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The Good Hearted Woman

Home Cooking & Cozy Living

  • SOURDOUGH RECIPES & RESOURCES

Beach Towel Bunny Easter Basket [Step-by-Step Tutorial]

March 7 By Renée 10 Comments

Perfect for kids young and old, a Beach Towel Bunny Easter Basket is fun, practical, and SUPER easy to make! 

Beach Towel Bunny Easter Basket [Step-by-Step Video Tutorial]

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

I’m one of those Moms. You know; the kind that makes Easter baskets for her kids long past the time they stop believing in a giant globe-trotting rabbit that poops out chocolate eggs.

At our house, the Easter bunny observes no age limits. If you call me Mama and you stay over at my house on Easter Eve, the Easter Bunny will leave you a basket, no questions asked. (To clarify, you do have to be one of my kids, or at least a close friend.) 

However, it can be a real challenge to create an Easter basket that [a] older kids/young adults are excited to receive, and [b] isn’t a huge drain of money and resources. I’m always on the lookout for practical Easter basket ideas that won’t just create more trash at the end of the day. 

That’s why I was so excited a few years ago when I looked in a downtown storefront window and saw what looked to be a giant booboo bunny. What a great idea! I mean, who can’t use a plush new towel?!

I took the idea and ran with it, and this is the result! 
Beach Towel Bunny Easter BasketYou can set the tone for your Easter basket with the towel you choose, or match it to particular color scheme. For example, I wanted my towel bunny baskets to be big and bright, so the first thing I did was find some plush, colorful beach towels. Many stores (including Costco) start putting their summer goods out just before Easter, so the timing for this easy project is spot on!

Beach Towel Bunny Easter Baskets are SUPER easy to make, and take only about 5 or 10 minutes!

Wavy LineHow to Make a Beach Towel Bunny Easter Basket [Step-by-Step]

 

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Yield: 1 Beach Towel Bunny Easter Basket

Beach Towel Bunny Easter Basket DIY

Beach Towel Bunny Easter Basket

Easy step-by-step DIY tutorial for creating an adorable Easter basket from a large beach towel. Perfect for kids young and old, a Beach Towel Bunny Easter Basket is fun, practical, and SUPER easy to make!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Difficulty Super Easy

Materials

  • Large Beach Towel
  • 3 Large, Heavy Rubber Bands or Hair Bands
  • Adhesive-backed felt See Notes
  • Large Pompom with Elastic Loop

Tools

  • Scissors

Instructions

  1. Cut felt eyes and nose: Cut the Adhesive-back felt into simple eye and nose shapes and set aside. Felt Eyes
  2. Fold the beach towel into a square: Fold the beach towel almost in half, forming a square. If the towel has a rough or “wrong side,” fold that in. Fold and tags to the inside. Line the edges up as closely as possible. blank
  3. Fold the squared towel into a triangle: With any towel overlap turned to the inside, fold the towel in half corner to corner, forming a triangle. blank
  4. Roll the towel: Starting on the long side of the triangle (the hypotenuse),carefully roll the towel - not too tight, not too loose. blank
  5. When you are done rolling the towel, you will have a “fat side, and a thin side” on the roll. The thin side will always stay to the interior of the towel bunny basket. Beach Towel Bunny Easter Basket [Step-by-Step Video Tutorial]
  6. Add the tail: Secure a large rubber band to a large pompom. Fold the rolled towel in half, and keeping the thin side of the rolled towel on the inside, thread the towel through the rubber band until the pompom lies in the middle of the roll. Beach Towel Bunny Easter Basket [Step-by-Step Video Tutorial]
  7. With the pompom tail now attached, fold the rolled towel in half, keeping the “thin side” in. Fold rolled towel with thin side in
  8. Form the basket rim: Using a large rubber band, secure the two halves together about ½ way between the middle bend and the tips of the roll. Be sure to keep the “thin side” in. Beach Towel Bunny Easter Basket [Step-by-Step Video Tutorial]
  9. Form the bunny face: Fold the unsecured ends back over the Basket Rim you just made, and secure with a large rubber band. This rubber band should be placed directly over the first rubber band as it secures the face to the body. blank
  10. Shape the basket: by pushing the thin side (the inner basket rim) down to form a flat floor. Beach Towel Bunny Easter Basket [Step-by-Step Video Tutorial]
  11. Shape the face and ears as desired. Add Eyes and Nose to Towel Bunny
  12. Add felt eyes and ears. Beach Towel Bunny Easter Basket
  13. Fill with treats and enjoy! blank

Notes

NOTE: If you are unable to find/get adhesive-backed felt for the eyes and nose, you can easily make some. Simply trace and cut out some eyes from fabric or paper, and then temporarily tape them, or tack them onto the bunny's face with needle and thread. 

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© The Good Hearted Woman, Harmony Cat LLC
Project Type: DIY / Category: Arts & Crafts

Wavy LineSo what do older kids really think of these unique Beach Towel Easter Baskets?
You be the judge… 

Beach Towel Bunny Easter Basket [Step-by-Step Video Tutorial]

Wavy Line

THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter
of The Good Hearted Woman. ? Be sure to PIN this post!

   Beach Towel Bunny Easter Basket   Beach Towel Bunny Easter Basket   blank

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Filed Under: Arts, Crafts & DIY Tagged With: crafts, DIY, Easter, Holidays

Homemade Fortune Cookie Recipe | Takeout Box DIY + FREE Printable Fortunes

January 30 By Renée 15 Comments

Our easy Homemade Fortune Cookie recipe provides an easy, step-by-step directions. Add a DIY Takeout Box and personalized fortunes for an extra-special touch! 

Homemade Fortune Cookies | The Good Hearted Woman

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

No matter how old you are, the moment when you crack open a fortune cookie still holds a little magic, and personalized fortune cookies are a great way to say I Love You! (Or Happy St. Patrick’s Day, or Joyous Arbor Day, or whatever day you want to celebrate.)

This post included everything you need to create personalized homemade fortune cookies, and deliver them in an adorable, easy-to-make Takeout Box!

  1. Chinese Takeout Box DIY

  2. Printable Valentine’s Day Fortunes

  3. Homemade Fortune Cookie Recipe & Instructions

Homemade Fortune Cookies | The Good Hearted Woman

Post Updated January 30, 2020 (Originally published February 12, 2015)

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How to Make a Chinese Takeout Box

Just print out the handy Chinese Takeout Box Pattern [PDF] and follow the easy instructions. 

One box will take the seasoned crafter about 5 minutes (and those with four thumbs about 15 minutes). 

