{crafts} Halloween Balloons

Pumpkin Balloons from MarthaStewart.com

From felt fiends to sinister silhouettes, these handmade touches are sure to give your home an extra-spooky feel this Halloween. A gaggle of helium-filled jack-o'-lantern balloons hovers near the refreshment table. The simple features are drawn onto the inflated balloons with permanent marker; choose an assortment of geometric shapes that are easy to create freehand.

{crafts} Reversible Purse from Martha Stewart

Everyone loves a new bag. Here is a tutorial from MarthaStewart.com for a simple reversible bag, which could be a fun summer day project.

This simple reversible purse is a wonderful project for beginning and advanced sewers alike.
Tools and MaterialsBag template
Heavy paper or cardstock
1/2 yard of patterned fabric
1/2 yard of solid fabric
Pencil
Fabric scissors
Pins
Sewing machine
Coordinating machine-sewing thread
Iron
Needle and thread for basting stitch
Reversible Purse How-To1. Download, enlarge, and print template on heavy paper or card stock. Trace template twice on each fabric and cut out.

2. Align and pin the two solid pieces together, right sides facing. Do the same with the two patterned pieces.

3. Using 1/4-inch seam allowance, sew along the top of each handle and along the bottom curve of each pinned piece, leaving both sides of both handles open.

4. Turn the solid piece right side out, and insert the solid piece into the inside-out patterned piece. Line up seams, raw edges, and handles.

5. Pin the edges of the "neckline" of the bag and sew with a 1/4-inch seam.

6. Going through the longer handle, turn the entire bag right side out (patterned fabric on the outside). Press all seams.

7. Fold raw edges of "armholes" in 1/4 inch and press. Baste together. Topstitch 1/8 inch around bag handles to finish.

{crafts} Memorial Day Decorations

Time to start thinking about summer! Here is a great craft idea from Martha Stewart. The firework decorations would look great hanging outside on the porch. They would add a little fun to a holiday barbecue.

Introduction

Fabric star medallions will brighten up your party like daytime fireworks. 

Use standard cotton prints for this project -- nothing too heavy or light. Spray starch helps the creases keep their shape.

Step 1

Cut a length of fabric: The width will be the diameter of the medallion; the length should be 1.6 times the width (for example, for a 15 1/2-inch medallion, cut about 25 inches of fabric).

Step 2

Fold fabric accordion-style in 1 1/2-inch sections (A). After each fold, spray with starch, and iron. Continue up length of fabric. Make sure your first and last folds are in the same direction.

Step 3

Stitch along the middle of the folded rectangle to create a pivot point (F).

Step 4

Trim both ends of the pleated rectangle at a 45-degree angle, so the angles slope toward the raw edge of the fabric (F) -- these cuts create the medallion's starlike points (G).

Step 5

Connect sides of the rectangle by fanning out fabric from center stitch and adhering with fusible webbing; iron. Sandwich a piece of ribbon (it should be long enough to hang the medallion) between the fusible webbing and the fabric. Connect remaining sides with fusible webbing, or tape for easy disassembly and storage. Stitch monofilament through the fused edge in the back, and hang.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Star Medallion - Martha Stewart Crafts