21st Birthday boxing glove card

This is a boxing glove shaped card I made for my son's 21st birthday last month!  He enjoys watching boxing, wrestling and UFC.  I don't mind the wrestling but the boxing, ugh!  But since 21 is a special milestone, his father and I got him tickets to a UFC event which will be in town this weekend!  We learned of the show about a month before his birthday (perfect timing!) and I was so happy because I knew he had to receive a special gift to celebrate this milestone!  Oh the smile he had on his face when he opened his card!!!!!  Oh yeah, the card, lol!  I drew out a glove shape on scrap paper and used it as a template to cut it from card stock.  I found the boxing picture online and traced it onto tracing paper then onto card stock; this was the perfect embellishment for the card front!  I stamped Birthday on a strip of white card stock adhered to the bottom and edged it with two black strips of card stock.  For the interior, I stamped the sentiment on a white piece of card stock and attached it to create a pocket to hold the tickets.  Both sentiments are from the Fiskars stamp set called Birthday Cheer.

Shabby Blessings card

The current JustRite challenge #057 is to create a shabby chic project.  I usually make clean and simple projects so I thought it would be a good time to get out of my comfort zone.

I started with a card base using SU's baja breeze card stock.  The sentiment and image are from JustRite's The Greatest Joy stamp set. The sentiment is stamped in SU's old olive ink.  I stamped the floral image using SU's chocolate chip ink.  I colored it with Marvy LePlume II markers, SU's So Saffron ink, a water brush and I also added a little shading on the ribbon with a Copic marker Y15.  I cut the image out using using Spellbinders oval nestabilities.  I used the Sew Easy stitch piercer tool to add holes and I hand sewed a border using DMC floss #3822 around the perimeter of the patterned paper.  Both patterned papers are by My Mind's Eye and the floral image is matted on SU's old olive card stock.  And to add some shabbiness, I used the Tim Holtz distressing tool to distress the edges of the sentiment and image.  I enhanced the torn edges with tea dye distress ink as well as the strip of lace.  Finally I added some pearls,  mini rose and ribbon bow to finish off the card.

Make a Wish

The images on this card are from Penny Black's Critter Party stamp set.  I colored the images with Crayola water color paint and a water brush.  I used Spellbinders label 8 nestabilities to cut out the focal image and the black mat.  The patterned paper is by My Mind's Eye and the card base is Stampin Up; I can't remember but I think it's lovely lilac.  I made this card for my cousin who shares the same birthday as my son.  I missed making her a card last year but was glad to get this mailed to her this year. 

TMNT pillow form cover

pillow front

pillow back

Last weekend I completed this envelope style pillow cover for my son using this fun Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fabric.  I followed this great tutorial by Vanessa, TheCraftyGemini, on Youtube.  The pillow form I bought was size 16x16 but you can make them in any size!  Check out the video and you will learn how to determine the size you need to cut your fabric.  Happy Sewing!

Square bottom bag

I bought this fun tie dye fabric at JoAnn's a few months ago to make a rag quilt purse.  After cutting several squares I lost my mojo to create that type of purse.  Then several weeks ago, I came across this great video by smarmyclothes on YouTube on how to make a square bottom bag.  This is such a cute bag and the only thing I did differently was to make a thinner strap.  I will definitely have to try and make a larger one soon!  Happy Sewing!

Adventures in sewing

Ever since I took a sewing class over 5 years ago, I've been buying fabric and have accumulated a good stash!  In that class, I made the black bag below. I'm so proud of it and carry it to work everyday!  Of course after this class, I was like, I'm going to buy a sewing machine and make more of these bags!  Well, I did buy a sewing machine but I haven't made another of these bags yet.  This ever happen to you with a project?  LOL!  But, I have been getting some use out of the sewing machine, thank goodness!  I've made an apron and a few pillowcases.  The pillowcases are really fun!  A couple of years ago, the local fabric store had a sewing event where individuals were provided fabric and taught how to sew a pillowcase and then the pillowcases were donated to a charity.  When I wanted to make one for my son (finished pic below) I had to do a search on YouTube because I forgot a few steps and thankfully I found a few videos using the same technique taught at the fabric store.  This is the video I like best (and they have some other great videos too!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrYWCma9wgM .  But most recently, I made a zippered case and a mini four patch bag which didn't turn out too bad.  I'm keeping the projects small for now but hope to work my way up to a larger project such as a quilt.  Happy Crafting!

Craft Fair

Back in April, I participated in a 4 hour craft fair at an elementary school.  I have a variety of projects just sitting around, so I thought I'd try to my hand at selling.  I was a bit nervous at first but I felt at ease after the first hour!  There weren't too many customers (I'll blame it on the beautiful Spring weather that day! :) but I did make a few sales! I sold 3 cards, 2 beaded pens, 1 bracelet and 1 post-it-note w/mini beaded pen packaged gift!  I also met a few other crafty people and I learned of an art group in the area.  Here are some pictures  of my setup.