Halloween Mug Rugs

Halloween Mug Rugs

I decided to make some Halloween themed mug rugs this week.  
I think that I have an bad case of "Mug Rug Fever" ...
Some mild symptoms first appeared  after I made my   Scottie Dog Mug Rug . I got  cranky mildly irritated when I didn't have time to immediately make a second one upon completion.  
Then,  my fever started climbing higher and higher as I read the recent posts  from Amanda,  The Patchsmith.

Spoiler alert:    Skip over  this next  area in red  if you don't want to know what Amanda's latest mug rug pattern is before you see her blog post! (or  if your immune system can't handle being exposed to the Mug Rug Bug  right now!)
*********************************************************************************************************                                  It is so darn cute and irresistible... 
                                                Elephants!!  
She has this new pattern and lots of other cute patterns available on Craftsy.              And, you won't want to  miss seeing  her blog post on Thursday, Oct. 4, as she will have an original design featured that day in  the Glorious Autumn Block Party by Quilting Gallery.com.   You will be seeing more of her patterns on Susie's Sunroom in the future.   She is so darling and talented, and makes me laugh. ;)

Spoiler End ****************************************************************************

Whiskers is pointing to her favorite one.... but she prefers bigger rugs to lay on!

 OK,  you can read now.  
I made myself finish the piles of clothes that needed to be ironed.  Then I treated myself to  some fun- by making  some mug rugs out of Halloween colors.  (Does anyone else make herself do the "chores" first ,  and then reward herself  with "sewing time" ?!)  (uh-oh...)

Here are my two new mug rugs:

Ghost  and Candy Corn Mug Rugs

 The ghost was fun to make, because I used scraps . I decided to make it scrappy for the background and the back side.

I sewed 1 1/2 inch strips together.  Then I cut the rectangle out  on on angle.

The Back:  even patchier and scrappier,  by sewing pieces together to form a larger rectangle.  

 I applied the ghost-shaped applique to the front, using Heat-n-Bond lite, iron-on adhesive.Then I  used embroidery thread to create  his eyes and mouth. (by hand).  Machine quilting was next-

I made "ripples" around the shape of the ghost, to machine quilt it

I blanket stitched the applique shape, using my Viking Topaz.  I love this stitch!

Now for the binding:   I have started  using this great machine binding method for small projects, like mug rugs , wall hangings and pot holders.  My clever sister, Amy, of Amy Made That! has put  her method together into  a free pdf file download (free pdf.)   (Treat yourself and go look at her blog!  I just love her style and fabric choices.)

Reality... I did not photoshop-out my imperfect binding.  It is  a little  wavy in  areas...  (And my photos seem to magnify the waves.) ....and a bit wonky at both of the right- hand corners.  But I can live with the way it looks .  Neat and clean. And it doesn't take much time to execute this method  on the sewing machine.  
Reality... Amy makes them near perfection! [ I have a lot of catchin' up to do to get even close to her level!!]

My Wonky Ghost Mug Rug

This is my Candy Corn Mug Rug:

 

Candy Corn mug rug  

 I just pieced some fabric leftovers for the back.

Back side.   No problems with this binding. I did this one BEFORE the Ghost... go figure!

Well, time to stop sewing and go shopping for some fall-flavored coffee! So I can use my rugs.
Let me know if any of you are running a Mug Rug Fever!    It is contagious!  :) sorry  not really

I'm off to my sewing room!

Halloween fun

Trick or Treat Bags for the Triplets!

This week, I decided to  make some Halloween trick-or -treat bags for my great niece and great nephews, who happen to be triplets! This is their first Halloween in which they know that they are dressing up and going to get candy.

I got my inspiration from a tutorial on Cluck Cluck Sew.com ,  called Easy Treat Bag Tutorial.
The tutorial gave me the dimensions for  a toddler sized bag of 11" wide by 13" tall.

I made a few changes to her directions:

• I used Halloween fabrics, so added Pellon Fusible Fleece 987 to the front and back outer pieces , for strength and shape
• I used a 1 1/4 inch strip of PFF 987 on the handles, to give strength

Pellon Fusible Fleece 987    I LOVE THIS STUFF!

• I appliqued the felt shapes on to the fronts of the bags, using Heat n Bond lite  (therm-o-web) iron -on  adhesive.  Then I used my sewing machine  blanket stitch to outline the shapes. 

Applique with blanket stitch

• I made the boxed corners, for the bottom of the bag, slightly smaller
• I basted the handles to the front and back, THEN sewed the front and back pieces together.

The handles are basted on to the outer pieces

• I put right sides together , by placing the lining  (right side out) inside of the outer bag pieces (fleece side out and handles tucked inside between lining and bag pieces)

Turning the bag inside out-   the fun part!!

All ready to fill!

Candy Corn

Black cat.   My kitty, Whiskers, really runs like this when she plays!

Ghost.

Thanks to www.FreeApplique.com for the outline shapes for my appliques!

Then came the REALLY FUN part!  My family came for a visit and I gave the kids their bags.

Alex, Andrew and Jack holding their bags

I think they were still confused about what the bags are for... but it won't take long on Trick or Treat Night for them to figure it out!!

I'm off to my sewing room!

Couldn't resist putting in this TRIPLETS AND  Whiskers picture!

Softly Against Black Contest

Choose your own fabric bundle

If you could pick out your very own selection of  fabric for a  bundle...what would you pick?

Isn't that a fun idea ? Think about it.... being able to pick  out  your own choices of  fabric to make a bundle , and then see the real bundle in  a store ...

 Rachel,  from Stitched In Color, and                                                                  

are giving  us all a chance to do just that, with their  fabric mosaic contest .  The top 2 vote winners will be able  choose their  own fabrics bundle from Fresh Modern Fabric!  

 The theme is   Softly Against Black {a mosaic contest}

We are to choose  fabrics to express our interpretation of Softly Against Black.  Our  collection of fabrics can be pretty, cute, dramatic, or running in the direction of Halloween. 

This is my mosaic of the fabrics that I chose from Fresh Modern Fabric:

My inspiration came from the 2nd fabric,  the turquoise rain, and the 5th fabric,  the city skyline.

In the city, the  storm begins , and all becomes lit from the lightening; rolling through,  it soon fades  into drizzles , and is spent ...

Go on over to see all the fabulous creativity and ideas!  Voting opens up on Friday, Sept. 21.  I can't wait to see who wins!

I'm off to my sewing room!