Americana Star and Heart Ornaments - DIY Holiday Sewing Project Tutorial

Today we're learning how to make these DIY Americana heart and star ornaments. With pinked edges, it's a project that goes together pretty darn fast so you'll have a tree full of red, white, and blue hanging stuffed stars and hearts in no time at all. These cute little shaped ornaments are a nice handmade project for Christmas, the 4th of July, patriotic holidays, or for all year 'round as part of your farmhouse or country home decor. 

For this project you will need:

• red and white striped fabric
• blue fabric
• polyester fiberfill
• scissors and pinking shears
• sewing machine and matching thread
• iron
• ribbon
• template from the pattern
• Rotary cutter, cutting ruler, and cutting mat

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.

The pattern is now available as a free PDF digital download with the written directions, step-by-step photos, and printable template. Click to get your copy today!

Looking for other Christmas projects you can make yourself? Check out some of our other tutorials!

Otherwise join us as we learn to make the Americana ornaments in the step by step tutorial:

How to Make a Fabric Coffee Cup Bunting - Fun DIY Project for Coffee Bar

Today we are learning how to make a fabric bunting full of tall to-go coffee cups. With pinked edges, these decorative cups are a quick way to decorate your space. It's a cute DIY coffee cup sewing project you can use for a coffee station or coffee bar, and would be a nice handmade gift for a coffee lover. 

For this project you will need:

• Fabric for the cups

• Fabric for hanging ribbon

• Cotton batting 

• Pins 

• Pinking shears or blade

• Scissors and rotary cutter, cutting ruler, and cutting mat

• Iron and ironing board

• Sewing machine and matching thread

• Printable templates from pattern

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.

Get the downloadable PDF pattern with written step-by-step directions, photos, printable templates, and link to the video tutorial.

Now available in my Etsy shop right here! 

Looking for other unique buntings and garlands? Check out some of the other projects we've done!

Otherwise join us as we make the to-go cup bunting in the step by step tutorial!

Foster Kitten Friday - The Week of Potential Failure

There is always one week in my foster kittens' lives that it happens. The week I almost become a failure. A foster failure. (Foster fail is the lighthearted term for when the foster "fails" by deciding to adopt the animals themselves instead of getting them ready for someone else to adopt.)

It happened with Cami and Sami, my first bottle babies.

It happened with the ringworm Duck Tales. 

Huey, Dewey, and Louie.

With the board gamers. 

Domino, Checkers, and Yahtzee

With the Yellowstone Crew. 

Beth, Dutton, Kaycee, Monica, and Rip

It happened with the Simon and Garfunkel kittens. 

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme

Happened with the Breakfast Club. 

Buttermilk, Flapjack, Shortstack, Crepe, Cupcake and Mama Sienna.

And of course with the Wild West Gang. 

Annie Oakley, Calamity Jane, Wild Bill, and Wyatt Earp 

Especially Wyatt Earp. Boy, I was oh-so-close to keeping Wyatt Earp, my foster kitten born missing his back feet.

So it's no surprise that we've hit the almost-a-foster-failure week with Denali and McKinley. 

Free spirit McKinley

and the hold-me-like-a-baby Denali

make it hard to not keep them forever and ever (and ever). 

But I have to stop myself and think about the big picture. The more kittens I let go in and out of my home, the more families I’m able to touch, and the more kittens I can help give a good life. Yes, it'll be hard to let them go (as usual!) but it's the right thing to do. 

Thankfully I still have more time to love on these two and be entertained by their antics. 

Who knew packaging paper could be so fun?

And envious of their ability to sleep just about anywhere.

Not too worried about getting caught with the
stolen piece of carpet, are they?

No foster fail in this house this week. But next week, who knows?

Make Your Own Pinwheel Bunting - Cute DIY Fabric Garland Sewing Tutorial

In today's tutorial we are learning how to make our own handmade pinwheel bunting. This quick and easy hanging garland is a great last-minute decorating idea for your spring or summertime parties. Use red, white, and blue fabrics and make your own homemade July 4th decorations or hang them on your walls, hearths, or fireplaces year-round. Fun for classrooms, too!

For this project you will need:

• Cotton fabric
• Cotton batting for the filling
• Buttons for the centers
• Iron and ironing board
• Scissors and pinking shears
• Fabric clips or pins
• Rotary cutter
• Cutting ruler
• Cutting mat
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread
• Printable template from the pattern

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.

Now available in my Etsy shop as a digital download with the written directions, step-by-step photos, printable template, and link to the tutorial video. Click to get it now!

Looking for other fun fabric buntings to make yourself? Check out some of the other projects we've made!

Otherwise join us as we make our homemade fabric pinwheel garland in the step by step sewing tutorial:

Foster Kitten Friday - The Circus Has Come to Town

Now that the babes are weaned and eating food on their own (yay!), are litter box trained (yay!), and have discovered the big room (living room/dining room/kitchen) the circus has arrived. 

They've turned my room into a circus tent strewn with their blankets, boxes, and toys. And the pair of little kitties named McKinley and Denali now think they are large and in charge of every single ring of the 3 4 5 6 7 ring Alaskan Circus.

Denali, Circus Performer.

McKinley, Ringmaster/Instigator.

Finally nap time for us all!