Spread the Love: Heart Sachets to Brighten Every Day

Greetings, friends—let's make something sweet for Valentine’s Day!

Looking for a creative way to share a little love this season? You’re in luck! This month, I wrote a tutorial for Benzie Design featuring a beginner-friendly project that’s as fun to make as it is to gift—Heart-Shaped Sachets! These charming little hearts can be customized with your favorite colors and embellishments, then filled with soothing lavender or potpourri for a fragrant touch.

This project is perfect for crafters who want an enjoyable afternoon activity. Whether you’re making one or a dozen, these sachets are a beautiful way to celebrate Valentine’s Day (or any day!).

What You’ll Need

Here’s a quick look at the basic supplies:

Just a heads-up: some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you decide to buy something through them, I’ll earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. It’s a simple way to support the content I share, and I really appreciate it!

• Benzie Design Stitchable Nesting Hearts Deep Etch Die
• Sizzix Big Shot Die Cutting Machine
• Bellwether Felt Sheets (solid or printed)
• Tulle Fabric
• DMC 6-Strand Embroidery Floss
• Tapestry Needle
• Tacky Glue
• Lavender or Potpourri
  
  

Ready to dive in? Head over to the Benzie Design Blog for the full step-by-step tutorial and all the details!

👉 https://www.benziedesign.com/blogs/tutorials/heart-shaped-sachets

Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to share a little handmade love—but why stop there? These heart-shaped sachets make thoughtful gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, or just because. There’s something special about giving (and receiving!) a handmade piece that’s filled with care and creativity.

Whether you make one or a dozen, these fragrant hearts are sure to brighten someone’s day year-round. So gather your supplies, let your imagination run wild, and start stitching! Head over to the Benzie Design Blog for the free tutorial and supply list and get ready to spread the love—one handmade heart at a time.

Winter Mug Rug

Greetings, friends!

It’s Benzie Design tutorial day, so get excited for a winter project that’s as cozy as it is creative! ❄️✨

Cool temperatures are here (at least they are in Kansas City!), and I’m so excited to share a project that brings warmth and cheer to your home—the Winter Mug Rug! Imagine a steaming mug of cocoa, a sweet treat, and a handmade piece that feels like a little slice of winter magic. This design is all about cozy vibes, shimmering accents, and a touch of holiday sparkle.

I created this tutorial exclusively for Benzie Design, and it’s perfect for a snow-day craft or a relaxing weekend make. Whether you’re stitching by hand or machine, this project is beginner-friendly and full of creative possibilities. Pair your finished snack mat with a cute mug and goodies for a heartfelt gift that will brighten someone’s snowy day!

👉 Find the full tutorial on Benzie Design’s website: https://www.benziedesign.com/blogs/tutorials/winter-mug-rug

Supplies You’ll Need (contains affiliate links that help me keep this blog ad-free):

These can all be found found on the Benzie Design website:

• Iridescent Metallic Felt
• Bellwether Pure Wool Felt Sheets (Tellina, Cerulean, Ecru, Conifer, Black, Rhubarb, Amethyst, Hazelnut, Clementine)
• Peltex Single-Sided Fusible Interfacing 
• DMC Floss 310 
• Invisible Polyester Thread (Sulky) 
• Freezer Paper 
• Sequins (Iridescent Aquamarine, Metallic Graphite)
• Tacky Glue
• Glossy Accents (Sequin Glue)
• Embroidery Needles
• 5” Non-stick Titanium Scissors
• Scallop Shears (10mm)
• Coordinating Threads (for hand or machine)

Optional but handy: Oliso M3Pro Project Iron, sewing machine, tweezers, and a paintbrush.

This project is all about embracing the season—think frosty sparkle, cozy textures, and festive colors. So grab your favorite winter drink, gather your supplies, and let’s make something magical together!

