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*FREE* Embroidery Pattern Download – Big Mood for 2020

Hey, you. Yeah, you. Want a free pattern that helps you get through the last sprint of 2020? Do you want to encapsulate the inner roar of frustration this year has thrust upon you within the confines of 9″ oblong hoop? Want to repeatedly stab something and end up with a beautiful yet hilariously pithy piece of work you made with your own hands instead of an arrest warrant and a lot of questionable cleanup?

Well, hello, friend. You’ve come to the right place.

Hello, all! I’m back with another fun, beginner friendly embroidery pattern that is floral, fun, and JUST DANG NECESSESARY FOR THIS YEAR, OKAY.

It’s for beginners or experienced stitchers.

Just starting out? No problem! Just take the embroidery floss as is, thread it through your needle, and start stitching. I recommend a booklet of basic stitches kept handy or a youtube video, just in case. (I’ll also be writing up a post with basic stitches, video demos, and more so be sure to subscribe!) This pattern also adds in something a bit more challenging if your beginner, but only one! (You can do it!) It’s a bullion knot, and it’s a really fun way to add texture. Having this stitch in your repertoire will give you more options to make things unique to your creative vision.

If you are an advanced stitcher, feel free to add long and short stiches to make

In the example above, I’ve used the following stitches, all with 6-strand floss:

  • Wagon wheel
  • Daisy chain
  • French knot
  • Straight
  • Bullion knot

This post may contain affiliate links. (Spoiler alert: it does.) For the legal jargon (and my personal stance on recommendations) click here. 

This pattern is easy. It uses a few stitches and any can be substituted for something else you prefer. If you’re a stickler for sticking to a pattern, I’ve even included the DMC embroidery color numbers so you can replicate it. But if you want to get creative, I’ve got a bunch of my favorite color palettes on my pinterest board here to get you inspired for something with your own flavor! I tend to prefer complimentary colors or double split complimentary colors. Pro tip: keep a small color wheel in your purse or save an image handily on your phone to help in picking out colors. The one I usually use is this one here. It’s small and can even fit in a comfy pocket if you’re purse averse like myself.

If that’s too complicated, just be sure to have my Color Palettes board pulled up on your mobile phone for easy reference.

How to use it

You can put this pattern on pretty much anything! Enlarge it and put it on a throw pillow. Shrink it down and put it on a shirt pocket or handkerchief. Decorate the front of an apron or a tea towel for a perfect gift. You could even decorate your most comfortable reusable mask, like Carissa did with the Rebel pattern. (SO CUTE!)

View this post on Instagram

Yesterday I needed a break from work and my kids so I decided I wanted to do some crafting. I found this awesome pattern from @ambertheblog and shrunk it down to fit on a plain face mask. (Swipe to see the progress shots!) 🧵 I haven’t embroidered anything for more than a year so I am a little rusty but I think it turned out great. ❤️ 🧵 #facemask #rebelscum #theresistance #starwars #starwarscrafts #embroidery #quarantine #quarantinecrafts #craftersgonnacraft #calledtobecreative #craftymom #makersofinstagram #creativelifehappylife #livecolourfully #ihavethisthingwithcolor #showusthecolor #brightcolors #happycolors #myunicornlife #livecolourfully #purplehair #purplehairdontcare #disneylife #starwarsblogger #disneyblogger #disneyprincess #dsmmc #disneysmmoms #crafttheforce

A post shared by Carissa Bonham💚Green Mama (@creativegreenliving) on

What you need

First things first, you’re going to want an embroidery hoop. I prefer bright, happy colorful hoops! I never know what sort of project I’m going to be into next, so having a variety of sizes and colors let’s my imagination run wild. I like this set of hoops for the variety of color and sizes.

You’ll also love yourself for making your life so much easier with a needle minder. A needle minder is a small magnetic tool that attaches to your work, giving you a secure and visible place to put your needle while in the middle of stitching. No more dropped thread! No more missing needle! And, more importantly, no more finding it with an unfortunate part of your body.

Another lifesaver is Thread Magic. Thread Magic is a thread conditioner that helps eliminate static, lessens tangles or knots, and reduces drag to make your work go by much faster. It’s a huge boost to my projects and has definitely improved my emotional state while working. (Have you ever been foiled – repeatedly – by your thread insisting on bunching itself up into incurable knots??? It’s not healthy for your heart.) I can usually find Thread Magic at my local craft store, such as Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, or Jo-Ann’s. But if it is out of stock or hard to find, I’ve got a handy link for you right here.

