Easy Christmas pressies to make

Hello. Lots of interesting comments yesterday, thank you for taking the time to add your bit to my post. It seems lots of you are saving money by not being taken in by the lure of fancy packaging, promises of eternal youth, and expensive perfumes. This is one area where everyone can cut down on their spending. The cheap versions can do just as good a job of keeping you clean. No need to go overboard on £25 pots of cream and salon type hair products. Bog standard is the way to take control.

I've been to the Crafty Club this morning. Numbers were down, but that is no bad thing. It means we can keep to the topic of conversation and everyone gets a look in, rather than two or three conversations going at once, and people talking over the top of each other. 

I took a new and simple project with me to work on. Perhaps you might like to have a go at this. Even the inexperienced sewer can do this. Older children as well might like to join in. 

Take one small new note book. I bought this for 50p from a stationary shop which was closing down, with the intention of making a cover for it. Coloured felt is best for this project as it doesn't fray and is easy to sew. 

Here is my book cover. The green felt is recycled from a snooker table which was being recovered. I have a few pieces of felt I got from the Scrapstore. Cut a piece of felt slightly bigger than the book. Close it up to measure it accurately. Cut out a few coloured shapes to add to the front. I have used running stitch but you can use any embroidery stitches you like. Sew the embellishments on first before making up the cover.

For the inside I used plain black felt. You can use the same colour as the outside, or any colour you like. Cut two pieces slightly narrower than the cover but exactly the same height, top to bottom. Pin it together first to check that the book will fit snugly inside. Then do a running stitch to join the pieces. I could have stitched across the spine as well, but I ran out of thread, so I left it at that.

And there you have it, a decorative cover for a plain notebook. Ideal for a gift, maybe you could make a few of these for Christmas presents. Look for pictures in books for your designs. Trace them onto paper and make a card template to cut out the shapes in felt. 

So who is going to make a book cover? I'm still busy this week so will be looking in from time to time. Right, the library van is here, so I'm off to walk/push Rocky, and have a natter with Stan. Thanks for popping in.
Toodle pip