11/5/16

No sew runner tutorial


I had many people request instructions on the mini no-sew runners. Here is a repost of the instructions on how to make them.

I love making no-sew runners. My niece Amy showed me this neat trick last year and I have making them ever since. I like to make the smaller versions so I'm not sure if you would call them runners or doilies but either way, they are super simple. I thought I would write the steps out for anyone who wants to give it a whirl. You will need material, scissors, iron and a roll of hem tape (otherwise known as heat & bond). I recommend you do not use your best iron unless you use a dish towel to lay over each step when you iron. Otherwise, you could get the hem tape stuck on the iron. I bought a cheap iron for $6.00 at Walmart as my craft iron. It works perfectly.


First, select a piece of fabric and determine the finish size you want. Add about 1-2 inches on each side to have enough for your finish size. I cut this piece of material at 10 x 14. Your edges don't need to be perfect because you will be turning them under. 


Press your material to remove any wrinkles then turn it with the front side face down. Fold in each side about 1-2 inches and press the fold down on every side. 


Your back side should now look like this. 


Now you will lift each side one at a time and measure out your hem tape. I love this stuff because you can just tear it off when you get the length you need. 


Lay the piece of hem tape inside the fold.


Fold the fabric back over the tape, hiding it inside the fold. 


Set you iron in the middle of the cotton/linen setting on your switch. Do one side of your fabric at a time. Cover the side you are ironing with a soft cloth or dish towel to avoid getting the tape on the iron. Hold it down on sections at a time for 10 seconds. DO NOT run the iron up and down the seam. Simply hold it over a section, count to 10 and move to the next section and repeat until you do the entire side of the fabric.


Repeat this process on all four sides of your fabric.


When you are done, your back should look something like this. 


Next, turn your material so the short width is facing you. Bend the corners in to a triangle shape that makes the fabric come to a point on the end. 


Iron it in place to create a seam.


Open up each side and place tape on each side of the turned in pieces. 


Then gently lay the fabric back down to cover the hem tape.


Hold your iron on each section for 10 seconds, sealing the seams. Repeat on the other end.


If you want, you can use hot glue to put a button or a bow on each of the pointed ends. 


And here is the finished product. 


You can place a candle, a candy dish, a figurine, anything you want. I made this one for my Russian stacking doll and a candy dish. 


This looks like a lot of steps, but it really only takes about 10-20 minutes to make one depending on the size. The more comfortable you get, the faster you can do them. I can do one in about 12 minutes. 
I made this one last year to set a big snowman on.


I love poinsettias. It is my birth month flower and my mom & mamaw always set out poinsettias every Christmas. So I had to make this when I spotted the material.


Last year, I used it for a little mini poinsettia plant and my Christmas tea for one set. I just loved how it turned out.


I am making some for gifts this year. I have 3 made and have about 10-12 more to make. I will probably make them tonight and tomorrow night so they are done and can get marked off my list. I have a lot of material to choose from. 


As you can see, I will have a lot of variety for my gift runners.

11/4/16

Friday Foto Friends

Hooking up at Friday Foto Friends. Happy 1 year anniversary Ms. Debbie. It's been an amazing year following the Friday Foto Friends. Thanks for allowing us to participate.

A couple of years ago, I saw on Pinterest where you can make table scarves and runners without sewing. All you need is fabric, hem tape, and an iron. This was one of the first ones I made. 


I liked it so well, I experimented with a different shape.


And then got brave enough to do one for my coffee table. I've been doing them ever since for holidays. They are super easy and make great last minute gifts. Only takes about 7 - 10 minutes to make one. The smaller ones are even less time. 


Two years ago Dunkin Donut came out with the croissant donut. It became an addiction with me. I have never had such a good donut. They were so popular, they sold out almost as soon as they put them in the display case. Despite the fact they were an amazing seller for them, they just kept them a short time. This popped up in my Facebook memories today and made me want one so bad.


Several years ago, a lady made me this red and blue Christmas dish towel. So I incorporated the blue Pyrex snowflakes into my kitchen Christmas display. Last year, I ended up selling someone my blue snowflake. Now this year, I want to do this display again so I'm on the hunt for some Pyrex snowflakes. Wish me luck. I get mad at myself when I realized I had all this and got rid of it.


And to leave you with a smile on your face.......


