i heart fabric

June 12, 2008

Felt Flowers | 31 Crafty Flowers in 31 Days - Day 29

Day Twenty-Nine-still feelin' fine!

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Today's flower tutorial for 31 Crafty Flowers in 31 Days  is one of my favorites!  Felt flowers!  No matter how you make these they turn out so pretty!


 Here's what you need to get started:
Gather supplies  


-Felt in bright colors
-Needle & embroidery floss or thread
-Scissors
-Buttons

Step One

Step one-cut felt

Cut the felt in in flower shapes. 

Step Two


Step two-layer felt

Step three-add button

Layer the shapes.  The more layers the prettier your flower will be. 

You can use a button as the center or embroidery, sequins or beads look pretty too.


Step Three

Felt circles

For a little more complicated felt flower, cut your felt in graduating circles.


Step Four

Cut circle


Snips 

Snips2

Cut out flowers

Next, cut thin little triangles out all the way around to create squarish petals.


Step Five
 

Emboider

Emboider2

Emboider3


Now layer your flowers and take a small stitch with contrasting thread (I used 3 strands of embroidery floss) about a quarter of an inch in on the petal, down over the edge and into the next petal. 


Do this through each layer of petals as shown below.

Finished


That's it!  Fun & fast felty flowers!



Grace & Peace,

Melissa~
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"At that time the Lord All-Powerful will be like a beautiful crown, like a wonderful crown of flowers for His people"
-Is 28:5

June 06, 2008

Office Supplies, Book Pages & Balloon Flowers! | 31 Crafty Flowers in 31 Days - Day 25

 

Look Alive it's Day Twenty-five!

31_Flowers

Hey today we have some more fabulous flower tutorial links and even a video-Woo-hoo!  Enjoy these!


How About Orange

Flowers + Fabric + Office Supplies = L-O-V-E! 

Okay, if you can only go to one of the links today it has to be this one.  Jessica is one of my very favorite bloggers *ever*! 

She is so full of fun and inspirational ideas and just visiting her blog will make you feel happy! 

Her tutorial on flowery fabric-covered office supplies really will brighten your day!

Reconstructed Shabby Chic Silk Flowers

Here you will find a really neat tutorial on taking apart a silk flower and layering it with lace & glitter & stamping to make one lovely, shabby chic flower!  (Forget what I said about only going to one link!  You can't miss this one either! heh-heh)



Book Page Flowers

Tammy has a tutorial for making gorgeous paper flowers from book pages and stamping ink!  You will love this one! (See the one link only thing will just not work)


Balloon-a-ful!

Just for fun how about learning how to make a balloon flower!  Click play below!  (It looks pretty easy if you don't have the debilitating-fear-of-the-balloon-pop-noise thing going on...heh-heh)




Find more DIY videos



Ok have fun with these this weekend and come back Monday for more 31 Crafty Flowers in 31 Days!


Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~
---------------------------------------------------------
 "If you value Wisdom and hold tightly to her, great honors will be yours. It will be like wearing a glorious crown of beautiful flowers." 
-Proverbs 4:8-10

June 04, 2008

Rounded Petal Fabric Flowers | 31 Crafty Flowers in 31 Days- Day 23

Day Twenty-Three and no admission fee!

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Today we have another fabric flower tutorial for the 31 Crafty Flowers in 31 Days

This one is very similar to the fabric flower we made before but instead of pointed petals you get round petals.


 Here's what you need to get started:
Gather supplies

-Fabric
-Needle and Thread
-Scissors
-Buttons

Step One


Step one-cut squares

Cut six 3x3 squares of fabric.


Step Two

 Step two-press squares
Fold in a triangle shape, wrongs sides together and press.


Step Three

Step three-stitch squares

Stitch a loose gathering stitch around the open edges of the triangle.

Step three-stitch squares2

Step Four

  Step Four-gather petals

Now gather the fabric into a petal shape by pulling the thread through.
Step Four-gather petals2


Step Five
 

Step Four-gather petals3


Attach the next petal to the first and then stitch around the edges and gather.  Repeat this for all five petals.

Step Six


 Step five-attach petals

Once you've finished gathering all your petals attach the last petal to the first petal to form the flower.


Step Seven

Finished


Add a button to the center and your pretty fabric flower is finished!


Try putting these on:

-tote bags

-journals

-barrettes

-a brooch

-a scrapbook cover

-a t-shirt

-a bulletin board pin 


Have Fun!


