Looking for a beautiful and very unique project? Give our Satin Ribbon Checkerboard a try! This board, and the pieces, in hues of a powder blue and chocolate brown, is made almost entirely of ribbon! It is a soft checkerboard does not have a hard backing. It measures 13.5″ x 13.5″ square with generous 1- 1/2″ checkerboard squares for lots of room to play.  This checkerboard includes all the pieces and is perfect for a great decor piece or a fun family game.

This project is available both in a pattern and kit, and does require basic sewing skills to complete. If you would rather purchase this project already completed for you, please visit our Etsy store. If we do not currently have one in stock, click on the Request Custom Item and we will be happy to make one for you.

This pattern is pre-printed and will be mailed to you for only $1.50.

Or, purchase the kit to make this beautiful checkerboard, and all the supplies (and the pattern too!) you need will be right at your fingertips*. Only $27.50.

*scissors, iron, sewing machine, glue gun, ruler and pencil are not included in the kit.

Announcing our very first Kid’s Creativity Contest… just another reason for you and your kids (or your grandkids) to get a little creative this March.

… but this contest is now closed!

Congratulations Aimee! The winning entry is posted on the Three Busy B’s Blog.

What did you win?

Your very own creative pack including:

• Crafting Fun: 101 Things to Make and Do with Kids by Rae Grant (this is an awesome book filled to the brim with great seasonal ideas. For more information, check out the review in our January newsletter).
• All the supplies* you need for 4 children to make one of the Spring projects listed in the book: the Paper Sled Kite. It is a creative party just waiting to happen (all you’ll need to add is the parental supervision and maybe some food)!
• Bragging rights on this site – we’ll share pictures of your children’s kites on the blog.

(*scissors, rulers and pencils are not included in this kit)

Thanks to everyone who contributed – and Congratulations again Aimee!

3 cute little birds – one green, one yellow and one orange, graced with cute matching ribbons hang in mid air. These cute little birds are hand felted with no small parts or pieces… they are adorable and would be a fantastic addition to any child’s room or playroom.

Whether it is used as a crib mobile or hung in front of a window… or for any kind of 3-D wall decor, these birds are cute, fun, and easy to do – even if you have never worked in drypoint needle felting before.

The hanging is 32″ long from the top hanging ribbon to the lowest flying bird and is approximately 10″ at its widest point. The birds are attached to a pale driftwood bar 8″ long.

To download the free .pdf pattern, click here.

And, if you want to make it easy for yourself, order the whole kit- everything you need to finish this project except for the scissors, sewing needles and glue gun. Only $22.75.

This kit includes:

• 3-styrofoam egg forms
• 4-8×10″ felt sheets (1 of each of 4 colours)
• 2 feet of 100% wool roving (from Cedarview Farms)
• 4 yards of ribbon (included is a selection of 4 different ribbons)
• Embroidery floss to match felt and ribbon
• 2 drypoint felting needles
• 7″ piece of dowel

How to Organize, Design & Make a Group Quilt

Quilt-making is an enjoyable way to spend time with friends. In Community Quilts, Karol and Vicki share their experience with a quilting group, offer examples of some beautiful quilts that their group has made together and explore the particulars of how to start a quilting group – right down to how to set up the quilting frame! This is a very detailed book for anyone that wants to set up a quilting group of their very own. And there are even quilt patterns included! Full-colour with beautiful photographs and illustrations. 135 pages. Softcover. 11″h x 8.5″ wide.

An excerpt from the back of the book:

Make a quilt with friends and experience, not only a traditional craft, but also a deep joy in sharing and giving. First someone designs the quilt. Participants are given individual blocks to finish, which are pieced together by the designer to make the top. Then everyone gets together for a series of quilting bees that usually include the exchange of confidences and a potluck meal, all fostering a feeling of closeness and warm fellowship. Finally the quilt is presented to the recipient at a surprise party.

Transform. Embellish. Customize. More than 25 DIY fashion projects to bring out your creativity! Have you ever wanted to take your wardrobe to a whole new fashion level without buying a whole new wardrobe? This full-colour book features fantastic photographs and great instructions for restyling shirts, jackets, dresses, skirts, pants and accessories. Perfect for every trendsetting fashionista you know. 140 pages. Softcover. 10″h x 8″w.

An excerpt from the back of the book:

Do-It-Yourself fashion is the most creative, affordable and fun way to create a style that’s completely and uniquely you. Whether you’re a sewing novice or a savvy seamstress, AlterNation will give you all the knowledge and inspiration you need to create your own trend setting clothes and accessories. Just dig inot the back of your closet or hit up your favourite thrift store, and you’ll be on your way to creating a one-of-a-kind wardrobe that will have your friends asking, “Where’d you get that?!”

