Knitted Gift Bag

Here's the latest knitting project that I have finished. I actually started it months ago, finished knitting it and then it sat on my living room table. Between Christmas holidays and then battling a cold at the end of January and beginning of February, I just let it sit there until I finally put the finishing touches on.

So, here it is:



To create the gift bag, I used a waving rib stitch. It's a pretty easy pattern to follow and produces this lovely waving effect. The waving effect is more noticeable once there is a bit of length to the piece. Plus, it's quick to do!

The best part of all, it's a great way to dress up a gift and make it really exciting to open!

If you would like to see the patterns and instructions for this project, or one of my other knitting projects, you can find them on my website – Beautiful Creations Knitting Projects. What projects have you knitted lately?

Presentation, Presentation, Presentation

The way a gift is presented makes a big difference because it affects the perception of the value of the gift itself. Wrap it up in plain or even ugly gift wrap and the person receiving the gift will already be thinking subconsciously that the gift is cheap. Dress up the wrapping even a little, and the person will start thinking, "Wow - this must be a really expensive gift."

There are many different things that you can do very quickly that will help dress up any present to make it seem outstanding. In the picture below, I show two of these ideas.


The first idea is shown on the tall, pink gift bag. On its own, it is pretty and it serves its purpose. But it won't draw any attention to the bag itself. So, simply add a 3D embellishment and it immediately catches the person's attention. It's quick and simple! Just like that the person is already thinking, "Wow. Must be something special in here!"

The second idea shows how to dress up a plain white box. For this one, I took a thin strip of fabric and used it as a ribbon. Using fabric is much more interesting and unusual than using common ribbon. Plus, everyone likes having to pull the ribbon loose and unwrap the present. Finally, I finished decorating the box with a few embellishments - they will attract attention and have the person actually looking at the box before they open it!

I hope these ideas have inspired you! Remember, you don't have to do anything too complicated or time consuming to add interest and excitement before the gift is even opened!

More Christmas Ornaments

Well, Christmas is just around the corner and I'm still making more Christmas ornaments. Maybe I'll stop once Christmas is actually over ... maybe. For these ornaments, I used plain, clear balls and filled each one with something different.



For the first ornament, I filled it with small pieces of yarn cut into different lengths. I used 6 different colours. After I cut the pieces, I simply placed them in the opening at the top. Once it was full, I replaced the top piece. I think this was the easiest ornament I have ever created!

For the second ornament, I put little snow flakes in it. Of course they are fake, but they are still very pretty and enjoyable! I only filled the ornament partway, but you could fill it to the top and have even more snow flakes to enjoy!

For the third ornament, I used a scrapbooking punch and four different coloured sheets of paper. After I punched out the design several times from each sheet, I put the punched out spiral shaped pieces in the little ball. For this one, I again choose to fill the ornament partway. I think it makes the spirals stand out more.

There are lots of different things you can use to fill the ornaments with, so feel free to experiment and try something new. Happy Holidays!

Busy Making Christmas Ornaments

I can't believe that it is December already! I don't know where the time is going. Of course, I say this every year, so I should be used to this feeling by now!

With December here that means Christmas is just around the corner. I've already received my first Christmas card of the year ... you know Christmas is near when you start to receive Christmas cards!

I have started getting ready for Christmas by making a few ornaments. Here are pictures of two of the ornaments I made:






The best thing about these ornaments is that they are made from fabric. Not only are they easy to make, but also I don't have to worry about them breaking if the tree ever fell over. For anyone with small kids or pets, you know how easy that can happen.

I also love the little loop made from ribbon, which makes the ornament so easy to hang on the Christmas tree. No more having to stop and look for those little hooks. Now I just have to decide if I will make more of these ornaments in the same fabric or in a different colour. Hmm, what do you think?



If you would like to know how to make these ornaments yourself, please visit my website Beautiful Creations and check out the Christmas Present Ornament and the Christmas Star Ornament free project idea pages. Enjoy!

