Giant Paper Flowers

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to share how to make a giant paper flower on Rogers TV Barrie Daytime show. If you are a Rogers TV subscriber you can view the show online or order a copy of the episode. It was a wonderful experience and I had lots of fun. I therefore wanted to share a little more about this super fun craft on our blog, which I hope will inspire you to give it a try.

Yvette-Michelle Cottle Darby on the set of Daytime | Rogers TV Barrie 

Paper flowers can be a great way to decorate a space for a special event such as a birthday party, engagement party, wedding or baby shower. You can also use them in your home as a decorative accent piece. I personally love having them on display in my craft studio. You can create an elaborate backdrop by attaching them to a wall or on a separate piece of material that you can hang from a wall. You can also create a whimsical atmosphere by just sprinkling them throughout your space.

There are many types of papers to work with, including card stock, tissue paper, crepe paper, construction paper, scrapbooking paper, Japanese paper and so much more. You can even repurpose the pages from newspapers, old books and magazines. I suggest you experiment with different types of paper and see what you like best.

On the show I demonstrated using fifteen sheets of white 65lb card stock for the petals, two sheets of green card stock for the leaves, and one sheet of yellow construction paper was used for the stamen. I used a standard card stock paper that can be found at your local craft or office supply store and there are usually lots of colours to choose from. Each sheet is generally 8.5 x 11 inches.

Here is a list of supplies you will need:

Card Stock Paper (65lb or your preference)
Construction Paper
Scissors
Pencil
Eraser
Ruler
Glue Gun
Glue Sticks
Stapler (optional)
Large Paper Clips (optional)

Tip! I recommend using a hot glue gun with high-temperature glue sticks, because it holds and sets really well. However, you can use low-temperature glue sticks, which will be safer if you are doing this craft with young children. Alternatively, you can use a stapler to secure your individual petals and then use your glue gun at the end when putting your flower together.

If you will like to make a giant paper flower, then try out our FREE template when you sign up for our email newsletter. You can scale our template to 200% to fit fully on an 8.5 x 11 card stock. You can also experiment on your own, or join us for an upcoming class at our Barrie, Ontario studio.

Upcoming Classes |  FREE Flower Template with Email Signup

Scrabble Tile Magnets

I recently made some art using scrabble tile pieces and had some tiles left over. I decided to use the tiles to make some fun magnets as a house warming gift. I had purchased an old scrabble set from the thrift store and the rest of the supplies were items I already had in my craft stash. The magnets are super cute and will also look great using small prints of pictures or images to reflect someones hobby. This is a fun and simple project that you can enjoy with kids and the possibilities are endless.

Supplies
Scrabble Tiles
Decorative Paper ( eg. scrapbook paper)
Magnets (round 15 mm / 0.6 in)
Hot Glue or Super Glue
Glue Gun
ModPodge
Dimensional Magic
Scissors
Small Brush

Instructions
1. Cut the decorative paper to fit the face of the tile, and glue the paper onto tile using ModPodge. Let the tile dry before moving onto the next step.

2. Apply the Dimensional Magic to the top of the decorative paper starting in the center of the tile and working outward. Work slowly releasing a small amount of the solution at a time; a little will go a long way. Remove any bubbles with a pin or needle tip.

3. Let dry for several hours on a flat surface. For best results, I recommend drying overnight and covering with a glass to prevent dust particles from settling on the surface while it dries.

4. Apply a small drop of hot glue or super glue to the back of the tile and press the magnet to attach. Let set or follow instructions on the glue you have used.

Now enjoy!

Here are some other projects you may also want to try:

DIY Coasters
Flowers and Butterfly Magnets
Decorative Magnets
Bottle Cap Magnets
DIY Trinket Box

DIY Painted Cross Stitch Art

I have seen several painted cross stitch art pieces online and in some of my favourite magazines. This week I finally decided to try it out on a small wood panel. Overall it was a little time consuming, but I had so much fun with this project. I think it is so sweet and a wonderful project that both adults and kids can enjoy making.

I started off by creating a cross stitch design on paper that could fit onto a small board and kept it simple by selected only a few colours. I found it very helpful to work out my design on paper initially and it was a great guide. In the end, I did make a few small changes to the design, but stayed pretty close to the original concept.

Materials
8 x 10 inch Wood Art Board or Wood Painting Panel
Acrylic Paint (desired colours)
Paint Brush
Paint Tray
Pencil
Ruler
Sealant (optional)

Instructions
1.   White wash the wood panel (optional) and draw pencil lines one inch apart to create a grid.

