Felt like a tutorial: Party!

One of the best things about planning a party is taking a theme and applying it to every last detail. The atmosphere, food, games and decorations all relate to shape a unique experience. An ordinary room or space is transformed into something magical. Adding drama with a huge mobile in the dining room, or hundreds of paper lanterns at a picnic shelter; parties give us the opportunity to think outside the box with our décor.

The anticipation of a party is also a wonderful thing, especially for children that may have helped plan along the way. They know there will be few limitations on the goodies, drinks and fun to be had, and there will be lots of friends around to partake in the festivities.

When you begin to plan your next party, consider using felt. It is an inexpensive way to add bold color and handmade detail to your gathering. Garlands, banners, party hats, gift wrapping, bows, mobiles, cake toppers – there is no end to the joy you can create with felt.

1. Rainbow Table Runner - Say Yes to Hoboken

Triangles of felt are ironed onto a heat and bond backing for a quick result.

2. Felt Birthday Hats - Princess Lasertron

Saturate the felt with stiffening spray then add homemade ruffles and a pom pom. 

3. Felt Flower Garland - Mom it Forward

Felt flower shapes are hot glued together around green ribbon. 

4. Felt Crown - hellobee

Two colors of felt are shaped together to create a fun crown for party guests.

5. Wine Bag - Under the Table and Dreaming

Pinking shears and stitch witchery make this project very simple to complete.

6. Ruffle Garland - My Blessed Life

A needle and twine are all you need to work your felt strips into ruffles.

7. Felt Gift Bows - Prudent Baby

Nine strips of felt are twisted into loops and glued on top of each other to shape this lasting bow.

8. Cake Topper - Wedding Chicks

Felt makes a great cake topper, this embellished heart uses fabric glue and a few stitches.

9. Modern Colorful Mobiles - Project Wedding

Replace the paper in this tutorial with felt, add some stiffening spray, and stitch them into a row.

Jen Van Oosbree is a stay-at-home mom with two daughters and enjoys spending the summer at the local library. She brings monthly DIY selections to the colorful world of Benzie Felt Fanfare.

Instagram Flashback: June

1. First thing on Junes bucket list was a visit to the Art Institute to see Roy Lichtenstein's exhibit. Images of hotdogs, comic strips and out of proportion brush strokes filled each room as we walked through his early images of Mickey Mouse to his final landscape images. All made with his signature pattern of dots -inspired by newsprint -but painted, not printed by hand and with a help of a stencil. Big, bright and bold -this is how I would paint, if I were a painter.

2. We are crazy about Legos over here! My son wakes up playing with them, talks about Legos when he can't play and falls asleep building. Every day! We spent some time organizing by color -here's the gray pile. Good thing I like organizing!

3. Easy meal: Get a tortilla, add favorite pizza toppings and grill. Feta and dill and lovely additions.

4. Our church has a day camp of sorts (vbs anyone?) every summer and this year I took on as the craft lady. You wouldn't think it to be difficult to come up with five 15 minute crafts -would you? I totally underestimated the time constraints thus it ended being a bit crazy. This watercolor day was my favorite.

5. Our first family vacation ever! Well, we have taken trips before -but always with family and friends and not just the four of us. We stayed at a little resort in Wisconsin -swimming, putt-putting, canoeing and enjoyed just being us.

6. We also did a bit of geocaching and gave up on our first one ever -but not without a fight! We went two different days -three different times (one time through thick buggy woods) with 2 different gps's. It was located in an active logging forest so it must have gotten logged away. But at least I got a cute picture in of my little troopers!

Also -remember Crafternoon? Read more about it on Katie's Blog -did someone say 'tattoo parlor'?!

Enjoy your summer and more Benzie instagram photos, my name is benziedesign. See you there!

Magnetism

Crazy strong, ultra attractive and super magnetic. The only magnets made by Benzie.

These wool felt covered domes are 1 1/2 inches wide -making it functional and beautiful wherever they stick. And get this: they can hold well over 15 sheets of paper. Really, truly! Eight different color combos, three magnets to a pack and attached to a shiny card.

Now that's magnetism.
Currently available in the shop.

Shop Exchange

Several months ago I participated in a shop exchange sponsored by Oh, Hello Friend -we were paired according to similar shop aesthetic. Check out what I sent:

A custom ordered neapolitan garland and a matching set of magnets.
And what did this lucky girl get?

A beautiful ceramic lunch tray! Handmade by In Her Words -seriously lovely and perfect for lunch. But let's not set limits -I use it as a jewelry organizer!

This was my first exchange ever -and so worth it! Oh, Hello Friend is currently hosting a Lovely Packaging exchange -don't miss your chance!

Felt like a tutorial: Kids Crafts

Summer has arrived at our household and I’m going for a multi-tiered approach of activities; utilizing both a ‘bucket-list’ and an ‘I’m bored’ container. The ‘bucket-list’ is an actual bucket with clothespins around the top, each one with a different place or fun item written on it. Once we complete an activity, we put the clothespin into the bucket. It’s a great way for the kids to visually see how many awesome things we’ve done so far!

The ‘I’m bored’ container is a way for the kids to entertain themselves if I’m in the middle of preparing a meal and can’t drive anywhere or help them get something started. Within the first hour of summer on the first full day of no school for either of my children, all ‘I’m bored’ activities were read and completed or deemed unworthy. I might need to look into a third tier here… since there are several more weeks of summer staring me in the face. Maybe I need a ‘Mommy needs a break’ bucket, filled with relaxing suggestions of ways I can take a few moments for myself and breathe deeply in between trips to the swimming pool and library? The problem is – I would enjoy it way too much and probably work my way through that bucket within the first day as well!

These felt craft projects should provide several solid hours of entertainment for the kids, and maybe for the parents too!

1. Juice Box Monsters – from Crafts by Amanda
Wrap up an empty juice box with felt and create a scary face.

2. Camp Charm Bags – from Family Fun
With a little basic sewing, kids can create their own treasure bag.

3. Felt Crown – from Somewhere in the Middle
Shape a crown out of felt and add an elastic band, genius!

4. Coffee Cozy – from That Artist Woman
Basic embroidery and a piece of felt make a cute Father's Day gift.

5. Ocean Scene – from Craftster
Use this as inspiration for helping your little ones create their own felt masterpiece.

6. Felt Flower Tiara – from This is Me Inspired
Lace pre-cut felt flowers onto pipe cleaners for a beautiful tiara.

7. Flower Rings – from Givers Log
Layer felt and fabric, add a button center and the pipe cleaner creates a ring.

8. Acorn Owls – from Designer: Helen Bird
Add eyes, beaks and wings to a few acorns and you have a play land!

9. Felt Decorated Journal – from Better Homes and Gardens
Cover a journal with felt and personalize the front with more felt shapes.

Jen Van Oosbree is a stay-at-home mom with two daughters and enjoys spending the summer at the local swimming pool. She brings monthly DIY selections to the world of Benzie Felt Fanfare.

Instagram Flashback: May

Instagram has got to be my favorite social media to date. No words -just photos -and so easy! Click and post all in an instant! Take a peak @benziedesign, I tend to share more outside of the Benzie realm here. This is some of May's memories:

1. Updated business cards -they should go out soon!
2. Sugar scrubs leftover from Crafternoon -seriously easy: Sugar + Olive Oil + few drops of essential oil and you've got yourself a scrub!
3. Husband graduated and got himself an M.Div -and figuring out life. (Really -shouldn't we have that done by now?!)
4. Working on a little backstitch. I've definitely got that down -how about you?
5. Little gift from my sister-in-law and her brand new etsy shop!
6. Every six weeks it's my turn to go to the farm for our co-op. My children so look forward to this and I reflect on the rural, supposedly more simplistic life. Maybe it's just me trying to figure out life again?

See you on Instagram!

Embroidery Basics: Backstitch

The backstitch is one of the most basic stitches of embroidery and is most commonly used to outline. My favorite use for the backstitch is applique on linen or when stitching Benzie's felt together. Pretty and easy!

Here is a step by step photo tutorial:

1. Working from left to right -bring your needle to the front at point one and back down again at point two.
2. Now your needle is under your fabric -bring it back up at point three making sure of even and straight stitches.
3. Backstitch through point one.
4. There you go! Your first backstitch is complete!
5. A completed row.
6. And for the backside. 

And to make this super clear -a diagram below. The top of the line represent the front side of the fabric and the bottom represents the back of the fabric.

Up at 1, down at 2. Under to 3 and back to 4...

And again! See -pretty and easy!