Yield: 1 Takeout Box

Chinese Take-out Box DIY

Homemade Fortune Cookies | The Good Hearted Woman

Printable pattern and instructions for an easy-to-make folded Chinese Takeout Box, perfect for gift-giving!

Active Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Estimated Cost 50¢

Materials

  • Cardstock

Tools

  • Scissors

Instructions

  1. Print out the Chinese Takeout Box pattern. Be sure to hit “fit for page” before you print. Chinese Takeout Box Template
  2. Trace the pattern onto the back of a piece of heavy scrapbooking paper or cardstock. 
  3. Use scissors to cut along the SOLID BLACK lines. blank
  4. Valley fold along the DOTTED BLUE lines. - In a valley fold, the crease is at the bottom and the paper is folded forward into itself. The paper should form a "V" when you unfold. Valley Fold - Takeout Box
  5. Mountain fold along the SOLID ORANGE lines. A mountain fold is the opposite of a valley fold. The paper folds to the opposite side. Mountain Fold - Takeout Box

Notes

scrapbooking paper and cardstock

Did you make this project?

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© The Good Hearted Woman, Harmony Cat LLC
Category: Arts & Crafts

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Printable Personalized Fortune Cookie Fortunes

Personalized fortune cookies are perfect for kids, friends, family, teachers, and anyone else you want to surprise! 

Here are plenty of printable fortunes for your sweetheart, plus a page full of blanks for you to personalize! 

TIP: Look to your favorite songs for fast fortune-writing. 
Valentines Cookie Fortunes

Free Printable Fortune Cookie Fortunes | The Good Hearted Woman

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Fortune Cookie Recipe & Instructions

Following the fortune cookie recipe below, it will take about 40 minutes to make 24 cookies. (Add about 15 minutes plus cooling time if you want to dip them in chocolate.)

Homemade Fortune Cookies | The Good Hearted Woman
5 from 1 vote

Homemade Fortune Cookies

Personalized homemade fortune cookies are a great way to say I Love You!
Prep Time35 mins
Cook Time5 mins
Total Time40 mins
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course: Sweet Treat
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cookies, Holidays, Valentine's Day
Servings: 24 Cookies
Calories: 74kcal
Author: Renée | The Good Hearted Woman

Equipment

  • Cookie Sheet
  • Silpat Mat
  • Standard Muffin Tin

Ingredients

  • 5 tablespoons butter melted
  • 4 egg whites
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 cup all-purpose
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Optional:

  • Dipping Chocolate
  • Sprinkles
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Before you make the first cookie:

  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • Gather your materials: you will need a cutting board, a coffee mug and a muffin tin.
  • Print out and cut fortunes.
    Be sure to do this before you bake the cookies. You will not have time to do it when they come out of the oven!

Mixing the batter:

  • In a blender or mixer, combine egg whites and sugar.
    Beat for about a minute, and then add flour and salt and beat another 30 seconds. (I do this all in my blender.)
  • Add melted butter, heavy cream, and vanilla and almond extracts and beat until mixed.

Making the cookies:

  • Spoon 1 tablespoon of dough onto silicone baking sheet or parchment paper. (I use a Silpat sheet.)
    Spread batter with the back of a spoon into a thin 4-5 inch circle.
    Start by making 2 circles at a time. (I don’t ever do more than 3 at a time.)
  • Bake for 5-6 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned.
  • Remove from the oven.
    Immediately take one cookie and place it on a wooden cutting board.
    Keep bottom (the side that was "down" while cooking) down.
  • Place a fortune in the middle of the cookie and fold in half.
    Place the middle of the flat side over the edge of a coffee mug.
    Pull the corners down to shape.
    Homemade Fortune Cookies | The Good Hearted Woman
  • Immediately place the formed cookie into a muffin cup and allow it to cool completely.
    Homemade Fortune Cookies | The Good Hearted Woman
  • Repeat process until all the batter has been used.

Notes

  • No matter how crafty you are, plan on a few broken cookies.  They are going to happen – accept it.  It’s OK though – just dip them in chocolate and enjoy.
  • Be sure to have everything ready before you put the first cookie in the oven. I know I already said this. I’m saying it again.
  • Cookies are HOT when the come out of the oven. (Can a get a “Duh”?) You can wear non-cotton gloves if you want, but I find that very cumbersome. Instead, I use my fingernail to peel the cookie off the Silpat sheet, and then handle them gingerly with the tips of my fingers.  Either way, you have been warned.
  • DO NOT try to make more than 3 or 4 cookies at a time, no matter how awesome you are. It won’t work. Really.
  • If your cookies cool too fast, 15-30 seconds back in the oven will soften them… a little.
  • Wait until the cookies are completely cool before attempting to dip them. This just makes sense, but some people try to rush the process. Don’t be one of them.
  • There are many recipes for fortune cookies out there, but in my experience, this is the best one. (It has 25% less sugar than most and the cookies are still plenty sweet, just so you know.)

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 74kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 42mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

How to Form a Fortune Cookie – A Closer Look 

  1. Place a fortune in the middle of a warm cookie and fold in half.
  2. Place the middle of the flat side over the edge of a coffee mug.
  3. Pull the corners down to shape.

Homemade Fortune Cookies | The Good Hearted Woman

Immediately place the formed fortune cookie into a muffin cup and allow it to cool completely.

Homemade Fortune Cookies | The Good Hearted Woman

PRO TIP: Color code your homemade fortune cookies!

If you choose to dip-n-sprinkle your cookies, you can avoid fortune-awkwardness (like giving your daughter a fortune that says “You are my Knight in Shining Armor“). Just use different sprinkle combinations for your Sweetheart, kids, friends, etc. (If you choose to leave them plain, you’re on your own.)

Sweet Fortune Take-Out - Homemade Fortune Cookies {with FREE Valentines Day Printables} | The Good Hearted Woman

Valentine’s Day Dinner Idea:

Looking for a dinner recipe that says, “I love you”? Shepherd’s Pie is a Valentine’s Day tradition at our house. The epitome of comfort food, it is one way to show the people who mean the most in this world how much they are loved. 

Check out this post from the DIY Network for more cute and easy Valentine’s crafts! 

Homemade Fortune Cookies | The Good Hearted Woman

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THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter
of The Good Hearted Woman. • Be sure to PIN this post!