Ready to start? Click here to get the full tutorial on the Benzie Design website:
https://www.benziedesign.com/blogs/tutorials/winter-mug-rug

No matter your skill level, this project is for you! Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned stitcher, the Winter Mug Rug is a wonderful way to play with color, texture, and sparkle. Don’t be afraid to experiment—mix and match felt shades, try new stitches, and add extra embellishments to make it uniquely yours. Every creative choice adds personality and charm, so have fun and let your imagination shine! ❄️✨

Halloween Treat Bags

Greetings, friends!

It’s Benzie Design tutorial day, so get excited for a spooktacular new Halloween project! 🎃🧵

Halloween is creeping closer, and what better way to celebrate than with a frightfully fun stitchy adventure? Whether you're a beginner with limited time or a seasoned stitcher ready for an afternoon of creativity, these handmade Halloween Treat Bags are the perfect way to get into the spooky spirit. 🕷🕸

Using a rich felt palette and natural linen, you can create charming little bags that are as versatile as they are adorable. Choose your own adventure: 

• Glue it
• Hand Stitch it
• Machine Sew it

…or mix and match techniques to suit your skills and schedule!

👻🦇 Mix and match the included Halloween motifs to make each bag uniquely yours. And if you're short on time, no worries—grab a Benzie Design drawstring bag from your stash and add your own spooky twist!

⭐🌙 Ready to conjure up some Halloween magic?

Head over to the Benzie Design Blog for the full tutorial and templates, grab your supplies, and let the hauntingly fun crafting begin!

You can find the complete supply list, tutorial with  photos, and templates here:
Halloween Treat Bags: https://www.benziedesign.com/blogs/tutorials/halloween-treat-bags

Materials You’ll Need (contains affiliate links that help me keep this blog ad-free):

From Benzie Design:

• Wool Blend Felt
• DMC Floss
• Essex Linen Yarn Dyed, Flax
• Beads and Sequins
• Sequin Glue
• Home Sweet Haunt, Renaissance Ribbons
• Black Bakers Twine
• Scallop Shears, 10mm

From Therm O Web:

• HeatnBond Fusible Fleece or HeatnBond Heavyweight Nonwoven Fusible Interfacing
• SpraynBond Basting Adhesive Spray 
• Fabric Fuse Liquid Adhesive

🐈‍⬛🧹Why You’ll Love This Project:

• Quick and beginner-friendly
• Great for gifting and/or decorating
• Customizable
• Make it simple or complex
  
  

So grab your floss, felt, and Halloween spirit—let’s get stitching! ✂️🧵 Whether you stitch every detail or add a few spooky touches to a ready-made bag, you'll create something truly special—and that is what handmade Halloween magic is all about! These treat bags reflect your creativity and style, so don’t be afraid to experiment with colors, stitches, and embellishments. Every bag tells its own story, and yours is sure to delight! Thanks for crafting along—now go create, fill your bags with goodies, and share the spooky joy. Happy Halloween and happy making! 🐦‍⬛🪦

Flower and Sunflower Pinkeeps

🍂 Fall Craft Week: Flower and Sunflower Pinkeep Tutorials 🍂
A Collaboration with Therm O Web and Benzie Design

Hello, friends! Happy Monday—and for those of you in the United States, Happy Labor Day!

You’ve picked the perfect day to stop by, because I have not one, but two project tutorials to share with you. I’m thrilled to kick off Fall Craft Week, a special collaboration between Benzie Design and Therm O Web!

These two creative companies are teaming up with some of your favorite makers this week to bring you fall-themed crafting projects that are perfect for craft fairs, fundraisers, or making in multiples. And since I’m lucky enough to be on the maker team for both Benzie Design and Therm O Web, I’m starting the week with a tutorial on each of their blogs.

🌸 On the Benzie Design Blog, you’ll find my tutorial for the Flower Pinkeep. I use deep etch dies to quickly cut the circles and flower shapes, making this project a breeze.

🌻 On the Therm O Web Blog, you’ll find my tutorial for the Sunflower Pinkeep. If you don’t have die-cutting tools, no worries—I’ve included templates and instructions for using SpraynBond Pattern and Stencil Spray with paper templates to cut your shapes by hand.