Aside from those quality of life improvements, you’ll also require the following:

(Your fabric choice is really up to you! I usually go to the thrift stores and craft stores and peruse the remnants. You’ll want to wash whatever your fabric is before you start. That way, if the fabric decides to warp after you hand wash your embroidery, your hard work won’t be distorted. I like Mrs. Meyers because it’s gentle, perfect for my allergies, and doesn’t abuse my skin when I hand wash! Plus, it smells AMAZING.)

And of course, don’t forget the free pattern!

Did you work up this pattern? Be sure to tag me on Instagram so I can see your lovely creations!

"XOXO, Amber" in hand-styled script
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*FREE!* Easy Pattern – DIY Embroidery – Star Wars Inspired

Hello, all! I’m back with another fun, beginner friendly embroidery pattern that is floral, fun, and quick to whip up!

It’s for beginners or long time stitchers.

Just starting out? No problem! Just take the embroidery floss as is, thread it through your needle, and start stitching. I recommend a booklet of basic stitches kept handy or a youtube video, just in case. Ready to tackle something more challenging? Substitute some bullion knots. Make your thread only three strands. Use a different font. Go all out! It’s YOUR piece so have fun with it!

In the example above, I’ve used the following stitches, all with 6-strand floss:

  • Wagon wheel
  • Modified wagon wheel
  • Daisy chain
  • French knot
  • Herringbone
  • Straight
  • Chain

This post may contain affiliate links. (Spoiler alert: it does.) For the legal jargon (and my personal stance on recommendations) click here. 

This pattern is easy. It uses a few stitches and any can be substituted for something else you prefer. If you’re a stickler for sticking to a pattern, I’ve even included the DMC embroidery color numbers so you can replicate it. But if you want to get creative, I’ve got a bunch of my favorite color palettes on my pinterest board here to get you inspired for something with your own flavor! I tend to prefer complimentary colors or double split complimentary colors. Pro tip: keep a small color wheel in your purse or save an image handily on your phone to help in picking out colors. The one I usually use is this one here. It’s small and can even fit in a comfy pocket if you’re purse averse like myself.

If that’s too complicated, just be sure to have my Color Palettes board pulled up on your mobile phone for easy reference.

How to use it

You can put this pattern on pretty much anything! Enlarge it and put it on a throw pillow. Shrink it down and put it on a shirt pocket or handkerchief. Decorate the front of an apron or a tea towel for a perfect gift. You could even decorate your most comfortable reusable mask, like Carissa did with the Rebel pattern. (SO CUTE!)

View this post on Instagram

Yesterday I needed a break from work and my kids so I decided I wanted to do some crafting. I found this awesome pattern from @ambertheblog and shrunk it down to fit on a plain face mask. (Swipe to see the progress shots!) 🧵 I haven’t embroidered anything for more than a year so I am a little rusty but I think it turned out great. ❤️ 🧵 #facemask #rebelscum #theresistance #starwars #starwarscrafts #embroidery #quarantine #quarantinecrafts #craftersgonnacraft #calledtobecreative #craftymom #makersofinstagram #creativelifehappylife #livecolourfully #ihavethisthingwithcolor #showusthecolor #brightcolors #happycolors #myunicornlife #livecolourfully #purplehair #purplehairdontcare #disneylife #starwarsblogger #disneyblogger #disneyprincess #dsmmc #disneysmmoms #crafttheforce

A post shared by Carissa Bonham💚Green Mama (@creativegreenliving) on

What you need

First things first, you’re going to want an embroidery hoop. I prefer bright, happy colorful hoops! I never know what sort of project I’m going to be into next, so having a variety of sizes and colors let’s my imagination run wild. I like this set of hoops for the variety of color and sizes.

You’ll also love yourself for making your life so much easier with a needle minder. A needle minder is a small magnetic tool that attaches to your work, giving you a secure and visible place to put your needle while in the middle of stitching. No more dropped thread! No more missing needle! And, more importantly, no more finding it with an unfortunate part of your body.

Another lifesaver is Thread Magic. Thread Magic is a thread conditioner that helps eliminate static, lessens tangles or knots, and reduces drag to make your work go by much faster. It’s a huge boost to my projects and has definitely improved my emotional state while working. (Have you ever been foiled – repeatedly – by your thread insisting on bunching itself up into incurable knots??? It’s not healthy for your heart.) I can usually find Thread Magic at my local craft store, such as Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, or Jo-Ann’s. But if it is out of stock or hard to find, I’ve got a handy link for you right here.

