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Saturday, January 29, 2011

I'm a finalist!

I hope you are all having a wonderful Saturday.  Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) I have been trying to finish my casebook this weekend, so I do not have a craft or recipe for you today.  On the plus side, I should have my casebook (and one class) finished tomorrow, so I will be back soon. 

Also, I just found out that my post on Valentine Pastries made it into the finals for the best of January on Saturday Mornings!  You can go vote on your favorite five.  Take a look.  I think the bandana dress is totally cute.

You may have noticed the number of buttons where I have been featured growing on my sidebar.  Go check out these great sites if you have the chance:



Friday, January 28, 2011

Felt Pinwheels

I thought these felt pinwheels were the perfect accessory to accompany the handkerchief skirt.  The dual colors and the rotating points echoe the colors and lines of the skirt completely.  These would be cute as a hairbow, pinned on a shirt, or worn on a bracelet.

Materials/Supplies
  • Scissors
  • Pinking shears
  • Two colors of felt
  • Low-melt hot glue gun
  • Button or other embellishement for center
Directions
  1. Begin heating glue gun.
  2. Cut a 4" square out of each color of felt. (you can adjust sizes if you want)
  3. Use the pinking shears around the edge of the inside color of felt, to create the zig-zag edge and make the inside felt smaller than the outside felt.
  4. Mark the center of the inside square, and glue the inside to the outside.  My mark is really light, so you can't really see it in the picture.
  5. Cut from each corner in to the center.  Be sure to leave a small amount of felt between each cut so the pinwheel doesn't fall apart.
  6. Place a small dot of glue near the center of the pinwheel.
  7. Fold in the closest corner and hold in place until the glue cools.
  8. Repeat with all corners.
  9. Glue your button (or other embellishment) to the center covering the points you just glued down.  I used one side of a rivet.  I made a ball of glue in the center, then pressed the rivet down on top.  This created a glass-like look to the center.
I will be linking this project up to these link parties.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Handkerchief Skirt

A sewing tutorial for making a handkerchief skirt
Isn't this super cute?  How about my cute models Ella and Abby?  One of the things I love most is that it cost me less than $5 to make!  This is made with the same basic design as a circle skirt.  Note--this only works for little girls, babies, or really big handkerchiefs.  Are you ready?

Materials/Supplies
  • Scissors
  • Thread & sewing machine
  • 1 inch wide elastic
  • 2 handkerchiefs
  • Pencil
  • Measuring tape & calculator (or math brain)
  • Pins
Directions
  1. The first thing you need to do is measure the waist this skirt is going on.  The two cute sisters I made these for both have a waist measurement of 22 inches.  From there, I add 2 inches, so my number is now 24.
  2. Take the new measurement and divide by 6.28.  This makes my new number 3.82.
  3. Round down to the nearest quarter inch, so my final number is 3.75 inches.
  4. Fold your handkerchiefs into quarters (half and half again).
  5. A sewing tutorial for making a handkerchief skirt
  6. Tie some thread around the pencil.  Measure out a length of thread matching your final measurement (remember mine was 3.75 inches) and hold that point at the center point of your handkerchief.  Trace a semi-circle on your handkerchief using the pencil attached to the string.
  7. Cut out the part you just drew.  I have this nifty little circle cutting tool, so I just put the point into the center point of my handkerchief and rotate the blade to cut out.  When you are finished, you should have cut a circle out of the center of your handkerchief.
  8. A sewing tutorial for making a handkerchief skirt
  9. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for the other handkerchief.
  10. Open both handkerchiefs and place one on top of the other (both with right sides facing up) so that the points alternate.  I actually took this picture after I had sewn them together because I forgot to ahead of time.
  11. A sewing tutorial for making a handkerchief skirt
  12. Pin together and sew using a sewing and binding stitch.
  13. A sewing tutorial for making a handkerchief skirt
  14. Sew your elastic into a waistband fitting your original measurement (22).  Make sure to sew edges flat so they don't poke out.
  15. A sewing tutorial for making a handkerchief skirt
  16. Pin the waistband to the skirt.  First pin two opposite sides.  Then split the middle and pin.  Continue until you have the entire skirt pinned.
  17. A sewing tutorial for making a handkerchief skirtA sewing tutorial for making a handkerchief skirt
  18. Sew waistband to skirt.  Be sure to stretch the elastic to fit the fabric as you sew.  Stand back and admire your work.

A sewing tutorial for making a handkerchief skirt

I will be linking up to these link parties.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Skirt Upcycle


A few weeks ago, I saw this great skirt tutorial on MADE.  I just had to make a circle skirt.  I went to the store and found this gorgeous, medium-weight, knitted fabric.  I made the skirt, but didn't hem it yet, tried it on, and was so sad.  The fabric I had chosen was neither light enough to flow out, or stiff enough to stay out.  It hung down my body like a bunch of drapes. 

In the past, I would have just written this off as a failed project, but not this time.  I looked at the fabric, and the design, and thought about how I could fix it.  What I finally decided to do, was make it an a-line skirt.  I love the way an a-line dress or skirt fits my body, and thought that I could work with that material and that pattern.  I began by turning the skirt inside-out, and cutting triangles of fabric out of the fabric.  I cut out eight pieces.  They were each about 8 inches at the bottom (but remember that it is folded, so you should only cut 4 inches).

I then sewed the gaps shut with a sewing and binding seam on my machine.

When I was finished with all the gaps, it looked like this (still inside-out).

I then cut the bottom and hemed the skirt to fit me.  Now what I needed was something to really give this skirt some identity.  I used the extra fabric I had from all the disections, to create verticle ruffles.  I cut strips about 2.5 inches wide.  That were roughly 1.5 times the length of my skirt from waist to hem.  I used the largest stitch on my sewing machine to sew through the center of each strip.  I created the ruffles by pulling gently on one thread until the fabric puckered to the right length. 

To finish, I pinned each ruffle on top of a seam, and stitched in place.  I wore my upcycle to work yesterday, and the first thing anyone said to me was, "cute skirt Malory." 

I think this was a success, and I will have to make a circle skirt out of a different fabric (I still love the pattern, and how easy it was to make).

Monday, January 24, 2011

Zipper Rose

I've really enjoyed seeing all the ways zippers have become an accessory.  You may have noticed that I like love flowers.  I whipped up these two roses and now I can't stop thinking about all the different ways I would like to use them: on a headband, on a purse, as a hair clip, as a brooch, etc.

Supplies/Materials
  • 30 inch upholstery zipper (you can buy a 72" zipper and make two)
  • Scissors
  • Low-melt hot glue gun
Directions
  1. Cut the ends off the zipper and remove the moving part (I don't know what that is called)
  2. Begin by squeezing a small strip of glue on one end, and rolling the zipper two times.
  3. Create petals by folding the zipper into a point and gluing petal in place.  Form petals continuously in a triangular pattern around the center.
  4. I used two different zippers.  The darker zipper is only 1/2 inch wide, and the lighter zipper is 5/8 inch wide.  The extra 1/8 inch made it much easier to form the petals without the fabric coming loose or having gaps.

Daniel had some questions about glue, so here are the backs of each flowers.  I bumped up the contrast a little to help you see the lines.  I hope this helps!



Sunday, January 23, 2011

Turtle Tartlets

Caramel.  Yum!  Chocolate.  Yum!  Pecans.  Yum!

These are so cute and easy to make.  I use the caramel from my caramel popcorn recipe (which makes so much, that I also had enough caramel to make caramel popcorn while I made these quick bites), premade tartlet shells, pecan pieces, and mini chocolate chips.  I whipped up these and a batch of caramel popcorn in about 30 minutes.

Ingredients
  • Caramel (see caramel popcorn recipe)
  • 1/4 cup pecan pieces
  • 1 package premade tartlet shells (mine came with 16)
  • 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
Supplies
  • Piping bag
  • Hot mitt
  • Tall glass
  • Medium pot, and spatula for caramel
Directions
  1. Remove tartlet shells from package (I placed mine on a jelly roll pan)
  2. Fill each shell with 4-5 pecan pieces.
  3. P1030397
  4. Place the piping bag in the glass, and fold the edges over the top of the glass, so you can fill with caramel.
  5. Make the caramel (if you are going to make popcorn, pop it before you begin).
  6. When the caramel reaches the soft-ball stage, fill the piping bag 1/2 way.  (you can spread the rest of the caramel over the popcorn)
  7. P1030401
  8. Hold the piping bag with an oven mitt (the caramel is extremely hot!).  Cut a small hole to pipe the caramel.  Pipe the caramel into the tartlet shells—completely covering the pecan pieces.
  9. P1030403
  10. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips on top of the tartlets.
  11. P1030405
  12. Cool completely before serving (you don’t want any burned mouths).

Be Different Act Normal

Have you checked out Be Different Act Normal?  Lorie scours the blogging world to find great ideas to share with her followers.  Every few hours, she features a new idea.  If you don't already follow her site, you should go sign up now.  Before Valentine's Day, you will have so many ideas, you won't know what to do with yourself.  Just this morning, she featured my Valentine Pastries with several other delicious treats.  Yum, yum, yum!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Felt Roses Headband

I have had so many comments on both the fabric flowers headband, and the felt roses, that I thought I just had to write a tutorial showing how to make a headband with the felt roses.  While I do think this one turned out cute, I think in the future, I would change the angle of the roses, and maybe only use three of them.

