Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Christmas in July Blog Hop




Welcome to the third day of

Christmas in July Blog Hop 

hosted by Carol Swift of Just Let Me Quilt.  


Today is my reveal day and I'm so excited to show you what I've been working on.  I always try to start my Christmas projects during the summer.  The weather here is always HOT in the summer and venturing outside is just not an option.  Staying indoors under a cool air conditioner is the only way to survive.  And what could be better than getting a head start on Christmas!

It's no secret -- 
I love snowmen!


For my project, I decided to make Snowman Gift Swap Quilt by Cleo and Me.  It's not a new pattern, but one I have always wanted to make.  Carol's Blog Hop was just the nudge I needed to complete this adorable lap quilt.

This is a quick and easy quilt made up of 12 snowball blocks.  The snowmen's top hats are quickly constructed from differently sized rectangles.




 A simple strip separates the rows of snowmen and creates a secondary design.



Once the snowmen blocks are assembled, there is a little embroidery and applique necessary to finish them.

Each snowman gets an appliqued carrot nose and button eyes.  Instead of using fusible web, I dot a little Elmer's glue on the wrong side of the nose to hold it in place while I zip around it with a straight stitch on the sewing machine.  The button eyes are sewed on next.


Three strands of black embroidery floss are used to make a cross-stitch mouth.



The gift is appliqued next and then the arms.








To finish the blocks, you need to make 6 yoyo's and sew them to the gift boxes.  Finish with buttons sewn in each center.

Next comes the border and binding and this little quilt is done.  The overall quilt is 36 1/2" x 48 1/2" and perfect for snuggling under on a chilly evening.  I can't wait!


And what is Christmas without Gingerbread cookies?  

HO HO HO

Although I'm not very fond of eating gingerbread, I do love making them out of felt.  Won't this make a cute package topper?  I found a similar one on Pinterest and had to make some for my grandkids.  Of course you have to start in July to get them all done by Christmas!

To make this little guy, I found a free gingerbread man pattern that measured about 4" wide and 5" tall and traced it onto freezer paper.  I ironed the freezer paper to tan felt, then cut out 2.  I used a decorative stitch on my sewing machine to sew the 2 pieces together.


The alphabet beads come from Michaels and were strung together on a 6-strand piece of red floss which I sewed to each hand.  Next I sewed two baby buttons to the chest.   Last I used Tulip Slick paint to make the face and set it aside to let it dry overnight.

I think my grandkids will love their individualized little cookie guys.


Thank you, Carol, for hosting this fun blog hop!  It's always a joy to get together with this group of talented quilters and see what they pull out of their scrap bags! 

Thanks so much for stopping by 
and be sure to visit the other bloggers.  
You're in for a treat! 

July 25
Just Because Quilts -- you are here


Until next time!

25 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh, how adorable are those little snowmen, I love how they are each holding a gift. Definitely going to look out for this pattern. I love the gingerbread men too, this would make a really lovely bunting, thanks for all the fab Christmas inspiration

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  2. I love the snowmen! What a fun pattern. And your gingerbread man is the perfect accent for a gift or even to use as a decoration. Fantastic projects!

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  3. Cute projects, I love snowmen too! And that gingerbread man is adorable.

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  4. So cute!!! I love snowmen, and yours is really cute

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  5. Oh I absolutely love these cuties!! I am a snowman lover:) That checked border is awesome on it.

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  6. Hi Charlene! That gingerbread man cookie is decorated so CUTE!!! Your grandkids are going to really adore them. I just love the beads. But I'm really here for the snowman/snowmen, and they turned out fabulous. What a cute wall hanging or quilt this makes. I love the colors your chose and your fabrics. That border is just perfect - I love the whole thing. Happy Wednesday! ~smile~ Roseanne

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  7. It is definitely Christmas with these adorable projects! Those snowmen are so cute and the personalized gingerbread man is a perfect idea for a gift. I love the idea of the lettered beads in his hand and how this would work for both boys and girls...sweet! Thanks, Charlene, for hopping along with us and sharing these beautiful creations. :O)

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  8. your quilt is wonderful. your gingerbread man is too cute. who wouldnt love a gingerbread man with their name on it? thanks for sharing today.
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

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  9. Those snowmen and gingerbread man is just the cutest.

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  10. Those snowmen are just too cute, and the personalized ginger's are perfect. What great package ties too!

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  11. Your snowmen are wonderful. the quilt will be a good snuggle. Lovin your gingerbread man. I can lots of them be put together all over the world after this hop. Thanks for sharing and hopping.

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  12. The personalized gingerbread cookies are wonderful! Great idea. And the snowmen are awesome! Thanks for sharing. I'd love to know where you found the ginger pattern!

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  13. Both projects are so completely adorable! Thanks for the introduction to this cute, cute snowman pattern, and the idea for the gingerbread men. I especially like the bead names!

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  14. The Snowmen holding the gifties turned out quite well. Well done, Charlene. Clever use of those beads for your non-edible gingerbread man too.

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  15. both project makes me want to do them. so cute

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  16. You are so clever! Merry Christmas - early!!!

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  17. Your projects are wonderful. I'm really fond of your snowman quilt, it's adorable!

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  18. I like snowmen, too and it's always hot here in Oklahoma and it's extremely hot this summer. I like how you broke the snowman quilt down for us without giving away the pattern. With your choice of fabrics, I would never know that's the pattern is not a brand new one. I love the gingerbread men for the grands! They would make wonderful ornaments on the tree. Thanks for participating in the hop and your wonderful ideas.

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  19. Love your snowmen - hand stitching really make them pop. Your gingerbread ornaments are adorable - I'm going to remember your idea as I make the grands ornaments each year. The alphabet beads that you strung were perfect.

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  20. My friend loves snowmen, might be a quilt for her! Thanks for the ideas.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you to everyone who has left a sweet comment. After some tweaking of my settings, in the future I hopefully will receive these messages automatically from all those who have accepted Blogger's invitation (???). Thank you again for taking time out of your busy schedules to visit.

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  21. I love your quilt but that gingerbread man with the name beads...wow! That's truly adorable and would be the best part of any gift it accompanies.

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  22. Such a cute snowman quilt. And I love the gingerbread man. Your grandkids will love them.

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