How to make a Hanging Pot Holder/Towel- Hostess Gift #2

Here is another cute and easy hostess gift idea. (For another hostess gift idea click here.) This one comes from my very crafty mother-in-law! She is aways making thing as gifts and is an inspiration to me! Since she does not have a blog, that means I get to post her idea here!

Here is what you will need:
Pot holder
Coordinating Dish Towel
Button
Thread
Sewing machine
Needle (to hand sew the button on)

1.) Iron your dish towel if needed.
2.)Turn the towel right side down and fold the side in so that it is the width of the pot holder. Iron the folds.

3.) Fold in half lengthwise and iron on that fold.

4.) Line up your fold on to your pot holder where you are going to sew it.

5.) flip the towel open so that the wrong side is facing up (with the folds showing) and pin to your pot holder

This is what it should look like on the other side.

6.) Sew your towel and pot holder together, using the crease as a guide. I sew it two times to give it extra strength.

7.) Fold your pot holder up and mark where the loop crosses over the other side and mark for where you are going to sew your button.

8.) Hand sew your button on.

Hang on your towel holder, refrigerator handle, or oven handle, where ever you see fit!

How fun would this be to make with holiday pot holders and towels? Or you could match the decor of the house.

Giveaway- Brea Marie Creations

***this giveaway is now closed!***

I am so excited to introduce you to Brea Marie Creations, fashionable baby accessories and monogramming. I am telling you, this etsy shop is FULL of shabby chic cuteness for any mom! Sherrie makes all of her items with up to date fabrics and styles.

Take her bags for example, so chic! I think any women would love one of these!

Next, take a look at her diapers/Wipes carriers.

They could also be used as a small purse! Love it!

On to the changing pads, they roll up for easy travel,

and unroll to soft cuteness when you need it.
Now, lets check out the burp cloths.

Designer fabric on one side, soft terry cloth on the other... perfect!

She also makes Nursing Covers.

360 degree coverage... 360 degrees of style.
She also offers personalized monogramming to make your item truly unique!

Can you believe that she is doing a GIVEAWAY here?!?!



The winner will have their choice between:

this Yellow Fountain (Amy Butler) diaper/wipes carrier OR...

this Pink Fountain(Amy Butler) diaper/wipes carriers.

Here is how you enter:

1.) (Mandatory) Go to Brea Marie Creations and come back here and comment with your favorite item.

2.) Mark Brea Marie Creations as a favorite on Etsy. Come back here and leave a comment saying "I heart Brea Marie Creations."

3.) Become a follower of Fireflies and Jellybeans (If you already are it counts too) Leave comment saying "I am a follower!"

4.) Make a purchase from Brea Marie Creations (5 entries). Come back here leave 5 comments saying "I made a purchase! I got !"

5.) Blog about this give away (3 entries) come back here and leave 3 comments saying "I blogged about this giveaway at !"

That leaves 11 chances for you to win if you do all of this things! This giveaway is open until Friday (10/2) Midnight (CST). I will post the winner on Saturday.

Good Luck!

September challeng Project #4- Tie Appliqued T-shirts

For the September monthly challenge on Somewhat Simple, the forth project was to make an appliqued tee-shirt for my son.

Tanya over at Trey and Lucy has this adorable tie-shirt tutorial

Here are the shirts that Tanya made: So CUTE!!

I was a little nervous about using the Wonderunder and sewing on the appliques but it was not that hard and once I started I could not stop! Tanya has a great tutorial and she even tells you how to buy the Wonderunder!

I made a tie shirt for my son. I also came up with the truck pattern for a second shirt.

Here is a close up of the truck. (If you would like a tutorial on how I made the truck tee-shirt leave me a comment and I will post one in the next week or so!)


I also made a few onesies for some showers I have coming up! A tie-onesie for a baby boy and a flower-onesie for a baby girl.

Feature Friday- Spirit of Giving

Today we are blog swapping with Becky from Spirit of Giving. I can't wait for you all to meet her:
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Today is my first blog swap! I am Becky from Spirit of Giving and am super excited to be blogging here. I want to thank Fawnda for this wonderful opportunity and keeping me more than busy with all of her tutorials here at Fireflies and Jellybeans!

