stuff your stockings: finale & giveaway

Can you believe that Christmas in NEXT SATURDAY?!?!  Aaack!  Deep breath.  Double aaack! 
Okay, so perhaps you need a quick stocking stuffer that can be done with stuff you already have on hand or can get easily from a local store.  Well, Stephanie from Binkies and Briefcases has the idea for you.  This is stocking stuffer idea is perfect for the kids in your life.  PLUS, Stephanie is giving a lovely little gift for you as well.  Check out the details at the bottom of the post.
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Hi! I'm Stephanie and I blog over at Binkies and Briefcases.

I have been following Elizabeth for quite a while and have been so inspired by her that I also decided to make all of our Christmas gifts this year, plus I added another little challenge for myself. I'm making all of our gifts by re-purposing things we already have so it's going to be a totally no-spend Christmas.

I was honored that Elizabeth liked my felt solar system enough to share it as a Stocking Stuffer Saturday idea!

To make your own you need:
1. Fleece scarf
2. A few squares of felt (you can find these at any craft store)
I also used some fabric markers & embroidery thread for some extra details

Start by folding one side of the scarf in on itself 6-8 inches or so.


Sew the bottom shut and sew half way up the side. Cut the top half off of the piece that you folded over and you will be left with a little pocket where you can store the pieces when they're not being used. I used embroidery thread to embroider his name on the pocket later.


Next cut space-related shapes out of your felt and use a fabric marker to embellish them. I made a rocket ship, a few stars, all of the planets, and the sun. I labeled the sun and labeled each planet with the first letter of its name.


Store the pieces in the pocket and roll it up. I made a little band out of elastic to keep it shut.
Fold it closed for easy storage:


Open for hours (more like 10 minutes if I'm lucky) of imaginative play:


I think this could also work for home schoolers learning about space, a birthday gift for a child, or even a teacher gift when the class starts studying the solar system. (I was an elementary school science teacher in my life before kids and I would have loved a gift like this.)

I have also gotten a few suggestions for other ideas like making a race track. I'm envisioning a pink one for the My Little Pony Preakness races. Anybody with me?

Thank you so much for having me Elizabeth! I have loved all of the inspirational pieces you have featured and because of your influence me children will forever have the memories of these homemade toys. They might not have cost a dime to make, but memories like that are priceless!

We are also happy to be giving away an 8 x 10 of this architectural print that was inspired by a Restoration Hardware print. (Frame not included)

Here's Elizabeth with the details....

Thanks Stephanie!  Stephanie will be sending the winner their very own Restoration Hardware inspired 8 x 10 print to frame and display.  What a great idea!

Mandatory Entry:
Leave one comment telling me where you might hang this print.

Optional/Extra Entries - leave comment for each entry:
~Be or become a follower of twelve crafts
~Be or become a follower of Binkies and Briefcases
~Leave a comment at Binkies and Briefcases

Giveaway closes on Thursday, December 23, 2010 at 11:59 PM (CST).  Frame not included.  Winner will receive an 8 x 10 print.

Craft on!

stuff your stockings: juice pouch headband tutorial

Let's give Misty a big twelve crafts welcome.  She's sharing a super fabulous stocking stuffer idea with us this week for Stuff Your Stockings!  AND she's offering a very fun giveaway, so don't forget to throw your hat in the ring (whatever that means) to enter to win in the comments section.

I'm SUPER excited to be contributing to Elizabeth's "Stuff Your Stockings" ideas!  I'm a huge fan of Twelve Crafts Till Christmas.  HUGE!!  I love Elizabeth's idea of making one craft each month specifically for Christmas.  I'm thinking I may be following her lead in 2011.  We'll see how I do!

I'm Misty from Creative Itch.  

  

Today I'm going to show you how to make a Reversible Juice Pouch Headband!! 

{Juice Pouch Headband Tutorial}

Supplies Needed:
* 4 juice pouches, cleaned and dried
* Fabric
* Tape
* Sewing Machine
* Coordinating Thread
* about 4" of Elastic
* Headband Template (I just found one online that I liked...HERE)
* Scissors
* X-acto Knife

{Step 1}  To get started, let me first show you how I clean out my juice pouches.  All I do is carefully cut a slit in the bottom, wash out in soapy water, and let air dry.  Sometimes if I want to speed up the drying process, I'll put the juice pouches in the dryer on low. 

{Step 2}  Next you'll need to carefully cut off the back of the juice pouch.  Using an X-acto Knife, start cutting on the bottom of the pouch, where you cut the slit to clean it out.  Keep going until you've cut the whole back of it off.

This will give you a better idea of what it should look like.  The pouch on the left has the back cut off....the one on the right doesn't.

{Step 3}  Sew the pouches together.  I like to use a zig-zag stitch, but you can use a straight stitch if you prefer.

