15 Minute Felt Fortune Cookies

Valentine’s Day is such a fun holiday full of love and candy – two of my favorite things!  I LOVE crafting with the kids, so this year for Valentine’s Day we have created these quick and easy Felt Fortune Cookies for their classmates – full of funny fortunes and chocolate kisses!  What’s not to love?!?!

This quick and easy project is a part of Craft Lightning Week.  A fun, crafty adventure hosted by Angie from the Country Chic Cottage, Carolina at 30 minute Crafts and Laura from Laura's Crafty Life.  This time all of the participating designers are featuring FELT projects that can be created in 15 minutes.

How to make 15 minute Felt Fortune Cookies for your Valentine

Supplies:

• 9” x 12” craft cuts Kunin™ Classicfelt™ in Candy Pink (2), Baby Pink (2) and Fuchsia (2)
• 9” x 12” craft cuts Kunin™ Glitterfelt™ in Red (2)
• Scissors, chalk pencils (light colored for darker felt and dark colored for lighter felt); 4” and 3” circle templates; glue gun and glue sticks; 24 gauge wire; wire cutters; ribbon in colors to match your felt; paper fortunes; small wrapped candy and a Chinese take out box.

NOTE:  If making this project with children younger than 8 years old, I recommend using chenille stems rather than wire.

Instructions:
1. Cut 4 1/2-inch-diameter circles from shades of pink and red felt. Cut a piece of matching ribbon slightly shorter at 4 1/4 inches. Using wire cutters, cut a piece of wire slightly shorter than the length of ribbon at 4 inches.

2. Using glue gun affix the wire to the middle of the felt circle. Glue ribbon on top, covering the wire.

3. Fold the felt circle in half, using the wire as a guide, so ribbon is inside cookie. Next, angle the sides toward each other, bending the wire at its halfway point and forming a fortune-cookie shape, as shown.

4. Assemble all the fortune cookies. Then, carefully peel back one flap of the felt cookie, and insert a paper fortune and a chocolate kiss. Fold the flap back over to close cookie around contents.

Now it is time to visit the rest of the talented Designers that are participating in this FELT addition of CRAFT LIGHTNING!  Just click the icon below and get ready for all of the wonderful 15 minute felt inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by!  

Creatively, Beth

DIY Ruler Sign Welcome Back to School

Happy Wednesday!  Today I am participating in a craft challenge called Craft Lightning, where all of the projects have to be created within a 15 minute time frame and this month's theme is Back to School.  I love being challenged to be creative within specific parameters.  It ups the inspiration quotient and sets my mind to brainstorming the possibilities!  Our hosts for the Back to School Craft Lightning are Angie from Country Chic Cottage, Carolina from 30 Minute Crafts and Kara from Happy Go Lucky Blog  and great group of designers are sharing new projects each day this week!

Here's how I made my fun and colorful DIY Ruler Sign:

STEP ONE:

Gather nine wooden rulers and your favorite rainbow colored Tombow Dual Brush Pens.

STEP TWO:
Color each wooden ruler a different color.  This is quick and easy with the Tombow Dual Brush Pens AND there is NO drying time.  Perfect for the impatient crafter, like me!  I really love the transparent stained effect that these pens give the unfinished wood.

STEP THREE:
Attach the rulers to a Kunin^® Classicfelt™ 9” x 12” Craft Cut in Sandstone with Tombow MONO Multi XL Liquid Glue.  The MONO Multi has a quick set up time and works on a variety of surfaces.

STEP FOUR:
Spell out your greeting using JOY self adhesive embroidered letters.  I selected WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL using the 3" Varsity Block and the 1 1/2" Cooper Style letters.  Then just peel off the backing paper and attach!  

STEP FIVE:
Attach white ball fringe to the bottom edge of the sign and a black ribbon hanger to the top with Tombow MONO Multi XL Liquid Glue. Embellish with bows.

STEP SIX:
Cut pencils and attach to right and left side of sign to finish.  

Personalize your DIY Ruler Sign with your school's colors or your teacher's name to create a unique gift for Back to School.

Now it's time to click on the link below and check out all of the creative and inspirational projects that this group of fabulous designers has created for the Craft Lightning Back to School challenge!

Thanks for stopping by!

Creatively, Beth

I have been compensated by the companies linked in this post, but all of the ideas and opinions are my own.

Upcycled Patriotic Blue Jean Banner

Happy Thursday and welcome to the patriotic edition of CRAFT LIGHTNING!  Today I am sharing my 15 minute Upcycled Patriotic Blue Jean Banner, perfect for the upcoming Fourth of July celebrations!  

Hosting this week of quick and easy crafts are three of the most creative women I know - Angie from Country Chic Cottage, Carolina from 30 Minute Crafts and Laura from Me and my INKlings! PLUS there are a couple of dozen other designers linked up and sharing in the FUN!  Inspiration for DAYS!

