The Magic Bean

Pretty Nostalgic Magazine Featured My Regency Silhouette Christmas Ornaments

Pretty Nostalgic Magazine featured my Regency Silhouette Christmas Ornaments tutorial as part of their online Advent Calendar of free projects at this link.

Happy Regency Christmas!

Freebie Friday - Felt Christmas Craft Tutorials

Unlike other fabrics, felt will not fray at the edges which makes it the perfect material for making last minute Christmas crafts.  Here are some links to some great felt Christmas craft tutorials.

New to the Magic Bean?

Every Friday I do a round-up of free craft tutorials on a certain theme. So stop by every Friday for your weekly dose of free crafts, patterns and tutorials. Or browse for more free resources by combing through the "Free Craft Tutorials & Patterns" category (just click the link) or use the Google Search function on the top left of my blog to search for something specific

A simple felt hat transforms this almond shell into a cute little bird Christmas ornament.  Click the link to get the instructions from BHG.com

Again BHG.com uses a simple felt hat to transform these humble pinecones to cute little Christmas gnomes.

These little felt gnomes are easy and twice as cute, learn how to make these simple elfin ornaments by clicking the link to see the tutorial on BHG.com.

Add felt details to a yarn wrapped wreath with a tutorial from BHG.com.

Andie at American Felt and Craft shared some tutorials to make a selection of fun felt ornaments.  Click the link to get the free patterns.

Shell at the blog Bits and Bobs shared a tutorial to make a felt winter house ornament. 

Even if you've only got 10 minutes to spare before the big day arrives, you can still make a felt Christmas tree skirt with this video tutorial from Martha Stewart.

Aimee Lane who writes her own blog It's Overflowing guest blogged at Tatertots and Jello and shared a tutorial to make felt mistletoe that that will help you to pucker up!

If you'd rather make your own felt with a felting needle and some wool roving, this felted owl tutorial from BHG.com might be the perfect thing to do while you wile away some time while watching the Queen's speech or re-runs of old Christmas movies.  Plus, if any Christmas guests are trying your patience stabbing in that felting needle over and over again will be very therapeautic.

And this is a completely fabulous little project to make while watching holiday movies - click the link to see this needle-felting tutorial on how to make a wee button and thread sewing buddies set.  Moxie at Hi-Fiber Kits who created and shared this tutorial recommends that you could put a magnet on the back of these little cuties.  What an awesome gift for a sewing buddy of your own.  You coudl get a head-start on next Christmas!

I bet you've never felt so ready for the holidays, right?

Related articles

Freebie Friday - Free Tutorials to Make Cute Christmas Crafts

Freebie Friday - Tutorials and Patterns to Make Pinecone Inspired Crafts

Freebie Friday - Tutorials to Make a Rustic Christmas

Being Featured at the Jane Austen Centre in Bath

Freebie Friday - Doll Tutorials for Simplicity Sake and for Art's Sake

Freebie Friday - Recycled, Repurposed and Refashioned Christmas Crafts

Christmas can be expensive, but one way to make your Christmas budget stretch farther is to recycle, repurpose and refashion what you already have as much as possible.  Here's a round up of tutorials to help you do just that.

New to the Magic Bean?

Every Friday I do a round-up of free craft tutorials on a certain theme. So stop by every Friday for your weekly dose of free crafts, patterns and tutorials. Or browse for more free resources by combing through the "Free Craft Tutorials & Patterns" category (just click the link) or use the Google Search function on the top left of my blog to search for something specific.

Artist and teacher Dale Wayne shares a tutorial on Dollar Store Crafts on how to make a plastic bottle Christmas wreath. Click the linkt to see the tutorial.

Shannon who writes the blog Madigan Made guest blogged at Mod Podge Rocks where she shared a tutorial to make recycled rhinestone Christmas tree ornaments that will really catch the light.

Have any empty ribbon spools?  Make those empty ribbon spools shine for Christmas as a twine wrapped tree ornament with a tutorial from Lowes Creative Ideas.

Make use of any empty cardboard boxes that you may have sitting around your house by making this spiral star along with a tutorial from Lowes Creative Ideas.

Put some water cooler cups to a completely different use by making this modern star ornament with a tutorial from Lowes Creative Ideas.

Make a paper cup Christmas topiary with a tutorial from the wonderful Alisa Burke.

Susan Teare shared a tutorial for a clever way to use salvaged electrical wire, pinecones and berries to create this Christmas wreath on the DIY network.

