Pincushion Teacup ~ a keepsake gift

• By Barb
• Posted in DIY home and garden craft projects, Home decor
• On October 24, 2014
• 6 Comments.

Do you have a set of Grandmother’s or Aunt Dot’s special dishes that have seen better days?  No longer used for family gatherings because of missing pieces, they still bring back happy memories. Or, maybe you have one wonderful teacup set you bought on a whim but never use.

 

Here’s a beautiful, useful way to repurpose teacups and saucers that will be a unique and thoughtful gift for family and friends. Even folks who don’t sew will enjoy this vintage project for its sentimental value.

You only need a teacup and saucer, a glue gun, a scrap of fabric and stuffing (it can be cotton balls, polyfiberfill, a mismatched sock or steel wool).

Use the saucer turned upside-down to trace a circle on the fabric. Cut it out and stuff the circle with the filling of your choice. Take care to pull all the sides up evenly and attach them with a rubberband or twist tie. This fabric ball is the base of your pincushion.

Fit your pincushion ball into the teacup to size it, then remove. Apply the hot glue inside the cup rim and bottom, then gently tuck the pincushion down into the glue. Decorate the front half of the pincushion with buttons, lace, trims and little silk flowers (all available at craft centers or from Grandmom’s sewing basket). Tuck a few hat pins into the fabric.

Glue the bottom of the teacup to the saucer and your keepsake treasure is complete! Happy memories in a repurposed gift that will be as beautiful as it is useful. And, this is a wonderful way to create a remembrance piece for all the grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.