I’ve talked about it on my Facebook page, but in case you don’t already know, I got chosen to be on a Lifestyle Crafts studio team! Every month I’ll be posting a project that I made using supplies from We R Memory Keepers who recently purchased Lifestyle Crafts. I’m really excited about it! I’ll be compensated with free products, but as always, all opinions are my own. This month I used the Evolution die cutting tool to make this pretty Christmas pennant bunting out of felt. Yep, that’s right, it can cut felt without any kind of interfacing being ironed on!
A very festive way to decorate for Christmas. I love the colors that it has brought into the house!
To make the bunting, I used the Lifestyle Crafts nesting pennants die. I really love the nesting dies because you can choose from all of the different sizes. Think of them kind of like cookie cutters. You run them through the Evolution, it presses the dies down, and cuts through the fabric. This die even cuts little slits to run your string through the top!
You put the cutting die face up on the cutting platform and put a piece of felt on top of that. Since you are cutting felt, it helps to put a thin piece of cardboard on top of the felt (I cut up a cereal box). Last, put your cutting mat on the top and crank it through the machine.
It comes out nice and perfectly cut!
Thread a needle and string the pennants on some pretty red and white baker’s twine.
Just keep stringing more and more until you have the length that you want. Love it!
And now for a really great GIVEAWAY! We R Memory keepers wants to give one lucky Cutesy Crafts reader a Crop-A-Dile! It can cut through paper, cardstock, think bookboard, thin tin, plastic, and more. It punches holes, and sets eyelets, snaps, and washer combos. A great crafting tool!
To enter, use the rafflecopter widget below. It may take a minute to load. If you are reading this in an email, you need to click through to see it. US residents only. Must be 18 years or older to enter. Void where prohibited by law.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck!
kerry
Wednesday 27th of December 2017
It looks like you have worked with a lot of felt. I've tried to do some research but still not sure - can you tell me which type of felt is best to make 9" x 22"ish felt pennants? I want to make one for each student for a high school concert band awards banquet in the spring, so I'm hoping not to have to use glue to stiffen each one. Any thoughts will be appreciated.
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts
Wednesday 27th of December 2017
Acrylic felt is going to be your cheapest option, but it's also not very good quality. My favorite felt is manufactured by National Nonwovens, and it's a wool/rayon blend. It's a little more expensive, but much nicer. It's stronger, softer, and doesn't pill as much. If you want stiff felt, I think you can find acrylic felt already stiffened at the craft store. The sheets are about the size of a piece of paper, so not the size that you are looking for though.
Mandy Beyeler
Thursday 2nd of January 2014
thanks so much for the tip on the cardboard - genius!
Jessica Anderson
Wednesday 8th of January 2014
Us fabric girls gotta stick together!
Barbara Bradford
Friday 20th of December 2013
I love your bunting. So simple yet so pretty.
Jessica Anderson
Saturday 21st of December 2013
Thanks Barbara!
Emily Thompson
Thursday 19th of December 2013
wow, perfect bunting pieces every time... way better than hand cutting ;o) COngrats on your contributing spot too! Emily
Jessica Anderson
Thursday 19th of December 2013
Thanks Emily! WAY better than cutting by hand!