12 Weeks of Christmas Tutorial #5!

This week's tutorial would be great for the kids! I wanted my boys to be able to make ornaments for their grandparents, and together we decided we wanted to decorate Christmas trees. Here's what we came up with.

Christmas Tree Felt Ornaments
(tutorial makes 3 ornaments)

What you'll need:
Christmas Tree Templates (or draw your own shapes!)
Sharpie
3-9x12 sheets of craft felt, in three different colors
Felt glue
Ribbon
Thread
Various embellishments - we used silver star sequins
Various colors of glitter glue

Step 1
Print and cut out the Christmas tree templates. Use the Sharpie to trace the templates onto the felt. One of each size on each piece of felt.

Step 2
Cut out the shapes. You should end up with 9 felt pieces.

Step 3
Layer your pieces, and set them aside in three groups.







Step 4
Take you largest tree (this will be your bottom piece), and dab some glue at the top. Cut your ribbon to your desired length, and fold it in half to make a loop for hanging. Place the two raw ends into the glue.

Step 5
Take your middle tree, turn it over and cover the backside with glue. Flip and position on top of the largest tree. Press down to secure.

Step 6
Take your spool of thread, and wind around your smallest tree like tinsel. Add a couple of inches to the length, and cut.

Step 7
Hold about one inch of one end of the thread to the back of the smallest tree. Add some glue to the top of the tree, and a dab for the extra inch of thread.





Step 8
Start winding the "tinsel" around the tree, and add your sequins as you go. Add glue to the backside as you finish each section of "tinsel" to adhere to the rest of the tree. Leave an inch at the other end of the thread to go to the backside of the bottom of the tree. Secure it with glue, and gently press all around to make sure your smallest tree is secured to the rest of the ornament.


Step 9
At this point, go to town adding a splash of color with your glitter glue! Let the ornaments dry overnight so that the glue sets. Hang on your tree, and enjoy! Or wrap up and give as a wonderful handmade gift from the heart!

Happy Crafting! Amy

12 Weeks of Christmas Giveaway #5!

This week's giveaway is brought to you by...


Cindy Wimmer has been drawn to creating jewelry for four years. She is a Mom of four busy, highly imaginative boys. When she can sneak a spare moment, she's off creating jewelry. She joined the Etsy community this year, and enjoys updating her blog, www.sweetbeadstudio.com. She absolutely loves working with wire, especially sterling silver and copper. Handcrafted art beads and vintage pieces also find their way into her jewelry. Several of her wirework tutorials can be found in the current issue of Easy Wire , including the stamped metal bracelet on the cover.


Up for giveaway this week is a $15 gift certificate from Sweet Bead Studio!

Leave a comment below about your favorite Sweet Bead Studio item (don't forget to leave your email address in your first comment!). And of course, you can earn more entries by leaving a link to places you've made a shout out about this giveaway - Twitter, Facebook, blog, networking sites, etc. The more shout outs, the more entries!



This giveaway will be open from today through 11:59pm Saturday, 10/31/09. The winner will be announced here on the blog on Sunday, 11/1/09.

Good luck! Amy

12 Weeks of Christmas Deal of the Week 5

Good morning! Stopping by to tell you about this week's SewArtsy Deal of the Week!


This week I'm having a Buy Two Get One Free on all of my Hair Clippy Caddies - in my Etsy shop, 10/26 - 11/1. Just use the coupon code 12WOC5 in the comment section at checkout, and I will refund you the cost of your third HCC to your Paypal account. Hope this helps with your holiday shopping!

Come back again on Thursday for this week's tutorial!

Happy Monday! Amy

Week 4 Giveaway Winner!

Hi everyone! Just wanted to let you know that the winner of this past week's giveaway, from Sapphire Child Orchid, is Meredith of Maggie Sue Designs - congratulations!

Check in tomorrow for this week's Deal of the Week and Giveaway! Amy

Have you started your holiday shopping?
I have, and I'd like to share with you some of those shops with you!

Today I'd like to share with you Loveable Creations Boutique - perfect bows and lovely clothes. In this shop you will find headbands, bows, floral hair clips, hair puffs, and cute hats for kids and babies. I chose to buy a couple of sets because I loved the idea of a "starter set" and interchangeable adornments. My daughter, at almost a year old, already has a full head of thick curly hair, and I love the way she looks when I can do something cute and fun with it. However, at her age, she rarely sits still for longer than a nanosecond. To the rescue: stretchy headbands with a bazzilion choices of colored flower clips!

