Fast Christmas Gift – Lip Balm Holder

Every year I look for something I can make for the girls’ group I belong to. We’ve all worked together years ago and have been meeting once a month for a meal for a long time. It started out as an evening meal, but now since we’re all retired we meet for lunch.

In the past, we would exchange ornaments until we all felt we had enough of them, and now bring money to donate to a cause we agree on. However, I like to make them something. In the past it’s been bookmarks, coasters, and tissue containers, all sewn with my fabric. Last year with the death of my sister, Dave’s illness, and the bathroom renovation, I didn’t make anything. But this year I decided it was time to get back in the saddle. After a few ideas and samples were made, I decided on these lip balm holders using my dyed and printed my fabric.

It’s so nice to finally use some of my fabric. There are a lot of tutorials for this online, so I won’t repeat them. However, the one I liked the best was from Christine’s Home Affairs. What I like about her tutorial is she shows you how to sew them in batches. Initially I sewed just one. Then I followed her instructions and sewed three at a time. It made the sewing and everything so much easier since I didn’t have to fiddle with such little pieces of fabric. She shows how to sew three, but you can sew so many more at a time.

Here is her tutorial:

Yesterday I started to free motion a piece I hope to finish in time to enter the local arts council’s exhibit.

But I need to take a break and work on Dave’s ornament for our exchange. Time is getting short. Hope you are having a good holiday season.