I Made It...Vintage Christmas Cone

I love the vintage richness of old text book pages. The yellow-brown tint of days gone bye and knowing that countless fingers have touched the very same pages I am (insert wistful sigh here...) So it goes with out saying that this is one of my favorite mediums to work with. In my every growing obession with creating Christmas decor this year (yikes!), I have come up with these fantastically vintage looking Christmas cones. But, how to keep them looking great for the years to come while stashed in the attic above??? My solution is Modge Podge! Get ready for my rockin' tutorial...

You will need:

vintage paper

cardstock (1 piece for each cone)

tulle, ribbon or some type of hanging material ( I used vanilla colored seam binding)

modge podge(hereafter known as MP)

glue (quick dry is best!)

foam brush

assorted embellies to "frost" your cones with

shred or filler for the cones

I wanted a set that spelled out JOY, so for my tutorial, I will be creating 3 cones. First you will need to create your cone shapes by rolling the paper and then using your glue, secure the cones closed. Tear your vintage paper into smallish pieces (different sizes and shapes are ok). Using your foam brush, apply the MP to the outside of the paper cone and working quickly begin applying the torn paper pieces. Work in small sections so your MP doesn't dry before your paper is applied. Cover the entire cone with paper and then add another layer of MP to the top for durability. Warning--try to use a little MP as possible to prevent wrinkling of the paper and cone. Less is more in this case. Set cones aside to dry and when dry, use punch a hole in either side of the cone for the hanger. Now as these don't weigh in very heavy, you could attach these to a LONG cut wide piece of ribbon and hang vertically. Hmmm...another tutorial is brewing in my head. Now comes the fun part---frosting your cone with embellies. I urge you to use some kind of edging material (lace, garland, trim) to cover your upper edge. I used some fabulous crepe paper ruffles that I whipped up and then inked (ya know I like my vintage fix!) and then attached them with glue (and I heart Fabri-tac.) I tied on my seam binding as my hangers. And now you get to frost them. I used some of my

Rosettes and some glittery letters and attached it all to the front. Then I filled them with some vintage paper shred

And viola`...here they are! They will be gracing my wall (or where I decide to put them on display) for years to come thanks to my MP!

Let me know what you think!!!

Toodles...Angie

I Made It...Book Pages Wreath

Oh my goodness...I found a project that combines my love of vintage with something else I love: decorating for the holidays inexpensively!! This project is so easy and takes no skill at all! Just a foam wreath, a book you don't use anymore and a glue gun! I saw this project on Living With Lindsey and I just had to try it! Two hours later, I ended up with this beauty!!!

Her tutorial is very easy to follow and the project turns out beautifully. Please do pay attention to the pencil tip as I burned the tar out of my hands, so do be careful. I added in some little tufts of tulle and a few ornaments to dress mine up! I am just pleased as punch with the outcome!

As always, leave me some comment love!!

Toodles...Angie

I Made It...Crepe Paper Rosettes

I love all things vintage...you have NO idea how my heart races to see old bits of velvet and tiny little pearly buttons (swoon...) Many years past, people used crepe paper not for throw away party decor but to pretty up important things. Who wouldn't love something so delicate and beautiful? I have taken my love of vintage and the ever useful crepe paper to create these little crepe paper rosettes that are the perfect accent for so many uses!! I like to think of these are the frosting on your basic cake! Confections for the crafter...

I make these in 2 sizes, a large and a mini. This tutorial is for the large and the mini will come at a later date...

Supplies needed:

Crepe paper streamers in your chosen color(s)

needle and thread (white or a matching color for your paper)

quick dry glue

bits and baubles to decorate with!

Now these little babies are not hard to make, but do require a light hand for the correct rippling effect, plus it can take some time to get everything done correctly. To start you will need 2 strips of streamer about 20" in length. Fold one of the streamers as pictured below. This piece actually creates the top two layers. Place this piece on top of the remaing unfolded strip. Thread and knot your string (do a double knot to make larger knot so it won't pull through your paper.) Pinch your paper strips together and starting at one end start sewing your strips together. Weave the needle through the paper LOOSELY and once your needle is full, pull the paper onto the thread. Once you have reached the end of the strip, pull the paper tighter into the thread and your streamer will begin to make the rosette. The trickiest part is right here: you must tie off the string. Put your needle through the two last "pleats" and make a knot. Cut off your string and using your glue, adhere both ends of the rosette together.

I usually pinch them together for a good seal. Now you decorate to your hearts content!!!

Glitter `em

Button `em

Bling `em

These are sturdier than you think, so they hold up well in lots of projects! Let me know what you think! Of course these are available in My Etsy Store if you love them, but don't have the time to make them yourself!

I have linked this tutorial to :

Toodles...Angie

I Made It...Felt Needle Book

In my wandering through blog world, I saw an adorable needle book and became inspired to create one of my own. My stash of sewing needles has been stored in the tomato pincushion that my dog used as a chew toy several years ago and a mixed lot of packaging (warning: ugly un-organized photo below!)

I am NOT a seamstress in any way shape or form, but thanks to my 9th grade home ec. teacher, Mrs. Anderson, I know how to use my sewing machine, and it has proved very useful over the years. The base of the project literally took 10 minutes to finish and was VERY easy with minimal sewing machine usage involved. Plus I was able to use the scraps of pink and white felt leftover from making my daughter's poodle skirt !! Recycle it baby...

You need:

a sewing machine

felt (measurements below) in 2 different colors

a set of snaps

embroidery floss

So you will start by cutting one color felt (your cover) 8" x 5". Then using the other color, cut the pages for your book 7" x 4 1/2". Cut 2-3 of this size depending on how many needles you need to store. Also cut one piece for your closure in the same color as your cover. This should be cut to 2" x 1/2".

