Make a felt hot air balloon mobile

Hot air balloons are floating all around the internet lately. I'm not sure they'll ever reach owl status, but their popularity is certainly on the rise. Make a colorful hot air balloon mobile from felt using How Joyful's free pattern (via Craft Gossip). Or if paper is more your speed, try the gorgeous woven versions at PaperMatrix— they've added new designs #3 and #4, plus a basic video tutorial on how to assemble the balloons.

Printable baby shower invitation set

I spotted this printable baby shower stationery set at Creature Comforts and had to share it; the cuteness is overwhelming. Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co. has illustrated a set of book-themed baby shower pieces available as a free download at Martha Stewart. Check out the whole slide show: that book garland is a sweet idea.

How to make pacifier clips with ribbon

I sewed these pacifier clips for a baby shower this weekend. I'd noticed solid-color clips in the store while wandering the aisles, and I wanted to include something handmade in my gift. These seemed easier to make than a stroller.

Here's my little tutorial. You'll need ribbon, suspender clips (available at fabric stores), Fray Check (optional), and velcro.

1. Cut a 24" length of ribbon. (This ribbon is 7/8" wide.)

2. Apply Fray Check to each end to prevent unraveling.

3. Fold the ribbon in half, leaving a little extra at one end to fold over the other unfinished end to hide it.

4. Stitch around the edges of the doubled ribbon , trying desperately not to run off the edge. Squeaking "Eeek!" helps a little when you get close. Just a tip.

5. Sew velcro pieces onto the folded end about 2" apart.

6. Thread the opposite end through a suspender clip and sew it down.

Tutorials: small, soft, cute edition

A collection of projects for babies and people who like small cute things. If you like big ugly things, these are not for you. And I should clarify that the recipient of some of these projects might be a baby; it's not that I think a baby could actually make that monkey. I don't have kids, but I'm pretty sure about that.

Felt rabbit keychain (above left) at Daily Cute
Crocheted mini monkey with fez (above right) by Christen Haden
Cashmere baby hat and animal friend at Chez Beeper Bebe
Fleece baby mittens at Canadian Living
Argyle onesie by Lu Bird Baby
Felt stuffed piggie at Dollmaker
Crocheted owls with big eyes by Brigitte Read
Piece of toast keychain at Deviant Art
Felt cake slices at Better Homes and Gardens

(Images from Daily Cute and Chad VanPelt)

Download some animal stickers

Get a PDF of these cute animals from the talented Lotta Bruhn. Print them on sticky label paper or decoupage them onto something. Thank you, Lotta, and thanks for the tip, Babalisme.

Gifts to make: for babies and kids

Some things you can make for little ones:

Fifties-style bib at Living Creatively
Slip cover for a Boppy pillow from Walter+Veronica
Diaper bag by A Mingled Yarn
Roll-up travel baby chair at Canadian Living
No-sew fleece blanket at A Chelsea Morning
Felt play landscapes at PlumPudding
Decorative bunting at stitch.rip.repeat
Custom paper silhouettes at DesignSponge
Beanbag chair from Michael Miller
Felt food at Design Mom
Felt bears at Canadian Living (pictured above)

(Image from Canadian Living)

Spiffed up onesies

These are the results of a recent baby gift-making session. My first time to applique something. Here's how I did it, in case you want to do it, too. But I bet there are lots of really good tutorials out there somewhere if you need step-by-step pictures.
1. I walked up to the cutting counter at Joann fabrics and asked for something that would let me iron one fabric onto another and make it stick there. They stared at me blankly for a moment, then gave me a chunk of Heat 'n' Bond.
2. I kept the Heat 'n' Bond under my bed for 5 months. (This step is optional.)
3. I washed the onesies. And dried them, too.
4. I roughly cut out a small piece of pretty fabric containing the design I wanted, and a smaller-yet piece of HNB that would fit under the design, then ironed the HNB onto the fabric chunk, following the directions that came with it.
5. I cut out the shape I wanted.
6. I pulled off the paper backing, positioned it on my garment, and ironed it on.
7. I zigzagged around the edges with my machine. Done.

Baby stuff to make

Some people near and dear to me are pregnant right now, which has inspired me to look for baby project tutorials:
Fleece hats from Martha Stewart (maybe for some bigger babies)
Booties from Heather Bailey
More booties from Martha
Still more booties from Star Dust Shoes
Ribbon pillows for a kid's room from JCaroline Creative
Onesies decorated using freezer paper stencils from Unwind
Baby kimonos from Martha
Appliqued bibs from JoAnn
Plush bunnies from Wee Wonderfuls
Night lights from Martha

Nursery decor

These will be a gift for my brother and sister-in-law, who are having a baby any second. The fun stick-figure houses and stylized tree fabric came from Megumi. She found it somewhere in Tokyo in a dollar bin, and it's so cute I decided to frame it.