2.  Select your paint colours and paint your cross stitch design onto the wood panel using "X's" within the 1" squares. I used "Martha Stewart Crafts" acrylic craft paints in the following colours: Peppermint Bark, Camellia Pink, Scottish Highlands, Green Curry, Pollen and Tartan Red. I also used a size 6 round brush. You can use a different brand of acrylic craft paint or use a smaller or ticker brush.

3.  Paint your design with the different colour paints your have selected. Use the paint with a dry brush to reduce the colour bleeding on the edges. Remember to clean your brush between colours.

4.  You can protect your finished art work by applying a protective coat of clear varnish or other clear sealant (optional). Now you are ready to hand and enjoy your new art piece.

This project can be done on several small panels to create one large art piece or you can use a single larger wood panel. I think it will be fun to place four small panels together that are each different, but with a similar motif. I did not invest a lot of money into my panel, I actually found the panel at the dollar store, which was a great buy. If you will like to use a larger or higher quality wood art panel, try your local art supply store.

Let me know what you think of this project and if you will try it yourself.

Happy crafting!

Monogrammed Needle Book Tutorial

I really enjoy doing needlework, so I made this cute needle book to add to my sewing kit. It is a perfect place to store my pins and needles for when I am traveling around with a project. Needle books can be a great gift for someone who enjoys sewing. They are fun, simple and easy to make and you can use ends of fabric and embellishments. Here is how you can make your own needle book.

Supplies
Thread
6" x 12" Outer Fabric
6" x 12" Inner Fabric
2 ½" x 2 ½" Fabric (monogrammed patch)
6" x 12" Batting (optional)
9 ½" x 4 ½" Felt
9 x 4" Felt
Fabric Marker or Fabric Chalk
Ruler
Embroidery Floss
Embroidery Needle
Buttons
Ribbon
Embellishments
Scissors
Pinking Shears (optional)

Instructions
Step 1
Use a ruler and fabric marker or fabric chalk to draw lines 1" apart on the outer fabric of your needle book. Then stitch along the lines with decorative stitches or attach ribbon and other embellishments. Press the fabric on the wrong side with a suitable heat setting.

I drew eleven lines on my fabric and I then used several decorative stitches from my sewing machine in different colour threads. I selected colours that coordinates with the colours on the inner fabric. In the middle, I used cotton eyelet ribbon piped with a pink satin ribbon. I also did some couching with pink cotton yarn and a zig zag stitch and I added a decorative stitch over pink velvet ribbon.

Step 2
Use a top stitch to attach your 2 ½" square piece of fabric onto the outer fabric of your needle book in the desired position. Leave room for a ½" seam allowance.

Using a fabric marker or fabric chalk, in your best handwriting write your initial on the 2 ½" square piece of fabric. Chain stitch the outline and fill in your letter with embroidery floss. I used three strands of embroidery floss and knotted the ends together, which made for a six strand embroidery stitch. For a finer look, try using two strands with a single knot. I stitched my patch on the lower right hand side and then I later embellished with some buttons.

Step 3
With right sides facing each other, sew the outer and inner fabric pieces together at ½" seam allowance leaving a 1 ½" minimum opening along one side. Trim corners and turn right side out. Then press for a crisp edge and top stitch ¼" around the outer edge.

Step 4
Attach ribbon, buttons or other embellishments to your felt pieces. You can also use a pinking shears and trim around the edges of the felt (optional).

Step 5
Place the layers of felt on the inside of your needle book and stitch down the center of the book to create pages. I only used two sheets of felt; however, you can add additional pieces of felt to make a fuller book.

Step 6
Now place your pins and needles in your new needle book.

Tips!

• For a quilted cover you can add batting between the layers of your cover. Sew the batting onto your outer or inner fabric at a ¼" from the edge, then follow "Step 3."
• To add a closure for your needle book, you can use ribbon, snap or a button with elastic cord. Sew ribbon or elastic cord into the seam during "Step 3." Place the ribbon or looped elastic cord between the outer and inner fabric facing the center of the book with the edges along the edge of the fabric.
• If you are adding a snap closure, you may need to make the felt pages smaller. Follow the package instructions to attach the snap.

Front

Back View

Side View

A needle book can be a fun addition to your sewing kit. The monogrammed patch is a great personal touch especially if you are giving your needle book as a gift. You can have fun playing with different stitches on your sewing machine or add a variety of cute embellishments. This project was done using a sewing machine, but will also be great with hand sewing and hand embroidered details.

