Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Rebel Hoedown #26 & Mojo #201

Is is Wed. already? 
I have to say all of the Hambo Stamp's images are GREAT!  This week's new image--Rebel-- is SOOOOO much fun as well.  Go ahead....you know you want it! :)  Everyone's got a little (or a lot) of rebel in them.
I paired this week's Hoedown Challenge--use stitching--with Mojo's sketch #201.  Although, I do love round and square cards, I had to modify the shape to make it a little easier for me this week. 
I don't quite know how to explain the "Duh" phrase....it was a moment of weakness. 
For my stitching, I used the Easy Stitches Template to hand draw them on the card with a marker.  Actually, since I used such a wide tipped marker it was more like the plastic template was a stencil. 
Have a great day!
Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Hambo Stamp's-Rebel-digi, Cornish Heritage Farms-Newspaper Ads, Ek Success-Image Tree Tag, Impression Obession-button, Rubber Stampede-DUH
Punches:  Ek Success-Tag, MarvyUchida-circle punch
Template:  Hot Off The Press-Paper Pizazz-Easy Stitches
Paper:  DCWV-La Creme Stack 
Twine-stash

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Metro Slouch Bag

Today I will share a bag I made for my daughter.
I used The Metro Slouch Bag pattern from Lila Tueller Designs.  Here is her blog.  She has some very cute new patterns/fabric coming soon! 
I used home decor weight fabric to make this bag.  There are pockets on the side of the outside and on the inside.  CUTE! 
My daughter loves this bag!  A few of her friends have commented on how they want one, too. 
I took this quick pic. before I handed it to her.  She has moved in and used this for the past several months. 
For this pattern, there are lots of hardware pieces suggested.  It does make for a cute bag.  However, I didn't have all the hardware at the time I made this.  I improvised on a few items.  (I used buttons in place of the slides on the front flap--I'll prob. put them lower next time--, I didn't use purse feet.  I only used one type of swivel hook.)  I also used duck canvas for the interliner instead of batting or interfacing. 
This was my first time using a Lila Tueller pattern.  Overall, the pattern had very clear instructions, it was fairly simple to put together, and it is a great bag.  I own a few other of her bag patterns that I am anxious to try out.
Here are a couple more photo's of this bag.  :)
side view (pocket)

inside
Enjoy your day!

Monday, July 25, 2011

PTI Stamp-A-Fair Challenge #10

Hello again!  Post #3!  What a fun day I've had today! 
Click here to view this Stamp-A-Fair Challenge.   The challenge is to "add a stamped focal point over a stamped background, all in the same layer!"

I played around a little bit. I guess I'm just in one of THOSE kinds of moods. I'm not sure how I feel about how this card turned out. At least I had fun creating it, right? :)
First, I stamped the text background in the lightest blue I could find in my stash. Then I stamped the swirl images on the top and bottom in my darkest blue. I then stamped the wreath in a med. shade of brown then stamped the berries in a medium blue. I stamped the "Hey There" in my darkest brown ink. Finally, I stamped the "Celebrate in Style" in my darkest blue ink...then finished the card. 
I might have to try this again....lots of fun!
Have a great one!
Supplies Used:
Stamps:  PTI-Big& Bold Wishes, Wreath For All Seasons, Cornish Heritage Farms-Vintage Text
Ribbon-Offray

Papertrey July Blog Hop Challenge

WOW! It's a day FULL of challenges at PTI! I'm having so much fun!   This is my second blog post today.  Whew! This thing is smoking.  LOL!
Click here to see the challenge and the beautiful creations from all the AMAZING participants.
This is my entry into the July Blog Hop Challenge. What a beautiful inspiration photo! There is so much I love in that pic. I couldn't decide where to begin. :)
I decided to focus on the color scheme and the beautiful rose pillow. 
Thank you!
Have a great day!
Supplies Used:
Stamps:  PTI-Year of Flowers-Roses, Faux Ribbon
Patterned Paper-Scenic Route, DCWV-La Creme Stack
Dies:  Spellbinders Nestablities-Labels Two, Fancy Tags

