The holidays are fast approaching and I’m quickly transitioning into Craftsmas Mode. To avoid the last minute panic, I’ve decided that handmade gifts and decor are the way to go this year; and for this post I’ve put together a few of the quick and easy projects I have planned. They’re perfect for stocking stuffers and party favors, and use tons of fun materials from leather and flannel to Mood’s exquisite appliqué and metallic trims. Read on and let me know which ones you’ll be adding to your Holiday To-Do List!
Before I get into the details of these 9 super fun projects, I did make templates for three of them, just to make them even easier for the crafter in a hurry this holiday season. You can download them below!
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1. The Poinsettia Pillow
This adorable pillow went together in about 20 minutes and all it takes is a few simple straight stitches, which can be done by hand or machine!
Fabrics & materials used:
- 1/2 yard White and Black Buffalo Check Cotton Flannel
- 1/2 yard Bright Red Acrylic Felt
- Italian Pearl and Rhinestone Brooch
- 16″ Pillow Form
- Petal Templates (Available for free download above!)
1. Begin by using the free downloadable template to cut 12 large petals and 6 small petals from your felt, as well as two 17″ squares from your flannel.
2. Lay 2 large petals horizontally across the center of one flannel square, overlapping them about 1″ in the very middle. Stitch a straight line to secure the petals in place, starting halfway down the length of one petal and finishing halfway through the second.
3. Add another layer of 2 large petals perpendicular to the first layer, overlapping them again in the center.
4. Repeat until you have 6 layers of large petals, followed by 3 layers of your smaller petals.
(The felt can start to get a bit thick toward the last few layers, so I strongly recommend using a walking foot if you’re using a machine.)
5. Once your flower is fully attached, fold the ends in and pin them toward the center, so you don’t accidentally stitch them into the pillow seams during the next step.
6. With the fabric faces together, pin your 2nd flannel square onto the first, so the flower is between the two layers. Sew around the square with a 1/2″ seam allowance, leaving about 4″ open on one side to turn your pillow right side out.
7. Clip the corners of your seam allowance, pull your pillow right side out, and add your brooch to the center of your Poinsettia.
8. Lastly, insert your pillow form into the opening in your pillow, pin the opening shut and slip-stitch it closed!
2. The Travel Mug Cozy
This coffee cozy is a gorgeous and more eco-friendly alternative to the paper zarves you can get from your preferred coffee shop. They’re slightly elastic and will fit a multitude of travel mugs and coffee cups, so you don’t need to worry about different sizes. Plus, you can get maybe a dozen out of each 1/2 yard of fabric, so you can give one to all of your friends this season!
Fabric & materials used:
- 1/2 yard Black Faux Leather Diamond Quilted Coating
- 1 Italian Gold Floral Button with Rhinestone Core 24L
- A few inches of 1.2mm Black Elastic Cord
- 1/2 yard Black Solid Organic Cotton Twill
- Mug Cozy Template (free download available above!)
1. Using the free downloadable template, cut 1 each from your quilted coating and cotton twill. Make sure they’re mirrored, so they match up when the fabric faces are pressed together.
2. Pin and stay-stitch a 3″ loop of elastic at the center of the short flat side of your quilted coating.
3. Place the cotton twill over your quilted coating and elastic loop, with the fabric faces touching. Leaving a 1/2″ seam allowance, sew around the edges.
Be sure to leave about 2″-3″ open along the bottom curve of the cozy to pull everything right side out.
4. Clip the corners of your seam allowance and turn your cozy right side out. Pin and slip-stitch the last few inches closed. Edge-stitch around the entirety of your cozy.
5. Fit the cozy on your preferred coffee cup or travel mug. Place a pin where the edge of your elastic loop lands (without stretching too much).
6. Sew your button where you placed your pin and you’re ready to take some coffee on the go!
3. Leather Tassel Keychains
Did you know Mood sells pre-cut leather for easy DIY tassels? This project is already halfway done for you!
Fabrics & materials used:
- 1 Gold Metal Lobster Clasp
- Realeather Metallic Gold Deerskin Fringe Trim
- 1 Italian Clear 3D Flower Appliqué with White and Silver Beads
- 1/2 yard Gold Knit Metal Trim
- Mini High Temp Glue Gun & Glue Sticks
1. Gather your materials and be sure that the tassels on one of your leather layers (the pack comes with 2) are fully cut.
2. Cut 4″ of your metal knit trim and loop it through your lobster clasp. Place a dot of hot glue on the back right-hand corner of your leather to secure the trim onto your tassel.
