♣ How to Make a Crocheted Clover or Shamrock ♣

Saint Patricks Day is around the corner and it is time for "the wearing of the green"!  Why a Shamrock???  Well, Irish folklore showed that St. Patrick used the shamrock as a symbol to teach pre-Christian Irish people about the Holy Trinity.  My lesson isn't going to quite compare, but I will be teaching you how to make a crocheted shamrock for you to share with your friends and family!

Materials Needed:
Scissors
4 ply green yarn
size H crochet hook
pin back or clip
adhesive

Pattern:
Leaving a 4 in tail, Chain 3.  Double crochet in the chain 1 space 3 times. Chain 2 and slip stitch in the same chain 1 hole that the double crochets were made in (all stitches will be made in this same hole for the remaining petals) Petal one is complete. Now, *chain 2 and double crochet 3 times followed by chain 2 and a slip stitch.  Repeat from * one more time. You should now have all 3 petals completed.  To make the stem, chain 5 from your last slip stitch.  Single crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook, single crochet in the next chain, slip stitch into the next, and slip stitch into the last one as well.  Bring your tail end through your last stitch and pull tight.  Cut your yarn and tie both tail ends together on the back.

If you want to make these bigger or smaller, just adjust the yarn and hook size accordingly.  Now that you have your shamrock completed, either glue it to a hair clip or pin back and wear it proudly.  These are so quick and easy to make.  Whip up a batch and hand them out, so no one is without green on St. Patty's Day!

As always, feel free to ask any questions or leave comments.

Going Green Napkins

With the dreary winter we have had, it does some good to focus on something green! ☺

I made these eco friendly paper towels back in June, but didn't want to post about them until they have been put to the test of everyday use.  They were very simple to make.  I cut some 8in x 8in squares out of scrap flannel that I had left over from cloth diapers I made forever ago (Don't you love when those fabric prints come back around into something new and different!).  Pre-shrink your fabric before cutting your squares though, so they stay the right size.  I have a serger, so I just did an overlock stitch around the outside edges.  I suppose you could cut a bigger square and hem the edges, or possibly just trim them with pinking shears and have a little fraying going on.  Overall, it was very easy to make quite a few of them in a short amount of time.

Now, the answer to the question...How did they hold up to the abuse of a family actually using them?...Great!
I thought these things would look so nasty in about a month, but to my surprise, they remained clean and just slightly pilled.  This picture is after 8 months of use.

This is what we do with ours.  We keep the clean ones in a regular napkin holder.  I hung a plastic bin, that I found at Hobby Lobby, on the kitchen cabinet in front of the sink to put them into after use. When it gets full, I just throw them in the wash with a load of towels.
Making this change couldn't have been easier, and it has cut our paper towel use down considerably.  We love the feel of the soft flannel so much better too.  It's better for the earth and the pocketbook!
Give them a try.  You'll be glad you did! :)

"Stick With Me" - Wool Felt Valentine Monster

 I wanted to share this pattern of a little felt monster I made last year for Valentines day.  I didn't get my blog started soon enough to share it last year, so I figured I would put it on here now!  He's really simple to make.  I cut mine out of red wool felt...a front and back of the body.  I sewed around it using a whipstitch, leaving a little opening for the fiberfill.  I also did a stab stitch through the arms, securing them between the body front and back. I know that it says to cut 4 pieces for the eyes...and you can, but another thing I did, was put a small piece of pipe cleaner bent like a V up and out of the eye-sockets. I then coiled the remaining pipe cleaner and glued on the felt eyes (you could also use googly eyes).  Once the monster is done, cut 2 pieces of felt  for the heart, whip stitching around it and filling it with fiberfill.  Bring the monster hands forward, either gluing or stitching them to the heart.
You can make this alien/monster happy or sad...or a combo of  both.  I called it "stick with me", but there's no saying it can't be "stuck with you" as well!☺
Like I said, it's quick to make,  fun and a good gift for a boy!
Here's the pattern.

