Needle Felted Ice Cream Cone Necklace Tutorial

This post originally appeared on Design Dazzle as part of their 5th annual Summer Camp Series. Now I'm sharing it here along with our instructional video on how to needle felt an ice cream cone necklace. 

French Memory Board tutorial

I love memory boards.  It's such a sweet way to display your mementos, photos and nick-nacks.  My girls accumulate a lot of those things and we've been looking for a way to help organize the clutter in their room. I thought a memory board would be perfect since it serves double duty as wall art and storage.  So when Zazzle offered to send me samples of their new custom fabrics for review on my blog, I knew this was the perfect time to make a memory board.   

(Zazzle did provide me with fabric for this post but as always all opinions are my own.)

I think these new custom fabrics are so exciting.  Now I can add my own designs to their fabric and craft or sew to my hearts content with a pattern or design that's totally unique. You don't have to have a Zazzle shop or be a designer to create your own fabric either. Anyone can do it.  Zazzle makes it very easy to just upload your own photos or designs and then they do the rest of the work.  They also offer several different fabric styles to choose from depending on your needs. 

Fabric Flower headbands

We are getting down to crunch time for our double birthday party this weekend.  I'm running around finishing all of the things that I've put off for way too long.  Fabric flower headbands were on yesterdays list which tumbled over into today.  But they are finished, I'm relieved and Mara is happy. 

Fun with Buttons

   When I was little my Grandmother (Grandma Dix)  had a big jar full of buttons.  There was also a needle and thread in that jar with a few buttons always on the string just inviting you to start sewing.  I think this is why buttons make me happy.  

Planes, tractors, and jewelry...

I love summer.  I love being able to just pick between any one of the random events that might be going on at any given time.  This weekend we got to go to a local airshow or flugplatz fest as they say in German.  It was small but ended up being a lot of fun.  My favorite part wasn't even the airplanes or the hot air balloons (but those were pretty cool).  

Fairy Garden Party

Last week I had the pleasure of having a house full of fairies.  It was wonderful and magical and memorable and so much fun.  I invited several of my friends and their adorable children to help, attend and enjoy this fun filled day.  The results were priceless. 

Hello Kitty Ears tutorial

A long long time ago, well it seems like a long time ago, I made these Hello Kitty ears for my sweet Mara's 4th birthday party.  I wanted to post the tutorial then but things happened and time went by and now here I am three months later.  These are very easy to make and require very few materials.  In my book that makes them a wonderful party accessory.  The party was in January and Mara still to this day wears her ears on occasion when we go out.  Sometimes I forget that she is even wearing them and wonder why so many strangers are smiling and staring.  But who wouldn't smile at that adorable face?  Yes her older sister Marina wears them around the house still too.  I just love my girls.

Paper pumpkins

I've seen these paper pumpkins scattered all over the internet and I just adore them.  I figured I would give them a try.  They are an easy way to add a personal touch to your Fall decorations.  Besides I just love pumpkins. 

Don't forget the teachers

With school starting I always try to make my kids first day extra special.  But don't forget the teachers.  I know they are working hard and have been working hard for weeks to get ready for this one day.  So this year I made mini apple bread loaves and gave them to each teacher with a recipe card in a simple decorative bag.  It's the gift that keeps on giving. 

Mini Notebooks

I created these teeny tiny notebooks to use as treat bag favors.  They have turned into much more than that.  They are great for doodling, thank you notes, gift tags and of course teeny tiny stationary sets.  There are so many possibilities.

  

Luminary tealight bags

I saw these cute beautiful luminary bags in the store the other day and wanted them immediately.  I thought of all the ways I could use them at parties, Halloween, Thanksgiving and every night if I had to.  When I saw the price they weren't quite so beautiful.  As I looked at the cute little paper bags with shapes punched out of them I thought "How can they charge so much for this when I can make this at home."  Then the light bulb (or tealight) went off and I decided to give it a try.  

Schultute (School cones)

Last year my daughter Marina entered 1st grade.  Her teacher had these cones hanging from the ceiling in their classroom.  There was one for each child and they were filled with treats and school supplies.  I thought it was the sweetest thing. 

Mad Hatter Hat tutorial

First of all I have to thank my husband for helping me with these.  He is always so good at assembly line productions.  I cut he assembles.  So if you have a lot of these to make I recommend getting some assistance.  All of the taping and cutting can get a little tedious after awhile. 

Paper Hats tutorial

These Mad Hatter hats were easy to make and supper fun to use. What I really like about these is how versatile they are.  There’s no template required, just a dinner plate and three sheets of 12x12 cardstock.  Sounds very techincal I know.  You can dress them up or dress them down whatever fits the occasion. 

Paper Flowers Tutorial

I love paper flowers.  They are vintage and romantic and so beautiful. I've always wanted to make them so for our teaparty I decided to give it a try.  I looked all over the internet to find a tutorial and I'm sure there is one buried somewhere but I couldn't find one I liked, so I made it up as I went.  If this is a little bit rough around the edges I apologize in advance.