Anniversary Event Guest: Positively Splendid with Printed Twill Ribbon Tutorial!

Hello, everyone! My name is Amy, and my blogging home is Positively Splendid. My goal is for my blog to be a haven of crafting and DIY inspiration, and a place where creative people of all skill levels can come and feel right at home. On any given day, you might find me crafting, sewing, or cooking up a storm. I would love for you to pop by and say hello!

I have to say that I am tickled pink to be here for Allie's first anniversary celebration! Today I'm sharing a quick and easy project idea for really kicking your holiday gift wrapping up a notch with a personal touch: Printed Twill Ribbon!

For this project, you will need:Wording PDF files {{free downloads}} OR word processing softwareMerry and Bright PDFJoy to the World PDFWhite twill fabricFreezer paperIronComputer printerRotary cutter and matSewing machine and thread or fabric glue
step 1 /  Using your rotary cutter, cut a piece of fabric and freezer paper that is precisely 8.5x11 inches. It is very important that these pieces be cut exactly so that they will run properly through your printer! Use  your iron on a cotton setting with no steam to iron the freezer paper to the back side of your fabric, making sure the shiny side of your freezer paper is touching the fabric.
step 2 / (If using the provided downloadable PDF files, skip ahead to step 3.) Create a document using your word processing software with the wording you wish to appear on your ribbon. Make sure the page has a landscape orientation and that there is a bit of space between each row for trimming. For 1-inch-wide ribbon, you will need 8 rows of wording.

step 3 / Place your assembled fabric/freezer paper piece into your computer printer so that the image will print onto the fabric side of the piece. Print your wording onto your sheet, and leave the freezer paper backing attached.
step 4 /  (This is how the templates I've provided should be trimmed. If you've created your own, you'll have to trim according to your particular margins, etc.) Starting at the bottom edge of your page, trim 1/4" from this bottom edge. Now, trim strips that are 1" wide, so that your wording is centered in each strip. When you reach the top row of wording, trim the top of this piece so it is precisely 1 inch wide. Remove the freezer paper from the back of your strips.

step 5 / Overlap the ends of your strips and sew together using a zig-zag stitch. For a new-sew option, you can also use fabric glue for this step.

Your ribbon is ready to embellish any package that strikes your fancy!

Something that I think would also be really cute would be to use a pinking blade in your rotary cutter when trimming your strips.

In addition to the ribbon using the provided templates, I also made a personalized version with my son's name. I love the idea of using this ribbon with each child's name in lieu of gift tags this year!

Thanks so much to Allie for having me over today! I hope to see y'all at Positively Splendid very soon!


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Oh, my goodness, Amy. I love love love this. Especially your idea about putting kids' names on it to personalize gifts. How much would my kindergarten students love me forever if I did that?! ha. Thank you so much, Amy for joining in the celebration!! 

I'm sure you are all familiar with Amy's fabulous blog, but if not you need to get over there quick! She really is so talented. Need some super fun Christmas ideas? Go see her Whimsical Christmas Mantle, her Advent Cookie Tree, and her Rolled Rosette Christmas Tree!

If you haven't yet, please go check out and enter these giveaways!!

And be sure to check out this week's Anniversary Event Posts so far!! 

Frosty The Canvas Snowman by Craft-O-Maniac

Christmas Photo Card Wreath by Teach.Craft.Love

Posie Cluster Giveaway from Nest of Posies!

Today Miss Lovie readers I have an exciting giveaway for you! Kellie from Nest of Posies  is letting me give away a posie cluster of your choice from her shop!!

Kellie is so talented and not only does she have a beautiful shop, she also shares her talent on her blog. Go see these great holiday ideas: Chevron and Ikat Gift Tags and Christmas Party Tablescapes for Kids! 

Kellie has the most beautiful shop full of great bags, scallop posies, beautiful scarves, and fun headbands! There are so many great options for unique Christmas gifts for your friends, your mom, or anyone! And lucky you, today! You might just get to win a sweet Christmas gift, a beautiful posie cluster of your choice!! 

more colors in her shop!!

Here's how to win: 

Please leave a comment here for each entry. Be sure that your profile has your email on it or add your email address into the comment you leave so I can contact you if you win!  You can do one (or all) fo the following.