Feel free to ask any questions or leave comments!
Enjoy! ♥

Travel Tissue Cover Tutorial

Today was the last day of Jam Junction (an after school program my daughter liked going to at our church).  She really liked going and is bummed that it's ending for the year.  So to thank the Pastor and all the volunteers for the fun she has had, I decided to make little "Bless You" travel tissue covers for her to give as gifts.  I am sure there are plenty of tutorials out there on how to make these, but I am going to share my version anyway. =)

I made them with 2 different fabrics- 6" x 7"outer fabric and 6"x 8" lining fabric.  These dimensions will give you a 1/4" border around the opening.  If you want more lining fabric to show, creating a thicker border, cut the lining fabric bigger and the outer fabric smaller.  For example- for a 1/2" border, cut a 6" x 6 1/2" outer and a 6" x 8 1/2" lining.  Another option is to put all of the lining fabric to one end, creating a wide border only on that end (making that the side you use when you overlap the ends). Confused yet???  Maybe some pictures will help!

I made 4 covers with a 1/4" border. (as you will see by the multiple covers in the photos)

First, cut out 1 outer and 1 lining fabric.  With the right sides facing together, sew along the 6" side on both ends with a 1/4" seam allowance (the lining fabric will be kind of bunched up in the middle).  Once you have sewn both ends, turn right side out and iron. (Here is where you can either put a 1/4" border on each side, or 1/2" border all to one side.  I chose to put 1/4" on each side).

The next step is optional, but sure makes the cover look a lot nicer.  It's time to embellish it!  I chose to use decorative stitches on my sewing machine.  I chose a flower pattern with the words "Bless You" (since these are for our church).  I know not everyone has a decorative stitch option, but instead you could sew on some ribbon, ric rac, appliqué, buttons, hand embroider it, or just sew some zigzags!  Anything you want!

Now that your cover is embellished, it is time to finish sewing it together.  Find the center and overlap the borders on that center line (not overlapping more than 1/4").  Make sure to put the side you want to show more of, on the top (for example- I put the "Bless You" side on the top).  Here is where you would also overlap the one sided border on top, if you chose to put all of the lining fabric to one side.
We are going to make a french seam, so we will be sewing it together how the finished cover is going to look.  Sew very close to the edges- about 1/8" seam allowance. Do this on both ends.  Trim and cut any stray threads, then turn the cover inside out (use a chopstick to push the corners out nice ).  We are going to be enclosing our seam to give the cover a nice smooth lining.  Sew another seam (a little over 1/8") enclosing the raw edge of our previous seam, like in th photos below. Do this on both ends.

Turn the cover right side out again and fill with a pack of travel tissue (Our Wal-Mart sells them in the travel sample isle, 3 packs for $1).   Be even more eco friendly and fill it with washable hankies! =)

These travel tissue covers make a great quick gift idea for almost anyone!  I hope you enjoy making them as much as I do!

As always all questions and comments are welcome! =)

How to Make a Snail Ribbon Hair Clip

I saw a little girl wearing one of these in her hair, and thought..."I have to make that!".  I don't work with ribbon very much, but being a crafter, I had plenty of it laying around.  I don't know if I made this right, but I think it turned out well enough to pass on to the crafty community! =)

Here is what you will need to get started-

• 4 pieces of ribbon. 3 1/2" for the body, 2 1/2" to cover the clip, 1 3/4" for the antenna, and 21" for the shell
• wooden skewer or dowel rod and clips to make curly korker ribbon
• hot glue gun
• scissors
• lighter (not shown). This is used to seal the ends of the ribbon to prevent fraying
• snap hair clip

First seal all ends of the ribbons by placing them near the flame of the lighter.  Test this on a scrap piece first to get the hang of it (warning- do not do this with cotton ribbon. It will catch on fire. Only polyester- the silky kind).  The end of the ribbon will melt a little, giving it a nice sealed edge.  Next, we are going to make the korker ribbon for the shell.  Clip one end of the 21" ribbon to the end of the skewer and wrap in around in a spiral, securing it with another clip (as in the photo to the left).  Once your skewer or dowel is wrapped, place it on a cookie sheet or tin foil in a 275 degree oven for 20 minutes. 

While the korker ribbon bakes, we will make the rest of the clip.   The clip I saw the little girl wearing was an alligator clip.  I however didn't have one, so I had to improvise and use a snap clip.  I wanted to cover the front of the clip with ribbon for 2 reasons.  I thought it would look nicer, and I also needed a surface to glue the snail on to.  This is a little finicky, but it serves its purpose well.  I took plenty of pictures to better help explain my poor writing skills! =)

The first thing you want to do is unsnap the clip.  Place a thin bead of glue all around the top part of the clip, just do not put any on the middle part that snaps open.  Quickly put your 2 1/2" piece of ribbon on top of the glue before it sets, and smooth it out as you close the clip.  Open and close the clip after it cools to make sure the center didn't get glued shut.  Next, cut around the clip leaving a tiny bit of overhang.  Being careful not to burn yourself, pass the cut edges near the flame of the lighter (I find it easier to use a candle lighter).  You will see the edge of the ribbon shrink in a bit as it seals.  Do this around the entire clip.  We now have a blank clip all ready for a new snail to live on!

