Category: Free Projects

1. Hanging Rose Decoration - March Free Project

   Posted on 12:44pm Monday 3rd Mar 2014

   Hi everyone, this month we have a great Mother's Day inspired project, a hanging rose decoration.

   You will need: 2 sheets pale pink felt, 2 sheets hot pink felt, 1 sheet green felt, hot glue gun, hoop, buttons / beads / stick on gems /sequins for centres etc wire, bakers twine or embroidery floss for hanging.

   

   Step 1: Draw a spiral on a piece of paper and use it as a template for the felt, cut out your felt spirals, and freehand cut some green felt leaves.

   

   Step 2: Put a pin in the spiral (see picture) curl up the spiral to create your rose and glue in place. I made 4 different sizes of rose in the 2 different colours of felt.

   

   Step 3: Glue on leaves, add beads or sequins to embellish the roses.

   

   Step 4: Thread your roses onto your wire or bakers twine. I created 4 different strings for the hanging decoration.

   

   Step 5: Cover your hoop in felt, connect your strings of roses on, and create a wire hanging piece for the top!

   

   Carole ~x~

2. Felt Flower Free Mini Project

   Posted on 2:00pm Tuesday 18th Feb 2014

   Hi everyone, here is a really quick and easy project using our new felt die cut flowers that can be found here. You will need felt die cut flowers, fabric glue and beads!

   Step 1: Cut a small felt circle for your base.

   

   Step 2: Take one flower and fold it in half and glue, then fold again and glue. (see picture). Repeat step for each petal required.

   

   Step 3: Glue your petals onto your circle base, we used 6 around the outside and 2 in the middle.

   

   Step 4: Decorate with beads or trimmings!

   

   This flower only used 8 flower die cuts, alternatively you could use 1 flower for the base to make a larger flower and then 6 around the outside with 3 in the middle, which uses all 10 flowers in the pack you can purchase from us here.

   

3. February Free Project - Valentine's Hearts

   Posted on 7:43am Saturday 1st Feb 2014

   Hi everyone, this month's project is something quick and simple and Valentine's inspired, we will share with you quick and easy ways to decorate our red felt hearts, which are currently on offer this month, please click here.

   

   Heart top left - we used a broken zip to decorate this heart, in a style that is quite fashionable at the moment!

   Heart top middle - blanket stitched the edge and random buttons were sewn onto the front.

   Heart top right - bead details, we appliqued another heart on top and also added beads.

   Heart bottom left - we used ricrac this time for a simple but pretty effect.

   Heart bottom right - pearl drop beads on a string with mini satin rose embellishments!

    

    

4. Tinsel Wreath Free Mini Project at Diva Crafts

   Posted on 7:12am Tuesday 26th Nov 2013

   Hi everyone, here is a super quick, less than 10 minute fabulous mini project for you! It's how to make a tinsel wreath, this would be great to do with kids, or on your own to co-ordinate with youe Christmas decorations!

   You will need: Polystyrene wreath, 2 metres of chunky tinsel, 8 baubels, a hot glue gun, string or ribbon for a hanging loop.

   

   Step 1: Wrap the tinsel around the wreath, either glue it or pin it in place.

   

   Step 2: Carefully remove the ends of the baubels, and then use a pen/pencil to make holes into the wreath to help the baubels stay in. Fill the hole with a little glue, and stick the baubels on. Finally use string or ribbon to make a hanging loop! Super simple and mess free!

   

   

5. Father Christmas Cone Decoration - Project of the month

   Posted on 6:19am Saturday 2nd Nov 2013

   Hi everyone, we have an adorable project to share with you this month, it's a Father Christmas cone decoration!

   You will need: 1 cone (mine was 25cm tall) red felt 30cm x 30cm, a small amount of pink felt & black felt, some long white felt, one pom pom, gold thread and a hot glue gun & glue sticks!

   

   Step 1: Place the cone slightly lower from the top edge of the red felt, glue the edge and roll the felt around the cone, glue again and cut any excess felt away, but leaving a little excess felt at the top of the cone, and then pinch the felt and glue the pom pom on for his hat bobble.

