WOW!  Aren’t these luminaries beautiful?  They are made with water balloons as the form!  Follow the tutorial on Candletech.com and make a few for yourself or for an extra special gift.

Evie S. has a super simple tutorial on how to make these fab paper-clip earrings!  Any girl would love to find these in her Christmas stocking!

33 Shades of Green has designed a wine bottle sleeve that you have to see!  Wouldn’t you love to give this to your favorite holiday party hostess?

f you need more inspiration take a look at my handmade gift guide below….

All you need is

one piece of oil cloth 5″ x 8″ (outside)

a coordinating 5″ x 8″ piece (lining)

2 pieces 2 1/2″ X 5″ for inside pockets for the notebook cover to slip in

one 1 1/2″ X 3″ piece for the pencil pocket on the front

Sew pocket on front. Place it just shy of 3/4″ up from the bottom edge and over just over an 1 1/2″ from the side edge. Just eyeball where it works for you.

Sandwich outside piece right side face down, then lining face up, and pocket pieces on each end. Fasten with mini clothespins.

Sew all the way around the edge, removing clips as you sew along.  I sew on the top side.

The inside looks like this.

Get a mini composition notebook (found at Wal-Mart) and a mini pencil. I found my pencils at the dollar store. A golf pencil would work also.

Slip notebook into cover.

There you have one cute little cover!

So easy to whip up a bunch in no time!

Oven Mitt Tutorial

Supplies for making your own oven mitt

cotton batting

1/4 yard cotton fabric

1/4 yard coordinating cotton fabric

Insul-Bright Insulated batting

Directions for making a quilted oven mitt

Cut 2 each 9″ X 15″ rectangles of the cotton fabrics, cotton batting, and Insul-brite

Sandwich cotton fabric (lining) right side facing down, Insul-Brite, cotton batting, cotton fabric (0utside) right side facing up.

Sew together in stitching pattern of your choice. I made diagonal lines about an inch apart.

Repeat for other set of rectangles.

Oven Mitt Pattern Download – top

Oven Mitt Pattern Download – bottom

Download oven mitt pattern top and bottom.   Print patterns and tape pieces together.

Stack the two quilted pieces on top of each other, right sides together.

Place pattern on top and draw around the pattern.  This is the stitching line.

Stitch. I reinforce the thumb area so I can trim and make a slit right up to the stitching line.

Cut. Clip curves where necessary.

Turn right side out.

Cut a contrasting piece of fabric 7″ X 15″ for the band. Iron piece in half lengthwise, then open and bring edges to the center and press again.

Line edge of binding up with bottom edge of the oven mitt, right sides together. Turn edge up and being sewing in the first ironed crease.

Stitch all the way around, folding end over when finished.

Fold binding down.

Fold in the other half of the binding. Stitch all the way around in the ditch between the two fabrics, making sure to catch the binding on the inside.

Stitch along the place where the binding overlaps with one straight stitch, or whip stitch it closed by hand.

Finished!

The oilcloth receipt wallet went together quickly and I was able to use up some scraps.

Supplies:

2 pieces cut 7 1/4″ by 6 1/2″

2 pieces cut 2 1/2″ by 6 1/2″

about 14 inches skinny double fold bias tape

miniature clothes pins

Fray Check

Elmer’s Spray Adhesive (optional)

Teflon presser foot or masking tape to cover bottom of presser foot to keep oilcloth from sticking to presser foot (if necessary)

Instructions:

Slip bias tape around the 6 1/2 inch side of the 2″ wide piece and stitch. It can hang off the edge, it will be trimmed when finished.

Place the two large pieces wrong sides together. I sprayed just a touch of Elmer’s Spray Adhesive in the center to keep the pieces from slipping. Try to keep adhesive away from area that will be sewn. Place pocket pieces on each edge. Use miniature clothes pins to keep in place. Sew close to the edge all the way around the wallet, reinforcing when sewing over bias tape. Trim bias tape and place a few drops of fray check on ends. (I was going to just wrap the end of the bias tape to the inside before stitching, however it made it bulky.)

Ta Dah!

Note: I get my oilcloth from Oilcloth Addict! Be sure to check out her personal blog, ModernJune, for some fabulous oilcloth tutorials and great tips for sewing with oilcloth.

It would be easy to make a lot of these gifts assembly style.

I used  small 6″X 9″ clipboards  found  at OfficeMax ($1.69). The notepads are 5″ X 8″ 50 sheet Jr. size writing pads, found at Wal-mart (6 notepads were only $2.50).

I tried these two ways:

Using Elmer’s Spray Adhesive and Krylon Matt Finish

and using Mod Podge Paper Matte

First cut decorative paper to fit the clipboard.  For my clipboards 6″ X 9″ worked perfectly.  I took the extra time to make a template that fit around the top of the clip (a little bit of a pain).  I have also seen where there is just a rectangle shape cut to fit around the clip. My paper looked like this.

