Sunday, June 20, 2010

Boutique Blankie

I've been seeing these mini animal print blankets in boutiques all over town and I wanted one for my "baby". They are small (24" x 36") and double sided (one side is animal print, and the other side is a solid color - usually pink, lime green or light blue). They are selling for $48.00 and I just knew I could make one for way less than that!

I started off with a piece of fabric 27 1/4" x 39 1/4". I measured 3 1/4" in from all sides and masked off the line with masking tape. I cut off each corner where the tape lines met. Then I made hash marks on the tape every 2cm - this is where you'll cut the strips.
Here is what it looks like after cutting straight lines every 2cm all the way around the fabric. Marking sure the outsides of both fabrics are facing out, you start at one corner and double-knot the strips of fabric. **Make sure not to pull too tight or your blanket will pucker and not lay flat.
And here is what is looks like all finished! How cute...and they are soooo soft!!
These would make a perfect baby gift. To give it as a gift, I would fold the blanket in half and then roll it up. Then take some decorative papers and make a "band" to wrap around the rolled blanket. This gives it a more "retail" look.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Chalkboard Message Plates

I made several of these as gifts and I also have one in my kitchen. This is a decorative way to write notes, recipes, sports schedules, grocery lists, etc...

Friend's of mine use this so their kids know the weekly dinner plan. Others use this for special nights like "Popcorn Night", "Movie Night", "Sundae Time", and to announce Birthdays in the household.


Monday, June 7, 2010

Bubble Bath Topiary

I want to give a big thank-you to Greenbean (from the Cricut forums) for this idea!
(you can check out her site at: http://thegreenbeanscrafterole.blogspot.com/)

The "pot" is filled with white tea bath salts and the "tree" is a bath scrubbie decorated with a butterfly. You could fill the pot with bath salts like I did, or use bath beads, mini soaps, or bath confetti would be super cute too.

Wouldn't this make a great "Get Well" gift for someone? Or how about a special gift for a new Mom, a girlfriend or even a teenage girl!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Magnet Frames

These make a perfect gift for someone...everyone has photos they like to display! I put one in my office and it was a hit - I sold 20 of them!

It's covered in fabric, so your color & design options are endless. If they make it in a fabric, you can have as a frame!

Then I found buttons & embellishments and attached magnets to the backside. These hold your photos on the board in a decorative way. You could drill holes through the top and string a ribbon through to hang it, or you can put it on an easel (which is what I did) and set it on a tabletop.
A friend bought 7 of these to give as gifts - she's going to attach a few of her special recipes and use them as recipe holders.
I thought about making one larger in scale and framing it (without the glass in the frame) and then hanging it on the wall. How posh would that look! And it's a great way to bring decorative fabric into a room. Maybe that will have to be my next project...