Lay your cover down and then lay your pages stacked on top. I would use a few pins to secure these together and using your sewing machine, stitch a simple straight right down the middle to bind everything together. I would make 2 passes with your machine to take care of any stress on the seam.

Now your book is complete. Let's attach the closure. Take the small strip and flip your book upside down so that you are looking at the back flap of the outside cover. Using another straight stitch, secure one end of this strip in the middle of back.

Now, let attach our closing mechanism. I would like to add that you CAN use a button instead of snaps, but I was out of buttons (darn!) If you want to do the button, just attach the button to the front cover and cut a slit in the end of the strip as a button hole. If using the snaps, hand stitch your pieces into the appropriate spots.

Your basic book is now done. I will show photos below of how I embellished mine, but you can do this at your leisure and own taste :) Here you can see all my needles organized and no longer hiding down in my horrid little tomato!!! (Blogger wouldn't let me turn this photo for some reason...)

Now as previously mentioned, I like to dress up my projects, so using embroidery floss, I hand stitched this cute little flower design onto the front cover (once again, really missing my buttons as center pieces.) I will add these after making a stop at the store!

A back stitch is very simple to do... use this Stitch Guide from A Feathered Nest

because she does it a ton better than I do :)

I felt (there's my pun!) like my edges needed something, so I finished off everything with what I think may be called a blanket stitch???

And there you go! A needle book. I think these would make a fantastic inexpensive gift for anyone on your gift list who is a sewer...beginner all the way to expert! Let me know if you have any questions.

Toodles...Angie

I Made It...Easy Peasy Layered Flowers...

These are sooooo cute and incredibly easy to make. You can find lots of tutorials around the internet on how to make them, but boiling it down you need...

scissors

fabric (several different colors is nice)--use old clothing even!

needle and thread

button (optional)

stick pin (optional)

Start by cutting out small circle from your choice of the fabric. Now this next part is REALLY hard...lay that circle on top of your next fabric and cut a slightly larger circle. Ok...sorry for sassiness!!! Now just keep alternating fabrics and circle sizes. I usually aim for 6-7 circles to make a nice full flower. Now use the stick pin to secure the circles if you want the fabrics to not slide around. Take up your handy needle and thread. Starting from the backside of your flower stitch up through all the layers and back down a couple of times to secure everything together.

To make it ruffle-y (word??) you pull your needle back up to the top of the flower and taking your first layer, gather up some of the material onto the needle and pull the thread tightly. This will create a ruffled effect. Then repeat with the other layers. If it gets too ruffled, you may want to do every other layer (this will depend on what kind of fabric you use.) Now stitch on your button and voila`, a fabric flower!! Easy peasy style... You can use these for a million uses. Add to hats, shirts, scarves, make a cute brooch, dress up a headband, put on pillows or add to gift wrapping!

Let me know if you have any questions...Now, what are you waiting for? Off you go to make easy peasy flowers!~

Toodles...Angie

I Made It...Glittery Cone

This is such a cute idea that you can make for almost FREE (who doesn't love the sound of that?) with various craft supplies you have around your house! Now I have been making cones for a couple of years now. I have sold them on my website and at various art shows and I have given lots away as gifts too! Mine tend to lean more toward the vintage luxe direction, but you can seriously dress them up or down to your own taste. I just yesterday finished up 10 of these babies. 8 are for a dinner fundraiser for my Mom's Ellis County Republican Women's Club (if you are there you'd better be sitting at her table!!!) and then 2 to donate to the kid's school for decorating the 4th grade tree at the 2009 Festival of Trees. They are so cute filled with candy, soap, small gifts and gift cards!! You can mix it up for an holiday or occasion...So let's get started!

Supplies needed:

papers

ink pad & sponge

doilies (optional)-I used large round ones cut in half

ribbon or tulle

scissors

clothes pin or clamp

adhesive (should be quick drying for best results)

filler (shredded paper works really well!)

decorations of your choice

hole punch

First you need to determine which paper is your outer cone. In this photo believe it or not I used some type of brown packing paper from work, but just pick something that you want to see the most of :). Now roll it into a cone shape. Play with it for a little bit. You'll notice that depending on how you roll depends on how long and wide the cone is. So pick your preferred shape and secure it with the clothes pin (you might be able to use a large paper clip too.) Get your glue and unroll just a small portion of the cone...enough to apply the glue to secure the cone closed. Your top probably looks not so nice (right?), so for this cone I chose to rip my papers for a rough edge, but you can use decorative scissors for scalloped edge, or in cones past I have traced a pattern inside the cone and cut out a smooth edge too. Now using your ink pad/sponge and gently ink the outside for that slightly aged look. Now for your inner cone. I usually use a doily for this, but you could use another type of paper. I would suggest that you cut it into a circle shape(use a dinner plate as a guide and this will make for a good pre-finished edge. Once again roll into a cone shape and play with it. Drop this cone into your first cone and let it unroll until it matches matches shape with your larger cone. Using your clothes pin again, secure this second cone and remove it. Now apply your glue and then ink the edges as before. Once the glue is dry, apply glue to the INSIDE upper edge of your first cone and now re-insert your small cone inside. Ink the edge of this cone as well. Using the hole punch, make 1 hole on either side of the cone and thread through your ribbon or tulle as a hanger. Viola`!! It is done. Now comes the fun part...decorating. I have used a crepe paper rosette that I made, but you can use buttons, lace, silk flowers, whatever looks good to you! When you are all done, lightly stuff the shredded paper (or whatever filler you are using) inside. If you have any questions, just email me or leave a comment and I will help you out!!

Here are some of the other ones that I've created!

Toodles...Angie