Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Stolen Moments Challenge

So I'm having technical issues today. I get sooo frustrated and mad!! I have a love/hate computer relationship and I know most of it is my own lack of knowledge. Anyways, I'm posting this as I wanted to enter the challenge for Stolen Moments to win a gift certificate to her digital scrap store. This is my layout:

I used Amber's "Someone To Love" kit, and a template from Crystal Wilkerson. Hopefully I can still get in on the challenge even though I can't get this posted in the gallery! And if you want to enter, hop over to Amber's blog to check it out :)

Friday, June 26, 2009

Crafty Bug

Well, the crafty bug done gone and bit me!! Where's my after-bite?? hehe. SO I seriously got the itch to start sewing today, and that led to other crafty material things...I got a few little things done today. First thing, was a an external hard drive case for my sister in law. I made myself one and she liked it and asked me to make her one, so I did! And to be honest I think I did a better job this time than I did on my own! Plus I finally tried out stipple quilting...not too sure about that yet, I know I need lots of practice! So I started out with a material for front and back 15"x8" plus a thin needle punch batting. I put them right sides together with the batting on the bottom, trimmed the corners for my flap with my triangle thingy (I'm all about proper terminology), then sewed around leaving an opening for turning.

I tried my darning foot or hopping foot or whatever the heck that thing is called. (Again, proper terminology). The first try it didn't work (I thought I had it on wrong then realized that I just didn't put the presser foot lever down - duh!) So I ripped it out and tried again.

I did some loop-de-loos and even tried to make a couple hearts.

The front looks OK, for my first try I thought, but something about the way the stitches look on the back bugs me. I found it really hard to keep my stitch length even, since this is free hand, and I'm not sure if that's why the back stitches look that way? I tried adjusting my tension but it only helped a little bit. Any ideas or suggestions? Can you see the stitching? I don't even know if I got a close enough shot of it for you.

Anyways, then I added a couple pieces of velcro to one end where the flap will close over.

Then I folded it in half, to the point where the flap will bend over the top. (Right sides together). I sewed a seam up each side. Then I top stitched around the opening and flap, to give it a nice finished look. I wanted a separate compartment for the cord and for the hard drive, so I used masking tape to give me a nice line to follow (I'm all about using the right tools. hehe. My fabric pen wasn't really showing up on this fabric.) I straight stitched a line from the top of the pouch to the bottom.

I added the other two velcro pieces to the flap to finish off the closure.

And its done!

Ready to go scrapbooking.

Next have I ever mentioned that I love panels?? No?? Well, let me tell you, I love panels. They're the next best thing since sliced bread. Seriously. I went to the fabric store today to get some backing material and Chase came with me and once he got hold of this spongebob material, I couldn't pry it from his grubby little hands! He originally spotted some spongebob patterned cotton, and wanted me to make him a spongebob blanket. This kid has enough blankets to warm half of Alberta. I'm not even kidding, it annoys my husband to no end. So I convinced him to get this little pillow panel instead.

I purchased a little red zipper and a pillow form as well. And let me tell you, that zipper wasn't as easy as I thought it would be, even with a zipper foot. (I mean really, does there HAVE to be a separate foot for every single thing? C'mon.) I probably didn't sew it on the way most people do. The hardest part for me was getting around the zipper pull. Knobby little thing. I attached it to one side of the panel first, then flipped it over and attached it to the other side.

Then I sewed around the other three edges, pillowcase style, making sure to run over the tails of my zipper at the beginning and end.

Flipped it inside out, and voila! Pillow is done, 4 year old is happy, and I got to be crafty. Everybody wins. I think the zipper turned out pretty well.

Finished spongebob pillow. Chase slept with it tonight, and that always makes me feel great when he loves something I made for him.

The last thing I made tonight is something I have been meaning to make since I first saw the tutorial HERE on Ashley's blog. Her button is also on the side of my blog if you ever need to click over there! She has so many cool tutorials for handy things around the house, and done in a way that is cost effective too! Rayna has quite a bundle of little barrettes already, and I mean little barrettes, I'm lucky if they're an inch long. They always end up on the bathroom counter after her bath and I am constantly trying to round them up so I don't lose them. This was the perfect solution! I picked up the frames at Zellers, 3-5x7 frames for $5!!

