Cozy up and Enjoy your Coffee featuring Kunin® Felt and hand embroidery

Enjoy working with Kunin Felt

When the opportunity to join the DCC blog hop featuring Kunin Felt was offered to me, I jumped at the chance to work with this ecofriendly, made in the USA felt!  I love to work with felt but so many of the craft felts disappoint as they are thinner and do not hold up well with embroidery. Also, being allergic to wool takes me out of the market to embroider with the beautiful rainbow of colors that wool offers.  Upon receiving my envelope of felt goodness, I immediately knew this was no ordinary craft felt.  Here’s a little more information from Debra Quartermain, Design Lead from Kunin Felt Product-

“Kunin Felt recycles billions of water bottles every year that would otherwise be in the landfills and makes them into a product which becomes felt.  12 bottles equal 1 lb. of felt.  The felt is weather resistant and fade proof, great for outdoor décor. You can even line your garden beds or patio with it, weed free!  The felt diecuts beautifully.  You can even emboss it and stamp on it.”

 

Beautiful colors

As I took out the Classicfelt and the Premiumfelt, I knew this {felt} felt good in my hands, so it was going to make a great cozy to wrap around my coffee mug/tumbler which is where my hands are every morning around 5 am! I decided to run the felt through my Sizzix Big Shot and create my own embellishments and sentiment for my cozy. The Premium felt in smoke, was the perfect base piece to make the cozy and with new seasons approaching, I decided to cut leaves, a teacup and ‘Enjoy’ along with a few hearts to share my love of coffee, embroidery and Kunin Felt.  This project was a work of heart and also was finished in an evening. I love this felt so much that I am working on the second one and will hopefully keep adding to my coffee love with cozies and Kunin Felt! Pour a cup of joe, and let’s get started making a cozy –you might even be finished before your second cup!

I had the beads ready but decided I liked the
embroidery without the beads!

 

This felt die cuts with ease.
I loved the stitching the leaves!

Gather

9” x 12” Classicfelt in Olive, White, Baby Pink, Baby Blue

12” x 18” Premiumfelt in Smoke

Cozy pattern*

Sizzix dies in Harvest Pumpkin, Primitive Hearts

Spellbinders die – ‘Enjoy’

Provo Craft die - Hearts

Fabric scissors

DMC embroidery floss – white, 470, 519, 605

Embroidery needle, scissors

Sewing machine

Sewing thread in Black

Pins

 *If you are interested in this pattern, email  me at  chantal515@verizon.net with cozy pattern in the subject and I will send you a pdf that you can print out on heavy card stock paper for you very own use.

Make

1.     Place cozy pattern on Smoke. Pin in place and cut.

2.     Die cut leaves, teacup, hearts and ‘Enjoy’ with Sizzix Big Shot.

Arrange pieces in the center of the cozy

3.     Once, all pieces are cut, find center of cozy and begin to pin all pieces in place.

Close up of embroidery stitches

4.     For the leaves, use 2 strands of DMC 470 and the stem stitch to outline/highlight the inner part of the leaves.

5.     For ‘Enjoy’, use 2 strands of 519 placing French knots on the letters to secure.

6.     With DMC in white and the running stitch, stich around the teacup

7.     With DMC 605, add a few French knots to the mini heart inside the teacup.

8.     Once the front is completed, pin the ends right side together, and with the sewing machine, straight stitch to create a ¼” seam and create the cozy. Turn rightside out.

The back is as pretty as the front!

9.     With DMC 605, secure the larger heart to the back with French knots

Until next time, slip your finished cozy around a delicious cup of coffee and sit back and admire your handiwork! While you are relaxing, be sure to check out more projects using Kunin Felt on the DCC blog

Cozy up with a wonderful cup of coffee or tea!

Amazing Appliance Makeovers featuring a vintage 1940's Kitchen Aid mixer and a little crockpot dipper and Mod Podge™

Covered in TLC and Mod Podge®

A new 1940's vintage Kitchen Aid

Mod Podge®…. who knew it would be the go to decoupage, sealer and more way back in the 70’s when as a little girl, I remember my mom using this amazing stuff that was in a funky orange and yellow bottle!! She would use it on everything from “Decoupage-ing” recipes onto wood breadboards to sealing hand painted home décor items and more.   I love the story of how it began by Jan Wetstone in the 1960’s!!  She has made a lasting impact on crafters everywhere and also on the beautifully crafted pieces that are made.  My mom’s breadboards are as perfect today as they were when she first made them. 

So when I was asked to participate in this blog hop, without hesitation, I added my name to the list.  I have been “Mod Podging” since I was a little girl and it is my go-to glue, decoupage and sealer. 

My Goody Box!!

To my surprise, I received a wonderful goody box that contained Mod Podge®, brushes that were made by Plaid for Mod Podge® and a few other treasures.  Thank you, Plaid®!! But what was I to create; the ideas are boundless, limitless…paper or fabric, glass or wood…and then I remembered how on a recent trip to London, I had fallen in love with  Liberty of London’s famous fabric patterned toasters, mixers and more. 

Liberty of London's Toaster and Tea Kettle!- My Inspiration!!

A few supplies....

