I have a special valentine’s project for you! A Heart Shaped Pincushion! But part of the beauty of this tutorial is that you will be able make any size or shape pincushion because it is all based on a cookie cutter.
Note: Be sure to read all the written instructions as well as the instructions with the picture mosaics.
Supplies:
• one charm pack (really I just use a few charms for this…so a whole charm pack isn’t necessary)
• cookie cutter (clearly I used a heart shaped one…size is your preference)
• Hot Glue gun
• One sheet of fun foam (the stuff in the kid’s craft aisle)
• One sheet of a thin floral foam / Styrofoam (can be found in the floral aisle)
• One bag of Zilla brand lizard litter – crushed walnut shells (one bag will last a LONG time)
Instructions:
Cutting Fabric for the Pincushion
• Pick out your favorite charms and if necessary piece them together to create a large enough piece of fabric for your cookie cutter plus 3″ around. Then follow the directions in the mosaic below.
Cutting Foam for the Pincushion
• Use your cookie cutters to cut out the floral foam to fit exactly inside the cookie cutter. Depending on the foam you use and how sharp your cookie cutters are, you may need a little help from a kitchen knife. Then trace around the cookie cutter onto the fun foam and cut out the exact shape of the cookie cutter for the bottom of the pincushion.
Fitting the Fabric to the Cookie Cutter
• Pull your running stitch slightly to start gathering the fabric and fit it to the shape of the cookie cutter. You will want to shape it so that a small “bowl” is formed on the topside of the cookie cutter/pincushion. Use your hot glue gun and glue the fabric to the inside of the cookie cutter around the whole perimeter.
Filling the Pincushion
• Use the crushed walnut shells to fill the pincushion. Crushed shells create a great weight to the pin cushion and they help keep your pins sharp. The type I used was like a coarse sand. The amount you need will depend on the size of your cookie cutter but I used about a cup for the large one. You will want to hold up your cookie cutter while filling it to make sure that you put enough in to round out what will be the top of the pincushion…that “bowl”.
Putting the Bottom on the Pincushion
• With the charm glued firmly in place, there should be no chance of any filling escaping. But we have two more layers to add to the bottom to make it completely finished and polished. First add the floral foam and hot glue in place. I found that the hot glue actually melted my foam a bit, so I used that to my advantage and created a perfect seal around the perimeter. Then I used hot glue on the fun foam and attached it firmly to the floral foam.
Finishing Details
• You may find you have a bit of a gap now at the bottom of your pincushion or things are not as tidy as you might like. So make it all beautiful again by hot gluing a bit of ribbon or trim around the perimeter of the base.
• Fill with pins and use often! Make them in all shapes and sizes. I made a smaller one for my needles as well. (Although I’m thinking of putting some felt on that one)
I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and are inspired to make a pincushion for every season. I’ve already bought more cookie cutters to make more!
I love to get presents but I hate the hype of valentines.
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I'm not a big fan of valentines day; just seems like another opportunity for the shops to try to get us to spend money on unnecessary rubbish.
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My husband asked me to marry him on Feb. 9th because he just couldn't wait for Valentine's day so that day is much more special to us.
What a cute pin cushion. Excellent tutorial too. I love it.
I love everything about Valentines. The colors, the candy, the heartwarming intentions. Always have, always will.
SewCalGal
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For me, Valentine's day mostly means that I only have 3 shopping days left to get a gift for my boyfriend's birthday! 😀 I like to do sweet things for my b/f unexpectedly (and kinda like that in return), rather than having it feel required, so we don't really celebrate vday. 🙂
Thanks for a great giveaway!
Also, I'm a follower of your blog. For reals!
I love the idea of a holiday that celebrates LOVE! This is a very exciting giveaway – thanks! – because I love the fat quarter bundles and the other fabrics that the Intrepid Thread has available!
I am a happy regular follower of your blog!
I'm afraid I'm a hopeless romantic who can only dream that hubby may oneday surprise me with a romantic gesture.
