Sitting Camel ~ A Bonus Pattern for the Nativity

 

I was working on a Nativity set an realised I wanted more levels so decided a sitting Camel would be nice!! This isn't a stand alone pattern but a modification to the Camel in the Melchior & the Camel Pattern. You will need that pattern to have all of the instructions to complete the sitting camel. You can find that Pattern in my Etsy shop.

Buy Pattern Here

Camel's like to fold their legs under them when they set so I just did a stem stitch outline of the legs on either side of the body.

The Front Piece is added with a blanket stitch.

I hot glued a piece of cardboard and some weights to the bottom before stuffing and closing up the Camel with a blanket stitch.

I put little pockets on the back pack instead of rolled blankets just to get some variety.

You can download the bonus pattern pieces below.

Download Bonus Pieces Here

Johanna Parker Design Halloween Glitter House

 Hello Hallozween Readers and all you Spooky Crafters!!

I'm very excited about this collaboration because I really LOVE Putz houses. To be honest, I love Anything covered in Glitter! Little tiny, festive houses covered in glitter are even better. Halloween tiny houses covered in glitter and using Johanna Parker Design patterns are the VERY BEST!!!

Download the free pattern and check out all of Elliott's Playground collaborations 

with Johanna Parker Design 

HERE

Halloween Tree ~ Spooky Season Stitch-Along

Welcome Hallozween Readers and all you Spooky Crafters!!

It's Time for a Stitch~Along!!!

(for those of you who don't stitch, look out on Instagram for a finished hoop giveaway!!)

I've compiled a supply list and the pattern to trace which you can

DOWNLOAD HERE

If you have any trouble accessing this pattern (Google drive seems to be finicky with some access) please send me a message on Instagram or shoot me an email elliottsplayground@gmail.com and I can email you everything. 

I've posted the pattern and supply list at the bottom of the post as well if you want to copy or screen shot directly from there.

I'll start sharing my stitching methods and progress on Instagram, Facebook and here October 1 and keep going through the month of October. I sure hope you can join me!! 

Follow along on Instagram and Facebook @elliottsplayground

I can't wait to see what you create!!

Halloween Shadow Box Ornaments

 Hello Hallozween Readers and All Spooky Crafters!!

Who doesn't love those Vintage Halloween Cards? Black cats and pumpkins abound. I've made a small collection of Vintage Halloween cards that are in the public domain and free to use for personal use. Download the collection  HERE 

Print out the Vintage Collection on photo paper

You will also need

Scissors

Black Cardstock 

Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks

PVA (school) Glue

Old paint brush that you don't mind dipping in glue

Scissors

Glitter

Ribbon

An assortment of festive buttons and mini bottle brush trees (I found a bunch on Amazon and Ebay)

Cut out the Vintage Halloween Card images. Cut a piece of black cardstock that is about 1.5cms (1/2 inch) bigger around than the vintage image. Make a diagonal cut at each corner. 

    Fold the corners in and make the black card stock into a little box shape.

Hot Glue the vintage image into place. 

Pop a drop of hot glue on the outside flap of each corner.

Then secure each side in place. 

Repeat this until you have all of your images in little shadow boxes.

Gather up your glitter and PVA Glue

Brush the glue on the edge of the Shadow Box then sprinkle on the glitter.

After the glue and glitter has dried a bit, gather up your festive buttons.

Hot glue your buttons anywhere that strikes your fancy in and around the shadow box.

Pop a piece of ribbon on the top corners of the shadow box with hot glue.

Finished!! Your Vintage Halloween Shadow Box is ready to hang on your Halloween Tree!!

Joseph's Lantern

One of you lovely Nativity makers pointed out to me that in many places Joseph is depicted carrying a lantern because he leads the way to Bethlehem. I LOVE this so decided to make my Joseph a little lantern to carry.

Download the Pattern Pieces and Supply List HERE 

Give your lantern a candle! Layer Piece A and B to make the light onto Piece E. Use a white blanket stitch to make the candle by layering Pieces C and D. C goes underneath D just to stop the candle from looking indented over the circles of light.

