No Sew Cushion

Okay, so I can sew, but only if I have to.  I hate having to get the machine out, find the extension cable, thread the whole machine up etc.  I will try anything to get out of sewing.

So you can imagine how happy I was when I came across a tutorial for a no sew cushion, so I thought I'd try it out with SU! fabric. 

Now, the tutorial I saw was made using fleece, but so long as you use pinking shears, this method works with the SU! fabric just fine. 

The fabric I used for my main cushion is the Beau Chateau (#122336). For my method photos below I used Candy Cane Christmas fabric (#121715).

For a good sized chair cushion, like the Beau Chateau one, I used two pieces of fabric, 18" x 18".  The SU! fabric is 18" wide, so I used two different pieces.  This is good as it means you have a reversible cushion - a different pattern on each side. :O)

Once you've cut your cushion squares, cut out a piece at each corner measuring 3" x 3".

Do this on all four corners, so you end up with a cross like shape (as above).

On each side, cut up to the right angled edge to make several even strips. For my cushion I cut at every 1/2". 

It's then just a case of tying your strips together. I used a reef knot method (right over left, then left over right). Do this on three sides.  Put your 15cm cushion insert in and then finish off knotting up the fourth side and you're done!

This is my chair cushion turned over to the other side.  It was really quick to do - I did mine in about 2 hours yesterday afternoon.

Hope you like the tutorial! TFL! Joanne x

It's Here!

My very own Folksy Shop!

Hello Everybody!

Just a quick post today to let you know that I've finally got myself together and opened my own little Folksy shop, selling a few goodies that I've been making.

At the moment, there's just a few bits of jewellery featuring the bird's nests that I enjoy making, but I'll also be adding various goodies that I've made using Stampin' Up! stuff as this is my first love, as you know!

Please note that I'm more than happy to take on commissions, so if you can't see exactly what you like, just get in touch and I'll play around and make you any of the pieces to your specifications.

TFL! Joanne x

Bird's Nest Earrings

Hi Everybody!

Today I thought I'd show you some earrings I made for my lovely downline Sara for her birthday a few weeks ago. 

I wore a pair similar to these when we went to training in Leeds and she commented on how much she liked them and so I made some for her!  One of my first hobbies was jewellery making and I love to keep my hand in, and these are my latest obsession!

To go with the earrings I made a matching card using the Nature Walk stamp set and Bird Builder punch for the leaves. The flowers were made with the Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack.

The actual box I put the earrings in is an origami folded one (I really must get around to doing a video of how to make those).  The "nest" on top is just thin strips of Early Espresso cardstock scrunched up and glued on top, and the little "eggs" are made from matching Pool Party DSP wound around a cocktail stick.

Lots of people have commented on how nice these earrings are. I'm hoping to get a small Etsy shop up and running soon where you should be able to buy them. So watch this space!

Cardstock: Pool Party, Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery.
Stamps: Nature Walk, Teeny Tiny Wishes, En Francais
Embossing folder: Square Lattice
Ribbon: Very Vanilla seam binding
Ink: Basic Black, Soft Suede, Pool Party
Punches: Bird Builder, Itty Bitty Punch Set, Large Oval, Scallop Oval
Framelits: Labels Collection
Embellies: Pearls

TFL! Joanne x

Quick and Easy Treat Card

Hello Everyone!

Well, it's that time of year when you may want to give your kids' teachers a gift for putting up with them all year! If they're anything like my boy, they have quite a few teachers and several teaching assistants too. So I've devised this small little treat box with attached card.

They're quick and easy to make and hold two Lindt Lindor chocs (I prefer these to Ferrero Rocher), so they're quite cheap to make too and make a sweet little gesture. Here's how you do it.

First, take a piece of cardstock measuring 10.5cm x 29cm.  It's basically half a sheet of A4 with a smidgeon taken off the end, as shown above.

On the short side, score at 2cm and 8.5cm (check the picture, because I seem to confuse people with my descriptions of short and long sides and where to score!)

On the long side, score at 1cm, 4cm, 7cm, 10cm, 13cm and 21cm.  On the diagram above, I've marked with dotted lines where you need to cut and shaded the areas that need to come off completely.

Basically, you should end up with your cardstock looking like this.

On the first rectangle of the actual box body, mark the centre (as shown above). This makes it easier for the next part.

Take your Modern Label Punch, turn it over and centre the mark in the middle. Then punch out. The mark is just my way of making sure I get my punched shape in the middle.  If you haven't got the Modern Label Punch, you could always use the Word Window Punch, that fits too.

Place Sticky Strip on the narrow 1cm strip right at the end.

Fold it up to the edge of the 13cm score line and stick down.

Fold in the left and right flaps at the edge of the box. Place Sticky Strip on the top edge of the bottom flap and fold the top one down over it, sealing the box.

Add your treats and then seal the other end of the box in the same way. Fold down your card flap and you're done! All that needs to be done is to decorate your box in any way you want.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. TFL! Joanne x

Christmas in July - now booking!

Hello Everybody!

It's that time of year again where I host my now traditional Christmas in July class. It's a great time to get ahead and make a few things all ready for the Christmas rush! Here's what we'll be making this time around.

First of all we will be making this origami box. I have used the Holly Berry specialty papers for this class as I feel they can be used for either Christmas or any other occasion, depending on which pattern you choose. 

Inside the box are four 3x3 Christmas cards complete with matching envelopes. This set could either be given as a gift by itself, or you could keep the cards for use by yourself and use the box to house a different gift. It's entirely up to you.

The next thing we will be making is a gorgeous little pouch, which we will fill with tags made using this month's featured stamp set, Tags Til Christmas.  Again, you could use the tags yourself and fill the pouch with other goodies to give as a gift if you prefer.

I'll also show you how to make this quick and easy gift holder using just a small piece of patterned paper. Perfect for a few sweets or small gift - you could even make 24 and have it as your Advent Calendar!

Finally, saving the best 'til last, we will make this beautiful Christmas star ornament that can be a gift all in itself - the inside can be filled with photographs to make a beautiful mini scrapbook album!

If you'd like to come along, please have a look at my website, HERE.

As ever, any questions just let me know, otherwise I hope to see you there!

TFL! Joanne x