Stage 2 - Stain timber - I used DecoArt Walnut Gel Stain just paint it roughly on, and then use a cloth to rub it into the timber, just a little bit is needed to give wood grain effect

Stage 3 - Attached your printed paper signs using ModPodge  - I just print my favourite sayings onto brown Kraft paper using a variety of fonts.  ModPodge is used as a paste to attach the sign, making sure you smooth the paper sign so that you do not have any bubbles, then put another coat of ModPodge on top of the printed sign.  Once dry, give the top another coat - this acts as a varnish and protects the sign.

Stage 4 - Finish off by threading Rusty Wire through the holes at the top and curling the ends.

  

I will use these to decorate my handmade Santas, Elves etc and I think they will also look great on the Christmas Tree or as Gift Tags ... many uses and super easy and cheap to make.

Judy

Amy Bradley Cot Quilt

My sister Ann purchased the Amy Bradley Funny Babies Cot quilt pattern at Easter time from my online store, and today has sent me photos of the finished results.  It is gorgeous.  What do you reckon?

I love seeing what creations my customers (and family) make with items purchased in store, it gives me a real buzz ..

Today is a cold and windy day in the Riverina, so I hope to get up to the craft studio this afternoon to make something/anything! It has been so long since I have been able to just sit and craft, I miss it!

Have a great weekend

Judy

BaZooples 3D Childrens Buttons

New range of buttons added to the online store, this is what has been keeping me from my craft studio!
Three boxes of buttons to price and upload ... 1/2 way there.

I have fallen in love with these BUTTONS GALORE-BaZooples Buttons. Created by popular designer Vicki Schreiner; BaZooples are a loveable assortment of hand-dyed 3D zoo animals buttons that have their own personalities. Imagine them on your children's clothes?  They would also look great on your scrapbooking cards ... I will have to get my sister to make a sample card, hint!

Enjoy
Judy

Anzac Day - Remembering

Happy Easter

Graphic purchased from Trina Clark

Enjoy the holiday with family and friends, keep safe

Judy



Busy, Busy, Busy

Life is really busy at the moment - I am looking forward to have a few days rest and recreation over the Easter holidays.

I have listed some of my pre-loved craft books in store - many more will be added over the following days.
They are in excellent condition and are a great bargain.

These two are just $3.00 each + postage
Have a great day
Judy

Cute Jelly Tiles

These Jelly Tiles have just been added to my store - very cute

Just in time for Easter crafts

Always needed - very important part of my life

Coming to quickly

Love it

For my business

Enjoy

Judy

Update on Blog Changes

Well it is coming along slowly - update time:

1. I have moved my email signup to a little lower on the right hand side
2. You can unsubscribe at anytime - there is a link in the email you receive (thanks Chookyblue)
3. I have included a "Facebook Badge" on the right hand side also - once you click on this it will take you to my facebook page (fingers crossed)

Now to learn how to use "Facebook", I think I will have a lesson with my niece - she is always logged on, although it may not be how I would like to use it, he he

Thanks for your patience
Judy

Blogger Help - Facebook

I am trying to update by blog with the Facebook "like" button and I am having a little difficulty - so if my blog goes "haywire" in the next couple of days, it is just me trying out options.

I know I am OLD mature, however facebook and blogging changes are all very challenging.  If I just upload a post and a photo, that is OK - but when I want to make changes, hold onto your seat, anything can happen.

Judy

New Blog Feature - or at least to me .....

This week (after seeing it appearing on other blogs) I discovered that blogger has a new feature.
It allows you receive a email when I post anything new on my blog.

All you do, is enter your email address on the top right hand side section of my blog where is says "Follow By Email" - click in it, enter your email address and then click Submit.

Don't worry about how small the box looks in which you enter your email address, it works!

You will receive a email in your email account, just to verify your subscription.  This ensures that it is a valid email address.  Click on the verification link, and then you are ready to go. 

How easy is this? 

Reminder: will have to check how to unsubscribe and give instructions if you wish to cancel out at any time

Judy

New quilt patterns in store

I have just received the "newly released" Amy Bradley Designs Merry Christmas quilt pattern.  It is so bright and cheerful, and you will have time to get it made before Christmas.  This pattern can be purchased from my online store Cat 'n Cart Crafts - click on the link on the left hand side of my blog.

This Merry Christmas quilt pattern includes full size patterns, full size placement sheets, and instructions to make the 48 1/2" x 62 1/2" quilt. Additional instructions are included to make a 48 1/2" x 48 1/2" version of the Nutcracker and Penguin quilt. Great value for your money.

How cute are these?

Not much crafting happening here at the moment. I am working fulltime for 5 weeks, and also doing some painting in the house, so I am one tired person and feeling very uncreative.  Fingers crossed, by Easter everything will be back to normal, and I will have some creations to share with you.

I did make up some the of Easter Rabbits from my last post, but have not taken a photo to share with you (as yet).  They were quick and easy and look great, so thank you  Kim from Old Road Primitives

Judy