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Happy Birthday wishes going out to the following

Artwichstudios on December 26
http://www.etsy.com/listing/34662507/grey-and-white-cat-head-organic


Onesweetbead on December 27
http://www.etsy.com/listing/87961083/dream-a-handmade-boroscilicate-lampwork


SugarBaySoapCompany on December 28
http://www.etsy.com/listing/66669530/spiffy-bath-salts-rose-garden-chamomile


MorningMantras on December 29
http://www.etsy.com/listing/84015134/turn-off-the-tv-have-more-sex-4x6-art



NymphsNecessitys on December 30
http://www.etsy.com/listing/70118190/aromatic-body-scrub-samples-herbal



PinkPupsDesigns also on December 30
http://www.etsy.com/listing/72617143/just-married-double-banner-garland-for



Humbleraelord on December 31
http://www.etsy.com/listing/38992638/mr-blue-magnet-one-1-item-free-us



KimDeanArt also on December 31
http://www.etsy.com/listing/17718150/whimsical-child-print-modern-abstract


Acenal on January 1
http://www.etsy.com/listing/63602799/star-mosaic-pendant



Jewelrybyesta also on January 1
http://www.etsy.com/listing/65050584/wise-owl-in-navy-and-off-white-free


Have a Wonderful Birthday!
ReneeBrownsDesigns

2011 HOLIDAY COUNT DOWN #24

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#24 ~ TODAY'S Tutorial By Sharonscandleshop where you will find a beautiful collection of handcrafted Natural Wax candles!

Today Sharon shares some useful Candle Safety Tips:

Keep away from children and pets

Never leave candle burning unattended.

Always put candle on a candle plate or some other non-flammable, no melt item to catch any melted wax. Never set directly on furniture

Make sure candle is on a sturdy, level, hard surface.

Keep 3 feet away from walls, drapery or any other flammable materials.

Keep out of drafts and breezes.

All decorations should be removed from candle while lit. Hot melted wax or large flame could ignite decoration.

Keep wicks trimmed to ¼ inch – 1/8 inch for wooden wicks.

The ideal length of time to burn a candle is 2 to 4 hours. Any shorter length of time and the candle will only burn a small tunnel hole down the center, leaving a thick, unburned outer shell; any longer than 4 hours and the melted wax pool will be to large either drowning the wick or causing a fire hazard.

Flames should be ½ to 1 inch tall and straight. A flame which bends or flickers too much is a sign of a draft or a less than perfectly formed candle. If the flame gets too high or the wax pool too deep, extinguish the flame and when the wax dries it can be re-lit.

By following these simple tips and exercising a little common sense you can enjoy your candles with confidence.

2011 HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN #23

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#23 ~ TODAY'S Tutorial By TheQuirkySquirrel where you will find Gifts for knitters that are fun and quirky!

Today Terri from the TheQuirkySquirrel shows you how to make a felted beret in a four-part video tutorial.









If you would like more of these tutorials on felting please visit Felting Lessons!

2011 HOLIDAY COUNT DOWN #22

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#22 ~ TODAY'S Tutorial By Handmade3D where you will find great hair accessories, handmade plushies and coffee cozies and so much more!!

Today  Ellen shares: Flower Growth Chart

Can you believe my little Zoe turned 1 year old today! This has been one of the best years of my life. And to end it off, I wanted to create a growth chart for my little flower. I have seen cute ones at stores and online, but they are either too expensive or I think "I could do that!" Well, now you can too. :) I made this over a couple of days, but if I had uninterrupted time I could have probably done the entire thing in one afternoon. But other moms out there know that uninterrupted time is not a luxury!

What you’ll need:

½ yd of green felt by the yard 60”
Fat quarter for center of flower
Scraps of fabric for petals (about 3 fat quarters)
Polyfill Fiberfill
Water Soluble pencil
Sewing Machine
Rotary Cutter and Rulers
Thread
Scissors
Pins

** I use an embroidery machine to create the leaves but you would use any type of machine or applique or write the markings by hand.

Creating the stem of the flower:
1. Cut a strip of 6” x 60” of the green felt.
2. Using your water soluble pencil and ruler, draw 1 inch markings along the right side of the vertical length of the stem.
3. Mark every 6” with a pin.’
4. Using a dark green thread, stitch a line at every marking
For the inch markings, stitch a 1” inch line
For the ½ foot markings, stitch a 1 1/2” inch line
For the foot markings, stitch a 3” inch line
Special Note: With the measurements given you should be able to create a growth chart starting at 6” at the base going to just over 6’ tall. I am only 5’4” so I imagine my daughter will be around that height. If you have a taller family, you may want to mark the bottom as 1 foot or even 1 ½ feet tall. You will need at least five inches at the top of the stem to attach and overlap the flower.

5. Mark the 1 foot increments with numbers. You can use your embroidery machine or applique.

Creating the leaves:
I created 12 leaves in hope that she will still let me mark her growth at 12 but who knows! I would rather have too many leaves than not enough. I also changed the directions for every other leaf to be on the opposite side of the stem.

