Printable Mini Princess Crowns 2

With the first set, I said that I was making a pattern for a felt crown for my daughter. 

She's thrilled with how it turned out.

  

It's stitched to a hair comb because her hair is so thick and wavy they work very well for her. For girls with finer or straighter hair a head band made of elastic, ties, or a barrette might work better.

Here's the pattern for the crown.

  

I used two layers of craft felt glued together with PVA glue. I spread a thin layer glue on a sheet of felt than folded it in half width wise. Put it between 2 layers of wax paper and set it under a book to dry flat. The next day, trace the crown pattern on the felt and in the jewel color, cut out 5 circles to fit in the top. With embroidery floss, all 6 strands together in a tapestry needle, blanket stitch around the whole thing, stitching the "jewels" in as you get to the top of each point. Butt the ends against each other and stitch them together. Stitch to whatever you are using for your hair. 

Lots of different things possible. Sequins, embroidery, whatever. I went with simple but do plan to play more with the pattern.

Here are printable versions if you'd like those instead. I didn't mark the holes for the elastic cord like the other crown, but the holes go roughly halfway between the center point and the back seam towards the base of the crown.As usual, click on the small versions for the full sized versions.

 

 

Mini Notebooks

After cutting out all the animal cards yesterday, I kept looking at them thinking "They would make cute mini notebooks" and after a bit I grabbed a sheet of blank paper and did a quick notebook with one.

First, you'll need the card. This is just the example. The pdf has 300 ppi cards on it.

It was so easy. I pulled out my 2 inch circle punch and folded a sheet of paper in half length wise, unfolded it, and folded in the edges to the middle, then refolded the middle in the other direction.


Then measuring by eye, I cut 8 sets of pages going through all 4 layers of paper and leaving a folded edge intact.

If you don't have a circle punch, just trace the outline of a folded card 4 times butting the folded edge of the card against the folded edge of the paper and cut out the pages.
Then I nested the pages together, making  a stack with them unfolded and lined up the fold with the fold in the open card. Tie a piece of embroidery floss around the fold in the middle. Close it up!

You can put it under a book overnight so it's very flat if you'd like.
I'm absolutely making more of these.

Cute Animal Valentine Cards

 

Actually I think these are okay for all seasons. The shine in the eyes is heart shaped which is what makes them Valentines. They are blank on the inside for a personal note.

Cut them apart, then score and fold on center line. Line it up in a 2 inch circle punch so the folded edge doesn't quite meet the edges of the punch, then punch through both layers, or fold it in half and cut around the edge of the circle. I use a Uchida circle punch and had no problems getting through both layers.

Download the PDF HERE.

Review: Day of the Dead Crafts

Day of the Dead Crafts: More than 24 Projects that Celebrate Dia de los Muertos by Kerry Arquette, Andrea Zocchi and Jerry Vigil
I purchased this book for my daughter and I. It was her choice.
It contains a bit of history about Dia de los Muertos and a lot of full color projects and pictures of wonderful art for inspiration.
It's better for crafters with some experience, most of the projects aren't step by step to make exactly what's pictured but rather guidelines for allowing your own creativity to flourish.
The section on calaveras was a favorite. It explains how to make them out of polymer clay and gives lots of ideas for other mediums including paper, wood and my personal favorite, the idea of embroidering skeleton features on a rag doll. That one doesn't have a pattern, but the idea is great and I think that's the sort my daughter will want to make.
There are instructions for making paper mache skulls or skull masks using a purchased plain face mask and a balloon that I know will be a family project this year.
The jewelry section has some great projects in it. My favorite are the different charms. I have some plastic skull beads and one charm was a very nice colorful wire and bead skeleton. The painted pearl earrings were lovely as well.
Very recommended for the variety of crafting mediums and the gorgeous photographs.
The Amazon link is an affiliate link and helps pay some of the costs of maintaining this site.
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I posted a new pair of earrings to Beadwork at BellaOnline.com. You can find the pattern here.