Wednesday 29 May 2019

Felt Barn Owl Mask Tutorial

UPDATE: my barn owl mask tutorial is now available via my Patreon page.

Subscribe for a small monthly fee and you'll get access to a growing library of PDF patterns and tutorials, with an email whenever I add a new project. You can cancel any time.   
   
Click here to check out my Patreon page and sign up!

---

The next project for my newsletter subscribers? A tutorial for making a fun felt barn owl mask!

 Sew a fun felt barn owl mask!

This mask is really easy to sew and would be great for summer festivals, costume parties, Halloween or just dressing up like an owl because you feel like it. (And why not, right? Owls are awesome!)

Sew a fun felt barn owl mask!
 Sew a fun felt barn owl mask!


Click here to visit my tutorial archive for lots of free patterns and project ideas... including a step-by-step tutorial for sewing this embroidered owl mask!

Sew a felt owl mask for Halloween!

Tuesday 28 May 2019

Royal Celebrations Embroidery Patterns

UPDATE: these patterns are now available from my shop and as part of my growing Patreon PDF pattern library.

Subscribe for a small monthly fee and you'll get access to a growing library of PDF patterns and tutorials, with an email whenever I add a new project. You can cancel any time.   
   
Click here to check out my Patreon page and sign up!

-------

Celebrate Harry & Meghan's Royal Wedding, the birth of the new Royal Baby, or your own special occasion with my new Royal Celebrations embroidery patterns!

Cute Royal Wedding Embroidery Pattern

I originally designed this pattern as a cute and kitsch memento of Harry & Meghan's wedding, but updated it to celebrate the birth of little Archie Harrison. (I love kitsch Royal memorabilia!)

You can easily customise the design for your own wedding, the birth of your own little prince or princess, or as a new baby or wedding/anniversary gift.

You could also just use the lion and unicorn patterns to sew cute stuff!

Royal Celebrations Embroidery Patterns

Here's how I stitched the Royal Baby version (framed in a 7 inch embroidery hoop).

Royal Baby Embroidery Pattern - Archie Harrison

I've included simpler versions of the text for this and the Royal Wedding embroidery, as well as blank banners and some useful guide lines for adding your own custom text.

Text Options for the Royal Celebrations Pattern

As well as the main pattern (plus customisable versions - including a pretty floral option which I think would be lovely as nursery decor or as a wedding gift) I've also included individual elements from the pattern separately so you can easily include them in other projects.

The heart and rings would make a fab embroidered felt ornament for a wedding gift (heart on the front, rings and initials and a date on the back) and the lion and unicorn are just adorable on their own (I'm so pleased with how they both turned out!). Oh, and I've included a Union Jack version of the heart, too, in case that's useful (maybe you'd like to stitch a memento of Will & Kate's wedding instead?)

Royal Celebrations Embroidery Patterns

I stitched the unicorn in some cute colours (adding a metallic silver horn and some silvery bits in its mane and tail) then framed it in a 5 inch embroidery hoop and added LOTS of sparkly silver star sequins. Here's a video so you can see just how sparkly it is!

Cute Unicorn Embroidery Pattern

Royal Wedding Embroidery Pattern - Harry & Meghan
Royal Baby Embroidery Pattern - Archie Harrison
Sparkly Unicorn Embroidery Hoop Art

Monday 27 May 2019

8 Paper Crafting Ideas: DIY Gift Boxes, Cards, Garlands, & More!

Today I’m sharing some fun and easy ideas for crafting with patterned paper and card.

8 Easy Paper Crafting Ideas

This tutorial originally appeared on The Village Haberdashery's blog and was inspired by a range of gorgeous paper pads they stock. Each pad includes 30 sheets of co-ordinating paper and card (15 sheets of each), which all have a grid of squares on the back so you can easily cut straight edges.

Marbled Paper Pad

I chose to work with the marbled paper pad – aren’t these patterns lovely?

Pretty Marbled Paper Designs

As you can see, as well as the detailed marbled designs there are also some plain sheets in soft, ombré colours. You could use the papers for all kinds of fabulous crafty projects, but I’ve put together a few simple ideas to get you started!
  

1. Greetings Cards.

I love sending handmade cards to my friends. Everyone loves a bit of proper post, and there’s nothing quite like a handmade card. Use simple shapes and geometric designs, layering patterns to create some stylish cards. Click here for the template sheet to recreate my designs, or draw your own.

Making greetings cards from patterned paper and card

Cut and fold a sheet of card to size (remember if you’re using the card from the pad there will be a grid of squares on the inside) or decorate some ready-made blank cards.

