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These handmade bottle cap and acorn pincushions are unique and easy to create. A perfect craft for the entire family. Aren’t in need of a pincushion? Turn them into Christmas ornaments by adding string or ribbon or use as a name tag at a place setting. Simply glue a small name banner to the head of a pin and place in the pincushion. 
Supplies:
- Bottle cap
- Acorn cap
- Felt
- Stuffing
- Trim, beads, embroidery thread and needle
- Glue
- Pins
Directions:
- Cut out a circle of felt that is 1.5 – 2″ in circumference.
- Baste edges (sew large stitches loosely around the edge of the felt circle).
- Pull the thread to draw the felt together like a little purse.
- Stuff the felt with your choice of filling.
- Draw the thread tightly and secure with stitches.
- Glue the inside of an acorn cap or bottle cap and press felt piece until secure. You can use a medium or large binder clip to hold felt piece in bottle cap until dry.
- Once dry you can embellish with trim, beads or embroidery.
- Enjoy!
Other Ideas:
- Make a pincushion from a vintage baby bootie.
- Stuff a pincushion with dried herbs and spices for a scented creation.
- Sawdust, Brillo pad, pencil shavings, coarse sand and silica packets have all been used as pincushion stuffing to help sharpen needles. Wool is also very popular.
- Make a matchbook pincushion. These are great for purses when you need that emergency needle and thread or safety pin.
Fabric beads are a fun and creative project for all ages. Great for jewelry, adornments and napkin rings!
Supplies:
- Fabric
- Paper from a book, scrapbook, magazine
- Ribbon, string, yarn, thread
- Straw, skewer or dowel
- ModPodge
- Acrylic paint
- Wax paper or plastic plate
Instructions:
- Measure your fabric (or paper) to your desired length. You will probably want to try a few different lengths to find the one you like best. I admit that I rarely measure when I make beads but I use approximately a one inch by four inch strip of fabric or paper that I taper to one end. Use a large dowel to make a napkin ring. Fabric should be about 2″ x 12″.
- Lay wax paper on the surface you are working on. A plastic plate will also work.
- Begin to wrap the fabric, wrong side down, around the straw, skewer or dowel beginning with the widest part of the fabric. Once the fabric meets the fabric start adding a light coat ModPodge and continue wrapping. It’s best to use a straw if working with paper. Add a final coat of ModPodge (or similar product).
- Add Ribbon, string, yarn or thread using ModPodge (optional). Let dry for at least 24 hours. Tip: if you are using a skewer or dowel you will want to carefully remove the bead and lay gently on wax paper to dry. If it feels stuck, gently twist until the bead begins to slide. Beads can be left on the straw but you will want to gently twist to loosen. I like to leave mine on the straw so it maintains its shape while drying.
- You may cut the bead to a desired length if it is too large.
- I like to seal the edges with acrylic paint. I simply pour a small pool of paint and dip each end of the bead. Let dry.
I call these little cuties “Bottled Thoughts” because they are created with a personal message, inspiration, encouragement, and anything else you can think of. They are a wonderful craft to have available at a party and they make unique gifts and table favors. They even look amazing on gift packages. There is no limit to the fun things you can create when using your imagination.
Here are some tips and ideas to get you started:
Supplies:
- Miniature glass bottle with cork lid
- Eye screw or eye pin
- Chain (metal, leather, ribbon, velvet, hemp)
- Printed inspiration or thought
- Jewels, glitter, ribbons, chains, found items, etc.
- Glue
- Wire cutter
Instructions:
- Decide on a theme (see below for ideas)
- Print or write the inspiration (if just a few words make it small enough to fit but large enough to read)
- Fill the bottle with the inspiration, jewels, glitter, strings, found items to fit your theme
- Glue on cork lid
- Add eye screw if you are not adding a jewel. If you are adding a jewel use an eye pin. Slip the jewel on the eye pin, snip the bottom of the eye pin so that it does not hang too low into your bottle. Add a few drops of glue to the bottom of the jewel and slip through the cork.
- Once dry, add outside adornments or just hang on a necklace of your choice.
Ideas:
- Insert a favorite quote, verse, or poem
- Write a love note
- Use a storybook theme
- Create a bridal theme: something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue
- Use a vintage theme
- Dreams come true
- Time in a bottle theme
- Jane Austen
- Scripture
Do you have an old piece of furniture that’s an eyesore? Here is a unique and fun project for the entire family:
The piece shown is an old oak cabinet that we use for storage. The cabinet was painted green and crackled with a white finish. Green paint was added for trim. Once dry, we glued scrapbooking paper to the panels. We added a unique touch by painting pictures in some of the quilt squares. Get your family involved and have everyone paint a design! My daughter sketched the young girl from a picture she found of a rubber stamp.
What you need:
- Scrapbooking paper
- Mod Podge (Matte)
- Permanent Marker
- Acrylic Paint (optional)
- Primer, Paint, crackle (optional)
- Sandpaper
Directions:
- Sand and prime the piece of furniture. Let dry.
- Paint a dark under color. Let dry.
- Crackle (follow manufacturers direction).
- Paint a lighter color. Let dry.
- Use sandpaper to distress piece.
- Cut out squares of paper and glue to the piece in a pleasing display. You are piecing together for a quilt-like affect.
