Make the Bookmark



1. Start with a piece of fabric with fusible web applied and the paper backing torn off.
In this case, I used the leftovers from the labels.



2. Fold the fabric onto itself with fused sides together. This creates a two-sided fabric
with lots of body. The double fusing adds strength to the piece.



3. After cutting the piece into a rectangle using the Rotary Pinking Blade,
I used the Rotary Skip Blade to perforate two lines down the center of the bookmark.



You can see the perforations when I pull the fabric a little. This won’t fray; the double fusing strengthens the fabric. So, this technique has all kinds of applications!



4. Use a big tapestry needle to thread purple metallic ribbon through the perforations.



5. Cut two stars from fabric with fusible web on it. Don’t fuse them before cutting them out.



6. Place purple ribbon on top of a green star (fusible side up). Place the other star on top,
then iron, fusing the purple ribbon between the green star shapes.



7. Do the same for the purple stars.

I really hope that you had as much fun making this project as I did designing it.
I would like to appreciate my supporting cast in this project…without which
it just would not be the same…the 12 days of Havel’s Scissors!

For a printable PDF, please click here.

Finish the Edge

1. Use the same thread in the top and the bobbin of your sewing machine. Choose a nice edge finish stitch. I use an edge foot because the stitch seems to look so much better with it.



Snip-A-Stitch is a great tool for any kind of work on the sewing machine. You can see the little notch in the blade…this notch gets you very close to the fabric to cut the end threads without cutting the fabric.



This is what the edge of the album cover looks like.

2. Position your album on the cover and mark where the folds should be. This cover is just like the book covers we made as kids to cover our school books. Press the folds with an iron.

Here is the album inserted in the fold of the cover.

Here is the back of the album cover.

Here is the side view of the album cover.

Next: On The Twelfth Day Of Havel’s,
My True Love Is The Rotary Skip Blade

For a printable PDF, please click here.

Make the Back Label and the Spine Label

1. Apply fusible web to fabric before cutting.
This will keep the back label and spine label from fraying.



2. When using this blade, be sure to hold it upright so that both sides of the blade cut through.



I used an archival permanent drawing pen to write on the labels.

Then, positioned and fused them in place.

Next: On The Eleventh Day Of Havel’s,
My True Love Is The Snip-A-Stitch

For a printable PDF, please click here.

Make the Border



1. Choose your border fabric. The color you choose will frame the project,
so it can be subdued, or as I chose, something that would be bright!

2. Measure the size of your borders and add 1/2″ for overlap.
The wavy edge will overlap your design area.



3. Apply fusible web to your border fabric and tear off the backing paper before cutting.
This way you will avoid fraying.



4. You only need the wave design on the inside of each border. Cut the outside edge with Havel’s Jumbo Rotary Cutter for a straight finish. For the center area, cut both edges out with the Wave Blade. Press the borders to the lining and the overlap of the design areas.

On The Tenth Day Of Havel’s,
My True Love Is The Rotary Pinking Blade

For a printable PDF, please click here.

Make the Lining

1. I used polyester taffeta lining fabric for the lining. I traced the correct size of the lining onto the fabric with a fine line marker and then cut it out with serrated scissors.



Havel’s serrated scissors are wonderful for cutting slippery fabrics because
the teeth bite and hold the fabric as they cut.

2. Cut the fabric for the back of the album 14″ square.

Back of Album

3. Layout the front and the back of the album onto the lining.

Front of Album

Next: On The Ninth Day Of Havel’s,
My True Love Is The Rotary Wave Blade

For a printable PDF, please click here.

Make the Ornaments



1. Use a fine line marker and draw the ornaments’ hang wires onto the tree.



2. Position buttons on the tree to see how you want the different sizes and shapes to look.
Place them on top of your tree pattern to maintain your idea as you stitch the buttons on.



3. Hand stitch each button into place with red thread.



4. Use a multi-colored pearl cotton thread to simply stitch a straight line
for each hang wire. I used three or four stitches for each one.

Dura-Snips fit perfectly with your portable hand work tools.
You can use them to snip all types of yarn and threads.

Next: On The Eighth Day Of Havel’s,
My True Love Is The 7″ Serrated Sewing/Quilting Scissors

For a printable PDF, please click here.

Make the Garland

1. Trace the design of the garland onto the tree.

When I want to trace a line from a pattern, I trace the lines onto a piece of paper.



I cut away along the line I want. Trace the line, and then cut the next outline and so on.



I use Havel’s Teflon Coated Scissors to cut out the paper pattern.



2. Use Havel’s Snip-Eze to cut purple metallic ribbon pieces.
Each ribbon section should be cut 4 inches longer than the design.



3. Use the bar-tack on your sewing machine to stitch the garland down.
I used a purple rayon thread.



4. Use the closed Snip-Eze to pull up a little ribbon between
each bar-tack to make it look loopy.



Use a tapestry needle to secure the ribbons to the back of the work.

Next: On The Seventh Day Of Havel’s,
My True Love Is The 4 3/4″ Dura-Snips On A Neck Strap

For a printable PDF, please click here.

Make the Stars



1. Make templates of the stars from cardstock or template plastic.
I like to use the plastic from empty milk containers for templates.



Cut flat sections from the carton with Havel’s 6 1/2″ Teflon Coated Serrated Scissors. Use a fine point Sharpie to trace the star shapes on the plastic. Cut the stars out of the plastic.



2. Trace star shapes onto yellow felt with an orange marker.



This yellow tulle has a rainbow metallic thread woven in a diamond pattern.
This will add extra shiny color to this project.



3. Use a light spray of spray adhesive on the felt and adhere some glittery tulle to the felt.
Use newspaper to protect surfaces from the sticky spray.



4. Stitch the tulle to the felt. Use a marigold rayon thread to outline the shape three times.
You can use a long straight stitch or you can do free-motion stitching.

5. Cut out star shapes a scant 1/8″ outside of the stitched lines with Havel’s Teflon Scissors. Teflon scissors are great when working with sticky glues or paints. There are several sizes of these scissors which are great tools for the mixed media artist.



6. Glue the stars in position on the design. Put a book on the stars to press them flat
as they dry. Outline the stars with a deep pink fine point marker.

I didn’t glue the treetop star onto the design until after putting the border on
because I made it a little too big for the space.

Next: On The Sixth Day Of Havel’s,
My True Love Is Snip-Eze Blunt Tips

For a printable PDF, please click here.

Make the Christmas Presents

1. Choose fabric scraps that liven up the design. I chose four green prints.
Green will show up very well against the orange background.



2. Apply fusible web to the back of the fabric scraps. Take the paper off the fusible,
so that it is just the fabric with the iron-on web.



3. Use Havel’s 8″ Sewing/Quilting Scissors and free hand cut the present boxes. This will add whimsy to the design because the boxes won’t be perfectly square with straight lines.



4. Fuse in place.



5. Cut sections of 1/2″ red rick rack and glue in place as the package ribbons.



6. Glue a flower sequin to the top of each present.

Next: On The Fifth Day Of Havel’s,
My True Love Is The 6 1/2″ Teflon Coated Serrated Scissors

For a printable PDF, please click here.

Make the Christmas Tree

1. Trace tree and tree trunk shapes onto fusible web. Follow the manufacturer’s
directions to fuse fabrics to make the appliqués.

2. Use Havel’s to cut out the shapes.

My are also great for cutting threads on the surface
of my quilt top. The curve prevents cutting into the fabric.

Next: On The Fourth Day Of Havel’s,
My True Love Is The. . .

For a printable PDF, please click here.