Mug Rugs...

One day while I was browsing in Jo-Ann Fabrics, I came across this book for Mug Rugs. I had never heard of them before but I guess a lot of people have. I went home and googled - mug rugs - and all kinds of pictures and info came up - isn't the internet great ?! So I decided to give one a try.
I purchased a few fabrics that had motifs on them that I could cut out and use as the theme, ie flowers, cupcakes, owls etc. I only needed to buy 1/8th of a yard so this is a very inexpensive craft. Plus, I already had a ton of fabric that was accumulating and what better way to use it up.

This is the first one I made. I've never been a quilter but because it is so small I thought I could handle it. Finished size is about 6 x 9"

 I stitched in the ditch and appliqued the tea cup.  I also have a lot of trims and laces that I added for accents. Since I was making a few for gifts , I thought I would add their initials.

 

I added a little tage in the colors to match. It says -

Mug Rug

Smaller than a placemat and larger than a coaster.

The perfect size for your mug and a snack.

I think I'll be making more of these.

 And wouldn't it be fun to find a mug and then match the colors to it for a gift?

Emellished Giant Clothespin

I was at the Goodwill store the other day and found this giant clothespin for $1.00, so I just had to buy it! ( It's funny that you don't realize what you need until you see it - of course that's the fun of shopping at thrift stores. But be careful hoarding could become an issue! ). I did think of a friend that hosts card parties and she always has her cards displayed on clothespins just smaller ones - so I  think this would be a nice gift for her. I looked at Michael's to see if they sold them but they didn't. I did find a place on-line. Just google giant clothespin and some sites will come up.

Here's how I embellished it...

First I painted the edges and inside green.  I didn't need to paint the whole thing because I was covering most of it with paper.

Then I measured and cut paper to fit. I found this gorgeous pack of paper at JoAnn's with a garden theme and I just LOVE anything with flowers so it was perfect.  I had this peel and stick from years ago which I needed to use up - it is double sided and sticks to anything, you also could have used modge podge or something similiar.

I like to ink all the edges of my paper. I think it gives it more depth and character. I also cut some flowers and leaves with my cricket,  made a bow with sheer green ribbon and cut a border with Martha Stewart's border punch.

Now it's time to assemble. Peel and stick made putting the paper on easy and I didn't have to wait to let it dry. I like to use my hot glue gun to glue on the flowers and ribbon.

I also made a tag using my new " Trust God" stamp set from Stampin Up.

I embellished both sides. It was very easy to do and I love the way it turned out.

 

I may have to keep this one for myself :)

 

 

 

I'm linking this post up -

 

http://todayscreativeblog.net/link-party-palooza-friday/#more-25861

Cascading Card

This was my first time making a cascading card. The web is full of instructions and ideas. They are very simple to make. It really depends on what you want to put on them, it could take a lot of time cutting things out. I used my cricut to cut out all the floral shapes and my stampin-up bird punch and martha stewart butterfly punch.

I made three of them at once for friends birthdays. I think they really enjoyed them and the pink flowers remind them that Spring is on the way!

Hankie Hanger...

I collect all these beautiful Hankies... everytime I'm at a thrift store or a yard sale I pick some up. I usually only pay 10 or 25 cents. I have just been letting then pile up on my dresser but you really can't appreciate all their beauty like that. So I decided to make a hanger for them.

 It's so simple to make you might want to make one for yourself. All I did was cut some bamboo skewers to about 5inches and glued them between ribbon...

I put ribbon on top also and glued a button on each spot so you couldn't see the glue...

I ironed every hankie so it would lay just right and then I figured out what order I wanted them in....

It's kind of like a miniature ladder.  I layered them so the pretty embroidery would be show-cased.
At first I hung it on the side of my red hutch.....

but I think they were too delicate there so I moved them to the side of my tea pots...

they don't stand out as much, but I like them better there. Now I can enjoy them everyday! :)

Hutch - before and after

So I am LOVING my new red dining room, but after looking around I had a thought. My hutch in the dining room is blue...

 I have really enjoyed my hutch for many years. I found it in the trash a long time ago. All it needed was a little fixing and a coat of paint. ( It always amazes me what people will throw away!)

 I had painted it blue which was fine, but I thought I might change it to RED! So I did. First I took everything off. I laid paper all around and on the floor and on the walls - I didn't feel like moving the whole thing so I painted it where it was. I sanded it all over- I wasn't changing the white so it was really only the sides and front. I gave it two coats of red paint - the same paint I used on the shelves. I did remove the drawers and the handles. It's much easier than trying to paint around them and it gives a nicer finish. When it was completely dry I went over the whole thing with a coat of stain. Stain gives it depth and provides a nice top coat so it won't chip. The only bad thing about the stain is it takes forever to dry - but it is worth it in the end. I love the way it turned out! :) I wish my pictures did it justice - it's not that bright! Don't be afraid to paint your furniture - I'm not....

 

Before...                                                                           After...                                               

Tea Pot Collection/ Red & White

Sometimes the little things make me so happy:) Like changing out the curtains and freshening up some pillows. That's what I did this weekend. I had this red and white fabric I had been saving and this other red fabric from a curtain - both were bought at the thrift store for pennies. I finally re-did my curtains in the dining room and covered a window seat.

The curtains are red and white check - which I love! and I just found this red wreath for $2.00 yesterday at my local thrift store.

I used the red floral fabric to make a cover for the window seat.It's not attached just tucked in, this way I could wash it since the dog sits there a lot. I trimmed the cover with some of the left over red check and covered a couple of pillows with the curtain red floral.

I did the centerpiece with one of the cheese plates I made a while back, a couple of bunnies and 2 vintage crocheted pot holders and a little ivy.....

well, not only was I sewing but I also painted a few shelves and put out my tea pot collection...

It seams every time I go to the thrift store I find a cute little tea pot. ( Pardon the glare)Now I have a place to display them...

It's amazing how changing things just a little could make me so happy. What can you change in your house?

Felt flowers

I've been so busy lately but I thought I would share something I was just working on - felt flowers. I know they're everywhere, but they are so fun to make and so easy & inexpensive - especially if you have a lot of odds and ends from different projects like I do. I bought the cheap felt it's only 25 cents but you can get some with more colors and designs for less than a dollar.

They were all so easy to make - you can find directions on the net - just google felt flowers. I added beads, feathers, lace, jute and sequins. I think the black one is my favorite. I pinned it to a black leather purse I have and it looks great!