A Snowman Heart Finished

Happy Friday!!!

I have finished this wonderful Snowman heart from Bunny Hill Designs. A free pattern. Have you started on yours? I can't believe that it is the middle of January, February will be upon us in a few weeks. It is not too late to be crafting for this Holiday of Hearts.

It is hard to see the pale cream halo, but it is there.

See that sweet little heart to the left. I have 5. They were stitched by my sweet sister (click here for her blog) and were gifted to me. I keep them in my craftroom year around but hang them on my little Valentine tree during this time of the year.

This was a quick stitch. As was suggested, I used white flannel for the snowman. The wings and scarf are a quilter's cotton fabric. 

The back. I wanted to cover up the sewn on ribbon edge so I glued a button on. 

Don't you just love Bucilla. One is for Dear Hubby and the other one for Son. I have yet to purchase me or D#2 one and I can't find D#1's. Guess I will have to purchase one for her too. I have got to find a vintage Holly Hobbie for me :) Love Holly H. I can't remember what I had purchased for D#2 when she was little. I believe it was the Nativity stocking. Hmmmm.....D#2's will require some thinking.

The kits are amazing. They come with all the felt, sequins, & thread. You provide the stuffing. These are on my craftroom bucket list. I am going to try make them this year. I need to get a lot of stuff crossed off that list. That was one of my New Year's resolutions, cross stuff off the list. Craft room organization is coming along nicely. I will share pictures when I am totally finished. BTW, did you see Heather's finished Bucilla project? If not head on over there and check it out, click here. It's beautiful!!

So cute. I can't wait to start on February's. 

The Sweet Little Nutcracker

I have always loved the Nutcracker. D#1 adored it when she was little. My parents took her to see it several times when she was little. This year I wanted to make something a little different than the usual felt/yarn ornaments. I used pipecleaners, felt and wooden beads. The would be an awesome craft for kids, no sewing involved everything is glued together. I respect that some of you out there do not sew. It can be a very scary & intimidating thing to pick up a needle and thread. When I sew I am usually prepared to stick myself. I can be fumble fingers all the time sometimes. I have even had to dislodge needles/pins from my foot using pliers (yow-sa!!) multiple times but don't let that discourage you from trying if you really want too. 

The first three characters are : The Mouse King, Nutcracker and Clara (or Marie).

Cut all pattern pieces out. I will show you how to assemble the pieces using the Clara (or Marie) as the example. 

1. Trim the pipecleaners. Bend pipecleaner in half, these are your legs. The bent area is the neck/shoulders. Wait to glue felt on.

Bend other pipecleaner to form a place to insert the head on. Make kind of a neck. You will cover this with embroidery floss. Do not glue head on yet.

Here is a break down of the parts of the pipecleaner body.

You will embroidery floss wrap the arms and neck of the Swan Lake princess, the Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara, and the Snowflake Queen. The Mouse King and Nutcracker will have glued on felt arms or hands.

Glue the felt legs onto the girls' pipecleaners. Here is how to wrap the floss for the ballerina shoes.

Glue the shoes on. See how mine don't quite line up. That's ok, just trim. You might need to trim legs too.

 First we are going to learn how to make the:

Mouse King

1. Drill tiny hole in top of head if you want to add an eyehook to hang M King as an ornament. 

2.Paint head, varnish and then glue ears and crown on. You can glue scrapbook jewels onto crown if you like.

3. Form the body as described above, do not glue any felt or embroidery floss on. 

4. Cut all felt pieces out.

5. Glue pants onto pipecleaner legs.

6. Glue gray hands onto pipecleaner arms.

7. Glue shirt on. Embellish shirt to make the M King look kingly. I used braided ric rac and sequins. 

8. Glue fur trim to cape. 

9. Place cape on pipecleaner neck.

10. Glue mouse head onto neck.

Enjoy!!

Up next is the Nutcracker.

Nutcracker

Clara (Marie)

Mouse King

I used some fake fur that I had on hand and just trimmed it to 1/2" pile and about 1/2" strip.

If you have any questions about the Mouse King or how to assemble the generic pipecleaner body, please don't hesitate to ask.

Keep those crafty hands busy,

Holly

Do You Want To Build A Snowman?

Went fabric shopping this weekend at a store that boasts they have over 300,000 sq ft of floor space and it is filled to the brim with fabric and sewing notions. We bought lots of fur for the pencils and I found a few little gems. Lori Holt fabric. The first 8 fabrics are from her Vintage Fabric collection and the clock fabric is from her Gracie Girl collection. The rest of the fabric are fat quarters from Joann's. I believe that I am going to join in on Lori's new quilt along on her blog. And no.....I haven't finished my last quilt along but that is on my New Year's resolution bucket list:

**finish Barn Along quilt!

Starting the Bunny Hill snowman.

Wings are finished.

Snowman is now in the process of being appliqued. I am using the needle turning technique. I like this technique. I believe it give a more hand stitched look to the applique. What's your favorite way to applique? 

Adorable fabric on clearance at Joann's. I believe that the fabric is 75% off. I can't remember. 

Have a wonderful night and what projects do you have planned for 2015?

Holly

Brrrrr....It's Cold!

Have you had a chance to peek at the new freebie over at Bunny Hill? If not, head on over there now to get your fill of the most adorable snowman!! Over the course of the next 12 months, Ms. Anne will be releasing a new snowman design for you to stitch up on a heart each month. So adorable. I bought my reds and white flannel today and can't wait to get started. 

(photo Bunny Hill from pinterest)

D#2 and I have been busily filling February pencil orders. 

Lips, mustaches, fur and pencils. Getting us in the mood for Valentine's Day!

Have a wonderful crafty night,

Holly