Floss Keepers

I was starting the get a huge tangled mess of floss this weekend as I have been embroidering all of the faces for my new line of PDF Doll and Animal Sewing Patterns. 

Instead of letting it get to the point where I just give up and throw out all of the floss, I decided to make up some floss keepers.  I cannot even remember where I saw this but someone used clothespins to organize their floss. 

Basically, you put the tail into the pin, wind it around and clip the other tail into the pin.  This is so useful.  It really keeps the floss organized.  But I wanted something less plain.  I started thinking about these altered clothespins that I always see on papercrafting sites.  I never made them because it seemed like something pretty useless.  Now I have a reason to make these altered clothespins. 

 I started with a couple of scraps of scrapbooking paper.  I cut the paper down into little sticks the size of the front of the clothespins. 

Then I applied double stick tape to each clothespin.

 Then, I attached the paper onto the clothespins and wound the floss around each pin. 

 I threw a few extras into my sewing basket for the scraps of floss.

I thought that this would make a great gift.  Clothespins are $1.00 for 30.  So, you can make up several sets for under $5.00.  This might be a nice craft show item.  Also, my niece just made up a friendship bracelet kit for one of her friends and she wound floss around business cards or something like that.  This would be much cuter.  Some spools of floss, beads, safety pins tucked into a little makeup bag.  That would be a sweet and affordable gift.

Because I already had everything out, I wanted to make up a set for my sister's birthday.

 I've seen photo puzzles with clothespins, so I decided to make up a set of the floss keepers with a photo of my niece.

 I just sliced up the photo and taped it onto the clothespins.  I think that it would be a cute gift for a birthday or Mother's Day.

Shorts, Capris, and Pants Sewing Pattern

Well, I just spent the last two days finishing up this new pattern for the summer: shorts, pants, and capris pajamas in newborn - 12.

Easter Eggs, Hen, and Chicks Sewing Pattern

I finally managed to finish up two more Easter/Spring sewing patterns.  They are available for instant download in my Craftsy shop.  http://www.craftsy.com/

Now, if I could just get the last two bowling pins for bunny bowling sewn up I might be caught up on Easter patterns.

St. Patrick's Day Scavenger Hunt on Pinterest

Here is another scavenger hunt for my fellow pinterest addicts.  Follow me on pinterest to see what I found and for my weekly scavenger hunts (as if you need a reason to be on Pinterest). 

My Newest Pattern - Easter Bunnies

I've been busy working up a few new patterns for Easter.  This is a project I have been wanting to have time for for over a year.  They are little tagimals, i.e. little bunnies with tag or tabs sticking out for teething babies, plus the little carrot teethers. 

Next, Bunny Bowling, Easter Baskets, Bucket Hat, and some other gems.

Rainbow Crafts for Kids

 I love these little mobiles crafted from paper plates and streamers.

 This is a fun little puzzle made with craft sticks that your child needs to line up in the right order to made the rainbow.

My daughter loves working with the colored noodles.  These are rainbow colored in honor of St. Patrick's Day.

This is a cute rainbow made just from spare ribbons. 

This seems to be the hottest new thing out there and we might try one at your house.  Melted (the the hair dryer or heat gun) crayons on canvas.  We will be using a piece of foam core board.

Felt Food Tea Bags Tutorial

I always try to make something handmade to go along with any gifts I give.  I think it makes it more special when people know you took a little time to make something.  One of my favorite things growing up with three sisters was having tea parties.  My daughter loves having parties with her stuffed animals or friends.  

This is a fun little tutorial I put together for my daughter's play kitchen.  She loves to run a cafe and serve up all of her customers tasty treats.  Normally she makes me coffee - if that says anything about how much coffee I actually drink - but I wanted to make some tea bags for her to play with.

So I just started with those organza jewelry bags.  I cut the ribbons out of the bags by just snipping off the end and pulling them out.

I just cut out a rectangle of black felt and placed it in the bag to represent the tea leaves.  I wanted to use chunky glitter or confetti, but we only had red, so I went with the black felt.

Then, I put one of the ribbons I pulled out of the bag into the top and stitched the sack shut. 

 Finally, I stitched down a small square of felt for the tab.  I would have ironed some little gems or monogram applique on if my iron was working.  I guess that three years of using it every day while sewing has finally burned it out. 

So, here is the set of 4 that I made.  On a side note, this would be a super cute project for a baby shower favor or bridal shower favor filled with bath salts instead of felt. 

I put links to the supplies below.  I usually buy things in bulk online because I often make lots of the same items and put them in my etsy shop or sell them at craft shows.