Homemade Fortune Cookies    Homemade Fortune Cookies in Take-out Box

Homemade Fortune Cookies {with FREE Valentines Day Printables}
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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Filed Under: Arts, Crafts & DIY, Recipes, Sweets, Vegetarian Tagged With: cookies, crafts, DIY, Holidays, Sweet Somethings, Valentine's Day

DIY Fabric Tortilla Warmer {Tutorial}

November 17 By Renée 52 Comments

These easy-to-make DIY Fabric Tortilla Warmers can be made from scrap fabric, and ready to go in just 30 minutes! To use, just slip tortillas into the pocket, microwave for a few seconds, and your tortillas are ready to go! (Makes an excellent, inexpensive gift, too!)

Make a Tortilla Warmer {Tutorial} | The Good Hearted Woman

Do you have an indispensable gadget in your kitchen that you didn’t know you needed until you got it? A unique item or weird kitchen utensil that you can’t imagine life without now?

For me, one answer is my fabric tortilla warmer.  I discovered these little wonders at Portland’s Saturday Market a few years ago, and have used one nearly every day since.

It nearly goes without saying that my tortilla warmer is an essential part of the process when I make homemade flour tortillas. I stack them in, fresh and hot right out of the pan, and the heat and steam softens them perfectly by the time we are ready to eat.

Homemade Flour Tortillas | The Good Hearted Woman

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

Fabric Tortilla Warmers – Not Just for Tortillas! 

These insulated fabric warmers aren’t just for heating tortillas, though!  Microwave potatoes turn out fluffy and delicious, and they will accommodate a lunch-size bowl of veggies for steaming. They work as an emergency pot holder too! It seems like every week I find a new use for mine. (NOTE: My kids have been known to make quesadillas in ours: I do not recommend this. Not at all.)

You may be able to find fabric tortilla warmers at your local farmers market, but if you have a sewing machine and half an hour, you can easily make one yourself.

Fabric Tortilla Warmers Make Great Gifts! 

A fabric tortilla warmer makes make an excellent, inexpensive gift, too! Wrap one around a bottle of salsa for a great hostess gift, add one to a festive gift basket, or pack one with warm tortillas for your next picnic. 

Fabric Tortilla Warmer DIY {Easy Step-by-Step Tutorial • 30-minute Project} Makes an excellent, inexpensive holiday or hostess gift! Tweet & Share!

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How to Make a Fabric Tortilla Warmer

Yield: 1 Tortilla Warmer

DIY Fabric Tortilla Warmer {Tutorial}

Make a Tortilla Warmer {Tutorial} | The Good Hearted Woman

These easy-to-make DIY Fabric Tortilla Warmers can be made from scrap fabric, and ready to go in just 30 minutes! To use, just slip tortillas into the pocket, microwave for a few seconds, and your tortillas are ready to go! (Works great for bread and baked potatoes, too!)

Prep Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost <$5.00

Materials

  • 1/3 yard patterned 100% cotton fabric
  • 1/3 yard plain 100%  cotton fabric (or muslin) 
  • 2 – 12×12-inch pieces Pellon Wrap-N-Zap (100% cotton batting)
  • 2 – 16-inch lengths of extra-wide cotton double-fold bias tape
  • 1 – 25-inch length of extra-wide 100% cotton double-fold bias tape (See note)
  • Cotton thread

Tools

  • Sewing Machine
  • Sewing pins
  • Scissors
  • Large Bowl (see directions)

Instructions

Since this is not a project that requires meticulous cutting precision, I cut all the fabric and batting pieces at once. (I’m a quilter and a bit of a perfectionist to boot, so if you lean that way too, trust me – everything will be OK.)

  1. Make a Tortilla Warmer {Tutorial} | The Good Hearted Woman Using a compass or the rim of a large serving bowl, draw an 11-inch circle on one piece of the batting. This is your pattern. Tortilla Warmer - Step 1
  2. With the batting pattern on top, stack two layers of patterned fabric, two layers of muslin and both pieces of cotton batting. Tortilla Warmer - Step 2
  3. Cut out all the pieces so that you have two patterned fabric circles, two muslin circles and two batting circles. blank
  4. Next, make the two fabric-circle sandwiches. For each sandwich, stack one of each – muslin, batting, and patterned fabric. (Right sides out!) Tortilla Warmer - Step 4
  5. Sew a 1/4” seam around the edge. blank
  6. Attached one 16” piece of bias tape to the edge of each fabric sandwich.   (To clarify, each fabric sandwich is still separate at this time.)  I use a straight stitch, but I’ve seen tortilla warmers sewn with a zigzag stitch too. It’s just a matter of personal preference. Make a Tortilla Warmer {Tutorial} | The Good Hearted Woman
  7. Now it’s time to sew the two fabric sandwiches together. Pin the two circles together, right-sides out, with the bias taped edges aligned. Trim any bits of overhanging, mismatched edge fabric on the raw “unbiased” edges. This will all get covered up, but having them even makes attaching the final piece of bias tape much easier. Make a Tortilla Warmer {Tutorial} | The Good Hearted Woman
  8. Attached the 25-inch piece of bias tape to both circles at the same time. Be sure to turn under 1/2” of each end of the bias tape. Make a Tortilla Warmer {Tutorial} | The Good Hearted Woman

NOTE: I could tell you that I pin these together carefully before I sew, but that would be a lie. I just pin the turned-under end in place, and then snug the bias tape onto the edge as I go around. I think this makes for a smoother bias-tape application.

That’s all there is to it! 

Notes

You really only need two 12-inch squares of each patterned fabric and muslin, so scraps work just fine.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT use any batting with metal! It needs to be microwave-safe.

Regarding Bias Tape: When I first started making these, I used cotton/poly bias tape (Wright's) with no problems: one of those is still going store for four years. (I do wonder if it makes a difference that this particular warmer is used exclusively for warming tortillas: it never gets that hot.) That being said, I do now make all of my own bias tape for these, and use 100% cotton to do so.

If you want to make your own bias tape, it is very easy to do! (Check out this great tutorial for making your own bias tape from The Seasoned Homemaker.)

Recommended Products

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won't cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running.

  • Chili Pepper Fabric [Black/Red]
    Chili Pepper Fabric [Black/Red]
  • Pellon Wrap-N-Zap Cotton Quilt Batting, 45 by 36-Inch, Natural 2-Pack
    Pellon Wrap-N-Zap Cotton Quilt Batting, 45 by 36-Inch, Natural 2-Pack

Did you make this project?

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© The Good Hearted Woman, Harmony Cat LLC
Once you make one tortilla warmer and see how fast and easy these DIY Fabric Tortilla Warmers are to make (not to mention how incredibly useful they are), you will be making them for everyone you know!  

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of The Good Hearted Woman. • Be sure to PIN this post!