Mandy and Jessica who regularly blog at Little Birdie Secrets, guest blogged at Make and Takes and shared a tutorial to help you make fabulous festive napkin rings out of paper rolls.

Whip up a whimsical Christmas tree garland with a tutorial from Jen of the blog Sunny Vanilla who guest blogged at Tatertots and Jello and shared this fab idea for repurposing old sweaters (jumpers in the UK).

Learn how to make a Christmas wreath out of, wait for it - pot scrubbers with a tutorial on Life is a Party.   

Click the link to see how to make this creamer bottle snowman on the blog Crafty Staci.  Oh so cute!

So even if your budget isn't large you can still have a holly jolly Christmas!

Related articles

Freebie Friday - Tutorials to Make a Rustic Christmas

Freebie Friday - Free Tutorials to Make Cute Christmas Crafts

Freebie Friday - Tutorials and Patterns to Make Pinecone Inspired Crafts

Freebie Friday - Doll Tutorials for Simplicity Sake and for Art's Sake

Freebie Friday - A Quilter's Christmas

This Friday you'll find links to tutorials perfect for a quilter's Christmas.

New to the Magic Bean?

Every Friday I do a round-up of free craft tutorials on a certain theme. So stop by every Friday for your weekly dose of free crafts, patterns and tutorials. Or browse for more free resources by combing through the "Free Craft Tutorials & Patterns" category (just click the link) or use the Google Search function on the top left of my blog to search for something specific.

Sew4Home re-imagined one of their older patchwork Christmas tree skirt tutorials with new and bold fabrics.  Click the link to see the tutorial.

Martha Stewart shared a tutorial to make this Christmas quilted stocking. 

Kim and Kris of the DIY Dish shared a video tutorial on how to make a jolly quilted Christmas pillow using your quilting skills in the below video:

 

Designer Kathleen George shared a tutorial to make a stitch-tastic Christmas ornament, ideal for the quilting friends on your list (shown at left) as featured on the Styrofoam crafts website.

Betz White shared a fab tutorial to make a quilted fabric star Christmas tree ornament on her blog, click the link to check it out.

On the blog, V and Co you'll find another great tutorial to make a circular Christmas tree ornament.

Ellie from Craft Sew Create guest blogged at Moda Bakeshop and she created a patchwork, tree-shaped Christmas card holder tutorial.

Kim Walus guest blogged at Moda Bakeshop and shared a tutorial to make a pocketed wall quilt to use as an advent calendar.

On the blog LR Stitches you'll find a tutorial to make a ribbon bow made from a measuring tape - perfect for topping your gifts.

And don't forget my own Patchwork Handtied Christmas Tree skirt tutorial.

Have quilt-tastic time crafting these goodies!

Freebie Friday - Rockin' Retro Christmas Crafts

Get your retro on with these free Christmas tutorials that will make you think of days gone by.

New to the Magic Bean?

Every Friday I do a round-up of free craft tutorials on a certain theme. So stop by every Friday for your weekly dose of free crafts, patterns and tutorials. Or browse for more free resources by combing through the "Free Craft Tutorials & Patterns" category (just click the link) or use the Google Search function on the top left of my blog to search for something specific.

Decorations

Get the tutorial to make these simple retro sequined Christmas tree centrepieces from Martha Stewart by clicking the link.

Jen Hadfield of the blog Tatertots and Jello shared a tutorial to make a retro Christmas wreath using vintage ornaments (that are identical to the ones I had when growing up - I hope that doesn't make me vintage).

Carli at the blog Simply Notable shared a tutorial to make a retro Christmas stocking along with the free pattern.

Kim from My Go-Go Life shared a tutorial to make a Rockin Retro Christmas Tree skirt. 

As the Beach Boys taught us, Be True to Your School with this retro fabulous school pennant Christmas tree skirt tutorial found on HGTV.com. 

Make a retro stand-up Christmas paper doll with a tutorial by Jennifer Perkins on ILikeToCreate.com. 

Gifts

Jennifer Perkins at ILikeToCreate.com also shared this framed retro image tutorial.  As is, it would make a great gift or you could make it Christmasy by changing the paper and colour choices.

Margot Potter, one of the other contributors on ILikeToCreate.com shared a tutorial on making retro pattern inspired pendants.  These could also double as ornaments or even gift tags.  Click the link to see what I mean.

This retro fun potholder tutorial as featured on Sew4Home would make a great Christmas gift.

