Experiencing beauty in your creative life

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Here a pin, there a pin...

EVERYWHERE a pin cushion.  More pin cushions today.  Up first today is a little felted birdy on a traditional flower shaped cushion.  A while back I posted a felted pumpkin and the link to purchase the kit I used to create it.  I took that lesson, and some wool roving from Hobby Lobby and made this little robin.  I think it dressed up this basic pin cushion well.  Also added a few Tim Holtz vintage look safety pins an it seemed complete.  The circular pin could actually hold a gift card, place card, or any kind of greeting, but for now I like it empty.

 
Another little pin cushion that I put together using the same basic cushion pattern is this pink fleece felt piece.  This went together in a snap with two dies from Die-namics.  The rolled rose and small hearts.  A few CTMH stick pins and I was in love! (again)
 
 
Finally today I want to share a project that I did almost a year ago, but haven't gotten around to posting. It includes a little cushion, but also uses my old standard scrapbooking papers and embellishments.
 
 
I started with a plain white box with a hinged lid.  Cut paper to fit just inside the top bottom and sides.
 
 
 Added a little paper to the inside and created a little envelope with burlap paper.
 
 
The super easy square cushion fit down into the center.  A button is holding the ribbon that will tie the gift card into the box.


 
 I felt much better about giving a kind of impersonal gift card when I was able to present it in this little box. 
 
Are you on project overload?  I will try to slow things down, maybe not three projects at once next time.  I'm just so happy to be back to blogging that I can't share enough.
 
toodles,
jamie
 
 

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Have you made anything good lately?

     That was the question a friend asked, when I bumped into her in December.  My answer was not really.  But when I got home I realized that I hadn't made anything with paper in awhile, but I had been feeding my pin cushion addiction with crochet and sewing.  Over the next few weeks I will be sharing them here at BEE.  Even if you don't have a practical use for a pin cushion, these fun designs make a perfect accessory to many rooms of the house.

The pin cushions pictured below is my first attempt.  This one recycled an old quilted toile pillow sham for fabric, an antique dog figurine, and a few beads added to pearl top corsage pins.  I will put together a tutorial for this style pin cushion as it has been my favorite to make so far, and you will see them in future posts, but for now it is simply two circles; sew around the perimeter, turn, stuff, close and embellish.  Easy peasy.
 
 
The next one is a crochet project.  I found it on Pintrest...of course!  The pattern can be found at Hooked on Needles .  I appreciate her giving us such a cute pattern to use. Check it out if you crochet.  It is easy and super fast.  The pins on this one are a little more difficult to see, but they are also pearl top corsage pins with small green flower beads under the pearl.
 
 
 Lastly, I want to share a no sew pin cushions.  Also found the idea and instructions on pintrest, but the assembly is pretty straight forward.  I took the disk portion of a canning jar lid and glued batting to the top.  Covered it with fabric and then slid the ring over the top.  I didn't use glue,  it fit pretty snug once I got it in place, but if you wanted to you could glue the disk into the ring.  A little leftover lace trim finished the lid out perfectly.   Next I added a few little treasures; vintage thimble, vintage rhinestone clover pin, and a crinkled seam binding bow.  It is kind of difficult to see, but there is a little needle threader hanging below the thimble.
 
 
Accessorizing these little creations is my favorite part. 
 
So, have you made anything good lately?  I look forward to hearing about it!
 
Toodles,
jamie
 
 
Linking up at...-Crafty, Scrappy, Happy Check it out they have some great projects.