Making Coasters

This time of year is always hard to post projects on my blog because almost everything that I'm working on is going to be a present for someone!  Hopefully my family won't peek at my blog before Christmas!

This week I have been working on making some quilted coasters for some of my family.  This set is going to be for my son and daughter-in-law, so I made them to match their table runners.  I decided on a 9-patch block for their coaster sets.  I even put Thinsul-Brite batting inside of them to keep the hot cups from "sweating" through the fabric.

 For the next set, I made pinwheel blocks in some cheetah fabric.  These are for my daughter who loves animal prints.  After I finished sewing them, I wrapped each set in a bow and added a little stamped tag to complete the homemade look.

These coaster sets are a lot of fun to make.  They are a quick and easy project that can go in any room. 

I wanted to try making some just using strips of fabric.  I love how this gray set came out.  What a great way to use up some of your scraps!  I made this set for my son.  

He doesn't know it yet, but I made them in same colors as the quilt that I have been working on for him!  Shh!  Don't tell.

Which pattern do you like the best?  What colors would you use for the striped blocks?  Wouldn't they pretty in the colors of the rainbow?  I will have to try that idea next.  But I think I'll wait until after Christmas!

There's a Whole Flock of Them!

I am going to be hosting an Ornament Exchange this weekend and decided to use the birds as my item to exchange.  Here are a few of them nestled in their basket ready for exchanging! 

These little guys are made from designer papers that are glued onto cardboard and then cut out with the Sizzix bird die cut.  Then I cut out the wings from the pieces that were remaining so that the wings are 3D also. 

Next I added stamping with some vintage images, glued a ribbon around the neck and punched some Petite Flowers for decoration.  Their eyes are pearls colored with a brown Sharpie.  Then a button with a twine bow and a ribbon for hanging completes the look. 

I made them in a lot of different colors so that they can be used all year round. 

Here they are all hanging on their little tree.  Do you like them?  Which color do you like the best?  Would you keep them up all year?

Silver and Sparkle

Usually I like the traditional colors of Christmas, but this year I have really enjoyed making cards and projects using some different colors!  I love the peaceful look that these colors bring- using Stampin Up's Lost Lagoon, Soft Sky, Smoky Slate gray and silver colors.

On this card, I stamped and punched out the trees.  For the lighter colored tree, I made two and stacked them on top of each other, folding the top tree and adhering it with glue dots along the fold to give it dimension.  I punched out the stars using the silver glitter paper.  It's hard to tell in the photos, but the card really sparkles!

I used the scallop topper punch to make these matching gift tags.  On the back, I stamped the "To and From" for the names and left a place for any sentiments.  I had a lot of fun playing with the designer papers, All is Calm to make these!  I got the ideas from Narelle Farrugia from my favorite site, Pinterest. 

I also wanted to make a card with houses on a street at Christmastime.  Here is what I came up with using Holiday Home and the All is Calm designer papers.  I'm not sure if I like the card that much, but I think the houses would make cute little gift tags. 

Are you experimenting using different colors this Christmas?  What is your new color scheme?