Friends on Friday...

You all know the way I feel about blogging. Along with quilting, it has become a must do in my life. I love to share my ideas and to be inspired by all of you.
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I have met 2 wonderful new friends who have inspired me with their work. They used the tutorials from my car caddy and the design wall and have created their own works of art.
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These first few pictures are from Vikki from Sew Useful Designs. You must visit her blog...fantastic. She created this cup holder sewing caddy for her friend (one very lucky friend!!) Is this the cutest thing you've ever seen or what? The little "are we there yet" is a needle holder. The floss holder on the key chain...absolutely clever.


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and look at the little snips.
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She also sewed her a travel journal. Look closely at the fabric. Peace on Earth by 3 Sisters...to die for how it matches the theme. Vikki, you really should start selling these!!! Thanks, so much for letting me post these pictures.
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Now onto to Zlaty's fabulous design wall. Zlaty is from Zlaty Sews and her blog is a must see. Pop over and see her tutorial on this wall. Look at how she conquered my fabric nightmare. She sewed four channels for the pipes and look how tight her fabric is...you can probably bounce a quarter off it. Not only do I love the wall, but look what's on it. Zlaty, that is going to be one beautiful quilt. Can't wait to see that finished.

This last picture is how Zlaty cut her pvc pipe. Now is that a Tool Time Tuesday or what. That is one serious cutter and I want one!!! Thanks so much Zlaty for letting me share these pictures, I really appreciate it.

Thanks to both of you...

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Have a great weekend,

~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Recycled Ice Cream Container

Here is this week's final installment of Tasty Tool Time. If you missed the earlier tutorials click here for the actual instructions. The process is the same for covering the base, the only difference is the top of this ice cream container is big and fluffy.
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This is a mini...soooo cute and only $1.00 (I know if we figure that price out by weight or ounces, it's probably $500.00 for 2 quarts, but cute wins.) Not to mention...it has a spoon on the inside of the lid, so you can eat this on the run!!

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I needed a circle of fabric for the top of the lid. Guess what I used for a template??? A coffee filter...I have a boat load remember. This is the 4 cup size filter. The one on the right is ironed out.
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Here is the white piece of fabric I cut out and a little bit of stuffing.

This is the first time I've used this stuffing. I LOVE IT!!! I bought this bag new at a consignment shop for $3.00, so I don't actually know how much it costs in the store. It is little soft pellets of fluff, very soft and doesn't bunch or clump. It feels like down. I think if you click on the picture, you can read the label.

In this step, you just hand sew a quick gathering stitch about 1/4" for the edge. Gather it up a little, feel with desired amount of stuffing, pull tight and knot to tie it off. Here's the bottom.

Here's the top.

Glue your fabric to the bottom cup, just like the other larger version. I used spray glue here too.

Hot glue your little white puff to the top, add some ric rac or ribbon and I glued a red button on for a cherry. The rim of this cover was a gold color. Next time I might use a 1/4" ribbon instead of ric rac, so the gold doesn't show, but the ric rac is just so darn cute.

Isn't it tiny?

From here on is where you can use your imagination. I glued on red beads to look like jimmies or do you call them sprinkles.

Then I glued on teal ones for an extra color. You can keep going and going...so fun to decorate.

Now, for all the uses:

• pin box (holds pins on the inside and pin cushion on the top.
• a holder just for needles
• a gift box for that little special present
• a gift box if you are giving money as the present
• party favor boxes for your little girl's birthday.
• place card holders

The ideas are endless...

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Hope you liked this tutorial too. I enjoyed this Tool Time a lot for obvious reasons (yummy)!! For next Tuesday, you'd better start eating plenty of canned goods or perking your coffee at home...and save the coffee cans.

See you next week,

~Karen~

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p.s.

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Remember if you have made anything from my tutorials, I would love to show everyone your creation. I started doing it a while back on "Friends on Friday". I have 2 for today which I will post right after this.

Tool Time Tuesday...Recycled Ice Cream Container

Here is the second part to this week's Tool Time. Half Baked is Kelsie's favorite ice cream flavor. It's chocolate and vanilla ice cream with gobs of fudge brownies and chocolate chip cookie dough. It didn't take her too long to get through this container, which is good for me (I'm on a container search). I like ice cream, but if I had to choose, I like salty things...hmmm. I see a Pringles container in my future. Onto the tutorial...
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Let's turn this container into a little sewing center...


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that is soooo cute!!!
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First step: Measure the top edge of the container just under the rim. Add a little for over lap.
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Measure the length from top to bottom. Add about 1/2" for turning under on the bottom edge.

I cut my piece 11" x 4".

Here is where you will glue the fabric on. I used the spray glue like I used for the donut box. The spray glue works fast. You have 15 seconds to place the fabric. I scrambled...you need to place it and then work the pleats out evenly towards the bottom. The cup tapers down at the bottom so there will be pleats, but it reminds me of cup cake papers (hint, hint for the next tutorial this week). I used a little hot glue to seal down the seams of the 2 ends.

I used hot glue for the rest of the project. Here, I turned down the bottom edge and glued it in place.

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Finished bottom edge.

Finished container.

Now onto the cover. Trace the cover on thin cardboard, file folder or poster board.

Trim inside the circle.

In this picture, I trimmed too much. I re-cut another to the black rim, but forgot to take a picture.
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You will need fabric and batting. The picture shows 2 pieces of batting, but I suggest 3. I remade the cover, because I wanted it a little puffier. Your choice here.

Take the cardboard circle and eyeball the center.

Poke a hole with a pen (don't I sound so technical) These instructions would never pass the editor if I ever wrote a Tool Time book!!!

Trim the fabric to 1/2" to 1" larger then the cardboard circle.

Cut the batting the same size as the cardboard circle. Two are shown here, but I used 3.

Find the centers of all fabric parts.

Fold into quarters and snip just a tiny little bit off the point. If you snip too much, you'll have a hole big enough to drive a truck through.

See...just a little snip.

No truck is getting through there.

Layer all the parts: Fabric, batting to the wrong side of fabric and the the cardboard.

Now hot glue down the edges. Start at one point, then do the other side opposite from that to keep the fabric even.

Then do the other sides.

Finish it off until it is neatly pleated.

Here is the top side.

Now we need to attach it to the cover. Take the cover and poke a small hole in the center.

Here you will need the knob that I showed you in the other TTT. Knobs are made for cabinet doors, so they have long screws to fit the thickness of the wood. You will need to switch out the screw to a shorter one and you also need 2 washers. Don't take the washers from here, because you need those to make circles.

The screws that are for knobs are machine screws, because the have a flat tip. This size fits my knob. You may need to bring your knob to the store to find one that fits or just raid some one's tool box!!

First, place one washer over the hole on the inside of the cover.

Then stick in the screw.

Place your fabric and batting circle on the top of the cover over the screw that has poked through. Now, place the second washer over the screw on top of the fabric.

Take your knob...

and twist it onto the screw.

Hot glue some ric rac on the edge of the cover and you are done.

Again, you can use this for anything...a gift box, goody package, but since we all sew, I like the fluffy top part for a pincushion and the inside for all my hand sewing items. This is the perfect size for my hexagons. If you match it to your decor, you can leave it beside your favorite chair and no one will know your sewing is in there.

Look for the next one probably Friday. I had to work an extra day this week and it's cutting into my creativity time!!!

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See you soon,

~Karen~