Rachael of Penelope and Pip contributed a guest post to the blog Say Yes to Hoboken with this fun tutorial to make your own DIY vintage salt and pepper shakers- these would make a great retro stylin' gift.

So you see it's good to be behind the times as long as you call it "retro".

Freebie Friday - A Very Vintage Christmas

A vintage look is so wonderful at Christmas.  Here are some free tutorials to help you get that vintage looks this holiday season.

New to the Magic Bean?

Every Friday I do a round-up of free craft tutorials on a certain theme. So stop by every Friday for your weekly dose of free crafts, patterns and tutorials. Or browse for more free resources by combing through the "Free Craft Tutorials & Patterns" category (just click the link) or use the Google Search function on the top left of my blog to search for something specific.

These decoupaged vintage-look angels created by Sherrie Ragsdale for Plaid Online look great with family faces stuck on, but you could up their vintage credentials by using vintage clip art faces instead. 

If you are looking for vintage clip art, The Graphics Fairy has plenty of free vintage clip art on offer.  This vintage paper doll would looks so cute dressed up for Christmas.

Another fantastic spot to find vintage images is VintageImageCraft.com. 

Courtesy of VintageImageCraft.com get this Santa and Angel vintage image as a free download along with instructions on how to make your own simple vintage Christmas ornament by clicking the link.

VintageImageCraft.com has a tutorial to make a vintage chenille doll. Click the link to see how to make your own vintage figures.

 
Marian Parsons authored this free how-to on making a vintage image garland Advent calendar on HGTV.com.  Click the link to see the tutorial.

Find out how to make this vintage look Christmas wreath from costume jewellery with instructions from BHG.com.

At this link Martha Stewart shares a video on how to make a Christmas stocking from vintage textiles.

Get a free template and some ideas to make these simple stockings decorated with vintage elements from BHG.com.

And at this link Martha Stewart has a video to share on how to make vintage toy ornaments for your Christmas tree.

Watch this video from Creature Comforts on how to make vintage image gift tags for all your Christmas gifts:

 

Visit the Creature Comforts blog to get the free downloadable vintage images used in this project.

VintageImageCraft.com also has a tutorial for making vintage image gift tags but with quite a different look and these can be used as ornaments!  Click the link to check out their tutorial.

Don't forget my own 2 hour no-sew Christmas ornament tutorial, decoupaged with vintage images.

And if you haven't seen my Regency Silhouette Christmas tree ornament tutorial, you might just be the only person who hasn't!  This is one of my most popular free tutorials.  Click the link to get the tutorial. 

If you think days gone by are the way to go for Christmas then stay tuned for next week's Retro Christmas tutorials!

Christmas Elves Hot Off the Press!

The Festive 2012 issue of A Needle Pulling Thread Magazine is now available for sale in my Etsy shop.  I'm terribly sorry, but I have already sold out of all the issues of the magazine that I had available.  If you want to purchase the magazine, visit A Needle Pulling Thread magazine's website by clicking the link.  On A Needle Pulling Thread's website you'll also find a link to buy the magazine for your I-Phone or I-Pad.  This issue contains the pattern for my Oops-a-Daisy Christmas Tree Ornament Elves.

The pattern and instructions for making these elves is included in the magazine.  The pattern will only be available in the magazine so if you have your heart set on making your own trio of cloth Christmas tree elves you'll need to get your hands on this issue of A Needle Pulling Thread.

If you purchase the magazine from my Etsy shop, (sorry, SOLD OUT) I'll also send you a PDF copy of the pattern pieces and face templates for the elves.  Due to space limitations in the magazine, the pattern pieces are reduced in size, so the PDF patterns will mean that you don't have to worry about resizing the patterns.  The PDF patterns are only available when you purchase the magazine through my Etsy shop.

Click the link to visit my Etsy shop to buy the Festive 2012 issue of A Needle Pulling Thread Magazine or any of my other patterns.  SOLD OUT.

Freebie Friday - Tutorials to Make a Rustic Christmas

I find a natural, no-fuss, rustic look at Christmas so appealing.  And often rustic Christmas crafts will cost you less if you can forage for twigs, pinecones and foliage to create your Christmas decorations.  This week's round-up will show you how to make your Christmas "au-naturel".

New to the Magic Bean?

Every Friday I do a round-up of free craft tutorials on a certain theme. So stop by every Friday for your weekly dose of free crafts, patterns and tutorials. Or browse for more free resources by combing through the "Free Craft Tutorials & Patterns" category (just click the link) or use the Google Search function on the top left of my blog to search for something specific.

Marian Parsons authored this tutorial at HGTV.com to make this fabulously rustic ruffled no sew Christmas tree skirt tutorial.  Click the link to get the free instructions.

With some simple woodworking skills you could make this wooden Christmas tree using a tutorial from Creativity Direct.  Click the link to see how to make this project yourself.

Here's another idea - an even simpler wood Christmas tree tutorial using inexpensive shims and a glue gun - learn how to do it by clicking the link to see the free instructions at Lowe's Creative Ideas.

Make sure your table is decked out in rustic style using this painted burlap table runner tutorial from Marian Parsons at HGTV.com.

Tracie of the blog, Cleverly Inspired guest blogged over at Tatertots and Jello and shared a super simple method of creating a Christmas decoration - a burlap and ribbon pom-pom tutorial.  Click the link to check out Tracie's idea.

Delia, of the blog Delia Creates has shared a wonderful natural moss covered wreath making tutorial.  Click the link to visit Delia's blog to check it out.

This teeny tiny acorn nest would make a wonderful Christmas tree ornament or even an accessory for an art doll.  Thanks to Shanti at Twigs and Toadstools who created and shared this tutorial. 

Leather says rustic like nothing else - have you ever seen leather Christmas stockings before?  Check out this leather or leather-look Christmas stocking tutorial over on HGTV.com.

Michele Pacey of the blog Michele Made Me, fashioned some simple twig Christmas trees - find out how she made these little wooden trees by clicking the link to visit her tutorial.

Jamie Christina of the blog Pretty Ditty shared a tutorial to make a twig reindeer that is spare but so darn cute!

Katie Bower of the blog Bower Power made a mistake on a Christmas ornament she was making, but that mistake turned into a great idea!  She just covered the botched ornament in twine and created a wonderfully rustic Christmas bauble.  Click the link to see how she did it.

Erin, one of the contributors on the blog Lemon Tree Creations shared a tutorial to put twine to another great use this Christmas.  Click the link to see a tutorial shared by Erin on how to create this rustic twine Christmas tree.

Art doll makers will love this rustic looking angel ornament tutorial made with clay and a press-mould face as shared on HGTV.com. 

Next Friday there will be more free Christmas tutorials - this time with a vintage twist.  See you next week!

Being Featured at the Jane Austen Centre in Bath

The Jane Austen Centre in Bath is sharing my Regency Silhouette Ornament Tutoril on their online magazine.  Did you know that this site for Jane Austen fans shares free craft tutorials with a Jane Austen flare?  Click here to see my Jane Austen post and click here to see more Jane Austen inspired free tutorials.

A Cloth Doll Class Where Elves Ran Riot

When I first designed the Oops-a-Daisy Christmas Tree Ornament elves for the soon to be released Festive 2012 issue of A Needle Pulling Thread Magazine I had no idea how much fun they would unleash.

And I have to say, I had fun over 4 days teaching with 2 lots of fabulous doll makers at Blue Haze Arts & Crafts in Chesham, Bucks, UK. 

These ladies filled the room with laughter, learning and of course, elves.

From very experienced doll makers like June and Doris (above).

And Liz.

To Kim, who calls herself my very own "stalker" - Kim has recently done my Mystery Pattern, online and in-person classes.  I must be doing something right when they keep coming back!

And even relative newbies joined in the fun, like Sue

Catherine.

And Simona, who I have privately dubbed "Defender of All Things Frivolous".  Simona says she only makes "frivolous" things because why spend your precious free time making something just because it is practical.? Here, here.

Julia managed to fit in crafting an elf between her grand-daughter's 2nd birthday and choir practice.

While Jane and Linda got busy making faces (for their dolls, not for the camera!).

Although Doris DID strike a pose in her Crafter's Apron made from my free crafter's apron pattern.  Want to make one yourself?  Click the link to get the pattern and get ready to make like a supermodel.

If you are near Ontario, Canada, remember that I am teaching this class in Ingersoll in Southwestern Ontario (near London, Ontario, not to be confused with London, England, where I live) on November 17th-18th, 2012.  Click here to find out more about this cloth doll making class in Ontario.  There is still room in that class, so e-mail me if you'd like to run riot with some elves yourself.

I can't promise that you won't get attached to your elves though.  They're kind of addictive!