   

   

   Step 2: Cut a small pink face, a beard and moustach, the size will depend on how big your cone is. I used the gold thread to make some 'backstitch' lines on his beard (see photo).

   

   

   Step 3: Glue the face and beard in place. I then cut a 2cm wide strip of white felt to go down the front of Father Christmas' suit, a 1.5cm strip of white felt to go around the top of his face for the hat brim, and a 2cm wide strip of white felt to go around the bottom of the cone, again glue in place. Once you have glued his hat brim, cut a small amount of white felt for his 'back' hair, making sure the felt is wide enough just to cover the side of his pink face.

   

   Step 4: Cut a 1cm strip of black felt for his belt and make a small white felt buckle, glue both pieces on. Now cut 2 arms, 2 black gloves and 2 white cuffs, again, depending on the size of your cone, make them slightly bent but not to long. Glue the glove to the bottom of the sleeve and the cuff on the top and attach with some glue to the body at the top of the sleeve and again at the cuff, so the hands are free (see picture).

   

   Step 5: I stuck in 2 black pins for the eyes, or alternatively you could use black beads. Your Father Christmas is finished! How cute is he?!

   

   

6. Fabric Christmas Tree - Free Project for October

   Posted on 7:11am Tuesday 1st Oct 2013

   Hi everyone, here is a really simple project for you, it's how to make a fabric christmas tree using a polystyrene cone (which can be found in store only, we do not post this item) 4 inch fabric squares and pins!

   Step 1: take your 4 inch square piece of fabric, fold it in half and then in half again, and pin it to the tree, you can make each layer a separate pattern, or mix them up all over the place for a different effect!

   

   Step 2: Once you have filled up your tree you could add a star or bow to the top, or make a bow by putting two squares wrong sides together, squeezing in the middle and pining it to the top! A nice simple and quick project.

   

7. September Project of the Month - Bag

   Posted on 7:04am Tuesday 3rd Sep 2013

   Hi everyone, we have a free project for you using our new fabric scraps pack, you can view the pack here.

   Step 1: I took a 100gm fabric scraps pack and I sorted the long pieces and cut them if needed to make them even and then arranged them into 'light & dark' tones and machined the strips together.   I made sure I always started from the same edge, and then when I had finished I trimmed the bottom of my fabric with a rotary cutter, to make it even, the overall size was 12 inch x 30 inch.    I folded the fabric in half and sewed the side seam, so now I have a tube of fabric.

   

   

   

   Step 2: I then cut out a circle of fabric approx 4inch across, I marked the quarters with pins, I also marked the bag into 4 sections.  Start by matching the pin quarters on the bag with the pins on the base, and pleating the fabric between the pins. take care with machining the fabric as ther are a lot of pins.

   

   The bottom of the bag will look like this:

   

   Step 3: Cut the lining the same size and another circle, however when joinging the side seam of the lining, leave a 3 " gap FOR TURNING later on in the project.

   

   Step 4: Make sure both parts of the bags are inside out, and pin the top edge together and sew. I found sewing the fabric easier if the 'lining' was on the bottom and the 'seams' are on the top and all the fabric lays the same way.

   

   

   Step 5: Turn your bag the right way out, and push the lining back into the bag, your bag should stand up on it's own.

   

   Step 6: I machined around the bag close to the top.   Then I made a channel for my ribbon, by machining 2 rows of stitches, take care that these are wide enough for your ribbon / cord. U using a seam ripper or being careful with a pair of scissors, lay your bag flat , so you can find 'half' and make a small hole  in the channel just in the outer fabric to insert your ribbon.

   

   After you've put your ribbon in, your bag is finished!

   

   For alternatives why not use brass eyelets instead of making a channel and use a thick CORD for a different look, try making the bag taller, mine was 12 x 30 and then just adjust the base circle, makes an ideal sewing bag , why not make one for a christmas present and filll it with a few basic sewing items.

   

    

    

8. August Free Project of the Month

   Posted on 1:16pm Thursday 1st Aug 2013

   Hi everyone, we have a quick and cute project for you this month, how to make a washing up liquid bottle apron! These aprons are super cute and could be made to match your kitchen and would be a fab gift! Instructions below!