July Christmas

This week's MIM challenge was so much fun! Check it out here.
Usually, by this time of year, I  have a good idea of what I'm going to do for Christmas cards. This year, I've barely began. So, this was a great challenge to get me motivated. I colored in the marshmallows with white ink. I used a q-tip.  I also used this technique to color in the poinsettia image with red ink.
Enjoy your day!
Supplies Used:
Stamps:  PTI-Year of Flowers-Poinsettias, Inside & Out Holiday, Friendship Jar Holiday Fillers, Friendship Jar,  Cornish Heritage Farms-Vintage Text
Dies:  PTI-Jar Label Die

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Hoedown #25

Time for Hambo Stamp's Mono Mosquito Hoedown Challenge.  Mono Mosquito!  LOL! I, again, printed two different sizes of this week's digital image...sometimes I can't decide.  This is another fun, and fantastic image! 


This week's challenge is to make a monochromatic card using a color you don't normally use.  I had to think on this for a little bit.  I guess I don't use yellow.  These cards are purty simple...not many tools used. 
Enjoy your week!
Supplies Used: 
Stamps:  Hambo Stamp's-Mosquito-digital
Cardstock: Stash--yellow
Fiskars-Circle Cutter.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Vintage Card

Happy 200 Mojo Monday!    I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch.
 What a great sketch!  I also participated in this week's MIM Challenge.  Which is dry brushing.  This is another great challenge!  I haven't pulled out paints in a loooong while.  I forgot how much fun it can be. 
I used fabric scraps for the rose and the bottom strip. 
Have a great week!
Supplies:
Stamps:  PTI-A Little Argyle, Button Boutique, Polka Dot Basics
Paint-Making Memories-Espresso
Dye Ink Refillers-Brand Unknown--Apricot, Antique Brown, Pink, Blue

Friday, July 15, 2011

Bike Lunch Bag

Hello!
I have been busy making several different types of lunch bags.  I have been using the patterns from the book "Lunch Bags!"  So, you can prob. expect more lunch bag posts in the near future.  :)
I am actually shocked at how much I'm enjoying this book.  These bags are fun to make.  The book contains more than just lunch bag patterns.  There are a few sandwich wrap and baggie type patterns, too.  You might recall this  crocheted apple sweater.  Yep! It's in there.
I have to admit that I saw this book but didn't really think I'd use it.  What sold me on the book is that I read it had a pattern for a bike bag.  I have a cruiser bike and I SOOO want a basket for it.  But, my bike has a big spring on the font.   A basket won't fit.  When I read about the bag for the bike...I NEEDED this book. 
Here is the bike lunch bag I made. 

Straps are arranged to attach to the handle bars.

Straps arranged as handles.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Stamping & Sewing...does it get any better?

It's almost like chocolate and peanut butter!
Here is another free bag tutorial I found on the internet. This one came from Sew, Mamma, Sew!  I learned how to do a French seam!  WAY COOL!  :) 
I used black canvas to make the bag.  I stamped the rose image after cutting the pieces and before sewing them together.  I used Paper Trey Ink's Year of Flowers-Roses stamp set and New Canvas Palete Hybrid InkPad.
I also used alot of I's in this post.  I KNOW!  :)
Have a great day!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Hoedown #24

I look forward to this time of week....Hambo Hoedown time
This week's image is perfect for me.  I'm forever trying to make things easy to mail.  Well, this juuust might do that.
 This week's challenge is to make a gate-fold card.  I flipped mine on the side...I don't know why...I have issues, I guess.  Is this still considered a gate-fold card?  I thought it would be okay. 
So, the top picture is without my fingers...see the gate-fold?
This picture is me holding it flat so you can read the sentiment. 
OK, a few things I did to make this card.  I took a piece of cardstock 8 1/2" x 5 1/2".  I scored it at       2 1/8" and again at 6 3/8".  For the road I used a Fiskers ruler and traced it onto black paper and cut it out.  Since I have issues with cutting circles, I used a bubble die (Sizzix) to help me.  I placed the die cut-out on the sentiment print-out traced around it and cut it. 
Why is it that when I go to glue things I always glue them wrong?  ALWAYS!  :)
Have a great week!
Supplies: 
Stamps:  Hambo Stamps-Steamroller-digi
Dies:  Sizzix-Picket Fence, Bubbles
Decorative Edge Scissors:  Provo Craft-Grass
Ruler-Fiskars

Update:
I sometimes print out two different sizes of images.  So, I made another card really quick.  I found a video online...I can't find it now.  Sorry! 