And look at this adorable spider headband that Charis will be sporting for our Halloween activities this year! So be sure to check out Loveable Creations Boutique if you've got little ones on your list this year!

Happy Friday! Amy

12 Weeks of Christmas Tutorial #4!

This week I'm offering some practical help, but with a purpose. As a family we support the Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child. As an option families can wrap their shoe boxes in wrapping paper, but I've not done this before because I thought it would just take too much time figuring out how to make them look really nice. This year I challenged myself to figure this out, and grabbed my most sturdy wrapping paper, my shoe boxes, tape and scissors, and set out to tackle the project!

1. Lay the box lid on rolled out paper. (a) Cut it wide enough to completely cover the inside edges. (b) cut slits in the paper, width-wise at ends. This eliminates the tearing that can come with box edges. (c) Secure paper to sides with tape.

2. (a) On one end fold the paper sides in, just like you would wrapping a gift box. (b) Secure loose ends with tape inside the box. (c) Fold up the triangle and secure inside with tape. Repeat on other end. And repeat the same process on the box bottom.


One of my shoe boxes had a hinged lid, instead of one that comes completely off. Below are photos of how I measured the paper, and worked the paper around the box, folding and taping as I went. (Click the photos to see the images in a larger, more detailed size)



Once the box was completely covered with paper, before closing, I snipped the paper at the hinge, and secured it well with tape to make sure it had both a nice fit and a nice look.


This tutorial will come in handy whether you are participating in this year's OCC campaign, or whether you'd just like to wrap a lidded box for the gift-giving season.

It's so easy to bring a smile and a heart full of joy to a child on this enormous planet of ours who otherwise will not receive anything for Christmas this year. If you feel called to participate - get out and do it! National Collection Week is November 16-23! Click here for ideas on how to pack a shoe box, and here for drop-off locations near you.

Happy Crafting! Amy

12 Weeks of Christmas Giveaway #4!

This week's giveaway is brought to you by


Here's what Julia, owner of Sapphire Child Orchids, has to tell us about her business and the plants she loves.

"I am a grower and breeder of orchids, working with Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, and Dendrobium species and hybrids, although I grow a variety of other orchids and interesting non-orchid plants as well. On my blog you can follow plants in bloom as well as read how-to articles on growing orchids. Like any good geek, I love to share my enjoyment of plants and am happy to answer questions. I'd like people to know that orchids aren't as difficult as people say - just a little different. And with 30,000 species worldwide and untold numbers of hybrids, I'm sure we can find the plant that's right for your window!


Some key articles to get you started:
An Introduction to Orchids as Houseplants


How to:
Basic Phalaenopsis Culture


How to:
Repotting
(note: this article uses a Paph as example. The basic idea is the same for most orchids, though most others will have smooth and silvery or green roots or with green or burgundy tips)

My breeding efforts are still relatively new, and tend toward the unusual, striving for characteristics such as compact size, fragrance, unusual foliage or interesting color patterns in the flowers."

Up for giveaway this week is a $10 gift certificate towards a purchase at Sapphire Child - use it for yourself, or gift it to a friend!

Leave a comment below about your favorite Sapphire Child Orchids product (don't forget to leave your email address in your first comment!). And of course, you can earn more entries by leaving a link to places you've made a shout out about this giveaway - Twitter, Facebook, blog, networking sites, etc. The more shout outs, the more entries!

This giveaway will be open from today through 11:59pm Saturday, 10/24/09. The winner will be announced here on the blog on Sunday, 10/25/09.

Good luck! Amy

12 Weeks of Christmas Deal of the Week 4

Good morning! Dropping in to tell you about this week's SewArtsy Deal of the Week!

This week I'm having a Buy One Get One Free Zip Top Pouch and Coin Purse Sale at SewArtsy 10/19-25 - in my Etsy shop. Just use the coupon code 12WOC4 in the comment section at checkout, and I will refund you the cost of your second pouch (of equal or lesser cost) to your Paypal account. Hope this helps with your holiday shopping!

Come back again on Thursday for this week's tutorial!

Happy Monday! Amy

Week 3 Giveaway Winner!