Both tutorials include:

• A complete supply list
• Step-by-step instructions
• Helpful photos to guide you along the way
• Pro tips

For both projects, I use Bellwether Felt from Benzie Design, along with adhesives and interfacings from Therm O Web.

These charming pinkeeps are a joy to customize—choose rich autumn tones, spirited school colors, or your own favorite palette to make each one uniquely yours. They’re perfect for seasonal decorating, adding a touch of whimsy to a bowl of smalls, or tucking into a sewing basket or needlework tray.

Whether you're crafting for a fair or simply for fun, these little treasures are sure to brighten any space!

🧵✀ Get the Tutorials & Patterns:

🌸Visit the Benzie Design Blog for the Flower Pinkeep Tutorial:

https://www.benziedesign.com/blogs/tutorials/flower-pinkeep-tutorial

🌻Visit the Therm O Web Blog for the Sunflower Pinkeep Tutorial:

https://blog.thermoweb.com/sunflower-pinkeep-with-benzie-design/

🖉 Materials You’ll Need (contains affiliate links that help me keep this blog ad-free):

From Benzie Design:

• Flower Power, Deep Etch Die
• Circles & Scallops, Deep Etch Die
• Essex Linen
• Bellwether Pure Wool Felt
• Wool Blend Felt - White
• Sulky Petites
• Marbled Glass Head Pins
• Non-stick Titanium Scissors, 5”
• Nifty Needles, Lori Holt

From Therm O Web:

• HeatnBond Medium Weight Non-Woven Fusible Interfacing
• SpraynBond Basting Adhesive Fabric Spray by HeatnBond
• SpraynBond Pattern & Stencil Spray
• Pressing Paper Fabric and Craft Sheets
• HeatnBond Fabric Fuse Liquid Adhesive
  
  

Optional and additional supplies list in my Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/brdgirl

  

🌟Why You’ll Love These Projects:

• Quick and beginner-friendly
• Great for gifting and/or decorating
• Color customizable
• Easy to mass produce

I hope these tutorials inspire you to dive into some cozy fall crafting! Whether you're stitching up a batch for a local fair or simply enjoying a quiet afternoon with felt and thread, these pinkeeps are a delightful way to celebrate the season. Be sure to check out both blog posts, gather your supplies, and let your creativity bloom. I can’t wait to see what you make—feel free to tag me and share your creations! Happy crafting!❤️

Ladybug Picnic: Scissor Sheath and Fob

Greetings, friends. 

Squeee—today is the day! I’m beyond excited to share my very first project tutorial for the Benzie Design Blog.🎉 

I’m kicking off the sunny season with a craft that’s as cheerful as it is charming: a watermelon scissor sheath paired with an adorable ladybug scissor fob! I like to call it Ladybug Picnic—though officially, it goes by Scissor Sheath and Fob. Whether you're just dipping your toes into sewing or you're a seasoned stitcher, this quick and customizable felt project is the perfect way to add a pop of personality to your project bag or sewing table. You can glue it, hand stitch it, or zip it through your sewing machine—whatever suits your style and skill level. With bright colors, playful shapes, and a breezy afternoon timeline, this duo is sure to bring a smile to your face and a splash of summer to your crafting corner. So, go visit the Benzie Design Blog for the full tutorial and templates, grab your supplies, and let’s get creative—summer fun starts here!
☀️🍉🐞

Direct Link - Scissor Sheath and Fob: https://www.benziedesign.com/blogs/tutorials/scissor-sheath-and-fob-tutorial

This quick and adaptable project uses five vibrant shades of Wool Blend Felt from Benzie Design:

• Meadow
• Fern
• Ecru
• Red
• Black

It also features an adorable Ladybug Wool Felt Shape, which adds a playful touch to the finished piece. One of my new favorite tools made its debut in this project too—a pair of 10mm Scallop Shears, perfect for adding a decorative edge to your felt.

