This is what we'll be making...

Told you it was awesome!

Zipper cuff Tutorial- Super easy!

My Readers,

Here's a very simple craft which takes practically no time at all! The longest wait is for the hot glue to cool. Start with a simple zipper, any size as long as it will go around your wrist.

(excuse my nails, I have 2 boys!)

Now we just need to round up some trimmings. I use anything from buttons, to keys, to rick rack and lace. Here's what I put together:

Time to get the glue gun good and hot. I have a love/hate relationship with the glue gun. It's so perfect and quick that I love it. But...I have never completed a project without burning myself and cursing the gun. Onward we go! Plan how you want your bracelet then simply glue the ribbon and trim in place.

Easy right? I told you. Now, simply let the glue cool and sew snaps on the ends. Totally done!

Try experimenting with the zippers. I did some half zipped with fabric behind the opening. I also made some with two zippers stacked together. Have fun!

I hope you enjoy and as always I'd love to see your finished projects! Another tutorial is coming this week, so maybe look into buying some shrink plastic. Trust me, this craft is awesome.

Love to you all!

Margo

Blog Award!

Look what I just received from my friend Chrissy! Isn't she sweet? My first blog award....hmmm so many people to thank. I forget the little people who helped me get here. Kidding of course, probably as close as I'll get to an Oscar.

So here are the nifty rules to this charming award:

1. Post who gave you this award

2. State 10 things you like

3. Give this award to 10 blogger friends and notify them with a comment

Sounds a lot like tag doesn't it? Here are my 10 things I like. In no particular order,

1. Felt, but you probably knew that already

2. Video games. I'm a fairly regular gamer, bloody and scary games too

3. Dr. Seuss, a life long love

4. Baking- not cooking, just baking

5. Bob Dylan- kind of an obsession

6. Thursdays, better than Wednesday and less pressure than Friday

7. Swimming

8. Black and White movies, especially with Cary Grant.

9. Trying on shoes I have no intention of buying

10. Getting the mail- there's always a chance of a surprise

Surprised by any of them?

Here's who I've given my award to: How about Orange, Kojo Designs, Samster Mommy, Emily, Dawn, Chrissy, Remodelaholic, Ms. Kasten, Miranda, and my two cousins Ben and Emilee!

That's right eleven. Couldn't help myself.

Stay tuned for a tutorial tonight or tomorrow! And I'll try to get the text color fixed.

Book Project

Reader,

I have been browsing projects online most of the week and I've noticed a disturbing trend. More and more projects seem to involve destroying books! Does this bother anyone else? I was raised in a house where books where cherished. Reading is a favorite pastime for me.I remember being scolded several times on how I treated my books as a child. My dad didn't like books stacked on their sides even. And if you lain an open book face down....Wow! "You're breaking the spine!" To this day I cannot put a book down that way. And if I see one, I find a scrap of paper to bookmark the readers page.

These projects I see, involve drilling through books, breaking the spines, tearing the pages, and more. I can't do it. Even a book from a thrift store is still sacred. In these times of online everything, maybe people don't feel the same about books.

I frequent our public library on a weekly basis. Perhaps the fact that I am used to sharing my books with the city has given me a different perspective on book care. Since I am just borrowing the book I treat it as thus. I hope others take the same consideration.

Sorry, if this is preachy. I am aware that I have an extreme reverence for books. I have never put a readable book in the trash. I hope I never do. I can see the beauty and art in taking an unused item and changing it into something usable. But I can't do it with books. When is a book not a book? It's still usable.

Please, readers, find me a craft to use up my magazines! I have no feelings for them. Or the countless half filled coloring books littering my home! But let me read my books.

Do your part! Save a book!

Thanks for reading! No more preaching for a while, crafting has resumed.

Curling up with a book,

Margo

My Weekend

Dearest,

So busy this weekend! And I wasn't even working. We are planning a move at the end of the month so I should be packing constantly, right? Well...I'm trying to finish about 20 craft projects before the move. I'm positive that I'll loose my momentum if I pack these crafts. Are you like me? Do you have several half-finished projects around your home? Here's a few I finished this weekend at least!

Freezer Paper Stencil Throw Pillow

Do you know about freezer paper stenciling? I figured I was the last to hear about this. I started doing stencils like this almost a year ago. I found the octopus online. I love it!

Felt Pillow Brooches

This is a new craft I'm toying with. My friend Chrissy over at Chrissy in America did a version for her daughters girl scout troop and I was inspired. I decided to try them with some stuffing for more dimension. I think they'll be cute on a purse or scarf.

Over the Elbow Gloves

So this is a season craft I decided to pick up again now that the weather is getting cooler. These are simply adorable socks I've cut the feet off and attached to gloves. Perfect for those 3/4 length sleeve coats. I usually make and sell these over the winter.

Felt Flower Brooch

I saw a tutorial on I am Momma for these blooms as a belt and decided to try my hand at it. I'm thinking brooch instead.

School Uniform Hair Accessories

I made these to sell to the girls at my boys school. The handbook says they must wear only school colored accessories. Not sure if they'll sell, but figured it was a different demographic so why not?

Pretty busy right? No packing, but lots of creating. Did you make anything this weekend?

Thanks for reading!

XO,

Margo

Owl Hairclip Tutorial

Hello Darling!

Ready to craft? Here's what we need to start: Four colors of felt(browns, white, and a color for the beak), I just used scraps from other projects, you don't need a lot, embroidery thread in black or brown (seed beads can be used instead), a bobby pin or other flat hair clip, needle and thread. Got it all? These are a very simple and quick craft. I made three or four while watching TV with no problem at all.

Ok, so here's my pattern for you.

I'm still trying to figure out the best way to post patterns so bear with me! Click on the image and copy and paste it in to photoshop/paint , size it to approx 1/4 of a regular size paper. Grr! I know, sorry, I'm working on making this easier for you!

Once you've got it all printed cut your pieces out. You can use the colors pretty much anyway you want. I like to keep mine in a semi-natural color scheme, but if I were making them for little girls I'd use more fun colors.

Now we're all set to sew. I start with the wings first and sew in a regular running stitch around them. Next place your eyes and beak and sew them in place. I used embroidery thread for the eyes, but I have also used black seed beads. I suggest just using what you have on hand. If you have neither, use a black marker and go for it. Here's where we are:

Now, before we so the back on, we need a place to insert our hair clip. Fold your back piece in half lengthwise and cut two small snips along the fold. When we unfold we have a small loop to secure our clip, see? The nice part, you can wear this clip on either side of your hair by simply turning the clip around before it goes in the slits.

All that's left to do is sew the front and back together. I know, mine is already done. I forgot to take a picture before I sewed it. Voila!

Isn't he sweet? And so easy, right? Here are two of the lovelies I finished last night. I attempted a barn owl.

You can see on the white one I tried a different technique around the eyes. I think the long stitches from the center look more like feathers. Have lots of fun making little owls to wear!

Hope your week is "flying" by!

Margo

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Upcoming Tutorial

This is what I'm working on tonight! Hopefully the tutorial will be up tomorrow. See you then!