Would there be a way to use Mod Podge on an appliance????  YES… it’s the Dishwasher safe Mod Podge®!! So to the treasure store I went, searching for an appliance to cover with originally designed paper and Mod Podge®!  On my first stop, I found (and purchased) a little Crockpot dipper for $3.99 and it was 30% off!!  I continued to look for more appliances but some were too big, too many hinges, too expensive… So this little dipper was just the right size to begin this endeavor.

While working with this project, I decided to use the brushes that were in my goody box.  I have seen them in the stores but truthfully,  I thought all brushes were equal and I always used sponge brushes…well, not anymore!  These are fantastic brushes and brushing on even coats has never been easier!!  They wash and dry beautifully and are ready to be used again and again!  These now will be special brushes only for Mod Podge® and as for the sponge brushes- they will get to be used with something else.

  

Now, that I have finished this little appliance, I am onto  covering a 1940’s vintage Kitchen Aid Mixer (see pictures below-blog post to follow)and is search of the perfect tea kettle!!  I feel that if Jan and I had met in person, we would be covering everything from dishes to doors and everything in between! 

Ready, Set…Mod Podge!!

Gather

Mod Podge® brush set, decoupage

Mod Podge® - Dishwasher safe

Mini Crockpot or appliance of choice

Sand block or sandpaper

Paper - I used one of my Original Designs Collage Art Papers

Scissors

Pencil or marking tool

Rubbing Alcohol

Cotton pads

Damp Rag

Make

1.  Wash and Dry appliance.  If there is a sticky residue, use rubbing alcohol and a cotton pad to remove.  Wash and dry again.

2.  If the appliance has stainless steel or metal, use the sanding block to remove the finish and provide “tooth” for the paper to adhere.

 

Sand lightly with a sanding block to remove finish

3.  Lay the paper around the appliance in manageable lengths.  Use a pencil or marking tool to mark the area to be trimmed so as to fit the appliance.  Repeat this to cover entire area.

 

Mark paper around odd shapes or cords in the appliance

Trimmed and ready to apply

4.  With the Mod Podge® decoupage brush, apply Dishwasher safe Mod Podge® to the back of the paper and onto the corresponding area of appliance.  Gently Place paper onto the appliance smoothing it down in one direction; repeat this step until the entire area is covered.

5.  Once the entire area is covered, begin to seal the paper-covered appliance with DW Mod Podge®.  Coat the entire area making sure to smooth out any bubbles or “blobs” of the Mod Podge®.  Let dry for 1 -2 hours and repeat this 3-4 times to build up a strong seal. 

***Use the damp rag to wipe any excess Mod Podge® that may get onto parts of the appliance that is not being covered as you work on covering and sealing the appliance.

 

Need to smooth out the paper and the bubbles- the brushes
work great here!!

Until next time,  grab something that needs a little TLC and cover it with a little Mod Podge® Love!!

  

To find more Mod Podge® inspiration, visit their website and this wonderful blog hop by Designer Crafts

Two for Texas featuring etchall® creme and two techniques for two different styles for etching glass

Two jars found there way in to my studio....what to do? etchall®!!  This was such a fun and quick project and yet the result is Texas-size beautiful!!  

Using my Cricut and the etchall® etchmask, I cut a 3" stencil of Texas.  On the first jar, I used the stencil outline along with the etchall® creme...set the timer for 15 minutes...poured the creme back in to the jar of etchall®, rinsed, removed tape and stencil and....TEXAS!!!  I added some jute and a hand painted ICE Resined wood heart.  I just love this jar!!!  And whatever will go in it,  will shine as bright as the stars at night....

Nestle the jars between two rolled up dishtowels

Tape all around the jar so as not to spread the etchall®
creme in unwanted places

Pour enough creme to cover entire surface.this one could
have even had little more creme....

For the second jar, I used the solid Texas from the stencil and used a slightly different technique...texturizing or stippling for those of you in the "Stencil World." Once "Texas" was adhered to the jar, I used a sea sponge to dab etchall® creme to the entire jar (except the Texas area)...set the timer for 15 minutes... rinsed, removed the Texas etch mask and...the jar was etched in a beautiful allover textured pattern while Texas was clear and crisp just like our perfect Texas evenings in the fall.  To finish this jar, I added white seam binding, a heart etched with arrows and a little dangling heart!!

In this texture technique, do not reuse the etchall® creme as it is not
as thick and you do not want to smear the design!

I do love all thing Texas and with etchall®, it was easy to add the great state to a few repurposed jars!!

As an etchall® Ambassador, I love to share with you tips, techniques and projects for you to be inspired... Here's one more inspiration wishing you JOY as big as Texas!

This jar is filled with flowers of joy---the etched
 background is perfect for dry erase markers!!!

For more wonderful ideas for using and purchasing etchall® products and to learn more about etching, please visit their website.  

Until next time, I hope your day is etched with great memories and great joy!!

Petticoats on the Prairie- Vintage Market in Coleman, Texas

I am so excited to be a part of this wonderful West Texas Vintage Market that will be in just a few weeks from now!!  It will be a two day show with great vendors, food trucks and of course, great treasures!!! From handmade to antiques, you will be able to find a treasure to take home!!  I will be debuting my own paper and fabric line along with my hand painted Resined jewelry and home decor...along with a few vintage finds...I hope to see y'all here - make plans for a weekend getaway!!  For more information, check it out here

My paper pads!!! 

Until Next Time, I hope you're finding treasures in the everyday!!