Crafty Christmas Table Runner

I love it when a project turns out how you envisioned it. I have admired the burlap table runners with stenciled words, for a while now. So, I decided to roll up my sleeves and give it a try. I absolutely love how it turned out! 

I stenciled the words "Peace On Earth" on both ends.

You could use: Joy To The World, Jesus Is Born, etc. 

Here are the supplies that you will need: 

words printed in largest font

spray adhesive, I used non-permanent quilt basting spray-it's what I had on hand

gesso or white craft paint-I used craft paint

old brush

xacto knife

very sharp scissors-for cutting the stencil, the smaller the better, the scissors in the above picture are really too big

ruler

clear packing tape

burlap, measure how long you will need it to be by measuring your table, do this for the width also, my width was 14"

rotary cutter or fabric scissors to cut the burlap

To prepare your burlap:

Cut burlap to the size you like, using your rotary cutter or scissors. Stitch all the way around the burlap about 1/2" from the edge. To fray, just simply pull the burlap strings off until you reach the sewn edge. Tip: I like to stop one row before reaching the sewn edge.

For the stencil:

Trim around the words leaving about 1" border all the way around. Put two layers of packing tape on top of the words. Making sure to cover the whole piece of paper in tape. Using the xacto knife, make a starting cut on the letter "P" about 1/2" long. Now using the scissors, carefully cut out the letters. I like to just outside of the letter. The black area is what you want to remove. Make sure to save the inside area of the "e"s and "a"s. To make things easier, label these little "dots" on the back, so you won't forget which one is for the e and which one is for the a.

This is the method that I used to stabilize the stencil, but you could use contact paper, or lament the words and then cut them out. ***Don't forget the negative space is what you will use as your stencil. 

Back of the stencil. I didn't have a spray booth, so I improvised. I placed a long Hobby Lobby bag inside my craftroom trashcan and used it as a spray booth.

Spray your stencils, one at a time. Paint one word then move onto the next word. Don't spray them until you need them. 

Place the stencil on the burlap. Make sure it is in the middle, even from all three sides. Pat down. Notice in the picture above, I forgot the "dot" for the a and the E. I did add them later. **Don't forget to put something down to protect your table.** After loading my brush with paint, I used a tap, tap motion to apply the paint. Don't scrub back and forth, this motion will lift the stencil up and get paint in under the stencil. Very messy-you won't have very clean or crisp lines.

I love burlap, you can dress it up or dress it down. This method would also be cute for a mantle scarf. Just make it long enough to hang off the front edge of the mantle about 6-10". Stencil this area. A cute saying for the mantle "Stockings Were Hung". The method that I used in making my stencils is a little time consuming, but so worth it. I tried the xacto knife at first and it was very slow. The sharp small scissors did make things go much quicker. 

One tip that I learned: even if you don't cut everything perfect, it still looks wonderful in the end. Some of the painted lines were very faint and I took a brush with a tiny tip and touched up those areas, especially around the thin, scrolly lines.

  Don't forget to look back at my last year's Christmas crafts.

Have a wonderful night and a very Merry Christmas,

Holly

WhooooWhooooo......

I really do try and write a blog post....I promise....I really do. But sometimes time just gets away from me. If only I could post before I look at my blog Reading List! I some how get so engrossed in what is going on in blog world that 3 hours have passed and I haven't blogged anything. I visit everyone's blogs at least every other day and I am so sorry if I don't leave a comment on your wonderful blogs. I usually am in such a rush that I read each of your entries that I have missed and then move onto the next blog on my list. Of course this happened again...today. I have been wanting to blog about my wonderful owls that I received when I joined Debby's owl swap. They are the most creative and adorable owls. Each has his/her own personality!

Clockwise starting from bottom.

Tiny owl on a branch:

Is this not the cutest owl? Debby made this one and she used a mason jar lid for the base! How cute. I love the little bundle of sticks and the buttons. Guess what the owl's wings are made of? Sunflower seeds! Thank you so much, Debby. I am just thrilled that I participated in you owl swap!!!

Fabric owl:

"Handmade with love by Genie" is what the note says! I love it. Genie didn't know who would receive her little owls but she thought enough of each of us to include a handmade with love note. I love it! The owl is so adorable. He is hand stitched from fabric and felt. And I love the button eyes! Thank you so much Genie. He has made himself home in my craftroom.

Top, burlap owl:

How clever!! A burlap owl. Judy made him and this is the cutest little owl ornament. I love burlap and have never made anything out of it. Just bows and table runners. I am going to have to expand my burlap usage! I love his colorful wings, cute! Thank you so much for this sweet owl, he is going to be hanging on my craftroom Christmas tree!

