Felt like a tutorial: Thanksgiving Feast

Here in the U.S. -it's the month of thankgiving and feasting and Benzie is celebrating with our own Thankgiving dinner! This entire dinner is made with only 10 colors of felt -and even has it's own Benzie Collection. Thanks to all the wonderful crafters who put together these tutorials! 

1. Thanksgiving is complete without the Cranberries -and this tutorial is one of Benzie's very own. 

2. Hot cross buns! by ShellyInspired. We used Benzie felt in Toast and Ivory.

3. Turkey leg by Art Threads. Cinnamon and Latte felt was used.

4. Sugar snap peas (a favorite in our house) by Craftiness is not Optional in Zucchini felt.

5. Cutest little corn cob ever! Derived from While Wearing Heels in Ochre and Ivory.

6. And pumpkin pie from Little Dear at Sew, Mama, Sew in the color Pumpkin (of course), Ivory, and Latte. Go check out the original -it includes some great embroidery!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Finding your wings

This past summer I had the privilege of mailing a lovely package a felt over to Ashley Ann, my favorite blogger, hands down. She picked out the Geranium felt collection in the 12x18" size and said it was going to become a gift for her daughter. A beautiful gift of wings.

Ashley Ann talks about how the wings and headband was constructed on her blog but the original tutorial can be found at llevo el Invierno.

Felt like a tutorial: Costumes

A few of my favorite costumes for Halloween or just for dress-up. I'm especially loving the hooded sweatshirt takes -easy and quick!

1. Shark attack! from Fiskars.

2. Have girls? -make a bouquet! from Martha Stewart.

3. Lion hoodie by A Beautiful Mess.

4. Little Miss Sunshine via Real Simple.

5. Little Miss Piggy -love those ears!  via Real Simple.

6. Big bad wolf -another hooded sweatshirt! via Ellinee.

Felt like a tutorial: Pillows

I am enjoying a few hours to myself each day while the kids are in school. Even if those hours are spent with me running around the house picking up, dusting, vacuuming, washing laundry and cleaning the kitchen – at least I am able to focus on my work with few distractions.

One thing I’ve noticed – with this huge increase in housework – is the disarray of our house! How did it get like this? Summer must cause rampant increases in dust growth and clutter buildup.

I am able to look at the home décor that surrounds me with fresh eyes, and one thing stands out – how lifeless the pillows are in our living room. This is the same living room that doubles as a gymnastics practice area and fort building center. The thought of making some fresh pillows with new fluff on the inside makes me happy – and I’m sure I could spare an hour or two of my cleaning to create some! With all of these styles below I may need to make a few of each.

1. Pretty Flower Pillow – from Better Homes and Gardens

Simple and sophisticated, create a floral pattern with felt on this cushy pillow.

2. United States Map Pillow – from The Children's Nest

A patterned fabric for the map on top of a basic felt pillow; you choose the heart's location.

3. Pillow with Rosette Clusters – from The Etsy Blog

Lots of folded felt circles create the texture on this stand-out pillow.

4. Triangle Pillow – from Creature Comforts

Very basic triangle shapes arranged how you please make an iconic design statement.

5. Sunburst Pillow – from Living Savvy

A basic pillow frame with strips of fabric looped around a small central circle, swap out felt for the pillow sleeve to have more durability.

6. Knotted Pillow – from Kris Krafting

Careful measuring and sewing will give you this beautiful pillow; worth the effort for the texture created.

7. Felt Monogram Pillow – from Little Lovelies

Matching monogram and basic pillow form team up for this classic couch comfort.

8. Felt Ruffle Pillow – from Persia Lou

It's easier than it looks to make this monochromatic ruffle pillow, simply pull the stitching strings.

9. Felt Flower Pillow – from Purl Bee

Make a statement with this layered felt pillow; careful measuring and cutting give you a striking design.

Jen Van Oosbree is a stay-at-home mom with two daughters and enjoys convincing her husband that being a stay-at-home mom is a lifelong career.  She brings monthly DIY selections to the world of Benzie Felt Fanfare.

Felt like a tutorial: Owls

Owls sure look smart, and this is why we associate them with school studies. Now that August is here it's time again to prepare our children to return to the classroom. We pulled out the class supply lists last week and my older daughter was super excited to start gathering everything. We were able to locate 25 pencils amongst the debris from last year’s school remnants. I want to save money this year by using up the older supplies to their complete end before buying newer ones.

We did need to buy some additional items though – so we headed out to a store today to complete the task. A future kindergartener and a future 2^nd grader each with list in hand, and a mom with a centrally parked cart ready to walk circles around and around the school products until each last item was located. Some items require specific knowledge… like the Vis-a-Vie markers. I felt like a pro finding them right away. We weren’t so lucky with the larger school box requested for 2^nd grade though… we might have to wait and scope out what the other kids bring with them on the first day.

There probably won’t be any owls in the classrooms – those big, beautifully placed eyes are only handy for selecting prey in the wild. Owls do make awesome inspiration for art projects – simple and complex, flat and fluffy. I hope you enjoy these owls below with their variety, color and texture.

1. Owl Ornament – from Juicy Bits
This basic pattern is hand stitched together for a super cute owl.

2. Goodnight Owl Sleep Mask – from Ginger & George
Take a fashionable nap with this felt sleep mask; fusible webbing and some sewing make this doable.

3. Owl Stuffie – from Hammer & Thread
Replace the fabric with felt and stick with the more advanced sewing for a darling owl friend!

4. Plush Owl Pillow – from Joshua Trent
A simple pattern and fabric glue make a sweet home decor addition.

5. Felt Owl Measuring Tape – from Tiny Apartment Crafts
The embroidery work makes this owl a stand out, add the measuring tape in the middle for a useful tool.

6. Felt Owl Key Chain – from The Orchard in Bloom
Take this owl with you everywhere you go on your key chain; basic hand stitching is all that's needed.

7. Snuggly Owl – from Make It & Love It
The perfect pillow for anyone needing a soft squeeze; felt would work well with this pattern.

8. Felt Owls from Styrofoam Balls – from Factory Direct Craft
Cut out your felt pieces and glue them onto a styrofoam ball for this decoration.

9. Zakka Style Owl Pennant – from Moonstitches
For Christmas or just for fun, this pennant is easy to create.

Jen Van Oosbree is a stay-at-home mom with two daughters who loves volunteering on the Cultural Arts Committee at her kid's school. She brings monthly DIY selections to the world of Benzie Felt Fanfare.

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.

Felt like a Tutorial: Celebrating Easter

My youngest daughter asked me the other day if the Easter Bunny was the only bunny that lays eggs! I am always amazed at how kids hold onto their belief in something like a big white bunny hopping around the yard leaving plastic eggs filled with candy and coins. If we tell them it’s true, it must be, right? But who can resist the wonder and awe Easter egg hunts bring to the holiday; fun traditions and memory makers for kids and adults alike.

I recently read through the book, “Moonwalking With Einstein” by Joshua Foer, which talks about how to create more lasting memories. Getting out of our daily routine helps our brain retain memories more readily. Doing something unexpected, taking time for a vacation, or changing up our daily rhythm are all examples of how to incorporate this concept.

Life goes by too fast for us to not take advantage of times such as holidays and seasonal changes to do something special to commemorate the event. I am challenging myself to do something different this spring, to make the house feel like the season has arrived inside as well as outside.

These felt finds for Spring/Easter are sure to be memorable for you and your family this season.

1. Felt Egg Design Book - from Chez Beeper Bebe

Kids can decorate the eggs again and again with this quiet book.

2. Easter Chick Card - from incy wincy stitches

Sweet chick greetings on this Easter card.

3.Bunny Ears – from Martha Stewart

Homemade bunny ears for the little bunnies in your life.

4.Easter Egg Hunt Bags – from the Purl Bee

Treasure bags for a hunt or Easter morning goodies. 

5. Finger Puppets – from Fiskars

Spring animals couldn't be cuter!

6. Bunny Finger Puppets – from the Purl Bee

Encourage play with these Easter basket fillers.

7.Felt Chick Egg Warmer – from Craftideas.info

Wake up to a bright Felt Chick keeping your morning egg warm.

8. Felt Peeps Bunnies – from Mommy Savers

These are even better than the edible variety, they will last much longer!

9. Carrot Goodie Bags – from betz white

So simple and practical, jelly beans would fit perfectly inside.

Jen Van Oosbree enjoys the versatility of Benzie felt and the awesomeness of graphic design. She brings monthly DIY selections to the world of Benzie Felt Fanfare.

Felt like a tutorial: Be Mine, Valentine

His name was Russell. My third grade crush. He had spiked blond hair and I thought he was the cutest boy in the whole class. I would always put his thumb down for the game Heads up Seven up, and he always knew it was me who had done it. After our class Valentine exchange that year when we were lined up to leave for the day, I gave him a very special Valentine, an Iowa Hawkeyes watch! He accepted it and that was that. I was sure he understood how at that moment, with the gift of the watch, just how much I liked him.

I will never forget the excitement of my third grade Valentine exchange. It was so important that certain people received the simple cards, and others got ones with lots of hearts drawn on for extra emphasis! And who could forget Nathan’s mom with her cookie sheet of homemade sugar cookies with each student’s name frosted on one of them. It was not a holiday at school without one of those cookies!

The magic of Valentine’s Day is truly made better with homemade gifts. These felt finds for February are sure to give you a spark or a start on your way to making the day exceptional for those closest to you.

1. Fortune Cookies – from Martha Stewart

Felt fortune cookies stuffed with your own fun sayings.

2. Felt Rosette Ball – from Frankly Speaking Too

Decorate in style with this burst of color and texture.

3. Be My Bluebird – from Sew, Mama, Sew!

Make a valentine that will last from year to year.

4. Heart Garland – from My Pile of Sugar

A creative way to make heart shapes that will hold.

5. Valentine Pins – from The Purl Bee

These Valentine pins would be great to hand out to classmates.

6. Arrows and Hearts – from Katie Did

Let the kids use their own scissors to make these bracelet Valentines.

7. Felt Heart Pockets – from All In One Day’s Time

Stuff these darling creations with whatever candy you please.

8. Arrow Cupcake Toppers – from The Sweetest Occasion

Felt arrows to push into heart shaped treats.

9. Felt Valentines & Envelopes – from Everyday Celebrate

Fun for the kids to play with, and even more fun to giveaway. 

Jen Van Oosbree has lots of love for Benzie felt, graphic arts and anything Girl Scouts. She will be bringing monthly DIY selections to the world of Benzie Felt Fanfare.

Felt like a tutorial: Birds

I love the onset of winter bringing with it spurts of activity from birds outside my windows. Once in awhile they all gather at the bird feeder – all of them: cardinals, blue birds, pigeons, chickadees, black birds, woodpeckers. And what a site it is to see, I catch myself walking by the window and stopping just to watch them. Pigeons, being lazy, stay underneath the feeder eating up dropped seeds. Bluebirds swoop in scaring away a family of chickadees into a nearby bush. Cardinals sit on the treetop waiting for their turn.

Most of the time, when I walk by the window, all I see are huge squirrels… they have figured out how to jump and slide down onto the bird feeder, hooking their back paws onto the feeding posts, hanging on with their front paws. They go to town eating as much seed as they can, working in teams; one squirrel on the ground while the other sloppily grabs food from the feeder. I always have high hopes that the birds will fly in and reclaim what is rightfully theirs! 

This month I have found a wonderful selection of felt bird tutorials to inspire you in your crafting adventures!

1. Bird in Flight – from While She Naps
Create some motion with wings spread wide and an open beak.
2. Bird Mobile – from Spool 
Handmade birds stationed on found sticks create a lively mobile. 
3. Spring Felt Birds – from Poppytalk 
Simple pattern with birds on a wire or to decorate a tree. 
4. Felt Bird – from Lavender’s Blue 
Simple stuffed bird makes a great winter friend for your home. 
5. Sweetie Bird – from Rhythm of the home 
Darling stuffed bird with wire feet. 
6. Felt Bird – from NZ House 
Button eyes and feather stitching details give this bird a crafty quality. 
7. Felt Bird Sachets – from Positively Splendid 
Stuffed with dryer sheets, these sachets combine fresh scents and cheer. 
8. Red Cardinal – from Apine industriose 

A realistic looking stuffed bird with bead eyes and twine feet. 

9. Little Bird – from Paper and String

Perfect gift to make for a child, these bright birds are adaptable as a keychain or brooch.

Enjoy the winter season and the birds, and if the squirrels start to eat your bird seed, I’ve found that running outside and shouting, “Caw, Caw” at the top of your lungs startles them a bit. 

Jen Van Oosbree is an admirer of Benzie felt, graphic arts and anything Girls Scouts. She will be bringing monthly DIY selections to the world of Benzie Felt Fanfare.

Valentine Felt Cookie Tutorial

I love nothing more than hearing about what people are making with Benzie Blend Felt. When Jahje contacted me about a sweet valentine tutorial -I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share it with you! All you need is some Benzie Blend Felt, needle and floss, scissors, scrap paper and a bit of polyfil. Jahje has graciously allowed me to share the instructions on Benzie but here is the original post. Then you must visit Jahje's soft and whimsical mobile shop, Baby Jives, simply beautiful!

Now on to the cookies!

1. Fold your pattern paper or tracing paper in half and cut out half a heart.  Think back to making valentines in 2nd Grade - you know how to do this!

2. Pin your heart pattern onto your red felt and cut around the edges of the heart with your regular shears.

3. Pin your heart pattern on top of your 2 pieces of tan felt which you have stacked and cut around the edges of the heart with your pinking shears.  Follow the edge, don't cut into the paper.

4. Separate your tan felt pieces and fold 1 piece in half along the center line.  Cut a smaller heart into this piece to create a hollow center (see photo below of finished pieces).

Now you have all your pieces cut out and you are ready to start stitching.  I did this all by hand but if you are in a hurry you could do this on your sewing machine instead, you just won't get the nice embroidery detailing.

5. Pin your top cookie piece to your middle red heart layer and pull your embroidery floss through from the red piece up through the tan piece so that the knot will be under the red (and won't show).  Now sew around the edge of the heart window with a running stitch (see this tutorial for refresher).

6. Once you are done it should look like this.  Now get your other cookie piece (the one without a heart cut into it) and place it beneath and pin all three layers together.

7. With all 3 layer pinned together - start a new length of embroidery thread from under the red layer and pull through to the front tan piece so your knot will be hidden inside the cookie.  Sew all three layers together with a running stitch around the edge approximately 1/4 inch from the edge.

8.  When you are a few inches from where you started your stitch at the center take a little bit of polyfill (one small handful worth) and place it in the heart.  Then continue your running stitch around the remainder of the edge.

9.  Wrap the thread around your needle and pull the needle through to make a knot.  Then pull the knot into the heart and clip the thread so it will not be seen.

You are done!  You now have a beautiful heart cookie to share with someone special in your life.