I love bunnies! I had a favorite bunny about thirty years ago, Willoughby, he was white with black nose and ear tips. Housetrained he would also walk on a leash and growl at the cats!

I have made many bunnies these past few years, needle felted, fabric, felt and clay. For the Smoothfoam blog I created a bitsy bunny with ACTIVA Hearty airdry clay. Quick and easy requiring just a foam egg and clay plus a few embellishments. He seems to have forgotten something!

You will need:
3"Egg of Smoothfoam
1 pkg of Hearty Clay by ACTIVA
Brads by Recollection
12" piece of green ribbon
Party Pink Acrylic paint by DecoArts
Clay roller
(Pin, knife, ruler, plastic cup, craft mat, ziplock bag)

1.     Break off 1/3 of packaged clay. Cut in half. Roll out one half for bunny body. Break off other half into five pieces.

2.     Shape four pieces into long ovals for the feet and paws. Shape last piece into a rough ball for tail.

3.     Wrap flat rolled piece of clay around egg, smooth and remove excess. Use finger dipped in water to smooth seams.

4.     Refer to finished photo and insert eyes, nose, tummy brads into body. Use pin to make a hole if needed. Make eyelash, mouth marks with pin.

5.     Attach paws and feet. Dip finger in water and smooth seams. Arrange paws in place. Add tail to back so bunny stands easily.

6.     Break off another piece of clay for ears, make two long ovals flattening them in center. Place a drop of pink paint on mat. Wet finger and touch paint, rub lightly along center of ears. Repeat for cheeks.

7.     Attach ears to top of head. Dip finger in water and smooth seams. Tie and add bow with a brad to top of head.

A package of clay will make a couple more bunnies or a batch of eggs, color easily with markers or paints. Keep hopping in National Craft Month and find all kinds of fun projects on the Smoothfoam Blog!

Celebrating National Craft month continues, as part of the Smoothfoam Design Team, we have a crafty new project for every day this month on the Smoothfoam blog!

Several months ago I moved into a beautiful heritage home along the river in picturesque Fredericton, NB. After months of renovation we are now open as Quartermain House B&B! In the spacious attic I was able to add another bedroom for visiting family and a fun studio. The view of the river from both rooms is beautiful!

While taping Quilting Arts this summer, I mentioned about my new place and Pokey Bolton the sweet host of the show passed it on to the sister publication Studios.

The current issue is on the newstand now and here is my studio! Being a Scorpio, our color is violet and I am really embracing it these days! A paintable wallpaper hides all of the wall imperfections, my darling fiancee applied it all and built a storage work counter along one entire side. I love the peacefulness of it, my sewing machine table and work counter look out over the river. A comfy leather chair to relax in and a supply of my favorite movies by the fireplace, it makes for a cozy inspiring space! The chandelier, the mirror my two favorite pieces. The chair covers were dyed with Rit Dye, love how they came out!

The space is divided into zones, with a comfy chair and books, a large table to spread out projects on, a sewing and ironing area along with a higher work counter to finish small projects on. Trims, fabric and buttons are in one area of the storage counter by the sewing area and paper related items together at the lower end.

Having a place to create in, to be surrounded by color, bins of trims and fabrics is wonderful. Being creative needs space, solitude where ideas and imagination can flow. I feel very grateful to have such a beautiful studio to do that in. Where do you create?

The Designer Craft Connection Challenge is on with the cutest buttons from Buttons Galore and More. I got to work with the Spring Fling Collection designed by the talented Vicki Schreiner. I had some of her fabrics and Bazooples buttons so I added those to this little cottage scene. An easy peasy no sew project!

Materials:
1 dozen assorted Spring Fling & Bazooples Buttons from Buttons Galore
6" hoop
7" x 14" piece of cotton fabric
Fabric, lace, trim scraps
6" square fusible web
½ yard each of two ribbons
Fabri-Tac by Beacon
5", 8" Westcott Brand® Titanium Steel Scissors
(Ruler, pins, measuring tape, pencil, invisible marker, iron, ironing board, pliers)

1.     Fold fabric rectangle in half. Open up hoop and place fabric between hoop pieces. Tighten.

2.     Draw pattern pieces on fusible web. Main House 3" by 3 ½". Roof Triangle 3" by 4". Window 1 ¼" square. Door 1 ¼" by 2" rectangle, round top of door.

3.     Fuse pieces to hoop fabric with hoop screw off centered. Begin with main house, add roof, door and window. Tighten hoop again if needed. Trim excess fabric from hoop.

4.     Embellish cottage. Tie ribbons through hoop screw. Snap off button backs to lay flat and glue to hoop.

This is such a fun project, one of those cute fabric ideas that does not require any sewing. Some stitches could be added for embellishment. Enjoy, create a whole neighborhood.

For this Designer Challenge Buttons Galore is offering a great giveaway collection of buttons and ribbon in a stylish container from Viewtainer! To win one of the Viewtainers filled with ribbons and buttons - Leave a comment on the Buttons Galore Blog Post. http://wp.me/p2hPby-1Du. The comment should contain your favorite project from the hop, and the container you would like to win. Comments need to be made by March 17th, 2013 at 11:59 eastern standard time. Hop to all the great designer button projects with the DC Button in the right Sidebar! Happy Hopping and Crafting!

Lots of crafty goodies everywhere! Don't forget there is till time to enter....Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop! AND to celebrate (inter)National Craft Month we have a super giveaway, a collection of products from FabScraps, https://www.facebook.com/pages/FabScraps/112579348780638?ref=ts&fref=ts. Julie McGuffee shared these products as a Trade Show find on TV, http://youtu.be/-OZjx6Yhmg0.

So here is to National Craft Month, to crafting, sewing, painting, embossing, doodling, to creativity! Have fun!

It is the first Monday of the month and time for the Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop! AND to celebrate (inter)National Craft Month we have a super giveaway, a collection of products from FabScraps,  https://www.facebook.com/pages/FabScraps/112579348780638?ref=ts&fref=ts. Julie McGuffee shared these products as a Trade Show find on TV, http://youtu.be/-OZjx6Yhmg0.

oh and I sew love to make aprons! Have a few pretty ones I am creating to wear at Quartermain House B&B.

.....and wait there is even more, beginning March 7th, we are also hopping in Buttons Galore DCC Blog Hop! Love their buttons!

....and the Smoothform Design Team was just announced. I am pleased to be part of their team along with several very talented professional designer friends! We have a super creative blog with a new project for every day of the month!

So here is to National Craft Month, to crafting, sewing, painting, embossing, doodling, to creativity! Have fun!