Falling Leaves

Hi Folks!

 The feel of fall in the air - cooler nights, leaves turning color and flocks of birds preparing to fly to warmer climes.

It's one of my favorite times of year for decorating. I love the mix of colors! This year I'm making a fall leaf spray to hang on a door. 

I'm using stiff felt (Kunin Friendly Felt) and Gwen Studios ribbons. I'm cutting the leaves using my Sizzix Big Kick and a leaf die from Tim Holtz. If you don't have a leaf die, head outside and pick up a few leaves for patterns and cut them out freehand.

In order to make the flat leaves more dimensional, I folded them in half and sewed a line down the back.  If you don't have a sewing machine, hand stitching will work, too.

I used hot glue to tack the leaves together.  I cut a total of 24 leaves for this spray.

Then, I cut off the tails on one of the pre-made bows.  I undid the second one and added the length to make longer tails.  I also added lengths of grosgrain ribbon in red, yellow and brown and hot glued them to the back.

I added a hangar at the back of the bow.  I used a paper clip, but you can use a loop of narrow ribbon or string. Although I made a spray to hang, these look great as a centerpiece for your holiday table.  Intertwine the leaves with colorful ribbons.

You can find Gwen Studios ribbon at your local craft and hobby store (Joann's) or at Walmart or on Amazon.

Look for these ribbons:

Brown Plaid Burlap Ribbon

Grosgrain 3/8" Ribbon

Look for more fun ribbon ideas using Gwen Studios ribbons on the Designer Crafts Connection.

(I receive the Gwen Studios ribbons as part of the perks of being a member of the design team.  They have a wide variety of high-quality ribbons, which I am very pleased to use and recommend.)

New Designs from Herrschners

 Hi Plastic Canvas Stitchers!

Here are a couple of new designs in plastic canvas from Herrschners. Look for them under Plastic Canvas Kits.

Retro Recipe Box

Garden Greetings Gift Card Holders

I hope you enjoy these.  Happy stitching!

Turquoise Set

 Hi Everyone!  Thanks for following along.

I'm finally getting back to creating jewelry with some of the stones and beads that I've collected in the past few years. 

This turquoise is from the Kingman mine in Arizona, which we visited five years ago.  I combined it with faceted apple jasper rondelles (Dakota Stones), turquoise rondelles (Toltec Turquoise) and smaller red jasper rondelles (Hobby Lobby) along with antique copper spacers (TierraCast) and copper clasps (Patricia Healey). The bracelet and necklace are strung on Soft Flex Beading Wire in Butterscotch Imperial Topaz color.  

New Christmas Design

 Hi Stitchers!

If you want to get a head start on Christmas stitching, here's a new design I created for Herrschners.

Happy Stitching!

Back to School Backpack Clips

 

Back to school! Is it really that time of year already?!! Yes, it is!  In less than a month, the kids will be heading back to school.

Here are some quick ribbon tags that they can use to decorate a gym bag, backpack or binder using Gwen Studios ribbon.

Start with the finding you will use to attach the tag.  This can be a key ring, a large paper clip or a large lobster clasp.

For the ribbon, you'll need about 15" of 1/4" or 3/8" satin ribbon.

Slide the ribbon through the loop of the ring or clip. Make an overhand knot.

Slide on large hole beads, like pony beads.  Then, add a name or nickname and other fun beads. Overhand knot after the last bead.  Trim the ends of the ribbon.

For this tag, the pony beads slide on over both ribbons.

For this tag, which can be used on a book or binder, the beads slide on one ribbon.

For this tag, use two strands of ribbon and one of cord.  The cord is beaded with acrylic beads.

With the variety of ribbons available from Gwen Studios, the choice of beads and charms and YOUR imagination, these tags will be your unique creations!

You can find Gwen Studios ribbon at Walmart, Joann's, Michaels and on Amazon.  Here are a couple of links to get you started:

Sweet Shop ribbon

Satin Ribbon

For more Back to School crafts using Gwen Studios ribbon, check out the Designer Crafts Connection.

Fourth of July Ribbon Bracelets

 Hi Everyone,

This month, I'm making patriotic bracelets that are so easy you'll want 3 or 4!  I'm using some wonderful faux leather studded trim from Gwen Studios. This ribbon is thicker than most ribbon and works beautifully in bracelets.

Here are the two ribbons I used with the findings you'll need for your bracelets. You need two ribbon ends, about 4 jump rings and a lobster clasp. You'll also need scissors and two pairs of flat pliers.

Slide the ribbon end over the end of the ribbon and squeeze it together with a pair of pliers.

Open jump rings by twisting with two pairs of pliers and attach the clasp on one end of the bracelet.  On the other end, add two or three jump rings or a short length of chain.

Here are the finished bracelets:

You can cut them longer to wrap around your wrist two or three times also.

I attached a charm to the end of the chain on this one.

You can find these Faux Leather Trims at Walmart,

Set up a table at your Fourth of July barbecue or the next children's birthday party for some crafty fun!

Stop by the Designer Crafts Connection for more ribbon crafts!

(As a designer for Gwen Studios, I receive sample of their products. I think you'll be very happy with their quality and variety.)

Ribbon Hatband

 Hi Everyone!

Father's Day is coming up and I have a quick and easy gift that you can make for Dad or Grandpa.  It's a new hatband for his favorite hat.  I've made this one for a cowboy hat but change out the colors and ribbons to suit the hat and the person.  

I started with some great Faux Leather Ribbon from Gwen Studios in animal prints.  

Cut ribbons to wrap around the crown of the hat with an extra inch or so for overlap. The length you need will vary with the size and type of hat.  Center the narrower ribbon on the wider ribbon.  I used 3/8" and 7/8".

Apply glue to the back of the narrow ribbon and glue in the center of the wider ribbon. I used Felt Glue from Beacon. It's great for fabric and felt.

Wrap the ribbons around the hat to check for size, overlap the ends and glue.  Trim any excess ribbon.

I glued a flat-back jewel to a metal medallion and glued it to the ribbon.  Look for an item to glue to the hatband that makes you think of the person who will wear it.

Look for Gwen Studios ribbon at all your favorite craft and hobby stores:  Walmart, Joann's, Michaels and on Amazon.  When looking for these particular Faux Leather ribbons, look on eBay.

This blog post features Gwen Studios ribbon, of which I received samples as a member of the design team.  

Look for more Father's Day ideas featuring Gwen Studios ribbon on the Designer Crafts Connection.