{Step 4}  Fold the pouches in half, and tape your headband template on top.  Cut around the template.

Here's what mine looked like after cutting.

{Step 5}  Fold both your fabric and headband in half.  Place juice pouch headband on the fold of the fabric.  Cut out leaving about a 1/2" border.

**Tip:  I put tape on the inside of the juice pouches to keep them in place while cutting out the fabric.  If you do this, make sure to take the tape off once you're done cutting!!

{Step 6}  Unfold the juice pouches and fabric, and place the juice pouches in the center of the fabric, right side up.  The fabric needs to be right side down. 

{Step 7}  Fold fabric to edge of juice pouch, then fold again.

Tape in place.

Here's mine all taped down.

{Step 8}  Sew along the inside edge of fabric, right over the tape.  I used a straight stitch.  DO NOT sew the ends closed!!  Once you're done with both sides, carefully peel off the tape.  After the tape is all off, iron the fabric flat using low heat.

{Step 9}  Sew your elastic in one end, backstitching to secure.

Then do the same with the other end.  Make sure you back stitch a few times!  (I usually put my headbands on once I've sewed the elastic in one side and measure where I need to sew it in the other side.  Just to make sure it fits snug).

And that's it!!  You're all done!  Now put on your cute headband and admire your work!! 

Check out what Misty is offering up for this week's stocking stuffer giveaway:
~a juice pouch wallet
~2 pairs of scrabble tile earrings

Here's how you can win this prize pack:

ONE entry each - Leave one comment for each entry. 

~Be or become a follower of twelve crafts.

~Head on over to Creative Itch and become a follower.

TWO entries each - You DO NOT need to leave comments for these entries
~Link up your own stocking stuffer ideas and you might be featured on Stuff Your Stockings in the Saturdays to come. You can link up as many as you want.

ONE extra entry - Leave a comment for this extra entry.
~If you link up a stocking stuffer idea, put a link or one of my blog buttons somewhere in the post, sidebar, linky party page, etc. and come back here to tell me that the link or button is up. 

Giveaway will be open for entries until Friday, November 19, 2010 @ 11:59 PM (CST).

**Also, I've started announcing winners of these Saturday giveaways up at the top of the blog rather than in a separate post.  I also contact winners, so the winners do not have to contact me to claim their prizes.**

Craft on!

This post is sponsored by Arise Shine Designs.  Visit Arise Shine Designs for beautiful Scripture-inspired jewelry:

stuff your stockings: business card wallet



I hope you will join me in welcoming Julie for sharing another stocking stuffer gift idea to our growing list.  At the end of the post you have an opportunity to win this stocking stuffer and also link up your own stocking stuffer gift ideas for an opportunity to be featured here on an upcoming Saturday.  Feel free to link up anything that will fit inside a stocking for a girl, boy, adult, pet . . . and yes food treats count as well!

Thank you so much for having me here at Twelve Crafts for your Stocking Stuffer Saturday!  When I found that link a while back, I was really excited because finding stocking stuffer ideas that don't empty my bank account by itself can be next to impossible!! 

Today, I'm going to share with you my business card wallet tutorial. 

This is great because all you need to make this wallet is a couple scraps of fabric and a couple scraps of heavyweight interfacing.  So first things first...

Materials:

~2 fabric scraps  (1/8 yrd)

~2 interfacing scraps (1/4 yrd)

~matching thread

~normal sewing notions

**Unless otherwise noted, use a 1/4" seam allowance.

Step 1
Cut two pieces from your desired fabric to measure 3 1/2"x8 1/2".  Cut and iron on your interfacing to match the size.

Step 2
Fold one piece in half length wise to cut out the thumb piece.  Cut 1/4 of a circle out on the fold, at the top of the fabric piece.  Do this to both pieces of fabric.

Step 3

Line them up, right sides together, with the thumb piece lining up as well.

Begin sewing about 2/3 of the way down one side of the wallet.

Be sure to back stitch a couple times at the beginning and the end for strength when turning at the end. It helps to use a small stitch when maneuvering around the curve at the thumb piece. Leave a 2 inch space along the side for turning the wallet.

Step 4

Clip your corners and your seam allowance on the curve. Do not cut the stitches!! Turn wallet right side out and press well.

Step 5

Top stitch all the way around the wallet.  

Step 6

Fold wallet in half length-wise and stitch down each long side.

Voila! You have your business card wallet!

Thank you so much for having me.  Come on over and see me at Vibrant Designs!

Thanks Julie! 

Now, here's how you can win your own business card wallet:

ONE entry each - Leave one comment for each entry. 

~Be or become a follower of twelve crafts.

~Head on over to Vibrant Designs and become a follower.