1. Go to the Nest of Posies Shop and pick out your favorite posie cluster. Come back here and comment to tell me which one is your favorite! (must do to win)
2. Blog, Tweet, or Facebook about this giveaway (up to three entries) and leave a comment here about what you did. Simply copy the following if you want to post it to Facebook or Twitter: I entered to win the Nest of Posies Posie Cluster giveaway at Miss Lovie! You should too! http://missloviecreations.blogspot.com/2011/12/posie-cluster-giveaway-from-nest-of.html#MissLovieBlogAnniversary 
3. Go visit the talented Kellie at Nest of Posies and follow them via their blog, facebook, or twitter. Leave a separate comment on this post telling me about each thing you did.
4.  Pin a picture of the giveaway on Pinterest and write about it in the caption (or copy the following    for the caption:  I entered to win the Nest of Posies Posie Cluster giveaway at Miss Lovie! You should too! http://missloviecreations.blogspot.com/2011/12/posie-cluster-giveaway-from-nest-of.html #MissLovieBlogAnniversary 

Good Luck!! 

The giveaway ends Tuesday, December 13 and the winner will be chosen by Random.org. 

Be sure to check out this week's Anniversary Event Posts so far!! 

Frosty The Canvas Snowman by Craft-O-Maniac

Christmas Photo Card Wreath by Teach.Craft.Love

Anniversary Event Guest: Craftomaniac with a Snowman Tutorial

HELLO Miss Lovie readers, Jen here from CraftOManiac. I am excited to be apart of Allies First Anniversary Event. YAY! and Congrats Allie.

Today I am sharing with you my 

"Frosty The Canvas Snowman" 

I used "3" different sized CHUNKY Canvas Corp. boards to create him.

I used "3" chunky canvas boards for the snowman. 

I used sticks from my back yard tree to create his arms.

I used a piece of orange fabric scrap for the carrot nose.

I used black felt I cut into circles for the buttons and the eyes.

I used pink paint and a round foam stamp for the winter rosy cheeks.

I used a cut piece of minky fabric for the scarf. Fabric from Poppyseed Fabrics.

I used a walnut stain stamp for the edges to give it more dimension and weather it a little.

I used a cut piece of black waxed cotton for the mouth. Waxed cotton from Canvas Corp.

......and if I didn't RUN OUT OF BLACK FELT I would of made him his top hat, I still PLAN on doing so. ;)

 

and here is my Snowman Popcorn Covers  and my Bakers Twine Snowman Christmas Card.

THANK you again Allie FOR letting me be apart of this fun event.

jen

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Oh my, Jen!! So cute! I would have never thought to use those canvases to make a snowman. Love it!! Im loving all the bright blue in your Christmas decor this year, too! 

I'm sure you all know all about the fabulous-ness that is Jen, but if not, please go check our out and say hi! And her apple green and turquoise decor really is super cute. Go see more of it here and here! And if you missed her Whimsical Candy Ribbon Trees, you shouldn't! They're precious. Thank you so much Jen for sharing today!!

If you haven't entered to win 3 Shwin and Shwin patterns, then click the image above or here!

Anniversary Event Guest: Teach. Craft. Love. with a Wreath Tutorial!

Hi Miss Lovie followers!

 I hope you are as excited about Miss Lovie's Anniversary Event as I am. I'm honored that she has asked me to be a part of it. I absolutely love Christmas decorations and am excited to share this latest one with you. Every year I struggle with what to do to display all of the photo cards I get from family and friends. Last year I used clothes pins and it worked well but I am in a new house this year with new places to display things and needed something different. Now I'll be honest, what you are about to see is not my original idea. It totally flopped. So, the materials that I ended up using would not have been my first choice but I used what I had. Guess that just means I'll have to make another one next year? ;)

What you'll need:

*Fabrics/ribbons of your choice. (I used felt which is harder to work with for these kinds of things. I wish I had used cotton fabric but it worked out ok.)

*Wreath form that pins will go in. (Again, looking back I would have spent the extra money for the thick white foam but I have a straw one instead.)

*flat thumbtacks

*hot glue

For the wreath part, all I did was wrap felt around the wreath form. I used hot glue and straight pins to make sure it was extra secure.

For the thumbtacks you could do just about anything you want. I made a couple of different things.

Circle Flower:

Cut several circles. Use one as the base. Fold the others twice in half and glue on the base. There's not really a certain way to do this. Just add them as you go. Add a bead or other embellishment.

Bow:

 I just tied a regular bow and then glued a small piece around the knot to give it a more polished look. Here you can see where I hot glued the thumbtack to the back.

Second flower:

This is another version of a flower. I cut long, thin strips (about 1cm) and folder them accordion style a little bit at a time and glued as I went around the circle. Again, add bead or embellishment to cover up the middle.

And this is what I got.... 

 You could do this in so many different ways which is what makes it so much fun. The flowers would have been much easier with thinner fabric. I had also hoped to use fabric button covers to make these but the felt was too thick. I may still try that if I need more pins. I had fun making the thumbtacks and of course this is something you could do for other cork boards you have in your home or office.

