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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Ladybug Nail Art and Workshop Cards

Before I share our Workshop cards for this month, I wanted to show off some really cute toes!  Beginning to think I should have had something winter done to them instead since we are having such a nice winter this spring!  Anyways, thank you to Jenn Banks at Totally Gel’d for the nail art!  Click ‘Like’ on her Facebook page to see more of her art.

Ok, on to our Workshop cards.  I strongly suggest any of you locals to come to Joanne Bannerman’s Workshops.  She has them one day a month, usually from 1 to 4ish.  Even if you have never made a card or done any scrapbooking, she will guide you through it.  A great outing filled with chuckles, great coffee and homemade snacks!

W083 Not sure if I scanned this crocked or if I put my stamped image on crocked!  This card uses Night of Navy and Sahara Sand cardstock and Blueberry Crisp designer series paper.


W084 I sure like this card.  It uses Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry and Vanilla cardstock.  The stamp set is called Natural Beauty.


W084 Now how cute and simple is this?  Love it!  Used Daffodil Delight, White, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue and Wisteria Wonder cardstock with the butterfly and border punch.


Thank you for stopping by.  Both Joanne and I are SU! demonstrators so if at any time you would like to purchase SU! products, give her a call or from my Blog, click on the Shop Now button.  Your order will be delivered right to you (you do have to give SU! a street address, not a box #).

Friday, April 26, 2013

MDS 111 You make me Smile Scrapbook Page

 

All the scrap pages on my Blog are done digitally using My Digital Studio (MDS) by Stampin Up!.  Not only can you create individual scrap pages or scrapbooks, you can make cards, journals, newsletters, framed art for your wall, postcard and so much more!  Possibly you have created a photo journal type scrapbook on other sites like Kodak or Snapfish which are professionally made books with your pictures and captions - you choose the backgrounds and layout design and upload your pictures.  MDS does this too, but it does not stop at layout designs!  They have background papers, punches, stamp sets, embellishments etc, etc, etc. You can then print your projects at home or you can use the Stampin’ Up!  printing services which is truly fabulous!!  You can also import other digital images into MDS.  ‘You Make Me Smile’ is by Digital Scrapbook Experts, not SU!.  You can change the color of just about everything that comes with MDS to match your pictures/paper as I did with the stitching and the tape.  Simply an amazing program!  If you are thinking about digital scrapbooking, you can download MDS for a free 30 day trial period.  Click on the Shop Now button at the top of my Blog for more info.  You will be hooked!
Paper: Distressed Pretty in Pink, Blooms, Brocade, Grid, Small Polka Dots, Stripe, Soft Flower.
Stamps: My Sweet Pea.
Embellishments: Buttons, Stitching, Digital Tape, Taffeta Ribbon.
Punches: Square, Circle, Tall Heart.
Page before adding photos.
Non SU!: You Make me Smile by Digital Scrapbook Experts.

Come back for a craft or a sewing project or a recipe or a card or something different than a scrap page on Tuesday. 
Would love to read your Comments so please leave one!

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Sewing - Disappearing 9 Patch Tote


I am still really bothered with my first quilting episode – Quilting is Not Easy.  I found this Disappearing 9 Patch tutorial by Quilts and ATCs and thought "maybe this is my kind of quilting".  Surely I can sew this to make a straight square!  So here we go.

You need 18 - 5″ squares for the blocks so I used a charm pack since it is already cut for me.  Take 9 charms and sew them together in 3 rows of 3 and press.
 

Sew these three rows together and press.  To line up the seams, stick a pin at the seam intersections.
 

Repeat with another 9 squares.  Now we have a front and back to our tote.
 

Cut each block in half, turn them and cut those two pieces in half again.  Notice the center square is now the small square in all 4 blocks!
 

Turn the blocks until you are happy with the arrangement.
 

Sew them together and press. What the heck happened??  They didn’t end up straight!  I really think quilting is NOT for me.  Anyways, trim to square up the block.
 

Repeat with the other block.
 

Cut a 3.5” x 13.5” strip from a fat quarter and sew it to the bottom of each block.   Cut a piece of fusible fleece or iron on interfacing to match each block.
 

Decorative stitch the seams.
 

Sew sides and bottom together.
 

Box the corners by taking the bottom corner and squeeze it so the seams meet.  Stick a pin through all thicknesses at the seam line so that you know you are matched up.  Once you have the seams lined up perfectly, pin in place. Mark a line at 1.5” from the point. Sew a couple times down that line to make sure you have strong seam.  Trim off corner and zigzag. Repeat for the other corner.
 

Set aside for now.  From a fat quarter, cut two 5″ x 18″ pieces and cut two charms in half for the handles.  Sew one charm to each end of the handle.  Press and topstitch.
 

Pin and stitch them to the top of each side about 2” away from the center.
 

Use a couple fat quarters to make a lining for your bag.  Add pockets if desired.  Box the corners. 

Pin the lining and tote with right sides together.  Pin all the way around.
 

Leave an opening about 6”for turning.
 

Now pull the bag through that 6” opening you left.
 

Here is what it looks like once it is all pulled through the opening.
 

Pin the 6” opening and topstitch all the way around the bag.
 

