Inspiration Daily: 12. 09. 08

TableTopProps by Jen Gotch

Font-astic Gift Wrapping

Hello again lovelies!  I hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing weekend.  All your birthday wishes on Friday meant so much to me, you truly brightened my day and made my 30th so special!  Thank you so much!

Now... Check out this creative gift wrapping solution by Bugs and Fishes by Lupin.

The possibilities are as limitless as your imagination.  Your letters can be cut from scraps of decorative paper, vintage wallpaper, old gift wrap, paper bags, felt, fabric, kids artwork, newsprint, magazines, etc. etc.

Read more about the how-tos on Bugs and Fishes.  Have fun!

Inspiration Daily: 12. 08. 08

Homage to the Polaroid by Rachel Denbow. {FLICKR} . {BLOG} . {ETSY}

D.I.Y. Fabric Flower Garland

Kayte Terry (Stylist/crafter/blogger/author extraordinaire) wrote to me a little bit ago and asked if I thought you all might appreciate a crafty tutorial.  Of course you would... right?!!!  So because Kayte is such a sweetie, she created this fabulous Fabric Flower Garland project (plus tutorial) for us to try out this weekend (even though it is close to the Holidays, you can use this project for a decorative or party accent all year round).  Make it your own by using fabric scraps you have laying around in your favorite colors and patterns.  You could even add beads, pom poms, or any matter of goodness to make this project perfectly you.  For more amazing D.I.Y. projects be sure to check out Kayte's book: Complete Embellishing and look for her new book coming out in 2009 (published by Chronicle Books)!

 I'll can't wait to make this garland myself today.  As is tradition on my birthday, my family gets together and
creates a reusable holiday craft.  It's been so fun to pull these
projects out each year and remember the wonderful times we've spent
creating and laughing together.  Here's a little peak at one we did for a past b-day. 

What you need (makes one three yard string):

Download Flowers Template

• Scissors for cutting fabric & for cutting paper
  
• Measuring tape
• Scraps of wool felt in five or six colors (if you don’t have wool felt, regular old craft felt will do)
• Two different 8 ½” x 22” scraps of cotton fabric
• Two 8 ½” x 11” sheets of paper backed fusible webbing
• Iron
• Tailor’s chalk
• Three yards of yarn
• Embroidery needle with an eye large enough for yarn or a sharp yarn needle

Start by printing out the flowers template and cut those shapes out with paper scissors.

Step 1)  You want your garland to be pretty on both sides so you need to fuse two pieces of fabric together. To do this, cut one of the pieces of fabric in half so that you have two 8 ½” x 11” pieces. Lay one piece of fabric wrong-side-up on a flat surface. Peel one side off the paper backed fusible webbing, place it on top of the fabric and iron to the fabric to fuse. Peel the other side off the fusible webbing, place the other piece of fabric right-side-up over the webbing and iron to fuse.  Repeat Step 1 for the other fabric.

Step 2)  Use your tailor’s chalk to trace the garland templates on the fused fabrics and the felt. You want an even selection of the different shapes and the felt and fabrics.  To give you an idea, I cut 18 fabric flowers and 36 felt flowers plus 15 of the felt circles for flower middles.  Cut all of them out with fabric scissors.  Brush away any of the marks left by the tailor’s chalk.

Step 3 + 4)  Thread the yarn with your needle and make a knot about 4” away from the end of the yarn.  Pierce the center of a flower with the needle and thread onto the yarn to the knot. Make another knot right over the flower.  Make another knot about 2” above that and thread on another flower, making a knot right above that flower. Continue making knots and threading flowers, adding flower centers every few flowers or as desired.  Don’t worry about measuring every 2”; it doesn’t have to be perfect, so you can just eyeball it.

Step 5)    Add the last flower and knot about 4” away from the other end of the yarn.  Voila! You have a beautiful flowery garland!

Step 6)  Adorn your abode with your beautiful creation or give it as a gift to someone special!

Thanks again to Kayte for this wonderful project!  Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

P.S.  Thank you all for your warm birthday wishes!  Each one means so much to me!

D.I.Y. Repurposed Catalog Hanging Flower Decorations

I first spotted these awesome Repurposed Catalog Hanging Flowers over on Garden Party blog and just had to share them with you all.  They were created by the blogger behind Zakka Life, and I think they are just genius!  Just think of how gorgeous your old J.Crew catalogs would look given new life as these festive decorations! For directions, visit Zakka Life. Thanks Garden Party for finding it first!

Stay tuned for a fun giveaway and contest coming up in just a bit, AND a fabulous d.i.y. project I'll be doing later today as part of my birthday celebration with my family!  See you then.