I don’t know how to really come out with this, and I’m so excited about it that I’m finding it hard to type, so I’m going to cut to the chase.

I’ve got another secret that I can finally reveal!

Two Nikki, In Stitches headbands will soon be on their way to Suri Cruise!

(I’ve typed that sentence twice now and I still can’t believe it!)

This is such a huge opportunity for my little headbands, and it is all made possible by The Artisan Group. Thank you so very, very much to them for opening these doors for those of us that take pride in our handmade pieces.

And now for the hard part…

Which do I send??

The two headbands shown above are hot off the presses (I literally just finished them last night and they aren’t even yet listed in the shop) and are my personal faves, but I’d love to hear what all of you think. Do you have a favorite piece that you think I should include?

Also, I get to include a note to the Cruise family, and I have no clue what to write.

So far I have “Dear Tom Cruise,”…yeah, it definitely needs work! If you’ve got some suggestions for how to sum up Nikki, In Stitches in just a few sentences, I’m all ears!

OK…Off to skip around my house a few more times!

XOXO,

Nikki, In Stitches

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Things are crazy here, behind the scenes of Nikki, In Stitches. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait a bit longer for all of the details, but I can give you a little info about one exciting project I’ve been working on.

It’s been so very, very hard for me to not scream it from the rooftops, but I needed all the details to be worked out before I said….

One of my pieces will be featured in Better Homes and Gardens’ Tricks and Treats Magazine this fall!

I can’t tell you what it is, but it’s something you’ve never seen before, but one of my favorite things to make. That’s all I can say…you’ll have to use your imagination until the magazine hits the newsstands in a few months!

(And I just want to give the girls at Anders Ruff a huge thank you. Without them, I wouldn’t be in the magazine! If you haven’t done it yet, stop by their site and take a peek…you’ll be in love with their work within seconds!)

There are a few other exciting things happening here, but those are still top secret!

But, as my way of saying thank you to all of you, because you have all played such a huge role in helping Nikki, In Stitches grow as quickly as it has, I’m having a flash sale in my Etsy shop!

Since it’s Valentine’s Day, everything in the shop is 14% off with coupon code FLASH14…but just for today...so hurry over and buy yourself, or someone you love, a little something special, and thanks again for being the best fans I could ever ask for!

Enjoy,

Nikki, In Stitches

PS…If you’re a night owl, you’re in luck! I activated the coupon code just now because I am off to bed! You can get first dibs at all the goodies! Happy shopping!

Here’s the link and the coupon code one more time!

Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/NikkiInStitches

Coupon Code: FLASH14

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Does anyone use a phone book anymore? I can’t remember the last time I thought to flip through these pages before I googled. Somehow these keep magically appearing at my doorstep, and for some reason, I can’t just toss them in the trash. (Maybe because I want to save one so that I can one day explain to my children what a phone book is/was?) Regardless, here’s a simple and crafty use for these artifacts.

I keep mine within reach whenever I’m doing a small scale stamping, painting, glueing, glittering project. (Scrapbookers? Where are you?) I simply flip to a page, place my papers on a page, and get started. If some paint finds its way off my brush and on the yellow pages, that’s ok! If my stamp is too big for my paper and extends onto the ads below, that’s ok, too! And if my adhesive runner leaves a trail of stick behind, it’s not a problem. When I can’t find clean space on my page, I just flip to the next and start all over again!

So simple, right? And a lot better than tossing this tome into the trash!

Enjoy,

Nikki, In Stitches

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This Valentine’s Day wreath couldn’t be sweeter…or easier to make!

See what I mean about the grosgrain curlicues? Too cute, right?

Before you can get started on your wreath, you need to “bake” your ribbon to curl it. You can get the full how-to here. After you’ve baked a few batches, you’ll be ready to follow the super simple how-to below for making the wreath…one that I know you’re going to want to leave up all year long!

Enjoy,

Nikki, In Stitches

Materials:

• Foam wreath form
• 1/3 of a yard of coordinating fabric for wrapping your wreath form (I found mine in my stash!)
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• 6 spools of 3/8″ ribbon, each containing 10 yards (I used 4 red with white polka dots, and 2 solid white.)

Directions:

1. Cut strips of fabric about 2″ wide, and use them to cover your entire foam wreath. Use straight pins to hold each strip in place. (Just use two at the start to anchor your strip of fabric down, wrap, and then put two more at the end. Repeat with each strip until the entire form is covered.)
2. Gather your curlicues that you’ve already baked and cut into about 4″ lengths.
3. Pin the first one to the foam wreath by placing pin right in the center of the curlicue.
4. Pin the next one in place in the same manner, placing it close enough to the first so that they start to force each other to fold in half.
5. Repeat.
6. Repeat A LOT of times!
7. Repeat until your entire wreath form is covered!
   

Pssst! Ready for another cutie patootie project? Like I said, in my last post, we’re going old school with this curly ribbon…check out my “too stinkin’ cute” curlicue ponytail holders on All Things For Mom here!

