Snowman Christmas decoration DIY

This cute gentleman-snowman is opening my series of Christmas DIY posts. He can be easily made from felt and fabric scraps, a few little buttons in about an hour. So, quick project with a few snowman to decorate your Christmas tree by the end of a weekend or use one of them to add a handmade touch to a gift wrapping. 

To make one snowman you'll need:

 Plushka's snowman pattern 

(it can be downloaded from HERE)

felt in cream (off white colour) 13 cm x 13cm

(finished size of the decoration is 11.5 cm)

small piece of white felt about 4cm x 4 cm

black felt 8 cm x 8 cm for the hat and eyes

tiny bit of carrot orange for the nose 

(All felt is 100% pure new wool felt from Plushka's Makery)

white, cream, black embroidery threads

3 small buttons 

ribbon 12- 14 cm long

fabric scraps for the back of the decoration (or double the amount of cream felt and use it instead)

red felt 2 cm x 2cm for the heart on a hat (optional, you can use a button instead)

Instructions:

1. cut all the pieces required as per pattern 

2. place eyes on the head and stitch them in place, following by a carrot nose. Then add a smile, making small stitches in black embroidery thread.

3. pin a ribbon to the top of the head.

4. attach the buttons to the bottom part of the body.

5. pin a snowman to the piece of fabric (or felt) as shown on the picture and stitch around catching the ribbon in place as you go.

6. cut around the excess fabric.

7. Take one of the black hat pieces and stitch the red felt heart on (or a button).

8. "sandwich" a head of the snowman between 2 hat pieces and stitch around making sure you catch all the layers. 

That's all, you have a festive snowman! 

Make a few more with different buttons and ribbons and hang them on a tree for everyone to admire:) 

Happy stitching!

I would love to see your creations so don't hesitate to leave a link to your blog post or post pictures on my Facebook page).

Felt frog by Plushka in Homespun magazine

It's been a long time since I've made a little frog pattern for the Homespun magazine so what a great feeling that was when we just arrived home from the airport, exhausted and dragging heavy suitcases to the door, and found this issue in my mailbox! I totally forgot about the long flight, the huge queue at the airport, customs and unpacking to be done...

This issue is full of interesting projects including quilts, dolls, dresses and hair accessories:) 

Enjoy!

Please, do let me know if you made one as I would love to see a picture of your creation! 

Guest post - Sophie Isabel from Her Library Adventures

Hi there Plushka’s Craft readers, it’s Sophie from Her Library Adventures.  It’s so lovely being here with you today to share a little DIY wall hanging tutorial.  I created this wall hanging after being inspired to display a sweet retro tea towel I had recently thrifted.  I didn’t have an embroidery hoop handy, but I did have a metal hoop leftover from a previous project .  Feel free to adapt it to suit whatever you have in your stash. This wall hanging is the perfect way to display vintage linens or lovely remnants you just can’t part with.

You will need:

A piece of fabric or tea towel

A metal hoop (available from craft stores)

A piece of felt (in a colour to match your fabric)

A few quirky buttons and length of ribbon

Fabric glue and scissors

Needle and thread

Steps:

1. Cut your piece of fabric about 3cms larger than your hoop.  Add fabric glue to the hoop itself and around the edge of the fabric (wrong side up). Stick the hoop to the fabric and then firmly press down on the hoop. Fold fabric in working around in one direction. Pull firmly and check the right side of the fabric as you work around. (Don’t worry, your gluing  doesn’t have to be perfect as it will be covered by the felt.)

2. If you would like to add a few buttons to your fabric, sew them on now.  Work in a cluster to one side, using various sizes and shapes.  I like to use an odd number of buttons.  Don’t worry about sewing too neatly as the back will be covered by the felt.

3. Cut the piece of felt slightly smaller than the hoop so it fits inside the back.  Add glue and press down firmly.  At this point you can also slip the piece of ribbon between the fabric and the felt. Just create a loop and add a little glue on the end.   Allow the hoop to dry completely before hanging.

4. Find the perfect spot on your wall to hang your new project.

Thanks so much to Katia for having me here today.  I hope you are having a lovely creative week!

xxx

Guest tutorial inspiration - Georgie Girl

Very recently a good friend of mine and fellow hand maker had been searching for a new pin cushion to sit on her sewing table.  I had a bit of a browse around on her behalf in case I might spot something that just "looked like her".  Unfortunately I didn't find any ready made pin cushions that were REALLY exciting but I did find an amazingly simple and practical tutorial to make one.  It has to be one of the most super functional versions of the humble pin cushion around!  The tutorial is from The Haby Goddess and you can find all the instructions on how to make your own right here.

I absolutely fell in love with the idea of being able to use old sauce jars to create something beautiful and also put vintage doilies, lace and buttons to good use at the same time.  There is just something very tactile and special about vintage items that you can play with, apply and enjoy.  Unfortunately I didn't have a vintage doily that was just the right size so instead I put my bottom up and head down and dove into my fabric scrap bin instead and pulled out a very, very pretty piece of quilting cotton.  I decided once I had finished to add some glossy satin ribbon and vintage lace to finish it off.  The possibilities and combinations are endless and then to be able to fill the jar up with handy little bits and pieces and sit it on your sewing table - what a pretty and blissful little thing to use and admire!

If there was one way to improve this project it would be to convince Katia to do some of her superb cross stitch on linen and use that to make the cushion on the top!  Something sweet like a little bunny motif or a spray of flowers.... *hint hint*!

Guest post - Red Ridding Hood Bonnet tutorial by That Curious Cat!

Hi!  I'm dl from That Curious Cat! I'm honored to have been asked to do a guess post for the talented Plushka whilst she is holidaying.

Just a little about myself before we get to the good stuff.  I'm a working mum with two young boys who keep me busy during the day, I work in retail during the night and any other time I get I try my darnedest to craft.  I find without creativity I just cannot function.   I have an insatiable desire to learn new things, make and create.  It is so much worse now that I have kids.  There are so many cute things I want to make.  And then my friends get pregnant and I find even more!  So the name That Curious Cat!  refers to my obsession with creating.

Feel free to pop over to my blog or my facebook page to find out more.   How is that for shameless self promotion!

Red Riding Hood Bonnet

Size approx 1-2 years

Size 5 hook

10 ply yarn. I used Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury yarn which is soft and fluffy.

Ch 40 sts

dc in the back loop of the second stitch from the end

dc across all sts = 39 sts

ch 2 and turn

dc across all sts = 39 sts (the chain 2 is counted as a stitch)

ch 2 and turn

dc across all sts = 39 sts

*ch 1 and turn

sc across all sts* x 3

ch 1 and turn

dec in first stitch, sc across, dec in last stitch = 37 st

*ch 1 and turn, sc across all sts* x 3 

ch 1 and turn 

dec in first stitch, sc across, dec in last stitch = 35 st 

*ch 1 and turn 

sc across all sts* x 9

ch 1 and now don't turn. Continue along the side of the bonnet and sc in the gaps to make a nice edge. I used 22 sts.

Now you are at the front of the bonnet and this is where were will attach one of the two ties.

ch 30 sts. I like to do a slip stitch back along the chain to take me back up to the beginning of the chain and create an almost cord like tie.

slip stitch back into the first stitch and now slip stitch across the front of the bonnet to take you over to the other side where you will do the second tie.

ch 30 sts and slip stitch back to the beginning of the chain.5 

Now sc your 22 sts back up the second side of the bonnet which will take you back to the back of the bonnet.

Now it is time to join the back seam. I like to do this by turning the bonnet inside out and folding the bonnet flat with the two seams meeting up and crocheting the seam together with a simple slip stitch through the two outter loops along the seam. Do this along from the bottom  your chain to tie off.

Or you could hand sew the seam if you prefer. Since discovering that I could just crochet it there has personally been no turning back for me.

I would also recommend adding a 4 cm or so seam at the base of the neck for a tighter fit and nicer shape.

Do block your kints for a clean professional look. stitch through the two outter loops of your seam and tie off.  Or use a knitters needle and sew in the seams.

And there you have it.  A warm, cozy, basic but sweet gift for a little one.

Variations:

You could braide the ties and include a cute tassel at each end. Avoid anything that could be pulled off and swallowed.

The front rows could be folded back for a different look and to fit a smaller child.

Helpful links:

Chain Stitch.

Single Crochet.

Decreasing in single crochet.

Slip Stitch.

Joining Seams.

Thanks so much to the lovely Plushka for the  opportunity to spread the love.

Feel free to do whatever you like with this pattern.  Modify it.  Sell items made from it.  But of course a credit or link to my page would be a friendly thing to do.  

Take care.

Debby-Lee

Guest post - Vintage doily invitations tutorial, Vintage by Lou Lou

Let me introduce a lovely guest at Plushka's party who was kind enough to share with us this tutorial. Meet Louisa from Vintage by Lou Lou. Visit her sweet blog or her beautiful ebay shop with vintage finds. Enjoy!

Dearest Plushka Readers,

Now as you know lucky Katia is currently unwinding on holidays which means that us guest bloggers have a chance to play on here and have some fun.  When Katia and I discussed her concept "Tea Party" for the guest post I was SUPER excited as it's one thing I do best; A couple of girlfriends, pretty china, specialty cakes & plenty of tea.  So today I thought I would share with you a lovely way to invite your friends to an afternoon of tastebud tantalisation, pinky in the air (whilst sipping tea of course), giggles amongst friends "fun".  And it's with my version of Doily Envelopes that are always so well received by guests and are sure to bring a smile to their face (remember these small details count and really make the "experience" special).  There are various ways in creating these with similar outcomes but this is how I've made mine today.

You will need:

Doilies (Mine are a combination of vintage and new)

Coloured paper

Ribbon 

Glue 

Scissors

(The above materials are so easy to come across and more than often we already have them available at home which makes this such an easy craft project to whip up.  Also the project is simple enough for the kids to enjoy doing too.)

Step 1

Glue the back part of a white doily onto coloured paper so its pattern stands out beautifully.  You can reverse this if you have a coloured doily and glue it onto white paper.  Once you have done this and have left it to dry it will be ready to cut around the edges.

Step 2

Once doily has been cut out begin folding the base to about 1/3 - 1/2 into the middle (you will be able to judge this for yourself as different shaped and sized doilies will determine what will work best).  Then also fold the left and right side of the doily into the centre.  You will need to look at the overall size of the envelope and shape to determine how much each side needs to come into the middle.

Step 3

When you have folded the left and right side and are happy with them you will then need to glue them down to the first fold ONLY.  We then put this aside to dry again but once ready they can be filled with invitations to guests or use them for love notes, letters to friends and whomever else we would love to send a special letter to.  Then for that added touch secure them with a ribbon and make a sweet bow (this way they can be reused also and at VBLL we are all about re-using where we can).

How simple was that to create something so effective and what will be cherished always?  And now that the invitations are out I suppose all that's needed next is cake!  Hmmmm I think it's time to put the kettle on and cut myself a slice.

Have a wonderful holiday Katia, and we will see you soon.

Love and best wishes,

Louisa from Vintage by Lou Lou xo