Grace & Peace,

Melissa~
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"He made the flowers, the lamps and their objects of pure gold."
-2 chron 4:21

May 29, 2008

Applique Flower Stationery | 31 Crafty Flowers in 31 Days - Day 19

Day Nineteen - Kentucky Wonder Bean.

(no meaning...it's just starting to get hard to rhyme the word teen! heh-heh)

31_flowers_shadow



We're using fabric to make appliqué note cards for today's 31 Crafty Flowers in 31 Days !

Finish crop2
This is such a perfect way to use up your scraps of lovely fabric that are too small for anything else! 

I think it would be a great way to repurpose old clothes and linens as well!


Here's what you need to get started:

Step one-gather supplies

-Fabric
-Fusible Webbing (like Wonder Under)
-Flower Templates
-Iron
-Cardstock or blank notecards
-Pencil
-Scissors

Step One

Step two-trace pattern

First cut a piece of the fusible webbing to the size you'll need for your appliqué and place the rough side on the wrong side of your fabric. 

Press it for 5-8 seconds until fused. 

Now trace your flower pattern onto the paper side of the webbing.


Step Two

Step three-cut pattern
Cut out your fabric flower appliqué and leaves if you've made them.

Step Three


Step four-peel paper

Peel the backing paper off your shapes.  Arrange them on your card and press gently for a few seconds until fused.
 
You may want to place a cloth between your card and the iron.


Finished card2

Now you're finished! 

If you want to you can embellish them with beads, buttons, sequins, rubber stamps or even embroidery to spruce them up a bit, but I think they're lovely just like this!


(Now I'm going to go do some housework and try not to worry that they've killed-off Sawyer in LOST tonight!)


Grace & Peace,

Melissa~
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"My beloved is to me a cluster of henna flowers in the vineyards of En-gedi ..."
-Song of Solomon 1:14

May 28, 2008

Rubber Stamp Embroidery Pattern | 31 Crafty Flowers in 31 Days - Day 18

Day Eighteen - It's one crafty scene.

31_flowers_shadow


Today's crafty flower idea for 31 Crafty Flowers in 31 Days is to use your flower rubber stamps as patterns for embroidery!

Finished crop

I'm going to make a little felt patch, but you could use any fabric that can be embroidered on or even paper!

DISCLAIMER: Um...this is not an *embroidery* tutorial 'cause...you know...I'm just learning to do that myself so I'm no expert...actually I'm not a stamping expert either so...(heh-heh) just get what ya can out of it, k?


Here's what you need to get started:

Step one-gather supplies

-Rubber Stamps
-Marker
-Felt (or Fabric) on which to embroider
-Needle & embroidery thread
-Embroidery Hoop
-Scissors

Step One

Step two-color stamp

Use a light colored marker to ink up your stamp.  I'm using a Zig brush marker (english lavender) here.

I use a marker instead of an ink pad for this technique because I have more control over how much ink is applied and where it is applied.

You want to use a light color because you want it to be just barely visible for your pattern.


Tip:

If you don't have an acrylic block for your acrylic stamps (or if you have several but you can't find *any* of them because your craft table is such a mess *cough*) then you can use an old cd case or the lid of a clear plastic container like I've done here.

Step two-color stamp2


Step Two

Step three-press stamp

Press your stamp on to the felt or fabric with even pressure to make your pattern.

Step three-press stamp2

Step Three


Step four-put in hoop

Place your felt or fabric in an embroidery hoop and embroider! 

If you're embroidering on felt be careful not to pull your stitches too tightly or they will all but disappear in the felt (I found this out the hard way...heh-heh)

Step five-embroider

Step Four

Step five-embroider2

Once your complete your embroidery you can cut it out and apply it to all sorts of other craft projects.  I'm thinking of putting mine on a felt cell phone cozy for my new phone! (a pink razr- my first upgrade in five years ha! - more on that later.)


Finished 


If you've sent me an email in the last week or so I'm slowly working my way through them and I'll be replying soon!

Have a great Wednesday crafty friends! - See you tomorrow!


Grace & Peace,

Melissa~
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"The desert and dry land will become happy; the desert will be glad and will produce flowers. Like a flower, it will have many blooms. It will show its happiness, as if it were shouting with joy."
-Isaiah 35:1

May 27, 2008

Altered Reusable Grocery Bags! | 31 Crafty Flowers in 31 Days-Day 17

Day Seventeen - You're a Flower Queen!

31_flowers_shadow


It's day 17 of the 31 Crafty Flowers in 31 Days extravaganza!  Woo-hoo!


Today we're using silk flowers (and a little fabric & buttons) to gussie up those ugly (but important) reusable shopping bags!

