Hand-Stitched Charm: Projects Featuring Nichol Spohr’s Summer Felt Dies

Hello Crafty Friends, I’m thrilled to be a guest designer on the Spellbinders blog today, showcasing the delightful new Summer Felt Stitch & Create Collection by Nichol Spohr! This collection is packed with charming etched dies designed to help you create beautiful felt stitched projects.

As someone who loves the warmth and texture of felt, I was immediately drawn to the whimsical designs in this collection. I’ve created three unique projects to inspire you: adorable keychains (or Bag Charms) and one versatile brooch.

If you’d like to get to know me better, visit my blog or follow me on Instagram. Additionally, I have a YouTube channel where I regularly post video tutorials.

The Summer Felt Stitch & Create Collection includes:

• Felt Cheeky Apple Etched Dies
• Felt Berry Blossom Etched Dies
• Felt Floral Beehive Etched Dies
• Felt Sunflower Bloom Etched Dies

I primarily used hand stitching for my projects, which adds such a lovely, handcrafted touch. However, I opted for hot glue for the tiny flowers on the beehive for a quicker application, proving that you can mix and match techniques to suit your needs!

Let’s dive into the projects!

Sweet Apple Bag Charm

This cheerful little apple will surely make you smile whenever you reach for your keys or adorn your bag!

Step-by-Step Tutorial:

1. Die Cut all the Pieces: Using your die-cutting machine, cut out all the apple, leaf, stem, flower, and face elements from your chosen felt colors. For the apple body, you’ll need two pieces.
2. Attach Facial Features: hot glue the small white circles for the eyes and the black smile onto one of the red apple body pieces.
3. Assemble the Flower: Layer the white and yellow flower pieces and hot glue them together in the center.
4. Attach Leaf, Stem, and Flower: Secure the green leaf and brown stem with a few stitches or a dab of hot glue on the top of one red apple body piece. Then, attach the assembled flower on top of the leaf, slightly overlapping.
5. Prepare for Bag Charm Attachment: Take a small piece of ribbon and fold it in half, then loop it through your keyring and lobster clasp. Stitch the ends of this ribbon loop onto the top backside of one apple body piece, ensuring it’s securely attached.
6. Stitch the Apple Body: Place the two red apple body pieces together, wrong sides facing. Begin stitching around the perimeter using a blanket stitch or whip stitch. Add a small amount of stuffing before you close the apple entirely if you desire a plump, dimensional look.
7. Add Arms: As you stitch, insert the small brown arm pieces on either side of the apple, securing them with your stitches.
8. Finish Stitching: Continue until the apple is fully closed and securely stitched together.

Buzzing Beehive Bag Charm

This adorable beehive is blooming with tiny flowers and a sweet little bee – perfect for a touch of summer on your keys or bag!

Step-by-Step Tutorial:

1. Die Cut all the Pieces: Cut out two beehive shapes from orange felt, the hive opening from dark brown felt, the flowers from white and yellow felt, the leaves from green felt, and the bee from black and white felt.
2. Assemble the Bee: Layer the white and black bee pieces and stitch them together with gold metallic thread.
3. Attach Hive Opening: Stitch the dark brown hive opening onto one of the orange beehive pieces.
4. Arrange Flowers and Leaves: Lay the green leaves and white/yellow flowers on the front beehive piece to create your desired floral arrangement. I used hot glue for the tiny flowers, but you can certainly stitch them if you prefer! Stitch the leaves in place.
5. Attach the Bee: Secure the assembled bee above the flowers with hot glue.
6. Prepare for Bag Charm Attachment: Similar to the apple, take a small piece of ribbon, loop it through your keyring and lobster clasp, and stitch it securely to the top backside of one orange beehive piece.
7. Stitch the Beehive Body: Place the two orange beehive pieces together, with the wrong sides facing. Stitch around the perimeter using a blanket or whip stitch to create a neat edge.

Lovely Lavender Bloom Brooch

This vibrant flower can be attached to a bag, a jacket, or even used as a decorative element on a quiet book!

Step-by-Step Tutorial:

1. Die Cut all the Pieces: Cut out the petal layers from light purple felt and the leaf shapes from light teal felt. I created a textured look for the center by rolling a strip of dark purple felt.
2. Assemble the Petals: Layer the light purple petal pieces, offsetting them slightly to create a fuller bloom. Stitch it together in the center.
3. Create the Flower Center: For the textured center, take a strip of dark purple felt, fold it in half lengthwise, and then roll it tightly. Stitch the rolled edge to secure it with hot glue. Then, stitch this rolled center onto the layered petals.
4. Attach Leaves: Position the light teal leaves behind the flower, and stitch them securely in place.
5. Attach Brooch Pin: On the back of the assembled flower, securely hot-glue a brooch pin. Ensure it’s centered and flat so the brooch will lie nicely.

I hope these projects inspire you to explore the incredible possibilities of the new Summer Felt Stitch & Create Collection by Nichol Spohr! Creating tangible, stitched pieces with these dies is such a joy. Don’t forget to share your creations with us!

Happy stitching!

XOXO, Heejung

Spellbinders Supplies:

Other Supplies

Keyring and lobster clasp, Stuffing, Needle, Scissors, Brooch pin