TWO entries each - You DO NOT need to leave comments for these entries
~Link up your own stocking stuffer ideas and you might be featured on Stuff Your Stockings in the Saturdays to come. You can link up as many as you want.

ONE extra entry - Leave a comment for this extra entry.
~If you link up a stocking stuffer idea, put a link or one of my blog buttons somewhere in the post, sidebar, linky party page, etc. and come back here to tell me that the link or button is up. 

Giveaway will be open for entries until Friday, November 12, 2010 @ 11:59 PM (CST).

**Also, I've started announcing winners of these Saturday giveaways up at the top of the blog rather than in a separate post.  I also contact winners, so the winners do not have to contact me to claim their prizes.**

Craft on!

This post is sponsored by Arise Shine Designs.  Visit Arise Shine Designs for beautiful Scripture-inspired jewelry:

stuff your stockings: i love felt food!

I'm so excited to have Susan here today.  Susan is a felt food artist.  You've just got to check out her skills at her Etsy shop.  She makes felt look so good I could eat it!  Felt food would make a super fun stocking stuffer.  I had to chuckle when Susan sent me her tutorial for felt bacon.  I've been a vegetarian for 21 years, so the last time I had actual bacon was around the age of 11.  BUT I eat vegetarian bacon (yes, there is actually such a thing), and it is yummy.  So I can't wait to make my own felt vegetarian bacon!

Susan is offering the best giveaway so that you can make it or win it . . . or your choice of "it" from who Etsy shop, so don't forget to enter at the bottom of the post! 

Hi! I am Susan from Chasing Marcus and owner of the Etsy shop, The Felted Pear. On Chasing Marcus, I blog about the day to day activities with 2.5 year old daughter and our crafting adventures. In my Etsy shop, The Felted Pear, you will find handcrafted felt food made from Eco-fi felt and stuffed with bamboo fiber stuffing.

Recently, I have been combining the two, for a blog series So, You Think You Can Felt Food, where I have been posting different tips, tricks and tutorials for making your own felt food.

My husband and I have commited to a handmade Christmas, and our daughters stocking will be filled with felt food. I was so excited when I saw that Elizabeth was doing a Saturday Series on Stocking Stuffers and am honored to be a part of it. Today I will be sharing with you how to make posable felt bacon strips. Combine these with the fried egg tutorial on Chasing Marcus and the Strawberry and Bread tutorials here on 12 Crafts and you have a complete breakfast meal!

So, here are the details:

1. Gather your materials. You need:

• Printed Pattern (found here)
• 1 sheet Ruby Red Felt
• 1 sheet Cashmere Felt
• Embroidery Floss to match Cashmere Felt (I use DMC 437)
• DMC Wired Color Infusions Embroidery Thread (I used the brown)
• Needles-Regular sewing and a VERY large eye needle
• Scissors
• Disappearing Ink Marker

2. Trace Pattern onto double thickness of Ruby Red Felt and then cut them out. Be sure to cut out two identical pieces for each slice of bacon.

3. Trace pattern onto a single thickness of Cashmere felt and cut out.

4. Cut the cashmere felt vertically into 4-5 equal sections. Be sure to follow the natural curves of the bacon.

5. Lay 2 strips on the Ruby Red Felt, and trim excess felt.

6. Stitch down cashmere felt with a running stitch.

7. Thread Large Eye Needle with Color Infusion Wire wrapped Embroidery Thread. I had to use a yarn needle. Tie a knot in the end as small as you can. This thread is pretty bulky so you will want to make your knot as small as possible to avoid bulk in your bacon slice. I needed about 18 inches of thread per bacon slice.

8. Stitch a running stitch along the outer edges of the bacon. Don't be afraid to pull--you will have to pull quite hard in order for the thread to go in and out. My felt did not stretch out even though I thought it would torn to shreds, because I was pulling so hard =)

9. Once all four sides are stitched together, tie off the thread and hide the knot and you are done!

Your bacon slices will be posable and look like just cooked crisp bacon. "Tasty!" as my daughter would say.

You have got to check out The Felted Pear! 

Susan is giveaway a felt grocery bag AND a $10.00 credit to her Etsy store! 

I so wish I could enter my own giveaway! 

Now, here's how you can win:

*Leave one comment for each entry.*

1)  Be or become a follower of twelve crafts.

2)  Head on over to The Felted Pear and leave a comment here telling me what you would pick if you won.

3)  Be or become a follower of Chasing Marcus.

4)  Leave any ole comment you want.  ;)

Giveaway will be open for entries until Friday, November 5, 2010 @ 11:59 PM (CST).

**Also, I've started announcing winners of these Saturday giveaways up at the top of the blog rather than in a separate post.  I also contact winners, so the winners do not have to contact me to claim their prizes.**

Craft on!