Archive | Holidays

Patriotic Table Runner Tutorial

It’s not too late… You still have time to make this simple table runner to enjoy the whole month of July!  I originally shared this post on Or So She Says.  I am loving my new Patriotic Table Runner Tutorial.  I have table runners for several other holidays, but not a good one for the 4th of July.  It was time to fix that.  Let’s get making a table runner!

Table-Runner-Tutorial

Finished size:  16 X 46 inches

Supplies needed:

  • 1/3 yard navy blue fabric
  • 1 fat quarter (or scraps) red fabric
  • 1/2 yard white fabric
  • 1/2 yard fabric for backing, plus a few scraps.
  • 1/4 yard fabric for binding
  • Batting size approx.  18  X 48 inches
  • 1/4 yard wonder under (for appliquéing the stars)

 1.  Cut Fabric.  

  • Navy blue squares – cut 12 X 12 inches.
  • Red and White Stripes – cut 2 X 12 inches.
  • White Border – cut 3 strips 2 X 44 inches (width of fabric)
  • Binding – cut 3 strips 2.5 X 44 inches (width of fabric)

2.  Cut and Applique Stars.

  • Print this star (or draw your own).  My star is about 8.5 inches across.  Trace onto fusible web, and iron onto white fabric.  Then, cut out along traced lines.  Peel off the paper layer and iron onto the navy blue squares.  If you are new to applique, here is a basic tutorial for you.

Holiday-Decor

3.  Sew.

  • Sew the red and white strips together.  Sew the blue squares onto both ends.  Press seams open.   Sew your white border strips onto the long sides of the table runner first, then the shorter sides.  Press seams open.
  • Sew some scraps onto the backing piece.  The width of fabric is just a little bit too short.  I added a 3 inch strip on each end, because I like things symmetrical.  🙂

4. Quilt.

  • There are a few things that can make putting all your layers together easier.  First, tape your backing to the floor so it doesn’t move.  Be sure to not stretch your fabric.  Use adhesive spray and curved safety pins to keep the layers together.
  • Machine quilting is my favorite.  This is easily done on a standard sewing machine.  For this table runner, I just used straight lines, nice and easy.  I used white thread on the white, blue thread on the blue, and red thread on the red.

Holiday-Table-Runner

5. Bind.

  • There are several ways to do binding.  This is my favorite way.  Sew your three strips of fabric together so that you have one super long piece of fabric.  Press in half, wrong sides together.  Sew strip onto the front of your table runner.  Tack down the back side by hand or with your machine (I always do it by hand!).  If you need more tips for binding, I love this tutorial.

6.  Enjoy!

Patriotic-Table-Runner

You are now ready to add a little holiday decor to your table this summer.  I hope you enjoyed this project.  A few other things  you might like are my Christmas Tree Table Runner, My Favorite Quilting Supplies, and Making quilts with Friends.  Come say hi!

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Candy Bar Letter – Father’s Day Card

One of our most popular posts of all time is from 2011.  I posted some Father’s Day Ideas.  The candy bar letter we shared has been a huge it!  I’ve seen it used over and over again.  I just love it when I see people using my ideas!  Since then, I did a post about Candy Bar Letter Tips.  This post has tips for making your own card along with more candy bar card ideas.  Today I’m sharing a new Candy Bar Letter for Father’s Day.  My goal was to use ALL different candy from my last Father’s Day candy letter, and I did it!

Candy Bar Letter

Here is what you need:

1 poster board, print out my 3 pages of text for the letter, and all your candy bars.

The candy I used this time are:  Milk Duds, Hi Chew, Dentyne Fire Gum, Crunch, Swedish Fish, Flipz Pretzels, Mike and Ike, Take 5, Dentyne Ice Gum, Mega M&M’s, Junior Mints, Reese’s Pieces, and Runts.

The best part about this simple gift idea is that you can personalize it and make it your own.  You can make it funny, but send a wonderful message at the same time.

Candy Bar Poster

 

You can write all of your sentences with a sharpie, but to make it even easier, just print these files.

Beginning/Ending

Candy Sentences

Numbers

All printables and downloads made by Bits of Everything are for PERSONAL USE ONLY.  Please do not alter or claim as your own. Feel free to link back to http://blog.bitsofeverything.com/ if you like our printables.  We would love a comment if you download. Thanks!

 

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Easy Birthday Idea for Teens

Teens can be tricky, but I have an easy birthday idea for you today.  My daughter started middle school last year.  After her birthday came and went, I quickly learned all the things I should have done for her.  One of the big ones was decorations on her locker.  So simple, but so fun!

Birthday_Banner1

Here is how to make this Happy Birthday banner.

1.  Download this free printable from 100 Directions.

2.  I used the blank little banner in the middle.  Open your file in Photoshop and crop the page to include just the 5 banner pieces.  Make the banner a little bigger (each banner piece is about 1.5 inches wide.)  Copy and paste two more copies of the banner into your file.  Add the letters onto the banners.

st patricks day-pattern

3.  Print – I printed on card stock.  Print the banner and the embellishments (if desired).

4. Score and cut.  First I made I score line at the top of all the banners.  Then, cut out the banners leaving a tab on the top of each banner.

Birthday_Banner3

5.  Fold and tape.  Fold down the tab along the score line.  Hang on a piece of twine and tape the tab to the back of the banner.

Birthday_Banner4

6.  Time to decorate.  Hang banner, then use the ribbons to add little love notes to the decorations.  Decorate a locker, a door, or a mirror.  Any where your teen will see it would work!  My favorite is the locker.

Birthday_Banner5

Save this banner and use it again next year OR for another child.  Your teens will love getting some fun decorations for their birthdays this year!

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