How to Make a Fabric Tortilla Warmer | 30 Minute DIY | The Good Hearted Woman #easydiy #hostessgift #tortillas

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

DIY from GHW

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DIY Fabric Tortilla Warmer {Tutorial}

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"Kissing Hand" Share Chair {DIY Tutorial}

UPDATED: Originally published on The Good Hearted Woman Aug 5, 2014.

UPDATED: This post was originally published on The Good Hearted Woman Aug 5, 2014. 

Filed Under: Arts, Crafts & DIY Tagged With: crafts, easy sewing projects, gifts, hostess gift

“Kissing Hand” Share Chair {DIY Teacher Gift | School Auction Project}

May 4 By Renée 26 Comments

This adorable “Kissing Hand” Share Chair makes an enduring teacher gift or classroom school auction project. (Or make it for your favorite kiddo!) Post includes everything you need to know, including easy step-by-step instructions, free patterns & printables. 

Share Chair DIY {Teacher Gift | School Auction Project}

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

We draw names for Christmas, and a few years ago, I was thrilled when I drew our niece Lauren’s name. Lauren is a first grade teacher, and I knew exactly what I wanted to make for her – the perfect teacher gift: a Share Chair for her classroom! 

To personalize Lauren’s Share Chair, I did a little detective work and learned that “The Kissing Hand” is one of her favorite children’s books, so I took my theme from that. 

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A share chair, sometimes called an “author’s chair,” is a special chair that students sit in when it is their turn to read their written pieces or share something special with the class.

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As I was planning out Lauren’s share chair, I realized that this DIY would make a perfect elementary teacher gift or school auction project, so I decided to share it with your here!

Racoon - Kissing Hand DIY - Share Chair DIY {Teacher Gift | School Auction Project}

fingerprint heartMAKE IT A CLASS PROJECT! After you have added the raccoons to your chair, have some fun! Instead of painting hearts, let each child in the classroom make a fingerprint heart on the chair. Add names with a fine-point Sharpie to make your Share Chair even more personal! 

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How to Make a “Kissing Hand” Share Chair

Step-By-Step DIY • Teacher Gift • School Auction Project 

Getting Started

The first thing you need for this Share Chair teacher gift (or school auction project) is a chair. {Surprise!}

In order to keep the cost of this project low, I shopped around until I found the chair I used for this project for $5.99 at Goodwill.

If money is not an issue (or you just can’t wait for one to show up at your local thrift store) you can undoubtedly find a solidly crafted, reasonably priced chair online or at your local superstore that will work well for this project.

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HINT: You can customize this Teacher Gift / Auction Project DIY for your favorite children’s book! 

  • Note that the process detailed in this DIY can be used to create a special chair based on any children’s book. 
  • Simply pick two dominant colors and a couple of simple images and/or motifs from the book of your choice, and go for it! The process for prepping and painting the chair will be the same, no matter what colors/motif you choose. 

Share Chair DIY {Teacher Gift | School Auction Project}

Materials List:

The following is a list of the all materials that I used for this project. (You can change this up to personalize your teacher gift or class school auction project ever more, however you wish, but this will give you a starting point.) Most of these items are available at your local craft or hardware store, but I’ve included links here just in case. Supplies can also be found at Blick Art Materials, Joanns, and Michaels.

  • Chair – Because you will be giving it a whole new face, the chair you use for this project does not need to be new, but if you purchase a used one, be sure that the joints are solid. (No one wants a wonky chair!)

Chair Prep & Paint:

  • Krylon ColorMaster Paint & Primer {Iris} {I searched and searched for the just the right blue to anchor this project. This is perfect.}
  • Krylon ColorMaster Paint & Primer {White}
  • Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Coating
  • Yellow Acrylic Craft Paint {Chair arms, back, and lower rungs or rocker}
  • Steel Wool #1 or #0
  • Tack Cloth
  • Painter’s Tape
  • Plastic wrap
  • 1″ Foam Brush
  • Sanding Sponge
  • Acrylic Craft Paints – for painting details, raccoons, etc. {details to follow later in post}
  • Drop cloth

Depending upon which approach you choose for the raccoons, you will also need:

  • #6 Round Brush – For painting raccoons by hand. {See Step 7, Option #1}, OR
  • Mod Podge – For decoupaging raccoons using a printed image. {Image provided. See Step 7, Option #2}

Step 1 – Sand Chair

Using the sanding sponge, lightly sand the chair. Sanding sponges are great for this project, because they are easy on your hands and conform readily to curves. You do not need to remove all of the existing finish: the point of this step is to create some “bite” on the wood’s surface so that the paint can adhere more effectively.

Sanding in process

Step 2 – Remove Sanding Dust

Using a tack cloth, wipe the entire surface of the chair to remove any dust from sanding. This is an important step: if you skip it, when you paint the chair, the surface will feel gritty. DO NOT use a damp towel to remove sanding dust: this will raise the grain on the wood and make your chair all rough and bumpy.

Sanding chair complete

Step 3 – Apply Base Coat & Primer

In a well ventilated area, apply two coats of White Krylon ColorMaster Paint & Primer using smooth, light strokes. (One can of paint will be plenty for two coats.) Wait about 15-30 minutes between coats.

Allow your sparkly new white chair to set out for at least a few hours (or better yet, overnight) after you apply the second coat to allow the paint to “cure.”

Base coat in process

When the white paint has completely cured, use #1 or #0 steel wool to gently smooth the surface. Remove any dust or steel wool debris with a tack cloth. Now you have a clean, white chair to work your magic on.

Base coat complete

Step 4 – Mask Off Contrasting Areas

Using painter’s tape and plastic wrap, carefully mask off any areas that you wish to paint yellow. Take your time with this step: a careful job at this stage will save you tons of time later in touch-ups.

Masked - Kissing Hand

Step 5 – Paint Blue Chair Parts

Apply two coats of Iris Krylon ColorMaster Paint & Primer, waiting 15-30 minutes between coats. Allow chair to set out for at least a few hours after you apply the second coat. Carefully remove masking tape and plastic.

Blue only

When the blue paint has completely cured, use the steel wool to smooth gently the surface. Remove any dust or steel wool debris with a tack cloth.

Step 6 – Paint Yellow Chair Parts

Using a foam brush and the yellow acrylic craft paint, paint the remaining areas that had been previously masked with long, smooth strokes. Because I wanted a light, bright feel to these areas, I only applied on one coat of yellow paint, allowing the white undercoat to peak through slightly. For a more “solid” feel, apply two coats.

Share Chair DIY {Teacher Gift | School Auction Project}

Step 7 – Raccoons and Hearts {2 Approaches}

Option #1 – Paint the raccoons yourself

If you choose to paint the raccoons for this special teacher gift yourself, rest assured that doing so is very easy to do!