Paint the back of the paper with Mod Podge Paper (Matte) or spray with the Elmer’s Spray Adhesive. If you are using spray adhesive also spray the clipboard. Cover the the clip with masking tape to keep it clean. Pay special attention to make sure which ever method used that the edges of the paper are completely covered. Working quickly, place the paper onto the clipboard. This is a bit tricky. It is okay to lift up and reposition until it matches all of the edges properly. Be careful not to stretch the paper. Smooth paper and make sure the entire piece of paper is secured.  When I had a spot along the edge that wasn’t adhered, I lifted it slightly and added more glue.  Allow to dry at least 15 minutes before putting on top coat. Round off corners with scissors.

Give the top of the paper a light coat of Mod Podge Paper in matte  or two coats of spray matte finish.  I have to say I like the paper feel and look so I prefer the Krylon spray matte finish.

Not matter which technique you use you must let each layer of glue dry. The Modge Podge will be a more durable surface.

Glue a matching piece of decorative paper to the top of the notepad. Any glue will do.

To give the clipboard an extra nice touch I added a metal label holder. I taped them on with a piece of clear tape exactly where I wanted them and then my husband drilled holes in the metal clip so they could be attached with the brads included in the package.

I painted the metal holders and brads with gloss paint.  Open the clip as far as you can so you can attach the metal label holder and spread the brads apart on the back side of the clip.

Finished! I think I will put the recipient’s name in the label holders.

They can be made totally reversible. They have a handy spot on the cover for a pen or pencil and an elastic closure.

I think these would make great little gifts when you just need a little something.  They are quick and easy!  If you would like a pattern for these I have a PDF you may download for $1.99.

It is an immediate download so you can have your pattern and be sewing right away! Yes, you could figure out how to make these, but if you don’t want to waste the time figuring out all of the measurements simply download three pages of detailed instructions. If you are interested visit the shop!

*3/8 yard each  of two different fabrics will make four covers

*You can find steno pads at Wal-Mart for just under a $1.00

You might also be interested in this tutorial for a colored pencil and drawing pad holder, or instructions for making a crayon roll.

Cut two – 3 1/2 X 5″ piece of fabric,  two  3 1/2″ X 5″ pieces of heavy weight iron on interfacing, one piece of vinyl slightly larger than finished tag and one  2″ X 12 piece of fabric for strap.

Put together the same way as this luggage tag. Take the piece of vinyl and sew to the front of luggage tag. Cut vinyl slightly larger than finished luggage tag. Place vinyl 1/2″ down from edge with strap.  Use miniature clothes pins to keep vinyl in place. Top stitch all the way around the edge, making sure to close the opening for turning. Top stitch again the size of your business card. Trim vinyl close to outside top stitching.

Handmade Custom Fabric Luggage Tag Tutorial

To print name and address on fabric, cut white muslin and freezer paper 8 1/2″ X 11″. Iron shiny side of freezer paper to back of fabric. Send paper through an ink jet printer. You can also buy fabric especially made to go through the printer. I also talk about this technique here. Press printing when finished to help set ink. You could even scan in a business card and print that onto the fabric.

Cut one  3 1/2″ X 5″  piece  of printed fabric with name and address, 1 – 3 1/2 X 5″ piece of fabric,  two  3 1/2″ X 5″ pieces of heavy weight iron on interfacing and one  2″ X 12 piece of fabric for strap.

Following manufacture’s instructions iron interfacing to wrong side of both 3 1/2″ X 5″ pieces of fabric.

Press strap piece in half lengthwise, open up, press each side to the middle then fold in half. Edge stitch down each side. For an illustrated example see tote bag instructions.

Pin fabric pieces right sides together. Fold strap in half and place inside the fabric with cut edges sticking out 1/2″. (Make sure not to accidentally stitch into strap as you sew around the edge.)

Using 1/4″ seam, stitch all the way around the outside edge, leaving an opening for turning.

Clip corners.

Turn, press, and edge stitch along the outside edge making sure to close the opening. Stitch another row of stitching if desired.

Here is a tutorial for a

fabric luggage tag for a business card.

Fabric Decorated office supplies (fun with pretty paper also)

Covered Thumbtacks

Decoupaged journal

Decorated notebook with a place for pens

Photo pencils (another great way to use kid photos for relatives)

Paper covered pencils (to download click on the pattern you like)

Magnets

Embellished paperclips

Decorated file folders and notepads

Altered Clipboards (notice the links she recommends)

Supplies:

1 1/2″ wood ball knobs
acrylic paint
acrylic primmer
acrylic polyurethane
bottle corks
gorilla glue or hot glue

Lightly sand wooden ball and then wipe with a damp cloth. Once ball is dry ( a minute) prime the ball with acrylic primer.  When the primer is completely dry  give your ball a base coat of color and then begin painting your design.  I stick a wooden dowel or the end of a paint brush in the hole of the ball so I have something to hold onto while I paint. The wooden dowel can be stuck into a piece of styrofoam so the ball can dry. Once your painted design is finished and dry, give your ball two or more coats of polyurethane. Allow polyurethane to completey dry between each coat.

I have tried many brands of acrylic polyurethane and I am partial to this one.

Glue the ball to a cork.  Be careful if you use Gorilla glue, it can be messy but it is strong!