So I cut out 10″ squares of Snow White and Red fairy frost fabric (love the bit of sparkle in those pieces!) which allowed me a little extra room as I would be cutting the squares down to 8″ before folding.

Then I cut the same size squares of Ultra Heat’n'Bond and fused the red to the white fabric.

And then started folding…

…and folding over again….

And then folded the top down to see the white overlaid with the red.

I did glue the top white flaps down on each side of the basket. I also decided they needed a bit of embellishment….

After digging around in my stash of buttons and not having much success, I finally raided my sister’s supply of scrapbooking elements and found these little red jewel hearts which were perfect! And that little bag of hearts had just enough for the 20+ baskets I made.

Fill with chocolate and they’re done! Beautiful!!

Thanks to Alison for the idea and tutorial on her blog! Add ribbon, buttons and embellishments to your heart’s content and then have fun filling with fun treats!

I’ve been playing with envelope templates and printing various sizes on paper and decided that I had to try a fabric envelope! If it works with fabric, why won’t it work with fabric?! Normally I stick to the same kind of projects, but every once in a while I have to try something different and unique.

I found this simple envelope template and printed it on a piece of scrapbooking paper and put it together. Loved it!

Now to try it with fabric.

1. Fuse HeatnBond Lite wonderunder to the fabric.

2. Bond the fabric to a piece of card stock. I just used white; but if you want the interior of the envelope to be colored, use colored or printed card stock.

3. Open the pdf template (can be downloaded here), place the fabric/card stock into the printer so you are printing on the card stock side and click print. (And yes, I did this with my laser printer and it worked GREAT! No printer error this time! :))

4. Cut the template out following the lines and fold it along the dashed lines.

5. Cut a piece of card stock that is slightly smaller than the front of the envelope.

6. Place on front of envelope and stitch a decorative stitch around the card stock. Be sure to select an open and light decorative stitch; if it’s too dense like a satin stitch, it could tear the card stock. (I used flat tape in a couple places to hold the card stock in place while stitching.)

7. Glue the side flaps and bottom flap to create the envelope shape and placed it under a heavy book until it is dry. I also folded down the top flap to give it a crease, but did not glue it shut.

Now it’s time to insert the card, glue down the top flap, address it and mail it!

And surprisingly enough it went through the mail without any problem with only a first class stamp, although depending on the bulk of your fabric and card stock, it might require extra postage.

Ah, yes! Who can’t resist stitching another tote bag?!?! I have many; way too many to count in several different sizes and styles. Some I have kept and others I have given away, but there’s nothing such as fun as a new and different kind of bag!

Check out the Trim It Tote by designer, M’Liss Rae Hawley! Pick out a base fabric (perhaps one from your stash you aren’t too crazy about) and start embellishing with ribbons and trims. Have you seen all the fun and unique trims, ribbons, cording and beaded fringe that are available in hundreds of thousands and colors?! Way too many for just one bag. So get started stitching! :)

Thanks to allpeoplequilt.com and M’Liss Raw Hawley for the project instructions!

All you need is a fat quarter of fabric or some scraps, heavy interfacing, vinyl scraps, bias tape and some velcro and you are set! Not only is this a great place to hold the car info, but you could also use it to store just about anything! :)

Dishwasher signs are quick, fun and easy to make! In just a few minutes you can create a catchy little sign to attach to your dishwasher to enhance the look of your kitchen!

Supplies:
1/4 yard, fat quarter or scraps of fabric
batting scraps
embroidery thread
tear away stabilizer
embroidery designs
wonderunder scraps

Instructions:
Cut two rectangles of fabric measuring 9″ x 6″. Cut one rectangle of batting measuring 7 1/2″ x 4 1/2″. Mark vertical and horizontal lines with a water soluble marker on the two rectangles of fabric to mark the center. This is where the center of the design will be stitched.

Download the zipped lettering file and unzip the designs to your computer. Open the lettering design of your choice and combine small or mini designs with the lettering. Send the design to your machine to stitch.

Hoop two layers of stabilizer and spray the stabilizer with 505 spray adhesive. Then adhere the fabric to the hoop, aligning the lines drawn on the fabric with the hoop grid. Stitch the design. Depending on your hoop size, you may be able to stitch the “dirty dishes” and “clean dishes” signs both in one hoop. If not, hoop and stitch each design separately.

Clip any jump threads and tear off the excess stabilizer on the back. Carefully press the designs so they lay flat. Trim the fabric down to 7 1/2″ long x 4 1/2″ wide, keeping the embroidery in the center of the rectangle.

For the handle, cut a strip of fabric 1 1/4″ wide x 9″ long. Fold right sides together along the length and stitch a quarter inch seam to create a tube of fabric. Leave the two ends open. Use a tube turner to turn the fabric right side out and press flat.

Layer the batting, fabric and fabric handle in this order. Be sure that the lettering on each piece of fabric is the same direction and not upside down with each other.

batting
fabric right side up
fabric handle
fabric right side down

Pin the fabric handle between the right sides of the two pieces of fabric as shown.

Pin and stitch the layers together leaving a 3-4″ opening on the bottom of the sign. Be sure to backstitch when you start and stop stitching. Trim the corners and turn the fabric to the right side. Use a point turner as needed to create a flat 90 degree corner. Press the sign so it lays flat.

With the opening you left open on the bottom, turn under the fabric 1/4″ to the inside and press. Fuse a small piece of wonderunder to the fabric to close the opening shut.

Press the sign and hang it on your dishwasher!

You can download the lettering designs and printable directions here.

Roll up your silverware and napkins in a handy picnic place mat. This would make a nice gift for a summer wedding present or any summer picnic event!

Materials for four place mats:

Fabric 1 – 1 yard of fabric for the top of the mat
Fabric 2 – 2/3 yard of coordinating fabric for the backing
Medium weight fusible interfacing or fusible fleece
10 yards of double-fold bias tape

Instructions:

1. Cut 4 pieces 12″ x 18″ for the mats of fabric 1. Cut 4 pieces 12″ x 18″ for the backing of fabric. Cut 4 pieces 12″ x 18″ of interfacing or fleece. Cut 8 pieces of 7″ x 9″ for the silverware pocket of fabric 1. Cut 8 pieces 3″ x 4″ for the napkin holders of fabric 1.

2. Fuse the interfacing or fleece to the back of the top mat fabric.

3. Make the silverware pocket by stitching two 7″ x 9″ pieces, right sides together. Leave an opening for the turning. Trim and turn. Position the pocket 1″ from the sides of the mat. Stitch the pocket onto the mat along the sides and bottom. Topstitch the pocket with three 3″ wide silverware sections.

4. Like the silverware pocket, stitch the napkin holder, right sides together, and turn. Place the napkin holder on the mat, 1″ from the left side and centered from top to bottom. Topstitch the sides, letting it arch so a napkin can be inserted.

5. Layer mat top on backing, wrong sides together. Round off the corners. Using a 32″ topstitched bias strip for the tie, fold it in half and position it on the left side of the mat.

6. Edge finish the mat with bias tape, stitching the tie in the binding process.

Download printable directions here.