Every bow maker starts somewhere.  Whether you are your own little business, a mom who loves children's fashion or a huge enterprise... you have to start... somewhere.  

One of the basics of making headbands is learning how to attach a stretch headband.  The material can be stretchy lace, stretchy ribbon, OR the most common is called FOE (Fold Over Elastic/ band knit).

Today's post is sponsored by Shana of Hobovian.  Hobovian carries many different choices of FOE.  Additionally, I have purchased from Hobovian and I think that Shana must live at the post office... because my order not only arrived quick... it arrived LIGHTENING quick.  Keep reading because Hobovian has a giveaway for my readers, but first I want to show you how to make a stretchy headband.

I started with a Glory Flower, FOE, a heart cut out of fleece (note: your cut out can be a circle, square or most anything) and a label (COMPLETELY optional).  Oh yes.  You will need hot glue and a glue gun as well.

Turn your flower upside down and put a couple strips of hot glue through the middle of your flower:

FOE has a shiny side and a dull side.  Near the center of the glue strip, place one end of your FOE shiny side down:

Making certain that your FOE is not twisted, bring your other end around and match up the blunt ends.  It is NOT necessary to sew your ends together:

Glue your fleece cutout, leaving a little edge so that the glue can seep a bit to the edge.  (Note that you can use felt, but if this is for an infant I highly recommend fleece or minky fabric.  Wouldn't you prefer soft fleece to itchy felt on your bare skin?)  Any fabric that does not fray should work great!:

The fleece cut out is to give your back a finished look.  If you have a label, now is the time to use it:

Add a smidge of maraboo and a satin bow and...

Now that you've seen how simple it is to attach a stretchy headband, hop over to Hobovian and get some of her lovely quality FOE!  Did I mention that they giveaway FREE color samples?   Hobovian, is also offering my readers 5 FREE yards of solid trim with ANY order that mentions you saw her here on Fancy Schmancy.  Just send her a message!

OK!  Now for the Linky Party and Hobovian GIVEAWAY!

Here's the 4-11:  Hobovian will giveaway 10 FREE yards of FOE to the top 3 visited participants in this weeks Linky Party!  That's right, you will get 10 yards (1 yard each of 10 different colors) mailed to you lightening fast if the link you add to the following party is one of the 3 MOST visited.  That means send your friends over to vote. :)  Follow the rules and here we go...

Thanks for participating and good luck!

In just a minute I've got a free watermelon wreath tutorial for you....

But first...

OK.  It's time to have a Fancy Schmancy heart to heart.  You need to know something about me that you don't likely understand... unless you know me.  I am going to come clean about something... (deep breath).  Here goes: I am not Fancy Schmancy.  Well, at least if you came to my home you would not think that my home reflects the beautiful creations that I make.  


I would rather give away beautiful things then display them in my home for a few reasons but the main one is that I never want people to feel like I am better than they are.  I want people to come here and feel warm and welcome, not like they have to sit with their legs crossed and say a boring "Yes ma'am" when addressing me.  BTW, "Yes ma'am's" still apply to my children though! (Should they ever read this. :))  


I have decided that I am capable of more when it comes to my home and that I can still have the warm and welcome atmosphere that is important to me.  I have decided that I can better minister to my family and make them feel more important if I make my home more lovely.  The reason that I wanted the name of this site to include the word "Living" is because I want my business and the things that I write about to be more than just accessories.  I want them to include... living, which means that I can hopefully inspire you (and especially me) in your own homes and possibly lives as well as with fashion.    


I do understand that I have good vision and talent, for which I owe gratitude to my dear Heavenly Father.  I do not say that to be prideful.  I am simply recognizing what I have to work with, where my passion is and who put it there. I am also recognizing that I have not used my talents (for the most part) for the benefit of my family and would like to change that.


Having said this, please understand that I am more than a little busy. I am a mother of 3 with 1 on the way. I run a small business out of my home (of which this blog is a part of ). I am happily engaged in responsibilities at church and I am tossing around the possibility of homeschooling my wonderful children this fall. (This summer is a trial run. AAAAAH!)  My God and my family come first... everything else comes second.


Phew!  Now that I got that out of the way let's get to the FUN stuff!!  When I looked at my bare door, I realized that I can start small. So without further ado, I have a FREE tutorial for you on how I made this glittery Watermelon Wreath:

Start with a wreath.  I used a 14" circular wreath with a flat front.  Cut your wreath in half (note: SAVE the other half... I am dreaming up a halloween wreath that I think I will use my other half for. & yes, my mother will not likely be pleased to see a bread knife used in such a desecrated fashion.)

Trace around the bottom of your wreath and then use a straight edge to draw a line across the top:

Using an exacto knife, cut the cardboard smaller then you drew your watermelon shape by about 1/2". 

Next, using your watermelon shape as a pattern, cut an exact sized piece of fabric that does not fray such as felt/ fleece or velvet.  I used velvet simply because I had TONS of it after realizing that I do not want to use it for backdrops.  (Too high maintenance!)  This will cover the back of your wreath for a nice finished look.  Put this fabric aside as you will not need it until the very end.

