Inspiration-Palooza

I'm excited to be participating in the Inspiration Palooza over at The Champ Life!

My quilt goals for 2014 include:

~Learning to paper-piece

~Finish my Square in Square Quilt

~ learn to Free Motion Quilt

~add labels to quilts I make

~Make a quilt for my son

~Make an Equilateral Triangle Quilt

~blog & log my quilts more consistently

And because this is my first year I've really started quilting, I don't have a ton to choose from. I have about 4 I need to finish and made around 6 other quilts. If I had to choose one, I think this one was my favorite...

I love fall and this quilt always makes me think of that beautiful time of year!
Plus, I just LOVE strip quilts. I'm not sure why, but I've always been drawn to them.

 

And now I officially miss fall.

A Foxy Giveaway!

What does the fox say?...

Sorry if that song is officially stuck in your head for the rest of the day! hehe

It's time to see what this week's giveaway has to offer!

It seems foxes are the new craze and I am totally on board with it!
I mean, they are too cute not to love!

This week you can win these foxy handmade items:

How cute are they?!
Win them for yourself or win them to give as a Christmas gift!
To win, all you have to do is "Like" The Running Stitch on facebook and "like" this photo while you're there!
For an extra entry, "Share" with your friends!
The giveaway will end Sunday morning 8am and the winner will be announced at that time!


Good luck!!

Linking up Sew Mama Sew Giveaways!
 

Tied Up With String

Brow paper packaging tied up with string..these are a few of my favorite things!!

With my obsession with Christmas, also comes my obsession with gift-wrapping.
I love wrapping presents!!
Today at my local MOPs meeting I was asked to show a few ways to decorate with brown paper-packaging and thought I would share with YOU today too! Here are a few ideas I shared...

First I demonstrated how to make this adorable felt flower! You can find the tutorial HERE!
I wrapped a couple white strips of lace around and TaDa!

 

For this next one, I got these pretty red stick things (idk what to call them?)  at HobbyLobby!

You can find lots of pretty sticks and decorations in the floral section at HobbyLobby.

I cut a couple small pieces off and tied them on with black lace ribbon! Easy-peasy!

Next, I used Washi Tape for the first time...and I love it!
If you don't know what washi tape is, in short, it's cute decorative tape! Genius.
Wrap your brown paper packaging with string ;) 
..and then washi-tape stick a label on! 

And if you are feeling extra artsy, you can hand sketch some pretty designs on your package.

Washi tape again. This time I decided to just fold over my wrapper paper, cut across with pretty scissors and tape it down with my washi tape. It give it a different but pretty look I think! The flowers are rossettes made from tissue paper. I'll have to make a tutorial for them soon!

You can get your kids involved too!
While I was wrapping, I had my little one scribbling over a package for his daddy.
I think it's super cute!

And for my son, who is OBSESSED with cars right now...
I drew a little map on his packaged and added a car on top!
Mine is far from fancy, but the idea in itself is pretty cute I think!

When decorating your brown-paper packages, the options and designs are truly endless!
You can do whatever you like! Add whatever crafty stuff you have lying around!  
Personalize it to whoever you are giving it to.
Have fun and let your creative juices flow!
Side note: you can get brown paper packaging at Dollar Tree for just $1! (At walmart it was $4)
And Washi Tape can be found at Walmart for just $0.97. And I believe I just saw ribbon by the yard on sale-some were only 10 cents/yard!!
So wrapping can be fun and affordable!
Thanks for stopping by! 

...These are a few of my favorite things...

December Giveaway-Week #1

I am so excited it's finally December!

I've been waiting all year for Christmas to come again!

I can't believe it's finally here and I wanted to share my excitement with all of YOU!!

So for the month of December, each week I will be hosting a giveaway of a handmade item made by me! :)

This weeks giveaway includes this cute Ruffled Chevron Zipper Pouch! 

You can win it for yourself or you could always give it as a gift for Christmas as well..

Either way, what girl doesn't love ruffles..especially when it's combined with chevron!!

And for free! 

Doesn't get better than that! 

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is "like" my facebook page! 

You can find the link on this page near the top right corner.

While you're there, "like" the giveaway picture and I will pick a winner on Sunday!

The Ruffled Pouch will be in the mail to you by Monday morning! 

Be sure to share with your friends!

Good luck!!