3. Place a dot of hot glue directly to the left of your trim and fold the trim over once.
4. Begin repeating step #3 until the tassel is fully rolled around your trim.
5. Put a small dot of hot glue on the back of your flower appliqué and place it halfway up the trim, between the tassel and lobster clasp. Cut a small circle of leather from the top of your second layer of tassels and glue to the back of the appliqué to secure into place.
6. Make a keychain for each of your friends!
4. Tulle Christmas Tree
This is one of my favorites when it comes to DIY Christmas decor. Tulle Christmas trees are incredibly simple to make, take no time at all, and with Mood’s super cute beaded tulle, they’re pre-decorated with ornaments!
Fabrics & materials used:
- 3 yards Ivory Beaded Tulle
- 1 yard Antique Gold Metallic Ribbon
- 1 Swarovski Rhinestone Button
- Mini High Temp Glue Gun & Glue Sticks
- 3″ Styrofoam Cube
- 12″ Wooden Dowel
1. Begin by cutting 1.5 yard strips of tulle at the following widths:
- 2 at 12″ wide, 1 at 11″ wide
- 1 at 10″ wide, 1 at 8″ wide
- 1 at 6″ wide, 1 at 3″ wide
- 1 at 3″ wide, 2 at 2″ wide
2. Paint or wrap your Styrofoam base. I used some spare gold metallic rib knit I had laying around. Punch a hole in the center top, about 2″ deep.
3. Wrap your wooden dowel with your gold ribbon, securing it with a bit of hot glue. Place some glue in the hole you just made in your base and place the dowel inside, holding it straight until the glue dries.
4. Fold each of your tulle strips in half along the length (halving the width), and individually baste along the fold. Gather each strip to its fullest, and tie your threads together, forming a sort of donut with your tulle.
5. Snip the ends of your threads, and loop your tulle donuts onto the wooden dowel, starting with your widest layers are the bottom and working your way up.
6. Top with a dot of glue and your favorite of Mood’s stunning Swarovski buttons!
5. Reusable Heat Packs
These cozy little heat packs are a must for snow shoveling, early morning runs, and late season football games. Pop them into a microwave for 30 seconds, drop one in each of your pockets and you have some DIY hand warmers! Plus, for all those crafters in your life, they double as the cutest little pattern weights!
Fabrics & materials used:
- Green/Black/Gray Tartan Plaid Cotton Flannel
- Blue/Black/Gray Tartan Plaid Cotton Flannel
- Red/Black Tartan Plaid Cotton Flannel
- Black/White Tartan Plaid Cotton Flannel
- Rice
1. These little packs are incredible easy. Essentially, you’re just making mini pillows and filling them with rice instead of stuffing.
2. Cut your flannel into squares or rectangles. I made each of mine 3″x4″.
3. Sew two at a time, fabric faces together, along almost all 4 sides. Leave 1″-2″ open along one of the sides to pull it right side out.
4. Turn your ‘pillow’ right side out and spoon some uncooked rice into the opening until it’s fairly packed.
5. Lastly, slip-stitch the opening shut and you’re ready to microwave!
6. Cord Tacos
I think everyone agrees: tangled cords are a pain. How many times have you reached into your purse for your charging cable, only to come out with the cable, your headphones, spare keys, and some loose change you didn’t even know you had – all in one tangled mess. With these tacos, all you need to do is fold up your cords or headphones, and snap them on. Hassle-free purse organization!
Fabrics & materials used:
- 1 swatch Medium Metallic Blue Foil Lamb Leather
- 1 swatch Medium Metallic Lilac Foil Lamb Leather
- 1 swatch Medium Metallic Antique Gold Foil Lamb Leather
- Dritz Heavy Duty Snap Plier Kit
1. I gathered a few swatches of Mood’s new reorderable leathers, which are pre-cut 3″ circles, but if you’re looking to make a ton of these tacos, you can likely get up to 50 per medium hide.
2. Using an awl, fold your leather circle in half and punch a small hole towards the center, about 1/2″ in from the edge.
3. You should have a symmetrical circle with two holes on either side.
4. Using your plier kit, insert the bottom half of your snap, with the flat side along the metallic outer edge of the leather disc.
5. Following the directions on your plier kit, add the top portion of your snap to the second hole on the leather.
6. Secure your cords into organized submission!
7. Gift Card Keychains
Gift cards are a great go-to for a hard-to-buy-for friend, but that doesn’t mean the present needs to end there. Do you know how many times I’ve gotten a gift card and totally misplaced it in the depths of my bag? A gift card keychain is the perfect solution that doubles as an utterly adorable way to give the gift, as well as an easy way for the giftee to store it and use it the next time they’re out!
Fabrics & materials used:
- 1/2 yard Ivory Fashion-Weight Faux Leather
- 1/2 yard Gold Textural Polyester Satin
- 1/2 yard Black Velvet and Sheer Ribbon
- Italian Black and Gold Metal 4-Hole Button
- Gold Metal Lobster Clasp
- A few inches 1.2mm Black Elastic Cord
- Gift Card Keychain Template (free download up top!)
1. Using the downloadable template, cut your faux leather and satin lining into shape.
2. Loop the end of your velvet ribbon through the lobster clasp until about 3″ are hanging to one side. Stitch across the two layers of ribbon so the clasp stays in place.
3. Pin your ribbon down the middle of the length of your faux leather piece, with the stitching by the lobster clasp placed 1.5″ from the curved edge.
4. Cut 3″ from your elastic cord and add a loop ad the end of your velvet ribbon, along the curved edge. Stay-stitch it into place, with the curve of the loop facing towards the clasp.
5. With the fabric faces together, place your satin on top of the faux leather, so the ribbon and clasp are inside.
Sew along nearly all 4 sides, leaving about 2″ open to turn the piece right side out.
6. Clip the corners of your seam allowance, flip right side out, and edge-stitch along the entirety of the piece.
7. Fold the short, flat edge up to bring the satin faces together. Place the flat edge about 1/2″ inch down from where the curved edge starts.
8. Stitch up the two sides, add your button, and add a gift card!
8. Chapstick Keychains
I always get chapstick in my Christmas stocking, which is a great shield against the freezing NY wind, but by mid-January they’ve all be lost – rolled under the fridge, forgotten in jean pockets, melted at the bottom of a purse. How handy would a little holder be, especially when it can clip right onto your keys??
Fabrics & materials used:
- 1/2 yard 4.5oz Black Tencel Denim
- 1/2 yard Fusible Interfacing
- 1 Silver Metal Spring Clip
- 1 Pewter Knit Metal Trim
- Keychain Ring
1. First, cut two 2″x6″ rectangles of tencel denim and interface them. Do the same with a small, 1″x2″ rectangle.
2. Holding the smaller piece like a portrait, fold the sides inward, iron, and stitch. You should be left with a 1/2″x2″ strip.
3. Fold it in half and pin it to one of the short edges of one of the larger rectangles, with the loop pointed down.
4. With the fabric faces together, lay your 2nd large rectangle over the first and sew around most of the sides. Leave 1″-2″ open to pull it right side out.
5. Turn it right side out and press it. Fold the rectangle nearly in half, with the bottom edge landing about 1/2″ from the top looped edge. Edge-stitch up the sides.
6. Create a loop with your metal knit trim and cover the stitched with a dot of hot glue and some leftover ribbon. Clip it onto a keychain ring and it’s ready to go!
9. Mason Jar Sewing Kit
These jars are a must for any sewist in your life. Not only are they adorable, but they’re super practical! They’re a great way to keep a sewing space a little more organized, plus you can fill it with all the latest in handy sewing notions and gadgets!
Fabrics & materials used:
- 1 Mason Jar with a Canning Lid
- 1/2 yard Natural Cotton Canvas
- 1/2 yard Beige and Metallic Gold Crochet Trim
- 1/2 yard European Metallic Gold Lace Trim
- Fiber Filling
1. This is definitely one of those projects where you can do whatever you’d like! I went with a simple cotton canvas, cut a 4″ circle and glued it mostly around the removable section of the canning lid. I left a small opening to stuff some polyfil inside, and then glued the rest shut.
2. Lastly, I just added a cute ribbon below the lid and part of the way down the jar. Both are secure with hot glue.
And that’s it!
The inside of the jar is totally customizable, which is cool, but here’s what I put in my kit:
Will you be trying any of these gift or decor ideas? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear if you have any DIY projects I haven’t thought of!
5 comments
These are great ideas! I’m definitely making a bunch of cord tacos. I would love to see ideas for ways to use up fabric scraps
Thank you! Oooh, that’s a great idea 🙂
Great ideas! Keep designing.
Re: hand warmers
1. Your microwave may not need 30 seconds to heat the rice. Mine, for example, starts burning before that.
2. A few drops of essential oil added to these in the rice is amazing.
3. Please be sure your fabrics don’t have any festive metallics, lest you have festive fireworks in your microwave.
Very good tips!! Thanks 🙂