King Download

When I heard that my friend Laura of Laura Winslow Photography was doing Valentines mini sessions, I asked her if she would like me to make her some props that she could use. Im always looking for an excuse to create something so I was stoked when she gave me an enthusiastic *yes* and requested that I do something in felt. Like Id use anything else - I have a major love affair with felt.

Image via Laura Winslow Photography

I know Lauras style and I knew where shed be shooting so I whipped up some fun, festive, and bright puffy hearts on a stick. I know, I know - not another (fill in the blank) on a stick. But seriously, these are pretty cute and are really easy to make. Not only do they make great photo props, but theyd also make super cute (sugar free) Valentines with a fun little note or printable tied around it. My boys think they make great swords.

Scissors

Sewing Machine

Sheets of felt in the colors of your choice (One sheet of felt will make two puffy hearts)

Thin wooden dowels (available at your local hardware or craft stores)

Fiberfill

Coordinating thread

Hot glue gun

Sewing Machine
Heart template- download here

Cut out the heart template. 

Fold your sheet of felt in half and pin the heart template to your felt. Cut out the heart (youll have two felt hearts).

Take the two sides of your heart and pin them together. (The two red pins at the bottom of the heart mark where I start and stop sewing with the machine).

Sew your hearts together but leave the bottom part of the heart open so that you have enough room to turn your heart.


Turn your heart inside out. You can use scissors, a chop stick, or a knitting needle to make sure its completely pushed out in the corners.

Stuff your heart with fiberfill. You want it full but not so full that you wont be able to stitch it closed.

Take your dowel and place it in the center of the heart. Be sure its pushed up far enough so you dont have a wobbly heart. Wobbly hearts arent any fun.

Place a dab of hot glue inside of the heart on the dowel so that it wont slip out.

Take your embroidery floss (I use two strands for this) and thread your needle. Starting on one side of the dowel, do a simple whip stitch to close up one side of the heart. (If youre wondering what the heck a whip stitch is, click here.)

Then start on the other side of the dowel and stitch up the other side.

Voila! A puffy heart on a stick! As always, please dont hesitate to message me at finleyandoliver@gmail.com if you get stuck on something.

For the little guys who may not be into hearts, here is a template you can use to make a puffy mustache on a stick. I know that mustaches are so 2010 and I should let the trend fade away, but Finley and Oliver think they are a blast to play with and I couldnt resist. Just follow the same directions as you would for the heart but cut out the mustache instead.

A few readers asked me where I got Olivers t-shirt that hes wearing in the photos from my valentines banner tutorial. When I explained that it was a tee I designed back when I was still selling childrens clothes, they asked for a tutorial. So... here you go!

(For those of you who are cursing me for perpetuating the never ending mustache craze, you can easily swap out the mustache for a heart or something else - heck, you can even put a bird on it.)

Like my other applique tutorials, this one is pretty easy - it follows all the same steps as the others. 

• Blank one piece, t-shirt, tank, etc. (pre-washed for shrinkage)
• Sheet of felt in the color(s) of your choice - for kids projects, I strongly recommend eco-fi felt by Kunin. Its made from recycled bottles and holds up really well in the wash.
• Heat n Bond  or other fusible webbing
• Scissors (small pointy ones are best - I use these)
• Embroidery floss and needle
• Template - download here

Getting Started 
 (Since I use Heat n Bond, my instructions will follow Heat n Bonds instructions. If you are using a different fusible web, simply change out my instructions with the instructions on the package.)

Print out your template and place it underneath your fusible webbing. Trace the design onto your fusible webbing.



Next youll want to iron your mustache love webbing onto your felt or fabric. For Heat n Bond, set it on the "wool" setting (NO STEAM). Iron the design onto the felt or fabric for about 3 or so seconds so it looks like this:

Carefully cut out your letters and mustache.

Take your appliques and peel off the wax paper layer from the back. Place the pieces exactly where you want them on the t-shirt with the glossy/fusible webbing side face down. Iron the appliques on to the t-shirt pressing for about 10 seconds. I like to use a scrap piece of fabric over the applique when I press it just to be safe. Again be sure to use the wool setting with no steam. Check to be sure that the appliques are firmly adhered to the shirt.

Now that your love is attached to the t-shirt, youre ready to start the applique process. You can do this with a machine or by hand. If I have the time, I prefer to stitch by hand - it adds a cool element to the applique. To stitch by hand, cut about 3-4 feet of your embroidery thread. Your skein of thread will have six strands. Separate two of the strands from the piece youve cut and thread them through your needle.

For this t-shirt, I use a straight stitch. Its a basic stitch and great for a beginner. You basically bring the needle up through the t-shirt and back down making straight little stitches about 2 cm in from the edge of your applique.

A great video tutorial for the straight stitch is available here. The nice thing about sewing coordinating thread (floss) on felt or fabric is that its hard to see so its very forgiving if youre a beginning stitcher. If youre an experienced hand stitcher, it is fun to experiment with contrasting threads and different stitches.

Once youve finished the stitching, you are done!

Youve made a fun little piece that is easy to care for - machine wash cold inside out/tumble dry low.

As always, if you get stuck or have any questions, comment here or message me at finleyandoliver@gmail.com. Happy stitching!