   Happy Crafting

   Carole

   Step 1: take a bottle of washing up liquid and make an apron pattern to fit, the bottle in the picture is a smaller sized bottle. I've added the measurements to give you an idea. Take some fabric or PVC and cut your pattern out, for the trimming you can use ricrac or narrow bias binding.

   

   

   Step 2: First, hem the 2 short sides and the bottom of the apron, add bias binding to just the top of the apron. leaving a 'end ' of bias to make the tying strap, sew the bias around the curved edge, carry on machining but leave enough tape to the 'neck band' and carry on down the other side, again leaving enough tape to tie.

   

   

    

   Tips: why not add a pocket ?, trim with lace or curve the bottom of the apron instead of leaving it straight for a more vintage look.

9. July Free Project - Padded Letters

   Posted on 8:32am Monday 1st Jul 2013

   This is a quick and simple project to do. You will need, some paper, scissors, fabric, wadding and a sewing machine.

   Step 1: Cut out letters from paper. Then fold over your fabric with wadding in the middle, place the letter on the fabric, and you can either draw around it with a special fabric pen or pin it on.

   

   Step 2: Sew around the letter and then cut it out! It's that simple and really quick to do.

   

   Here's our finished letters.

   

10. Fabric Flower May Project of the month

    Posted on 10:26am Friday 3rd May 2013

    Fabric flower project!

    You will need: 3 inch square fabric pieces (or larger if you would like to make your flower bigger). Felt, a safety pin and 1 button, you may need a hot glue gun depending on how you would like to finish your item.

     

     

    Step 1: Take a square and fold it in half, and then turn the corners in to the middle to create a triangle, and the sew along the botton edge.

     

    Step 2: repeat step 1, 7 more times so you have 8 triangles in total. You can leave them attached for quickness and then separate them afterwards.

     

    Step 3: Take a contrasting colour and repeat step 1 using just 5 pieces of fabric.

    

    Step 4: Using a strong cotton or double thread, sew a running stitch along the bottom of the triangles to join them all up, pull the thread to gather up and create petals, making sure that they all face the same way with the fold at the front. Secure the end of the thread. Do this for both parts of the flower, and then cut a circle of felt.

    

    Step 5: Either sew or glue gun your petal circles onto the circle of felt (I used a glue gun for quickness). I then sewed a button onto the middle of the flower, you can attach the safety pin or a brooch back to the felt circle too (see picture).

    

    

     

11. How to make a bag - April Free Project

    Posted on 7:42am Tuesday 9th Apr 2013

    This month's free proect is how to make a bag!

    You will need: fabric (we've used calico for the tutorial, but you can use anything), matching thread, pins, scissors & a sewing machine

    Step 1: cut 2 pieces 25cm tall x 33 cm wide, cut 2 straps 30cm x 8cm and cut one gusset 90cm x 10cm. (you could overlock or zig-zag stitch the edges if you wish).

    

    Step 2: Take one side of the bag and the gusset, pin the gusset to the top and machine, easing the corners as you go. The gusset will need trimming slightly when you've finished. Attach the other side in the same way.

    

    

    

    Both sides attached:

    

    Step 3: Take the straps, fold one strap in half, then fold the edges to the middle, machine down both sides, repeat for the other strap.

    

    

    Step 4: Find the centre of your bag and pin the straps, take note of the way the straps lie. Machine over each strap to secure.

    

    Step 5: Turn the bag the right way, and make a hem on the top ( approx 2cm) and pin, making sure the straps are pinned correctly, then machine around the top of the bag and also at the bottom of the hem. And then all you need to do is decorate, or add embellishments!

    

     

    This bag would be a fab gift filled with items for a new baby, or fill with wool & needles for a knitting fan. Or even fill with fabric and a sewing pattern to get a friend into sewing!

     

     

12. Button Wreath Free Tutorial Project

    Posted on 8:28am Friday 1st Mar 2013

    Here is our second free project of the month, a easter button wreath!

