Leaf Table Runner-Quick and Thrifty!

What do you get with 4 packs of faux leaves from the Dollar Store and a length of burlap looking fabric? 

This pretty, quick and CHEAP table runner for fall!

I wanted a nice, colorful table runner but, you know me, didn't want to spend alot of money.

So I crashed my stash and found I had loads of fake silk leaves from the Dollar Store.

LOADS.

Note to self-stop buying autumn leaves from the Dollar Store.

I also found a nice length of burlap looking fabric that paired up nicely with the leaves, including some book page leaves left over from another project.

I've kind of got a thing about book page craft projects.

I plugged in my glue gun and went to town.

Man, quick and easy!!

Originally I made each end square to match the fabric.

By adding more leaves I was able to get this nice pointed shape.

I like it alot!

It looks wonderful on the bare wood of our table and also over an autumn woven table cloth.

This is my kind of fun project....quick, easy, fun, CHEAP and it looks great!

Materials needed-

Fabric for runner in the the length you wish (you could also use a Dollar Store table runner)

Fake leaves from the Dollar Store (50 to a pack so maybe 4 packs?)

Hot glue and gun

Optional-book page maple leaves (traced and cut out)

Time needed? 

An hour if you spend alot of time rearranging and fussing with the leaves. 

I say, just do it. Your table runner will thank you for it!

Felt Bird Pillows...and More

I made these bird pillows for my sister for this last Christmas. I like them alot. And most importantly, she likes them, too!

I make them using felt appliques and loads of freestyle sewing machine embroidery stitching on cotton canvas.

I've been making felt applique pillows for a while now as gifts for new brides, housewarmings and birthdays.

Once I decide on a design and the shapes I cut the pieces from brightly colored felt and sew them on the cotton canvas pillow tops.

 I've also made a few for my own living room, since I LOVE bright colors in my house.

These are the first pillows I've made with bird shapes and the design and execution were challenging but also fun!

This fat chickadee is made of white, cream, grey and black felt with loads of machine stitching in shades of yellow, gold, a little orange, white, grey, black and cream. His bright eye is a glossy black metal snap.

The leaves and tree branches are all sewn with black thread.

This handsome goldfinch is made of layered felt in yellow and black with machine stitching in yellow, gold and white. His eye is also a black metal snap. I've embroidered the leaves and branches with black thread.

I was so pleased with the bird designs that I tried out a brand new fox pillow. I LOVE the way he came out!

So with the bird pillows, fox pillow, wreath pillows and tree pillows I completed gifts for my parents, sisters and niece and I had fun doing them.

Now the fam insists I list some of these designs in my Etsy shop and you know what? I guess I will.

Have an idea for a design with felt? Try it out yourself or even message me. I'd love to see if I could make a new design in felt appliques!