Throw Pillows DIY

I love pillows! I'll buy them if they are on sale, oops I mean clearance. Pillows are a relatively inexpensive accessory to change for a new look when decorating your house. One of my first sewing projects was sewing a pillow. Even if you are a beginner, you can make a pillow. After the holidays are over, I like to redecorate and reorganize my house. So today was day 1 of changing some things around...and changing out some pillows.
This afternoon while looking around at my favorite craft store, I spotted some soft, fluffy material on sale and I knew when I saw it, I would have to make a pillow! My granddaughters found some of their favorite material too so they also made a pillow. (Actually only one of them made the pillow while the other one was hanging out with her friends...kids are so cute!) I usually keep at least one or two bags of filling in my craft room so I only needed the material, $3.00 and $1.50. Depending on the width and the size of your pillow you can usually buy 1/2 yard for a fairly large pillow. Otherwise measure the size of the pillow you want and buy that amount of material.
How to sew a pillow:

•  Decide the size of the pillow you are going to sew and measure the material and add an inch to each side. 
• Fold my material in half, right sides together and cut the size you want.
• I always sew the longest side first and save the shorter sides for last.
• Sew one of the short sides from end to end.
• Sew the remaining short sides toward the middle leaving a space just big enough to add the filling for the pillow. I usually leave about 4 inches, enough for your hand and stuffing.
• Once the pillow is stuffed (don't forget to add a little extra in the corners), hand sew the opening edges together.
• Fluff your pillow and enjoy!

Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

Mantle Decorating for the Holidays

  

I'm updating this post because only 2 days before Christmas I just had to add the finishing touch on my winter mantle. I shopped around and found some more shatterproof Christmas ornaments that match the wreath I had made earlier. I cut 2 pieces of ribbon and made 2 separate strands of garland. I strung each ball onto piece of ribbon and tied knots in both ends. I was thrilled the ornaments were on sale now so I stocked up! I used 96 balls to make the garland, $24 total which is so much better than the $149 price tag at one of stores that had the pre-made garland strands. Since I absolutely adore these colors, I'm happy as a clam! I made my own bow for the middle with some ribbon I already had. I like the Command hooks so I attached 1 on each end and 2 in the middle to the top of the mantle. I love love love the look! I wish you could see it in person, it's simply beautiful and so soft and shabby looking. The rest of the project you already know since I had previously posted it after Thanksgiving. Thanks for stopping!

I thought I would share a DIY Christmas-winter decorating idea today. It seems like I'm still too full from our Thanksgiving meal to post a recipe! Before I started my Christmas decorating project this year, I sorted out items from last year that I was ready to donate. It helps to be organized before you start making a mess. I used my feather tree and my cone trees from last year. I made a coffee filter wreath, Simply DIY Coffee Filter Wreath, and found some vintage ornaments to hot glue around the outside. Strands of pearls work great to wrap around the bottom of the decorations on the mantle. I love to use a couple of sentimental items, this year I used two musical Santas that my Dad had given us at Christmas several years ago and placed them in the middle of the mantle. I like the semi-shabby chic look but I didn't want too many items so that it would look cluttered. Next to the fireplace, I found a small old pail in my treasures and filled it with cinnamon pine cones and added some pom-pom decorations. Using items I had and making the rest, my entire project cost $31.00, and I like that!
Happy decorating!

 Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

Homemade Soap

As promised, the post today is one of the most simple ways to make homemade soap. I have other recipes that are more complicated and time consuming but this is the perfect DIY gift project if you want to give something that you've made.
It is getting down to the wire for us with projects and baking. It just wouldn't be normal for me if I actually didn't have too much to do! And then things start happening...like my computer is being weird and I don't like it, then last night the microwave stopped working in the middle of our bake-off. I have mixed feelings about replacing it, do I really need a microwave? Does everyone have a microwave? I don't know, we'll see what happens. Ok - back to the soap... now you know why my family tells me I get distracted easily, yep, I do - haha!!
Supplies:
Goats milk glycerin base soap (I got mine at Michael's)
Essential oil of your choice
Herbs or flowers, dried
Soap coloring (optional)

 

 
 

Directions:
Melt the soap base in a pan on the stove over low-medium heat or use a microwaveable bowl and heat in 30 second increments until it's melted. Add about a dropper of essential oil or about 20 drops. I used lemon, orange and peppermint. My combinations were lemon and lavendar, rosemary and orange, peppermint by itself.
Stir in herbs with a wooden spoon, rosemary or lavender flowers smell and look beautiful. You can give them a rough chop if you want smaller pieces. I also used some soap coloring for some of the soap, otherwise white is pretty too.
Pour the melted soap base into plastic molds or cupcake liners in a muffin tin.
Let harden for at least a couple of hours and gently remove from the mold.
We wrapped ours with plain brown paper, added a homemade tag and pretty little bow.
Have fun and get the kids involved - this is a great project and the soap is wonderful!

 Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

DIY Mug Cozy

For the rest of this week we'll be posting some handmade and homemade gift ideas for all of you last minute gifters! I say this and laugh a little to myself because I am still finishing my knitting projects, sewing projects, baking projects, soap making projects and fifty other things that are on my "to do" list. Thankfully my oldest grand-daughter finished her project early so she is sharing her idea with you. We just finished making goat's milk soap, stay tuned we'll be posting that within the next couple of days.
For a cute little gift project, I bought clear glass mugs at the dollar store or you could also use any glass mugs you already have. Place one serving of hot cocoa mix, Simply Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix, in a baggie and tie the top with a ribbon. I hot glued 2 candy canes together to make a heart shape and placed them inside the mug.
For the little mug warmer, I measured the circumference of the mug and subtracted an inch. If you are a beginner or need knitting instructions, there are some great videos on YouTube. I began by casting on 14 stitches using size 9 knitting needles, I like the knit stitch. After casting off, I sewed 2 buttons on one side and made 2 loops on the other side to button it. You wouldn't need to use buttons, I thought it was a fun little idea but you could just sew the 2 ends together with yarn. That's it...really simple but fun to put together!
Have a great time creating your gifts!
Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi