Free Patterns: Sew News

Do you know what the tagline for Sewnews is?  It's: the trusted sewing source.  Well, you can't really beat that when you're looking for sewing advice, tips, and FREE patterns!

When you go to their website you can sign up for free sewing e-books or you can click on the Web Extras.  They have a list of free patterns, sewing tips, and articles that go back to 2006!

I can't possibly show you everything, but here are some of my favourites:

Starting with something simple, I've been meaning to make a pressing ham for ages, one of these days I'll get around to it, maybe with this pattern,

Advice on how to alter your patterns to add pintucking and folding details to a regular pattern:

Have a fancy shmancy event to go to?  Maybe this cute bow clutch is just what you need to finish off your special outfit:

Make a very snazzy looking tote to take to the market:

And some cute super simple projects for the beginners:
   

There's loads more clothing, crafting, and home dec projects.  Check out it and see what you find~

Show and Tell: Pink Pencil Skirt

I have no clue what pattern I used for this pretty skirt (hopefully you'll like it and agree that it's pretty).  It's nothing special really, just a regular old pencil skirt.

My best school teacher impression~

Except that I made it with upholstery fabric~

As soon as I saw this fabric I could only see it as a skirt and couldn't imagine it as a chair or couch or some other piece of furniture.

It's a great outfit for those work meetings when I actually have to look professional and put together.

Everyone should have at least one great fitting pencil skirt in their closet.  Do you???

Make it Great Monday

While I'm off enjoying the sunny beaches in Southern Thailand, my good friend Gen from Cabin Fevered Gem is helping me out by choosing tonight's features...take it away Gen!


Hello lovelies! I couldn't resist a couple of kid picks this week. I'm loving these Dino Hoodies from VixenMade. My son Simon would totally rock these!

And this crayon roll from Raising Oranges. Great tut Katie!

That's all for me ladies! Catch up with you next week. Gen

And don't forget to visit Cabin Fevered Gem .  Gen shares cardmaking, crafts, and recipes when she's not busy getting ready for her biggest project...a new baby!

And now it's time to see what else you've been working on!

Before you link and leave, please remember to only link:
1) Family friendly projects
2) Crafting, sewing, or recipes that you've made yourself
3) Maximum of 3 projects that you haven't link up before
4) Please, no shops or giveaways

Please stick around and visit one or two other links and don't be afraid to leave comments at each other's blogs.  We all love comments don't we??

I have a new party button!




<center><a href="http://www.etcetorize.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k554/Etcetorize/2012PartyButton150.jpg"/></a></center>

You don't have to be a follower of Etcetorize, although it would really make my day if you are, but I do ask that you post my party button somewhere on your blog so that others can join in the fun~

All right...are you ready?  What are you wait for?  Let's link!

Travel Journal

By the time you read this I should be somewhere between Hong Kong and Bangkok.  But did you really think I'd leave you hanging with no projects while I'm away...no way!

Whenever I go on vacation it's usually for a fairly lengthy time, usually far too long for me to be able to keep track of everything that happens inside my little head.  So, I always take a travel journal with me, a new one for each trip.

Instead of purchasing something though, I decided to embellish something I already had laying around.  It seems the latest and greatest "gift" to give employees at my workplace are small recycled plain notebooks.  I suppose the idea is that we're supposed to use them for work, seeing as the logo is plastered right on the front, but you know, I like to be a little different~

Here's what you'll need to make your own journal:


I also used my Silhouette SD, add a pair of scissors
or punches if you don't have an electronic cutter

Steps:
1) At first I was going to cut out some flowers to put on the front of my book but I just couldn't find anything that caught my eye in my Silhouette library.  Then I remembered...I'm a butterfly girl!  So, I cut out some cute little butterflies in several bright papers.

2) I used Mod Podge to adhere them to the front of my book.  I decided not to do another layer of Mod Podge on top just to go along with the whole recycled earthy look the cover already has.


I forgot to take a shot with them all glued down
but you'll see that in a bit~

3) OK, big deal right?  So I glued some paper down over the company logo so I can really enjoy my vacation.  Does that really warrant an entire tutorial?  No...but here's where we add a little something to make things special!

I "designed" this little shape above to make some tabs so I could section off my book.  It's really just a series of rounded corner rectangles welded together, so if you don't have an electronic cutter you could probably just do something similar on your own with a ruler~

4) Just cut a bunch of tab shapes in the same pretty papers, score the centre lines and get ready to glue.

5) Press your first side down on the front of the page:

6) Turn the page over and press down the other side. So super easy!

7) Section off your book and add your tabs throughout.  In my travel journals I like to have these sections:
-journal
-blog notes
-photo log
-purchases
-miscellaneous

Tah dah!

So pretty right?

But wait...there's more!  While I had my Mod Podge out I figured I better cover the logo on my pen too.

So, there it is all together and ready to go.  I can't wait to use it!

If you want to keep up with my travels just click here.

Free Patterns: McCall's

Last week I showed you some of the cute new designs out in McCall's early spring pattern catalogue.  Did you know that McCall's began as a small company in the States in 1870?!?!  You know if something's been around that long, they must be doing something right.

Did you also know, that you don't always have to pay top dollar for their patterns?  You can find Free Downloadable patterns on their website.

You'll find several different kind of organizers. 

Bags:

 

 Even Hats:

There are lots of crafty type projects too!

Check it out and see what you find~

Show and Tell: Soaps

Have you ever bought something thinking you couldn't wait to use it, just had to have it because it was such a great deal, and you just knew it would come in super handy...and then it sat in the closet for years...untouched????  Just me?  Ohhhkayyyyyyyy, anyway...

A few weeks ago when I pulled out my long forgotten Candle Making kit to create my Pinspired Crystal Candles, I also pulled out my long forgotten Soap Making kit.

It's been many years since I bought it but I do remember it was a steal.  It came with a pack of soap, a mold, and a cool soap melter, all for the low low price of $9.99.  I had to have it! 

And here's what I made with it:

 I used a silicon mold I bought when I thought I was going to get into resin work (another unopened box in my closet).

I think the bumpy hydrangea petals will feel good in the shower~

And these ones were made with the mold that came with the kit.

I love how transparent they are~

I took a peek in Micheal's recently and they have loads of neato soap making supplies.  This just might become another new obsession.  It was super easy and wasn't anywhere near as messy as I thought it would be.

And they make super cute little gifts!