Use the card as a template to cut out a section from one of the ombré pieces. The subtle colour variations make a great backdrop for adding some bold shapes. Stick the paper to the front of the card with a glue stick, lining up the edges neatly.

Then cut out your chosen shapes and stick them in position. You can use layers of the plain paper to create frames for the shapes (like the heart) or just layer the patterned papers on top of each other.

If you want, you can use a fine pen to draw around the shapes to make them really stand out – but make sure you have a steady hand! (Can you spot where mine slipped?)

Making notecards from patterned paper and card


2. Envelopes & Notecards. 

As an alternative to making handmade cards why not make some handmade envelopes? These are lovely to send but they also make a great gift: make a set of five or six envelopes with co-ordinating notecards, add some plain address labels and tie them up in a bundle with a bit of baker’s twine ready for gifting.

Easy DIY envelopes

Find an envelope you like the shape of or search online for some printable envelope templates. If you’re going to be making lots of envelopes, I’d recommend gluing the shape to a piece of card (part of a cereal box would be perfect) to make a sturdy template.

Trace the envelope shape onto the back of one of the patterned paper pieces. Cut it out and use a ruler and one blade of a pair of scissors to carefully score along the fold lines. Fold the paper into an envelope shape and use a glue stick to secure the edges. You can use more glue to close the envelopes later when they’re ready to send, or add a couple of strips of narrow double-sided sticky tape to the edges of the flaps.

To make the co-ordinating notecards, just cut rectangular pieces of card slightly smaller than the envelopes so they’ll tuck neatly inside.

 Make your own DIY envelopes from patterned paper
DIY envelopes


3. Gift Wrapping.

Pretty craft papers also make lovely wrapping paper! Use them to wrap small, special gifts or cut shapes from leftover scraps to create patterns on plain parcels.

Gift wrapping with patterned craft paper

I used the lid of a glue stick as a template to cut lots of identically sized paper circles, which I glued in a row across the parcel. You could cut different sized circles, glue them in rows or dot them at random, or explore different shapes like stripes and triangles. Get creative and turn a plain package into something fabulous!

Gift wrapping idea using scraps of paper


4. Gift Tags.

Another great way to make use of scraps of pretty paper and card is by making gift tags. Cut out lots of different shapes, layer colours and patterns, and see what you come up with!

Making DIY gift tags

Cut out a rectangle from one of the card sheets, punching a hole near the top and adding some string, twine or yarn to create the tag (or just decorate some plain ready-made tags!).

I added bands of plain and patterned paper, cutting them slightly wider than the tag and trimming them neatly to size once I’d glued them in position. I then added some card and paper circles in contrasting patterns to complete the designs, punched the holes and added some string.

Pretty DIY gift tags from patterned paper


5. Paper Chains. 

When was the last time you made paper chains? They are such fun to put together and make wonderfully colourful party décor.

DIY craft paper chain garland
DIY craft paper chain garland

Cut several sheets of the decorative paper into strips about 3cm wide (each sheet of paper makes 10 strips). Bend one strip so the two ends meet, securing them with a piece of clear sticky tape. Add a second strip interlinking with the first, and continue to build the chain mixing patterns as you go.

You can use one strip of paper per chain link, or make a chain like the one pictured with two strips placed together so the inside and outside of each loop is patterned.

Making a paper chain


6. Bunting & Garlands. 

Bunting is a summer party classic! It’s so easy to whip up a length of bunting or a modern garland to decorate your space… then when the party is over it can be disassembled and the pieces returned to your crafty stash.

Pretty DIY paper bunting and garlands

Use the templates provided to cut out lots of bunting flags or circles from paper or card. Use a large, sharp sewing needle to poke two holes in each piece (at the top two points of the triangles or at opposite sides of the circles).

Use the needle to thread the flags or circles onto a long piece of sewing thread, yarn or thin twine. Double up the circles (as they tend to spin when hung up) and double the bunting flags if the back of the bunting will be visible when you hang it.

Making paper bunting and garlands


7. Party Food Toppers.

Let your guests know what’s in your party treats with these colourful toppers. This is such a simple idea but a practical and pretty one and a fab way to use up small bits of lovely paper.

DIY food toppers for parties

Using the templates provided, cut circles from the one of the less busily patterned card sheets to create labels for sandwiches, cupcakes and other party foods.

Add the important info in pen, and attach a cocktail stick to the back of each circle with a piece of sticky tape. You could also cut extra paper circles to scatter on the table-top for extra Instagram-ability!

DIY food labels for parties


8. Gift Boxes. 

If you’re giving a small gift, make it extra special by making a gift box. These boxes would also be perfect for wedding or party favours. Scrunch up some pretty tissue paper inside the box then add your gift.