Then cut a piece of fabric in your watermelon shape that adds about 2 inches all the way around:

Place your larger piece of watermelon shaped fabric face side down and then lay your cardboard watermelon shape on top.  Hot glue the edges of your fabric all the way around your cardboard:

Next, cover the ends of your "rind" with the same ribbon that you will wrap around your rind.  Secure the ribbon with hot glue:

Start hot gluing and wrapping your ribbon around your rind, making sure to not have spaces where you see your styrofoam wreath. Secure often with hot glue.

Then, hot glue your rind to your black watermelon shape: 

I next cut 2.25" wide ribbon (love the sparkles!) to 8" lengths (I used 8) then hot glued the ends to make circles:

Next, hot glue your ribbon circles to your black fabric with the seams down:

To make the "seeds" I take strips of tulle that measure approx 2" X 15" and roll them length wise until they make a little bud.  I then hot glue the bottoms, wait a few seconds and pinch the bottom together.  (I amde 5 seeds.  You can also sew the bottom shut with needle and thread, I am just a little crazy):

Hot glue your tulle seeds throughout.

Next, turn your wreath face side down and hot glue a ribbon to the top corners (to hang your wreath) then cover the entire back with your last cut of fabric to finish it off:

(See what I mean about velvet being high maintenance?!  Look at all that lint!  Thankfully it is on the back... and I have a lint brush.  :)

I tied a cute polka dot bow on a corner. The last (and best) step: Hang your wreath and let everyone "Ooooh" and "Aaaah" at its' cuteness.  Maybe I'll try a different empty door...

Well, I think I am off to a good start!  I hope to see your wreaths as well!!

A lovely customer asked how to make the tails down bow as shown on this pink and gray bouquet in my "Glorious Bouquet" Tutorial:

I thought that more readers might like to know so without further ado, here is a FREE tutorial for my Tails Down Bow. 

I wish you a Fancy Schmancy day!!

On Sunday, a fantastic lady brought the cutest pin cushion cupcake that her lovely daughter Leah had made.  She had the idea that the women in our church would love to have a mother/ daughter activity where we make a bunch of them!  The only problem is that our budget is rather limited so we would need to use different supplies than Leah had.  

I thought my readers might like to make these as well, so here is my Fancy Schmancy version of Leah's charming cupcake pin cushion using different supplies.  Thanks for the inspiration Leah!

So, check this cupcake pin cushion out!!

Too cute, right?  Here's what you'll need to make your cupcake pin cushion:

1.    2- 3.5" X 20" strips of Felt, Fleece, Minky or other thick fabric in coordinating colors (Some fabrics are thicker than others so you may prefer different lengths, but I found 20" to work well with most anything.)
2.    Needle and Thread
3.    1.5" wide Trim or ribbon (give or take 10 inches: enough to wrap around your cupcake)
4.    A circle of your fabric that is about an inch wider than your cupcake.  I just freehand this and it does not need to be perfect.
5.    Hot glue gun and all-purpose glue sticks
6.    Lighter, matches, wood burning tool, etc. to heat seal the ends of your ribbon
7.    Extra fabric, fleece, cotton balls, stuffing, etc to stuff in your cupcake
8.    Any trimmings, or bling.  Don't forget a cherry on top!!


Start by folding your fabric strips in half length wise and lay one on top of the other:

Begin rolling your fabric in a not too tight and not too loose circle:

Continue to roll through the end of your fabric strips:

Hold your cupcake in one hand and then insert your fingers in the under side of your cupcake and push the layers up until you like the shape:

Sew stitches all the way through the layers of your cupcake.  This will ensure that it does not come apart.  Do this several times from different angles, making sure that all layers have thread through them:

Next, you will want to stuff scraps of fabric, cotton, filler, etc. under your cupcake to make certain that it has some stability.  I used some scrap fleece that I had:

Just fold/ roll your scrap fabric (etc) and stuff it underneath your cupcake:

Next, set your cupcake in the center of your circle of fabric.  Start hot gluing the edge of your circle in small segments:

Press the glued edge to your cupcake:

Continue to glue the edge of your circle to your cupcake until....

Next, take your 1.5" ribbon or trim and measure around your cupcake, making it overlap slightly and cut.  Take your matches, lighter, wood burner, etc and heat seal both cut ends:

Hot glue your trim/ ribbon along the bottom edge of your cupcake, then glue the top edge down.  

 Add some trims, sprinkles (sewing pins), bling, a cherry on top and VOILA!  A charming cupcake that any sewing fan will think super sweet!

They were so much fun that I made a few more:

And one more view of the original:

I hope you enjoyed my cupcake pin cushion tutorial!  I hope to see your Fancy Schmancy cupcakes!!

BTW, to see tutorials for fabric flowers, a fabric flower bouquet and a crown tutorials please visit my shop.

Do you like it?  Feel free to....

Have you ever drooled over a gorgeous trim that you wanted to make in to a beautiful headband, BUT the trim isn't stretchy?  What are you going to do?  No worries.  I will show you how to make a headband out of non-stretchy trims.  My classic, no-sew technique will have those headbands made in a snap!   :)  

For those of you who are more visual learners, you can learn how to make this headband with a video tutorial:

I hope to see your headbands soon!!  This headband video tutorial can also be viewed on my YouTube channel!

UPDATE: Here are some basic measurements for the headbands using Fold Over Elastic (FOE).  There is a half inch allowance on both the FOE and the non stretch trim for overlapping: