Ipad Mini and Kindle Cases...

With christmas coming up and a craft fayre in a couple of weeks I decided that I did actually need to make a couple of things that would appeal to the christmas shopper. What is going to be the most common gift this christmas...Ipad Mini's and Kindles, so here comes the tutorial for my cases.

Ipad Mini/ Kindle Case Tutorial

You will need: 

Thin Elastic

Button

Fabric

Fleece/towelling/padding

Sewing Machine

Needle and thread (same colour as button)

Tutorial

My pattern, you can use the measurements on the image above I promise they will work. 

I like to use contrasting fabrics but you can use anything that takes your fancy. 

You will also need something to pad the case with to protect the screen, I have this fab padding but you can use fleece or towelling or sheeted wadding. 

You will need two pieces or fabric using the full size pattern (30cm x 15cm), so I just place one piece of fabric on top of the other, pin on the pattern and cut around leaving approx 2cm around the edge as shown above. 

You will now need one piece of the small rectangle on the pattern (22cm x 15cm). Cut as before. 

You should now have three pieces of fabric just as above. 

Now cut your padding to the exact size of the pattern (30cm x 15cm). Do NOT add a 2cm allowance as you did before. 

Now place your two larger pieces of fabric and padding to one side and take the smaller piece to the ironing board. To create a clean fold, iron over about 0.5 cm from the top. Then fold over again approx. 2cm this time, (see below). 

Now sew two lines to hold in place.

One line along the bottom of the fold and the other along the top. 

Two rows of stitching. Finished Pocket. 

Now place your finished pocket wrong side to right side to one of the larger pieces of fabric. (see above)

Now place the right side of the second larger piece of fabric right side down, so you now have three layers. Pin in Place. 

This is the stage where you add the extras. Pin elastic as shown above. 

It will look like this with all three layers pinned in place. 

Now machine all the way around the rectangle, leaving a small space to turn through. 

Snip the corners, to ensure sharp edges. And then turn through. 

Now in the gap thats open, slip in the padding. Once in, slip stitch the opening closed.

Hand stitch on a button, low enough down so elastic secures the case. 

Two examples of my finished results. 

Follow Me!

So just below my big swirly 'Serendipity Title' at the top on my blog, is a NEW 'Follow Me' button. It is a link to my Pintrest, which has tonnes more tutorials and ideas from weddings, to christmas decorations and childrens birthday parties. Have a look and...Follow Me.

Posh Pegs...

I just wanted to show you how easy it is to have that pretty christmas without spending too much money. I have already posted my Christmas Stockings, but these are my... Posh Pegs.

Posh Pegs

They are so quick and easy you could have your own set by the time you have finished reading this...

All I did was buy a really cheap pack of about 30 wooden pegs, gave them a simple white wash and then chose my favourite christmas stamps and just used plain black ink to stamp on the design. 

The possibilities are endless with these, whatever your taste or colour scheme.

You can use them to peg up christmas cards, peg them on your tree, just by themselves or to peg gift tags to presents. 

V-Shaped Pillow Cover...

Now I am neither pregnant nor require an orthopaedic pillow...but have you tried one? They are the comfiest things you will sleep on! So yes I own one...one problem, it is impossible to find a 'pretty' cover for one. 

So my solution?...As always...make one!

V-Shaped Pillow Tutorial

What you need:

An old pillow case for your pillow

Fabric

Trimmings

Iron

Machine

Coloured Thread

First Lay out your old case (the pink) and cut two pieces of new fabric adding a seam allowance. One of the new pieces needs to be longer at one end (as shown) to create the flap that holds the pillow in. 

Choose your decoration, I chose a strip of Cath Kidston fabric and a strip of white lace. Attach your decoration to the right sides of your fabric. 

Now take the piece of fabric that has the longer side and fold and iron about 1/2 inch of the end and then fold again and iron to get a smooth edge. Now sew securely in place. Fold this up to the same length of the other piece, creating a sort of pocket. 

Place the fabric right side to right side, sew all the way round. Snip corners and fold right side out. Pop in your pillow.

Finished Product

Halloween Nanny Serendipity Style...

There is an annual trip for us over the Halloween period, when a rowdy group of family and friends grace the Northumberland coast line for a week. No we don't stay in cosy B&B's or Hotels but instead take along tents and caravans (during one of the coldest months of the year)! 

(Yes this is us pitching a Cath Kidston Tent in about 6 inches of mud!)

However the trip is greatly enjoyed by everyone and I just thought I would share some of our finer moments, to prove a winter break is just the thing for curing those winter blues. There is also an alternative pumpkin carving tutorial!

One of the best parts of this part of the world is the beaches, our campsite is a stones throw away from this incredible beach. 

(Below, I was trying out some beach art for this years christmas cards...not sure I quite achieved the look)

To gather some inspiration for our Halloween crafts we decided to channel Harry Potter for the day and try out Quiditch at Hogwarts (Alnwick Castle). 

(Alnwick was very overpriced, if you want a great day out in Northumberland, head over to Chillingham Castle, its FANTASTIC!)

Now the Halloween crafting begins...

An alternative pumpkin carving idea involves battery powered fairy lights and a screwdriver...

(I decided to spell out 'BOO' with fairy lights but you could do anything)

Firstly I drew on the letters and then punched holes using a screwdriver and then poked the lights through the holes...easy!

Sorry about the poor quality, only had my phone. (The one on the right is a green lantern symbol with green glowsticks in for the effect)

(We used electric tea lights in all our pumpkins as we were surrounded by tents)

Some of our other master pieces...

My Patchwork Teddy...

Using scraps and left over fabric, I created a 'Patchwork Teddy'. 

I started by making a prototype in just plain white, to see how it worked out,

And this was the end result...

His limbs are all jointed so they move.

If you want to have a go, I just used this from google images as a starting point (http://practicalenrichment.wordpress.com/2010/09/03/the-teddy-bear-project/) but adjusted it slightly as I went along. 

Shabby Chic Christmas Stockings...

I know we haven't even had halloween yet and I am already starting christmas crafts...but I couldn't help myself.

These christmas stockings are made from red gingham and fine burlap. I used scrap bits of lace and ribbons to decorate, you can use whatever you have lying around. 

All the stockings are lined with cotton. 

I then cut out one of each fabric

Then sew on the decoration to the right side of each piece of fabric. 

Pin the two pieces of fabric right sides together and then add a lining piece to each side, stitch all the way round and turn right side out. (I added a loop to one side so it could be hung)

A couple of my finished products...