Let's make the snail body.  Take the 3 1/2" piece of ribbon and wind it around like in the picture below, making the tail narrower than the head.  Once you have it the way you like it, place a couple dabs of glue to hold it in place.  Make a slight bend in the body for the snail head, and glue it onto the clip.

What's a snail without antennas?  To make the antennas cut the edges off of the 1 3/4" ribbon and place them on a cookie sheet or aluminum foil.  We are going to run the lighter over them several times, allowing them to melt and shrink.  This will give them some more stability and keep them from becoming a frayed disaster.  Once your antennas are to your liking, place a dab of glue in the snails head.  Put both antennas into the glue and squeeze the head closed.

By this time, your korker ribbon should be done, or close to it.  Once it is done, remove it from the skewer.  The snail shell is made by winding the korker ribbon around in circles like a lollipop.  Start by rolling one end in and gluing it as you go.  Make sure to keep the curl in the ribbon tight.  Run a bead of glue along the edge of the circle you are forming, securing each ring to the next.  When you are done it should look like a ribbon lollipop (a great idea for another clip, right?!).  Place some glue along the snails back and on the clip above it, and glue the shell into place.  You now have a cool snail hair clip that any kid is sure to love!

The clips lay nicely against the head.  My sister was kind enough to model  for a photo.  I made 2 snail clips today.  One for my niece and one for my spoiled daughter of course.  They loved them!

Have fun making your own snail clips and be sure to post your pictures of them at the WhimWham Flickr Group!  Questions and comments are welcome as always! =)

How to Make Glass Gem Marble Magnets

I made a quick craft project tonight with Cora.  I had some iridescent glass gems that Cora loved to play with, so today at the store I picked up some clear ones hoping to make some magnets with her tonight.  The clerk however, did not give me all of the bags from my purchase, causing me to have to drive 25 miles back to the store again to claim them.  So after that adventure, I knew we were definitely going to make these magnets tonight!

Here is what we used to make them:

          
• clear glass gem marbles
• clear silicone sealant
• button magnets
• little pictures or images (from fabric,magazines, stickers, junk mail address labels, photos, etc.)

These were super easy to make and only took us about 10 minutes to make all 10 of them.  Pick out the pictures you want to use and place a glass gem over top of it to make sure it fits.  The gems magnify the image, so just make sure the part you want to show is centered.  The glass gems are all different sizes.  I sort  through them first, to make sure they were big enough to cover the whole magnet.
Once you have your image picked out, use your magnet as a template and draw a circle around the selected image.  Cut out the image and spread a very thin layer of sealant on the magnet to adhere the picture.  Then place a pea sized dot of sealant on the image, and smush a glass gem marble onto it (flat side down of course).  That's it!  Super easy huh?  If you are using stickers or address labels like we did, it's even easier.  Just cut them out, stick them on, and add the sealant and glass gem marble!
Let them dry overnight and give your fridge the ability to hold many more works of art, or useful reminders like this....

I hope you have as much fun making these as we did!

P.S. Just a word warning.  The new labels on all of the button magnets say they contain lead dust.  Make sure to clean up well!

I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream!

As promised, I have come up with a new addition to the wool felt play food.  It's getting a little warmer outside and Cora keeps asking for ice cream, so I let her have it. (Sugar free of course!)

Do you want your own felt ice cream cone?  Well, here is what you will need to make one:

• Wool felt squares (tan for the cone and another color for the ice cream)
• Matching thread for the cone
• Red wool for the cherry, or seed beads/embroidery thread for the sprinkles
• Fiber fill/ poly stuffing
• Scissors
• disappearing ink pen or chalk
• ruler
• Needle and thread (yes hand sewing is involved!)
• Sewing machine (cone can also be sewn by hand if you have no machine)
• Wool Felt Ice Cream Cone Pattern - page1 page2

Let's get started!

First, print and cut out the pattern.  Cut 1 cone piece, 1 scoop circle, and 2 scoop drips (I forgot to show the 2 drips cut in the photo. Sorry!)

Once you have all of the pieces cut, we will get started on making the cone look a little more realistic.  Take your ruler and disappearing ink pen/chalk and mark lines going both directions on the cone.  I chose to start from the edge and mark every 1/2", giving me ten lines.  Do this from each edge for a total of 20 lines.  You can make your lines however far apart you would like them.  I found that 20 lines were not that big of deal to sew by machine, since they are so short.  Oh no, I gave away the next part...we will be sewing along these lines with the matching thread.  Line your sewing machine needle up with your marks and straight stitch on your lines.  I sewed all my lines going one direction first, then all of the lines going the opposite direction next. Try not to pull on the felt while sewing, so it does not distort.  You've made your cone look like a sugar cone, yeah!
Now it's time to make it look like a cone.  Put the right sides of the straight edges together and sew across from top to tip with 1/4" seam allowance.  Turn it right side out.  It should now look like a cone, as in the picture below.

What's a cone without ice cream?  First we are going to make the drip of the scoop.  Lay the 2 drip pieces on top of one another and sew along the edge of the curvy part (do not sew the ends closed).  Sew as close to the edge as you can (about a 1/8 " seam allowance).  Clip any curves that need it and turn inside out.  Now take both ends, opened up flat, and place them right sides together.  This will form a ring.  Sew them together with a 1/4" seam allowance.  Fold back in half and admire your new drip ring!  To attach the ring to the cone, slide it down onto the outside of the cone (matching up the seams), and sew along the inside edge (see photo below).

Now it's time for a scoop of ice cream, and some hand sewing!  I find it easier to do a gather stitch by hand rather than by machine for this next step.  On the big circle piece, do a running stitch along the outside edge.  Double up your thread so it will not break when you cinch everything together.  Leave a tail at the starting and end points so you have a way to pull and tie it all together.  Felt is thick, so just keep moving the fabric all together until it's closed like the second picture (leaving an opening for the stuffing).  Tie the threads in a knot, so it doesn't open back up while stuffing it.  Leave the thread and needle attached.  You will need it to attach to scoop.
Take your fiber fill and stuff the cone and the scoop as full as you can.
The next part is kind of tricky, but you can do it!  Place the scoop on top of the cone, holding it down with your 2 fingers (as in the 4th photo).   Use the same thread you used to cinch the scoop, to attach it to the cone.  Sew the scoop on with a ladder stitch.  Make a stitch right below the stitch line of the drip, then right above into the scoop (click the picture to enlarge it for better viewing).  Stitch like this all along the edge until the entire scoop is attached.

That's it!  You're done!  Now embellish it the way you want.  Make another little circle (like the scoop) to make a cherry, or sew seed beads (or embroidery thread) on for sprinkles.  Just make it age appropriate and safe.  We don't want any little ones choking on their ice cream.

I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial.

Do you want to see more felt play food tutorials?  Let me know what you are interested in seeing.

Please leave any comments or questions below, or contact me via email.

Temp Tattoo Shrinky Dink Jewelry

I made this jewelry over the weekend and thought I would share with you how I made it.
The jewelry is made from shrink plastic.  I used recycled plastic containers to make mine.  Plastic that has a recycle #6 on it, usually strawberry containers or take out lids, works like shrinky dink material.  So save up those containers for some shrinking fun!

Anyway, here is what you will need for this project.

Shrink plastic or recycle #6 plastic
Sandpaper
Temp Tattoos and a damp towel
Hole Punch
Oven and a cookie sheet
Acrylic Sealant
Jewelry Findings




Let's get started!
If you are using recycled containers, cut out a nice flat area that contains no writing or label.  Rough up one side of the plastic with some fine sandpaper. Next, cut out the temp tattoos that you like (remember that these will shrink considerably).  Arrange them on the plastic to make sure they all fit.  Once you have them arranged the way you want, peel off the protective backing and apply the tattoos to the rough side of the plastic (just as you would on your skin with a wet towel).

When the plastic shrinks it will be very difficult to cut, so now is the time to cut the jewelry into the shape you want it to be.  Be sure to leave enough room to put a hole for a jump ring or cord. The holes shrink too, so I use a hole punch and eyelet maker to put some decent sized holes into mine. (The penny is there for size reference.)