This project is designed with flexibility in mind. You can opt for a fast, no-sew finish using glue, or take your time with hand stitching or machine sewing. Directions and supply suggestions are included for each method, so you can choose the approach that best suits your style and schedule.

I hope this cheerful little project brings a bit of sunshine to your day and inspires you to spend an hour or two in your crafting space. Whether you glue, stitch, or sew your way through it, the watermelon scissor sheath and ladybug fob are sure to brighten up your scissors—and your mood. I’d love to see your take on this summery duo, so don’t forget to share your creations and tag me. Wishing you a season full of color, creativity, and happy making.

Sunny Sunglass Case

Greetings friends! The BRD studio has been buzzing with new ideas and projects...and my desk is covered in creative ideas, new designs, sketches, piles of paper, product swatches/photos, and a giant planning calendar. All of this has me hopeful, encouraged, and excited for Blue Ribbon Designs. 

Today is new project tutorial day - time to share my May project created for the Therm O Web blog with you. I always enjoy putting on my Fabric Education Designer hat and creating new projects/tutorials using incredible products from Therm O Web. For the month of May, the blog is focused on home decor, garden-themed projects, on-the-go cases and organizers, and gifts for graduates. I created a brand new project that was posted on Monday - it is a complete project tutorial for my "Sunny Sunglass Case." My comprehensive tutorial contains a complete supply list, printable templates, and step-by-step directions with color photos. 

This pretty and protective case for your sunnies is quick and easy and uses minimal materials. It is a perfect afternoon sewing project and works great with scraps and/or your favorite fabric collection. HeatnBond Fusible Fleece makes it soft and sturdy and the HeatnBond Lite EZ-Print Iron-On Adhesive Sheets make the applique super simple. Print the template shapes directly on the HeatnBond Lite Adhesive using your inkjet printer (no tracing required!). I used some bright and cheerful colors of Benzie Design Wool Blend Felt for the appliqué motifs. A happy summertime project that is easily adaptable and makes a great gift that can be personalized for any recipient.

Visit my YouTube Channel or Instagram page for a video that follows along as I create my Sunny Sunglass Case.

You will have to visit the Therm O Web blog for my complete tutorial and pattern, but I am posting a few photos here...

Here is a direct link to the project tutorial:
https://blog.thermoweb.com/sunny-sunglass-case-featuring-heatnbond

You will be surprised how quickly this pretty and practical project comes together. It is perfect for using up those scraps and small pieces of fabric - I opted to use the Keep Shining Bright Collection by Anne Rowan for Wilmington Prints and Chambray Tonals from Connecting Threads for the cases and Benzie Design Wool Blend Felt for the appliqués. For this post, I used the following Therm O Web products:

• HeatnBond Lite EZ-Print Iron-On Adhesive Sheets, 8.5 in x 11 in
• HeatnBond Fusible Fleece
• HeatnBond Fabric Fuse Liquid Adhesive

Visit the tutorial post for a complete and detailed supply list. 

To find the exact tools and supplies listed, visit my Sunny Sunglass Case List on Amazon (full disclosure: as an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases - I only share products I actually use - and I truly appreciate you shopping from my links, thank you!). 

If you have questions on any Therm O Web or HeatnBond/SpraynBond products or would like to see a specific type of product in one of my projects, drop me a comment or email.

I hope this project gets you excited to create a Sunny Sunglass Case to keep your favorite sunglasses protected and stored in style!

I am creating monthly projects for the Therm O Web Blog and I will be sure to post here when I have a new tutorial available. My next project is scheduled to be on the Therm O Web blog on June 17th. Plus, I am taking part in the Frost and Flurry Fabric Tour for Poppie Cotton on June 18th....and my first tutorial post for Benzie Design will be live on their website on June 3rd! 

Thank you for stopping by for a visit today - I always enjoy sharing my projects with you. Have a great week and make time to work on something creative...