Friday, September 16, 2022

Make a Bat Coasters and Flying Bat Bunting - DIY Halloween Decor Ideas

Today we are learning how to make two (yes 2!) different projects in one tutorial video. Both tutorials use the same techniques to make two different finished projects. We'll be making a set of four fabric bat coasters and a flying bat hanging garland. These DIY fabric projects with pinked raw edges are quick and easy and are great additions to your Halloween home. Fun for parties and great for decorating for trick or treaters!
cloth fabric Halloween bat coaster setflying fabric bat hanging garland
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.

Available in my Etsy shop as digital downloads with the written directions, step-by-step photos, printable templates, and link to the tutorial video. Get yours today!

Looking for more fall and Halloween projects? Check out some of my other tutorials here:
fabric pumpkin drink coastersAppliquéd pumpkin potholder with loopappliquéd scarecrow snack mat mug rug mini placemat

Otherwise, follow along as we make these two fun Halloween projects:

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

Learn How to Make a Pumpkin Potholder - DIY Fall Kitchen Project

For today's tutorial, we are learning how to make this cute appliquéd potholder. Use it as a trivet on your tabletop or countertop or as a hotpad or potholder for your fall baking or Thanksgiving dinner.  Measuring approximately 9" x 9", the raw edge appliqué goes together quickly so you can have a cute addition to your autumn decor. 

Appliquéd pumpkin potholder with loop


For this project you will need:

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 written pattern contains step-by-step how-to directions, photos, link to the video tutorial, and the printable pumpkin template to make a potholder, trivet, or hot pad measuring approximately 9" x 9". Instructions for an optional hanging loop included.

Looking for more potholders, hot pads, and trivets? Check out some of my other project patterns available:

Otherwise, follow along with us as we make the pumpkin potholder:

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

Midweek Foster Kitten Friday - Changed Lives

When we ordered Chinese food last week, my fortune cookie read:

In normal times, a fortune like this one would be exciting to get. It would be so fun contemplating all the possibilities! But we aren't in normal times, and with this summer being full of doctor appointments for me I was hesitant about what it meant. Well, it was the very next day after receiving the fortune that I found out. Remember eight years ago when the rheumatologist told me I'd be in a wheelchair in five years? While I showed him by getting three additional years (ha!), the joke's on me because I just crossed the line in the sand. Those chickens have come home to roost. My goose is cooked. 

But I'm not here to talk about chickens or geese. I'm here to talk about my foster kitties, McKinley and Denali. Just look how far they have come!

At one day old...

At three weeks old...

At six weeks...


At eight weeks...

And now here at almost three months...
 

Tomorrow my beautiful babies will be having surgery and subsequently heading to the adoption floor. Up, up, and away to their brand new lives with a brand new family. (By the way, letting them go doesn't get any easier.)

Yep kitties, your lives are about to change forever. As will mine. For tomorrow I too will be trying to get a feel for my new life. 

Goodbye, best-in-the-world kitties. Best of luck to us all.

Friday, July 29, 2022

Foster Kitten Friday - A Bond Like No Other

I tell McKinley and Denali the same thing every day. 

I love you so much.
You are the sweetest kitties ever.
You are the prettiest babies ever.
You are the best kitties ever.

My husband reminds me I say the exact same thing to every single foster kitten who has come into this house. And he would be right. I sure do.

But there IS something about these two that really stands out. All those other pairs of kittens who I thought were bonded have nothing on these babes. Whether they are playing together, grooming each other, or sleeping on top of each other, these two belong together. 

Based on this week's photos the evidence is clear, don't you think?

What was that noise?
Purr goes Denali's engine while McKinley cares
more about the NASCAR engines.
Denali's on-the-back sleeping technique goes well with McKinley's curled-up technique.

And they definitely have perfected the sleeping-on-top-of-each-other pose day after day after day. After day.

Even the yawing picture looks to be a close match.

When they join me in the sewing room, each one has to show me just how much they are alike by posing in the same place. 

There may be the rare occasion when Denali is snuggling up and McKinley is opening up her salon,

but otherwise these two are joined at the hip. And quite frequently to my lap. Yep, sweetest kitties ever.
Prettiest babies ever. Best kitties ever. And definitely best bond ever.

Friday, July 22, 2022

Foster Kitten Friday - Helpers

Every Friday I go through the week's foster kitten pictures to see if a theme has emerged. Did something happen again and again during the week? And if so, do I have enough to write about it as well? Some weeks it takes a bit of thinking on my part. And some weeks, like this one, it is easy.

Helpers.

Do you need someone to guard your iPad when you're away? Denali is your guy. What about a helper when it's time to play the cat fishing game? McKinley is your girl.

Need some help using the grabber for the sponge on the floor? My husband has a couple kittens he can recommend for the job.

Need a helper to keep your walking boot safe while showering? How about someone who will guard your scooter when the battery is charging? Denali is your guy.

Need a leg licker or perhaps a seat saver? McKinley is your gal.

Need some helpers who are neat and tidy? Who will not only clean themselves but clean each other? They have that covered, too.

Yep, these two are some amazing helpers. They even help themselves to many well-deserved naps.