Handmade Valentines- part 2

I'm part of a card club and we made these last week. I love the flower pops. I'm making them with my daughters class this week. I got some valentines pencils to use in place of the sucker sticks.

Thanks Stamp Princess for the fun night.

Tag Wallet Tutorial

Thanks to everyone who voted for me over at SYTYC. I am still in shock that I won. Head over and vote on this weeks crafts.

What you need:

-4 pieces of 8-1/2 x 11 handmade paper

(the handmade paper looks like paper fiber pressed together, it's stronger and has more flexibility than card stock).

-lots of clothing tags in preferred colors ( I used about 40, but it will vary depending on their size)

- colored ribbon- optional (I didn't have enough tags and wanted to add more green so I used three strips of green ribbon)

-fray check

-a glue stick

-thread (I used 4 different shades)

-a piece of poster board

- a Dritz snap and pliers

- one button

Step 1: cutting the main parts

I cut three pieces of paper into the wallet shape. I used a black sheet for the outside (it was covered with the tags) and a green sheet for the inside. I used an extra blue sheet for the middle to add support.

Using my paper cutter I cut the black and green sheets down to a 7 -1/2" x 10" and the blue sheet to 7- 1/4" x 9- 3/4". You want the blue sheet to be a little smaller so it doesn't stick out of the sides during construction.

Next I made the curve at the top. With the green paper on it's back side I made two marks. First I marked the middle of the paper and then 2-3/4 " down the side. I then drew a curve between the two marks.

I cut the curve out. So that at this point only half of the top has a curved edge. Then I traced the curve onto the black paper and cut it out. Then I flipped the green paper over and traced the curve onto the other half of the black paper. After cutting out the curve on the black paper I traced the other half back onto the green paper. Now both pieces have a curved top. Since the blue peice won't be seen I cut it's curve by holding it up to the others.

Step 2: Constructing the front

I took my sheet of black paper and layed out all the tags in a random order, so that the entire surface was covered with tags. It's like a puzzle and will take some time to find the perfect fit for all the tags. I used fray check on the tags I trimmed and cut to fit.

Once I had them laid out I used a glue stick to hold them in place while I sewed around all the edges.

I sewed all the tag edges down by hand. You could use a sewing machine but I liked the look of big messy stitches. I used a few different types of stitches and four different colors of thread. This is the most time consuming part of the project. I stitched while watching TV, so it wasn't bad. I didn't stitch around the outside, I stitched it later when I sewed all three layers together.

Step 3: Constructing the Inside

First I cut five squares of paper each 3" x 3-1/4". I used three different papers. The lighter green and black were cut from the scraps. I sewed a seam 1/4 " down on four of the five squares. This keeps the paper from ripping when pulling cards in and out of the pockets.

Next I sewed the pockets onto the main green piece one at a time. Starting with the square with no seam at the top. I placed the square so that the left side of the pocket was 4 " from the bottom of the wallet and the top of the square lined up with the side of the wallet. Once it was lined up I sewed a seam at the bottom of the square to hold it in place. ( this square isn't an operating pocket it's just put here to add consistency and strength. The top of it will be sewn closed when I sew around the edges.

Then I took the next pocket square and lined it up with the first. I placed this one 3/4" down from the top of the first square and sewed it into place by sewing a seam at the bottom. This seam keeps your cards from falling down into the wallet and keeps the pocket in place with out sewing it closed.

For the next two pockets I lined them up same way but placed them 1-1/8 " down from the top of the previous pocket.

I didn't sew the bottom of the last pocket, as it was sewn at the end when I sewed around the entire wallet.

Now I sewed a 1/4 " seam down both sides of the pockets.

If you aren't comfortable just holding the bottom pocket in place you can use a little glue. Remember to glue it at the bottom, you don't want to glue it closed.

The last part of the inside is a pocket for cash or your check book. I cut a 3 " x 7-1/2" strip of paper and sewed a 1/4 " seam down the top. I also sewed one more tag onto the pocket for a little whimsy. I didn't sew this pocket on at this point, but saved it for the end after I added the snap and sewed around the edges.

Step 4: Constructing the Middle

First I cut three strips of poster board two of them are 3" x 7-1/2" and the other is 2-1/2" x 7-1/2".

I glued these onto the blue paper. The first of the larger pieces was glued at the bottom and the second 4" from the bottom. The last piece was glued to the top and then trimmed to match the curve.

Step 5: Add the snaps.

First I lined up the three parts the front, middle and inside of the wallet

Next I marked where I would put the female snap. I made my mark on the inside, in the middle and up 1-3/4 "

Then going through all three layers I attached the female snap using the Dritz instructions. The inside will be covered by the larger pocket.

Now I added the male snap to the top curve. I placed it in between the top layer and middle layer. So it only goes trough the middle and inside layers. I found the middle and measured down 3/4" and attached it using the dritz instructions.

Step 6: sew on the button

I sewed a button onto the front directly over the snap to cover the bump created by the snap.

Step 7: Sew around the edges.

I sewed around the edges with a 1/4" seam. I started at the bottom and held the larger pocket in place as I sewed.

Step 8: Fold it into thirds and snap it closed.

I hope you love your as much as I love mine.

Handmade Valentines

I have loved making handmade valentines over the years. Usually I just dump a bunch of crap on my table and go to town. You know, all my odds and ends embellishments, paper and material in the pink and red family.

This year I splurged on a stamp set and these treat cups. I thought I would test them out and see how to use them. I bought enough treat cups to make valentines for both my kids classes. I haven't decided how I 'm going to make them, I need something a little less time consuming, but I like the look.

This is my attempt to make them a little more boyish. I don't know if my son will go for it.

If your interested in getting some of your own there might still be time, check with the Stamp Princess Here.

Here is a list of parties I link to.

IF ONLY....

I had more time and wasn't afraid of V-day overload I would make these projects. {Maybe next year}

I ♥ these pouches. The top is from Pottery Barn and the bottom The Pokadot Chair .

This felt bracelet from Treasures for Tots looks so easy and my girls would love them.

How cute is this fluffy heart pillow from my favorite reader Cha Cha. Here is how she made it.

I'm dying to make these {I HEART U} boards at CREATIVE CRATE

A LOVEly ruffly Scarf

I found this lightweight almost cheesecloth like fabric at Walmart on clearance for $1.50 a yard. I wasn't looking for fabric. I was just walking by and it caught my eye because of the Valentine's colors and feel it had. When I saw the price I decided to get some.

I used a yard on this scarf and I've got some more for another project.

First thing I did was cut six, 6 inch strips. I sewed them into two long pieces, each 6 inches wide, by sewing three of the strips together. Then I serged up the sides, wrong sides out, gathering as I went.

If you don't have a serger Some machines have a gathering option. Or you can do it by hand.

Once both sides were sewn and gathered I turned it right side out and did a topstitch down both sides. I stole my little sister's special foot to do this It made it very easy.

That's it.

I'll be wearing this when I play Room Mom at my daughters Valentines class party. Not bad for a $1.50.

Valentines Attire

I've had yards of this red and pink plaid material for years. I think I bought it when I was pregnant with my first girl. I've used it for various projects over the years like these the Halloween Costumes HERE. I thought I would finally use it all up on matching outfits for these three ladies. I know I'm lame but I love matching outfits.

I love the yo-yo button shirts. They remind me of wrapped chocolates in paper cups.

I love how quick and easy the skirt was to make. A good project for a wanna-be sewer like me.

Skirt How To:

These are the measurements I used for my middle girl. She's 2 1/2. You can make the pieces shorter or longer for your size.

First I cut three strips of fabric.

1. 10 in x 44 in. (or 12 x 22 if folded in half)

2. 4 in x 10 in.

3. 4 in x 13 in

(Basically the width of the skirt need to be twice the length of the waistband to have a full gather.)

Next I cut a piece of elastic to 10 in long. (she is just under 20 in around)

I sewed the elastic to the 4 x 13 strip of fabric. I did this by first sewing the sides together.

Then I serged across the top. I'm pretty sure you could use a zig zag

Next I sewed the right sides of the two 4 in strips together.

I folded over the waistband an inch and pinned it (the elastic was hidden inside). Pulling on the elastic , I sewed a 1 in. hem around the top of the waistband.

Now that the waistband is complete the skirt is easy. I sewed the two ends of the 10 x 44 piece together. Hemmed one side and gathered the other. I gathered mine using my serger, but there are lots of great tutorials out there of how to do it with a sewing machine.

I pinned the right sides of the gathered top of the skirt and the bottom of the waistband together. I sewed a 1/4 in. seam around and finished it off with my serger (a zig-zag stitch can works fine too).

That's it.

I made the shirts by sewing yo-yo's and buttons to clearance t-shirts. HERE is a great tutorial for yo-yo's.

This little one slobbers and spits too much. So, she got a yo-yo on her head instead of her shirt.

Let me know what I left out.

HERE is a list of the parties I link to.