Mini Tussie Mussie Tutorial

Historically a tussie-mussie was a small Victorian bridal bouquet. In the decades that followed, this term also became synonymous with a small cone-shaped vessel to hold a single flower or some other type of treat. Tussie Mussies were popular during May Day celebrations.
Last month I gave instructions on how to make a paper ruffle for a Tussie Mussie I was making. This month I am giving instructions on how to make the Tussie Mussie.

The four Tussie Mussies above are 5" high not including ruffle and the ribbon for hanging.

The following instructions are for this size.

1. Use a 10" diameter plate to draw a circle a 12" x 12" piece of paper or cardstock.

2. Find the center point of your circle and divide into 4 equal parts. Cut apart.

3. Fold 1/4" on one long side, cutting off the bottom corner.

4. Decorate

5. Glue long edges

To Decorate:

Tip: always decorate before joining the sides into a cone shape.

Decorations could include:
Lace ruffle, ric rac, gold trim, metallic pipe cleaners, ribbon. Wired ribbon is great because you just pull the wire and it gathers the ribbon.

Embellishments can be glued to the center front. I've used vintage lace, printed Victorian images, glitter shamrock, flowers, vintage buttons, ribbon, rhinestone, gold trim and ribbon flowers. The hanging ribbon can be glued on the cone before or after gluing on the ruffle. If attached to the outside of the cone, cover the ends with a little ribbon bow or button. I have used both tacky white glue and glue gun.

To glue the cone, use tacky white glue along the folded edge. Roll the cone so the two long edges glue, one edge on top of the glued edge. This can be tricky and frustrating but hold in place until dry.

Ideas on how to use your Tussie Mussies:
Give as a hostess gift, give as favors at a birthday party, to welcome a new neighbor, to welcome a baby, holds an invitation to a party or use as a container for a present.

Visit: http://www.allthingshomey.etsy.com for other Tussie Mussies and more handmade,original items!
Visit my blog http://www.allthingshomey.blogspot.com

Thanks for stopping by - comments are welcome!

Creatively yours,

Sally S. Swift

Paper Ruffle Directions

When I stopped quilting, I became creative with scrapbooks and collecting paper. To me, paper was just a different texture of fabric. Tussie Mussies are fun to make and great to give as gifts. When making Tussie Mussies I wanted a ruffle across the top and I wanted it to look similar to what Mary Englebreit would make. My solution was to pleat some paper and make my own paper ruffle.

Directions to make a paper ruffle are as follows: For an 8" long ruffle, start with a 1 1/2" wide strip of paper 22" long. (I joined two 12" strips, overlapping where a fold would appear.
If you want a decorative edge on your ruffle, it should be cut before you fold your strip. Your fold marks will go on the back side of the strip, along the bottom, straight edge. Mark your strip at 7/8" - 3'8" - 7/8 - 3/8" (etc) intervals.
FOLD 1: Fold up and over so the front edge lays even with the top edge on the back side.
FOLD 2: Fold to the left so the front lays even with the top edge.
FOLD 3: Fold top back on line 3 so that only the back is showing.
FOLD 4: Fold so that the front sides are facing each other and the back side shows outside.



Continue folding your strip. After you do steps 1-4 a couple of times, it will get into a rhythm and be easier. Always keep the front and back top edges aligned as you fold. Then pinch your folds tightly and hand stitch or machine stitch along the long bottom edge. The top can then be fanned out but still stay together. The stitched edge will be hidden when you glue it to your craft or it can be topped by ric rac, trim or another strip of coordinated paper.


Soon, I will post instructions on how to make Tussie Mussies. All my handmade items are 'one of a kind' and I post freshly made new items several times a week at my shop: www.allthingshomey.etsy.com/ - Take a look and I would appreciate your comments

ETSY -First Time to be Featured

Etsy and crafts....This week I have really been trying to learn how to market my Etsy shop. I joined a new Team: Homemadeology.etsy.com. Wow! A ton of information. Not just information to fill pages, but GOOD information, easily read and understood. I have been trying to learn about SEO (search engine optimization). You know, I really don't want to learn all this stuff but I have found out that I don't want to have a shop loaded with really nice items- but I don't have many visitors- so learn I must.
My reward for preserving was opening my email this morning to find that I have an item featured on an Etsy Treasury...Please check out my item and the treasury at:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d3607b19ddd8eefe605e72c/it-is-all-about-love-from-the?index=0
-article continues below-


This gets me excited and I want to reciprocate and do a Treasury featuring something from www.emakaye.etsy.com
Thanks Emakaye


'CRAFTY' TIP



Creating valentines can be fun! Creating the featured collage, I used pretty pink, wired ribbon that was rescued from a Christmas present package. I cut off the sparkly edge to edge the valentine image. Then I gathered the remaining edge of the cut ribbon to edge the top and bottom of the valentine image.



While shopping at Michaels after Christmas, I found this wonderful 2 1/2" wide PINK ribbon on sale, 70% off. The roll has 10 yards which I bought for $3. Wahoo!!
TIP...When checking sales, always look at the items with an 'out of the box' attitude. You'll be amazed at what you will find. Who would have thought to look for pink, polka-dot, sheer, sparkly, wired ribbon at Christmas?

Please let me know what crafts and tips you would like to read about on future blogs! And please check out my www.allthingshomey.etsy.com e-shop for more one of a kind Vintage Valentines and unique creations. Thanks for reading and have a blessed day!

Sally S Swift

My shop at ETSY

With the economy going in the direction of -down- and my Social Security check getting smaller each year I wanted to find a source to make some extra income. After a bit of research, I decided to open a shop on Etsy.com. It is a site where you sell Vintage, Handmade or supplies...and I hsve a ton of Vintage - and supplies.
My first attempt to list something on my shop page, allthingshomey@etsy.com was discouraging and frustrating. I am not a techi and I don't want to be but I have learned a few things with PSE7. I was frustrated because I couldn't get the photos to come out without being blurry. I searched and researched Etsy to find some help but found only a little. Daughter, Colette and her husband to the rescue. Warren gave me a different pixel to use than one I was using and I found the 'sharpen image' on my PSE7 so that took care of the photo problem.
After I had downloaded a couple of items for sale, I realized that I needed to find a way to market my store. The only thing I hate worse than Techi stuff is Marketing!
Colette to the rescue again. She offered to do it for me, so now she is my Marketing Chief Executive.
I had prayed and prayed through my frustration and Sunday, I felt God was giving me a Word. 'Take heart - it will come to pass.'
Yesterday, after church, I shot a whole bunch of photos and this morning I posted 7 items on Etsy.
Thank you all who have looked and commented. I am really going to celebrate when I have my first sale.