Below is a short list of the supplies I used for painting the raccoons, etc. This list is offered only as a guide: you can, of course, use any brushes and colors you choose. That being said, a #6 round brush is my all-time favorite brush for painting simple images like the raccoons on this chair. I find it to be the most versatile, useful brush in my (embarrassingly large) collection; moreover, I did not use any other brushes for the details on this project.

  • #6 Round Brush 
  • Acrylic Craft Paints {2 oz. bottles}

♦ Red {Hearts}
♦ White {Base mix, eyes, tail highlights, dots}
♦ Black {Base mix, eyes, mask, tail, etc.}
♦ Golden Brown {Base mix}
♦ Lavender {Base mix, highlights}

Patterns - Kissing Hand Share Chair DIY | The Good Hearted Woman

Click for Pattern PDF

I free-handed the design onto my chair using a #2 pencil while eyeballing a picture from the book. However, if you would like to transfer the image directly, simply print out this free pattern and use a sheet of graphite paper (which is a lot like old-fashioned carbon paper, but without the mess) to transfer it to your chair.

I wish that I had been more meticulous about taking pictures of the raccoon-painting process, but once I got started, it all happened pretty quickly. Just squeeze out your paints onto a palate or paper plate and start up. If you aren’t sure of yourself, do a couple of trial runs on a piece of scrap wood or a paper plate.

For the raccoon bodies, I mixed a base color using the just a touch of black, a lot of white, some golden brown, and a little lavender. (If my base color was a cake, proportionally the white would be the flour, the golden brown would be the sugar, the lavender would be the eggs, and the black would be the salt.)

The trick to this “raccoon-base” is to not mix it all too thoroughly, and just keep picking color up with your brush and applying it in the direction that you want the fur to go, adding low lights and highlights along the way.

Acrylic paints are very forgiving, so if you make a mistake or don’t like how it turned out, you can always just let it dry and paint over it.

Pro Tips: Dip the end of a foam brush in red paint to create the round top portions of the larger red hearts, and then use a stylus (or an old, dry pen) to pull the paint down for the point of the heart. (Back in my tole painting days, we used to call these “Dolly Parton Hearts.”)

Use a stylus dipped in white acrylic paint to create fine highlights on the raccoon noses, eyes, and detail dots.

Painting design - how to paint racoons - Share Chair DIY {Teacher Gift | School Auction Project}

Option #2 – Decoupage the raccoons using my images

Free Patterns - Kissing Hand Share Chair DIY | The Good Hearted Woman

Click for PDF Images

If you want to make this Share Chair as a special teacher gift or school auction project, but think your painting skills aren’t quite up to it, you’re probably way overestimating the difficulty of painting raccoons.

However, I get it – not everyone paints stuff with small brushes. In that case, you may want to grab a bottle of Mod Podge and decoupage a color-copied image onto your chair. In this case, I’ve created a PDF file with my raccoon images that you are free to use for that purpose. Simply follow the directions on the Mod Podge bottle to decoupage the raccoons onto your chair.

(Legal blahblah: The images in the PDFs provided in the post are for personal use only. They may not be altered, shared, or used for profit or for any purpose other than that outline here without written permission. Moreover, I explicitly do not endorse using color copies from the book for this option, both out of respect for “Kissing Hand” illustrators Ruth Harper & Nancy Leak’s beautiful artwork and for US copyright laws.) 

If you go the decoupage route, you will only red and white acrylic paint, for the heart and dots.

How to paint racoons - Share Chair DIY {Teacher Gift | School Auction Project}

Kissing Hand Share Chair DIY | The Good Hearted WomanAfter you have added the raccoons to your chair, have some fun! Add a details (i.e., hearts, dots, etc.) for interest, and make it your own!

If you are thinking of creating this for a special teacher gift or as a school auction project, instead of painting the decorative hearts, have each child in the classroom make a fingerprint heart on the chair.

Share Chair DIY {Teacher Gift | School Auction Project} - Side detail

Step 8 – Apply Clear Sealer

This is the final step. Apply two coats of Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Coating, waiting at least 30 minutes between coats. When the chair is done, allow it is set out in a well ventilated space for a couple of days so that the “spray-can paint” smell has a chance to dissipate.

Share Chair DIY {Teacher Gift | School Auction Project}

This is a fun, easy, and relatively fast DIY / school auction project. It literally took me (at least) twice as long to create this DIY tutorial as it took to make this DIY teacher gift, in terms of actual “hand-on” time. It is such a satisfying project too, and results in a gift that will be treasured for years to come.

Share Chair DIY {Teacher Gift | School Auction Project}

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Kissing Hand Share Chair Teacher Gift DIY Share Chair DIY {Teacher Gift | School Auction Project}

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

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How to Make a Fairy Garden Terrarium

October 6 By Renée 7 Comments

Invite a little Magic into your home! Easy instructions for how to make a whimsical Fairy Garden Terrarium, with ideas for the changing seasons.

How to plant a terrarium

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

When I was a kid, I spent many summers at Camp NamanuCamp Namanu in Sandy, Oregon, and it is still one of my favorite places on Earth. It is a place where anyone, regardless of age, can hold out hope that Magic is still alive and well in this world.

For more than 90 years, one of the unbroken threads that has woven Namanu campers together is its rich tradition of forest folklore. From the moment each of us, as campers, clambered off that sweltering bus for the first time and skipped up onto the well-worn planks of Uncle Toby’s Storyhouse – whether that was ten years ago or sixty – one of the first things we learned about was the camp’s resident fairies, elves and other magical folk.

Camp Namanu, from the porch at Blue Wing Lodge - Miss Sue's Dream Boat

We learned about Mr. Skriggleboggle, the elf who lives in a little house at the top of Guardian Fir and answers campers’ questions all summer long. We were introduced to Gertrude, the wood fairy who has lived in a Worcestershire Sauce bottle hanging from the ceiling at Raker Lodge since World War II. There is a flashlight fairy, and a flagpole elf; in fact, there is an enchanting-someone keeping watch over practically every facet of camp life.

And just how has this forest Magic survived for nearly a century in a difficult, cynical world, you might ask? Because, though many of us are now ever so much older than twenty, the flame that was lit in our childhood hearts so long ago still flickers brightly – and in our mind’s eye, the fairies still dance – somewhere far across the Meadow.

Signs of Fairies at Camp Namanu

Camp Fire kids are a crafty bunch, and every year at the Namanu Alumni Reunion, I’m always on the lookout for DIY inspiration to bring home and share. The inspiration for this DIY came from an item at our annual alumni auction. The moment I saw this glass-block fairy garden (created and offered for auction by Mary C.), I knew what I was going to do.