Give a big "congratulations" to Merlinthecat - you are the winner of the Penelope Designs Button Bracelet and Earring Set Giveaway!

Check back tomorrow for the next giveaway! Amy

12 Weeks of Christmas Tutorial #3

I've been seeing lots of flowery embellishments on bags and blouses lately, and I've loved trying out some of the ways I've seen to make them. What I really wanted was something that didn't look too frilly- I'm not a super girly girl - but that used my favorite fabrics. I'm much more about construction and line, not so much softness and drape. So here's my version of a flowery embellishment that can be sewn onto another piece, made into a hair clip, or attached to a pin back so that it can be moved from item to item.

Step 1: Choose your fabrics
I used a mixture of twill, denim and cotton quilting fabrics, and mixed and matched until I found combinations I liked.

Step 2: Cut to size
I cut strips at varying widths, 2 or 3 inches, and didn't worry about the length at first. At this point I also pinked some of the edges, fringed one of the edges, and cut a petal pattern into one of the edges.


Step 3: Layer your fabrics
I used the strip as it was when I wanted a raw edge, and folded the strip when I wanted a finished strip. Then layered the pieces one on top of the other, marking where I wanted to run the thread through, close to the bottom edge.

Step 4: Add your running stitch
Using a needle and thread, knot the end of your thread and sew a running stitch through your layers of fabric. Pull the thread tight to create the gathers every once in a while. This is how I eyeballed the length of the strips - when the piece got to about the right size I just cut the length off there.


Step 5: Decide how you want it to look when finished
In 2 of my pieces I stitched the two raw ends together at the back once it was fully gathered. For the gray twill piece I twisted it so that it overlapped, making it a double-decker flower. Once I liked the way it was twisted I ran a few stitches through the piece front to back to secure the two ends in place. And to pull the center in tight I ran several stitches through the backside from side to side.


Step 6: Embellish!
Since the gray twill flower was more formal looking, I went with three hematite beads sewn into the middle. It looks pretty organic to me, and they were just big enough to "pretty-up" the raw edges in the middle. For the orange and denim I added a piece of orange grosgrain ribbon and a gold flower button. (Very cute!) The dark fringed denim piece still needs something for the middle, but I like how the fringed edges turned out. Of course this idea can also be used with softer colors or fabrics for a much more feminine look, so work them out to your hearts content in whatever fits your personality best!


Step 7: Decide how to use them!
Here are some ideas I came up with: attach to a strip of fabric and tie on a nice wrist corsage; attach them to your mary janes; attach to a blouse, scarf or purse; glue or pin several to a foam circle for a decorative wreath; place each one in a small dish and make an arrangement for your table; attach to a bobby pin to beautify a pony tail; or attach to a clip or headband.


Have another great idea for how to use your fabric floral embellishments? Post a comment here to share!

Happy crafting! Amy

12 Weeks of Christmas Giveaway #3!

This week's giveaway is brought to you by...

A bit about the artist behind the products!

"My real name is Penelope, but everyone calls me Penny. I have been knitting and crocheting since the age of 8, taught at the knee of my Bulgarian grandmother. I also have been making jewelry for about 7 years, and am mostly self taught, although I have taken some wonderful classes at local jewelry shops in the DC area as well. I enjoy working with several different techniques, but my favorites are crocheted wire and beads, which combines my two craft loves, and drilling and wire wrapping sea glass. I focus on jewelry in the spring and summer when the light in my studio is wonderful to work with. But in the fall and winter, I knit almost constantly - on the metro, in the car, waiting at appointments, and in even bed (my husband has been known to wake up with a knitting needle about to poke him in the side!) No matter what the season though, I hope that my creations, both fiber and beaded, bring joy to those who wear them."

Other places to find Penelope Designs:
Penelope Designs on Facebook
Penelope Designs Blog

Up for giveaway this week, in your choice of silver or gold tone, is this adorable patriotic button earrings and bracelet set!


Leave a comment below about your favorite Penelope Designs product. And of course, you can earn more entries by leaving a link to places you've made a shout out about this giveaway - Twitter, Facebook, blog, networking sites, etc. The more shout outs, the more entries!

This giveaway will be open from today through 11:59pm Saturday, 10/17/09. The winner will be announced here on the blog on Sunday, 10/18/09.

Good luck! Amy

12 Weeks of Christmas Deal of the Week 3

Good morning! Just here to tell you about this week's SewArtsy Deal of the Week!