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This very basic trick of “baking” grosgrain ribbon to curl it has been around forever, and I just love it! I love how simple it is, how fun it is, and how adorably cute it is! Below you’ll find my recipe for “baking” your ribbon. In my next post, you’ll find two great projects that use it!

Stay tuned!

Nikki, In Stitches

“Baking” Your Ribbon

Ingredients:

• Wooden dowels (These can be found at your local craft store, but they are 1 yard long. Cut them in half so they easily fit in your oven! You can use whatever is in stock…from 1/4″ up to 1/2″.)
• Bowl of water
• Ribbon
• Scissors
• Clothes pins
• Spray starch
• Aluminum foil
• Cookie sheet (Use an old one…you’re probably not going to want to eat off of it after this!)

Recipe:

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
2. Soak ribbon and clothes pins in a bowl of water until they are completely saturated. (I leave the ribbon uncut. Just unravel the whole spool and toss it in the bowl!)
3. Use a clothes pin to attach your ribbon to one end of a wooden dowel. Wrap ribbon around the dowel like a spiral from one end all the way to the other. Cut ribbon with scissors and secure the end in place, again using a clothes pin.
4. Give your dowel a really good spray of starch.
5. Cover cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Place dowels on sheet and bake for 20 minutes. (I bake a “batch” of dowels at a time…usually 10 dowels on a cookie sheet!)
6. Let dowels cool and with a simple twist, remove ribbon from them. (You’ll be left with one very long curlicue!)
7. Cut long curlicue into short ones, each measuring about 4″.

Don’t forget to check back soon to see what I’m going to make with these adorable curlicues!

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All of you know I dabble in a little bit of every crafty medium, so when Cousin Corporation asked me to create a how-to using their beads, findings, etc., I couldn’t wait to put my “knitty” spin on a basic jewelry making technique!

You can get my full how-to for these super cute stitch markers on the Cousin Corporation blog.

For all my knitting fans, I know you will enjoy making these yourself. And, with beautiful stitch markers like these, maybe it will give you motivation to finish a few of your “Works In Progress” like I know we all have!

And my jewelry fans…well…just take a look around Cousin’s new site…you are going to love the eye candy there! And it’s packed with tutorials, DIY’s, all kinds of fun!

Stop by…tell them I sent you!

Enjoy,

Nikki, In Stitches

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One onesie and your choice of 2 newborn “mini” headbands packaged together at one low price!

The perfect gift for the newest bundle of joy in your life!

Onesie sizes range from 0 – 3 months, to 6 – 12 months, but supplies are limited. When these are gone, they won’t be restocked!

Head over to the Nikki, In Stitches Etsy shop now!

Happy Shopping!

Nikki, In Stitches

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Each time I update these candy jars for the current holiday, the project takes less and less time, and costs less money!

You’ve seen these covered in creepy crawly spiders, filled with candy corn…

And you’ve caught a peek of them, decked for the halls, filled with peppermints…

And now, they’re filled with M&M’s (my little ones’ favorite “happy plate” rewards!) and adorably embellished with X’s, O’s, and the cutest little felt hearts.

This time around, the whole project was wrapped up in under five minutes!

XOXO,

Nikki, In Stitches

PS…This is a fun one to make with your kiddos, too…you just might want to buy an extra bag of M&M’s!

Materials:

• Apothecary Jars (Remember, I bought these back in September, using a 40% off coupon, but I double checked today and there were still a few in stock! Really, any style jar will work. There are tons available at your local large chain craft store.)
• A few paper scraps (You only need two strips, each 1 1/4″ wide…check your scrap box!
• A border punch (Mine is just a flower punch I had on hand…Not even made for Valentine’s Day!)
• Ribbon
• Felt Hearts (I grabbed a pack of these for under $4 at the craft store, but you could cut them yourself!)
• Adhesive Runner
• Scissors
• M&M’s!!

Directions:

1. Punch along each long side of your two 1 1/4″ wide strips of paper. Use an adhesive runner to adhere them to the jars.

2. Again, using your adhesive runner, adhere your ribbon over the paper.

3. And one last time, use your adhesive runner to attach your hearts!

Could it be any easier?

Fill with candy and enjoy!

Happy Valentine’s Day! Mwah!

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I just wanted to stop by and say “Happy Holidays!” to all of you!

I am enjoying as much time as I can get with these two, but will be back after the new year with lots of new projects!

I hope you all are enjoying time with your family and friends!

Happy New Year!

Nikki, In Stitches

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Enjoy, again!

Nikki, In Stitches

How-To: Christmas Stars

Originally Posted  January 21st, 2011

Materials:

*6″ square piece of scrap wrapping paper

*Scrap embellishments to decorate the center

*Patience!

Have fun!!

Nikki, In Stitches

*This may look familiar to some of you!  A few months ago, I was a guest blogger on Waiting on Martha (Stewart), and unfortunately, since then, the blog has been taken down.  I have no idea why, and many of you are asking for the origami star directions, so I thought I’d post them here.

These made the perfect decorations for my monogrammed cookie jars!  Take a look here: Etched Glass Cookie Jars!

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