Create this classy Embroidered Initial Necklace for all your friends…they will love it!  Easy handmade gifts are some of my favorite projects!

The possibilities are endless and once you make a few of these I’m sure you will start to dream up new ideas for these sweet embroidered pendants.

You only need a few supplies…

• Fabric scraps
• Embroidery thread
• Embroidery needle
• Embroidery hoop
• Oval Pendant {can be found here}
• Water Soluble Ink Pen

Order quite a few pendants because once you get started you’ll want to make a handful of these little trinkets…trust me!

Using a water soluble pen write your initial in the center of the fabric.  I practiced my letter on a regular sheet of paper first for size.  I also added little marks on my fabric to show the size of the pendant.  It worked on the first try!

Take your embroidery thread and needle and start stitching with a simple backstitch. {stitch video here}

Once you complete the stitching cut out around the oval leaving a bit of extra fabric.  If you can see any of the ink, just follow the instructions for your pen to remove it.

Place your fabric in the pendant and secure the pendant back.  Here’s where you can work with it a little if you want.  I added folded fabric scraps behind my initial before putting it in the pendant to make it a little puffy.  It’s up to you.

I just trimmed the excess fabric close to the edge with super pointy scissors.  {not shown above}  You could add a small oval cut out as an extra layer and glue your fabric to it before placing the back on.  I haven’t tried this, but it seems like it would work.

It will look beautiful no matter what you do, but I thought I’d share a few options.

Isn’t it cute??

I plan on making quite a few of these for Christmas this year!

It took less than an hour to make both of these…and I took photos!  I think they would look fabulous with a linen background or any other small pattern.

If you love handmade gifts like I do, you’ll love these ideas…

• 101 Simple Handmade Gifts
• 101 Handmade Gifts for Her
• 101 Handmade Gifts for Men
• 101 Handmade Christmas Ornaments

What do you think?  I’d love to hear about some handmade gifts you’ve made!  They are the best!

~Kim

Simple hand stamped garden markers like these would make any gardener happy.  I love anything hand stamped, don’t you??  They would make a fabulous gift for Mother’s Day! {hint,hint!}

You can create a set of these with just few supplies.  Wit and Whistle has the complete tutorial on how to stamp and bake your Polymer clay.  This is one of those DIY garden projects that you HAVE to do this year!!!

Strawberry Jam is one of life’s little pleasures.  We always have fresh strawberries around when they’re in season.  This is one of the best things in the world to do with strawberries…for real!  You won’t believe just how easy it is tom make your own Strawberry Jam.

Strawberry Jam

• 2 quarts fully ripe strawberries
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 7 cups sugar
• 3 ounces liquid fruit pectin

1. Wash and hull the strawberries, and place them in a medium bowl. Using a potato masher, crush the berries. You should have 4 cups of crushed berries.

2. In a heavy saucepan combine the crushed berries, lemon juice, and sugar. Over high heat, bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly; boil, stirring, for 1 minute.

3. Add the liquid pectin; boil and stir for 1 minute longer. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Using a slotted spoon, skim off and discard any foam that rises to the surface.

4. Spoon the hot jam into 8 wide mouthed, warm sterilized 1/2 pint jars, leaving a 1/4 inch space between the top of the jam and the rim of the jar. Wipe the rims, cover, and process for 10 minutes in boiling water. {You can always research more about canning…I have been known to call my Mom during this part to make sure it’s right.}

This jam makes an amazing gift for friends and neighbors!  They will talk about it forever and ask for more…trust me!

Try this recipe for Strawberry Shortcake…another great way to use fresh strawberries!

Enjoy your homemade goodness!

This wood butter is the best way to renew you wood utensils and bowls.  They will look as good as new…and maybe a little better with just a few minutes and a dab of this homemade wood butter.  Now you know to grab all the wooden salad bowls at the next garage sale…ha! 

For all the details and great before and after photos, hop over to Creative Culinary.  Be ready to be amazed!  Make some for yourself and your friends. 