(gussie up - that's Texan for make 'em pretty)

I got mine on sale when my Albertson's was going out of business and now I really don't like taking them to other stores because of the big (and mega-ugly) Alberston's logo on them.

I first got the idea of "altering" them at this little blog: ferferly.  She has a wonderful tutorial for creating a pocket to cover the logo.

My bags were different than hers though and I'm not quite as good a seamstress so this is my solution.

(I think you could do this completely with hot glue too if you are not a sewy sew kinda gal.)


Here's what you need to get started:

Step one-gather supplies  

-A reusable shopping bag with an ugly logo (or not)
-Silk flowers (or polyester - the dollar store usually has bunches of them for...well a dollar, heh-heh)
-Fabric Scraps
-Hot Glue gun
-Needle & thread
-Sewing Machine (optional)

Step One

Step two-cut fabric

Cut out the the fabric to the size needed to cover the logo. 

Step Two

Step three-lay out flowers

Layout the flowers in the design/pattern of your choice and pin them to the fabric.


Step Three


Step four-sew edges
I sewed around the edges of my fabric square to make it look sewn-on.  I left raw edges because I like that look, but you could turn the seams under if you prefer a neater look.

In hind-sight I should have done that *before* pinning the flowers on.  It would just be easier.  Now you don't have to make that mistake though.  Aren't I awesome?  I'm always workin' for ya to figure things out. heh-heh.

Step Four

Step five-buttons

Now select the buttons for your flower centers and sew them on by hand.


Step Five

Step six-attach buttons


Attach your fabric square to the bag.  I used hot glue, but you could hand sew it or even hot glue velcro strips to both the bag and the fabric so that the fabric could be removed for washing!

That's it! 

Finished bag

Now you have a pretty bag to take shopping!   

And you can create so many different designs with this idea too! 

You could do a patchwork of different fabrics instead of just one.  You could even use appliqué or embroidery or cross-stitch to decorate the fabric!

You could also hot glue only around three sides to create a pocket (similar to what ferferly did with hers)!

If you don't already have some reusable grocery bags (with mega ugly logos on them) you can get some very nice plain ones to decorate here.


Ok! Go make some fun & flowery shopping bags and say no to plastic!

No_to_plastic_bags


Grace & Peace,

Melissa~
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"At that time the Lord All-Powerful will be like a beautiful crown, like a wonderful crown of flowers for His people."
-Is 28:5

May 23, 2008

Fabulous Fabric Floral Fun | 31 Crafty Flowers in 31 Days - Day 15

 Day Fifteen Oh jumpin' jelly beans!

*ignoring the groans at my lame rhyme*

31_Flowers

Yay day 15!  I'm so glad you've been enjoying the links.  Thanks so much for your emails.  I owe lots of you replies still, but it's gonna take me a little time. 

Please know that I'm reading them all and checking out your amazing links as I am able!

Don't forget if you have a flower tutorial you'd like to see featured, you've created a flower that you would like to see in the Flower Power gallery  (coming soon) or you know of a great link please email me and let me know! 

So let's get to today's featured flower tutorials:

Molly Chicken's

Raggy Flowers

Fabric Flowers


You may remember Molly Chicken from when I featured her in my Neat-O links. 

Of course she has not one but *two* amazing tutorials for flowers.  She even has super sweet tiny little button & embroidery flowers in her header! 


and

Blair Peter's Wise Craft

Links to flower tutorials could not be complete without a link to the lovely Wise Craft blog. 

She has a beautiful fabric flower tutorial (among many other wonderful things at which to drool look).



So that's it for today.  I'll be back Monday with more flower tutorials of my own to share! 


Just a reminder, if you're reading in a feed reader I've updated the sidebars with some new links!


And a little favor to ask, if you have time today would you stop in at Top Momma and vote for me by clicking on the "Pink Paper Peppermints" square? 

I sure would love to have your vote and maybe make it to the Top Momma Hall of Fame - Woo-hoo! (too bad you don't get points for rhyming, huh?)


Ok make some flowers this weekend and come back Monday for more 31 Crafty Flowers in 31 Days!


Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~
---------------------------------------------------------
 "Let us get up early and go to the grape-fields. Let us see if the buds are on the vines, and if its flowers have opened."
-Song of Solomon 7:12

May 22, 2008

Five Point Ribbon and Hairpin FLower Tutorials | 31 Crafty Flowers in 31 Days - Day 14

 Day Fourteen and I'm a flower machine!