Make easy DIY gift boxes
Make easy DIY gift boxes

Use the diagrams provided as a guide to drawing the box templates (one for the box itself, and one for the lid). If you’re just making one box, you can draw the template directly onto the back of the decorative card. If you’re planning on making lots of boxes you’ll save time by making some re-usable templates you can quickly draw around.

Draw and cut out one box and one box lid. I’ve designed the templates so both shapes will fit onto one sheet of card, but you can mix and match the patterns as you like.

Use a ruler and one blade of a pair of scissors to carefully score along the fold lines. Crease all the folds then use a glue stick to add glue to the four flaps (on the patterned/colourful side of the card) and carefully assemble the box and its lid.

DIY gift box tutorial


Follow the links to view and download the printable PDF templates:

- Greetings Cards
- Bunting & Garlands
- Food Toppers
- Gift Boxes


Enjoyed these free projects? Buy me a "coffee" and help support my blog!

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

P.S. Subscribe to my newsletter for a monthly free pattern and visit my crafty tutorial archive for lots more project ideas plus step-by-step tutorials.

Visit my shop to buy my printable PDF sewing patterns:

Saturday 25 May 2019

Folk Floral Hoop Art Tutorial & Embroidery Pattern

I'm on a roll with adding new stuff to my shop this week, first the trio of felt flower patterns and now some floral wall art inspired by folk art designs:

Folk Floral Hoop Art Tutorial PDF Sewing Pattern by Laura Lupin Howard

My new printable PDF pattern includes two versions of this flower design: a step-by-step tutorial for sewing the felt applique version (complete with full-size templates, of course!), and an embroidery pattern for stitching the embroidered version.

Folk Floral Embroidery Pattern PDF by Laura Lupin Howard
Folk Floral Hoop Art Tutorial PDF Sewing Pattern by Laura Lupin Howard

I've actually included two versions of the embroidery pattern - the full design I stitched and a simpler one, too, so you can go for a less detailed look or add your own details with your favourite stitches. And, of course, there are reversed versions included in case you need them for your fave transfer method.

The designs both fit inside five inch embroidery hoops and would look lovely hanging on the wall to add some summer loveliness to your space. The embroidery pattern would also look fab stitched onto something like a bag or a quilt square.

Folk Floral Hoop Art Tutorial PDF Sewing Pattern by Laura Lupin Howard
Folk Floral Embroidery Pattern PDF by Laura Lupin Howard

When you buy any patterns from my shop you can of course make lots of things for yourself and to give as gifts, but you can also sell the finished items at craft fairs or in your Etsy shop, etc, as long as you credit me as the designer.

You can buy my Folk Floral PDF pattern from my shop - it'll be available to download immediately after your payment goes through! Shop before May 31st to get this design at the bargain launch price. 

 Folk Floral Hoop Art Tutorial & Embroidery Pattern PDF by Laura Lupin Howard

P.S. I actually shared a version of this tutorial with my newsletter subscribers last year. Subscribe to my newsletter for all the latest updates from me and my shop and to never miss out on my free projects!

Folk Florals PDF Pattern

Thursday 23 May 2019

Craft-Themed Jigsaw Puzzles for Sewing, Knitting, Quilting, and Crafting Fans!

I have totally fallen in love with jigsaw puzzles and was delighted to discover recently that you can buy crafting-themed jigsaws. They're so colourful and cosy, I adore them.

Obviously, when I set up my new Amazon Influencer page (a little "storefront" where I can curate lists of things I love and where if you end up buying something I earn a small amount of commission for the referral) a list of craft-themed puzzles was one of the first things I had to put together!

(In the US? Click here to view my page on Amazon.com)

There are puzzles decorated with art and craft supplies...

Ravensburger Haberdashery Heaven Jigsaw Puzzle
 CobbleHill Vintage Art Supplies Jigsaw Puzzle

... sometimes with the addition of cats!

CobbleHill Fur Ball Jigsaw Puzzle

Puzzles featuring quilts and quilters...

CobbleHill Common Quilting Blocks Jigsaw Puzzle
 SunsOut Quilting Santa Jigsaw Puzzle

 ... granny squares...

CobbleHill Granny Squares Jigsaw Puzzle

... and haberdashery shops.

Falcon The Haberdashers Shoppe Jigsaw Puzzle

There are also puzzles depicting dream creative workspaces, including a lots of cosy craft-filled sheds!

Gibsons Work of Art Jigsaw Puzzle
 Ravensburger My Haven The Craft Shed Jigsaw Puzzle

I want to move into that last picture immediately.  

Click here to view the whole list of puzzles on Amazon.co.uk, or click here to view a similar list I've put together on Amazon.com. (All the Amazon links in this post are affiliate links).