Fairy Terrarium in glass block

I loved Mary’s idea, but I wanted to create something living that could change with the seasons, so I created this whimsical fairy garden terrarium!

Seasonal Fairy Garden Terrarium | The Good Hearted Woman

Invite a little Magic into your home! Make this super-easy *Fairy Garden Terrarium* #DIY today!Tweet & Share!

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How to Make a Seasonal Fairy Garden Terrarium

Trimmed with an easy rotation of simple holiday decorations, a fairy garden terrarium offers an ultra-easy way to put a little extra color and life into the changing seasons.

Yield: 1 Terrarium

Seasonal Fairy Garden Terrarium

Changing Seasons Fairy Garden Terrarium | The Good Hearted Woman

Trimmed with an easy rotation of simple holiday decorations, this fairy garden terrarium offers an easy way to put a little extra color and whimsy into the changing seasons.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Active Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Difficulty Easy

Materials

  • Large glass planter, jar, or other vessel
  • Pebbles – enough to cover the bottom of the container 1″-2″
  • Potting Soil
  • Fairy Garden Miniatures (at least one fairy!)
  • Seasonal Miniatures
  • 2-3 small, terrarium-friendly plants

Tools

  • Large Bowl
  • Spoon (for mixing soil) 

Instructions

    1. The first thing you need for any fairy garden is… a fairy! I found this inquisitive little charmer at Joann’s, and together we immediately set to thinking on where she should live. We agreed that a large, spacious jar would fit the bill nicely! Seasonal Fairy Garden Terrarium | The Good Hearted Woman
    2. I chose a large jar with a lid, which will allow me to have greater control over the interior climate of the terrarium.  (I got the one I used for this project at Joann’s, but any large-ish glass vessel will work fine.) Changing Seasons Fairy Garden Terrarium | The Good Hearted Woman I also picked up a few autumn decorations. I have to admit; I had a hard time not buying everything in the fairy garden aisle! But really, it's important not to overdo it, because it doesn't take much to fill the floor of a terrarium, and you don't want it to look cluttered. Also, you want to leave some room for things to grow.
    3. The first thing you need to do is fill the bottom of your terrarium with 1"-2" of small pebbles. This will assist with drainage. (TIP: Reserve a small handful of pebbles for decorative landscaping as you finish your terrarium.) Changing Seasons Fairy Garden Terrarium | The Good Hearted Woman Mix some water with the potting soil in a large bowl first so that it is uniformly moist. I added a little sand to my potting soil to improve drainage too. On top of the pebbles, loosely pack 2-3 inched of potting soil in the terrarium.
    4. Now is the time you want to consider how your terrarium will go together. My terrarium has only two live plants - one for ground cover, and one for height. I left room for a seasonal decoration in the back, as well as a few little touches in the front. Having ample space will make it easy to change out decorations as winter and the holiday season approaches. Changing Seasons Fairy Garden Terrarium | The Good Hearted Woman
    5. Lastly, I added the decorative seasonal pieces. The berry stalk (from the floral department) was a great choice. It was very inexpensive, and with it, I created an autumn tree for the back of my terrarium, plus I used the small pieces that I trimmed off the top to make the little "flowers" in the front. Changing Seasons Fairy Garden Terrarium | The Good Hearted Woman This is also the time to place those pebbles that you held in reserve.
    6. Oh - I almost forgot! If there is a seal on the lid or jar that you are using, remove it. This will reduce condensation and allow a little air to flow if you choose to keep the lid on your terrarium.Changing Seasons Fairy Garden Terrarium | The Good Hearted Woman
    7. That's it. This is one of the easiest DIYs I've ever done.  In fact, it probably took you longer to read this post than it will to create your own fairy garden terrarium. Just be sure to check the soil regularly and water as needed, and you will have a lovely little garden full of life for years to come! Changing Seasons Fairy Garden Terrarium | The Good Hearted Woman

Notes

UPDATE 2/27/2020 - I ended up taking the top off of my terrarium, and it is still growing strong after almost 5 years!

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© The Good Hearted Woman, Harmony Cat LLC
Category: Arts, Crafts & DIY
Aside from its obvious adorable charm, one of the best parts about this little fairy garden terrarium is that, with just a few simple changes each season, it can easily be decorated and adapted for year-round enjoyment (i.e., holly-berries and snowflakes in the winter, tiny tulips and bunnies in the spring, etc.).

Fairy and plants

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Changing Seasons Fairy Garden Terrarium | The Good Hearted Woman

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

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Capturing Adventure {Blurb Photo Book Review}

August 17 By Renée 22 Comments

Capturing adventure in a Blurb photo book is simple, easy, and so worth the effort!  

Capturing Adventure - Blurb Photo Book Review | The Good Hearted Woman

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

Preserving memories in book form is a passion of mine. Since my preteen years, I’ve been an avid scrapbooker, adhering images and ephemera between the pages of weighty albums with everything from old-fashion black photo corners to high-end archival-approved adhesives. Keeping those images accessible and leafing through them from time to time with the people I love brings our experiences back with vivid clarity, and gives us all a chance to enjoy the memories together once again.

Capturing Adventure - Blurb Photo Book Review | The Good Hearted Woman

About fifteen years ago, I made the conversion to digital scrapbooking and never looked back. The end products of my efforts are now high-quality hardback books, printed through one of a handful of dependable self-printing book services.

Capturing Adventure - Blurb Photo Book Review | The Good Hearted Woman

My most recent scrapbook project focuses on the trip Mr B and I took to Hawaii last July. We were on Oahu for ten days, and while we were there, I took well over a thousand pictures. (If you’ve been reading me for a while, you may remember that when we got home, I wrote so many blog posts about our trip that I had enough material to create our  Ultimate Oahu Vacation Guide!)

Capturing Adventure - Blurb Photo Book Review | The Good Hearted Woman

Our adventures in Hawaii were a perfect subject for a stand-alone memory book, and this time I chose to print it through Blurb, a well-renowned print-on-demand company that I have used a couple of times in the past.

Blurb offers a number of both online and print formats, but for this review, I’ll be focusing on printing photo books.

Capturing Adventure - Blurb Photo Book Review | The Good Hearted Woman

Printed photo books are available in three formats: soft cover, image-wrapped [hard-cover], or dust jacket [hard cover]. (My preference for photo books is nearly always image-wrapped hard-cover.)

Blurb offers three options for shape and size, ranging from a small 7” x 7” square book to a large 13” x 11” in portrait or landscape. I chose a moderate 8” x 10” landscape book for our Hawaii album.