- Leave some squares empty if you wish to sketch or paint your own pictures.
- Once dry, use a permanent marker to draw faux stitching around your pieces.
- Do a final seal with Mod Podge or similar product.
- Add a glass top if you are designing a table.
Ideas:
- Use vintage style paper.
- Add words or poetry
- Use pages from a favorite storybook.
- Add a section of chalkboard paint (It comes in all colors!)
- Paint on buttons or add real buttons.
- Use rub-on transfers.
- Use black and white or sepia photo copies of family members.
- Add vintage hardware to cabinets.
- Use recipes if the piece is for the kitchen.
- Add cork board.
- Add clothing tags or labels.
- For an office or studio? Make an envelope out of scrapbooking paper and add as a quilt piece. Use it to hold keepsakes or important papers.
- For extra storage add a hat box on top of your cabinet that matches the finished piece or quilt a box!
Door: “Why it’s simply impassible.”
Alice: Why, don’t you mean impossible?
Door: No, I do mean impassible (chuckles) Nothing’s impossible!
Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Spools of inspiration are a unique gift idea and a perfect touch for any bridal or baby shower. This is also a fun project for kids and adults alike. All you need to do is consider the message you want to share, gather your supplies and begin!
What you need:
- Fabric or Ink Jet Fabric
- Fabric Pen or Ink Jet Printer
- Sewing machine or needle and thread
- Empty wood spool (the one shown is a vintage wood spool)
- Paint, crackle paint (optional) or miniature rubber stamps and ink
- Sealant
- Headpin or eyepin, wire cutters
- Beads (2 or 3)
- Glue
- Straight pin
Directions:
- Decide if you want a plain wood spool or if you want to paint. Rubber stamps look wonderful on wood spools. If you decide to paint then just choose your color. The one shown is crackled (follow manufacturers direction). You can also use chalkboard paint! Let dry.
- Seal the spool (unless you are using chalkboard paint). Let dry.
- Print your message on ink jet fabric or simply write your message on fabric using a fabric pen.You can stitch pieces together like the one shown or simply have a free-flowing piece of fabric. I prefer to stitch them together for a unique look. Make sure the width will fit nicely around the spool. Leave extra fabric at the end to wrap around the spool.
- Once you have your message completed, take the end of the message and glue to the spool. I like using Liquid Fusion because it’s maximum strength, nontoxic, waterproof and fast drying.
- Add a straight pin or decorative safety pin to hold together.
- Take a headpin or eyepin (I used a headpin) and add your beads. Trim the headpin so that it will not be too long. Add glue to the bottom of your beads and slide the head pin through the top hole. Let dry.
- You’re done!
Handmade gift tags are unique and a fun project for the entire family. Spend quality time together and see just how creative you can be!
Ideas:
- Make a miniature coat hanger out of wire and sew on your tag.
- Use fun quotes like this one (right) that I made up for a friend.
- Use old envelopes and greeting cards.
- Cut silhouettes out of paper.
- For a rustic look use paper bags and rubber stamps.
- Sew fabric together and make a pocket to insert a kind note.
- Sketch.
- Stitch the shape of a flower and fill in with water color.
- Make a bird out of vintage print.
- Use chalk board paper and write a message with chalk.
- Make a collage and cut out words from a magazine or book with the sentiments you wish to express.
- Make a paper doll that represents the character of the recipient.
- Cut passages out of old books.
- Find a leaf or wide stick and write a message using a sharpie.
- String yarn or twine across a card with glue. Add buttons to the corners and use mini clothes pins to hold special messages or add mini laundry cut out from paper.
- Use tags for showers, gifts, jars, organization, or simply fill a bag with a variety of gift tags and give to a friend!
Cottage bracelets are fiber art bracelets pieced together using threads, strings, yarn, scraps of ribbon, fabrics, buttons, beads and jewels to create a lovely cuff bracelet. The white bracelet I made (on left) was created from scraps of a vintage doily, feathers, fabric, felt, ribbons and pearls. A button is used for fastening. The pink cuff bracelet (below) is more intricate and took more time to create.
Supplies
- Sewing Machine and/or Needle and Thread
- Scraps of fabric, ribbon, yarn, strings, feathers
- Buttons, beads, pearls, jewels
- Felt
- Elastic or a covered elastic hair band
Directions
- Take a piece of felt and cut to the width you prefer. I use between a 1″ width and a 2″ width.
- Then measure your wrist for fitting. Add an extra inch.
- Decide on a color scheme and go on a treasure hunt around your house or in craft bins for the perfect colors to compliment your choice.
- The sewing process begins by finding a heavier piece of fabric or cotton fabric doubled. I cut this fabric using my felt piece as a template.
- Place pieces of cut up fabric, ribbons, and threads onto this fabric in a way that is visually appealing. Sew together. Your goal is to create an interesting new piece of fabric out of a variety of scraps.
- Cut a piece of elastic or an elastic hair band in half, fold and sew this piece on one end, between your newly created piece of fabric and the felt piece. (approx. 1.5″)
- Finish sewing the felt piece onto the finished fabric piece.
- Add extra ribbons, fabric flowers, pearls, jewels, etc.
- Measure the bracelet around your wrist and add a button in the appropriate place. The button is used to fasten the elastic and secure on your wrist. Make sure not to make it too tight.
- Enjoy!
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