Frances Eden Update

Well, that cloud is done!  It actually wasn't all that bad, I think I just psyched myself out that it was going to take forever.  I did find some uninterrupted stitching time to get big sections done which helped.  I also did the outline and then just had to fill in which also made it easier.  A few good movies later and now I'm off to other motifs!

My Hometown

 

And, as promised here is a finished My Hometown!  I stitched this on 36 count Everglade linen using DMC threads.  I started this sampler during last year's Olympics and finished it during the first week of January, but still dated it 2010 since it was pretty much my project for 2010. 

As I like to do, I did some personalization to this sampler to make it mine.  The changes were minor, obviously I changed the name to where I consider home, the chart was for "Manchester" and Madison took up much less space so I just added some of the birds since there wasn't enough room for another swirl, and frankly I didn't want to do any more backstitching!  I also changed the three kitties (in front of the red schoolhouse) and the two horses up at the top to look like my present and past pets.  I considered subsituting a dog for the bird in the lower left hand corner but never decided on a design so I just left it. 

A New Start

For those of you who follow my stitching pursuits I have to apologize that I haven't posted anything in a long time!  I was working on My Hometown by Carriage House samplings and it was taking forever.  Well, toward the end of 2010 I decided that it needed to just get done!  So, I sat down and over a couple weeks finished it up.  I'll be posting pics once it's in the frame so stay tuned. 

With My Hometown done, I decided to start Frances Eden by Handwork Samplers.  I had seen this great sampler on a few blogs that I read and decided that I needed to add it to my collection.  I am stitching this on Silkweaver Forest Haven using Anchor threads. 

The upper left-hand corner went fairly quickly and then I saw that darn cloud and started having flashbacks of the cloud at the top of And They Sinned.  So, I've started the cloud and am going to finish that next.  Stay tuned for more updates on my progress! 

Sweet Pincushion

Oh my gosh, I am having so much fun with all this great fabric, my big shot and dies!  Today I got out my big shot with the Scallop Circle Die (113468).  I cut out two pieces of the button fabric from the Sweet Stitches fabric (121818) and sewed them together, leaving about a 1" gap.

Then I filled the circle with ground up walnut shells (can be found at any pet store) and sewed the gap closed to make a pincushion.  Apparently the walnut shells are better on your pins than cotton stuffing.  I nestled in a Melon Mambo designer button (122302) with a piece of Early Espresso 1/8" taffeta ribbon (119959) and sewed it on with a piece of thread.

I signed up to take a quilt class starting at the end of March and I'll need a pincushion and I'm so excited to have made my own to use during class!  Thanks for dropping by!!  

Sweet Stitches Journals

This is the journal that I ended up making for my downline after I wasn't sure that they would love what I had put together for myself.  This journal is actually the 5x5 Art Journal (108495) so it's a bit smaller than the original plan but I figured it would be good to use for photos and to take to events with them.  

This journal is covered with Sweet Stitches Designer Paper (121781).  I just love how this paper has the look and feel of fabric that you might find at a quilt or fabric store!  

I stamped the letters using the Lovely Letters Alphabet (115030) and then the images around the letters are from the Sale-A-Bration Bliss stamp set (121851) stamped in Regal Rose.  

These journals also gave me a good opportunity to try out the new Beveled Windowpanes (121881) and they are so cute!  They have a slot to thread ribbon through and I used the Victoria Crochet trim (118481) and 1/8" taffeta ribbon in Early Espresso (119959) to attach the frame to the journal.  But, I did notice that the frame slipped around a bit so I added a couple mini glue dots between the frame and the layer of cardstock as a little added insurance.  The best part is that you can hardly tell that the glue dots are there!

Thanks for stopping by!! 

Sew Sweet Journal

This is the Journal that I made for Leadership this year.  I had intended to make these for myself and my downline who went but it's a little busy so while I love it I wasn't positive that they would.  Come back tomorrow to see what I ended up making for them to use during the event.  

I usually  make these journals for Stampin' Up! events and this time I wanted a journal that could also serve as a craft journal so I wanted a very tactile 3-D look.  I ended up using the Scallop Square die (115950) to cut squares of the Sweet Stitches fabric (121818) with the Big Shot and adhered them with our Mulitpurpose glue, aka "Green Glue" (110755).  

Then I used the Buttons stamp from the Sew Sweet stamp set (121933) to create a centerpiece for the journal.  You'll also see the Sweet Stitches Designer Buttons (122302), Melon Mambo pompom trim (123322) and the Sweet Stitches Fabric Designer Brads (121880) used here.  I don't know about you but I love the way it turned out!  Thanks for stopping by!  

