OCA Tutorial # 6 Gift Jar Decorations by Suzanne of Silver Tree Art

Many give and receive yummy goodess filled in glass jars. We can reuse these jars, and they are a great way of showing off your culinary abilities. So far this year we received a jar of chocolate chip cookie mix and orange spice tea is on the way. I wanted a nice way of topping my homemade strawberry lime preserves and came up with this oilcloth solution in lieu of using fabric. Thus, the tutorial on cupcake toppers was topped with jar toppers! Cupcake Toppers to come early 2009.

Materials:

1 fat square oilcloth (or more, depending on the number of toppers you wish to make)

scissors

pencil or pen

round object for tracing

rik rak, yarn, or ribbon

Step 1: Gather your materials. Remove the lid or outer ring of your jar in preparation of step 2.

Step 2: Using the lid of the jar as a base, make your topper up to a few inches wider all the way around. For the green kiwi dot oilcloth, I used a CD to trace. For the white dot on red oilcloth, I cut my own circle 2 inches wider all the way around. Trace CD or other round object.

Step 3: Cut your circles out of the oilcloth. Using one hand, secure the circle on top of your jar, careful not to spill it's contents. The lid is underneath the oilcloth to keep the food sealed. For a canning jar lid, use the outer ring to secure the oilcloth on top. This takes a little care, as the oilcloth is a little thick. If you go slowly and maintain patience, you'll secure the ring onto the jar. You can also place the oilcloth directly on top of the jar lid & ring and tie off with your ribbon to secure. (I tried using tulle underneath the oilcloth but changed my mind. You see it's not there in the picture below.)

Step 4: Place ribbon around the ring to add a little sparkle. You can add an ornament or candy cane to the ribbon for that extra pizzaz. The project takes little time and adds a lot of color.

In the spirit of sharing and making handmade, here are the cookie jar instructions as given to me. Enjoy, crafters!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix (for a 1 quart glass jar)

Jar Contains:

1 2/3 c. all purpose flour

3/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 c. white sugar

2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 c. packed brown sugar

1. To make a jar and share: layer the following: flour, soda, sugar, brown sugar, chocolate chips. Seal. Attach directions and enjoy!

2. Directions for Cookie Making: Empty contents of jar into a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine 3/4 c. butter, 1 1/2 eggs, and 1 tsp. vanilla. Beat until creamy. Add to dry mixture. Drop by teaspoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet or silpat lined cookie sheet, and bake in a preheated oven of 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 8-10 minutes. Serve warm with milk and enjoy!

OCA Tutorial #5 Oilcloth Chain by Suzanne

Oh, it's the season to make paper chains. Only this year, use OILCLOTH from your favorite oilcloth vendor, Oilcloth Addict. I've already procured my stash of favorite oilcloth fabrics to create this amazing oilcloth chain which will be used in our family decorations.

Materials:

4-6 fat quarters oilcloth, coordinating colors or patterns (1 yard per fat quarter*)

scissors or rotary cutter

ruler

pencil (or writing utensil to trace/mark)

translucent tape

Step 1: Gather your materials. Decide how you want your chain to look. Do you want your chain to be double or single sided? If double sided, do you want your chain link to match (front & back) or to differ? Once you have decided, you'll roll along the process. [Note: The double sided chain has a wonderful weight to it. If your tree is lightweight, you'll need to decide how you want it to drape.]

Step 2: You'll be cutting material in strips of 1.25 x 5 inches. You can adjust to 1 inch x 6 inches or 1 1/2 inches x 6 inches. You choose what you like and go with it! In a 18 inch x 21 inch fat quarter you can cut up to 60 strips (or 30 chain links front/back) of the 1.25 (1 1/4") x 6 inch strips. Using your ruler, measure your strips. If you're handy using the rotary cutter, mark your 6 inch lines with a pencil and measure & cut your 1.25 inch strips. If using scissors, measure and mark before cutting.

Step 3: Assembly. Place two strips with the back side facing each other.

Loop them around together. I placed one edge between the other two pieces, sandwiching them in so that the chain link looks really clean.

Place a piece of translucent tape horizontally across the edge, securing the tape hanging over to the opposite side of the chain. Place two more pieces together and loop through the first chain. Repeat steps until you have the desired length of your chain.

The transparent tape looks great on the oilcloth. You hardly notice it's there, and it's quite durable if you're overlapping your tape to the back side of each link.

*Measurements: Using the 1.5 x 6 inch strips:

9 chain links = 12 inches loosely hanging.

1 fat quarter makes 1 yard of chain, front and back or 2 yards single sided.

Decorate your tree, your doorway, hang these along your windows, line your table centerpiece, along the edge of a room's ceiling...the possibilities go on and on. As you make these, remember to include the kids! It's a great family night project, as it takes a little time. It's well worth the effort.

Cheers! Enjoy making your chain as I have ours (pictured above). Happy Holidays!

Save your scraps! Suzanne of Silver Tree Art's Next Tutorial: Flag Cupcake Toppers using scraps as small as 1 x 2 inches as part of her focus on Party Planning!

Kelly here... Suzanne of Silver Tree Art had created this tutorial for us here at OCA! I am also very lucky to have her some of her creative energy in my studio here at home. Suzanne if full of great ideas and will be sharing those that are made with oilcloth here on the OCA blog! Thanks girlie, you are the best!

As always OCA is dedicated to offering you great tips and projects. If you have an idea that would fit with in out blog please let us know. We would love to share your ideas too!

OCA Tutorial # 4 Oilcloth Memory Game by April

Oilcloth Memory Game Tutorial

Little ones will love playing this memory game, while their adults will love the durability that oilcloth provides to this classic. This 3 inch set was made for a young toddler. If you are making this game for an older child you may chose to make the pieces smaller.


Materials:
1 Oilcloth Addict Charm Pack
1 Fat Quarter of Oilcloth from Oilcloth Addict
Cutting board
Rotary Cutter
Pinking Shears


Begin by choosing ten different oilcloth charms from the charm pack. Each one of of these will form one pair of memory pieces.

Using your rotary cutter and ruler trim the charm into a 6 by 3 rectangle. Then cut the piece in half, forming two 3 by 3 squares. Repeat these steps with each charm. When you have finished this there will be 20 3 by 3 pieces, (2 from each of your original 10 charms).

Now you will need 20 3 x 3 squares from your fat quarter fabric.
Begin by cutting a 3 inch wide strip the length of your fabric.

Then cut this piece every three inches to form your 3 x 3 squares.

Next, put a black dot with each one of your charm pieces with the
wrong sides of the fabric touching. Pin in place.

Sew 1/4 inch in around your square, backstitching at the beginning and end.

After sewing all of the pieces, use pinking sheers to even out the
edges and give a decorative touch.


Enjoy!

Kelly here... Thanks to April for creating this wonderful tutorial for us here at OCA! April is mommy of two young girls (cute as can be), she shares some of her creative time as one of my wonderful Modern June stitchers.thanks girlie, you are the best! I am a lucky girl to have such a great team!

As always OCA is dedicated to offering you great tips and projects. If you have an idea that would fit with in out blog please let us know. We would love to share your ideas too!

JUST ARRIVED!

Lookie, lookie two new oilcloth just arrived! Pretty pink paradise lace and a lovely lavender gingham. I can't help but think of spring projects when I look at these, I know it isn't even turkey day but I really do despise winter, forgive me.

I would love to make a tablecloth with the pink lace trimmed in black, very Hollywood Regency!