Credit Card Wallet

December is here and if you're like me, you are looking for small, quick gift ideas.  This Credit Card Wallet is an easy (and useful!) choice.  I made it in 2 sizes.

The large wallet is the size of a chequebook;  it measures 3-1/2" x 7" and has slots for 12 cards.

 The smaller wallet has 8 card slots and measures 3-1/2" x 5".

Directions for the wallets follow, the only difference in the construction is the initial size of the cut pieces and the number of strips needed for card slots.
Materials Required:
For the large wallet:
2 pieces cotton print each 8" x 8" (main fabric)
6 pieces coordinating cotton print, each 4" x 8" (card slots)
2 pieces 8" x 8" heavy weight fusible interfacing*

For the small wallet:
2 pieces cotton print each 6" x 8" (main fabric)
4 pieces coordinating cotton print, each 4" x 8" (card slots)
2 pieces 6" x 8" heavy weight fusible interfacing*

For both:
1 covered elastic (hair elastic)
Sewing thread to match
Disappearing marker

* For interfacing, I used Pellon # 808 Craft Fuse (from Mrs P's)

Directions: Following manufacturer's instructions, fuse the interfacing to the back of the main fabric pieces.

Fold the 4" x 8" card slot strips in half wrong sides together and press. (For the large wallet, you have 6 strips and for the small wallet you have 4.)

With a disappearing marker, for the small wallet draw 3 parallel lines spared 1" apart on the long edge of your fabric. (For the large wallet, draw 5 parallel lines spaced 1" apart along one edge of your fabric.)

Place the raw edges of one of the folded 4" x 8" card slot pieces along the line closest to the bottom. (The folded edge will extend past the bottom of the main fabric.)  Pin in place; topstitch using a narrow, 1/8" seam allowance. (You will flip this fabric up to cover the seam once all the strips are sewn in place.)

Continue adding the folded card slot strips to each line in the same manner. You will have one strip left over. Flip each strip up over the stitching line, and press in place.

Place remaining strip raw edges even with the bottom of the main fabric and stitch.

With disappearing marker, measure in 4" from the edge and draw a line down the centre of your wallet.

From the bottom up, stitch along this line in a matching thread.

Place remaining interfaced main fabric piece right sides together with your wallet and pin around outside edges, leaving an opening to turn.  (I left the top edge open as it had less bulk.)  Stitch around your wallet using a 1/2" seam allowance. This will ensure your cards fit snugly in the slots. Turn your wallet right side out through the opening, and press. Test your slots with a card to make sure they are the right size.  If they are too snug, you will need to go back and take a narrower seam allowance.  If they are too large, sew again with a larger seam allowance. When you are happy with the fit, close the opening with machine or hand stitches.

Open your wallet and on the inside,stitch top to bottom over the previous line of stitching.  This will ensure a nice crease so your wallet folds neatly.On the outside, find the centre of your wallet and top stitch the elastic ring.  

Fold the wallet and loop the elastic around to snug it closed.

 All done!

Slip a Tim Card inside for a great gift!

This big red one won't be going anywhere, though...

It's filled up and in use already *-)  I love it, and as you can see...I needed it!

Have fun.  Send pictures! :)

Father's Day Reminder!

If you've left your shopping late, don't forget this quick little mug mat for Dad.  Instructions here.

Thinking Outside The Blocks

One of the things I enjoy most is taking a traditional quilt block and changing it up a bit to give a different look. This block make-over is just in time to be a perfect Father's Day gift.  When I think of Father's Day, my  mind stereotypically goes to brightly coloured bow ties...although I know my hubby would not appreciate receiving one!

Here's a way to give Dad a different kind of bowtie, that he can enjoy every day without having to dress up. He can keep it on his desk.

I picked up several Fat Quarters of polka dots at Mrs. Pugsley's.  She carries a lot of Michael Miller fabrics, and no one does dots quite like Michael Miller. If you would like to make this very simple Bowtie Mug Mat for the special man in your life, the directions follow:

Bowtie Mug Mat

Finished size:  11-1/4" x 5-1/2"    
Materials Required: 

2, 4-1/2" squares, one 2-1/2" square of fabric
Backing fabric: 12" x 6"

Batting :12" x 6" (fusible fleece, cotton batting)
Sewing thread to match

Seam allowance of 1/4" used throughout

Sewing Directions:

From fabric cut 2, 4-1/2" squares, one 2-1/2" square.  

Cut the 2-1/2/" square diagonally, corner to corner forming two triangles.

Position triangles as shown and sew using a 1/4" seam allowance.  Press seam open.  

Lay out pieces as shown and join across centre.  Press seam to one side.

Sew across centres, matching seams.  Press seam to one side.

Layer face down on backing and batting.  Note that I don't bother to cut the backing to shape at this point;  it will be trimmed after stitching. Sew around edges, leaving an opening to turn on one of the 4-1/2" sides (shown between red pins).

Clip into seam allowance on the four inside corners.

Turn right side out through the opening, press, and slip stitch opening closed.  Machine stitch along outside edges and through centre seams.

Enjoy!

If you make a Bowtie Mug Mat, remember to send a picture to share here.

Hearts Entwined

It seems a bit early to post for Valentine's Day, but realistically if you are making something, you need some lead time to get it done. You've only got a month left!  Last year I posted a tutorial for this cute mug mat:

Lots of you have acquired the free pattern through Craftsy, making it one of their top downloads. With her usual energy and creative spark, Jeanne Kaye Speight of Federicton has taken the design one step further and made this adorable wall hanging - kind of a his and hers.

Jeanne Kaye writes, "I loved the heart you designed, so I enlarged it, and did it in opposites for a wall hanging inside my front door for St. Valentine's Day.  Love it!  Thanks for another great pattern."  It's just sweet!  I am not sure how large Jeanne Kaye made her hearts, but I am sure we could ask if anyone is interested in knowing.  Thanks so much for sharing this,Jeanne Kaye - you rock! If you'd like to make your own spiral heart, the pattern is free here.

Santa Baby: Ornament Tutorial

I think I may have mentioned a time or two my love for all things Santa. A few years ago when my boys were young, I made these Santa ornaments as a bit of nonsense to hang on the tree.  Pictures of the boys were printed on inkjet fabric sheets and a little sheep's wool was added for the beard.They were a big hit and I ended up making quite a few as gifts for friends (with pictures of their own kids I mean, not mine!) All good fun.

I haven't made any for some years, but now my sister has a grand baby and I figured she would love one. (Nancy, if you are reading this:  stop now and come back after Christmas!)  In this post I will share directions for the ornament, the full sized foundation, and instructions on how you can personalize it for a special child.

The original block had been drawn in EQ2 I think, and those files are long gone from my archives so I redrew it in EQ7, eliminating several patches to simplify the piecing.  It's pretty close to the original...even improved, as it allows a  bit more space for the face. It's simple to foundation piece.

Santa Baby Ornament

Finished Size:  8" high x 4" wide                             1/4" seam allowance used throughout

Materials Required

Santa Baby Foundation (click here to download from my website)

Close up digital picture of a cute baby (about 1-1/2" square) 

Scraps of red, white and black fabric 

Backing fabric 8-1/2" x 5"

An inkjet printer sheet (and a printer!)

A small amount of fibrefill for stuffing

Small amount of wool for beard (you could even use a bit of the fibrefill stuffing)

Sewing thread

8" piece of floss (or narrow ribbon) for hanging

hand needle (for sewing the opening closed).

Rotary cutter and mat

Sewing machine

Hot melt glue gun

Directions:
First, download the foundation. Please note that when you go to print the pdf, you must have the box checked which says ACTUAL SIZE, 100%,  otherwise your templates will not print correctly.

Find an appropriate picture to use for Santa Baby's face.Wanting to keep this a surprise and not tip my hand, I nonchalantly asked for a close-up picture of  Taylor.  Here's what I got...adorable, but not exactly my idea of a close up!

I cropped in close to her face in Photoshop so that the image was more-or-less square.  (Oh, this is going to be so cute with those chubby cheeks and that little tongue sticking out!)

I inserted the photo into a word processing program.  Unsure of which size would look best in the design, I formatted it in 3 sizes.  In the end, the 3.75 cm x 3.75 cm  (1-1/2") size in the middle row below worked best.

The images were printed on inkjet printable fabric sheets (available at Mrs. Pugsley's) and trimmed 1/4" past the edge of the photo on all sides.

 The photo goes in the #1 spot in the foundation, with the wrong side of the photo facing the wrong side of the paper. (i.e. the printed size is facing you and the picture is facing away from you on the back of the paper.)

 It helps to hold it up to the window to get it properly placed;  you want at least 1/4" extending past all the lines.  When you are happy with the placement, secure with a pin. (Note:  I moved it up 1/4" after this picture was taken before sewing;  it was hard to get the fabric in the right spot while taking this picture.)

From here on in, follow the numbers until your foundation is complete. If you are not familiar with foundation piecing, a Google search should bring you lots of help.  Trim with your rotary cutter on the outside lines.

 Place your pieced foundation right sides together with your backing fabric and stitch around the outside lines, leaving an opening to turn along one side.  You can see I didn't cut my backing to size,I stitched and trimmed in one step.  At this point, carefully remove your paper foundation. Clip your corners and turn right side out through the opening.

Just try to stop smiling as you stuff your Santa Baby with fibre fill, and stitch the opening closed with hand stitches.

 They look like a line of Rockettes :)

I debated about this next part, since this is a little girl, but in the end...Santa Baby really needed a beard.  I washed some wool which came from a nearby farm in Nappan, heated up the glue gun, and put on a dab to hold the wool in place.

I used red embroidery floss as a hanger, just stitching a loop to the back.

There is one for Taylor's Mom, and one for each set of grandparents: a fun keepsake for baby's first Christmas.

 Enjoy! If you make some, I sure hope you'll share a picture with us.