Embellished Kitchen Towels $cost of towel

My sister Suzette sewed me a set of kitchen towels for my birthday to be used for holidays throughout the year. She embellished each towel using scraps from her sweet stash of vintage and imported fabrics (Fabrics Anonymous, she's a member, it's an issue). She also has quite the button collection. We often lament the fact we don't live in the same state because we would have a ball making things together.

She bought the white kitchen towels at Kohl's. They are the Food Network brand. They are super squishy and nice to dry hands and dishes on.

Stitching rectangles of scraps and ruffled ribbon on towels! Genius! Why did I never think of this?! It's the perfect gift because everyone needs kitchen towels.

Embellishment Notes:

Christmas towel: made from the bottom of a vintage apron (my favorite, look at that typography)

Halloween towel: made from Japanese import Wizard of Oz linen (I die! I die of cuteness!)

4th of July towel: made from vintage feedsack, new and old buttons

Valentine towel: made from vintage feedsack

Cloth Napkin Tablecloth $0

  

 

Before you mock my color palette let me gently remind you I registered for these napkins at Dillard's as an engaged bride-to-be in 1997. I was not about to get rid of these babies ALL the way. So I sewed them together and made a tablecloth for my bistro table on the porch. The sun already faded them nicely...they'll be a whole new color scheme in a few years' time.

This used 9 napkins. (Good thing I registered for 12!) I sewed them into three strips 3 napkins long, and then sewed those 3 strips together. Because my napkins had frayed edges I left the seams facing out for that "rag quilt" look to it.

This would also work with bandanas.

Disclaimer: you do NOT need a Bichon Frise to rest on your project while you sew it. That was just a lucky bonus for me. That Lucy is one serious pack animal.

Stuffed Alligator from Old Clothes $3

  

You will need:

Alligator Pattern by penguin & fish (given to me as a gift)

Fabric (I used a linen skirt and cotton shorts for the body and an old pillowcase for the teeth)

Embroidery Thread or Buttons for the eyes

One Entire Bag of Premium Fiberfill ($3)

*If I make another one of these I will use one layer of quality felt for the teeth and spikes instead two layers of fabric turned inside out. It will be way less clipping, trimming, pain and suffering.

Lace Cake Cards $0

 

 

My sister sent me a surprise package in December that she ordered off of Etsy. It came from Malaysia, which means I got bonus foreign stamps to craft with.

Materials Used:

• Scraps of Lace (the longest cut being 2.5")
• Elmer's Glue (for attaching the lace to the card as well as the glitter)
• Pearls & Sequins (to embellish the wedding cake)
• Waxy Flax/Waxed Linen Thread (for the stem of the birthday flag)
• Washi Tape (for the birthday flag)
• Glitter (for the frosting of the cake layers)
• Martha Stewart Scalloped Lace Punch (for the bottom of the wedding card)
• Paper Doilies (for the "platter" below the birthday cake)

*The pearls are actually leftover from my wedding veil being made!

Halloween Garland from Tangled Trash $0

 

 

 

Every year our church has a Halloween carnival. There is a fish pond. The same heap of Oriental Trading Company toys get given every year. This blob of Halloween necklaces has been in the supply box for at least four years. Greg tried to untangle them during an entire Presidential debate but it was no use. Too tangled. So I chopped the rubbery little plastic pieces off of the strings and made a garland with them.

I just tied each trinket to a scrap of ribbon with a different scrap of ribbon. I was finally able to use the roll of Halloween ribbon Diane Gaede gave me two years ago! Hooray! No materials needed other than scissors, ribbon, and the items you are stringing.

I love hanging seasonal swags from my collection of glass bottles. Plus it forces me to clean all the bottles a few times a year.

You can make garlands from anything: leftover holiday paraphernalia, buttons, miniature toys, game pieces, cards, ticket stubs, etc.