More Card Ideas

Remember my blog post about the book review of "The Encyclopedia of Greeting Card Tools & Techniques"? Well, it inspired me to create some of my own cards, which was a lot of fun. Here's some pictures of the cards I finished.



For Christmas, I made this card, which I call Snowflakes for Christmas. For this card, I used a paint brush to splatter paint on the card to form the background. But I think I'm going to have trouble deciding who to give it to ... any suggestions?



This one I call Seashell Wishes. I think I'll use it for a birthday card – especially a summer birthday. For this card, I was playing with oil pastels, making me feel like a kid again. I didn't have to worry about how pretty the picture was going to look – I just scribbled the pastels wherever I liked! Then, I just blended all the colours together. To finish it off, I used a black marker to trace a stencil on top of the colours. Fun and it turned out so pretty!




Here's one I created for New Year's celebrations. I'm really happy with how the colour turned out because blue is my favourite colour. For this card, I used oil pastels again, since it was so much fun when I did the Seashell Wishes card. I also added a ribbon to add that finishing touch.


If you would like to see more about these cards and other ones that I have made, please visit my Card Ideas webpage. Enjoy!

Halloween Treat Bag

Wow, I can't believe that it is October already! Where has this year gone? Of course, since it is October, that means it will soon be Halloween.

Halloween is so much fun. Whether you take the kids out to go trick or treating or you stay home to hand out the candy, it's a blast to see them all dressed up! Last year my husband insisted on playing some scary music and the really little kids were so scared. And knowing him, he'll probably insist on playing it again.

Either way, the kids need something to hold all their candy. I've just the thing – a Halloween treat bag! Plus, it's quick and easy to make. Here's how. We'll be making the bag from a single piece of fabric, which we'll fold in half at the bottom of the bag and then sew the sides together.

To get started, cut your material to the desired size. Place it on your sewing table with the wrong side facing up. Lay your cord along one of the edges that will form the top of the bag and fold the fabric over the cord. Sew the cord in place, using a honeycomb stitch. Next, loop the cord around to the other edge that will also form the top of the bag and sew it in place.

Now that the cord is in place, fold the fabric in half with the right side facing in. Next, sew the sides together. Finally, turn the Halloween treat bag inside out and you're finished! Your kids will now have a one of a kind treat bag for when they go trick or treating. Happy Halloween!


If you liked this project, you can find more FREE Project Ideas on my website. Try them out and leave a comment on my blog - I'd love to hear from you!

Finishing Latch Hook Rugs As Pillows

Latch hook rugs are so fun to do, but it took me a while to figure out how to finish them. Part of it was trying to figure out what I wanted to make the latch hook rug into – a rug, a pillow cushion or a wall hanging.

I finally choose to finish one of my latch hook rugs as a pillow cushion. Here's what I did. After finishing the latch hook rug, I trimmed off the excess canvas, leaving 4 empty rows to work with. Next, I measured the latch hook rug and added 4 inches to the length and width. I used these new measurements to cut a piece of fabric for the backing.

Once I was ready to attach the fabric to the latch hook rug, I folded the edges of the fabric over 3/4 of an inch. I then pinned the fabric to the latch hook rug, making sure to match up the right sides of both the material and the rug together. Once that was done, I sewed the two pieces together by hand, placing one stitch in every square on the latch hook canvas.

After I had sewn together three of the edges (I left one of the sides unstitched), I turned the piece inside out. I filled it with stuffing, until the pillow was soft and fluffy. Finally, I sewed the remaining side shut, being careful to keep the edges tucked in. Now my latch hook pillow is happily on display on a chair in my living room!


If you liked this project, you can find more FREE Project Ideas on my website. Try them out and leave a comment on my blog - I'd love to hear from you!

Fabric Covered Organizer

Last week, I blogged about how to get your creative juices flowing. Then, I went and took my own advice. So, this week I wanted to let you know what I had worked on.

I decided to pretty up my environment by covering a plain, plastic organizer with fabric. It was pretty easy to do and the final project looks so cute! Here's the Before and After Pictures:

Here's what I used:

• Plastic Organizer;
• Fabric;
• Embellishments;
• Spray adhesive;
• Measuring tape; and
• Scissors.
  

First, I measured my organizer. Then I decided what material to use - cotton for the top and felt for the sides, with some paper embellishments for character.

For the sides, I cut four strips of felt. I cut the strips for the sides slightly shorter than the length and the strips for the front and back a bit longer than the width of the organizer. That's because I wanted to wrap the front and back strips around the side. Once the strips were cut, I sprayed the back of them with the spray adhesive. Then I put the side strips of first, followed by the front and back strips.

Next, I focused on the top of the organizer. I cut one piece of cotton fabric so that it was a few inches wider and longer than the top. Then I sprayed the fabric with the spray adhesive, positioned it on the center of the lid, pressed down and tucked the edges underneath the lid. This gives the lid a nice finished look and since the material is thin, the lid can still close easily.

Finally, I glued some paper flowers on the front of the organizer. The flowers match colours found in the cotton fabric, so that everything is coordinated. Best of all, the black felt really makes the colours in the fabric pop out! Now, instead of having plain organizers, I have bright, colourful ones that add extra cheer to the shelf in my office.


For more ideas to help brighten up your working environment, check out these great Project Ideas on my website.

Drawstring Bag Cross Stitch Project

A really easy cross stitch project to create is a drawstring bag. Not only is it beautiful, but it's practical. There are so many uses for a drawstring bag. You could fill it with potpourri, you could hang it on the wall, or you could use it to hold keepsakes or jewelry.

Here's how you can make your own drawstring bag:

1) First, determine the size that you want the drawstring bag to be. Then, pick a cross stitch pattern to stitch on the bag. Look for smaller patterns - they can go on the front of the bag or wrap around both sides.

2) Select the fabric to cross stitch on and cut to size. You will be stitching on one piece that will be folded in half, so it is important that you determine whether the pattern will go on the front only or wrap around to both the front and back. Once you have determined that, you can figure out how much fabric you will need. This is a great way to use up leftover scraps of aida fabric.

3) Once the aida cloth has been cut, go ahead and cross stitch the pattern as normal.

4) Prepare a drawstring for the top of the bag. You can buy one that is already made or you can create your own. To create your own, choose 3 colours of DMC floss - either colours that you used in the pattern or ones that compliment those colours. Braid the DMC floss together. Remember to use all 6 strands of DMC floss for each colour. The length of the floss should be twice as long as the fabric at the top of the drawstring bag, where the drawstring will be placed.

5) Now you are ready to attach the drawstring to the bag. Place the drawstring near the top of the bag on the wrong side. Turn the top of the bag over the braid and temporarily hold it in place with safety pins. Stitch the folded aida cloth in place by stitching little "x's" every few squares. If you like, try creating a pattern with your stitches.

6) The last step is to sew the drawstring bag together. First, fold the drawstring bag in half, with the wrong side showing out. The two sides should match up and the drawstring should be at the top. Starting from the top, backstitch the two sides together and continue until the bottom half is sew together. Be careful to leave about four to five squares on the outside of the stitch, so that the stitches won’t come loose and fall out. Once all the sides have been sewn together, except for the top of course, simply turn the bag inside out and you are done. It’s as simple as that!


If you liked this project, you can find more FREE Project Ideas on my website. Try them out and leave a comment on my blog - I'd love to hear from you!

4 Squares Pin Cushion Project

Here's a great way to use leftover fabric scraps to create a pin cushion that can hold either your favourite pins and needles or that can hold the pins you will need while you are working on your latest sewing project.

Supplies Needed:

• Fabric – choose 3 different colours;
• Stuffing;
• Thread;
• Scissors;
• Sewing Machine; and
• Button (optional).
  

This project uses three different colours. One colour will be used for the back and two colours will be used for the front of the pin cushion. Start by selecting the two colours that will be used for the front. From these 2 pieces of fabric, cut out 2 squares that measure 2 x 2 inches from each piece of fabric. Cut the 3rd piece of fabric 4 x 4 inches.

Layout the 4 small squares of fabric, so that one colour (we will call it Colour A) is placed in the top left hand corner and in the bottom right hand corner. The other colour (we will call it Colour B) should be placed with one square in the bottom left hand corner and one square in the top right hand corner.

Take one square of Colour A and one square of Colour B and place them with the right side together. Sew one edge together and set aside. Then, take the two remaining squares, place them right side together and sew one edge together. For both pieces that you have just sewn, unfold the pieces and lay them out flat. Place the pieces with the right side together, with Colour A facing Colour B. Finally, sew one of the long edges together. Unfold the fabric. You should now be looking at one square, made up of two different colours.


Please visit Beautiful Creations to read the remaining instructions and to see a picture of the completed project.


If you liked this project, you can find more free project ideas on my website. Try them out and leave a comment on my blog - I'd love to hear from you!

Fabric Coffee Cup Holder Project

Have you ever bought a coffee from a coffee shop and the cup was too hot? What did you do? Well, here's a simple solution – make your very own fabric coffee cup holder. Use it instead of using napkins or another coffee cup. You'll reduce waste, help save the environment and keep your fingers cool all at the same time! Machine washable! Project is small enough that you can use left over fabric scraps.

Supplies Needed:

• Thread;
• Sewing machine;
• Fabric;
• Wide single fold bias;
• Batting;
• Pins;
• Scissors;
• Iron; and
• Fabric pencil (optional).
  

Print and cut out the attached pattern. Pin it on the batting and cut the material to size. Next, pin it on the fabric you have selected. You can either trace the pattern on the fabric using a fabric pencil or you can simply cut out the pattern. Once you have cut the first piece of fabric, pin the pattern again to the fabric and cut out a second piece. Finally, you will need to cut two pieces of bias. Cut the first piece of bias the same length as the top and the second piece the same length as the bottom of the pattern.

Before sewing, you should iron the fabric to smooth out any wrinkles. You will also need to prepare the bias. Simply fold the bias in half lengthwise and iron the edges together. This will help you when sewing the three layers together.

Now you are ready to begin sewing. Start by placing the layers together. Put one piece of fabric, wrong side facing up on a table. Over that piece, place the batting. Place the second piece of fabric, right side facing up, over the batting. If you like, you can pin the layers together. Next, line up the longer piece of bias with the top of the layers; the fold in the middle should be at the top. Place the three layers between the bias and pin in place. Do the same with the shorter piece of bias with the bottom of the layers.

Sew the top of the layers together, then sew the bottom and finally sew the sides together. Turn the fabric inside out and you are done! You have now made your very own fabric coffee cup holder. Use it to protect your fingers from hot, or cold, coffee cups.



If you liked this project, you can find more free project ideas on my website. Try them out and leave a comment on my blog - I'd love to hear from you!

Introducing Me!

Hi. My name is Joanne. I'm the owner of Beautiful Creations – a place where you can find all the craft supplies you need, plus original cross stitch patterns designed by me!

Growing up there was always someone I knew that was working on some type of craft project. My mother sewed quilts, knitted sweaters and even did a little bit of cross stitch. My grandmother knitted - I love the slippers she knits for me ... nothing else will do! So, it was just natural that I would ask my mom to show me how to knit and that I would go on to try many other types of crafts. As you can see, crafts have always been a part of my life.

Now crafts are an even bigger part of my life. I'm always working on some type of craft project. You can find some of these projects on my website, along with the instructions on how to do them yourself. I love sharing my crafty creations with everyone. That's part of the reason why I'm starting this blog. Here you can read about and see pictures of the latest craft project I'm working on, along with tips, the occasional product review and my thoughts about the latest business news in the crafting industry.

I also want to hear more from you. So, how have crafts been a part of your life?