Per the video...To make the card base, cut cardstock 4 1/4" x 11, score at 2", 3 3/4", 7 1/4", 9.
To layer...for panels on front of card cut (2) 4" x 1 3/4" (for mine I used scraps 4 1/4"x1"), for the front rectangle cut layer 3"x 3 1/4", 2 3/4" x 3", and finally 2 1/2" x 2 3/4".  I only cut the larger two rectangles and omitted the smallest layer.  For the inside of card cut 3 1/4" x 4.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Make it Monday #23

Hello!
Well, I made this card for this week's Make it Monday Challenge.  I'll  explain  myself.  I saw the title and watched the video of this week's challenge.  I don't have any edger dies. At that point, I knew I wouldn't be participating this week.  But I was in the mood to make a pocket on my card.  I also read toward the end of the post that you could make "a pocket of any type on the front of your card."   When I went to link my card, I again read the challenge and changed my mind. I don't think that my pocket will work since I didn't use an edger die. 
So, here is my card with a pocket. 
I used a pink circle for the "tag" in my pocket.  Notice the background paper?  That was made by using last week's challenge of using foam as a stamp pad and re-inkers. 
Supplies: Stamps:  PTI-Big & Bold Wishes, A Little Argyle
Dies: PTI-Parisian Lace, Buttons, Spellbinders Nestabilities-Fancy Tags
Punches:  EK Success-circle, border punch

Friday, July 8, 2011

Berry Sweet

This week's Make it Monday was lots of fun.  The new technique is a "multi-color stamping with ink refills challenge." 
On this card, I used the above mentioned technique by stamping an image from the Polka Dot Basics set with antique brown and pink refill ink. I first stamped the foam with the outline stamp of the polka dot stamp I wanted to use.  I filled the circles on he foam with the refill inks then stamped the paper using the foam  as an ink pad and the solid dot stamp. 
All this heat has been making me sleepy.  Hope you have a great day.
Supplies:
Stamps:  PTI-My Punny Valentine, Polka Dot Basics
Die:  PTI-Doily Details
Punch: Ek Success- Fleur de lis

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Hoedown #23

This week's Hambo Hoedown challenge is to make a circular card.
In a palm tree..lol!

How cute is this week's new image?  It is Cool Dog.  This image sure does look fun, relaxed and refreshing.  It's been hot and humid (humid for here). 
To make the card I, once again, used my Cricut to help me.  I used the Paper Lace cartridge. 
To make the card base, I used the shadow image of the circular image I wanted to use.  I placed two of the shadow images on the mat (in Cricut Design Studio) and "welded" them together.  I then placed another shadow image (to adhere on the front of the card) on the mat.  Then I placed the lace circular image on the mat.  I placed the various colors of cardstock I wanted to use on the mat, then cut them all out.    I used the circle that was cut out of the center of the lace image to trace and cut out the Hambo Stamp's image. 
Supplies:
Stamps:  Hambo Stamp's-Cool Dog-Digi
Cricut-Paper Lace Cartridge
Cardstock-stash
Flower-stash

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Crochet Mother's Day Bag

Hello!
I finally finished this bag!  I started it a few months ago.  I was crocheting along and I realized that when I started a new ball of yarn I grabbed one of a different dye lot.  OOPS!  Of course, I never catch on to these things until I reach a point that I have to rip out many inches/hours of work.  UGGG!  So, I put this on the back burner until I had the will to undo all that work.  Eventually, I got a brilliant idea to just finish it and make it look like I'd meant to do that color change.  :)  This is what I came up with. 