Machine Embroidery:
Load the vip embroidery file into your embroidery software. Add the years with your text functions. Depending on your hoop size you may be able to create more than one leaf at a time.
After stitching out the designs, cut out the leaves.
By Hand:
Use the attached template to trace the leaves on to your excess felt.
After cutting out a bunch of leaves use whichever method you like the write the ages on the leaves

Creating the Flower
1. Create the 12 petals out of scrap fabrics.
2. From your extra felt, cut a 6” circle and a 4” square. This will be the back of the flower and a pocket.
3. Stitch the 4” square on top of the circle.
4. Cut a 5” x 2” strip of fabric. This will be the hanging loop.
5. Fold the strip of fabric in half lengthwise, twice. Stitch along the edge to create the loop.
6. Stitch the loop to the top of the pocket circle.
7. Cut a 12” circle out of your yellow fat quarter. This will be the center of the flower.
8. Stitch a long loose stitch around the edge of the circle.
9. Using the thread, hold one end and gather the circle so the edge folds over itself about 2”.
10. Lay out your 12 petals along the raw edge of the inner circle.
11. Whip stitch the petals to the circle to keep them in tack.

1. Using your sewing machine, use a zig zag stitch to secure the petals to the center.
2. Place fiberfill in the center of the flower.
3. Cover the hole with the stem and the felt pocket. Hand stitch the three layers together.

You are done! Measure carefully on your wall to hang. Measure your little flower and place the leaves at her mark!
If you would like a pdf version of this tutorial, as well as the VIP embroidery files for the leaves, please email me at 'ellen@3doodle.com'

2011 HOLIDAY COUNT DOWN #21

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#21 ~ TODAY'S Tutorial By TheWoodenBee 

where you will find a fine collection of unique, handmade products that have been made from reclaimed materials with love!

I love to make wine cork garland. It’s a quick and classy way to decorate for a special occasion. At home I use it for anniversaries and adult birthdays. In our shop, I use it to decorate our vendor space and for our DIY craft parties. I think it would look fabulous on our Christmas tree this year…if I can get around to making enough!

Below, I used some wine cork garland on a window doorway at one of our DIY craft parties. I hung five double sided square chalkboards from the garland, that read CRAFT on one side and PARTY on the the other.

I thought I’d share some how-to tips for making wine cork garland.

What you need:
- oak wine corks
- ribbon, yard, or twine
- drill, optional
- beads, optional

For the garland twine I normally use natural jute or hemp. I find the cost is much less than ribbon or yarn. I also like the width & stiffness of the twine to allow for easy threading. However, I have used yarn, tied up scraps of ribbons, and recycled fishing line to make pretty wine cork garlands.

First determine how long you would like your wine cork garland to be, and then add four feet to your measurement. If I wanted an 8 foot garland, I would cut a 12 foot piece of twine. I would leave two feet on each side to allow extra twine for tying it up, for knots, etc.

You can drill holes in your wine corks either vertically and horizontally. Find a drill bit a size or two larger than the width of your twine. It will make it easier to thread the twine through the corks. Moving the drill bit in & out while drilling will help clear the holes of extra cork as well.

Decide your garland pattern based on your materials. For an 8 foot garland I would recommend having 35-40 wine corks. You can scale up or down from there. I think my eight foot garland has been a great length for several different uses. Anything under 6 ft seems too short, unless you want a mini garland for the archway of an inside doorway, or some other specific space. The garland below has a cork, three wooden beads, cork pattern. The colors of the beads varied. Remember to start your pattern in two feet from the end of your twine.

Wine cork garland is always fun to hang things from as well. Mistletoe at the holidays, letters and signs at special occasions. We hung Christmas cards on them one year. If you would like to hang heavier objects like wooden letters, or mini chalkboards like we did, then small ornaments hooks work the best!!! I have tried several methods and good ole ornament hooks work great! They hook and stay in place without sliding between corks, etc. We use these hooks, purchased for a great price, fromCathy's Unique Creations.

No Drill Option

So, if you don’t have a drill, or want to make a cork garland while sitting and watching TV, just tie the corks to the garland!

I would cut TWICE as much twine as what you want the length of the garland to be doing it this way. If there is extra is it better to cut it off than to run short at the end. Again, design your pattern and when you get to the cork, wrap the twine around the cork a few times, tie a knot, and continue. In the beginning, tying the knots with the long piece of twine will take extra time and care. As you get to the end it will get shorter and easier. Just think you didn’t have to sit there and drill hole after hole though.

Storing your Garland Tangle Free

You can use discarded paper towel or gift wrapping rolls to store your garlands in between uses. Cut two small slits in each end of the cardboard roll. Insert one end of the twine in a slit, and then wrap the garland around the roll and secure the other end of the twine in the second slit.

Happy Crafting!

2011 HOLIDAY COUNT DOWN #20

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#20 ~ TODAY'S Tutorial By SBB1 where you will find Handmade Clothing items and Accessories in American, European and Middle Eastern designs/styles as well as Pads and Wet Bags -

Today Sabina shares a video on Pre-washing Fabrics Before You Sew Them :

2011 HOLIDAY COUNT DOWN #19

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#19 ~ TODAY'S Tutorial By SBB1 where you will find Handmade Clothing items and Accessories in American, European and Middle Eastern designs/styles as well as Pads and Wet Bags -

Today Sabina shares a video on How to Do a Slip Stitch  :

Happy Birthday To You!

