Fabric Flowers the easy way...

Things just got a whole lot easier in the flower making department...

A month ago the hubs bought a die cut machine for his company.

He had some custom dies designed to cut gaskets from a rubber-like fabric for a machine his company is developing. While walking through Hobby Lobby the other day, I noticed the store carries dies much like the ones he uses with his machine. It didn't take long for the gears to start clicking.

Today I bought three die cuts at Hobby Lobby. Each one is a little different, but I bought them all with the intention of using them to make fabric flowers. A couple of the die cuts are found in the scrapbooking department and the other is in the fabric department. However, all the die cuts will cut both fabric and paper. Unfortunately, one has to buy the die cut machine to use the dies {pricey}, but I was lucky because I knew I could use my husband's machine.

After purchasing the dies I hightailed it to my husband's office, unpacked bunches of fabric and the dies, and basically took over his lab. He didn't bat an eye. Believe me when I say, my man is a gem.

The three dies I bought were Sizzix Fabi Circles, Sizzix Brenda Walton Camellia, and Sizzix Brenda Walton Peony. In no time at all I cut bunches of petals for fabric flowers by using this machine. I was giddy thinking of all the time I saved cutting the petals out this way.

Then I came home and started the process of melting the edges of the petals over a candle and assembling the flower. I'm so happy with how it turned out...

I combined flower petals cut from all three dies to make this one flower.

Since my DIL-to-be and I will be making a number of flowers for the wedding, this revelation couldn't have come at a better time!

This flower is big and beautiful measuring about 4.5 inches in diameter. The flowers we make with this pattern will be planted on lace headbands for the "flower girls" (nieces of the bride and groom) to wear for the wedding.

Fabric Flower Headband for BIG & little Girls

It's been a couple of years since I created this pattern for a flower headband...

One thing I love about this simple headband is its versatility. It can be worn by women, teens, or little girls. Here's a picture of my friend and her 6 year old daughter wearing one. I make the flowers a little smaller these days...

In August my 10 year old granddaughter asked if I could make her few more, and I finally got around to it last week.

These take minutes to make and very little fabric!

If you would like to purchase the pattern, you can do so for $5 in my Etsy store.  

Click here for the pattern.

Etsy Shop News...

Thanks to the readers who took advantage of the free 24 hour headband pattern give-away on my blog yesterday. More than 100 readers received the free pattern, which made me really happy!

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I would be revising my Etsy shop a bit. Yesterday I spent the day restocking shelves. Currently, my "Fabric Flower Headband Pattern" is in stock waiting to be purchased by anyone interested for the cost of $3!

I often receive emails asking if I am going to be selling ready-made items from free patterns and tutorials I've published on my blog. This request usually comes from those who don't know how to sew. I haven't done a lot of that in the past, but yesterday I made room for 10 already-made Fabric Flower Headbands. I've priced them very competitively, and with the purchase of a headband the buyer can receive the pattern free of charge! Sweet little deal if you ask me.

Also included in my Etsy are some "Snap Trap Wallets for Children!" These items are perfect for the little man or woman in your life. It's an ideal wallet for a child with lots of valuables and treasures!

Last but not least, I've included some "Bunting Cosmetic Bags" in the store. I love these beautiful and fresh little bags. This bunting bag might be the perfect gift for a mother on Mother's Day ... {just sayin'}

In the coming weeks more items will be placed on the shelves, but I feel good about the start I've made in updating my Etsy. I've tried to make and price items that won't break the bank for the buyer.  Hopefully I've accomplished that!

Today I'm going to be creating a little softie bunny for Easter for our grandbabies. I hope it turns out. If it does I'll share it with you next week! 

Fabric Flower Headband Pattern ...

Update:  My "Fabric Flower Headband Pattern and Instructions" can now be purchased in my Etsy Shop for the cost of $5! (See below...)

Yesterday I presented a sneak peek of some of my new Fabric Flower Headbands.

In conjunction with my new policy, for the next 24 hours my "Fabric Flower Headband Pattern and Instructions" will be available free of charge to the faithful followers or readers of my blog. {If you aren't already a follower, feel free to join!} Just email me with the phrase "Fabric Flower Headband Pattern" in the subject line of the email and leave a comment below. My email address is on my sidebar. I will return your email with the PDF pattern attached. When the 24 hours are up, the pattern will be placed in my Etsy shop and anyone can purchase it at the cost of $5 {free shipping}.

Along with the pattern, there will also be many ready-made headbands available in my Etsy shop for $6 each. Upon request when someone purchases a ready-made headband in my Etsy shop, the "Headband Pattern and Instructions" will be emailed to the buyer free of charge!

My beautiful friend and her daughter were the models for these photos. I wish I had gorgeous hair like that ...{sigh}

Although this headband is made for grown up girls, we tried it on my friend's six year old daughter with this adorable result...

Here are a couple more headbands I made yesterday -- these will reside in my Etsy until someone decides to give them a home.

A Sneak Peek -- Fabric Flower Headband...

Flowers have preoccupied fashion for some time now, and I don't think there is anything more charming than a blossom in one's hair! That's why I decided to create some fabric flower headbands and a pattern to boot!

There are a lot of really cute headbands for little girls, but these headbands are made for women...

Tomorrow I will make the pattern and instructions for this headband available free of charge for a period of 24 hours to those who follow my blog. According to my new policy, after 24 hours the PDF pattern and instructions will be available in my Etsy for $5 with no shipping cost! For you non-sewers ... some of these ready-made adorable headbands will also be available in my shop at that time!