This week I'm having a Buy One Get One Free Purse Sale at SewArtsy 10/12-18 - in my Etsy shop. Just use the coupon code 12WOC3 in the comment section at checkout, and I will refund you the cost of your second purse (of equal or lesser cost) to your Paypal account. Hope this helps with your holiday shopping!

*Purses include the following categories in my Etsy shop: Purses, Messenger Bags & Totes, Clutches and Art Bags

Come back again on Friday for this week's tutorial!

Happy Monday! Amy

Week 2 Winner!

Congratulations to Vanessa, who has been randomly picked as the winner of the 12 Weeks of Christmas Week 2 Handmade by Amy giveaway!

Amy will be contacting you to get started on your custom labels!

Thanks so much to everyone for entering - check back in tomorrow to see week 3's giveaway! Amy

12 Weeks of Christmas Tutorial #2

Here's a cute Cake Quilt that I've put together that can be sewn up for any occasion. Have a wedding or birthday you need a gift for? How about Halloween or Thanksgiving right around the corner? This would also make a really cute hostess gift if you'll be spending the holiday at someone else's home.


I'd love to see pics if you do up this centerpiece for yourself!

Happy sewing! Amy

Do You See What I See?

Today's Do You See What I See? is inspired
by the upcoming holiday party season.
I'm really feeling the richness of dark gray
this fall, so here are some
fabulous evening bag options I found on Etsy!

1. Starlite Purse, MyEmptyNest
2. Gray Crochet Clutch, Christinatay
3. Black Ice, Coryrenee
4. SewArtsy Evening Clutch OOAK, SewArtsy
5. Silver Gray Silk Rosie Handbag, Suejack
6. Lady Clutch, Felixandjayne

Happy Wednesday! Amy

12 Weeks of Christmas Giveaway #2

This week's giveaway comes just in time to start thinking about addressing all of those holiday greetings you'll be sending out this year. How about special address labels made just for you by Handmade by Amy.

Amy's just back from maternity leave, and is back in business. Along with being a new mommy to her baby boy, she makes incredible paper and print products, including cards and stationery, mommy cards, address labels, announcements and more.


Up for giveaway this week is a set of 90 custom address labels of your choice. Make sure you look over Amy's shop for your favorite design. You'll get to work one on one with Amy to make sure you get the perfect labels for you.


Leave a comment below about your favorite Handmade by Amy product. And of course, you can earn more entries by leaving a link to places you've made a shout out about this giveaway - Twitter, Facebook, blog, networking sites, etc. The more shout outs, the more entries!


This giveaway will be open from today through 11:59pm Saturday, 10/10/09. The winner will be announced here on the blog on Sunday, 10/11/09.

Good luck! Amy

12 Weeks of Christmas Deal of the Week 2

Good morning! Just here to tell you about this week's SewArtsy Deal of the Week!

This week fans can take advantage of 10% off your entire purchase at SewArtsy 10/5-11 - in both my Etsy and Artfire shops. Just use the coupon code 12WOC2 in the comment section at checkout, and I will refund you the 10% to your Paypal account.

Come back again on Thursday for this week's tutorial!

Happy Monday! Amy

CAB Team Giveaway!

I know how you love giveaways, so I'm letting you know about another incredible giveaway sponsored by the Carried Away Bagmakers Team. Find the details at CarriedAwayTeam.Blogspot.com.

Check out the amazing coin purses available in our team shop to help out Women for Women International.



Good luck! Amy

Week 1 Winner!

Thank you, everyone, for sharing your holiday memories! It was fun reading through all of the funny and touching moments you've had.

I'm so happy to announce that the winner of the 12 Weeks of Christmas Week 1 Giveaway is... Bombtastic Belle

Congratulations, and I hope you have great fun using these two Christmas appliques in your upcoming projects!

Happy Sunday, Amy!

12 Weeks of Christmas Tutorial #1

Today’s 12 Weeks of Christmas tutorial will hopefully help you with some gifts for your crafty, on-the-go friends! I share my free pattern for the SewArtsy Card Case Key Chain. Just click here to open the pdf document!

Don’t have time to make these for yourself? You can see some ready-made over in my ArtFire shop – only $9.95 each, comes wrapped in tissue and ribbon perfect for gift giving!

Happy sewing, my friends! Amy