31_Flowers

Fourteen crafty flower tutorials and counting -- we're half way there, can you believe it?  I think you're gonna *love* today's links.  (My tutorials will be back in full swing on Monday.)

In the meantime if you have a flower tutorial you'd like to see featured or you know of a great link please email me and let me know! 

Today's features are:

Sharon B's In a Minute Ago


A fabulous tutorial on how to make a five-pointed ribbon flower!

and

Susan Mentrak's Joybucket


She has a really neat tutorial on making a little puffy flower hairpin.  I think you could also make so many other things with this style of flower!

Ok have fun with these and come back tomorrow for more 31 Crafty Flowers in 31 Days!


Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~
---------------------------------------------------------
 "The mandrake flowers give their sweet smell, and all the best fruits are at our gates." 
-S
ong of Solomon 7:13

May 21, 2008

Puffy Fabric & Frayed Fabric Flowers | 31 crafty flowers in 31 days Day 13

 Day Thirteen Lean & Mean

31_Flowers

Hey guys!  Hope you're havin' fun with 31 flowers!   For the next couple of days I'll be posting my favorite flower tutorials by other crafty ladies around the blogosphere!

If you have a flower tutorial you'd like to see featured or you know of a great link please email me and let me know! 

Today's features are:

Maize's Diary: Frayed Flower

Super cute flower made of frayed fabric strips! 

and

Artsy-Craftsy Babe: Fluffy Flower

This is a two for one because she has some fun button flowers in her header! Love those! 

Plus a tutorial for a pretty flower made with a unique hand sewn fabric petal technique! 

She also has a free tote bag pattern to download in the sidebar! Woo-hoo!


Ok have fun with these and come back tomorrow for more 31 Crafty Flowers in 31 Days!


Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~
---------------------------------------------------------
 "If you value Wisdom and hold tightly to her, great honors will be yours. It will be like wearing a glorious crown of beautiful flowers." 
-Proverbs 4:8-10

May 12, 2008

31 Crafty Flowers Day Six - Ribbon Geraniums

Get  your kicks - on day six!

31_flowers_shadow
Finished_crop
Welcome to the second week of 31 crafty flowers in 31 days!

Today's crafty flower is so simple you'll be making dozens of these for all kinds of projects!  It's the ribbon geranium.

Here's what you need to begin:
Step_onegather_supplies
-Pink, Red, and Green ribbon in varying lengths and widths
-Needle and Thread
-Fabric or cardstock to create a project

Step One

Choose the ribbon you want to create your flowers with.

The longer and wider the ribbon the larger the flower you'll have. 

I used 11/2 inch and 2" wide ribbon at about 8-10 inches long for my large flowers and about 11/2 to 2 inches long for the small flowers and leaves.

(Ribbons less than half an inch wide don't work very well for this particular flower)

I'm using a light ribbon and contrasting thread here so that you can see the stitches, but you'll want to choose matching thread for your flowers.

Step_twostitch_ribbon

To make the flower take a long, loose gathering stitch down the center of your ribbon.

Step Two

Step_threegather_ribbon  
When you get to the end, gently pull the thread so the ribbon begins to gather.  Play with the ribbon as you pull to create a shape that you like.

When you're finished your ribbon should look something like this:

Step_threegathered_ribbon

Take a quick stitch at the end to hold the ribbon in place.

StepThree

To make the leaves you can use the exact same stitch:

Step_fourleaf_ribbon

Or for a more rounded leaf you can try this:

Step_fourleaf_ribbon2
Fold your ribbon in half.

Step_fourleaf_ribbon3
Stitch along the bottom (where the two sides meet).

Step_fourleaf_ribbon4_2
Gather the ribbon into a petal shape.

Step_threegathered_ribbon2

That's it!

Once you've gathered enough flowers and leaves you can create a pot of geraniums like this!

Finished_3  
I just used a little piece of gingham fabric and a strip of ribbon to create the pot.  You could sew this to a t-shirt or a tote bag or pillow!

If you're more the paper type you could make the pot from patterned paper and make a gorgeous card or even frame it for a pretty kitchen picture!

Have fun making these and be sure to send me links to your photos if you'd like to be included in the gallery!

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend!

Shameless Plug:

Don't forget to vote for me (Pink Paper Peppermints) in the Mommyfest High Five Photo contest!  Click here to vote.

(It's not just a plug for me you know...you could win chocolates just for voting...see, I'm lookin' out for ya.)

See you tomorrow with more flowers!

♥ Melissa~
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"Look how the wild flowers grow! They don't work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn't as well clothed as one of these flowers."
-Luke 12:27

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