framed monogram print

This is a project I completed some time ago, for my littlest boy.  It was a time when all my craft stuff was in the one place and I knew where everything was!!  So in an effort to remember that I do craft sometimes, I am reliving the past and posting this for you.

It is a very easy, thrifty and quick project that you can complete in under an hour!!  If you use items from your stash it may not cost you anything.  Even if you need to purchase everything it can all be bought at a discount store for a couple of dollars.  Also frames can be picked up quite cheap from the op shop or thrift store, just keep an eye out and collect.  And a fat quarter of cute fabric won't set you back much and you could possibly get two frames done with this amount.

Despite being cheap and cheerful, it makes a lovely handmade gift that looks schmicko.  We have given them as birth gifts and preschool birthday presents.

You will need:
one frame
small piece of cute fabric, just a bit larger than frame
chipboard letter (or cut your own from thick card or felt)
craft paint and brush
glue

Paint the monogram letter and set aside to dry.
Take the back off the frame.
Lay the back on the fabric and cut around the frame giving about 2cm overhang.
Next place the fabric wrapped back, into the frame (making sure you have the good side of the fabric showing!!
Pop the clips into the frame to secure.

Pull the fabric taut.

Take the dried monogram and position.

Add glue to back of letter and stick down.

Leave to dry.

That's it!!

Do you keep a collection of found items (frames, lampshade covers, jars...) just in case, like me?

Sharing at

Thirty Handmade Days  ~  make : grow : thrift  ~  Whatever Goes Wednesday

coffee cup sleeve

Recently, I have been buying more take away coffees than normal.  Our home espresso maker has (hopefully temporarily) thrown in the towel.  Until I can get around to having it seen to, we are stuck with the french press or take away espresso (and the french press is so tiresome to clean!!)

And I like hot coffee but not holding on the hot coffee cup.

So call it a cuff, holder, cosy or sleeve, this nifty little hot drink thingy will go everywhere with you.  Keep a couple in your hand bag and make some up as quick gift items.  They would be great as teacher appreciation gifts, to give with a gift card to a local coffee shop.


What you will need:  Large scraps of cotton fabric, wool suiting and interfacing, a paper coffee cup and pinking shears.

Take a paper coffee cup and cut it to use as a pattern. 
Remove the base. 
Cut the cup to lay it flat and then trim about 2cm off the top and bottom.
Add 1.5cm to the short sides as seam allowance.

Cut one each of cotton fabric, wool suiting and interfacing.
Sew or iron on the interfacing to the wrong side of the wool piece.
(I sewed the interfacing to the cotton, but would have been heaps better on the wool as it would stabilise the stretchiness)

(Ignore the interfacing on the cotton piece!!)
Fold each piece right sides together and stitch a 1cm seam.

For the rest of the steps I have no pics. 

I was rushing to finish in the last minutes of my littlest ones afternoon nap!! 

I did finish but with no photos taken. 

It is very easy though.

Turn the cotton tube right side out.  Slip the wool tube inside the cotton tube, wrong sides together.  Don't match seams, as the seam area gets too chunky.

Stitch about 1.5cm inside the raw edge around both the top and bottom of the cosie.
Finish the raw edge with pinking shears.

There you have it.  A finished coffee cup sleeve.  It should look something like the one below.

You could easily whip up enough for yourself and some gifts in about an hour.  And use up some of your scrap fabric too!!

What ideas do you have for small handmade gifts?

Linking to Frugal Days - Sustainable Ways