Supplies/Materials
  • About 2 feet 1/2 inch wide braided elastic
  • Enough felt for 3-5 small felt roses (see my tutorial for felt roses)
  • Sewing supplies
  • Hot glue gun & glue sticks
Directions
  1. This first thing you need to do, is measure your head.  You can do this with a measuring tape, or just wrap the elastic around your head like a headband (be sure not to stretch it).
  2. Subtract 1 inch from that measurement, and cut your elastic.  (Mine measured at 21 inches, so I cut my elastic at 20 inches)
  3. Sew your ends together leaving a .5 inch seam allowance.  Open your edges out, and use a zigzag seam to sew the edges flat.  When they are flat, trim any excess elastic.
  4. Your headband is ready to adorn!
  5. Cut the center circle for each of your felt roses, and form the centers.
  6. P1030374
  7. Cut the outer circle for each rose, and begin sewing one petal from each rose to the headband.
  8. Picnik collage 2
  9. Glue the center of each rose to the outer petals, one petal at a time, ending with the petal attached to the headband.
  10. Picnik collage 3
  11. You are almost finished.  Squeeze a strip of glue along the inside of the headband.
  12. P1030390
  13. Once the glue cools, it should be ready to wear.  The strip of glue, and the stretch of the elastic should help it to stay on your cute head!

Facebook

Good morning!  I just set up a page on facebook where you can "like" Snips & Spice.  Do you want to like?  Right now, I am the only lonely liker in the box.  You can even like directly from my page here.  How easy is that?

Be back later with something to make!

Malory

Friday, January 21, 2011

Guest Post {Gift Card Holder}

Hi there all you awesome followers!  Today I am really excited to share this gift card holder with you.  This was submitted by Barb for the guest post in the “Happy New Year Giveaway.”
Supplies
  • 1 sheet 8.5x11 cardstock
  • 1 sheet coordinating decorative paper
  • Paper cutter
  • Adhesive
  • 10-12 inches ribbon
  • “Cropodile” (or other hole punching tool)
  • Stamps & Ink
Directions
  1. Cut the cardstock into a strip that is 4.5 inches by 11 inches.
  2. Fold the cardstock at 2.75 inches and 5.5 inches (folding opposite directions).
  3. Cut the decorative paper into two pieces.  One measures 2.25 inches by 4 inches. The other measures 5 inches by 4 inches.
  4. Adhere the decorative paper to the cardstock.  The rectangles should both be placed on the same side of the paper, on the outside portions.
  5. Collapse the folds and punch a hole roughly 1 inch from the outside edges and 1 inch from the fold.
  6. Lace the ribbon through the holes and tie in a bow.
  7. Decorate.  Barb used a “Celebrate” stamp with coordinating ink.
  8. Slide the gift card into the fold between the ribbon-filled holes.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Valentine Pastries

I have long wanted to make something with puff pastry.  I see it used on The Food Network, and can’t help but wonder what I could make with this amazing stuff.  I also love cherries, and wanted to make a Valentine’s Day treat.  Behold the birth of my Valentine Pastries.

Ingredients
  • 1 box puff pastry (I used Pepperidge Farms)
  • 1 can cherry pie filling (I made my own, but used barely any, so I would just buy a can in the future)
  • A tiny bit of water
Supplies
  • Cookie sheet or jelly roll pan
  • Parchment paper
  • Spoon
  • Heart-shaped cookie cutter
  • Tiny flower cookie cutter
  • Small bowl
Directions
  1. Thaw the puff pastry and preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Line the cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  3. Unfold/unroll the puff pastry onto the parchment paper.
  4. Dough
  5. Use the heart cookie cutter to cut the puff pastry.  Remove excess dough (you can save for later, toss, or bake for a snack).
  6. Cookie Cutter
  7. Repeat for both sheets.
  8. On 1/2 the hearts, use the flower cookie cutter to cut ventilation holes.
  9. Fill the small bowl with a little bit of water.  Use your finger to dab water on the edge of one of the hearts without the ventilation holes.
  10. Place a small amount of the cherry filling in the middle of the heart you just dabbed with water.
  11. Filling
  12. Place one of the ventilated hearts on top of the other heart.  Use your finger to press down completely on all edges.
  13. Ready to Bake
  14. Repeat steps 7-9 for all hearts.
  15. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes.  The pastry should be a golden brown on top.
  16. Let cool, then enjoy!
Five