Flavored salt is an excellent way to kick up you next recipe.  You can cook with it or leave it for the finishing touch.  Oh, and doesn’t the little tin look amazing?!  Well, you can download the printables to create these at home.  What a great gift!

Choose from Chipotle-Orange, Mesquite-Porcini and Chile-Lime!  Yum!   You can find all the details on creating your own flavored salt at Minamally Invasive.  It’s a beautiful blog full of great ideas!  Enjoy!

This is so simple and sweet!  Felt has always been one of my favorite things and when you wrap it around a cup of coffee it’s a total dream. 

You can find any shade of wool felt you desire in our shop…Handmade & Craft.  This tutorial will have you spreading a little love in no time.  Don’t forget to make yourself a few.   

There’s something about simple projects that really make me happy!  Maybe it’s that they’re usually pretty inexpensive and they only take minutes to create.  I like quick and easy projects that make me look like the Crafty Diva that I really am…ha! 

These fun washi tape crafts will make you happy…trust me!

12 Washi Tape Crafts

1. Washi Tape Notebook – Oh, Hello Friend
2. Bird House Key Hooks – Torie Jayne
3. Washi Tape Silhouette Art – Clever Thursday
4. Washi Tape Chalkboard Clipboard – A Pumpkin and a Princess
5. Washi Tape Pots – Inspired to Share
6. DIY Washi Switch Plate Cover – Crab and Fish
7. Sweet Wahi Tape Gift Tags – Ishtar Olivera
8. Washi Tape Decorated Binder Clips -  Artsyville
9. Washi Tape Wrapping Paper – Poppytalk
10. Washi Tape Drink Tags – Lieberbotschaft
11. Washi Tape Pencils – Minted
12. Tape Decorated Vases – How About Orange

Aren’t they cool???  I know you are going to be running out to get some pretty tape right away.  Have fun with it!

Washi tape makes the world a happier place!

These sweet embroidered covered buttons are a lovely addition to so many craft and sewing projects.  Add them to felt flowers, make a cute brooch, replace the buttons on your child’s jacket…you get the idea.  They are super cute and are sure to make you smile! 

These buttons can be found at Ideas or use this fabric covered button tutorial with your own pretty fabric and designs.

These Lemon Shortbread Cookies are a wonderful way to welcome a family to the neighborhood, let someone know you are thinking of them, or even a sweet thank you for your child’s teacher.  You can’t go wrong with them!  You can find the easy recipe on Technicolor Kitchen.  Yum! 

Entertaining by candlelight makes for a memorable evening.  Make some of these simple and chic shell candles and add a summer glow to your table any time of year!

I’ll just give you a quick how-to on creating these and then you’ll be making candles out of every shell, tea cup or old tin you find around the house.  It’s such a quick project that you can make a million of them in a day…well, almost.

First, you’ll need these supplies from a craft store…

• soy wax
• wicks
• fragrance
• dye

I really like the way soy wax melts so I always use it whenever I’m making candles.  A little goes a long way and you’ll want to plan on making a ton of candles or having some supplies for later.  The fragrance and dye can be used in soap making on another creative day.

1. Find and clean a large shell.
2. Take a glass measuring cup and melt one cup of wax to start.{Be sure to read the directions!}
3. Prop your shell up in a dish towel to hold it level.
4. Stir a drop or two of color and fragrance into your wax.
5. Hold a wick in the center of the shell as you slowly pour in your wax to the desired level.
6. Let it cool and your done!

Tips: I use just a little yellow to give it a slight color like the inside of a shell. I burn these candles with other shells around the base to hold them up straight while they are burning. Sand in a beautiful glass dish would work perfectly. Cut the wick a little shorter before burning to keep from having a large flame.

These would be wonderful for a dinner party on the porch!  The shell itself lights up so nice! Oh, and while you’re making them you can bundle up a few for gifts later on in the year.  Everyone loves shells!

If you have a bunch of shells left you might want to make a shell frame!

Have fun!

~Kim