Audience Show and Tell: Snowman Mitten Pins, Yo-Yo Clowns

Cathy Higgins from Prescott, Ariz., shared the adorable button snowman mitten pins that she and her friends sell at a craft show at Christmas. She traces a simple mitten pattern onto felt, cuts out two, and then just stitches around the edge.

The snowman is made with three graduated sizes of buttons; use orange thread on the top smallest button to create his nose. She attaches the pins to a handmade card for a gift within a gift.

Using the yo-yos that her aunt taught her how to make years ago, Joy Hurlbut from Hayward, Calif., creates little clowns. Joy was wearing a poinsettia pin created by her niece by beading on perforated paper.

Yo-yos are made by sewing a running stitch around a circle of fabric and then gathering the thread. Several yo-yos are then stacked onto a pipe cleaner to create their bodies. A bead head is attached on the top and felt feet are added to the bottom.

Joy also stuffs some of the yo-yos with cotton balls and then strings them together to make a wreath.

She uses the clowns to decorate packages and gives them as ornament gifts.