*Merry Monday* Last Minute Gift - note cards

Everyone needs notecards - especially generic ones that can be sent for any occasion.  You could personalize these anyway that suits you. I chose to use the initial of their first name on some, and then little salutations such as thanks, hello, hi.

Simple is better for this project. I found a box of 50 note cards with envelopes at Michaels for $5.00, and you know felt is super cheap.

All I did was cut the letters out of felt, and then stitched it onto the card using the machine.

Don't forget to open the card while you are sewing. I sewed two cards together accidentally :)

These are pretty simple, but a nice way to give something personal.  Something you can whip up an hour before the party as a hostess gift, or on Christmas eve as a stocking stuffer.  Enjoy!
jessica

*Merry Monday* Etched Juice Glasses

I love little juice glasses don't you?  They are so cute and small and the possibilities for personalizing them are endless.  So I thought - what a great gift!  Inexpensive and unique.  I bought some glasses at Tuesday Morning for $1.29 each, but my hubby also saw some at Goodwill for $.37 - super super cheap!

Next I browsed around on Google and found some images that I liked - deer seem to be really in right now so I decided to make 2 glasses - a Mr. and Mrs. Deer. 

 

Here is what you will need:
cardstock
contact paper or masking tape
a picture to use as a stencil
juice glass
etching cream
exacto knife

Step 1: Print out the image onto cardstock.  Cut out the silhouette to make a stencil.
Step 2:  Trace the image onto the contact paper or masking tape.

Step 3:  Tape the stencil to your glass and cut out the image (right on the glass - it won't ,matter if it scratches it, you are engraving).

Step 4:  Follow the directions on the etching cream - put it over your stencil, let it sit (I found it took 5 minutes not 60 seconds), then rinse off.

Step 5:  Remove the stencil and admire your work!

Happy etching and have a merry merry Monday! - jessica

*Merry Monday* Christmas Wish List Ornament

This is an adorable idea my friend Shannon got from her daughter's preschool teacher.  It would be something cute to keep or give to a grandparent.  You could really write anything on the little piece of paper - 10 reasons I love you, 10 favorite songs or memories - get creative!  So take it away Shannon -

A Very Merry Monday to you. Do you remember making Christmas ornaments as a child? You may even have some hanging from your tree. Do you remember what was on your Christmas Wish List when you were 5? This Merry Monday combines making an ornament and a Wish List and makes a wonderful keepsake for years to come. I can't take credit for this though, my oldest daughter made this ornament in Preschool last year. I loved it so much, I wanted all three of my girls to make one this year. This is so Super Easy and FUN! Here is what you will need:

• Large Wooden Spool (I bought a 4 pack at a local craft store for $1.78)
• Craft paint
• paint brush
• paper plate
• paper
• pen 
• glue
• wire or chenille stem
• beads

Let's get started. Measure the width of the spool (where the thread usually is) and the circumference of the spool adding about 1/2 inch for overlap. Cut your paper into strips using those measurements. Our strips were about 5 inches long and about 1 1/2 inches wide. I used regular scissors but it may be nice to cut the long edges of the paper with craft scissors in a scallop or zig-zag pattern to add a bit more whimsy.

Place dollops of paint on the paper plate and let your little artists go to work. The center of the spool will be covered by the paper, but painting the center adds color that peeks out from the edges. Just let them paint until their hearts are content.



While your artists are busy at their craft, talk to them about their Christmas Wish Lists and write it on the strips. Make sure to write the child's name and date (for posterity of course). Once the spools are dry, glue the Wish List to the spool using craft glue (I am sorry I don't have a picture of this).

Thread the wire or chenille stem through the spool. We used floral wire because that's what I had, and it was stiff to hold and thread the beads on. I cut the wire to about 15 inches.

 Now turn the artists loose again to string beads on to the wire.





Make sure that the beads do no completely cover the entire wire. You will need a half inch on either side to twist the ends together tightly and make a loop.

Now hang them on your tree! Aren't they precious? I adore them. I hope you do too. Have a Merry Week!!!  

Thanks Shannon - what a great keepsake idea!  I still have the ornament I made in kindergarten - it is an egg cup bell, complete with pipe cleaner and glitter.  How about you?  Do you have any childhood handmade ornaments?

stay warm today (our high is only 28!!),

jesssica

*Merry Monday* Handmade Dude

Okay, you know guys are THE hardest people to make things for.  I mean how do you make a circular saw?  And I'm not about to undertake making a dress shirt.  Of course you can knit a hat or give them a coupon saying you will wash their car.  All good.  All been done.  So I did some research and found a couple of unique ideas
(*spoiler alert* if you are a man in my family - don't read anymore unless you don't want surprises).