Aside from those quality of life improvements, you’ll also require the following:

(Your fabric choice is really up to you! I usually go to the thrift stores and craft stores and peruse the remnants. You’ll want to wash whatever your fabric is before you start. That way, if the fabric decides to warp after you hand wash your embroidery, your hard work won’t be distorted. I like Mrs. Meyers because it’s gentle, perfect for my allergies, and doesn’t abuse my skin when I hand wash! Plus, it smells AMAZING.)

And of course, don’t forget the free pattern!

Did you work up this pattern? Be sure to tag me on Instagram so I can see your lovely creations!

"XOXO, Amber" in hand-styled script
Posted on 2 Comments

Free: Star Wars Day *EASY* Embroidery Pattern

Happy Star Wars Day! Technically, I’m a day late as it’s actually Cinco de Mayo. Or, if you prefer, Revenge of the Fifth. At any rate, in spirit of the unofficial holiday that has become beloved by many the world over, I wanted to give you something to help you enjoy it DIY style: a free embroidery pattern!

This pattern is easy. It uses a few stitches and any can be substituted for something else you prefer. If you’re a stickler for sticking to a pattern, I’ve even included the DMC embroidery color numbers so you can replicate it. But if you want to get creative, I’ve got a bunch of my favorite color palettes on my pinterest board here to get you inspired for something with your own flavor! I tend to prefer complimentary colors or double split complimentary colors.

This post may contain affiliate links. (Spoiler alert: it does.) For the legal jargon (and my personal stance on recommendations) click here. 

Pro tip: keep a small color wheel in your purse or save an image handily on your phone to help in picking out colors. I like this one! It’s a super big help when I’m in the aisle trying to pick out floss for a new project.

If that’s too complicated, just be sure to have my Color Palettes board pulled up for easy reference.

Perfect for beginners or long time stitchers.

Just starting out? No problem! Just take the embroidery floss as is, thread it through your needle, and start stitching. I recommend a booklet of basic stitches kept handy or a youtube video, just in case. Ready to tackle something more challenging? Substitute some bullion knots. Make your thread only three strands. Use a different font. Go all out! It’s YOUR piece so have fun with it!

In the example above, I’ve used the following stitches, all with 6-strand floss:

  • Wagon wheel
  • Modified wagon wheel
  • Daisy chain
  • French knot
  • Herringbone
  • Straight
  • Chain

Fun ways to use it:

If embroidering on a hoop to hang as decor isn’t your thing, consider adding it to a handkerchief, a shirt pocket, or even swagging out your mask, like Carissa did below! (Thanks, Carissa! This idea is AMAZING!!!)

View this post on Instagram

Yesterday I needed a break from work and my kids so I decided I wanted to do some crafting. I found this awesome pattern from @ambertheblog and shrunk it down to fit on a plain face mask. (Swipe to see the progress shots!) 🧵 I haven’t embroidered anything for more than a year so I am a little rusty but I think it turned out great. ❤️ 🧵 #facemask #rebelscum #theresistance #starwars #starwarscrafts #embroidery #quarantine #quarantinecrafts #craftersgonnacraft #calledtobecreative #craftymom #makersofinstagram #creativelifehappylife #livecolourfully #ihavethisthingwithcolor #showusthecolor #brightcolors #happycolors #myunicornlife #livecolourfully #purplehair #purplehairdontcare #disneylife #starwarsblogger #disneyblogger #disneyprincess #dsmmc #disneysmmoms #crafttheforce

A post shared by Carissa Bonham💚Green Mama (@creativegreenliving) on

“Amber,” you say, rolling your eyes, “give me the pattern already!”

Okay, I hear you. I just had to get so many words in the post so Google would help crafty, geeky, wonderful people like you find it easier! I’m not going to go on like those recipe blogs we all love to whine about where they talk about how they source the flour for the roux from their grandmother’s ancestral town that also makes free-range llama milk.

To get your pattern, just CLICK HERE.

Did you miss it? I know, it was so easy, so simple, anyone could have, really. (I mean, if you’re all the way down here looking for the pattern, you already missed the link in the first paragraph, teehee!)

HERE! CLICK HERE! It’s totally free, no gimmicks. It’s $0.00. Free-fifty. Just add it to your cart and download!

So there you go! For you dark side peeps, don’t worry; I’ve got a free pattern coming your way. There are more patterns and freebies coming, so be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it!

"XOXO, Amber" in hand-styled script
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Easy DIY Facemask with Filter Pocket

Hey, all! So with the craziness of COVID-19, medical personnel are incredibly lacking in surgical masks, partly due to factory closures in China and partly due to increase demand by the public and hoarding. To make up for the lack of supplies, there have been multiple requests for capable members of the community to make masks.