See, even Super Heroes have embarrassing moments. Don't let life get you down. SMILE!

11/3/16

Love the little blessings....


My photo challenge today was leaves. I didn't get a chance to get a photo of any yesterday so I thought it would be best to post the beautiful picture of the grandeur of fall in the Great Smoky Mountains. I love living here and never tire of the site of the mountains.


I have a lady that I barter with a lot and I traded her a little tote the other day for this Hallmark Christmas coffee pot. I am in love. 


This same friend has another friend who went to an auction and bought a pallet of boxes not knowing what was in them. There were a few boxes of some little make up cases and travel items. She gave my friend two boxes of them (6 of each per box) and she gave me one box of them. These would make some cute gifts. 


I got a Thirty-One order in for a lady yesterday and look at the bag she ordered. I absolutely adore this pattern. Now I want something in it.


Hope everybody has a great day.

11/2/16

Random Wednesday


My challenge picture for the 2nd of November is Candy. Like that's a hard one for me. I have decided to try to make a new fudge this year for Christmas. It is called Snickers Fudge.


I stayed over at work last night to see the Dixie Stampede Christmas Show. We didn't eat the dinner as we just sat there to see it as part of our sales training for Guest Services. But it was amazing. I can't wait to go back and do the full experience with my family.


It's going to be a busy day today. I can feel it in my bones. Time to pack a hearty lunch and start heading out the door soon for an action packed day. I have never worked anywhere where I absolutely look forward to going to work every day.

11/1/16

Welcome November



I am going to try to do the photo challenge this year for November. Since today is the 1st, at least I'm off to a good start.


The topic for the first is costume. My handsome baby brother had all 5 of his grandchildren come to his house so he was able to get his pic with the Oz family and Minnie Mouse. I love this picture. 


These long days and cool evenings put me in the mood for breakfast. I love bacon and eggs so this was Sunday night. 


Last night I had biscuits and gravy. Nothing else. Just biscuits with homemade bacon gravy. It may not look the best in the world, but it was delicious.


I figured since I had a plate that says bread, it was appropriate for biscuits. What is it with me and plates that say something?


I love this quote I found. I made it my Facebook cover.


Have a Happy November 1st.







10/31/16

Weekend wrap up...


I was off work on Friday so my friend, Sherrie, and I went to McKay's bookstore. I didn't have many to return for trade in value, I was hoping to get at least $5 or $6. But I ended up with $16 in trade in credit and these came to $20.05 so I only paid $4.05 for 15 books. You just gotta love a great deal. Really happy that I found the rest of my Sherryl Wood Destiny series. Plus I was able to find the first four in the Virgin River series by Robyn Carr. I also got a couple of books that are Christmas romances. These should all last me till the middle or end of December. 


Every year around Thanksgiving/Christmas, Necco puts out Orange Creme Thin Mints. They are so addictive. I buy them up when I find them so I can have them through the holidays. Family Dollar had three boxes the other day, so I snatched them up.


I cut out my plastic canvas to start making some snowmen. Four or five of my friends want one of these so I need to get busy. It takes about one to one and a half hours to make one in the canvas. I just have to gather twigs somewhere before I start assembling them. I'm just doing the canvas pieces for now.


Saturday was a 10 hour work day and they fed us pizza around 4:00. I had a piece then and another piece around 8:30 so I wasn't really hungry, but stopped by the store to pick up some trash bags and decided to get some caramel dipping sauce for my apples. That reminded me I needed Hershey's syrup which remind me I was out of ice cream. So trash bags turned into this.


Once I got it all home, I realized that I WAS hungry. So I had a late night snack. Am I the only one that fines humor in the fact that I eat a decadent, calorie laden dessert at 11:00 at night in a bowl that says "Nourish". Pretty sure this isn't the right kind of nourishment but man was it delicious.


Since we are decorating today at work for Christmas, they let us have any of the fall mums when we left on Saturday so I took this pretty bunch. Got up Sunday morning before I went to church and decided to grab the piece of old wood laying under my porch and scrub it up and write on it. Not bad for a impromptu fall decor for the rest of the fall through Thanksgiving.


I work a short day today, so I should be home in time to treat the little trick or treaters that come to my house tonight. I don't usually get many, but I always get something to hand out just in case. 


Have a Happy Halloween!