I created this Washer and Dryer Play Set for my children and they loved it. I originally created this as a prototype so that my handy husband could build a play set out of wood. The prototype was such a hit that I never even asked for the other one! I would love to share my instructions with you if you fancy trying to make one. It's quite easy and inexpensive. Just e-mail me, subject line: Play Set and I'll send the instructions your way. Don't forget to tell your friends. Merci!

Embroidered Valentine Napkin Tutorial

Supplies:
A. Four cocktail napkins in assorted colors
B. Scissors
C. Embroidery needle
D. Disappearing fabric pen
E. 1 skein of embroidery floss in cream
F. small embroidery hoop (not pictured)

Step 1:

Using your fabric pen, transfer your phrases onto the napkins. I wrote my phrases in pretty script with a Sharpie on white paper. I lightly taped my written phrases onto the back of the napkin and then held them both up to a window. A light table works well to. Or, if you would rather use transfer paper, follow the transfer instructions from the manufacturer.

Step 2:

Cut a generous amount of embroidery floss. I cut 4 pieces (2 feet long each).

Step 3:

Position your embroidery hoop over the words. Begin embroidering with your preferred stitch. I used a simple back stitch. Click here to see my back stitch tutorial.

Step 4:

When you reach the end, knot and cut thread. You are finished!

Felt Barrette Tutorial

Inspired by Angry Chicken. I tried my best to sew them on my machine, but I could NOT sew on the lines very straight. So, I improvised and hand stitched some barrettes instead.
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Supplies

A- Felt (I love wool felt, but the craft felt works well to)!
B- Fabric pen
C- Embroidery or Craft Thread
D- Scissors
E- Needle
F- Snap Barrettes (I found them for a good price at a beauty supply store)

Step 1

Trace barrette twice onto your felt using your fabric pen.
Step 2

On one of your traced felt barrettes, mark in-between the back snap as shown in picture (in red).
Step 3

Cut out your barrettes about 1/8" from the trace lines.
Step 4

Cut a slit from red dot to red dot.
Step 5

Thread your needle and knot your thread on one end.
Step 6

Sandwich the two felt barrette pieces together and bring thread up through the skinny end of the top felt piece (this will hide your knot).
Step 7

Blanket-stitch up to the wide end of the felt sandwich and stop stitching.
Step 8


Slide the metal barrette into the sandwich sliding the skinny snap through the slit in the back felt piece. See the pictures. Now snap the metal barrette shut.
Step 9

Continue to blanket-stitch back to the starting point, enclosing the metal barrette as you go. Turn barrette over (as shown in picture), knot and cut your thread.
Finished Barrette:





Don't forget to visit the rest of my blog! I also have a forest fawn stuffie pattern for sale here. My instructions are accompanied by full color photographs and I give permission for you to sale your fawn creations!

Homemade Play Dough

I enjoy making this homemade play dough. I think my favorite part is creating the colors! The texture is wonderful. You can make several batches in different colors and package them up in cute containers to have quick gifts for playmates.

This is also a great opportunity to introduce measuring and the color wheel to your kids - they can help add the food coloring to discover how colors mix!

Homemade Play Dough Recipe
makes about 2.5 Cups

1 1/2 cups of flour
3/4 cups of salt
1 1/2 cups water
1 TB vegetable oil
1/2 TB cream of tarter
food coloring - I use the liquid kind

Mix all of the ingredients into a saucepan. Add the food coloring to your liking. - Kids can help with this step

Adults only -
Set your stove top to medium-low (about a 2.5 on a glass top stove). Stand by the pan and stir occasionally. When the batter look is gone and the ingredients start staying together when you stir (5-8 minutes), remove the pan from the heat. Lay out some wax paper and scoop play dough onto the wax paper. I can usually start kneading right away, but make sure that you check the dough for heat - you don't want to burn yourself!
Once the dough has been kneaded into a nice texture, place in an airtight container or zip lock. The snack sized zip locks work beautifully.

Hand Carved Stamp Tutorial by Art Nest

Supplies
drawing paper
tracing paper
carving block
carving tools
pencil
inkpad

1.Draw your design with pencil on drawing paper. Make sure to keep your design simple! I am drawing a hand with a heart inside to represent my love of everything handmade!



2.Trace your design onto tracing paper using your pencil.


3.Lay your carving block in front of you and place your traced design right side down on block.

4.Transfer the design to the block by rubbing over design with your thumb nail.







5.Using your #2 tool, cut a deep groove around the entire design, being careful not to carve out the pencil lines.




6.Now, using your # 1 tool, carve out the negative space in your design (the part that will not pick up the ink) Don't over do the first pass at carving.



7.Rinse design under warm running water and blot dry with a paper towel. This will remove any carving dust.



8.Using your ink pad, press ink onto your design and stamp onto your drawing paper.





9.Evaluate the results and, if needed, continue carving. I want to make the heart smaller and thin the sides of the fingers.

10.Repeat step 7 – 9 until you are happy with result:



11. Using #6 tool, carve out entire design following the deep groove you created in step 5 BE CAREFUL, DO NOT CUT TOWARD YOUR FINGERS OR BODY





12. Your hand carved stamp is now complete and ready to use!

Knitting Needle Travel Pouch

Supplies
2 fat quarters
measuring tape
scissors
pins
rotary cutter & mat (optional)
sewing machine
iron
snap
needle and thread for hand sewing

The below measurments will accomodate needles up to 11" long. You will need to add width for longer needles.


Step 1
Start with 2 fat quarters that are washed, dried, and ironed:


Step 2
Choose the fabric that is to be the outside of your pouch. Mine is the floral. Cut a rectangle that measures 6.5" tall by 12" wide.
Using the fabric that is to be the inside of your pouch, cut a rectangle that measures 7.75" tall by 12" wide.
IF YOU NEED A LONGER POUCH, ADD INCHES TO THE WIDTH.


Step 3
With right sides together, align the rectangles to the right and pin:


Step 4
Using a 1/4" seem allowance, sew down the right side:


Step 5
Align left sides together. Pin and sew down the left side:


Step 6
Turn inside out. Position your outside fabric (the floral) in the center of the two strips of inside fabric (the cream). Iron flat:


Step 7
Fold the left side in 2" :


Step 8
Fold the right side in 1.5" and pin down the center :


Step 9
Sew both ends using the following method. First sew end using a straight 1/4" seam allowance. Next, zig-zag stitch to secure. Snip threads. :



Step 10
Remove pins and turn pouch inside out. Use a knitting needle to gentley push corners if needed. :


Step 11
Hand sew a snap in the center of your pouch:




Step 12
Insert your knitting needles into pouch, snap closed, and travel away!