Awe-mazing Gift Bows

I adore anything handmade especially when it is given to me as a gift. There is something about receiving a gift that was made with you in mind. I cherish these gifts most as I think of the time and love put into that object.

Whether your gift is made by hand or not, you can add a little personal touch to every gift with one of these amazing fabric bows. It's good for the environment and your friend will probably love the bow almost as much as the gift itself!

Level: Super Easy

Time: 1/2 hour or less (make more than 1 at a time and save them in a small tote with your gift wrap)

Materials:

Scrap fabric 8-14" long at least 2"

Button

Pinking shears or rotary cutter with pinking blade

Hot Glue

Thread (you can hand sew this but I like to machine sew these-it's just faster)

Wonderunder double sided iron-on by Pellon (for bow #2)

Bow Option 1:

1. Using the pinking shears/rotary cutter cut fabric into strips 1" to 1 1/4" wide so the pinking cut is on each side of the fabric. Cut strips to the following lengths. You will need 2 of each size: 14", 12" 10" 8"

2. Fold each piece as follows: with piece horizontally in front of you, fold short edge to the middle and flip upside down, then take other side of the strip and fold to the middle and flip upside down. The turns on each side should be going opposite directions. Pin. Do this for the remaining 7 strips.

3. Stack the strips perpindicular by size (ie: place one 14" strip on top of the other 14" strip show they are shaped like a +) Tack in place by hand or with a forward and back stitch on your machine

4. Stack the + by size. Place the 14" set on bottom, then the 12" set on top of that, then the 10" set on top of that and then the 8" set on the top. Stitch through all layers making sure the ends of each set are secured.

5. Hot glue a button or other decorative center.

Bow Option 2:

1. Cut 4" strips of wonderunder by 14, 12, 10 and 8" Iron one piece between 2 pieces of fabric. Use pinking rotary cutter and cut strips to 1 or 1 1/4" wide.

2. You will want 2 pieces of each length when you are done. Continue as above from step 2

Bow Option 3:

1. Cut fabric scraps into 3" strips by 14", 12", 10" 8" - you will need 2 of each size.

2. Start with 1 strip. Fold in lengthwise bringing the edges to the center. Your strip will be 1 1/2" wide. Iron. Fold in half (it is now 3/4" wide) iron.

3. Topstitch along both long sides about 1/4" from the edge.

4. Fold as shown in step 2. Omit pinning and instead tack ends in place. Stack them into sets as in #3 and tack in place.

5. Using a hot glue gun stap the sets as follows: 14", top with 12", top with 10", top with 8"

6. Hot glue with buttons or other decorative items, gems, pearls, reclaimed jewelry pieces.

Gift Card Money Pouch

This little pouch is perfect place to slip that birthday gift card or a little cash. I love to use mine for storing all those punch cards that accumulate in your wallet. Whenever I'm in a store, I pull out my card pouch and easily find the rewards card I need.

Level: Easy-Peezy

Time: about 45 minutes, less if you make more than 1 at a time

Materials: 2 pieces of Scrap fabric at least 6" x 10" each

Light weight (pellon 911FF) iron-on interfacing 6" x 10"

Snap Button and tool ( hammer and thread spool)

Coordinating thread

1. Cut a rectangle 6" x 10" out of 2 different pieces of scrap fabric. You can use 2 colors that coordinate or accent each other...don't feel limited here as I love a fun bag with a surprise on the inside!

2. Following manufacturers instructions, iron-on the interfacing to the fabric piece A (the fabric that will be on the outside).

3. With right sides together, match up short and long ends of both pieces of fabric. Stitch all 4 sides leave 3" on one short end open for turning. Be sure to back-stitch at the beginning and end as well as at each corner.

NOTE" when stitching across the opposite short end from the opening you will have the opportunity to either stitch straight across for a squared flap or as I have done here, angle your stitch to have a triangular flap. You could also use a soup can to mark a rounded flap....the skies the limit on this design!

4. Clip corners and turn right sides out. Press and then stitch across the bottom closing the opening at the same time.

5. Fold your pouch into thirds so that it is approximately 5" wide x 3.5" tall when folded. Stitch up one side, across the flap and then down the other side. You now have a pouch with a flap!

6. Add a snap! You can buy these snaps with a tool for attaching them but you can also use a thread spool and hammer as shown here. Mark where your snap will go by folding the flap down over the main part of the pouch then fold it up about 1/2". At the center (approx 2 1/2" from the edge) mark both the flap and the pouch where the snap will go.

7. Attach the top snap to the flap (this is the part of the snap with the decorative head). Then the opposite part of the snap to the pouch.

Voila! Fill with money or gift card for a fun reusable present!

IDEAS: Add a personal touch to your pouch by printing a message on fabric paper and stitching it to your pouch before assembly. You can also fold the fabric paper in half and stitch it into the side seam for a "tag" affect. Add the recipients name, a greeting or message, or words or inspiration for a truly unique and personal gift.

Scrappy Lanyard

Keep your keys or work id in a handy place, around your neck or simply find it in your bag of tricks.

Supplies:

Scrap fabric to be cut into 3" wide strips of various lengths

Thread

Snap bolt hardware and/or split key ring (checkout the purse hardware at your fabric store)

Time: about 1/2 hour-1 hour

Seam Allowance: 1/2"

1. Start by measuring the length you want your lanyard to be. I like mine to be 36-42" round so it lands about mid-torso. For this we will make a 38" round (19" long) lanyard

2. Cut scrap fabric to 3" wide x 6" long x 8 pieces

3. Stitch fabric pieces together at the short end so you will end up with one long strip 3" wide by approximately 40" long. Press open seams.

4. Fold wrong sides together working on the long sides. Iron. Fold again in half, iron. You should now have a 3/4" x 40" strip.

5. Top-stitch both edges of the strip approximately 1/4" from edge.

6. Slip snap bolt onto the strip. Taking care that the strip is not twisted, match up the raw ends then stitch and back-stitch 1/2" from the raw edges.

7. Place the snap bolt next to the loop closure stitch you just made. With the snap facing out (away from the loop), stitch and backstitch as close to the snap as possible and through both layers of the loop.

8. A split key ring can be used instead of or with the snap hook.

Tip: To lesson the bulky-ness of the lanyard you may consider lengthening your fabric pieces and stitching them together using this diagonal joining method.

{Copyright Info: I love to create and share ideas with you. All patterns and tutorials are for personal use and not for resale. If you find something here that you want to share on your blog, please do and note the tutorial is by Maranda Lee at http://www.marandalee.com/ Copyright 2011-2012 All Rights Reserved Maranda Lee Design Ltd}