Use a yellow back stitch to sew down the circles of light. A grey straight stitch works for the candle's wick then a few orange straight stitches for the flame.

Turn Piece E into a tube and yellow blanket stitch the tube closed.

Crisscross two pieces of black ribbon the use a black running stitch to keep ribbon in place. Fold excess ribbon over the top edge and stitch down.

Add another ribbon crisscross on the other side of the candle.  

Glue piece H sized cardboard circle to both the top and the bottom of the lantern, Piece G.

Black blanket stitch two pieces together to cover the cardboard on the bottom and repeat for the top.

Cut a piece of pipe cleaner to fit Piece F for the handle.

Black blanket stitch the felt around the pipe cleaner and bend into a horseshoe shape.

Hot glue the lantern to one of the black circles to make a bottom then stuff with stuffing.

Hot glue the other black circle on for the top

Hot Glue the handle into place on top of the top circle.
.

Fold Joseph's hand so he's ready to hold the lantern.

Pop a dot of hot glue in Joseph's hand then pop the lantern in place. 

Voila! Joseph has he lantern!

Venetian Inspired Embroidery Pattern

Here's a new free pattern for all of you lovely stitchers!!

Download Pattern Here

If you want to add the colour blotches to your fabric, this is how I did it. I use the old fashioned pencil tracing method especially for this because...

 

you need to soak the fabric. 

I mixed food colouring with salt. Let the salt dissolve then dab the colour all over the fabric. This won't last if you plan on washing the piece when finished. You should use proper fabric dye if you want your colour to be waterproof.

Getting the fabric completely wet allows the colour to bleed out all over the hoop. Make sure the fabric is completely dry before you start stitching. 

Have Fun! I can't wait to see what you create!!

 

Making Mushrooms

 "Live people eat dead mushrooms. Live mushrooms eat dead people."

This statement made me want to make some art but I needed mushrooms. I grabbed some felt and did some embroidery then popped them together. I made a little video that proved a bit popular on TikTok (I usually feel very old and uncool on TikTok) so I figured I would do a proper step by step tutorial so everyone can make mushrooms!!!

Pop some felt in a hoop. I wanted colourful mushroom tops so picked a few colours for each top then did long and short stitch into the shape of a circle leaving a "piece of pie" space blank. If you need a refresher on long and short stitch click here for Cutesy Crafts' instructional video.

Long & Short Tutorial Here

Try and finish the edge with the stitches as lined up and solid as possible but don't worry too much about a perfect circle. Mushrooms are usually a bit wonky which makes them extra wonderful. Cream french knots made good mushroom spots.

French Knot Tutorial Here

For the underside of the mushroom I used long and short stitch neutral colours then added some dark brown straight stitches coming from the middle. The under circle is a wee bit smaller than the top circle. I just eyeballed this but you can trace out circles on your felt if you prefer. 

Clip away the extra felt being very careful not to cut your threads.

Cut out the blank "pie piece".

Fold over the mushroom top, and blanket stitch the cap closed. 

Blanket Stitch Tutorial

Cut a piece of felt in a cream or other neutral colour for the stem. Pop a pipe cleaner in the middle.

Blanket stitch the felt closed around the pipe cleaner.

Blanket stitch the top of the stem to the middle of the mushroom under circle.

Use a blanket stitch to attach the top of the mushroom cap to the bottom. Don't do tight, close stitches yet. Just stitch the cap into place.

Since the top is a bit bigger than the bottom you will need to ease the top together with your stitches. This will help the mushroom puff up. This may seem a little bumpy at first but it will come together with the second round of blanket stitches.

Make sure to stuff your mushroom top before your blanket stitch all the way around.

When your mushroom is adequately stuffed go back around the edge you have blanket stitches with another round of blanket stitches but this time make the stitches very close together. 

Now you have your very own embroidered mushroom!  I'll post the mushroom-centric piece I am making when it's all finished. 

Happy Mushroom Creating!!