Ruffled Cards

I can find a way to add a ruffle to just about anything.  Currently, I am loving these ruffled cards.  I originally sent them out as part of my gift for the Craftaholics Anonymous Handmade Gift Exchange this summer (which I only sent over a month late....what is wrong with me people?)

They are super simple to make.  All you need is a stack of precut cards (I bought a box of 200 from target about a year ago for 10$...they even came with envelopes) and scraps of fabric.

Cut a 2 inch strip of fabric that is double the length of your card.  Ruffle it on your machine with a ruffling foot (if you are lucky enough to have one) or the old fashioned way (like me) using your longest stitch length and highest tension.  Pull the bobbin thread to finish gathering to the exact length of the card.  Pin the fabric to your card at the desired location and then sew the fabric to the card directly on top of the gathering stitch you already made.  I used contrasting thread for the purple card and love how it turned out.  There are tons of variations you could do with this.  I think some ruffled flowers would be cute (strips sewn in circles), or multiple rows?  Options are endless.

To hide the ugly stitching on the back, I sewed another card to the back of the first.  Be sure to switch your machine back to it's normal setting or you will not have pretty stitching.

Done!  you can easily whip up a stack of these in under 10 minutes.  Not kidding.  So easy and so cute.  They would make great neighbor gifts this holiday season, or a great addition to your handmade gift....there's another exchange coming up next week I believe!

Here are some other cards I've made with felt.  They usually turn out pretty well too, but I still love the ruffles the most.

Back with some NEWS.

Hello friends.  Well, it's been a good two months since I've posted.  And while I feel like I have good reasons, I also feel like I've been missing my friends in the blogging world and letting you guys down for some reason.

First, I received a Jury summons at the end of August and was selected for the Jury Duty on a 4 week trial.  It was a really interesting experience (one that I'm sure would have been just as interesting had it lasted only 2 days....but you do what you have to do).  Our legal system is incredible (not without flaw, i'm sure) but I have experienced first hand just what it can do for people and I'm grateful in a weird way for the experience.

Second, for the last several months, I've been keeping secrets around here.  In about 8 weeks, we are adding another little girl to the family!  We can.not.wait.  Really.  We are so excited.

Here is me 3 weeks ago (at about  29 weeks)

I don't feel like that's an excuse for my lack of blogging....because I have felt pretty good this time around, but I have lost all sorts of motivation when it comes to doing the essentials (like housework, making dinner, and crafting....you know, the important stuff...haha).

So there you have it.  I have actually been sewing and making things, but they usually end up being for someone else and I keep forgetting to take pictures before sending them away.  I do have some things to show you guys, including a tutorial if I can get it up this week, so stay tuned if you are still around and I'll try to get back on the horse.

In other news, I've been using Pinterest for the last few months and would definitely call my love for it an addiction.  You can see my boards by clicking the button at the left or below.  Don't be surprised when you see that a lot of them are food related.....I think about food a lot these days (actually, that's normal for me even when I'm not pregnant).

Hope you all had a great weekend.  Thanks for sticking around.

Ellie