    Carole & Gina

    You will need:  wreath (full or half, either will do) ribbon, buttons, glue gun & glue.

    

    Step 1: Cover your wreath with ribbon and glue the ends to secure.

    

    Step 2: Start gluing on the large buttons first 

    

    Step 3: add some medium, buttons to fill the wreath

    

    Step 4: add some smaller buttons on top of the larger buttons for some depth. And then make a ribbon loop for hanging!

    

     

13. Easter Egg cone free project March

    Posted on 7:42am Friday 1st Mar 2013

    Happy March everyone! we have two fabulous free tutorials for you today! First we have the easter egg cone, and our second project is how to make an easter button wreath. Happy crafting

    Carole & Gina

    You will need: Paper, two different fabrics, sewing machine, needle & thread, buttons/embellishments and ribbon.

    Step 1: Making your cone template. This is really easy to do, draw a "slice" (think cake) on a piece of paper, fold over one edge so it's doubled, and cut it out.

    

    Step 2: Cut one cone shape out from both of your fabrics, then machine alone the top edge with the "right" sides together, and clip the edge with care making sure you do not cut the stitches.

     

    

    Step 3: Open out the cone (see picture) and fold over, still with the right sides together. And now place 2 pins slightly apart on the plain coloured fabric, and sew along this edge, but leaving the piece between the 2 pins open (this is used for turning).

    

    Step 4: Carefully turn your cone the right way out, through the gap. Hand sew or machine the gap closed, and then carefully push the plain coloured fabric inside. See picture, I have also turned down the top a little.

    

    Step 5: How to decorate your cone. You can add anything you like to your cone, I have sew on some ric rac on the inside of the top, so when you fold the top down it can be seen. I have also added some ribbon handles and sew some buttons on them to hide the edge of them.

    

    

    Here are some finished cones! we have filled them with easter eggs for the children. Or you could add some chocolates, gift vouchers or soaps for mum for mother's day!

     

    

14. Heart Bunting Tutorial February's Free Project

    Posted on 9:02am Monday 4th Feb 2013

    Hi everyone, we have a very romantic themed project for you this month, heart bunting! This is super easy to make and doesn't take very long.

    You will need, hearts (we used felt hearts, but we have also made one with scrapbooking papers/cardstock). Invisable thread for the sewing machine.

    

    All you need to do is line up your hearts so they overlap slightly at the edges and sew along the top about 1/3 down. Just to make sure all of the smaller hearts are attatched to the bigger hearts. This will be done in no time at all. And of course you can change the colours to make a pretty gift for a new mum for a nursery!

    Here's the finished item. On the table. Now if you have ever been into our shop you will see this hanging up along our ideas board!

    

    Happy February

    Carole & Gina

15. Blue Gingham Hanging Hearts Free Tutorial - Project of the Month

    Posted on 8:32am Wednesday 2nd Jan 2013

    Blue Gingham Hanging Hearts Free Tutorial Project of the Month

    You will need:

    • 2 large white felt hearts
    • 2 medium blue felt hearts
    • 2 small white felt hearts
    • 1 medium & 1 small blue gingham hearts
    • a length of ribbon
    • some stuffing/wadding
    • buttons & bows to decorate
    • thread & needle for sewing.

    

    Step 1: Take a large white felt heart and place on the medium gingham heart onto the front, sew some buttons around the edge to join them. Then sew the other large white felt heart to the back, remembering to leave a gap so you can stuff the heart, then finish sewing up.

    

    Step 2: Take the 2 medium blue felt hearts, sew on a bow or button to the front heart then sew them together, stuff before finished and then finish sewing.

    Step 3: Take the small blue gingham heart and place it onto of 1 small white felt heart, some some buttons on. The sew the two together, remember to stuff them! then finish sewing the edge.

    Step 4: Sew on the ribbon length, and making a loop up the top for hanging!

    

    Carole x

    PS: We made a pink version too!

    

16. Christmas Hanging Hearts Free Project

    Posted on 8:50am Monday 5th Nov 2012

    Hi everyone, we have another quick mini project for you. This is a hanging hearts decoration, it's really quick to make. You will need 6 hearts (2 red, 2 green, 2 white), a length of ribbon, 3 bows, 3 bells, some wadding and a need & thread.

    

    Step 1: Take 2 hearts, blanket stitch them together at the 3/4 point fill with wadding, finish sewing up.

    

    Step 2: Add a small bow & bell, repeat with the other 2 hearts.

    

    Step 3: Take the length of ribbon and sew a heart to the bottom, place the other hearts slightly above each other and sew them on. Then make a loop at the top for hanging.

    

    Carole & Gina x

17. November Free Project - Christmas Ribbon Tree

    Posted on 7:53am Friday 2nd Nov 2012

    Hi everyone, happy Novemeber! here is a great project for you, a ribbon christmas tree. This takes about 1 hour when pinned (it could be quicker if you used a hot glue gun). And it's a great way to use ribbon or ribbon scraps so it's cheap too!

    You will need:

    1 cone approx: 30cm tall, a selection of christmas ribbons and pins or glue

    

    Step 1: I used wired edge ribbon for the bottom row. I cut it into 3.5inch lengths folded them over, and pinned them to the tree, each time I added a new strip I over lapped them slightly, so that each strip shared a pin too. I gradually worked my way up the cone changing the colour of the ribbon, or twisting the ribbon for a different look.

    

    Step 2: On the 7th row, I reduced the ribbon size to 3 inches long and added another row of wired ribbon  and then worked my way up the cone again, until 2 rows from the top where I reduced the size to 2.5inches. I looped some narrow ribbon to create a decorative top. When I was finished I pulled the wired ribbon up to give the tree some shape! (make sure you put at least 2 rows of wired in to help shape your tree).

    

    Carole x

18. Tea Party by Dovecraft

    Posted on 8:05am Wednesday 24th Oct 2012

    Hi everyone, I just wanted to share with you some cards I have made using the Tea Party papers by Dovecraft. You can find the papers here. These papers are SO pretty and insipiring, they would make great scrapbooking pages to remember parties or picnics, or just to make some cards for many different occasions!

    Gina x

    

    

    

    

    

     

19. The Little Venice Cake Company Icing nozzle #22

    Posted on 10:14am Monday 15th Oct 2012

    Hi everyone, This week is National Baking Week, and I just wanted to share with you what you can do with your Little Venice Cake Company icing nozzle #22. This is a medium sized star nozzle, and its great for stars, shells and swirls. Below you will see how I decorated a Devil's Food Cake (yummy!) that I baked, for the topping I piped on chocolate fudge frosting, to make it super scrummy.

    Gina x

    Step 1: Bake a super yummy cake, fill up your icing bag with a yummy topping, I have my nozzle #22 on my bag already!

    

    Step 2: Start piping little stars around the edge of the cake.

    

    Step 3: Once you have completed the outer circle, fill the cake in one circle at a time!

    

    Finished! and below the finished cake is a close up of some of the things you can use the star #22 nozzle for!

    

    

     

20. October Free Project - Halloween Bag

    Posted on 7:52am Monday 24th Sep 2012

    Hi everyone, yes we know it's a little early, but we are super excited about this cute halloween bag we have decided to share it with you early! This is a really quick project to do, so simple and versatile. We used the A4 Dovecraft felt for this project. You can find all of our felt products here. For this project you will need, some orange & black felt, scissors, 50cm of ribbon, and you can either machine sew or hand sew this!

    Step 1: Cut 2 pieces of orange felt 13.5cm x 13.5cm. And cut 3 pieces into 13.5cm x 4cm wide.

    

    Step 2: Sew the 3 small pieces of felt together, this will form the base and sides of the bag.

    

    Step 3: Draw your favourite halloween shape (we chose a pumpkin) cut 1 from black felt. Then either sew or glue this onto one of the large orange panels.

    

    

    Step 4: Matching the narrow strip to the front panel, line up the corners and pin. Then machine or hand sew over the edge, then cut the 50cm piece of ribbon in half, and sew on two handles to the bag.

    

    

    Carole x