Well, TO ARMS, CRAFTERS! If we cosplayers, crafty people, and sewists gather our resources, dig through our tremendous caches of supplies, and supports our communities! If you don’t have these supplies, or there is just a thing or two you’re missing, I’ve got a handy dandy list for you. (And, by the by, I definitely suggest utilizing Amazon or other online service. Most stores are out of elastic because of the many facemask projects. And, of course, if you don’t have to go out, stay home.)

This post may contain affiliate links. For more on that, check here.

Materials:

Tools:

  • Sewing machine
  • Iron (I’ve never used an expensive iron in my life until THIS ONE and WOW. I love ironing now!)
  • Ironing board
  • Ruler or measuring tape
  • Sewing sheers
  • Safety pin
  • Wire cutters (optional)
  • Needlenose pliers (optional)

You need one (1) piece of your main fabric that is 11″ x 8″. You will need to cut two (2) pieces of your lining or inner fabric that are 8″ x 5″. Putting this together is really easy, and is a GREAT beginner sewing project. (You can even use this as a home economics lesson during quarantine lock down!) You need to be able to do is measure, cut and sew a straight line, use an iron, and fold pleats similar to folding a paper fan.

Video Instructions: (psst, watch till the end! <3 )

It’s really as easy as that!

You can also add an optional channel in the top of the mask if you want to add some wire to better conform it to your nose. (However, I’ve found that it’s not necessary for a good fit.) You will add the channel prior to sewing the pleats, and after sewing the three pieces of fabric together. At the top of the mask, sew a rectangle with one short side open to allow you to slid the piece of wire into. The wire should be about 1 1/4″ long. With your needlenose pliers, round the ends to prevent them from poking through the fabric. Slide the wire into the channel, then simply sew it closed before moving onto the pleats.

After you’ve sewn up your mask, you can cut a portion of a vacuum filter bag to aid in filtering out particles. (A study was done and found that vacuum bags are nearly as effective as surgical masks.) But because the internet is a weird place, I’m letting you know that I am not a doctor, a scientist, or in any profession to make a professional recommendation about the ability of these things to protect you or others and I encourage to use common sense and ask a professional and also don’t sue me if you get sick kthxbai.

And now you are ready to make your own mask!

Please share to help others!

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Main Street Balloon Ears Are Coming!!!

If you aren’t following the many website dedicated to publishing Disney news as soon as possible, you might have missed this AMAZING development: BALLOON MOUSE EARS ARE COMING!!!

As of right now, prices and release are still hidden behind that mystical curtain, but with official promotional images already out, I would hope we get to see these beauties soon!

Do you have a Disney trip and just can’t wait for a fresh set of ears? Check out these! Two-day shipping is always nice when you get the scratch for some new magic.

So what do you think?

Will these be the hot new item? I expect to see a lot of these come spring. (I definitely want them for my personal collection.) Will you be shelling out for these fresh new head decorations? Tell me in the comments!

P.S. Did you know? This blog runs exclusively off the money I earn from Amazon links. It doesn’t change the price for you, but as a thank you for directing you to their site, Amazon pays me a small percentage for each purchase made after a click (even if it isn’t for the item highlighted!). So what does that mean? It means whenever you click one of my links to amazon, and make a purchase for anything off Amazon, you’re helping to keep this blog running month to month. SO THANK YOU! <3

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Streaming Gear: The Best Deals

Just in case you’ve been living under a rock, streaming has completely changed the way consumers experience entertainment, and in turn, has totally rocked the entertainment industry. And with the popularity and easy access to the platform (you only need a smartphone to start streaming) and the ridiculous amounts of success it has enabled (Ninja, popular Fortnite streamer, made nearly $10 million in 2018 and advanced in 2019 to a total net worth of $15 million and rising), more and more gaming enthusiasts are hoping to turn their hobby into a stream of income (no pun intended).

While streaming can certainly be as simple as downloading a streaming app to your phone and giving it a go, there are a few pieces of equipment that can take it from home video quality to a stream with crispy graphics, quality sound, and professional transitions. The content, though, is completely up to you!

This post may contain affiliate links. For more on that, check here.

Control Deck

A control is essentially a small additional keyboard that you use to program commands for your stream, like playing a sound, starting a screen transition, muting your mic, turning your camera on or off, etc. The possibilities are only limited by what your streaming program can handle and how many buttons your control deck keyboard has.

