Pouches, personalized

Many blog posts ago, I decorated a linen pouch with iron-on patches. I thought I would make more to give away as presents.

Here are the plain pouches. The colors are cute but they're a little too blah.

I'm using these monograms to dress up the pouches.

First, I marked the center of the pouch with a ruler. That's where I'm positioning the patch.

I removed the backing from the patch and centered it onto the pouch.

I ironed up and under for a secure hold.

This one is for my goddaughter who just turned 12. She can fill it with her pens and pencils for school.

And this one is for a dear friend who lives far away. She can use it for her make-up.

A project that's simple, useful and personal. TADA!

Pouches Galore

Happy Monday! One of my favorite ways to organize my things is to use pouches. I'm always on the lookout for cute ones in different sizes. If the price is right, I buy. But here are some that I'd like to DIY:

Using a plain canvas pouch, I can add inked block prints to make No.1.

Or I can use stencils to spell out a statement or favorite quote just like No.2. 

With photo fabric paper, I can add an inspiring photo on a pouch, similar to No. 3. And possibly transform some vintage fabric into something useful like No. 4.

Tomorrow, I have a tutorial for an easy to make pouch, so please stop by. 
See you then!

Resources:

Banana Republic zipper bag
bananarepublic.gap.com

Madewell blue purse
madewell.com

Bags case
etsy.com

Kate Spade zipper pencil case
macys.com

Terrain at Styers

Today, let me take you on a little field trip!

Just this past month, I excitedly set foot in Terrain, located in Glenn Mills, Pennsylvania. Now I've written about Terrain before, in it's Westport, Connecticut location. I just adore this pocket of paradise.

Allow the photos to do the talking:

It's a very welcoming space that encourages everyone to wander and take their time.

Lots of garden supplies for the novice and the expert.

Flowering and fruit-bearing plants ready for purchase. 

A tiny studio for the gardener.

Floral arrangements and terrarium goodness:

 Lots of home accents and gift ideas:

There are classes every month for relaxation and recreation.

There's a cafe' and a restaurant in the premises, too.

They can also accommodate private events like weddings. I can only imagine how dreamy this setting would be.

I hope you enjoyed our trip!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Sunday! To all the loving, courageous, and patient women who have the name "Mom", I want to wish each of you: 

Happy Mother's Day! 

Please know how much we appreciate you in our lives. 

And for you crafters who are interested in how I made this "mom" paper cut, this is what I did: 

I cut a piece of construction paper in the shape of a heart. Then, with a pencil, I drew a simple design of hearts and the word "Mom".

I made the cut outs with a sharp pair of scissors. A craft knife will also do.

Isn't it cool how a sheet of paper can turn from blah to TADA!?

Something for Mom

It's Mother's Day on May 10th! What are you doing to surprise your mom? My mom and mother-in-law live far away but that's no excuse not to get them anything. Like a little kid, I'm made them cards for their special day.

I turned these blank cards from blah to TADA!

Here are a few items from my magical craft stash that helped me out. 

This pretty scrapbook paper is the star. I cut them out and attached them to the cards with adhesive foam dots for added dimension.

Craft stamps that spell out "Happy Mother's Day", glitter glue, and sticky gems finish the look.

Here's what it looks like from the side.

This other version uses watercolor.

I sent these cards a few weeks in advance via air mail. I hope they bring joy to my mom and mom-in-law.

Happy crafting to all of you and Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

Fun Fabric Decoupage

Hello sunshine! How are you my lovelies?

I've been very happy with the sunny weather the past few days. And I found a craft that matched the blossoming season.

I bought this at the craft store in the middle of winter (you're right, I was longing for warm weather).

It's a package filled with fabric die-cuts meant for fabric-to-fabric decoupage. I'm using the flowers to dress this up:

A blah-looking case for sunglasses.

Before beginning the craft, wash this with soap and water to remove fabric sizing. It's best to avoid using fabric softener or a dryer sheet so that the die-cuts will adhere well. You can use an iron to remove any wrinkles.

Once the surface was ready, I chose a few flowers and experimented on where to position them.

It's recommended to use a fabric-to-fabric decoupage glue but I didn't have that on hand. Instead, I used a permanent fabric glue.

Put a few drops of glue at the back of each die-cut. I used my fingers to spread the glue, but a paintbrush can be used, too.

Press the die-cut onto the chosen area and smooth out with your fingers. I added more glue on the top and edges of each die-cut for a firmer grip. I let this dry for at least an hour.

Then I did the same on the flip side using a different set of flowers.

I let this dry again, using a small bottle to prop up the fabric case. This allows both sides to dry without any side sticking on a surface.

And here is my sunglasses case all set for the spring and summer months. TADA!

And it's useful for eyeglasses, too.

Have a great week ahead!