I couldn't decide which picture to use.  So, I used them both.  :)
Despite the name of this post, I didn't intend on making this for Mother's Day.  I did, however, plan on making it for my mother.  The title of this post is also the name of the pattern I used.
I made this from a free pattern I found online. You can find it at www.lionbrand.com. Again, the pattern is called Mother's Day Bag (pattern # L0130AD).  You'll need an account and password to get the pattern directions.  The flower is the poppy flower from the book "Crocheted Flowers" by Nicky Epstein.  I used Sugar N' Cream yarn in Tangerine for the bag and hot purple for the flower.  I also assembled the flower a little differently than the instructions. 
My only issue with this pattern is that I struggled with where to place the handles.  I pinned them several different ways, but just couldn't really figure out a good placement for them.  The instructions only say to sew the handles to the bag.  Other than that it was clear and a great pattern for this beginner.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Hoedown #22 Part 2

Ok, I had a little free time this afternoon It's too hot to be outside, even in the pool. I made a quick card with the new image Doghouse Blues. This is my second card for this challenge.  :)
front

inside
I used the Cricut to help me. It went quickly.
Supplies:
Stamps: Hambo Stamps-Doghouse Blues
Cricut-Paper Pups Cartridge
Dies: PTI-Button #1

Happy 4th of July!

Add caption

Friday, July 1, 2011

Outdoor FUN!

Well, summer has definitely hit here!  Happy 4th of July weekend!
I don't know why, but I felt like I MUST make this awesome roll-up cushion when I came across the pattern Summer Fun Outdoor Padded Roll-up Cushion.  I'm very addicted to the sew4home website.  There are tons of wonderful projects here. 
We will be using this cushion to view the fireworks shows this year.  We are not too far away from a water park that puts on several fireworks shows all weekend long.  We just have to walk across the street to a park.  So, this year we will soak in some bug spray--the park is near a body of water; I was eaten alive last year on one arm because I forgot to spray that arm with bug spray--and view the shows.
Within a few days of spotting this pattern, I received a sales ad for a nearby fabric store.  Outdoor fabric was at an excellent price.  I went looking for fabric that I could place on the ground and not have to be too concerned about stains.  I thought "hey, brown and green...mud and grass!  This fabric is mine."
cushion rolled-up
 This cushion works perfectly to take to the water parks and pool, too. The cushion inside is mildew resistant.
LOL!  My daughter just walked in and read my post-in progress.  She asked if she could use this cushion to give her dad a back rub.  I said "okay."  As she was walking off she said, "you can put that in your post, too...that it's good for back rubs."  :) 

This was a very easy project to do.  I think it took me an somewhere around 6-7 hours from cutting to clean-up--with interruptions.  The hardest part was finding the Nu Foam.  I had to go across town because all the nearby stores were out. 
cushion opened
 So, after I finished this fab. cushion, I had extra fabric to play with.  I decided I needed a bag to go with my cushion.  I used the Landsend Zipper Totes as my inspiration. 
Yep, I'm kinda excited!  I finally got over myself and made my own pattern.  There is a zipper at the top and a pocket on the front. 
For the handles I used nylon webbing.  I was given lots of nylon webbing...I've been enjoying playing with it all.  :)  This is the first time I was able to work this black/brown nylon into a project. 

inside of bag
For the inside of the bag I used some fabric I've had for a while...before I even began sewing.  This fabric used to be my curtains...remember this mom?  LOL!  I have really been trying to use some of my fabric stash.  It was hard, but I didn't go buy fabric for the inside of this bag. 
Anyway, the fabric was a pain to work with.  I've got many, many, many more yards to go through. 
I put a zipper pocket on one side and a slip pocket on the other.
Overall, I think I could do a few more changes on this if I make it again. But not bad for a pattern making skill builder. :)
I still have a little bit more of this fabric...I'm trying to decide what to make with it...hummmm???
I hope everyone has a safe and fun holiday weekend!