Tutorials, How To's & Free downloads

I love this Christmas decoration, felt skates, such a clever idea that looks simple to make. The use of a paperclip for the blade is inspired. If you want to make this decoration there is a very clear photographic tutorial at Not Quite Vintage 

This year, as part of my Christmas decorations, I wanted some red and white bunting. If you want to make this simple trimming just follow my tutorial above. With a little adult supervision children could easily make this too.

I've had this cupcake card idea for a while. This time of year the shops are full of Christmas cards, birthday cards being squeezed, so a tutorial for a birthday card might be timely.

I wanted to use a real cupcake case for the card.

Cut a paper case into four, cutting away the base.

Using one of the quarters carefully apply glue to three edges, leaving the top glue free.

Position the paper case on prepared card, very carefully pressing down the glued edges. Now you have a pocket to put a 'cupcake' in.

I was thinking about making a needle case when I came across this tutorial by Skebba. A little letter needle book, perfect! I adapted the pattern slightly. Then the thought came to me, my needle case could do with a companion, a pin cushion. Keeping to the postal theme I designed a parcel pin cushion, over stuffed and tied with string. I think this postal pair would make a perfect present. 

Bib necklaces are really popular at the moment, but can be expensive so why not make your own.

This is my free pattern and tutorial so you can make one for yourself or to give as a present.

You will need:

FELT, for the base. I cut two bibs out from the pattern and machine stitched them together using a zig-zag stitch.

I've been trying out different materials to make pom poms from. The ones in the photographs I made using thin torn strips of polyester lining. The material is light and shiny, reflective, giving the colour depth, it works well. Cotton strips are a little dull in comparison. Ones made from white fabric would make good snowball tree decorations for Christmas. pom pom tutorial 

The window display in Accessorize caught my eye this morning, it was the pom poms! I thought the pom poms were there for display, like bunting, but they are scarves. They are £20 online from Accessorize  but if you had the wool and the inclination you could make your own scarf/bunting by following the pom pom making tutorial here . Just remember to omit the face and wings!

This week it feels like Autumn has finally arrived. Halloween merchandise is starting to appear in the shops so I thought it might be a good time to post my Halloween lanterns and bat and spider tutorials. With half term on the horizon these are perfect crafts to get children involved in.

Debra Collins over at Creative Ramblings has created a very clear tutorial on how to turn a Mason jar into a useful container for your sewing kit. This is a perfect idea for a gift, Christmas is just around the corner! You could fill it with a tape measure, embroidery scissors, a couple of sewing thread bobbins and maybe even make a case for needles. I think it's a really nice idea and not too difficult.

To make these lanterns follow the instructions for the Lantern Tutorial   I used four umbrellas for each of my lanterns. First take apart the umbrellas by removing their sticks and cutting off the cardboard struts. The umbrellas are still quite 'springy' so when you apply them wrap cling film tightly around the glass or jar to keep them in place. I think I left them for about 30 minutes then removed the cling film and left them to dry.