Why wait until the big moments in life happen to make your scrapbook count? That’s Life is an intimately funny look at how precious life moments do make fantastic scrapbook pages. This is a book that will inspire you to take a second look at the everyday moments and turn them into a part of your life’s story. This is one scrapbooking how-to you just don’t want to miss. Full-colour with gorgeous photographs! 110 pages. Softcover. 10″h x 8.5″w.

An excerpt from the back cover:

Scrapbook the everyday moments of life!

The plight of the last banana in the fruit bowl. THe finger-pointing tantrums of a two-year-old. The wise observations of Dads and small boys. While the pages of our scrapbooks are filled with the milestones along the way, it’s the little moments, the everyday details that tell the real story of our lives.

In That’s Life, scrapbook artist and Memory Makers Master Nic Howard helps you tune into the gems that make up your days and teaches you to scrapbook these moments and details. Loads of layouts by Nic and her contributing artists will inspire you to create pages that will have others saying, “I would never have thought to do a layout about that!”

Inside you’ll find 21 lessons that guide you to focus on the details, including:

• Things I would miss
• Our innermost thoughts
• Do you remember when?
• You are just like your…
• Take a look around you
• Those little things people say

Incorporate Anything from Buttons to Shells!

If you like beading (or even think you want to try beading) this book is for you! With extensive easy-to-read instructions, this book is great even for beginners. But don’t let this fool you – the designs Carole has included in this book are original, beautiful and fantastic. And with large, clear and full colour pictures, every design is easy to see. Your biggest problem? Deciding which piece of jewelry to create first 126 pages. Softcover. 11″h x 8″w.

An excerpt from the back cover:

If you can find it, You Can Bead It

A nifty necklace created from a worn piece of beach glass?
A bold brooch made out of a chinese game piece?
A pair of exquisite earrings made from recycled insulin bottles?
There is no question that even the mundane can be transformed to the magnificent through the creative insight of author Carole Rodgers.
Whether it is something you found in the local hardware store or something you literally picked up on your last outdoor adventure, you can convert everyday objects into jewelry pieces to admire.

Featured inside:

• More than 30 innovative ideas for necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and brooches.
• Exhaustive overview of beading techniques, including eight different weaving stitches along with numerous strap and fringe variations.
• Simple step-by-step instructions, accompanied by 225 how-to illustrations and 100 full-colour photographs.
• Inspirational gallery pieces from 12 other beaded jewelry artists.

This full-colour book is filled with over 25 designs to stitch, knit, embroider and embellish! Complete with detailed instructions and fantastic photographs, this book is sure to be a favourite (especially if you love bags!) 120 pages. Softcover. 11″h x 8″w.

Excerpt from the back of the book:

Over 25 Designs to Stitch, Knit, Embroider & Embellish
What woman doesn’t go weak at the knees at the sight of a gorgeous little bag? Sue Hawkins’ divine collection of small and richly worked bags promises to take you to handbag heaven in just a few simple steps…

• Features beautiful bags for all occasions in irresistable colour combinations
• Provides step-by-step guidance on stitchig, making up and embellishing the designs with fashionable beads, buttons, ribbons, feathers and tassels
• Offers the chance to try a wide range of techniques including cross stitch, patchwork, applique, canvaswork, knitting and free embroidery
• Includes a comprehensive stitch library and techniques section to ensure a truly professional finish

Classic Cards is a beautifully photographed, full-colour, instructional book featuring 60 Projects for the Discriminating Crafter. Each project is clearly outlined with step-by-step instructions, project requirements and great illustrations. These are not your normal card-making techniques! Included are such things as embroidery, beading, kaleidoscope and teabag folding, and more. The result is a book filled with gorgeous handmade greeting cards and their instructions. 158 pages. Hardcover with sleeve, 10″h x 9″ w.

Excerpt from the back cover:

A Collection of Elegant, Sophisticated Cards
Use distinctive techniques from Dutch and other traditions to create beautifully crafted cards. Experiment with kaleidoscope folding, napkin cutouts, beading, and other decorative detailing to express your creativity and thoughtfulness.

Decorating Eggs is a beautifully photographed, full-colour book filled with 15 fun and stylish projects for decorating eggs. 64 pages. Hardcover. 8″h x 8″w.

This is a really beautiful book. Not only are the photographs gorgeous, and the ideas great, but it would be a fantastic coffee table book for over the Easter season too!

Excerpt from the back cover:

• Fifteen step-by-step projects using hen, quail, duck and goose eggs
• Easy techniques explained – dyeing eggs, decoupage, scraffito, and papercutting
• Includes project variations to inspire your creativity