How-To Tuesday :: Fabric Bookmark

A few weeks ago I saw this great tut from Little Birdie Secrets on how to make fabric bookmarks.

My plan was to make them as gifts. I tried making one, and it turned out great! I went to make the others and my sewing machine was not working! {Fail!} So, I had to make other options...but I did get one made. And yes, I kept it for myself!

The tut is so easy with minimal sewing!! My kind of project!


So, to get started, you will need:


*Fabric cut to 4" x 8"
*Fusible interfacing cut to 3.75" x 7.75"
*Fabric strip for flower cut to about 1.25" x 42"
*Coordinating thread and sewing machine
*Fabric glue
*Coordinating button
*Needle and thread

1. Following manufacturer's instructions, iron fusible interfacing to wrong side of fabric piece.


2. Fold fabric piece in half width-wise, right sides together.


3. Sew across bottom edge and up side edge.



4. Clip corners and turn inside out. Use a pencil to gently push out corners.


5. Fold ends of open end in about 1/2".


6. Top stitch around all four sides, close to the edge, closing up open end.



7. Create a fabric rosette with your long strip of coordinating fabric and fabric glue (see tutorial here). Hand sew a button in the middle.


8. Glue the fabric flower to the top of the bookmark with fabric glue. That's it!


{This tut was taken from their website. Directions and pics belong to Little Birdie Secrets.}

I followed these directions completely and had no issues. I just love when that happens!

Here is the bookmark I made

As soon as my sewing machine is repaired, I plan on making several more. They will be very handy for the several books I am reading this summer.

Check out Little Birdie Secrets for more great tutorials!

Fabric Tape :: How To

I have had my eye on some seriously delicious Japanese washi tape... but haven't really wanted to make the commitment just yet. I figured I could probably make my own, which is always a crafter's state of mind. We see something we like, and just know we can make it ourselves. Or am I the only one?? Maybe, but at least you all get to benefit from some of my "Icanmakethatmyself" ideas! Score!!

So here is how I made my fabric tape. And I love this, because you can use whatever fabric you like!

Supplies needed:

Fabric of your choice
Xyron Sticker Maker {$10 at Walmart or craft stores}
Scissors

Cut your fabric to the desired width, or the width allowed by your sticker maker.

Insert fabric into sticker maker, and pull through.

Viola! You now have beautiful fabric tape.

You can use this to adorn packages, gift bags, gift wrap, or as embellishments for scrapbooking and card making. It could also be added to home decor DIY projects!

The only problem you'll find with this project is, you can't seem to make enough! I have made so much already, and still I can't stop. It's fun, easy, and so much cheaper than buying it online.

If you decide to make some, I'd love to see how you use it! Send me an email with your project, or upload it to the ODC flickr pool! The flickr pool is new, I thought it would be a fun way to share projects with each other and get inspiration!

Tell me, what would you use fabric tape for?

How-To Tuesday - Memo Holders

as mentioned a few days ago, i planned on showing you how i made these mini memo holders

they are very simple and require only a few items

these also make perfect gifts for teachers, family, friends, neighbors, really, anyone who can hold a pen

the supplies needed:

plastic picture frame 3.5x5 or 4x6 ($.95 at walmart)

fun paper

fun embellishments

ribbon

adhesive

square post-it notes (pack of 4 for $1.95 at walmart)


remove the paper insert, trace onto your pretty paper and insert into the frame

next you want to lay all of your embellishments on the frame with the pad of paper to see how you want the placement

once you see how you want it place, add your adhesive and place

i use double sided tape as it has a really great adhesive and won't show through the ribbon like glue would

i stamped 4 images of my elephant in order to add decorative balloons

i also added some glitter to his hat and the strings

now you have a cute little personalized gift

or make one for yourself

they're so easy you could make several in one afternoon

and just think, you'll have a ton of gifts already made, ready for the giving, at a moments notice