How to Make an Appliquéd Jack-O'-Lantern Snack Mat/ Mug Rug with Cloth Napkin

Ready for a fun Halloween sewing project? Use up your fabric scraps and some of your festive fabrics to make coffee, tea, and snack time more fun with this cute Halloween mini placemat sewing pattern. You could even make your child's lunchtime more special by sending it to school with them in their lunchbox for a holiday treat. You'll even get the directions on how to make the cute little 7" x 7" reversible cloth napkin!

This FREE downloadable pattern has step-by-step how-to directions, photos, the printable template, and link to a video tutorial. With the snack mat measuring 8 1/2" x 12" it's just the right size for all those fun fall snacks and beverages.

For this project you will need:

• Fabric scraps for the appliqué
• 8½” x 8½” front fabric
• 4” x 8 ½” pocket fabric, cut 2
• 11” x 14 ½” backing fabric
• 11” x 14 ½” batting
• 8” x 10” paper-backed fusible web (like HeatnBond Lite)
• Pencil
• Fabric clips or pins
• Iron 
• Sewing machine and thread
• Basting spray or powder
• Optional: Walking foot or free motion foot
• Two 7 ½” x 7 ½” contrasting fabrics for napkin
• Always helpful for sewing: Rotary cutter, cutting mat, and cutting ruler

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Click here to get the pattern with printable templates - for FREE!

Looking for other mug rug/snack mat ideas? Check out our other projects!

And be sure to watch the Halloween Jack-O'Lantern Snack Mat video tutorial:

Looking for more snack mat patterns? Be sure to favorite my Etsy shop as I have many more coming in the next few weeks!

Shop even more instantly downloadable sewing and crafting patterns at www.etsy.com/shop/debsdaysdesigns

 Need specific product recommendations? Find the supplies I keep in my sewing room at www.debsdays.com/2018/04/sewing-and-crafting-supplies.html

A Little Cabin in the Woods

 So here was my thinking on how best to clear my head and brighten my attitude…

• Get out of town and hunker down in a cabin in the mountains.
• Work, work, work and sleep, sleep, sleep.
• Keep uber safe by bringing my own of everything - food, dishes, towels, and pillow. And lots and lots of Lysol spray and Clorox wipes.
• Stay away from everyone at all times - see no one and speak to no one.

As with all plans, pieces didn’t come together perfectly…

• Mountains? Mountain tourist town will have to do.
• Work, work, work? Frustratingly yes. With sucky wifi it took twice as long 10 times as long to do anything.
• Sleep, sleep, sleep? From hours upon hours a day sitting in a hard wooden chair huddled over the computer my back and hips said no way.
• Keep uber safe? Yep. 
• Stay totally away from people? Yep. Only left to drop Etsy orders at the post office which required no human interaction. 

Welcome to my little cabin in the woods in the tourist town in the mountains.

Unfortunately, the week is already over and it’s time to go back home…with a mind just as cloudy as the skies.

A Second Home So Far Away

As I mentioned the other day, when we get our sprinklers blown out we know it’s time to go on a cruise. But for the second year in a row here we are, still sitting at home. I shouldn’t be so mopey about it but I am. With 88 cruises under our belt and over 600 days at sea, the ship has been our second home and the crew our family. And we miss it. And them.

So the other day on our cold and cloudy day I tried to keep myself busy - and my mind occupied - by working on Christmas projects. Even played some Christmas music. But in my mind it was just too early so I had to switch to something else.

Fall projects. Unfortunately, even fall sewing hasn’t gotten me out of the missing-my-second-home funk.

Appliqué didn’t cure my ills.

Time to try something else.

Living in Two Seasons Instead of Four

We used to have two seasons in this house, Christmas and not Christmas. I realized this morning when my mind was spinning at about 4 AM those seasons have changed. We now have sprinkler season and non-sprinkler season. 

Sprinkler season means we stay home, garden, and tend to the lawn (and the weeds). Non-sprinkler season means it's time to bring out the suitcases, the passports, and get ready to head out for a long cruising adventure. Get those sprinklers blown out and we are outta here! Even though the sprinklers did their part yesterday, we won't be doing ours. Because of the health of us, the country, and the world we'll have to wait a bit longer. Thanks to Princess Cruises' easy-to-initiate COVID cancellation policy we have a nice chunk of money just waiting for us when we're healthy and strong enough to use it. (During non-sprinkler season, of course.)

So on this cold and cloudy forty degree day instead of dreaming of snorkeling I guess I'll be moving into the non-sprinkler season Christmas season. 

Christmas projects, here I come.

Soon-to-be snowman and Santa mug rugs.

Carry Your Vaccine Card in Style with a Fabric Cardholder

If you've had your Covid vaccination somewhere in the United States, you know they issue you a paper card with all the information on it. Nothing laminated, nothing sturdy, and certainly nothing small enough to fit in your wallet. As important as the vaccine card is becoming, and with many places requiring original proof of vaccination to just get in the door, you need to keep the card on hand and safe. You want to be able to quickly find the card inside your bag or purse and have it protected in a vinyl pocket so you can show it without needing to take it out of the case. And you want a cardholder to be stylish and fit your personality.

Which is why I've been sewing vaccine card holders these last six months. I'm getting close to the 3,000th card holder sewn (whew!) so you aren't the only one wanting a fun and stylish way to keep the vaccine card on hand. 

If you need a vaccine card holder, or

you know someone else who could use a card holder, or

you're looking for a way to encourage someone to get vaccinated, or

you need a cute gift idea, or

you are looking for items to sell at holiday bazaars,

the time is now.

5 star rated? Check.

Over 100 fabric choices available for men, women, teens, and kids? Check.

Coupon code just for my blog readers? Check. 

Use coupon code DEB15 at checkout to receive 15% off my handmade vaccination card covers or vaccine card holder sewing patterns in my Etsy shop. 

Click on the photo or use this link to buy your stylish vaccination card holder today!