Happy stitching!

Holiday Gift Wrapping

Wrapping gifts for the holidays is one of my favourite things to do. I love making them look special and they look wonderful under the Christmas tree. If you will like to make your holiday gifts a little more special this year, why not add a little embellishment to your gift wrapping. Dress things up with bits of nature, beautiful ribbons, beads and perhaps even a little bling or glitter. I hope this little tutorial will give you some ideas on how you can wrap your holiday gifts.

Materials
Gift Box
2 Paper Doilies (size based on box)
Gift Tag
Small Pine Cone (optional)
Narrow Ribbon
Wide Ribbon
Jute or Baker’s Twine
Hot Glue Sticks
Hot Glue Gun
Scissors

Instructions
1. Centre the doilies on top of the gift box and secure with a small bead of hot glue. Then wrap the ends of the doilies around the top edge of the gift box. Secure the ends of the doilies with small beads of hot glue on all sides (you can also use double sided tape).

2. Wrap the narrow ribbon around the gift box and tie at the top centre.

3. Make a ribbon loop with the wide ribbon, then tie the ribbon loop to the centre of the gift box using the ends of the narrow ribbon. Cut the ends of the ribbons to the same length at an angle.

4. Hot glue the pine cone onto the gift box next to the bow.

5. Attach twine to the gift tag and tie the twine under the bow.

Happy gift wrapping.

Tips! Depending on how thick your doilies are you should use two doilies stacked on each other. The beautiful gift tag used for this project is from Gotamago at www.gotamago.com.

Jute Ornament

I love making holiday decorations and I am very excited this year to get started with some fun projects. This jute ornament can take a little time to make, but it is very fun and super cute for holiday decorating. You can make a loop for hanging or you can simply cover the styrofoam ball in jute and put on display. You can make them all the same size or you can vary the size of the styrofoam balls.

Supplies
Styrofoam Ball (desired size)
Jute Twine
Hot Glue Sticks
Hot Glue Gun
Scissors

Instructions
1. Turn in the end of your twine and glue onto the styrofoam ball with a small dot of glue.

2. Place a small bead of glue on the styrofoam ball close to the twine and wrap twine around the first piece of twine.

3. Continue the process of gluing and wrapping in small sections at a time until you cover the surface of the styrofoam ball and you are left with a small opening on the opposite end.

4. Cut the remaining twine to your desired length to make a loop for your ornament to hang from, or cut close to the base and leave just enough twine to fill the final space on the styrofoam ball.

5. Place a dot of hot glue in the middle of the small opening and press the end of the twine into the space.

Now your ornament is ready to use. Have fun!

Flowers and Butterfly Magnets

My youngest son and I were at the craft store recently, when suddenly he was at my side with a sprig of flowers that had a butterfly attached at the top. He had a beautiful smile and handed me the sprig of flowers and said, "this is for you mommy." Needless to say, he was rewarded with a big hug and kiss. I purchased the flowers as his gift to me, but really did not have a purpose for them. After giving it some thought I got the idea to make magnets. I will have a useful purpose for them, and it is a great way to show my son how much I appreciate his thoughtful gift.

With the use of a scissors, some hot glue and a small magnet; several really cute magnets were created.

My little guys love the magnets and really enjoy playing with them on the refrigerator.

I think that they are really cute and will make a fun gift. If you are interested in making these magnets, they are really easy to make and are lots of fun. Just cut the back of your flowers as close to the base as possible, then hot glue it to a small magnet. For a full magnet tutorial, check out decorative magnets and the super cute bottle cap magnets.

I hope that you will try making your own flowers and butterfly magnets. Enjoy!

DIY Trinket Box

Several weeks ago I posted a picture of the "Gulliver's Travels" trinket box I made for my eldest son. I originally posted it on Instagram and I have received several inquires about it, so I decided to share it as today's crafty project.

It was a simple and fun project to do and was made to store a few little odds and ends. I really love the way it turned out and I am considering doing something similar with some bigger boxes. I also think it provides great storage and is a fun craft project that can be done with kids.

Supplies
Paper mache box
Decorative paper
Mod Podge
Sponge brush
Jute twine
Hot glue sticks
Hot glue gun

Instructions
1. Cut the decorative paper to fit the top of your trinket box lid.

2. Use mod podge to glue the decorative paper in place on the top of the lid, remove any air bubbles and let dry.

3. Apply several coats of mod podge and let dry between coats.

4. Hot glue twine around the edge of the lid.

5. Hot glue twine on the outside of the box, leaving space at the top of the box for the lid to sit and cover the box securely.

