Homespun Spring Stitchery Accent Pillow

A few weeks ago I stitched up this little accent pillow because I had spring fever...now that it's the first day of spring...I am already thinking ahead to planting my annual garden.

This little pillow is fast and easy to make and you only need a handful of supplies. It's a great way to use up some of your homespun fabric scraps.

Here is what you will need:

4 3/4" by 5 1/2" piece of tea-stained muslin fabric
Less than a 1/4 yard of homespun fabric
Embroidery Floss, Needle, Scissors and Embroidery Hoop
Sewing machine and basic sewing supplies
Small amount of poly-fiber fill
Disappearing ink pen

Pattern: On a 4 3/4" by 5 1/2" piece of printer paper, write down the words "My (heart symbol) Is In The Garden. (see photo). This paper should be the exact size of your muslin fabric. Use it as your pattern and trace it onto your muslin fabric using a disappearing ink pen.

Using 3 strands of embroidery floss in the colors you choose, stitch the wording onto the muslin. Once you have your hand stiching done, its time to add a border. From homespun fabric, cut four 2 1/2" by 7 1/2" long strips. Use these strips to make a border around your muslin piece. Once you have them attached, measure your front panel. Use those measurements and cut out the same size from homespun fabric. Pin the two pieces together (right sides together) and machine sew around 3 1/2 of the edges. Turn right side out and stuff with fiber fill. Hand sew the opening shut with a blind stitch.

Your little accent pillow is now complete!

~ Happy Crafting ~

Upcycled Easter Eggs Craft Project From Air Freshener Containers

Back in January 2010, I had my nephews here visiting. They are ages 11 and 9 and love to craft with their auntie Shelly...so every time they come, we play with items from my trash to treasure bin. In my bin...I put left-over craft supplies, odds and ends and things that I feel could be upcycled and used in crafts.

Well...for the past several months, I have been purchasing these air fresheners at the local dollar store that come in plastic oval shaped containers. Once the air freshener has dried up, I remove it and wash out the containers (they are 2 part containers). I put them in my scrap bin. While the boys were here, they wanted to paint up the containers and I asked them why...they said "Because they look like Easter Eggs." ding...ding...ding...a new craft project was born.

We laid newspaper down across our work surface since painting is involved. We used both acrylic paints and some of my metallic finish paints. You need to make sure your empty air freshner containers are clean (wash and dry them good). Remove the top portion from the bottom portion and paint each portion separately. You can paint any design that you would like.

Note: We didn't need to use 2 coats of paint...one was sufficient.

Once the paint was dry...we used some glitter glue that dries clear and drew squiggle lines and dots on some of the areas to make them even more pretty. We then left them dry. Using a sponge foam brush, we coated them some matte finish Mod Podge which I watered down. (1 teaspoon tap water per 3 tablespoons of Mod Podge) and sponged it on to seal the paint. We left it dry again for one hour.

Once they are dry, pop the top section back on top of the bottom section. Now you have a colorful reusable Easter Egg Decoration.

You could paint them any color or design that you would like...then place some great smelling potpourri inside them and leave them all all year long.

~ Happy Crafting ~

FREE Crochet Duck and Easter Bunny Pins

Two years ago I found this free pattern online to make cute little crochet duck and bunny pins which I think are totally adorable for the Easter Season.

You can find the pattern and print it out ---> HERE

(Sorry, the designer has removed her post over the years, so I've now removed the link)

The designer of the pattern is named Marlo Cairns and I found her pattern and instructions to be super easy to follow. I think a beginner in the world of crochet could make both of the pins. (printable pattern includes both designs).

Instead of using a black bead for the bunny's eye, I chose to just glue on a wiggle eye as it was quicker. I then used tacky glue and glued a pin back on the backside. You can use your glue to glue on a tiny pom-pom for his 'cotton' tail.

Please read Marlo's copyright guidelines and policy before printing out and using her pattern.

~ Happy Crocheting ~