Spring has sprung! For the first time this season, I opened up my windows. I even raised up the storm glass in the screen doors. It's time to let some fresh air blow through, which in our house sets up an amazing wind tunnel effect that slams doors shut upstairs and down. I need a stylish way to keep the doors open and the air circulating. ScrapBusters to the rescue! Today's door stop is a simple cube made with standard cottons stiffened with ultra firm fusible interfacing. An opening along the bottom is where I inserted polyester fiber fill at the top, just to take up a little space, and a plastic bag of inexpensive dried navy beans at the bottom for weight. The opening seals shut with Velcro®. A wide twill tape handle makes it's easy to place and move the door stop anywhere the wind blows.

There are so many times you need two hands free (Look Ma... No hands!). So today we have a clever pouch you can slip on a belt. Anytime you need both hands to get a task done, this little organizer is great solution. It's perfect for urban walkers, Saturday antiquing adventures or just when you're trying to wrangle two toddlers down the block. Drop your smart phone in a pocket at the back and use the zippered front pocket to hold cash, change, credit cards or other necessities. We also incorporated a handy D-ring at the top to allow you to slip a key fob in place. Or, as we show above, snap on a caribiner and, rather than slipping the pouch over a belt, simply clip it to a belt loop or even onto another larger bag or pack for fast on-and-off access.

Scrap-It and ScrapBusters are two ongoing series we have here at Sew4Home. The idea is to come up with quick and easy projects that use up some of those special little fabric leftovers in your stash bag. Today's mini key fobs are a perfect example: they're something useful for yourself or great as a gift; they use just a tiny bit of fabric and notions; and they're fast and fun. In fact they were so fun to make, we did FIVE samples. Each features a different embellishment technique: decorative stitching, piping, embroidery, ribbon trim, and patchwork. I'm sure you can come up with even more options: a monogram, lace, rick rack, buttons. 

My brother made me laugh out loud when he said a "mug rug" sounded like a bad toupee for an ugly guy. Although a great guess, a mug rug is really a mini placemat designed to be able to hold your coffee or tea cup and maybe an extra little treat, or... when placed by your sewing machine, a handy place to jab a few pins and needles as you sew. Originally, they came onto the scene as a fun excuse to use up some scraps to make an itty-bitty quilt. We took the mug rug concept a step further by turning it into a hand-sewn greeting card with the addition of our Salutation Strip through the center. Cards are a nice thought, but most eventually end up in the garbage can. Instead, create a Happy Birthday, Congratulations or I Love You message with a purpose; an every day reminder to the recipient that they have a friend in you!