Wrapping up with Felt

Well hello there.  It's been awhile :)    I've been busy but sadly not with fun stuff here.  I did manage to wrap up a small piece for Jennifer Carroll's Celebrating Everyday Life November/December Issue.  I just grabbed my mess of supplies from our dingy rental basement and threw together a little tutorial on taking fabric, yarn and felt scraps and making them into something you could be proud to give.

Here is a little detail from one of the toppers.

You can check out all the great ideas and stories here.  I really love this cover ... I am tagging it for next year's holiday.

One of my favorites is the cocoa party!!!  I dream of setting up something like this on my new stone porch.  There is something so welcoming about a cup of hot chocolate.  For now it is a dream, as we continue to finish up all the little and big details at the new house.

One of my favorite cocoa gift ideas is busy getting pinned over on pinterest.  You can find it here and here.

I hope to be back before the holidays to share a couple of wrapping and gift ideas.

Until then ...

Keep Warm!

From my hot cocoa recipe (see above)

Ombre Felt Flower Ring

I love making felt rings and I have amassed quite a collection in many different colours.  While working on another project coming up next week, I decided to give a try with creating an ombre effect with a scrap strip of felt I used for my coffee cup collar.

1 - By putting the strip on its side in the dye,  I just let the colour begin to seep up the felt.

2 - when dry there was a slight ombre effect - maybe not quite the one I expected but it was there

3 - by cutting a strip approximately 1 inch by 5 inches and folded in half, I began to create my flower form for the ring.  You can find more details on technique  HERE.

4 - all stitched up, this version of the ring is subtle but pretty and soft

ps. the dye I used is cherry kool-aid - stay tuned next week for full details on using this as dye.

For other versions of the flower ring take a look     here    or     here 

There is nothing like a little flower power in the middle of the summer ... don't you think?

Wrap it up Thursday - Nest of Yarn - Gift Topper

You may remember my tutorial on making felt flower rings.  Well I have been busy crafting a whole group of them to give to friends as gifts.  My friend Shelley appreciates thoughtful wrapping so I decided to get creative.

I found some gorgeous turquoise velvet ribbon and thick cream wool, on spools at Anthropologie.  I knew I wanted to use them for something special.

I took a circle of card stock and began adding a strand of cream and a strand of taupe yarn, anchored with a glue gun.  I build the nest up with circles of yarn, continuing to glue,  and finally added a few strands in the center for my eggs.  The eggs are from a collection including store bought and hand felted.  Once I added the eggs I finished up the nest by building up yarn around the eggs.

I took three of the felt rings that I thought Shelley would like and added them to some thick kraft paper to fit in the box.  I made an x-acto knife cut, to fit them into the paper.  I used that same paper to make a tag and added a grommet to finish off the tag.

 Okay ... one present finished.  I better get cracking :)

Wrap it up Thursday - Packaging a gift with a gift

For someone really special ... someone that will really appreciate it ... it's nice to top off a gift with another gift.  Sort of a 2 for 1 special.  Felt flowers, a brooch and even an elaborate pom pom can later be used as hair adornments or a brooch for a scarf or coat.

1.  These felt flowers can be found at home made simple.  2.  I love these felt flowers and the tutorial can be found at blue cricket design  3.  This wrapping is actually three in one including a shirt.  It was shown in Country Living and designed by Jenn Playford of Wrapagami.  4.  My friend Tiffany Pratt of Glitter Pie makes these gorgeous pom poms that would look adorable attached to a hair elastic.

I decided to take a special book for a friend and wrap it up with another present.

I wrapped the present in hot pink and softened it with another wrapping of parchment paper.  Tied up with vintage ribbon and twine, I added a linen prize ribbon.

This prize ribbon topper is a hint at my project for Amy Power's Holiday Issue of Inspired Ideas.  It should be available the end of this week or early next week.  

 I guess that "tops" :) off this week's wrap-up...