Felt Advent Calendar

I know it's kind of late for this year. But it's totally worth it. And hey start right now and make one every day and you can do it too!

Grab your felt and scissors and get ready. First print off the patterns at the bottom of this page, and print the numbers, and print the words.

Then cut out 25 white ornaments, and 25 colored ornaments. Then sew the bottom half together, one white and one colored. Just like this...to make a little pocket.

There you have it 25 pocket ornaments.

Cut out the numbers onto silver felt and glue onto the colored side of these ornaments.

Then lay them out just like so on green felt. Cut out a Christmas Tree shape around them. You can use the pattern below by layering it three times on each side and then connecting the bottom.

Then lay down a piece of white felt large enough for the tree to fit on. And fold the top and bottom up 1 inch and pin.

Then place the green tree on it and pin down.

Then place the trunk piece under the bottom of the tree and pin in place.

Now it's the angels turn. Pin her down on the top of the tree.

Sew two lines along the white hem on the top and the bottom.

Then sew the trunk on. Sew around all four sides and then sew an x in the middle.

Now it's time for the tree. Sew the tree on around the outside and then connect the two sides at every indent to a new layer.

Then sew around that angel.

Sew a tassle and cord in about 8 inches from each side on the seam of the hem. Double sew it as well.

Then tie the tassle in a knot.

Here is a video how to do that.

Now lay out those ornament in the right position again and lift up the top and put a pin in each of the holes, into the tree part.

Sew on a hook into each pin.

And there you have it.

Nope, not quite. Using the patterns at the end and the pictures below assemble the ornaments. Use craft glue to glue all the pieces together.

Now fold up the corresponding story and tuck inside the ornament pockets. Slide a dowel in the hems on the bottom and top. Then hang the ornaments number side facing and starting with the tree read the inside each night, it's also fun to slide in a treat each day for the "reader", and then flip it over so you can see the picture. On the 25th day, Christmas, you will have all your ornaments flipped over!

Here is the pattern. If you have any questions please ask. Print these all on a 8.5 X 11 paper.

I realize number 12 is missing. As soon as I track it down, before December 12th for sure. I will post it. And for those of you wondering. I bought my felt at fabric.com and I did not make up this pattern. However, I did remake it after one that I grew up with that my mother made up in the early 80's. It's a tradition I remember and want my kids to remember, but I wanted my style and a little more updated version. Enjoy!!! And please remember this is for personal use only! No making and selling!

Update. Number 12 can be found here.

Reindeer Wooden Spoon Puppets

Need a quick and easy kid craft?

Alright then, grab your hot glue gun, or craft glue, 2 tan pipe cleaners, 2 large googly eyes, 1 small red pom pom, 1 large brown pom pom, and 1 wooden spoon.

Take your wooden spoon and on the curved side glue the large brown pom pom on the bottom end of the spoon part. Then glue the red pom pom on the top end of the brown pom pom. Then glue on the google eyes above the brown pom pom on top of the spoon part. Then take your two pipe cleaners and shape them like antlers. Glue them to the back at the top of the spoon. And there you have it. A reindeer puppet for your child!

My boys clothes

Remember this post?

Yes it's from over a year ago. Well, the top is complete. I started it as rectangles, then changed my mind. And now, with a great sewing machine. It's done. The only problem...

What color do I use for the back? and for the binding? I don't really know...

(And yes, this is made out of all of the clothes my boys have stained, grown out of, or out worn. Oh and of course I threw in some of my husbands and mine as well... I think I will be making one of these for each of my boys, I hae enough fabric cut to, and it really didn't take that long to make the top. For those interested. The square is 6X6. The small square is 3X3, and the rectangles are 3X6. Sew the small square to a rectangle. The large square to a rectangle. Then sew them together. Then sew the rows.)

How To Screen Print

Screen printing can be easy and you can do it! I have had a blast screen printing and would LOVE to teach you how.

I used an old curtain. You can use a table cloth or any piece of sheer fabric. I like to use white, so you can see through it. Place a piece in an embroidery loop.

Then take a vinyl design, (you can purchase the ones I used, and all my other designs, here at my shop, or email me with a design you want and I'll make it) And place it on the inside of your fabric in the loop. It needs to face the direction you want it to be on your shirt. If I wanted this one flipped then I would need to put the vinyl on the back side of the fabric for this step.

Then take your lovely lovely I love so much Mod Podge and paint it all over the sheer fabric. Get as close to the edge as possible and paint right over that vinyl design.

This is what it looks like from the back. There is no Mod Podge where the vinyl design is.

Let the Mod Podge completely dry. Then peel of the vinyl design.

Place a piece of wax paper in between the layers of the fabric you will be screen printing.
Place the screen print down onto the fabric.
You can either use fabric paint ( I don't I don't like how hard it is once it is complete) or make your own. I take acrylic paint...tole paint...craft paint... you know it comes at the craft store it's like $1.00 a bottle and it's in a trillion colors. Well, I use it and I mix it with a little bit of water. Like a tablespoon. Open the bottle and feel the rest of the open space with water. Close it and shake it really well. Once you wash it the design is soft soft soft, just like the fabric. So anyways, back to the tutorial, Paint it on the screen print. Just enough to cover the open space and don't use to much paint. You just want a nice thin but covered layer.

I know someone would ask...this is why you don't use fabric dye. It just bleeds through the design and doesn't keep where it is supposed to.

Once you have painted the entire design carefully lift the screen print off of the shirt.

Let the shirt completely dry. See that ring. It's cause I did the above sample so you could see what not to do and some of the ink got into the embroidery loop. Don't panic. Just dip a q-tip into bleach and dab it on the ring.

See it disappears. Wash your shirt once it is completely dry and you will have your finished look.

The helicopter design was designed by me. The bird below is designed by myvinylreadydesigns.

Enjoy! And once again, If you have a design in mind, please let me know I will make it up for you!!! As for that cute bird shirt above. Stay tuned. I am going to be adding a skirt to it!