Tip! The top of my trinket box was covered with craft tissue paper, which I printed with a page from "Gulliver's Travels." To print on tissue paper, you may have to bond it to card stock or other printer paper to make it easier to print on.

Book Review: Paper to Petal

When I was a child growing up in a little village in Trinidad and Tobago, one of my favourite pass times was making paper flowers. I would save money for new sheets of tissue and crepe paper, and literally run to Haniff's shop. The shop was different from the other shops (parlours) in the village; it was bigger, air conditioned and carried some school supplies, stationery, knick knacks that made for great mother's day gifts, and lots and lots of tissue paper, crepe paper and other crafty supplies. Needless to say this was my favourite place to go in the village. Since I was always working on something crafty I was a permanent fixture in the store. I can still remember feeling excited whenever Mrs. Haniff would lay out the various coloured crepe paper and I would take forever to decide which colour to purchase that day.

Last year when I came across "Paper and Petal" by Rebecca Thuss and Patrick Farrell, I was so happy to see a new book being published on how to make paper flowers, but I did not get a chance to see the book beyond the sneak peek on Amazon. The book has been out since last summer and I am asking myself what took me so long to check it out. This amazing book is so inspiring and has rejuvenated my love of paper flowers. The book provides information about the materials needed, techniques for making paper flowers and provides easy to follow instructions. I picked up a copy of the book at the library, and will be adding it to my own library in the coming weeks.

Over the years I have made paper flowers from card stock and the beautiful paper selection available at the Paper Place in Toronto. However, it has been many years since I have made crepe paper flowers. I have tried finding crepe paper at the local art and craft supply stores without success. Over time I gave up on finding it and in the end simply forgot about crepe paper. I am therefore very excited to find a book that not only looks at how to make paper flowers, but focus a lot on crepe paper flowers. The book includes 28 pages of templates and a helpful source list, so there are countless possibilities and places to find supplies.

There are so many things to love about this book that I cannot pick a favourite. What I will say however is that I cannot wait to make several of the flowers and create a beautiful paper flower arrangement for my studio. Since reading the book I have found great online sources for crepe paper and I have also tried making some flowers using simple, inexpensive crepe paper streamers. I have always loved how pliable crepe paper can be and I have been inspired by the designs in the book. I now have a mission to create beautiful paper flowers. There are so many wonderful ways you can use paper flowers and with a world of paper to choose from the possibilities are endless.

  Paper to Petal: 75 Whimsical Paper Flowers to Craft by Hand / Book Trailer from THUSS + FARRELL on Vimeo.

Valentine's Felt Heart Candy Sachet

If you are looking for a quick, easy and very last minute Valentine's Day token, what about making this felt heart candy sachet. All you need is two small pieces of felt, 3mm ribbon, a tapestry needle, and candy. The project takes about twenty minutes to make and you will have a cute little gift.

Cut the felt in the shape of a heart, and using a tapestry needle start stitching from top centre around the edge of the heart at about ⅜ to ½ inch from the edge. Before making your last few stitches, fill the heart with your candy and close the opening with a few more stitches that meet at the centre top.

To finish off your candy sachet, tie the ribbon in a bow and trim the ends of the ribbon. I pulled my ribbon just a little to make small gathers at the top. A great alternative to felt may be a piece of red silk or other fabric. If you do not have any ribbon, you can also use yarn or tapestry thread as an alternative. The finished size depends on how much candy you have and how big you will like to make the sachet.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Crochet Washcloths and Dishcloths

This week I made crochet washcloths for my husband and the boys. I used Bernat Handicrafter 100% Cotton yarn ( off white, white and pale yellow) and made them 8 x 8 inches and 10 x 10 inches square. I did not use a pattern, and most of it was done using single crochet. However, I took the opportunity to improve my tension and to practice the stitch variation that I shared earlier this year in my chunky cowl project.

Crochet washcloths and dishcloths are fun and simple to make. They make a great beginner crochet project. You can try a combination of stitches or practice one particular stitch. They are perfect gifts on their own or can be included with other items to create a gift set.

Here is a list of tutorials for making your own:

Single Crochet Mesh Dishcloth or Washcloth
LuLu B Washcloth Patterns
Spa Washcloth Crochet Pattern
Chunky Stitch Crochet Dishcloth Pattern
Three Color Simple Stitch Crochet Dishcloth Pattern
Gingham Dishcloth
Tunisian Crochet Washcloths

You can also find some great ideas on our Pinterest board: