Stephanie @ Home: No Sew Fleece Blanket and a Bonus!

Check out this totally fantastic tutorial by Stephanie at Home. I love no sew crafts!

Stephanie @ Home: No Sew Fleece Blanket and a Bonus!: When I was out doing my last minute shopping I saw this No-Sew Fleece Blanket Kit. I thought this would be the perfect gift for those chilly homecoming tailgate parties and football games. But, I wasn't loving any of the colors or patterns the kits came in. Plus why pay a premium for a pre-packaged kit when I can easily DIY a custom blanket for less? (I saw fleece fabric on sale for as little as $3.99/yard at Jo-Ann Fabric) So I made a half leopard print (our school mascot) and half maroon (our school color) fleece blanket as a gift for one of my favorite fellow alums (my mom!) Here's how I made it plus a bonus gift (for myself!);

The supplies,

2 pieces of fleece fabric - my pieces were 54" x 54" each

Scissors - much easier if you use scissors specifically designed to cut fabric

Measuring tape - a fabric measuring tape would be easiest but a ruler works just as well

Step 1: Lay the two pieces of fabric on top of each other, with the 'right' sides facing out (trim any excess fabric around the edges so that both pieces of fabric are the same size)

Step 2: Measure and cut a 4" square out of each corner

Step 3: Cut a 4" long strip every 1" along each side of the fabric

Step 4: Double-knot every other strip along each side of the fabric

Step 5: Flip the blanket over and double-knot the remaining strips of fabric (this alternates the color/pattern of the fringe on each side)

Step 6: Wrap yourself in your new blanket, get cozy and admire your handy work!

Using a slightly modified technique, some of the left over fabric and some stuffing from a previous craft project I decided to make a pillow as a bonus gift for myself.

Step 1: Lay the two pieces of fabric on top of each other, with the 'right' sides facing out (I used fabric that was 18" x 18" each)

Step 2: Measure and cut a 2" square out of each corner

Step 3: Cut a 2" long strip every 1" along each side of the fabric

Step 4: Double-knot every strip along three sides of the fabric (Since the leopard print was going to be the front of the pillow I chose not to alternate the knots, like I did for the blanket, so that all the fringe was maroon)

Step 5: Stuff the pillow

Step 6: Double-knot the remaining strips

Step 7: Rest your head on your new pillow and admire your handy work!

Babybel Cheese Santa

Cute Food For Kids: Babybel Cheese Santa

These are fantastic!!!! What a fun edible holiday "craft"!

Last time I turned babybel cheeses into ladybugs; this time I turned these babybel cheeses into Santas. Ho ho ho....

Here is how:

Unwrape the babybel

Eyes are drawn by food marker; nose is made from the wax wrap

Get cream cheese beard

Insert a stick

Add a little piece of marshmallow on top

Add some more cream cheese on the edge of the hat. Add a little strip of seaweed for mouth if you like.

Sugar Scrub Cubes~New Product!

Soap and Sugar Scrub all-in-one! I just love a pampering bath or shower, but usually there is so little time. These make it easy to feel pampered while keeping to your busy schedule.

My solid sugar scrub cubes are made with moisturizing sweet almond oil, gently scrubby fine sugar, and an all natural glycerin soap base to give you the ultimate exfoliating shower scrubbing experience.

These first-in-the-line-up cute little cubes are scented Ginger Orange. Freshly squeezed oranges spiced up with refreshing ginger. A clean, crisp, delicious blend. More scents to come soon!

To use your scrub cubes, simply smoosh a cube in your wet hands and scrub over your body.
Check them out at http://soaprehab.etsy.com

Re-Use Challenge

My friend and I decided to challenge ourselves to make cute gift containers by re-using stuff we already had around the house. I started with an empty oatmeal container. Using paper and supplies from her super fabulous paper and craftiness supply store: http://www.pollyspaper.com I turned it into a very festive gift box. What do you think? Are you up to the challenge?

School Colors Scarf

Happy Birthday, Mom! This scarf is one I made for Mom using the school colors of the high school at which she teaches. She teaches English, so I tried to be careful with my prepositions. Anyway, it was so much fun, I'm going to make one with my son's school colors next! Here's the pattern: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80829AD.html

Etsy Find: imwithsully

The Etsy Twitter Team member featured this week is Kimberly Coles and her Etsy shop imwithsully. Kimberly makes original art, illustrations, prints, and graphic jewelry in her own unique style. She is a fascinating person! Read on--here is an interview in her own words:

What is the one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I'm an award-winning Creative Director, Designer and Illustrator with more than 20 years of advertising and marketing experience. I have lead multi-disciplinary teams at large and small ad agencies and have developed many big name brands across a variety of digital and traditional mediums. In 2009, I was named one of the “50 Best Female Web Designers Around the World”. I was also recently featured on PBS.org as top woman web designer. My branding work, web design and product illustrations for Hello World Clothing were featured as “the most adorable pajamas ever” in the 2009 Holiday Gift Guide as on Dooce.com, the leading personal blog ranked 7th on Forbes’ list of the most influential women in media. My custom handmade mother's jewelry was showcased by the Clothes for a Cause - Pink Ribbon Collection through the Home Shopping Network.

What do you want your customers to know most about your products?
My wish is to transport viewers into dream-like worlds where mythical characters, whimsical fairytale princesses, precocious pixies, and vintage kitsch cuties tell tales of enchantment and merriment. I experiment with all different types of media: graphite, paper collage, color pencils, acrylics, oils, pen and ink, crayons, copic markers, pastels, digital, clays, metals... just to name a few. I have studiously avoided “signature” motifs and prefer to evolve my illustration work with fresh concepts, techniques, and materials. Many artworks start with the potential of being my favorite, but like children, I just can’t choose one over the other.

How do you use Twitter? Do you have a business goal with Twitter?
Because I am influenced by all sorts of creativity and creative people, I recently created an inspiration showcase blog at www.websitebakery.com. Now that I’ve made the leap to being an independent Creative Director with my own design studio, the inspiration site and social media on Twitter is the most relevant way to become to inspire other creative people and drive traffic at the same time.

What is the single most important way you bring traffic/sales to your shop?
My personal portfolio and blog is devoted to illustration, design, and interactive design. As an Interactive Creative Director by day, this is my chance to get back to the art of drawing by hand and promote my work online.



Links to Kimberly Cole and her work: Etsy Shop:
www.etsy.com/shop/imwithsully
Twitter: @kimberlycoles
Blog: www.imwithsully.com/blog
Portfolio: www.kimberlycoles.com
Inspiration Showcase site: www.websitebakery.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlycoles

imwithsully ships internationally.