I hope you found this inspirational. Just think foam and thumbtacks and see where it takes you. My mind keeps thinking of other ways I could use these things so I hope yours does too. Thanks for reading!

Have a very Merry Christmas!

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Oh, Dara. So cute!! That is a way better and prettier solution than taping them to the door frame haphazardly like I usually do. Haha. And you are right...there are so many different possibilities and different ways you could go with that wreath.

If you haven't been to see Dara at Teach.Craft.Love., please go visit her and say hi! She is my good friend in real life and was my inspiration to even start a blog. It is only appropriate that she be here to share on my blog's first anniversary!! And you've got to go see her beautiful Christmas table decorations and wreath from last year. I can't wait to see what other Christmas creations she comes up with!

Shwin and Shwin Pattern Giveaway!

I'm so excited for you all! Today Shauna at Shwin and Shwin is graciously letting me give away 3 patterns of your choice from her and her sister's beautiful shop! 

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that the Shwin sisters are amazing. They have some super great sewing tutorials on their blog, and their Sewing 101 series has been super helpful to me! I have pinned a ridiculous amount of goodness from Shwin and Shwin and I am so excited they have now opened up a pattern shop. Their eye for style and design is so great.

I think my favorite is definitely their newest pattern, The "Claire". I mean, is there anything cuter? And there's even more great patterns available in the Shwin Designs Shop!

Read on to find out how to win?! 

Please leave a comment here for each entry. Be sure that your profile has your email on it or add your email address into the comment you leave so I can contact you if you win!  You can do one (or all) fo the following.

1. Head on over to Shwin Designs Shop and see which patterns you would pick. Come back here and comment to tell me which pattern is your favorite! (must do to win)
2. Blog, Tweet, or Facebook about this giveaway (up to three entries) and leave a comment here about what you did. Simply copy the following if you want to post it to Facebook or Twitter: I entered to win the Shwin&Shwin pattern giveaway at Miss Lovie! You should too! http://missloviecreations.blogspot.com/2011/12/shwin-and-shwin-pattern-giveaway.html #MissLovieBlogAnniversary 
3. Go visit the fabulous Shwin sisters and follow them via their blog, facebook, or twitter. Leave a separate comment on this post telling me about each thing you did.
4.  Pin a picture of the giveaway on Pinterest and write about it in the caption (or copy the following    for the caption:  I entered to win the Shwin&Shwin pattern giveaway at Miss Lovie! You should too! http://missloviecreations.blogspot.com/2011/12/shwin-and-shwin-pattern-giveaway.html  #MissLovieBlogAnniversary)

Good luck! The giveaway ends a week from today on Sunday Dec. 11 and the winner will be announced shortly after. Winners will be chosen by Random.org.
Giveaway is now closed.

Don't forget to check back later today for the first guest post of the Miss Lovie First Anniversary Event! Dara at Teach. Craft. Love. has a great Christmas Wreath tutorial for you that you won't want to miss!

I Know Thanksgiving is Way Past Over

Yes. I'm aware it's December 3rd. Yes, I know Thanksgiving is way past over, but I just had to show you my cheese ball turkey. 

 I love him.

 He got skinnier as the day went on at my cousin's house for Thanksgiving. 

 I realize his face looks a little sad. I worked on his eyes for a while, cutting tiny pieces of felt off to make them just right, but no matter what I did he still looked like he hates you. Or like he's mad he is a cheese ball. Or that he's plotting ways to kill you.  Ha. I still love him. 

Here's the original. 

Found here via Pinterest.

This was so fun and easy. I have a feeling Mr. Turkey Cheeseball will be back every year. 

We had a great time hanging out with family at Thanksgiving..

 and playing with sweet puppies...

and cuddling with them, too. 

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving as well. It's crazy that I haven't posted since then.

I'm sorry! I've missed you. But, see... I got sick right after Thanksgiving and stayed sick for several days. My sore throat and cough acts like it's gonna just stick around forever, but I am better. I have wanted to stop in and say hello, but late nights at school and exhaustion have made it difficult. I have either fallen onto the couch with cough medicine and tissues surrounding me or I have just fallen asleep after work this whole week. I hope you'll still love me. I have lots of fun ideas for December and I can't wait to get working on them finally and share them with you! 

Of course, you know the fun ideas start this Sunday with the first post of Miss Lovie's First Blog Anniversary event! 

Be sure to mark your calendars! And stop in every day to see what great Christmas idea you will find! I know you're not going to want to miss any goodness from these lovely ladies who will be posting! 

              



                      


                     

The event starts Sunday Dec. 4 and goes through the following Sunday, December 11. 

And don't forget about the giveaways! What's a party without free gifts?! 

I'm excited. I hope you are too. 

Grab a button from my sidebar to spread the word if you want!