Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Guest Curator: Squishy Cute

Woodland Animal Patterns // Squishy Cute // Benzie
We want to welcome Squishy Cute Designs to our curated collection team at Benzie -and our first mother and daughter team too! Kelli and Greta, are the creators behind, well, squishy and cute animal and doll patterns! One of my favorite collections is the Woodland Animals. Kelli put together a collection that works with the Raccoon, Barn Owl and the Fox -aren't these browns and rusts just beautiful?. I love that the patterns are so easy to put together -but constructed in such a way that makes them look like a more complicated dimensional animal -add in fun felt colors and thoughtfully placed embroidery and you have made yourself and little forest friend!  Check out Squishy Cute's web site for their pattern shop, blog and tutorials ... and right now a giveaway for Benzie's felt, floss and patterns is going on through this Thursday October 30th -so go visit and enter! Squishy Cute's Felt and Floss collection is available in Benzie's shop.

Woodland Animal Felt Collection // Benzie

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Hexagon Pom-Pom Coasters

Hexagon Felt Pom Coasters // Benzie Design


Hexagon Trivets // Felt Balls // Benzie Design
We are now blogging over at www.benziedesign.com -don't miss out!

You guys, you've seen felt balls before right?! These amazing little round balls of crafty, felted sweetness? Over at Benzie we prefer to call them pom-poms because they are more then just a ball -it's a felt ball of cheer (or a pom-pom)!! We picked up Benzie's smallest size (1cm) and Lifestyle Crafts thin cork and got to work making ourselves a set of cozy coasters.

Felt Ball Coaster DIY

Here are supplies you will need:
-Benzie's Pom-Poms in 1cm size. We used 61 poms per coaster but suggest getting a few more as some poms run large or smaller then 1cm.
-4x12 Cork Adhesive Sheets from Lifestyle Crafts
-Hexagon Nesting Dies from Lifestyle Crafts
-Glue, our all time favorite is a basic, easy hot glue gun but you can use whatever you have on hand.



Hexagon Die Cuts // Lifestyle Crafts // Benzie Design

To make the cork base for the coasters you can cut out a basic hexagon shape with a scissors -but I like using dies cuts makes the process easier and more precise. The nesting dies from Lifestyle Crafts always offer a variety of sizes -but we chose the one with the 1 7/8th sides as a perfect mug size and fit for 1cm poms. But try the largest die and make a trivet too! We used the Evolution Die Cut Machine with our die and cork lined up on the Genius Platform. Cut out two hexagons.

Felt Pom Pom Coasters // Benzie Design

The cork is backed with adhesive -so you have 2 really large stickers. To provide your coaster with a base -you'll want to attach them together -one right on top of the other. Then peel the second hexagon sticker off the top -this sticky side is what you can start placing your poms on. I found that the adhesive really aided me when placing the poms -this will help if you decide to make a pattern or try a different size pom (they won't roll all over!). I started in the middle of the hexagon by placing 9 poms down the center with hot glue. It comes together quickly when making one long strip of glue down the middle and lining up poms one after another.

Felt Ball Coasters Tutorial // Benzie Design

Try different color combos or try making a large one for a trivet! Make this project and tag #benziefelt -I want to see what you're making!

Hexagon Felt Coasters // Benzie Design




 
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