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Happy Birthday Wishes going out to the following

Rosemintbathandbody on December 19
http://www.etsy.com/listing/76522170/shaving-soap-sandalwood-vanilla


MelaniesOriginals on December 21
http://www.etsy.com/listing/79270955/lazy-daisy-wizard-print-pincushion-with


SoapAddicts also on December 21
http://www.etsy.com/listing/50692849/doggie-wash-natural-dog-soap-with-aloe


Fabfindsanddesign on December 23
http://www.etsy.com/listing/88186903/mens-vintage-travel-kit-in-leather-case


FashionBeautiful also on December 23
http://www.etsy.com/listing/60347919/venetian-glass-watch-bracelet


Almcleary on December 24
http://www.etsy.com/listing/70497295/handmade-decorative-custom-art-pillow

Hope ya'll have a Wonderful Birthday
& a Merry Christmas!
ReneeBrownsDesigns







 

2011 HOLIDAY COUNT DOWN #18

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#18 ~ TODAY'S Tutorial By Runningwithescissors where you will find a large variety of splendid scrapbooking supplies to suit your fancy!
Today Barbar shares: Simple Holiday Candles

A quick trip to Ikea for some candles and I was off to play. I used 7 Gypsies Tissue but there's also some just out from Tim Holtz with musical notes on it that would be stunning too.

Tissue paper has little weight to it. Make sure your cuts are straight if you’re covering the whole candle as I did. I found using my big cutting surface and large straight edge, I got the best cut.

I held the paper to the candle with a very small amount of tape from a tape runner. Make sure your candle is parallel to the tissue paper, even the slightest angle will throw off your symmetry. Test before you tape and commit.

Start heating on one side of the seam and work your way around in 1 inch increments. Adhesion takes very little heat, keep the gun moving and smooth as you go. The very last thing I did was heat the bottom and top edges to make sure everything was adhered.

About $11.00 worth of material and I think I’ve got a smashing holiday gift for someone. Then again, it may never leave my mantle!

2011 HOLIDAY COUNT DOWN # 17

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#17 ~ TODAY'S Tutorial By TheWoodenBee where you will find a fine collection of unique, handmade products that have been made from reclaimed materials with love!

Today Bee shares with us this delightful idea for wreath making!

Crafting with Nature

We select only the best shaped cones on our nature walks. Those that have not been broken and still have soft fuzz over them. Magnolia fruit cones hold up beautifully throughout the year, even when exposed to the elements. Our wreaths will be hung up during the holidays, and look just like they did last year when we made them.

You can even toss some cones in glass vases with holiday colored ribbons and are using them to help bring in the change of season!

2011 HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN #16

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#16 ~ TODAY'S Tutorial By TheQuirkySquirrel where you will find Gifts for knitters that are fun and quirky!

Today Terri shares with you how to make felted ropes!


If you would like more of these tutorials on felting please visit Felting Lessons!

2011 Holiday Count Down # 15

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#15 ~ TODAY'S Tutorial By AquarianBath where you will find only the finest selection of soaps and natural herb products!

Today Cory shares: Easy Do It Your Self Soap Mold Making


Take apart wooden soap molds are great for making the perfectly shaped soaps, but they can be quite expensive. For 10 dollars or less you can make a soap mold yourself which is suitable for making professional quality soaps.

Here is what you will need to make a mold that will make 14-15 4.5 oz bar soaps to fit into standard soap boxes:

Sandpaper
Rotary saw
Power drill
1 natural board 3.5 inch wide X 1.5 inch thick X 27.5 inches or longer
1 natural board 5.5 inch wide X 1.5 inch thick X 35 inches or longer
2 six inch bolts with 1/4 inch diameter. The tip of the the bolt should be threaded at least an inch.
1/4 inch drill bit
4 1/4 inch washers
2 1/4 inch wing nuts



The first board forms the base of the mold and ends of the loaf. Measure and mark a length of the board 17.5 inches and 2 lengths 4.5 inches. The second board forms the sides of the mold. Measure and mark two lengths of the board to 17.5 inches. Cut and sand the rough edges of the boards. Next you will need to drill holes for the bolts that hold the mold together. Two bolt holes need to be made in two corners of the each board. Stack the 2 matching 17.5 inch boards on top of each other. Near one corner of the top board measure inward from the long side of the approximately 2 inches then measure from the short end 1 inch out. Mark this spot with a dot. Make a dot on the opposite end of the long side of the board. Drill the through these markings keeping both boards stacked securely together. Sand around the newly drilled holes. Next thread your bolt and washers and wing nut through the two boards. You are ready to assemble the mold. The narrow long board goes at the bottom in between the bolted side boards that secure it. The 2 short end boards stand up in between the sides of the board and are secured by the bolt which sits behind it. Be sure to line your soap with wax paper before use.



Cory Trusty is a community herbalist and Soap maker in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Visit her one Etsy at AquarianBath or DelicateAdornments. You can also find her on Facebook.