Topstitch again about 1” from first line.
 

Not too bad eh?  I think my quilting abilities will stick to something this simple!   The tote is not a very big - about 11” wide x 13.5 tall” plus the handles. Gusset is about 3” deep at the bottom.
 


Friday, April 19, 2013

MDS 110 Creating a Faux Corner Fold in MDS

The gang trying out their luck in Vegas 2011.

This is a page I found on Craftin Caro’s blog.  Thought I would give it a try.  Not bad eh?

Background: Crumb Cake.
Embellishments: Buttons Pack Neutrals - Crumb Cark - button 2.
Stamps: Game Night, Simple Friendship - vine, School Days – circle.
Page before adding photos.
Punches: 1.25 Square Punch.
Would love if you left me a Comment!  If life doesn't get in my way too badly, I am going to post a craft or a sewing project or a recipe or a card or something different than a scrap page every Tuesday. Hope you will join me or better yet, sign up to have my posts sent directly to your email. That can be done by clicking on Home and entering your email under Subscribe via email.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Craft - Double Wreath and Yellow Hair Bows



Start with a prepared Hair Clip from this post.  Set aside.
Cut 3 pieces of ribbon about 5”, 3.5” and.75” long.  I am using Satin Stitched ribbon in the new color, Midnight Muse by Stampin Up.   Seal the ends with a lighter flame.  Fabri-Tac the two longer pieces into a circle.
 
Fabri-Tac the circle in the center to make a bow.
 
Stack the bows and Fabri-Tac together.  Fabri-Tac to a prepared Hair clip and wrap the small piece of ribbon around it, trimming and re-heat setting if necessary.
 
That is it!

Ok, now onto a very simple hair bow.
 
 
Cut a piece of cardboard 2” wide, cut about a ¼” slit in the center; cut .5” or 5/8” wide ribbon 10” long, cut the ends on an angle and heat seal the ends; cut 3/8” wide ribbon 3” long, seal the ends and tie into a knot.
 
Wrap the long ribbon around the cardboard, moving it up about 1/8” on each wrap.  I used paper clips to hold in place.
 
Run a basting stitch through the center of the ribbon.
 
Remove paper clips and remove ribbon from cardboard.  Pull thread tight, wrapping it around a few times.
 
Fabri-Tac the center of the knot to the center of the bow.
 
Wrap ends to the back of the bow, trimming and re-heat setting.  Fabri-Tac to a prepared Hair clip and that is it!
 

Friday, April 12, 2013

MDS 109 Easter Scrapbook Page

 

Let me just tell you that you have not lived if you haven't experienced Carolyn's cinnamon buns straight out of her oven!  YUM!  YUM!!  YUM!!!  Jackie is pregnant with Brynn.
 
I followed this sketch by Sketchy Thursday (number 50610) or at the bottom of this post.  Thought it turned out pretty nice!

Paper: Textured Night of Navy, Villa and Stripe in Night of Navy, Real Red
 
Soft Flowers, Christmas Cocoa 11 (2).
Stamps: Autumn Elements.
Embellishments: Grosgrain Ribbon, Mis-Stitched, Brads.
 
 
Punches: Square, Circle, Eyelet Border, Lots of Tags 1.
Font: Stretching Up High.
Hope this leaves you with some inspiration!  Would love if you left me a Comment!  Check back on Tuesday for something other than a scrapbook page.
 
Sketch_50610

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Sewing - Kitchen Towel Grocery Bag Holder

Welcome to a Sewing project today.
 
Here it is hanging in my broom closet.
 
This project is so easy to make and handy to have in your kitchen to store all those plastic grocery bags for re-use.  I picked up this 3 pack of Kitchen Towels at Walmart.  They measured 19 inches wide by 29 inches long.  Because I have these labels, I had to add one.
 
 
Since the short ends are already hemmed for us, find your favorite tool for threading elastic.

 
The only safety pin I had was too big so I threaded 12 inches of .25 wide elastic with my bodkin but I pinned the safety pin to the opposite end of the elastic to prevent it from pulling through.

 
With the safety pin and bodkin still in place, I stitched each side to secure the elastic.  This is the top of the bag.  Repeat for the bottom of the bag using 10 inches of .25 inch wide elastic.

 
Fold your towel in half, right sides together, and sew along the long edge to form a tube.  I used a zipper foot so I could sew right up against the existing seam.

 
Cut grosgrain ribbon about 10 inches long.  Burn the ends to prevent them from fraying.

 
Fold in half to make a loop. Tack this to the top of the bag for the hanger.

 
The top of this bag is so thick that I used the Jean-a-ma-jig to put the pressure foot at the same height as the seam.  Trim the elastic.

 
This is what a jean-a-ma-jig looks like.  It arrived in last years Christmas card from my sister!  Just the handiest tool!  Thanks again Arlene!

 
Hang it up and fill it with plastic bags by stuffing bags into the top of your holder and pulling them out through the bottom.  Make extras for the craft room, baby’s room, cabin and even the garage!
 

If you would prefer to buy one, I have a few on hand for $15.00 plus Express envelope. Click on the Buy Now button to order.  Email me and I will send you more details.