Now, on to my project:  Upcycled Pariotic Blue Jean Banner

STEP ONE - Create a Template

I am always saving ordinary, everyday objects and upcycling them into craft projects and home decor items, so this project started out with the cardboard backing from a junior legal pad, which is 5" by 7".  Measure up 2" from the bottom and 2 1/2" in from the side to determine the center.  Draw a straight line with your ruler from that center point out to each corner.  Cut out with scissors to create a quick banner template that you can use over and over again!

STEP TWO - Create your Banner

Measure and cut an 8" length from an old pair of blue jeans.  Open the fabric flat by cutting up the seam.  Now, my jeans are boot cut, so they were wide enough that I could get three banners from one 8" section, but cut your old jeans up as needed.  Trace three banners on the inside of the jeans with a permanent marker.  My favorite is the Tombow USA MONOTWIN Permanent Marker because it has a broad tip for projects like this and a fine tip for drawing and doodling.  Plus there is no funky odor! Cut out the banners with scissors. 

STEP THREE - Remove Wrinkles

I like upcycled projects, but they should not be wrinkled, so smooth the blue jean banners with some spray starch and an iron.

STEP FOUR - Add Letters

JOY SA is a great source for embroidered letters, numbers and symbols that can be found at Michael's and Joann.  I selected the self adhesive red and white Collegiate 3" letters for this project. Since they are self adhesive, all you have to do is peel and stick, no ironing!

STEP FIVE - Add Trim

Measure and cut three 5" sections of white ball fringe to top each banner.  Attach with Tombow USA MONO Multi Liquid Glue, making sure to run a small bead down each cut edge, so the trim does not fray.  Then attach a 35" piece of white ribbon to the back, leaving 2" between banners and 8" on either end.  I like to use a woven type of ribbon for this such a gross grain or cotton twill tape for durability.

STEP SIX - Embellish

The final step is to add some festive ribbons between the banners.  I used what I already had in my ribbon stash, cutting 8" lengths and tying them in a knot between each banner and on each end. You could also add textured yarn, tulle and metallic fibers for some bling!

Here is a close-up shot of each banner, click to enlarge.

 

Now it's time to dash around and see the patriotic crafty, food and lifestyle projects that all of the other designers have shared this week!  Simply click on the CRAFT LIGHTNING icon below to be INSPIRED!

Thanks for stopping by!

Creatively, Beth

How To Upcycle Mother's Day Gift Wrapping

Happy Sunday everyone!  Excited to be here today to share how to upcycle Mother's Day gift wrapping for the Craft Lightning Mother's Day Blog Hop!

I recently received and was blown away by the detail in the Beautiful Day stamp set from Altenew and just knew I wanted to do a Tombow Dual Brush Pen watercolor technique.  This post is sponsored, but all of the opinions are mine. 

On to my project!

I am always looking for inspiring ways to wrap a gift as I think the packaging should be as special as the gift inside.  I have several "Moms" in my life - my Mom, my Sister-in-Laws and a few close Mom friends and thought that these sewn book page "pillows" would be the perfect way to wrap a special gift card for Mother's Day!

Altenew features high quality photopolymer stamps that produce a crisp and clean image, even on the thinnest of detailed lines within the image.  I started out by stamping each image four times on smooth white card stock with black archival ink.

I always start my coloring projects with a color chart.  This way I can make sure that I like all of my color combinations before I start coloring my images.  I have included my color chart in the photo above.  Then I begin coloring with the lightest colors first.  Tombow Dual Brush Pens # 761 and 993.

Next I accented with Tombow Dual Brush Pen # 703.

I finished the main Peony flower with the darkest pink Tombow Dual Brush Pen # 815. 



The leaves and greenery were colored with Tombow Dual Brush Pens # 192 and 312.

And the berries with Tombow Dual Brush Pens # 553 and 533.

The next step is creating the watercolor effect, which is super easy since Tombow Dual Brush Pens are water based markers - you just add WATER!  Check out my Instagram video HERE to see the water color process!

Select your book pages.  Mine are vintage, so they are a bit heavier and approximately 8" by 10".  I gave the edges a fancy touch with my scallop pinking shears.  Place two book pages together and sew three edges.  Gently open and fill your "pillow" with your gift of choice.  I have included a gift card, some tissue paper and confetti.  Then sew the fourth side, closing the pillow.

Fussy cut your stamped and colored images, then arrange them on the top of the pillow with a lovely Altenew Antique Trim frame.  Attach with Tombow Xtreme Adhesive.  Wrap with stain ribbon and finish by tying on a tag created with one of the sentiments from the Beautiful Day stamp set - "Wish You the Most Beautiful Day".

I think that this makes such an elegant presentation for a simple item like a gift card.  This packing would be perfect for a Graduation present, Bridal Shower or even a Wedding Gift.  

I LOVE that the possibilities are endless!

Now, it's time to HOP around to the other designers that have contributed to the Craft Lightning Mother's Day Blog Hop!  Just click the link below - I can't wait to see what everyone has created!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth