Ampersand Wall Art

It's been so long since I posted crafty things! The holidays killed my creative energy, but recently I've been feeling inspired and excited to start making things again. This is one of the easiest projects I've ever put together. It cost me nothing being that I had all the supplies in my apartment and took me about an hour one morning. Here we go!

Create a stencil with some regular printer paper. I traced the embroidery hoop I'd be using to make sure the size was right. 

Cut out your stencil and pin to felt.

Cut your felt and place on whatever fabric you'll be using for the hoop.

To attach the felt ampersand to the background, I used a basic stitch. You could also try using a blanket stitch or some other crazy stitch, but I wanted mine to be very simple.

Sew all the way around and that's it! Easiest project ever, right?

First Craft Show Thoughts

Saturday I hosted my first table (selling handmade items, I've done them before with cupcakes) at a craft show. After a few days, I feel like I've had time to think about the experience and changes that I hope to make for the next one at the end of the month.

I'd like to apologize for these less-than-great iPhone photos. I didn't bring my camera.

First, I was happy with how everything turned out. I think I want to add a new item or two, but I was happy that my table looked how I imagined it in my head. I might add something else for a little more height, but all in all, I liked it and it didn't take too long.

Second, I loved the energy. I've always enjoyed making things and showing them off, but felt a little like I was creating things in a vacuum. Seeing people commenting on the things I make, touching them, talking about them, appreciating them, buying them, was a great feeling. The last week I was beginning to think I took too much on, but after the day was over, I was ultimately I did it.

Third, I couldn't predict what would sell and what wouldn't. Going in, I was pretty sure wreaths and wine glasses would sell better than my other items. People would be looking for Christmas presents and wreaths, but I was very wrong. I sold no wine glasses and only one wreath, so hopefully that will change for the next show, which is more Christmas-centered.

All in all, it only cost me $30 for the table and I made that back plus some. I had high expectations going into it, and knew I would be my hardest critic to please (as always). I learned a lot and have a good amount to think about. I need to come up with a way to make the wine glasses a bit cuter with packaging, maybe add a new item, etc. 

But I still love handmade items and think others do as well. I'm really happy I've been continuing to do this.

Best of October

Life has been chugging along. October has been filled with ups and downs. Creatively it's been good. I've signed up for two craft shows, been buzzing with creative energy, and updated my Etsy shop to include some of my handmade items. Mentally, I've been bouncing around a lot, trying to figure out what I want out of life and how I can get there. Like I said, ups and downs.

Here are some of my favorite posts from October!

Finally got around to posting one of my favorite projects T & I have completed. Check out the before and after of our kitties' litter box.

A couple lovely DIY projects that I'm pretty much in love with. Making time for getting these projects done with ample light is looking to be the problem of the colder months, we will see.

Chocolate Mint Cupcakes and Snickerdoodles this month in the recipe department. Both are completely delicious (I might have eatten almost that whole batch of snickerdoodles!)

Shop is open and full of handmade wreaths, chalkboard wine glasses, and some washi tape! Pretty excited about this.

Felt Garland

With Halloween this Wednesday, I knew I wanted to make a little garland to decorate our stairs. With our small apartment, I don't have room to keep a ton of holiday decorations, but I did buy some little pumpkins to sit around. I already have it in my head that I will make a Christmas one, and wanted to give felt garland a try for a banner I was hoping to add to my craft show tables.

I don't have walk through for this because it's that easy. Get some cheap felt at the craft store in the colors you want, cut out a bunch of circles. I liked to cut strips, then cut the strips to squares, and from the squares cut circles. I also made them different shaped circles and ovals.

Decide on a pattern. I did orange, white, yellow. Then put them through the sewing machine one at a time, overlapping them as you sew. That's it!

Happy pre-Halloween!

Create a Yarn and Felt Wreath

It's fall! And I'm adding little bits and pieces to make our apartment feel like fall as much inside as it does outside. I bought some pumpkins and a few Halloween decorations to spice our apartment us a bit. One of the things I wanted to put together was a wreath for our front door. Pretty easy, here's how it went... 

Start with yarn and a styrofoam wreath form. Tied the yarn around the wreath and then start wrapping. 

Keep it rather taught and just sit back and keep wrapping. I suggest putting on a marathon of a crime shows or Harry Potter. When you've made it all the way around, tied the end to the beginning end. Set aside.

To make the felt flowers, use different size glasses and bowls to trace circles.

For the medium sized ones, I used a small dessert cup. Trace the circle and cut it out.

Cut the circle into a spiral, doesn't have to be perfect. I actually like them better when it's not perfect. Starting from the outside roll the spiral up like a cinnamon bun. Once it's all the way up, use hot glue to hold together the outside most layer and center. 

Make a whole bunch of little flowers! To make the leaves, just create leave-shaped pieces from felt and glue on of the points to curve the leaves.

Arrange the flowers on the wreath, secure with hot glue. I messed around with the placement a bit before gluing and just went for it. 

There she is! What kind of fall decor have you been making? Anything fun?