There are also five paper options, with varying weights and/or textures; everything from the standard semi-matte up to Premium semi-gloss or Proline pearl. Blurb’s basic, standard weight is 80 lb. paper, (about the same as good-quality printer paper), but it cost very little to upgrade to the 100 lb. Premium paper. I strongly encourage that you upgrade too, especially for a book with a lot of images. (I went with 100 lb. semi-gloss paper for Our Hawaiian Adventures.) You can print up to 440 pages in one book: our Hawaiian Adventures came in at 114 pages!

Now, let’s get to the two things we all really care about when it comes to making photo books online: Ease of use and quality of final product.

EASE OF USE

This is where the rubber meets the road when it comes to online photo book creation. Some photo book printing sites are a little intimidating, but Blurb is not one of them. In fact, one of the things I like best about Blurb is the wide variety of options that they offer for content creation, and the ease at which a book can be completed. Whether you are a professional digital Creative or can barely turn on your computer, there is an option for you.

Make Your Book Online
Make your book quickly and easily without downloading anything. You can pull in images directly from Facebook or Instagram, or upload them from your computer and use Blurb’s templates and layouts to create a beautiful photo book quickly and easily.

Adobe InDesign Plug-in
If you have Adobe experience, this may be just the thing for you. Blurb’s Adobe InDesign Plug-In is free to download, and lets you create and lay out books directly within InDesign, with output options for both print and digital formats. You can also work on your book within Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.

Upload PDF to make your book
If you prefer, you can use Blurb’s specifications calculator to fine-tune your PDF to a Blurb-friendly book size.

I’ve used all of these options at one time or another, but for this project, I wanted a fast, simple method that would give me complete control over my layouts – and I needed to be able to do in while I was on the road and away from my primary computer. With that in mind, I decided to go with my all-time favorite online photo editor, PicMonkey.

My 3-Step Streamline Blurb Photo Book Creation Process

Step 1 – Create individual pages on PicMonkey. Save as high-resolution JPGs.  

PicMonkey is a simple, easy-to-use tool for editing photos online. From Capturing Adventure {Blurb Photo Book Review} | The Good Hearted Woman

↑ I created all of the images for our Hawaiian Adventures book in PicMonkey.

I created all of my pages in PicMonkey, saved them as high-resolution JPGs, and then uploaded them to Blurb. Then all I had to do was drag them onto the pages as full-bleed images. After that, I just proof-read everything about 100 times (but that’s just me), and then ordered my book. That’s all there was to it.

Step 2 – Upload Full-page images to Blurb. Drag and drop. 

Capturing Adventure - Blurb Photo Book Review | The Good Hearted Woman

Step 3 – Proofread, proofread, proofread. Then proofread one more time, and order book. 🙂

PRODUCT QUALITY

As far as I’m concerned, Quality is the online photo book creation endgame. I expect my photo books to Pop! with bright, true-to-life colors, clean, clear printing, and solid, well-crafted construction. Anything less is unacceptable. Blurb did not disappoint.

Capturing Adventure {Blurb Photo Book Review} | The Good Hearted Woman

Overall, the quality of our Hawaiian Adventures book is excellent. The cover is solid, smooth, and semi-matte, which discourages fingerprints, and the cover image is clear and vivid. The printed images inside the book are sharp and clear, and the resolution is good to excellent. The colors are vivid and true to the digital preview. I do think that paper selection makes a significant difference here, so once again, I strongly encourage you to upgrade to Premium or Proline paper.

BOTTOM LINE

Mr B and I could not be happier with our newest photo book. Flipping through those pages is like reliving our adventure all over again (yes, fellow grammar divas, I know), which makes all the time and effort it took to create totally worth it, and the book itself priceless.

Capturing Adventure - Blurb Photo Book Review | The Good Hearted Woman

Ready to start your own photo book? Visit Blurb’s website to get started today!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. (Rest assured though, we will NEVER recommend anything we don’t believe in just to make a buck. We like to sleep at night.) Anywho, while clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they will help us keep this site up and running – and (relatively) ad-free!! Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Shop Blurb Online

Capturing Adventure {Blurb Photo Book Review} | The Good Hearted Woman
Capturing Adventure {Blurb Photo Book Review} | The Good Hearted Woman

Filed Under: Arts, Crafts & DIY, Oahu, Product Reviews Tagged With: crafts, gifts

Redwork Chicken Tea Towel {with Free Pattern}

April 25 By Renée 13 Comments

Fast, inexpensive, and easy to create, this Redwork Chicken Tea Towel makes a fun addition to your kitchen or a lovely, thoughtful gift.

Redwork Chicken Tea Towel - A "Done-in-a Day" Project" with Free Pattern | The Good Hearted Woman

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

If you know me at all, you know that I have an entire room full of sewing, painting, drawing, and other craft projects to complete. (Don’t even get me started about the writing projects that I have “in-progress.”)

How about you? What’s in your “Project Closet”? 

Don’t you ever just want to start and finish a project in the same day? That’s how I’ve been feeling lately. So I started cruising Pinterest for some creative inspiration, and I ended up finding a huge board of old-fashioned redwork like my great-grandma used to do, including an adorable chicken pattern. Eureka! 

A chicken tea towel was a perfect afternoon project! Fast, inexpensive, and simple to create. Plus – so cute!

These little ladies joined our family last week, so I’ve had chickens on my mind lately. Meet Mamie Eisenhower, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Lady Bird Johnson, Rosalynn Carter, and (for all you history buffs) Harriet Lane Johnston.

Cute Chicks |The Good Hearted Woman

With just a quick search, I found a collection of free vintage embroidery patterns. Even better, the images themselves are from the 1940’s and are all in public domain! I drew up my own version of “chicken & chicks” for this project, and you can download the pattern PDF here → FREE Redwork Chicken Pattern.

Redwork Chicken Tea Towel Free Pattern

Click to Print PDF

[NOTE: You are welcome to share this pattern with others if you link it back to this webpage.]

Here’s my finished towel. Isn’t this just adorable? If you want to make one of these lovelies, it will cost you just a few bucks and a couple of hours.

