Gifts for All Occasions

5 Minute DIY Leather Rose Ring

Need a gorgeous, last minute gift that you can easily and quickly hand make? Maybe your are looking for an alternative to candy for a girl’s Easter basket. Look no further. This leather rose ring takes less than 5 minutes with a die cutter such as Sizzix Big Shot, used in this tutorial. If you don’t have a die cut machine, there are a truckload of fabric rose tutorials that will help you find a template you can cut by hand. Now on to the tutorial.

Supplies I used:

Sizzix Machine

3D Rose Die

Leather Scrap (from old purse)

Crafter’s Pick Glue (or other glue for metal)

Plaid Ring Bling or other Ring Blank

It is pretty simple. Just die cut your flower, roll into rose shape and glue onto ring blank. Let dry per package instructions. Tah dah. 5 minute sweet ring!

Paper Roses Another Way

by Johnnie Collier

Being asked to do centerpieces at a June wedding, I have been trying out paper

rose methods like none other. This is one of the first ones I came across, and it is

my favorite for several reasons. It is quicker and less complicated than others, and the

result is gorgeous! Not only that, but think about the money saved on flowers

when you make your own from paper, and they won’t die. Perfect!

I found the full tutorial at Ellinee, with free printable templates.

I have made paper roses using this method from cardstock, printer paper

and coffee filters. They are all stunning, but heavyweight cardstock

makes the prettiest flowers in my opinion. I like to chalk the edges

in a bright, contrasting color like here…

I just love it!!!

Here is one I made from coffee filters and painted with watercolor.

Since I need my roses with a stem for the centerpieces, I followed the tutorial linked

above, except I built the rose around a floral wire like I showed you

in this paper flower tutorial a couple of weeks back.

This is my favorite! Remember it from this decorating with vintage

scrapbooking ephemera post?

Do you have a favorite paper flower tutorial?

I would love your ideas!

Upcycle Cans into Vases

by Johnnie Collier

Wait! Don’t take out the recycling just yet. Did you know you can turn your empty tin cans into lovely flower vases in a snap? In just a couple of easy steps, you will be on your way to gorgeous, simple, chic decor. I think these would make great mother’s day gifts, filled with her favorite fresh florals. How about centerpieces for that upcoming dinner party or summer barbecue?

When I say easy, I mean easy.

Supplies:

Wall texture spray; I got mine at the local hardware store in the paint section
Tin cans
Distress Ink Pad by Ranger in Rusty Hinge

Instructions:

Remove labels from cans and clean inside and out will with soapy water. Rinse and dry with lint free cloth

Spray cans with wall texture per can instructions on protected work surface. I did mine with the nozzle set to fine. I don’t think it really matters. When you are happy with the coverage, let dry. I let mine dry overnight.

If you want the rusty look, run your distress inkpad lightly over the surface of the can, randomly to achieve the desired effect. I did this on one can, and love the look…

The End! This is my first time ever using spray wall texture, and it was pretty darn cool. You have not seen the last of it around here.

Have you upcycled your tin cans another way? I would love to hear your ideas!

Quick Knitted Hat With Brim Pattern

by Johnnie Collier

Get those needles flying and have a warm, cozy, beautiful handmade hat in no time, using this pattern with super bulky yarn. I whipped up several of these for gift giving this Christmas. Who doesn’t love a brimmed hat with tassels in the winter?

Supplies:

Long circular needles size 13 and 11 (you can use DPN’s too, I prefer circulars)
Super bulky yarn
3 x 3 inch piece of cardboard
stitch marker
crochet hook to weave in ends

GAUGE:

9 sts x 12 r = 4” x 4” (10 cm x 10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch on US 13.

PATTERN: Fits most adults (stretchy)

CO 36 stitches onto your size 11 circular needles and join for working in the round; place marker at beginning of rounds

Row 1-3: K2P2 around for ribbing then switch to size 13 needles

Row 4-12: Knit around

Begin decrease rounds:

Row 13: *Knit 7, K2tog* around (32 stitches at end)

Row 14: Knit around

Row 15: *Knit 6, K2tog* around (28 stitches remaining on needles)

Row 16: knit around

Row 17: *Knit 5, K2tog* around (24 stitches remaining on needles)

Row 18: knit around

Row 19: *Knit 4, K2tog* around (20stitches remaining on needles)

Row 20: knit around

Row 21: *Knit 3, K2tog* around (16 stitches remaining on needles)

Row 22: knit around

Row 23: *Knit 2, K2tog* around (12 stitches remaining on needles)

Row 24: knit around

Row 25: *Knit, K2tog* around (8 stitches remaining on needles)

Row 26: knit around

Row 27: K2tog around (4 stitches remaining on needles)

Row 28: knit around

Leaving a 5-inch tail, break yarn. With crochet hook, pull tail through the loops.
Pull tightly.

Pom Pom:

Wrap yarn around a 3 x 3 piece of cardboard around 100 times. Run a 20” piece of yarn through one folded edge of the pom pom. Tie the yarn tightly into a bundle. Cut the other folded edge, remove the cardboard, and stitch the pom pom to the top of the hat.

Last Minute Handmade Gifts

by Johnnie Collier

Need a handmade gift, stat? Procrastination happens, it is o.k.. Here are some great ideas that work up fast and won’t break the bank.

Acrylic facet jewelry from Tammie Tutterow

DIY wood votives from Tatertots and Jello

Lemon sugar scrub with printables at Printable decor

Holiday bath tea from The Mother Huddle

Tissue paper candles from The Ivy Cottage Blog

Hex nut wrap bracelet from Henry Happened

Tic tac toe board from Flowers and Ink.

Rice filled heat packs from Pie Birds, Buttons and Muddy Puddles

Vintage inspired jewelry from Aussie Scrap Source

Quick Fingerless Mitts for Last Minute Gifts

by Johnnie Collier

This pattern is for small women’s size

Size 8 Circular Needles or DPNs
Worsted Weight Yarn and fun yarn (optional)

Instructions:

Cast on 24 sts and distribute on circular needles (or DPNs)
Rows 1-8: k2p2 ribbing

**Pick up fun yarn at this point if you are using it**
Row 9-27: st st around (21 rounds)
Row 28: k5, pm, m1, k1, m1, pm, k18 (26st)
Row 29: Knit
Row 30: knit to marker, sm, m1, knit to marker, m1, sm, k18.
Row 31-34: Repeat rows 29 & 30 twice more
Row 35: k5, remove marker, K1 BO 8, remove marker, k18 (24st on needles)
Row 36-43: Knit around
Bind off in pattern.
Sew in all ends.

Rolled Paper Bead Necklace

by Johnnie Collier

Are you planning your handmade gift lists? Today’s project is a lovely penny saving piece of unique jewelry, made from paper beads, wire, and glass beads. This piece is a two stranded necklace that can be casual or dressy. The general concept can be applied to bracelets, earrings, eyeglass holders, bookmarks and more.

Supplies:

Paper beads (see this post for instructions)
Round nose pliers, wire cutters
glass beads (I used crystals and rock beads)
Closure Mechanism
Small chain length (to connect beaded strands to closure)

Instructions:

Make loop on one end of 2 inch wire segment, add beads in desired order, then loop other end using round nose pliers.

Make as many of them as you need to get the desired length of your chain, and connect them, loop end to loop end.

For a double stranded piece, connect both strands to a small segment of chain (or jump rings), then connect that to your clasp. See pictures to better understand!

Recycled Newspaper Picture Frame

by Johnnie Collier

Still coiling paper over here. I went to the local fair trade store and found a picture frame made from coiled newspaper pages. Here is my version. It took about 3 hours total. I reinforced the coil attachements using crochet thread. For the hanging mechanism, I made beads from long, thin, triangular shaped newspaper strips as shown in this tutorial. Lining the inside of the coils is a rolled newspaper tube, to “frame” the picture, which is 3×5, but you can make it any size you want, using more coils. For instructions on making the coils, see my earlier tutorial, here. The only difference is the newspaper page is longer than the magazine page. Use the entire length of the unfolded newspaper page, cutting it in half width wise. You get a bigger coil from each strip compared the the shorter magazine pages.

Crafty Link ups:

Today’s Creative Blogs

5 Minute DIY Leather Rose Ring

Paper Roses Another Way

I just love it!!!

Upcycle Cans into Vases

Quick Knitted Hat With Brim Pattern

Last Minute Handmade Gifts

Quick Fingerless Mitts for Last Minute Gifts

Rolled Paper Bead Necklace

Recycled Newspaper Picture Frame

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