Many professionals opt for the Elgato Stream Deck. Because it is a popular option, there is a lot on online support and tutorials that show you how you can really maximize your new tool. But for beginning streamers, it might be too much of an investment.

If you want the functionality of the stream deck and don’t mind a bit of DIY, you can easily set up custom commands on any additional keyboard pad like the ones below!

  1. The ELSRA USB keypad can be programmed to do basic shortcuts for your streaming at less than HALF the cost of the Elgato Stream Deck. Bonus: it has clear keys so you print your own button layouts so you can completely customize the way it looks!

2. Use the Touch Portal app with your smartphone or tablet.

While this does require that you already have a tablet or smartphone that you can dedicate during streams to just this function, the app has a free version that let’s you do a lot, and working within the app is simple and easy to understand, even for a novice streamer.

If you don’t have a tablet or you need to have your phone accessible and want some more screen real estate, I highly recommend an ipad. A basic ipad is only twice the price of the Elgato stream deck, and it has many more functions than just being a streaming control deck.

My favorite option is the ipad pro. I absolutely love all the things I can do on it, from composing music, to creating art, it’s a powerhouse of a tablet that makes my workflow so much easier. Surprisingly, amazon actually has the best deal currently (even considering my military discount with Apple). While it is definitely going to be the most expensive thing on the list, for the price, you’re getting every single penny’s worth. I use it to do my merch design, manage my storefronts, social media hubs, and so much more. If you have an artist on your hands, pairing it with the apple pencil turns your ipad into a draw on tablet. Similar products marketed to artists are upwards of three GRAND. Imagine my delight when I found the experience on the ipad pro in ProCreate nearly a seamless transition from pencil on paper drawing. It is SUCH a joy to use!

While that might be too much of an investment for a budding streamer, you could always opt to using your current phone, tablet, or even old smartphone without cell service to host the app to get a feel for it before making a large dollar investment.

Microphone

You can often get away as a streamer without using a camera at all. But you absolutely will not gain followers if listening to your stream is a chore. Most gaming and headset microphones won’t cut it for the competitive world of streaming. But the good news is that getting a quality sound is a lot less expensive these days!

If you’ve seen me in stream, then you have definitely seen this bad boy in the corner. This is my beloved Yeti mic by Blue, aka the Blue Yeti.

The sound from this is so incredibly crispy. It has multiple functions so you can get the balance just right for your streaming location, whether it’s a corner of your bedroom or an office all to yourself. I often get compliments on how clear my mic sounds when I use this while gaming instead of my headset. And since it is USB, you can also use it with a console!

If that’s a little outside of your budget, then be sure to check out it’s little brother, the Snowball!

It runs about half to less than half of the Blue Yeti and is still a massive improvement over a headset mic. And don’t forget to use your Amazon Prime benefits – free shipping and returns! So if it doesn’t work for your set up, you can easily return it. (Psst! If you aren’t sure if Amazon Prime is right for you, click here for a free 30-day trial. It’s a great time of year to give it a go!)

Before you invest in something brand new, be sure to check for opened box deals. You can score DEEP discounts on used or opened electronics. The stock is always changing, so it’s a good idea to check often. You can click here to see what is available. And if you’re in the market specifically for a camera, you can find it here.

Aesthetics

Making your stream look good can be very simple or very complicated. From green screens, to overlays, the options are as endless as your imagination and budget. But one easy way to make it look great it to use LED tape. Even something like your bedroom suddenly looks like a high tech gaming center!

This LED tape has a self adhesive 3m backing that makes putting it up really easy. Even if I wasn’t a streamer, I would have wanted this YEARS ago because it’s FREAKING COOL. I mean, can you imagine having your room and door outlined in sweet LEDs? It would have been the coolest thing ever when I was 14 (and I’m not so secretly excited about pimping out my workspace now at 33). And at under $50, it’s going to make a HUGE impression on your ambitious streamer!

Extras

As a digital illustrator, blogger, and streamer, I sit in front of screens a LOT. Combine that with my favorite form of entertainment (video games) that’s a lot time spent looking at screens. I was getting eye fatigue very easily. I got myself a pair of blue light blocking lenses, and it really does help!

Because I also have glasses, I got these fit over style glasses. They look great over my prescription lenses or if I’m wearing contacts. This a great gift for anyone who is a computer most of the day!

Well, there you have it. Some of my favorite bargain accessories for successful streamers and content creators. If you were going to add something to this list, what would it be? Let me know in the comments. Have an awesome day!

"XOXO, Amber" in hand-styled script