I had quite a bit of Modge Podge on my hands by the time I was done, and I wrecked half of a fat quarter as I measured incorrectly the first time for my frame, but I'm so happy with the end result! I also added some little purple silk flowers on the corner just to dress it up a little bit. I hung it in the bathroom between the mirror and the bathroom cabinet. It fit perfect! I also managed to cover up a scrape in the drywall as the old metal bathroom stand we had, had a screw sticking out of the back that rubbed a hole in the drywall because the stand wasn't bolted to anything. So I killed two birds with one stone. (Well, no, not really, I love birds!) Please don't mind my mismatched towels, I can't help it if Chase loves Batman lol.

Okay, well that's all folks! Thanks for reading, and if you have any tips for my stipple quilting, I would ♥ to hear them!

Monday, June 15, 2009

Giveaway

I found another quilter in blogland!! There are so many it boggles my mind, and I am so inspired by all the other girls out there and what they can create with fabric scraps and thread. Jaybird is having a giveaway on her blog to celebrate her first tutorial, check it out!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Twilight and Coffee

Ok so I thought I was done posting for today, but I'm not. I love coffee, and I love Twilight, so in order to enjoy a little but of both, I want this.I also found this little cartoon on this site which I thought was hilarious, if you want to sum up the saga in 4 comic strips.
I also played with a photo of myself and turned myself into Bella (although not very well) in the photo below, at Face In Hole.com.
Just a little bit of fun for you. Ok, that's it. Buh bye!

Fabric Flowers

The sun has finally decided to shine in my little corner of the world!! So I went hat hunting for my kidlets, and I found Chase a nice blue hat with a sporty number in the center and a couple palm trees in white on either side. At first he said he didn't like it but now he's wearing it all the time. (As is standard any time I introduce anything new to him.) Now I had a little sun hat for Rayna, but did you know that as babies grow, so do their HEADS?!! Well, the hat that I had for her was sized 6 - 12 months, but it has an elastic at the back, and as she's grown, it now slides up so it's sitting on top of her head farmer style. So I decided to get her a little ball cap as well. I went to The Children's Place as I had already bought some shoes there that ended up not fitting the kids and I had to return them, and I found Chase's hat rather quickly. I scanned the girls section and asked if they had any little girls baseball hats for under 12 months and she told me since the store opened here they have never had girls baseball hats. Me - {raised eyebrows} "really?? huh." So I went back to the boys section and found this little white hat.
Not bad I thought, mostly white, and the little bit in front isn't so boyish that she couldn't wear it. But then she had it on, and I told my husband I was going to girl it up a little bit. And then I remembered this tutorial I had found a little while ago on how to do these fabulous fabric flowers. I had originally found them here on Rachel's blog (you can find the link to her etsy store on her sidebar) but as per usual I am too cheap and crafty to buy something like this when I think there is a chance I can make it myself!! The tutorial has a printable template you can use to cut out the flowers. I used farmers market material, which I bought here, as I just love the colors and they match a lot of what Rayna wears, and I thought it would look nice on the hat.

So I think it turned out pretty cute! I altered mine the slightest bit from the tutorial in that she tells you to cut 2 large flowers, and 4 smaller flowers. Well, I did that, and then I cut my template for the smaller flower down about 1/4" all around and cut out 4 more flowers, so I have a total of 3 layers instead of 2. (It makes sense once you read the tutorial). I also tacked the pieces together and then used a regular button and sewed the whole thing right to the hat. (I see alot of the flowers with fabric covered buttons or blingy buttons instead.) Here is a closer up shot of my crafty awesomeness. I'd say it's almost Rocktastic, right Des?? hehe. Wow, I'm all about the links today.And then since my model was having a good old snooze, my back up agreed to model it for me

Then my model woke up and decided to grace us with her awake-ness. Models. They're so moody. So that's what I have for you today, I also got some digital scrapbooking layouts done, maybe I'll post those later in the week. Chase also had his fourth(!) birthday at the end of May and I decorated a cake for it, so I have some catch-up pictures and updates to do as well. Hope you enjoy making your flowers, I know I did, and I want to make more! The thought of making different sizes and embellishing everything from crocheted toques and tote bags to headbands and all the different fabrics I could use....oh my head is just swimming! Have a great day!

Friday, June 5, 2009

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

Just to let you know I have my most recent book review on my other blog!

Monday, June 1, 2009

New Moon Sneak Peak

I don't know if any of you caught this on the MTV awards last night (I taped it so I only got to watch the part I wanted)but here is the sneak peak preview of New Moon! And was it just me or was Kristin Stewart totally awkward at the awards? I have been watching this over and over... Enjoy :)

Beware the few racy photos...thought it was worth it to see all the other ones!