• Beef Jerky:  One site had a quote from a guy saying "If I can't eat it or drink it, don't make it for me".  Well, there you go.  It is easy to make, unique, and not that expensive.  Here are a couple of links to recipes:  Island Cowboy Beef Jerky     Homemade Jerky     Marinated Spicy Jerky
• Dude Rice Bags:  You know, guys get aches and pains too - why not make a manly rice bag?  I am going to make one from an old flannel shirt

and one from an old t-shirt.

• You can find my rice bag tutorial here.
                                        
• Spice Rub:  Does your dude like to barbecue?  How about mixing up a ready to use spice rub?  Put it in a jar with a label and you're done.  A very practical gift.  This is one of Ryan's favorite rubs:  Wild Willy's Wonderful Rub
• Candy:  Back to the food genre - how about these homemade peanut butter cups or chocolate bark?

So those are a few of my ideas for the guys in my life.  Please, please let me know some of yours!  And remember, as you're making Sew Homegrown projects, upload your pics to the Flickr Pool to be entered to win the adorable Bridget and Lucy Ruffle Joy Kit!

jessica

Warm Heart Rice Bag

Today I have a really fun tutorial for a project that would make a lovely gift.  

A "Warm Heart" therapeutic rice bag!  

Everyone has aches and pains now and then - they can heat this colorful rice bag in the microwave 

and melt their tension away.  

This is also a great project to use up some scraps.

Here's what you'll need:
Several scraps of fabric
1 piece of muslin-type fabric 13"x8"
1 piece of fabric for the back (I used cozy flannel) 13"x8"
1 bag of rice
whole cloves, cinnamon
sewing machine
thread
scissors
iron
yard stick
water soluble pen
needle

Step 1:  Cut out all of your fabric.
the back and front rectangles,
cut out two hearts the same size,
then several strips of fabric of varying widths -
such as 1/2", 1", 1 1/2", 2"

Step 2:  Make the heart applique.  Place the two hearts right sides together and pin.

Sew around the entire heart using a 3/8" seam.  Do NOT leave an opening.
Clip the fabric to the seam (but not through the seam) around the curves of the heart.

Step 3:  Lift up the back of the heart and make a slit in it ( be SURE not to catch the front side).  Enlarge the hole so that you can flip the heart right sides out.

Flip it, use a pencil to push out all the edges, then press it well.

Step 4: Moving along to the top.  Cut the top rectangle into 4 equal rectangles.  You are going to strip-piece these four rectangles.  Here's how you do that.
Lay one strip, right side up on the rectangle, lining up the edges.

Lay the second strip, right side down on top of the first strip, lining up their edge (the one closest to you).

Sew a 1/4" seam along that edge.

Open the top strip, so it is right side up, and press well.

Repeat that process with the next strip:

Press.  Then trim off the excess until your rectangle is nice and neat.

Great!  One block is done.

Repeat this process with the other three blocks.  I made two of mine horizontal and two vertical.

Step 5:  Lay the bottom left rectangle, right side down, on the top left rectangle.
Sew these together, using a 3/8" seam.  Press the seam open.

Repeat with the other two rectangles.

 

Step 6:  Lay these two right sides together and sew the center seam.  Press seams.

Step 7:  Pin the heart in the center of the top.

Step 8:  The most "invisible" way to attach this is using a slip-stitch.  If you are nervous about that, you can always blanket or zig-zag stitch it on your machine.  I will explain it the best that I can, but if you are still confused you can go here for a video tutorial.
Starting under the fabric, bring the needle up through the top and the heart.

Pull the needle and thread through.  Now, with the thread "on top", work the needle under the heart a little bit.  Push it through the fabric top, then back up - barely catching the edge of the heart.

Step 9:  Once you have the heart attached, lay the top right sides together with the back
and pin around 3 sides - leaving one end open.

Stitch around those sides, flip it and then press.

Step 10:  Mix the rice (not cooked) with whole cloves and cinnamon.

Pour it into the bag - I used almost an entire 32 oz bag.  Work the rice to the closed end of the bag.
Turn the raw edges of the open end in and press.  Top-stitch it closed.

That's it! 
xoxo
jessica