Cute Christmas Purses - free tutorial

Sometimes you just don't know what to buy someone for Christmas so you end up giving them money.

But money just seems a bit impersonal, don't you think?  Obviously very useful, but it can look like there has been very little effort or thought when you give money - in fact, the opposite is probably true, you have probably spent so much time thinking and rejecting ideas that by the time you decide to give some money it is the best idea ever!!

Anyway, to make your gift of money look a little more exciting, why not make a cute purse from Christmas Fabric to pop it in?  They will get a lovely hand-made gift then too.

Fully lined, with a zip, you can whip these cuties up in no time - about 30 minutes all in.

I have popped some instructions for you below.  Let me know if you make some wont you?

How to make:  (use a 10mm seam allowance throughout)

1. ·         Take your zip and measure the outer fabric to match it.  Cut two pieces of fabric the length of the zip and whatever depth you wish to make.
2. ·         Cut two more pieces the same size for the lining.
3. ·         Place the outer fabric on the desk facing UP, place the zip on the top edge facing DOWN, place the lining on top to match facing DOWN.  The zip will now be sandwiched in-between the two fabrics.
4. ·         Using a zipper foot, sew carefully down the zip line. You will have to stop half way, put your needle down, lift your presser foot and close or open the zip to enable a neat line across.
5. ·         Open up the pieces and place them back to back with the zip facing up at the top.
6. ·         Place the 2nd piece of outer fabric on the desk facing UP, place the zip on the top edge facing DOWN, place the lining on top to match facing DOWN.  The zip will now, again, be sandwiched in-between the two new pieces of fabric.  Sew it as before.
7. ·         Open the layers, open the zip half way, and place the outer together RIGHT SIDE TO RIGHT SIDE, and the inner together RIGHT SIDE TO RIGHT SIDE. Pin or clip the sides of the zips making sure the zip edges face DOWN into the lining fabric side.
8. ·         Pin or clip around to hold it all in place, change to a regular presser foot then sew all the way around, but leave a small gap in the bottom edge of the lining for turning.
9. ·         Clip the corners and trim away any access, then turn the right way in.  Sew a neat line across the bottom of the lining to close the gap before tucking the lining into the pouch.

My first hand-made card

You know I don't do papercraft, right?  Well, I did venture into the deep dark depths of papercrafting and made a card!

Fair enough, I only dipped my little toe into the massive ocean that seems to be papercraft, I mean - just how many types of cards can you make.  Don't bother answering, I know it is loads.

So, this card was for my lovely Hubster who graduated last week at UCLAN with a Certificate of Education.

Now, when I say "I made a card" you would be allowed to translate that into "I assembled a card" as what I really did was buy a pack of card toppers from Hobbycraft, and a single blank card with envelope.  (I am not planning to make any more, so a single one was just fine!)

Then I peeled off the backing on the sticky dots at the back of each sticker, and stuck them in place.  Clever huh?

I did write the "Congratulations" on it, which had to be the most arty/crafty thing I had done on this particular project.  I find that if your hand writing looks a bit pants, as mine did, add little dots to the ends of the letters and it make it magically better.

I felt that Hubster had put so much work into his qualification that I should make a bit of effort to mark the occasion.   He seemed to be quite chuffed with his little card, probably because in 15 years it is the first card I have ever given him  :)  (Maybe I bought him one on our wedding day.)

Safe to say, I won't be pursuing the art of papercraft  :)

Felt Christmas Tree Decos

Yesterday I did a little workshop at Hobbycraft on Felt Christmas Decorations.  We had such fun putting them together and adding embellishments.

I might make some little kits up for these for next year, if I 'd have been on the ball I might have got them done for this year... but you know me!

Anyone for pudding?

S is for Sooz  :)

It's a bauble and the white stitch is supposed to be a reflective shine  :)

Creepy or cute?

Every Christmas tree needs a Christmas tree....

Can't leave the dog out  ;)

An all your round Xmas ornament.

And because it is not too Christmassy, I am going to pop the red folky heart into the Birthday Blog Blox!

If you have lost track of what is now in the box,  you can see each item on my Facebook page HERE.

Playing with Silver Wire

Well, today I have been playing with silver wire, I just love the effect, they look like little cosmic swirls under that layer of clear glass.

I made 5 of the silver beads, but three of them have a golden effect, I seem to remember being told that you could fume the silver by holding them in the flame whilst heating up your clear rod, so I guess that's what I have done.

I decided that I quite liked the gold look, so I used it to make the purple ones. :)

Spotty Dotty Beads

Fresh from the kiln, and inspired by my class at Laura Sparlings, I was chuffed with these.

I think I might do a whole colour range in them.....well you know what they say, practise makes perfect!

I did do some black with black spots, but strangely they look...well...just black !

I don't get a huge amount of time on the torch, so after making the family roast lunch, I delegated the dish-washing duties and legged it down to the shop to fire up the torch, so hopefully tomorrow there will be some more beadies to flash off.