Second Saturday Giving: Stitch at a Time

What a fun project for March - the Sparkle Girl's birthday month, woohoo!
Stitch at a Time sewing kit using some things you might have already! If you, your church or a group pack multiple shoeboxes or share gifts with numerous individuals through an organization, these are simple to make multiples - even as an assembly line for everyone to participate!

1) Gather ingredients: We used felt, needles, pins, thread and buttons plus a piece of fabric for a ribbon. There is no wrong way to assemble. The easiest method would be placing needles and pins in a small piece of felt then put all items in a small unbreakable container. We did a little something different!

 2) Measure an approximate square from the felt to fold over thread spool (this may make more sense after you see all the photos). We used two pieces of felt, the outer slightly larger. We cut two small holes near the spool ends (fairly centered in the felt) and ran the ribbon through one hole, spool then other hole. We may include more thread or a full size spool in our shoeboxes, but this makes for a nice "all in one" size.

3) Back view of square. Tie a gentle knot - don't pull too hard! 

 4) Fill with other ingredients! Note the pins and needles are through the felt more than once so they don't slip out too easily. We stitched on a variety of buttons with a single thread folded and knotted. Each button is knotted on, but we kept the thread running (see next photo) just to make stitching easier.
 5) Close up of button stitching.

 6) Wrap ribbon around and tie sewing kit shut! Makes a nice little gift as it is - especially if the outer cover has sparkles (:  Outside can be decorated if you wish. The fabric ribbon we used is more pink in person, but looks a little sad in this picture - leftover holiday ribbons would be festive! 

Several of these could be made for little money. A group could easily collect things or have members bring in different items then craft several in an afternoon. 

We didn't include scissors or snips in our kits because we always add school scissors to shoeboxes. If we make these for another organization or function we would include something for thread snipping.

We hope you enjoy this project for gift giving or maybe for your own handy use!

Second Saturday Giving: Bracelets and more

Colorful bracelets, necklaces or even long ties (combined strings) are simple additions to shoeboxes, care packages or really ANY gift! To keep things simple we'll use the word "yarn" from now on, but any type string or yarn will work. Keep in mind thicker yarn will produce thicker (heavier) finished product and length will depend on how much work you do.

Project

Choose a single color, multi color yarn/ string or a few strands to work together. Braiding is a simple way to combine or try finger crochet. You or someone you know may crochet with a hook. Finger crochet is the same but using fingers. Following are photos to help with the basic steps:

Make a slip knot in the end of yarn. A slip knot allows the loop to be adjusted with pulling. With a tail several inches long, make a bend in the yarn and twist. make another bend to pass partly through the loop but be careful not to pull through the end. Tighten gently - but not too tight!

Reach through the first loop and pull another loop (not too long, but you can adjust each). 

Snug up each "old loop" before making next loop.

Keep going until piece is as long as you want - bracelet, necklace or colorful tie for a gift or special item.

Here are a few finished using cotton, ribbon, wool. The last shows ribbon and wool held together. You can see we didn't snug the ribbon yarn much, we liked the open look.

One ball of yarn can make MANY many bracelets - or use scraps from other projects if you have them around! Plus these are so easy to store so you can make them all year round and save up for shoeboxes, valentine's day or any event you may need several gifts to share.

Shoebox Idea

Our family has purchased one plastic shoebox we will be using to pack in November. This shoebox is where we store the bracelets and other items we will be making or buying through the year. We will make small items for the boxes our church will send as well as other activities so when this box is full we will buy another and repeat/continue (: . 

SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT PLASTIC SHOEBOXES:

We have sent paperboard boxes and purchased plastic boxes in the past. After being blessed to work in a processing center - especially in the "shoebox hospital" - I (victoria) realize that purchasing plastic is only a good idea if they are pliable plastic. I admit that I have purchased dollar boxes from those type stores in the past but will not again for the shoebox project. The plastic is brittle and breaks easily. Not only the "dollar store" boxes, but any brittle plastic were what we saw most in shoebox hospital. If a box is damaged badly or creates a danger (sharp plastic, anyone?) the contents are repackaged into a safe box. *the more you know*

Due to winter weather and related schedule issues we weren't able to plan a workshop for this project. But we would enjoy making this with anyone anytime! Check back here on the blog (or follow the star studio blog) for upcoming events/ dates of workshops or contact us about meeting for a cuppa sometime. Enjoy making to give!

Second Saturday Giving

Second Saturday Giving is our new regular topic sharing ideas for myriad giving opportunities such as Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, group gifts, school exchange projects, etc. We welcome feedback and input!*

Project: "Leftover Christmas" Did you have a project you made several of for holiday gifts? Washcloths, ornaments, jewelry, etc.? If you have additional ones you can start saving for the 2014 season. If you received a crafty kit for a gift you can use those supplies and skills for later projects that would be perfect for shoeboxes, nursing home visits, as well as other gift giving opportunities. Shown below are trivets made from pot holder loom and loops. This year we also plan to keep our eyes open for kits on sale to broaden our skills and try some new ideas. Often times kits come with all supplies save glue or something basic. 

Shoebox Idea: Save small bottles and remove labels (soak in soapy water, if needed) then fill with small (age group appropriate) shoebox treasures like beads, pencil erasers, nails, screws, fabric pins, hair pins, etc. The ones pictured obviously need some soaking!

Coming in February: A project with step-by-step instructions that will also be good for Valentine's Day gifts PLUS a live local workshop! Check back here for supply list and workshop details!

*this is a co-post with follow the star studio

Sparkle Girl - START!

Before Sparkle Girl, I thought about making rings but then I thought lip balm would be more fun. My mom and I researched and tried a lip gloss recipe. We found better ingredients to make a moisturizing lip balm in our own flavors. With a festival fast approaching we made a batch each of chocolate, orange and vanilla and presented Sparkle Girl to the world! And that's how Sparkle Girl came to be.