Stampin' Up! Rag Quilt Fabric Bag

Whoa, stop the presses, this is super cute!  This is a Rag Quilt bag given to me by one of my uplines at the recent Stampin' Up! Leadership conference.  Isn't it stinkin' cute??  Do you remember seeing this bag in the picture of my kitchen island turned sewing area?  I was so inspired that I decided to make one myself!

This bag is made with the super cute Sweet Stitches Fabric (121818), the Scallop Square Die (115950) and the Big Shot (113439).   My upline made a bunch of these bags so she used a different fabric for the lining, you could do that or you could make the inside of the bag match the outside.  It's your preference.

Oh, and one thing I was super excited about was that it matched the journal that I had created for the event.  Come back tomorrow to see that!  Thanks for stopping by!  

Build A Blossom

I love the new Build a Blossom Stamp set (121923) and the coordinating Blossom Petals Punch (121808).  I designed this card after seeing some similar designs at Leadership.  Each petal is stamped on Very Vanilla Cardstock and then punched with the punch and then I used a bone folder to curl each petal slightly to give a dimensional look.  

I tried several different ways to assemble the flower but found that the best way was to poke a hole toward the inner part of each petal and then stack them onto an Antique Brad (117273).  Then I could spread them out nicely but secure them as well.  I actually pushed the brad right through the layer of Very Vanilla cardstock that has been embossed with the Framed Tulips Embossing Folder (121809).  I love the look of this card and I made a second using a Birthday sentiment to give to a neighbor who celebrated a birthday last week.  She loved it!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Supplies:

Stamps: Build a Blossom (121923), Sincere Salutations (115068)

Inkpads:  Basic Black (101179), Old Olive (102277), Perfect Plum (101437)

Cardstock:  Very Vanilla (101650), Old Olive (100702), Perfect Plum (101889)

Accessories:  Blossom Petals Punch (121808), Antique Brads (117273), Framed Tulips Embossing Folder (121809), Decorative Label Punch (120907), Stampin' Sponges (101610), Paper Piercing Tool (116631), Mat Pack (105826). 

 

 
 
 

Flower Folds Fabric Pin Giveaway

Thanks for visiting today!  Here's the final look at the fabric pin made with the Flower Folds Big Shot die.  Isn't it cute?  

And, I'm giving this flower folds pin away to one lucky winner!  Place an online order in February and you will be entered into a drawing for this very fabric flower pin!  You'll receive one entry for any order and another for every $50 increment in orders and of course at that level you'll get Sale-A-Bration benefits too!  Good luck!  

I finished it off with a big button tied with a piece of 1/8" Taffeta ribbon (p. 191).  I then stitched the button on with a needle and thread and attached a pin back.  

Flower Folds Fabric Pin Tutorial

I finally learned how to make these adorable fabric flower pins using the Big Shot Flower Folds Fabric Pin.  They are so easy so here's a step by step tutorial of how to make them.  Before you begin you'll need a few supplies.  

Supplies:  Big Shot (113439), Extended Cutting Pads (113478), Flower Folds Die (115970), a Scrap of cardstock approximately 6x10, pins and something to finish the front (I love the big buttons in the Occasions mini 122301 or 122302 tied with a piece of 1/8" Taffeta from page 191 of the Idea Book and Catalog).  

To make the pin, cut your fabric into strips that are 6" wide.  This die has fold lines so I recommend only cutting 2 or 3 layers of fabric.  Stack an extended cutting pad, the scrap piece of cardstock, the flower folds die, fabric and then the other extended cutting pad to make your big shot sandwich.  Run the sandwich through the big shot and the result should look something like this:  

Remove the flowers and choose which flowers you would like your pin to be made of.  I typically use the three smaller sizes but love layering all four layers for headbands, bags, etc.  

Fold the flowers in half so you see four petals (don't fold so that you see any half petals).  The result will look like this:

You need four of these half flowers for each size of flower:

Start layering the flowers on top of each other:

Then add a third flower:

To add the forth flower, you will need to fold up the exposed part of the first flower, lay down the fabric for the fourth flower and then fold the fabric back down from the first flower:

Once you have this done, repeat the above steps for the other layers you want to use in your pin.  

Stack all the layers on top of each other and stitch through them with a Chenille needle and thread.  I stitched two "X's" through the layers and made sure I caught each piece of fabric so the pin will hold together.  

Then, just add the button embellishment and a pin back (or attach to whatever you want it to attach to).  Come back tomorrow to see the finished product!! 

Thanks for reading, please email me or comment if you have any questions!