Aurora Nights and other stitchery

 Hi Friends!

Here's some of my newest designs from Herrschners!

Aurora Nights Wall Hanging

Aurora Nights Tissue Box

Aurora Nights Coasters and Holder

Lighting the Way Wall Hanging

Harvest Recipe Box

Harvest Recipe Box

Lots to stitch and something for everyone is this batch!  See them all at Herrschners under plastic canvas.

Back to School Bulletin Board

 Hi All!

It's that time of year again!  Back to School!  I know most of you are back already, but here's an accessory that will be a fun addition to your student's desk or locker.  

We're going to decorate a bulletin board with Gwen Studios ribbon and buttons. 

 First, make or buy a small bulletin board.  This one is a felt-covered hexagon from the Dollar Store. I chose purple but they come in several colors. 

The board also came with several push pins. With hot glue, I stacked and glued pastel buttons to the top of the push pins.

Then, I tacked lines of ribbon across the board.  You can arrange them in any way you like.  

I made a couple of bows from ribbon and glued them on also.

Here's how it turned out:

Cute and quick and easy!  Slide in photos or other memorabilia from the school year.  

Get your kids together and have them make their own.  It's a good group craft for birthday parties or scout groups, too.  

Find the Gwen Studios ribbon and buttons here: Gwen Studios Buttons at WalMart

You'll be able to see all the varieties available in all their colors at the link.

Gwen Studios 3/8" Grosgrain Ribbon

Decorate all your Back-to-School accessories like organizers and pencil boxes with more Gwen Studios ribbon and buttons!  See more ideas on the Designer Crafts Connection blog.

Christmas Mushrooms

 Hi Everyone!

Mushrooms and gnomes are still trending in needlepoint, so I was asked to design some Christmas Mushrooms this last spring.  

And, here they are!

Here's the wall hanging:

And, the tissue cover:

And, coasters:

Find them on the Herrschners website under plastic canvas.

Happy Stitching Christmas in July!

Tiger Eyes Tissue Box

 Hi Stitchers!

A new design of mine just arrived on the Herrschners website.  It's an upclose view of a tiger peeking through the jungle foliage.

Here's the link to this unique design:  Tiger Eyes Tissue Box.

Have fun stitching!

Red, White and Blue Tassels

 

Hi Crafters!

Today I have some red, white and blue tassels for you.  They're perfect for the upcoming holidays - Flag Day and the Fourth of July. They're so easy to make.  Set up a table for the kids and let them help decorate!

Here's one of the finished tassels:

To create these tassels, use an assortment of Gwen Studios ribbons: Here I have some striped grosgrain and Sweet Shop packages.

Cut 6 - 12" lengths of ribbon for each tassel.  I used the three striped grosgrains, the star ribbon and the blue satin for mine.

Paint some wooden candleholders for the tops of the tassels. These are 1" high painted red.

Fold the ribbons in half and tie a length of thread around the center of the ribbons.  

To create a tassel that flares out, arrange the ribbons crossing in an X and tape down to your surface with masking tape on either side of the center. Slide the thread under the center and tie tightly.

Thread the twine ends through the hole in the candleholder and pull the ribbons into it.

Wrap the candleholder with more of the thread leaving tails.  Slide buttons or beads on the ends of the tails and knot.

To finish the top, slide on buttons and beads, knot a couple of times and knot again for a hanging loop.

Hang the tassels separately or attach them to a garland.

The ribbon and buttons are from Gwen Studios. 

You can find them at Walmart.com.

White buttons

Red buttons

Or:

Michaels.com

Sweet Shop ribbon

Find more patriotic ribbon designs at the Designer Crafts Connection!

Button Butterfly

 Hi Everyone!

For this month, I'm creating a Button Butterfly for Gwen Studios. As a member of their design team, I recieve their beautiful buttons and ribbon.  They are so much fun with which to create.  

My Mom loved butterflies, so I thought I'd create one in her memory.

To start, I painted a canvas (8" by 10") with one of my favorite colors:  Sea Breeze by DecoArt®.  Then, I dabbed some white on the canvas for clouds.

Then, find or create butterfly pattern.  To create one easily, draw half the butterfly on the fold of a sheet of printer paper.  Cut it out and unfold.  Place it on the canvas.  I angled it, but you could lay it straight if you like. Trace lightly around it on your canvas with a pencil.

Place some of the larger button spots on the butterfly.  Glue in the body.

Fill in the smaller buttons around the larger ones.  You can be symmetrical or not as you like.

You will have some spaces between the buttons.  If you don't like the way that looks, you can layer buttons over the spaces.  Or, you can fill the spaces in with beads.

I added some small beads for the antennae.

You can find Gwen Studios buttons at Walmart.  These are from the 1# bag of solid pastel colors. 

This design is easy enough for all crafters and very adaptable to your own ideas!  It would make a great gift for Mothers' Day or a birthday.  Have fun!

Look for more button and ribbon crafts at Designer Crafts Connection.

Penguin Trio

 Hi Everyone!

Here's a trio of playful penguins for your stitching delight!

I designed these for Herrschners and they are now available in their plastic canvas kits. You can find them here.

I hope you have as much fun stitching them as I did designing them!