So, I little about me: I am a stay at home mom of three, my first just starting preschool last week (time flies). I mostly do my projects during nap time and after bed time as they keep me plenty busy. After having my daughter in January of '08 I really started to get into "girly" things. I read, sometimes, and usually Tom Clancy. Someday I want to finish all of his books so I always buy them at garage sales if I see them! My husband (of 7 years) says they are "boy books" which he prefers I read over girly "fluff" if I insist on reading.

OOHHH I almost forgot! Just this week, I recieved Amy Butler's Little Stitches and InStitches pattern books. I absolutely cannot wait to try like ALL of them!

Last spring I opened my etsy shop (Spirit of Giving, of course) and started to "craft" in ernest. I have always made things for friends and relatives but decided to branch out, but don't worry, they are still getting their gifts.

The vast majority of my time is spent making hooded towel. I love to make them and also love the fact that it can be used for 5-6 years as your baby grows. I even get lots of requests for them as birthday gifts.

I carry tons of colors of towels and even more ribbon which I have all listed on a flickr photostream for everyone to browse. I am totally addicted to buying ribbon. I have so much most people get overwhelmed but yet I am constantly coming home with more (thank you PayPal debit card!) I just recently found a tutorial for a Lovie and Plush Block and also made a boy one in browns and blues. I added a set of coordinating burp clothes and hope to sell them at my upcoming craft show. I don't do many but the school is sponsoring so I decided to try it out.
Here is ultra girly for you! A hot pink tutu with satin and flowers, can't get much better than that. These are my favorite to make and perfect for getting pictures taken.

My favorite wedding/shower/housewarming gift is a nice set of plush monogrammed hand towels. I make a lot for gifts for my husband's clients. A while back I bought a huge CD with tons of fonts and monograms and I love sorting through them and finding one to match a person's style. I was just thinking.. I don't even have a set, maybe when we find the house of our dreams and settle down? Maybe...

Well, there you go, some of my latest projects! Come on over sometime and check out my blog and shop, everyone is welcome to browse! I am starting to get a little bit addicted to blogging, it is so much fun. Have a wonderful Friday and head over to see Fawnda's post at Spirit of Giving!

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Would you like to blog swap with us? Just e-mail us at [email protected] and we can set up a time that will work!

How To Make Vinyl Fabric Coasters- Hostess Gift #1

I am participating in the Exchange Program at Totally Tutorials . Dotty has matched suppliers with crafters in this wonder program. You should really check it out!

I got all my really cute fabric from Ruby Jane's Retro Fabric You can visit her blog here and her shop (to buy fabulous fabric) here!



We are getting close to the holiday season. The time where we all start to think about entertaining. I am going to be featuring some ideas for hostess gifts, so that you are all set to make a cute, affordable, personal gifts for when you are invited to some one's house for a party or dinner. Today is vinyl fabric coasters. Who can have enough coasters when they are entertaining?

Here is what you will need:5 X 5 inch square pieces of fabric (you will need two per coaster, I made 4 coasters so I had 8 squares)
Iron-on Vinyl (I find mine at Joann's)
Fusible Interfacing
Coordinating Thread

Tools:
Iron
sewing machine
scissors
pinking shears
1.) Cut out your iron-on vinyl to fit your squares.
2.) Iron on the vinyl (using the package directions) to the FRONT side of the fabric that you want to be the top side of the coaster. 3.) Cut out and iron on the interfacing to the BACK side of the bottom side of the coaster

4.) pin your squares together with RIGHT sides facing OUT.

5.) Top sew a straight stitch around the edge if the coaster using a 1/4 inch seam

Here is a look at the 4 I am making so far:

6.) Trim around the out side edge with a pinking shears

ALL DONE! Front side

Back side

I think it would be so fun to make these for a house warming gift as well. it would great to try and match the colors of the decor in the house!

Be sure to check out Ruby Jane's Retro Fabric for more fabulous fabrics!

Check out some more creative projects at Poppies At Play!




See other DIY projects at A Solf Place To Land!