Placemat Fabric Boxes

I am in the process of cleaning out my home and getting rid of things that I don't need. I happened upon this lovely stack of dollar store placemats that I bought at Christmastime thinking that I would make crayon rolls with them. They didn't work for that purpose but, I couldn't just throw them out. They are perfectly good fabric and you can't throw fabric out (I have a bit of a problem and probably need a fabric intervention.)

So, when I came across them yesterday, I looked at them wondering what I could do and it hit me to try a box. Now, these aren't show stoppers by any means but, they are fun, functional and you can whip up a ton in hardly any time at all.

You will need only a dollar store placemat (or more expensive if you really want) and a sewing machine. You might be able to do this with glue.... I am just too lazy to figure that out right now. The placemats are perfect for this because they are already lined and have the interfacing sewn in so you skip about 5 steps right there. Here is how to proceed:



Start with a placemat and iron it to get out all of the creases and wrinkles.
Fold your placemat in half and measure a 3" square in the NON FOLDED corner. Cut out the corner the square and repeat on the other side.
It should look like this when you are done.

When opened up, it should look like this.
Match up the sides of the cut out squares and line them up from the top edge down and pin into place. You will see your box begin to take form.

Sew down the edge about 1/4" in.

Zigzag stitch over the raw edge if you don't want it to fray. However, fray is in right now so, feel free to leave it be.

Press your small edge in on top of the box as shown and line up the bottom part of the previously made seams. Finger press the line between the two seams and stitch between the side seams (does that make any sense???)
It should look like this when you are done. Repeat on the other short side.
When the short sides are sewn. Fold over the long edge and finger press that crease. Sew between the previously made seams. Repeat on the other side. When you are done, it should look like this.
It will be a little flimsy but, it is perfect for entertaining for holding chips or rolls or even bread for toast.

Rolled Rosette

These fabric rosettes are all the rage and you see them everywhere. Although, I am sure that there are other tutorials out there, this is how I do it. Excuse me if the pictures are a bit off and if the instructions aren't clear. Leave a comment if you would like more detail.

I wanted to show how cute these rosettes are no matter what fabric you use. I chose an old vintage piece of gray, white and red. I didn't like it when I started but, I LOVE the finished product. This one is one of my favorites now!

Start off with a strip of fabric. I chose about 2" wide. Fold the tip into a triangle and press.
Place the tip of the triangle in the center of a square of felt (3x3) and stitch down about 1/2". Here is a tip. If your machine has a needle down feature, USE IT! This makes making these rosettes so much faster and easier!
After about 1/2 inch, twist the strip and turn it to go along side the triangle that you already sewed down.
Turn your felt square as you are sewing and sew along the middle of the fabric strip. Continue to twist your fabric and turn it around the center of your flower. Overlapping slightly will eliminate any chance that you will see your felt backing.
Continue to twist, turn and sew. Notice that my needle stays down the entire time.
Continue to turn around the center. Your flower will be getting bigger the more times you circle the center.



When you come to the size that you would like to have for your rosette, cut the remainder off of the strip of fabric.
Tuck the end under your rosette and stitch over that part concealing the end of your fabric strip.
Finished product on felt.
What the underside should look like.
Ta Da!

Flower Buckle

Goodness.... I think that I have fallen off the planet! I am sorry that I haven't posted in a week! Besides having some family issues, my camera has decided to go into early retirement. Lately, coaching pictures out of it has been a chore! I am thrilled that I (think that I) finally found a way to make my pictures stand out a bit more! We shall see.

This is a fun buckle (or whatever you use it for) that is quick and easy! I love it!


Start off by cutting 8 different petal shapes. On the straight end, curl it around to make a "S" shape.
Glue or stitch it in place and repeat that with all of the petals.
Glue the petals together on a piece of felt in the shape of an "X."
With the remaining petals, arrange them in the open spaces of the"X."
Finish all the way around.
Cut a small circle of fabric and clue it over the opening to hide the stitches.
Finish off by gluing a center in. I used a sunflower button. Love it! My daughter will be ready for summer with this fun number.
The possibilities are endless.

Pinwheel Flower Buckle

This is my favorite buckle at the moment. Really it is. I find myself staying up way too late at night making them just because I enjoy them so much. This is the one that I wore when I went on Studio 5. It is so much fun and so easy to make. They also look fantastic as hair clips and glued to headbands. Once you start, you will be hooked!


Aren't these fun as buckles! Really!
To start off you will need to have 16- 2 1/2" squares of fabric, a 3" square of felt, a center (large bead, button, fabric roses are my personal preference.) Start by gluing your center to middle of the fabric square.

Then take and pinch your square on the sides and then fold it in itself so that the center of the square becomes a point.

Dab a bit of hot glue (or fabric glue or you can sew it) on the point of the square and gently tuck it under the center. Do that four times around the center.
Then, take two more square and glue them on the inside edges of one of the openings.
Take one last square and glue it in the center of the last two "fans."


Repeat this around the entire center. You will end up with a great pinwheel design.
Turn the flower over and cut the felt around the edges of the hot glue so that you don't see the felt peeking out from underneath your flower.

For a different look, you can cut out circles instead of squares, alternate colors or both! For alternating colors, you will need 8 squares or circles of each color.
For alternating colors, glue down your center and glue into place 4 fans that are of the same fabric

With the coordinating fabric, glue one on either side of the opening.
Finish off with a final "fan" in the original fabric and repeat around the entire center.

This flower looks more like a flower than pinwheel. Cute, fun and just a bit different.