Redwork Chicken Tea Towel - A "Done-in-a Day" Project" with Free Pattern | The Good Hearted Woman

Yield: 1 Embroidered Tea Towel

Redwork Chicken Tea Towel

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Fast, inexpensive, and easy to create, this Redwork Chicken Tea Towel makes a fun addition to your kitchen or a lovely, thoughtful gift.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Active Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes

Materials

  • Embroidery floss - DMC #816 
  • 100% Cotton Tea Towel
  • FREE Redwork Chicken Tea Towel Pattern

Tools

  • Embroidery Hoop - 5-7 inch hoop 
  • Embroidery Needle - #5 Sharp 
  • Soft pencil 

Instructions

    1. Download and print the FREE Redwork Chicken Pattern. Redwork Chicken Tea Towel Free Pattern Transfer the pattern to the front of your flour sack tea towel. For a design this simple, I usually just trace the main parts of the design directly onto the fabric with a soft pencil or removable ink. You can do this by using a light table, or just holding it over a window.
    2. Hoop it up and embroider. Most of the needlework is done in a simple outline stitch using 2 strands of floss. The chicken eyes and the small flowers are worked in french knots, and the larger flowers are a french knot surrounded by lazy-daisy stitches. Redwork Chicken Tea Towel - A "Done-in-a Day" Project" with Free Pattern | The Good Hearted Woman

Notes

Material Notes:

Tea Towel - I used a cool retro tea towel that I bought at Joann’s (3 for about $5 with a coupon). You can also use a plain flour sack tea towel, or just make one out of muslin.

Did you make this project?

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© The Good Hearted Woman, Harmony Cat LLC
Project Type: Sewing / Category: Arts & Crafts
This little Redwork Chicken Tea Towel takes only a couple of hours to complete, or even less if you choose to do a smaller portion of the pattern. It is well worth the time, and makes a fun addition to your kitchen or a lovely, thoughtful gift.

Redwork Chicken Tea Towel - A "Done-in-a Day" Project" with Free Pattern | The Good Hearted Woman

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Redwork Tea Towel DIY     blank

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

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How to Make a Mosaic Picture Frame {Broken Memories Upcycle}

August 28 By Renée 4 Comments

Take a broken memory and put it together in a whole new way! Step-by-step directions for how to make a Mosaic Picture Frame will guide you through this easy DIY project.

Mosaic Frame | The Good Hearted Woman

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

Whenever we go on vacation, Mr. B and I always try to find something really nice to take home as a memento of our adventure. We don’t buy a lot of tchotchkes (no snow globes or bumper stickers for us). Instead, we look for one small piece of art (or a musical instrument) that reminds us of the places and people we saw along the way.

A few years ago, we bought a beautiful set of pottery cups at a little place on Orcas Island up in the Puget Sound, and every time we used them, they reminded us of that lovely week we spent camping and kayaking in the San Juan Islands.

Until I knocked one of our cups off the counter and broke it. 

At first, I thought I would just glue it back together, but one large chip was completely missing, so I sadly threw the pieces into our bathroom garbage can.  They sat there for two days before I retrieved them to give them a second life.

Mosaic Frame | The Good Hearted Woman

When a special piece of glass or pottery breaks, it’s easy to give it new life as a tiled mosaic – on a frame, a tabletop, a serving tray, or just about anything.  Our cup was just the right size to cover a 5×7 mosaic picture frame.

Wavy Line

How to Make a Mosaic Picture Frame Out of Old, Broken Ceramic Pieces

Materials:

  • Old, wide-rimmed picture frame (It doesn’t need to be fancy, or even in good shape: I saved this one from the recycling bin.)
  • Old plates, cup, etc (i.e., ceramics to smash)
  • Tile Adhesive (Weldbond 8-50160 Multi-Purpose Adhesive Glue)
  • Premixed Tile Grout (Jennifer’s Mosaics Powdered Grout)
  • Buttons, beads, or assorted do-das for embellishing (Totally optional. I used some extras from my beading supplies.)

Mosaic Frame | The Good Hearted Woman

Tools & Other Stuff:

  • Safety goggles!!
  • Hammer
  • Bag in which to smash things (I like to double-up gallon size Ziploc bags for this step so that I can see what I am doing.)
  • Latex gloves (or other gloves if you are allergic to latex)
  • Clean sponge
  • Paper towels
  • Water

Mosaic Frame | The Good Hearted WomanA – Set the Mosaic Pieces

  1. Put on the safety goggles. Really – put them on. Now. You do not want speeding shards of glass or pottery flying into your eyes.
  2. Put the Object To Be Smashed into the bag.
  3. Using the hammer, carefully smash the OTBS into large pieces using one intentional blow.  This should give you a number of large pieces.
  4. At this point, I like to take the large pieces out of the bag. Then I put them back in, one at a time, and smash them into smaller pieces, removing the smaller pieces before putting another large piece in the bag. This method yields much better results and more uniform pieces than just smashing everything at once all willy-nilly. It also helps you isolate individual pieces that you want to preserve; for example, I was really careful to preserve the little “Orcas” piece from the artist’s stamp on the bottom so that I could use it in my mosaic.  (It’s the little grey piece in the lower right of the fist image.)
  5. Lay the pieces all out so you can see what you have to work with.
  6. Put on the latex gloves.
  7. Use the plastic knife to spread a layer of the adhesive/grout onto the frame. It was quite hot on the day that I made this one, so I only did one small section at a time so that the grout didn’t dry out too soon.
  8. Place the broken pieces of the Smashed Object onto the grout and press them in a little. (Be careful – there are some sharp edges there!)
  9. Once you have the frame covered with larger pieces, fill in smaller areas with embellishment items if you wish.
  10. Allow everything to set up for a few hours.
Mosaic Frame | The Good Hearted Woman

If you look carefully at the image in the lower right, you will see a fine, white film covering the pottery pieces. Careful polishing with a paper towel or soft cloth will remove this and make your artwork shine.

B – Grout the Mosaic Pieces

  1. Safety first. Put your gloves on again!
  2. Work prepared grout into the spaces between the pieces. (Once again, there are some really sharp edges there, so be careful!!)
  3. Using a moist (not wet) sponge, remove all the visible grout from the faces of the smashed object pieces. There will still be a film on them, but you can get most of it this way.
  4. Let mosaicked frame dry for about 20 minutes.
  5. Carefully polish each mosaic piece with a clean white cloth or paper towel – first wet, then dry. This can take a bit of time, even on a small project, but it is definitely worth the trouble. (Clean socks work well for this step.) 
  6. Let everything dry for 24 hours before using your beautiful new frame.

NOTE: If you are making a mosaic on something that may get wet (e.g., serving tray, coffee tabletop), be sure to seal the final project with a grout sealer.

Mosaic Frame | The Good Hearted Woman

That’s all there is to it! Next time you break a memory (or your kids do), don’t throw it away – make it into something beautiful!

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Mosaic Picture Frame

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Filed Under: Arts, Crafts & DIY Tagged With: crafts

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