It's all cut out, and the holes are punched!   Time for the shrinking magic!

Place the pieces tattoo side up on a cookie sheet or aluminum foil, and put them in an oven at around 250-275 degrees.  If the oven was preheated, the plastic will probably shrink right away.  Larger pieces tend to curl up, but usually lay flat again as they shrink.  Once the pieces have shrunk, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool for a few minutes.  Look at the size difference! The other cool thing is the tattoos shrink right along with it.  Neat, right!?

Just spray them with an acrylic sealer for added protection, and add the jewelry findings of your choice.  Enjoy your trash to treasure!

Hand Bound Mini Leather Journal

I love the rustic look of a hand bound leather journal.  The softness..the smell..ahhh, so good!
Anyway, I bought a scrap bag of leather at the craft store awhile back, and have been wanting to make a little journal with it for some time now.
Well, last night was my chance.  My grandpa gave me an old guillotine paper cutter, so naturally I had to test it out immediately.  I cut  the paper to 5 1/2" by 4 1/4" pieces.  I folded the pieces in half so that they measured  2 3/4" by 4 1/2".  I made 5 signatures, with 8 pieces in each, for a total of 40 pages.  I measured around the signatures and cut a piece of leather to match.  I also cut 4 slits on the spine to weave the thread through.  I poked holes in 4 different places in my signatures to match up with the slits in the leather, and sewed all of the signatures into place.
To find out more information on how to do this, Google sewing spine of book, binding books, hand binding... etc.  I am a severe amateur at this, but would love to learn more. Like I need to start another craft!  Right????

♥ Wool Felt Sweater Slipper Sock Tutorial and Pattern ♥

I have been making wool felt slipper socks for my daughter for the last 5 years.  She and my niece love them, so I wanted to share with everyone how I make them. 
(This tutorial is for personal use only.  I ask that you please do not sell any patterns or sweater slippers that are made from this tutorial.  Thank you! ☺)

Let's get started!

Here is what you will need.

• a felted (fulled) sweater
• scissors
• paper and pencil for making the pattern
• pattern weights and pins
• a sewing machine or a needle and thread if sewing by hand
• a flexible measuring tape and a willing participant to take measurements on
• scrap wool for an applique (optional)
• sewable heat-n-bond or similar for ease of attaching applique (also optional)

Here is a tutorial I wrote on making the pattern:
How to Draft the Wool Sweater Slipper Sock Pattern
(Google docs is glichy sometimes. If files are not available, just put a request of what doc you need in the comments or via email, and I will send you a copy☺)


Once you have your pattern made, lay it out on the sweater.  You want to make sure the sweater you have chosen is big enough for all of the pieces, also to figure out the best layout for the least amount of waste.☺  If the sweater is not big enough, it's not a big deal.  You can always mix and match pieces from other sweaters to complete the project.  For example, use different color soles than the rest of the slipper.  This is a fun thing to do even if the sweater you've chosen is the right size.  Mix and match...make your slippers unique!

Be sure to line up the top edge of the ankle cuff with the sweater ribbing so your slippers will have a nice edge.  It will also enable them to stretch well over your heel when putting them on.

Pin or put weights on the pattern pieces and cut them out.  I usually cut through the 2 layers at once so I end up with mirror images of my pattern.  Just be careful that a seam placement or knit pattern on the opposite side does not differ from the side you are cutting on.  I also make sure that the upper piece and sole are not on the ribbing part of the sweater.  Ribbing is usually wavy and it does not felt like the rest of the sweater.

Another option, depending on the thickness of wool, is to make a double soled slipper for extra cushion.  This is a little more difficult to sew.  If you are not really experienced, you may want to skip it on your first pair.  The sweater I choose was kind of thin, so I choose to double up the sole.
You can also hand sew a leather sole on for added protection.  My daughter just starts to wear out the sole of hers before she needs a new size, so I have never done this.  It would be a good idea for feet that have stopped growing though.  I think it would really extend the life of the slippers.

The following picture shows how I placed my pattern pieces and cut them out. (Do you like my excessive pattern weights?  Hey... Those patterns were going nowhere!)

Now that the pieces are all cut out, it is time to embellish them if you want to. (Unless you want to needle felt a design on them. That can be done later if you place a foam block inside them after they are made.)