family reunion

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Designer: Kendra McCracken

Summertime often means time for a family reunion. Whether you're planning an indoor gathering or a day filled with sunshine, there will no doubt be a little a little food and drink included in the celebration. Providing all the necessities for a meal in pre-made packs helps keep everyone organized so they can focus on more important details of the day and it also helps keep the serving area moving more swiftly.

Providing a couple of small, mementos is a good way to add a touch of fun to the set and send everyone away with a smile.

Difficulty rating

Instructions (Print version)

The first project for today is a drink cozy inspired by one created by Shannon Udell for the book Pretty Little Patchwork. These can be taken home by each family member and reused for hot or cold drinks. Begin by determining the dimensions of your cup using the tape measure in the 12-in-1 Sewing Multi Tool. The circumference of my cup was 10" near the top and 9" near the bottom. I added 3 3/4" to the top dimension and 3" to the bottom for seam allowances and added bulk from the batting and turning the materials. My final dimensions to work with were:
13 3/4" top
12" bottom
3" height

Each of these numbers should be divided by 4 to determine the size of each pattern piece for the panels. My dimensions after dividing by 4 were (approximated for ease):
3 1/2" top
3" bottom
3 1/2" height

Using a ruler and pencil, draw a trapezoid using the determined dimensions to create a pattern piece. Using the pattern piece, cut 4 from the same fabric for the liner, and 4 more from contrasting fabrics for the front.

With right-sides together,stitch the 4 liner pieces together with a 1/4" seam allowance. Do the same with the front pieces, alternating them as desired using one of the strips as a pattern, cut a piece of quilt batting. Lay the fabric panels, right-sides together, on top of the quilt batting and pin together. Stitch these together with a 1/4" seam allowance, leaving one short end open for turning. Clip the corners, turn right-side out, and press. Turn the edges of the open end under 1/4" and pin closed.

Topstitch around the edge of the whole piece. Stitch down alongside the edge of each joined seam.

Using the Hearts template, trace a small heart onto a coordinating fabric. Cut the heart out using the No. 8 Razor Edged Scissors. Stitch the heart to one of the front panels, going around the edge twice. Finish the cozy by bringing the 2 short ends together, overlapping as needed to make the cozy fit around the cup, and stitch.

To create the pinwheel, begin with (2) 5" squares of patterned paper. Glue them together and let dry. Using a ruler, draw 2 lines connecting the corners diagonally.

Cut 3" along each diagonal line. Poke a tiny hole in the center of the square and in the tip of every other triangle tip.

Using a thumbtack, poke a hole in a thin dowel rod, barely allowing the tip of the tack to poke through the other side. Fold the tips with the holes in them toward the center of the square and hold together with a sewing pin threaded with a bead. After running the pin through the hole in the center of the square, thread 2 more beads on the pin, run it through the hole in the dowel rod, and bend the end of the pin 90 degrees. Adjust (bend) the shaft of the pin as needed to get the pinwheel sitting with the back parallel to the stick.

To create the invitation, my primary tool was the Push and Print Stamp Factory with the Ribbon Stamping Plate. The Push and Print Stamp Factory allows you to assemble many stamps on one plate and repeatedly stamp without re-inking as the stamp pad is stored inside the Stamp Factory making it self-inking.

The Ribbon Stamping Plate has lines on it which are great for lining up letter stamps straight and evenly. After stamping the invitations, use Fiskars Border Punches and Twinkle, Twinkle Squeeze Punches to add borders and embellishments.

Supplies:

01-003086 push and print Stamp Factory kit
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_push-and-print-stamp-factory.aspx
01-004765 Stamp Factory Ribbon Stamping Tool
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_ribbon-stamping-tool.aspx
12-74187097 Twinkle Twinkle - Extra Large
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_twinkle-twinkle.aspx
12-74417097 Twinkle Twinkle - Medium
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_twinkle-twinkle-m.aspx
12-74297097 Twinkle Twinkle - Large
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_twinkle-twinkle-l.aspx

Plastic drinking cups; fabric scraps in 4 coordinating patterns; 1 sheet double sided patterned paper; red cardstock; Short dowel sticks (check the baking section of craft stores); 1 straight pin; 3 beads; thread; fork, knife, spoon, napkin, etc. for meal consumption.

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family reunion

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