Owl to the right, matchbox owl:

This owl came to my house to stay and even brought his own bed, blanket and pillow! Sew adorable!! I have always wanted to make a little matchbox craft but have never gotten around to it. Thank you so much, Pam! I will have to make one now. Can you see the blanket and pillow in the matchbox? Zoom in for a closer look at all the owls.

What a bunch of talented ladies! Thank you so much. I love each one of these little owls and will always treasure them. 

Here's what Debby sent me. Look at the stamp and ribbon, I smell a card in the making :) I love the stickers. They are just adorable. I can't wait to use them. I must confess, I have a "thing" for stickers. It goes way back to my childhood when we use to trade them like baseball cards. I love stickers! Thank you Debby!!

Here's a recap on what I sent:

Sleepy little owls. 

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!

Holly

Thank you!

Thank you veterans and active military!

A special thanks to my dad, Retired Colonel - Army Reserves.

Working in his workshop.

Don't forget to thank a veteran today,

Holly

Catching Up

Hey everyone! I hope you weekend was great! I spent all last week making costumes. D#2 had Spirit Week at school for the volley ball team. Each day of the week was assigned a different theme. Monday was America day, Tuesday was Tacky Tourist, Wednesday was Disney character, Thursday was Spirit Day (dress in school colors) and Friday was Decade day. Of course I had to make something for each day whether it was an accessory or the costume. For Monday we already had a Flag dress and red hair bows. On Tuesday she dressed in a tye dye shirt, shorts and I made a fake camera with fake Polaroid pictures glued onto the back of the camera. It turned out real cute and she said that all of her friends enjoyed taking pictures with it. On Wednesday she wore her Merida costume (from the movie Brave). I made her a quiver out of felt, paper bow and paper arrows. Thursday she wore a burgundy shirt with gold hair bows. Friday was the grande finale, I made a poodle skirt or rather a Scotty dog skirt. She dressed from the 1950s. Her skirt is red with an adorable Scotty dog sewn to it. This was such a busy week that thankfully I had finished her Halloween costume the weekend before. She was an owl-hoot hoot. Hopefully I can get all of the pictures uploaded tomorrow.

Have you ever visited Noialand? If not, you need to go over and visit Paloma. She makes the most adorable dolls from felt and even sells her patterns so that you may create your own. Anyway, she made the cutest Candy Corn doll, but she herself had never tasted Candy Corn. She explained on her blog that it must taste like oranges, lemons and coconut. Hmmmmm.....candy corn has it's own unique flavor that is really hard to describe. So instead of describing it to her, I sent her a bag. She was so sweet and insisted on sending me something in return. Just look at the most adorable brooch that she sent!!! It is truly amazing. Look at all of the beautiful embroidery. And look at the beautiful hand drawn postcard. She is truly talented! I was truly touched. Thank you so much Paloma!! I will always treasure these wonderful gifts. Btw: her blog is beautiful!

This brooch is exquisite!! I have it hanging proudly in my craftroom.

Look at the adorable house! It is actually a bag. So cute and clever.

Did you see the owl swap on Debby's blog? What a fun and clever idea!! I participated and can't wait to receive my owls. I will definitely be sharing them on the blog. Thank you so much Debby!!
Here's the owls I sent. If you would like to make your own, I have a pattern for them in my Etsy store.

Happy little acorn :)

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday!! And keep those fingers busy,

Holly

Last Trick or Treat Ornament!!

Well....I almost forgot the last ornament. Here she is. Princess trick or treater. She reminds me of my sister. One year she trick or treated as a princess and I loved the hat. Mom made it out of a big piece of poster board and I remember she had a hard time keeping it on because it was heavy, but it was cute! 

Pattern here.

Would also be cute with wings as an angel on the Christmas tree. You could leave the hat off and put a halo on. I may have to make a few in the Nutcracker theme!! Fun!!

She is very simple.

Supply list:

wooden bead for head

pink and flesh felt

pipe cleaner- I used vintage b/c they are skinny, but you can trim your pipe cleaner

pink tulle

pink satin ribbon

hot glue and white tacky glue

eye hook

embroidery floss in pink

clear sealer

1. Paint head flesh. Draw hair on. Paint hair. 

2. Draw facial features on. Paint mouth white and then red lips. Dot eyes on, using a round toothpick dot the white of eyes on. With other end of toothpick dot nose on.

3. Dry brush cheeks on.

4. Seal with clear sealer.

5. Make body just like Cat girl here, glue head on.

6. Glue arms and legs on. No need to stitch.

7. Make an X with the ribbon on the front and back for bodice. Glue in place using hot glue.

8. Take a 3 3/4" length of ribbon for sleeve. Use a running stitch with needle and pink embroidery floss, (knot one end of floss) and then stitch along one side. Pull thread and slip on arm to shoulder area. Pull to ruffle, tie off. Do this for the other sleeve.

9.Slip tulle skirt on and pull thread to ruffle, tie off.

10. To make hat: cut out felt and paper pieces. Glue paper to felt using glue stick. Using a drop of hot glue, glue strips of tulle inside hat. After glue has hardened make into a cone shape, glue. 

11. Do not glue hat on yet. Twist eye hook into top of head. Now glue hat on.

12. Add floss to eye hook for hanging.

You sweet princess is ready for hanging on your Halloween tree!! I hope that you enjoyed this series of Trick or Treat characters as much as I did designing them!! They sure were a treat to make (pun intended :)).

I have a tip to share with you on how to keep those ribbons and ric rac trims from unraveling. I know that the satin ribbons unravel terribly. 

See the ugly frayed edges. This happens all the time no matter how much you trim and trim them.

See the nice clean edges. They have been sealed. I use to use fray check but it often left a wet look especially on satin ribbon. Can you guess how I sealed it?

Ta-da.....

Do you know what this is? It's a soldering iron. Yep....the kind that solders well....solder. It is perfect for melting those pesky edges that drive me insane!!

But you do have to be very careful. Just like a clothes iron, this one gets real hot too!! 

I keep it in this neat stand. See the sponge? Keep that wet and after every solder stroke, wipe the soldering iron off to remove the melted ribbon. 

To make your soldering experience go more smoothly, you are welcome to use the tips below:

-if you do like to use the soldering iron for it's real purpose, as I do, please purchase a separate one to use on ribbons, it just makes life easier, plus they are not that expensive at Lowes

-the sponge will sizzle and "smoke" don't worry, that's normal, just don't make the sponge sopping wet

-as you melt the ribbon, take quick "chips" at the ribbon, this will keep you from accidentally melting a chunk out of your edge, then do one last "smooth over", that is taking the iron and lightly going from one side to the other in one stroke

-a stand is nice but not necessary, you could use a ceramic tile but be prepared for iron to roll around, promise me if the iron starts to roll off the table don't catch it-speaking from experience,  nothing pretty is going to come out of you catching that thing 

-purchased my stand at stained glass company, but I bet Ebay/Amazon, etc has them

-practice, practice, practice will make you less afraid of melting your ribbon and if you do, just trim the melted end off and start new

-I am just an email away if you have any questions :)

I really do love using the soldering iron instead of fray check or glue. It gives the edge a professional finished look.

Have a wonderful day and now I am off to make an Owl costume, hoot, hoot,

Holly

Classic Creature Feature: Frankenstein and His Bride Pattern

I have finally finished all of the Fall decorating. But the house is in a mess! We are having wood floors installed and since we are such diyers it is taking us a while. Hopefully we will have it all finished by this weekend and I will be able to take you on a little Fall decorating tour. 

Here's the pattern for Frankenstein and His Bride. Hope you have a wonderful time making them. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. 

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I promise to post his lab book soon. I have been sick since Friday of last week and as of yesterday feel much better! Just a Fall cold with fever, chills, vertigo (yea....bent over to plug something in on Friday and bumped my head hard on the wall, so weird, I couldn't judge the how far the wall was because my ears were so stopped up. Like I said, weird.). But I am so much better today. 

I hope that each and every one of you have a most wonderful vertigo free day!

Holly

Creature Feature Friday On A Saturday: Frankenstein and His Bride

Creature Feature Friday patterns coming soon. We have had a very busy week this past week. D#2 turned 8 yesterday and we celebrated with friends at school and then went out to eat dinner. Today we went to an estate/yard sale, did some birthday shopping and tonight friends are coming over for dinner. I am falling behind on my blogging, so please bear with me. 

Chris and Carolyn guessed right!! The next patterns are Frankenstein and the Bride of Frankenstein. Those movies are scary fun, but I really loved Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein". It is a kooky movie and if you watch it, keep an eye on Igor's hump. It changes sides throughout the movie. 

See the little Lab Notes book to the left on the trinket box? Zoom in. I will show you how to make it when I upload the pattern next week. It is so simple.

If you are brave enough and want to chuckle at a kooky movie just click on it. I hope that it is not too corny for you :) Warning Gene Wilder is crazy!, but then again, I guess he is really crazy in all of his movies. I love how he says his name "That's Fron-ken-steen". 

Have a wonderful weekend,

Holly