Tag Archives: projects and crafts

Kitchen Change Up Part Two and Hydrangea Topiary Craft

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You saw the craft pile ( inspiration from Wordless Wednesday below). Well I was inspired. I made a lovely hydrangea topiary for the kitchen change up.

Before

After

Now Let’s Make that cute Hydrangea Topiary!

Hydrangea Topiary
What You Need
Styrofoam Ball ( you decide what size, mine is 4 inches in diameter)
Toothpicks
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Wire cutters
Silk flowers ( hydrangea) you will need enough to cover the ball. (a four inch ball  used 65 petals)
Green paint
Paint brush
Cardboard box (empty shoe box or empty egg carton)
Lets Make It
Poke a toothpick into the styrofoam ball (this will be your handle when you have painted most of the ball) paint your styrofoam ball to match ( or come close to) the color of your flower petals ( mine are pale green).
 Poke it into a cardboard box, egg carton or other container to hold the ball upright while it dries.
Remove the hydrangea petals using your wire cutters, leaving about a 1/4 inch stem.

After the ball has dried, heat up your glue gun, poke a small hole in the styrofoam with the tooth pick, dip the end of your petal stem into the glue and poke it into the hole, push gently. I think it works best to work in a random pattern as you cover the ball with petals rather than in rows. But this is your choice. Do not put your hot glue gun directly onto the styrofoam ball it will melt. Continue covering the ball. ( if you want to hang it be sure to leave a little space to attach the ribbon and then cover it with petals).
 That’s it! Oh so simple. Or as we say in our home, easy peasy! Now you can make several and put them in bowls, or scatter them about, place one on top of a candle holder like I did, or hang it from a ribbon.

Here Kitty Kitty a Teapot Cozy Craft

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I found this old pattern and thought those of you who enjoy sewing would like to give it a try.

What You Need
               1/2 yard plain fabric
                1/2 yard lining fabric
                1/2 yard batting
                8 inch x 4 inch contrast (fabric for the ears)
                Embroidery floss (similar color to the ears  looks nice)
                Needle
                Pins
                Sewing machine
                Iron, ironing towel or clean cloth
Lets Make It!
The template for the tea cozy is below. You will need to scale it to the correct size for your teapot. My tea cozy measured 12” along the bottom to fit my four cup pot.
Cut two pieces of plain fabric, two pieces of lining fabric and two pieces of batting. Then cut two 4” x 4” squares in contrasting fabric for the cat’s ears.
Using the template create the pattern onto one of your plain pieces of fabric. Stitch the features using back stitches, French knots and stem stitches. Take a moment to press the embroidered features with a towel and warm iron.
Then take one 4 inch 4 inch square of fabric and fold it in half diagonally right side out, then fold again so you have a triangle. Repeat with the other fabric square. Position your ears onto your embroidered fabric and then pin into place. The center points of the triangle should point inwards. Any raw stitches will not be noticeable after you stitch the pieces together.
Place your embroidered piece face-up, place the other plain fabric piece face-down on top of the embroidered piece and pin together. Machine stitch around the long curved edge and trims any excess fabric, particularly in the ear area, to avoid uneven bulking. Turn right-side out and set aside
Place batting on reverse side of lining fabric. Hold in place by basting a stitch along the edges ( or use temporary spray adhesive)Baste together each side with batting and lining in place. Stitch around the long curved edge leaving a 4” gap at the top to turn the cozy right side out. Trim away excess fabric/batting from the seam. Place the cozy interior inside the exterior, right sides together. Match side seams and pin the bottom edges together. Sew around the bottom edge. Turn the cozy right side out
( pull through the gap you left in the lining.)  Top stitch the opening in the lining closed, and then place the lining into the exterior, pushing into place. Top stitch around the bottom seam to tidy it up.
 Ta Daa you now have a cozy teapot.

 

Ruffle Heart Craft Project

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Let’s Make a Valentines Day Craft, it’s easy to do and something you can make with your children ( grandchildren) too.

What You Need

Felt (10 pieces of 12×12 squares) your color choice
Cardboard (or light wood) cut into a heart shape ( or pre-made heart shape) This project uses a cardboard heart measuring 4 ½ inches in diameter
1 piece of paper Ribbon about 8 inches
Scissors
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Compass or something to draw a circle (use the bottom of a shot glass or something similar)

 

Before your Start: Draw  and cut out a small circle template using your compass , shot glass or something similar that measures approximately 1 inch in diameter.

Let Make It! Lay your template onto your felt and cut out 100 felt circles (you may need more if your cardboard heart is bigger, it takes about 6-8 circles to fill approximately a 2 inch area. Heat your glue gun. Glue your ribbon onto each side of the heart to form a loop.  To make the ruffles fold a circle in half and then in half again. Place a dollop of glue on the bottom (see image below) .





 

Apply the  felt ruffle to your cardboard cutout ruffle side up. Continue this process until your heart is covered. This takes time. Snuggle each piece up against each other (not to snug) and move across the cardboard heart until it is completely filled.

 

 

Then cover the edges using the same method. Turn the heart over and repeat on the back. Hang it up for Valentine ’s Day or just because.



*Katie’s Tid Bits Add a little bit of  glitter  to the edges of some of the ruffles for a little extra sparkle.

A Simple Decorative Napkin Ring

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Starting the week off with excitement at meeting my 1000 followers goal! Thank you all!. As promised a giveaway will be posted this week. Meanwhile. Here’s a simple craft with elegant results.

 

What You Need ( for each napkin ring):
Scissors
Colored ribbon, 2″ x 6″
Jeweled trim, 6″ length
Hot-glue gun ( or needle and thread)
Let’s Make It!
Cut 6″ length ribbon and 6″ length jeweled trim. Use glue gun to draw a thin line on ribbon; position trim along top edge of ribbon and press to secure.
Overlap ends slightly, trimming excess if needed. Glue ends (or sew) together to form ring.