Pumpkin Pillow Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Barb Stock.   Barb is the winner of the Pumpkin Pillow from Colleen Bass of Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries.

The winner was picked using the true random number generator on Random.org. We want to thank ALL of you who took the time to enter and for all the wonderful comments.

Would you like to be a sponsor for one of the giveaways on our blog? It is a great way to get your craft business noticed. For information email us at byyourhandsblog@gmail.com

Today's Featured Artist -- Americana Art By Ellis

Today's featured shop is Americana Art By Ellis.   Rustic Americana art photography, rustic style, barns, old trucks, vintage cars, nature and landscape photography, woodland photography, abandoned buildings photos. Custom orders welcome!


Abandoned House photograph Old Gray Vintage Miniature Tilt Shift

Halloween Photograph Spooky House 

Photograph Nine Black Horses Sepia Clermont County Ohio

Old Red Chevy Photograph

Be sure and visit Jerry and Melissa's shop to see all their art photography.  https://www.etsy.com/shop/AmericanaArtByEllis

Witches Stitches - Primitive Paper Tags

When I do altered books, bottles or cans I love to add a few different size tags to them. I even add them to dolls and just about any item that may need just a little something more.
You can make your own tags fast and easy. I make a bunch at a time then I add embellishments as I need them.  The tags I use are called shipping tags and you can get a whole pack of them at Staples or Office Depot for just a few dollars. Make sure you ask for shipping tags and not just large tags. If you ask for just tags, they will show you price tags. You know how I know…yes, I did it and after 10 min and frustration on both our sides the gentleman showed me where the shipping labels were. They come in different sizes, jut choose what fits your needs. I like my tags grungy looking and here is how I do it.

Step 1 – You will need an old cookie sheet.  Place some parchment paper on the cookie sheet. Cut or fold the paper so it fits the sheet. Set aside.  Turn your oven on and set it at 200 degrees.  When you are cooking your tags DO NOT LEAVE THE KITCHEN. REMEMBER THIS IS PAPER IN YOUR OVEN. It is safe at 200 degrees for 10 min, but I would hate for you to walk away from them and leave them in for too long.

 

Step 2 – To get an old paper look you need to darken your tag. I use Walnut Ink Crystals. You can buy this online, etsy or ebay. A little of this goes a long way. Put a cup of hot water into a paper cup. Now add a few sprinkles of Walnut Ink Crystals. Mix it up so all the crystals are dissolved. Now take a paint brush and brush the solution on the tag covering both sides. Place the tag on the cookie sheet and place in the oven for 10 min turning the tag over half way through.  It will curl up a bit don’t worry you can flatten it back out. When you take it out it should be dry. If you like the way it looks and how dark it is do an entire sheet full. If you want them darker add some more crystals to your water, if you want them lighter add more water to the mixture you already have and do another test tag. Once you have it just the way you want do an entire sheet of them at one time.  The picture below is a before and after shot.

Step 3 – After you are done with step 2 you are ready to embellish your tags any way you want. For me it all depends what I want to use them for. Some I will put some dried sweet annie on and a bit of fabric. Others I will just stamp with a date. Others I will add a printed picture, the list goes on and on.

Step 4 – Some tips – For your gluing needs use Tacky Glue in the gold bottle. It dries clear and holds well. If you are gluing fabric to the tag make sure you use just a touch of glue if the fabric has an open weave, or the glue will ooze through the fabric.  

You can age your tags even more by running the sides along an ink pad, the kind you use for stamping. Do this on all 4 sides and then over the edge just a touch. You can also put a bit of ink on the tag by touching it to the pad very lightly. If you are stamping your tag do it before you add the extra ageing.

If you are adding a printed picture you may want to tear around the edges and then run a little walnut ink over it. The torn edges will be darker than the rest and look aged.

These are just a few suggestions, let you creative mind run wild. These tags also make great book marks with some pretty robin tied onto them. You can make them as a gift with a personal message on them for the avid reader in your life.  They also look great tucked in the bottom corner of a favorite picture or painting or on a prim magnet board. Make some or the holidays and tuck them into a bowl of greenery or tie one on the stem of an autumn pumpkin. They make great place cards that people can take home with them. Take a ribbon and attach them to make a message or picture garland. The more I type the more I can think of things to use them for.  

Here are 3 tags I made in just a few minutes and where I used one of them.

Thanks for reading and as always if you have any questions please give me a shout. Enjoy, Faith.

 

Handmade Spotlight - Only Time Will Tell

Only Time Will Tell

Curated By: DesignsForAnA...

ArtFire.com

Fine Art Photography

NEEDLES-N-PINS STITCHERIES: TUTORIAL MINI QUILT POT HOLDERS-PART II

In my last posting I showed you how to make the top of the pot holders, so this time I will show you how to finish it. :)   I am sure there are several different way to do this, but this is just the way I do it. :)

 

Now that you have your pot holder front done you need to layer it and put it together. 

 

 

You will need to either make a binding or you can use bias tape. I always make my binding which I make like bias tape. I cut a 2 inch strip by width of fabric that is matching the potholder backing. Be sure you cut enough fabric to give you an appx 4 inch tail to make the hanging hoop later.

 

I cut the backing fabric about an inch larger than the pot holder front so there is enough fabric if the pot holder moves while sewing....just like when you quilt.

 

You will need to have one layer of Insulbright (which is for the heat resistant) and I add a layer of natural cotton batting. Cut these also an inch larger than the pot holder.

 

This is the type of batting I use, but you can use any brand you want.

 

Next you will need to put the layers together. The Insulbright goes down on top of the backing fabric so it will be closest to the heat source.

 

 

 

Now we need to sew the border/bias tape to the pot holder and batting. I sew about a 1/4 inch in which is the shorter end of the binding. If you want to at this time you can do whatever quilt stitching you would like before you sew the binding. I just do a stitch in the ditch around the center.

 

 

 

After you sew the binding on you will need to cut the excess batting off.

 

Now you will need to turn the binding to the back and make a hem out of it. Pin it all around the pot holder as you will do a decorative stitch on the front of the pot holder.

 

 

Sew a decorative stitch around the pot holder. I use a zig-zag stitch. Be sure to sew the 4 inch tail closed also as this will be the tab for hanging the pot holder.

 

Now you need to make the tab to hang the pot holder. You can either do it by machine stitch or you can do it by hand. I do it by hand as I like it better that way.

 

 

Now you are done! Your pot holder is ready for hanging in your kitchen.

 

 

You can make all kinds of different design and patterns! I know I do. :)

 

 

 

 

Thanks for joining me in my tutorial. Have fun creating! :)

 

 

Colleen :)

 

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