Cosmo Cricket

Easy, No-Sew, Jar Lid Pincushions

Hello Hopefuls,

Before we get to our Moda Blog Hop winner I wanted to show you this fun project that I think might appeal to you quilty types!

The jadeite Show Toppers might be my favorite color so I was super excited when we added plain rings in jadeite to the product set. (They'll start shipping next month.) I especially love how cute they are when paired with Baby Jane fabrics. It's so vintage while still being bright and fun!

There is definately more than one way to make a pincushion atop a jar, but for this one I used what I call my double-lid-technique because as a home canner, I happen to be swimming in used jar lids! This method requires no sewing and results in a clean look without any exposed raw edges of fabric.

First, take one square of fabric from a charm pack, or cut a 5" square of fabric. This size is perfect! Then lay your filling on top.



Place your fabric and filling over the lid ring and start to position it inside.



Add your first lid and start to push the stuffing and fabric through the ring.



When you get it looking good, use hot glue to tack down the raw edges. Be sure to pay attention to the narrow margins between the corners. We don't want any edges popping out at a later date!



I left my cushion removeable so that I can change it out for different seasons... or just fun. If you want yours to be permanent inside the ring, add some hot glue to hold it in there. To create your perfectly finished look, glue the second lid right over the top. 



You will still have plenty of threading to screw the ring onto your jar. If you make one of these cuties (even with other supplies) share it with us on the Cosmo Cricket facebook page. We love to feel like we've inspired people and to get inspiration from you all too!

Now for our winner, please congratulate: 

Bethany DeVries  who said...

"Hi! What a great J block! Sew fun! ;) I love the Honky Tonk fabric - when I saw the pattern for it with the mustache applique, I went crazy! What a great idea!"

Bethany, please send your info to [email protected] and I'll get send you the goodies when they are all available. Thanks!

Making a Modern Mobile

Art doesn't just have to go on the wall, in fact hanging a creation from the ceiling can be unexpectedly beautiful!

Using our new Merry Mobile, Krafternoon Paper Deck and some Adhesive Glitter Sheets I decided to make a hanging art piece to have over the corner of my desk.

I used circle punches in different sizes, cutting five paper circles for each dimensional ornament. I added in some of the sticky glitter on top of a few sections here and there. The Krafternoon deck also has some designs that come in glitter printing that are gorgeous!

I made 6 strands to hang from the Merry Mobile by threading them together onto a string. A little glue holds them in place.



I just love walking into my office and seeing this hanging in the corner. Something about it makes me happy!

Moda Blog Hop: J is for Julie

Welcome Moda Blog Hoppers! Just Jel and enJoy some Joyous moments here with the letter J.



My block is not only my initial, but represents my crafty life. If you all hadn't noticed, I love mason jars, so much that I designed an entire line of products to go with them. When Lissa asked me to create a "J" block I knew just what I would do.



She was kind enough to supply the instructions for sewing the block. 



And even I was able to follow them! I added a little jar applique.



Then I added some of our cute little wood charms as buttons inside the jar.

If you would like to make this block, you will definitely need fabric! I'll be giving a way a jar filled with our new line Honky Tonk.



Topped off with one of our new jar lids




and a package of wood charms.



I'll even throw in one of our project hangers



so you can display your quilt from the single jar wall sconce (shown above) that I'm also adding to the mix. Ohhhhhh, it's going to be fun!

Leave a comment to enter!

Details: A random winner will be choosen from commenters posting on this post before Sunday, February 23 at midnight. That random winner will be announced on our blog Monday morning. No double entries please. The jar sconces are not available to ship until mid to late March, and so the prize will be delayed until then. Thanks and good luck!




 

Shot Through The Heart Bracelet

Shot through the heart and you're to blame.... Darlin' you give crochet a bad name!

I really don't know enough about crochet to pretend to teach it all to you. But painstakingly following this tutorial for crocheted hearts, even I managed to make one!



After making yesterday's wooden arrow card, I had embroidery floss and leftover arrows on my desk. The mess sparked this idea for little crochet heart friendship bracelets. They are not too hard to make after you figure the whole crochet thing out. If you already know how to crochet, you'll be able to make them in a snap!

Start by crocheting the heart. I used 2 strands of embroidery floss, but plan to do more with 6 strands so that the heart is a little fuller.



After the heart is finished, make a slip stitch on one side and start crocheting a chain for the wrist portion of the bracelet. When it is long enough, use another slip stitch to attach it around the wood arrow. Cut the end off leaving a tail.



Weave any tails into your stitching and trim.



To wear the bracelet, wrap it around the wrist and poke the end of the arrow through the center of the heart.



Then turn on some Bon Jovi and get your groove on!

Little Wooden Arrows Card

We are giving away our new wood and metal charms today over on the facebook page. The giveaway inspired me to create the above card.

You will need this set of charms.



Cut your base paper and attach it to your card base. Then space out your arrows and make a tiny mark on the folded edge of the card.



Choose some pretty embroidery floss. (I have to say that the peach and khaki color combo is taking right back to 1988!) Cut a bit more than 4 times the width of your card. Then divide each 6 strand into two 3 strands.



Thread both ends of your first strand through a needle. Hook the loop onto the end of an arrow. Bring your needle under the front of the card and up through the folded edge. 



The ends are tied around the other end of the arrow.



Trim the ends and work your way down. I loved my card so much before I finished it, that I made a second one only going partway down the front of the card.



It's my preference, but I have to say the inside isn't quite as striking. I think the full done card is so unexpectedly cute when opened!



I can't wait to write a fun message inside and give these away to friends!

Handmade Dynamite Valentines

It's so fun to give people something that you truly love right? I think so!

Some of my favorite gifts include handmade soap from Whole Foods, Cuvee Coffee beans and Burt's Bees colored chapstick. In fact, I love these things so much, I plug them all the time without endorsement. So, I can't wait to share these cute chapstick dynamites with my friends.



I combined some of our Simple Surface papers with our gold glitter sticky sheets and shimmer trims. PS: My favorite chapstick color is Hibiscus.

Cut your cardstock 2.75" x 3.5". Add a little adhesive to the ends and wrap it around the outer tube.

Cut a 1/4" x 3" strip of glitter to wrap around the top of the inner tube.

Then push the top inside chipboard disc out of the tube and cover it with glitter.



I just stick a square of glitter to it and cut around it with scissors.

Now punch a hole for your fuse.



Tie a knot in your gold cord, add a dab of glue and thread it through the hole.



With the disc sideways and the fuse entering first, put it back into the inner tube.



You can gently pull on the fuse as you push with your finger from the other side. Be careful you don't get your finger stuck... these tubes can double as those finger handcuffs from when I was a kid!



I have been experimenting with calligraphy pens lately, so I decided to try lettering my own message to wrap around the chapstick before I put it back into the package.

I penciled out my message in a practice book.



Then I traced it onto vellum. I quickly found out that vellum is slippery and the ink likes to sit on top. 



Oh well, I was "going" for a hand done look and I sure got it!



My sentiment then got wrapped around my chapstick and re-packaged.



I hope my friends think they are dynamite!

Create Wall Art with Buttons

I often by vintage buttons for design inspiration, but until now, they have always ended up stashed in boxes or drawers where I don't get to enjoy them. Today I decided to fix that problem with a few of my very favorite buttons.



So I gathered them up. There were a mix of loose buttons and some on cards. I liked how they looked on cards and decided to create some pretty sets to put in my frame (although wiring loose ones to a mat board as they are shown in the above photo would be simply gorgeous too!).

To secure my buttons to cards, I used wire.





I used the backside of a canvas to create a shadow box in my frame. A couple glue dots worked to hold the button cards in place.





It's now hanging on my wall where I can drool over the pretty colors and shapes all day long. It's so much better than having them in a closet. I may just have to make some more, heaven knows I have enough buttons!

Three Heart Canvas Tutorials for YOU!

Hello my friends!

Today we have three tutorials to share with you. The first is a project I created for the eighteen25 blog.



If you want to know how to create those painted triangles, or even just make your own designs into stencils/masks for future projects, check out the tutorial.

For two entirely different takes on the same canvas, check out Amber Engelhardt's tutorials. She has created two canvases. The first uses the such a fun technique... torn paper rolled into tubes. The second is awesome with that glitter deer head! I love it!!!

Punched Heart Valentine Garland

Maybe a fun little heart Valentine garland will help beat the winter blues? If you're going to be stuck inside, it might as well look cute, right?!


You will need:
Paper
Glitter Sheets
Heart Punch
Craft Knife
Cord



This is so simple and easy that you really don't need instructions! But please note that I didn't punch the glitter. I was using my Fiskars squeeze punch and it won't go through our glitter sheets. Instead, I just traced around a paper punched heart and cut the glitter with scissors.







Enjoy!