My favorite thing about Valentine's Day is the big red heart shaped boxes of chocolates. I especially like the pieces with caramel inside.
I love this pincishion tutorial! I have wondering where to find crushed walnut shells, or why they are good to use for pincushions…..now I know.
Thanks! I'll put it to good use 🙂
I am a new follower.
The thing I love most is the dark chocolate…the thing I love least is the addiction I have to the dark chocolate and what the scale tells me about that addiction!
p.s. The pin cushion is darling!
Cute tut. Thanks. When I owned a flower shop I hated all the work leading up to the holiday but I did enjoy seeing the faces of my customers when they saw the beautiful flowers in my creations.
I'm a hopeless romantic so I will always love everything about Valentine's Day! Thank you for the chance to win!
I'm following you by email!
I am a follower!
The older you get, the less important Valentine's Day is and the more important it seems to express sentiments to one another all the time! Adds spice to life!
I love the pin cushion. Not into Valentine's day and valentines though
email is lovinthesunnow (at) yahoo (dot) com. Did I do that correctly?
Florida Janie
Adorable pincushion. Thanks for sharing.
Valentine's Day isn't too over the moon here. I enjoy taking the time out to spend some extra time with my husband and some extra time with the children making cutout heart cookies. V-day is just a reminder to me to make sure those I love know I love them.
Great idea and it is so cute too. Thanks for the tutorial.
My favorite thing about valentines day is the sweets! The chocolate and colors! 😀
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I follow your blog 🙂
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I don't celebrate V. Day, but love the tutorial
I am a follower.
Sweet tutorial… never thought to used crushed walnuts. Thanks for sharing.
As for Valentines… I don't make a big deal about it but if anyone remembers some chocolate or flowers (both??) I feel loved!!
While I do enjoy flowers and chocolate, I have to agree with your husband. 🙂
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I am a follower of your blog… looking forward to more sweet ideas and tutorials.
Valentine's Day is special to all lovers–old loves and new loves
Great tutorial and very fun blogging.
Thanks for the very fun tutorial and blog space.
I love Valentine's Day as it is so special to both old loves and new loves.
Hate that it's focused around candy and chocolate, weakness! Love the colors!
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Hope you can fix that comment problem cause I am one of the ones that is over 200!
I don't care for Valentine's day for myself…don't like spending the money, but now that there are grandchildren, I seem to want to make them cookies and crafts all inspired for Valentines Day…hummm.
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I'm a follower.
My favorite thing about Valentine's Day is getting chocolate. My least favorite thing is when I don't get any chocolate!
I like V-Day -The Chocolates the cute little cards! I like to send them to my Grandchildren now. Makes it more fun now that I'm older.
This is such a fun blog hop! I was sick and not able to keep up with all of this, so I know I'm way behind times here. I just wanted to say that I am a new follower and really love all your cute ideas! Thanks for sharing the pincushion tutorial. It is super cute.
I am not a huge fan of Valentine's Day, but when our kids were home, it was always a favorite of theirs. My hubby and I prefer to do the sweet, loving things every day of the year!
love the tutorial!
as for valentine's day, i always try to do something special for my husband, but still think it's just another flowers-and-cards marketing scam!
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I dont like the price of flowers on valentines day, I prefer my DH to buy all year round instead 🙂
Cute pincushion! My favorite thing is candy hearts!
Very nice tutorial. I love your blog. Thanks for the chance to win prizes.
Pincushion is adorable, gonna look for cookie cutters tomorrow 🙂
We have a day after Valentines tradition at our house….we buy some candies, sometimes new coffee mugs, 1/2 price !!
every year I mail something to one of my sisters or brothers, it is always a surprise as no one knows who will get the goodie this year!! two of my sisters sew, so maybe this will be the goodie this year 🙂
Thanks much.
I am a follower 🙂
That is a wonderful pincushion! Thank you so much for your pictures and instructions.
I love your pincushion! Thanks for the great giveaway!