Crate Paper Fourteen Pocket Scarf

Sew! Yes you can! If you’re a digital crafter, anything is possible. 

Crate Paper’s Fourteen, the full collection, became available at acdigitals.com and I’ve been over the moon about it.  One of my all-time favorite lines.  Who can blame me?  I was compelled to make something my 9-year-old-daughter would swoon over.  Trying to keep her warm is one of my biggest concerns right now.  It’s January after all.  I came across this tutorial and decided to make it happen using Fourteen, fleece, and PhotoFabric. 

Pockets added to a scarf—brilliant for so many reasons—hands, gadgets, notes, little stuffed critters to nestle in there.  Look at the smile on her face—she’s using her new scarf to warm her hands AND hold an iPod.  Plus, she got to pick out the prints from a computer screen. Sew on!

Here are a few tidbits to help get you on your way to making a pocket scarf for your little girl:

In this project, I used PhotoFabric as the vessel between digital product and the real world of fabric.  What is that, you ask?PhotoFabric is a paper-backed fabric for use with inkjet printers. It’s sold on a roll sized, 8-1/2-x-120-inches! You can cut as much or as little from the roll as you need. Usually, I cut 8-1/2-x-11-inch sheets to print. To make this easier, I have a piece of chipboard sized at 8-1/2-x-11-inches that I use as a template to measure. Certainly you can use a ruler but I find this template is easier to use.

By the way,  I like to use the Cotton Twill PhotoFabric.

In Photoshop Elements, I created three 8-1/2-x-11-inch documents and filled them with squares of Crate Paper’s Fourteen (with the help from Gwen, of course, they were her prints to choose after all).  There were three squares on each side, for a total of 6 squares per document, 18 squares in all.  Side Note:  If I plan to make one for me, I might fill the documents with strips instead (which would make the final scarf wider to accommodate an adult), ooh future project!   

I then cut three 8-1/2-x-11-inch pieces of PhotoFabric. Because PhotoFabric is stored on a roll, it may have a tendency to curl, so I pressed the sheets down to make them flat and trimmed any stray threads with scissors. PhotoFabric provides a sheet with tips to printing on their product. Using this sheet as a guide, I changed my printer settings appropriately.  I own a printer (HP Photosmart B8550)that gives me the option to select borderless and am able to select a custom size for my projects.  This helps me get the most available space on PhotoFabric. I want to fill that stuff, edge to edge, if possible.

Once printed, I let them dry for at least a half hour before sewing.  Sometimes I will print a project out the night before and let it sit overnight.  This is the point that I tend to vary from PhotoFabric directions.  You’re supposed to peel away the PhotoFabric backing and rinse the PhotoFabric under cold water BEFORE sewing.  I’ve found my prints maintain their integrity and it’s easier to sew my projects if I do this a week or two AFTER I’ve sewn my project.  I suggest you do this.

I then cut my fabric in half lengthwise, each piece approximately 4-1/4-x-11-inches, and surged them together to make one long piece for the printed part of the scarf.  Each short end of this long piece was pressed under and sewn, to finish the ends. 

Using one of Gwen’s other fleece scarves as a guide, I measured the length of the fringe at the ends, which was approximately 6-inches.  In my fabric stash, I had some off-white fleece which I used as the backing/fringe of the scarf.  To figure out how much I needed, I measured the big long printed piece, added the 6-inches for fringe, and approximately 4-1/4-inches for the size of the pockets, plus an inch or two.  I cut my pocket pieces which were sized 4-1/4 inches (square).  I surged the tops and bottoms to finish the pocket pieces.  Whew!  Almost done. 

I then pinned the printed piece to the middle of the long piece of fleece, pinned the pockets at each end, being sure to measure for the fringe at each end, and surged the long left and right sides of the pinned project.  I top stitched all around the printed piece and the pockets with red embroidery thread. 

Lastly, using scissors, I cut the fleece from each ends to make fringe.  Yay!  Finished!

I hope some of this information helps you make your little girl a pocket scarf using digital product.  I was so caught up in the moment, I didn’t even think to take pictures for this project, but again, here’s a link to the project that originally inspired me:   http://themuddyprincess.blogspot.com/2010/09/fleece-pocket-scarf.html

City Park Magnets!

I decided to jazz up my refrigerator by making magnets using American Craft’s City Park Collection, now available, by the way, at acdigitals.com.

To do this, I utilized my Silhouette Portrait’s Print-and-Cut feature (again—blah, blah, blah) with Silhouette’s printable magnet sheets.  I only used one 8-1/2-x-11-inch sheet to make these adorable magnets. The magnetic sticky note holder is just one of the City Park elements resized to fit the sticky notes which were adhered to the top of the printed magnet.  This was literally done in minutes and was easy-peasy!  I’m serious--E A S Y !

American Crafts’ City Park Full Collection is now available at acdigitals.com.  Click on the above collection image to be taken directly to the product pages at AC Digitals.

Here’s the description from AC Digitals:

City Park feels like the sun is shining, breeze is blowing and birds are singing. Inspired by the atmosphere of Central Park, this bright, fun line captures the sweet essence of park animals, nature and recreation in a happy-go-lucky, head-in-the-clouds kind of way.

Buy the full collection and save 20%! The City Park Full Collection includes the following individual kits:

• City Park Element Pack - includes 66 elements in PNG format
• City Park Paper Pack #1 - includes 15 12x12 papers in JPEG format
• City Park Paper Pack #2 - includes 15 12x12 papers in JPEG format

Pebbles Treehouse Full Collection at AC Digitals

Pebbles Treehouse Full Collection is now available at acdigitals.com.  Click on the above collection image to be taken directly to the product pages at AC Digitals.

Here’s the description from AC Digitals:

The Treehouse Collection features fun, outdoorsy patterns in bold primary colors. Birdhouses, owls, clouds and trees provide a fun backdrop for scrapping summer memories or just accenting everyday life.

Buy the full collection and save 20%! The Treehouse Collection includes the following individual kits:

• Treehouse Element Pack #1 - includes 56 elements in PNG format
• Treehouse Element Pack #2 - includes 37 journaling cards & tags in PNG format. It also includes 9 brushes in PNG and ABR format
• Treehouse Paper Pack #1 - includes 11 12x12 patterned papers in JPEG format
• Treehouse Paper Pack #2 - includes 11 12x12 patterned papers in JPEG format

I particularly enjoyed the bold, rich colors of the graphics and patterns in this kit! The “best friends” layout was put together using my Silhouette Portrait’s Print-and-Cut feature with this AMAZING! kit.  The entire layout was designed in the Silhouette software.  The cute little birds and buttons were further cut and layered onto chipboard and adhered to the layout using pop dots.  I LOVE the expression on my daughter, Gwen’s, face and her best-est buddy, Jenna.  These girls crack me up!

Embroidering using Digital Brushes

A few years back, I was lucky enough to receive a Singer Futura CE-250 Embroidery Machine—a gift from my husband!  Since then, I’ve made plenty of projects using this crafty machine--either embroidering projects using online purchased files but mostly using it as a regular sewing machine—it’s pretty fantastic.  The reason I wanted it originally was that it came with software that allowed you to make embroidery designs using your own images and fonts or images found online, etc.  Well, not only did I find that machine embroidering is a major task to undertake and learn but learning to digitize is difficult and I’ve fallen short trying to figure it out on my own.  Basically, I think I moved onto other things due to frustration, etc. 

I decided to give digital brushes a try and found some success.  Again, I used one of Nancie Rowe Janitz Designs’ upcoming brush sets in PSE and saved it as a jpg. The jpg was retrieved using Autopunch (the software that came with my machine) and then digitized.  The machine embroidered the sentiment onto some canvas fabric—Yay!  However, I would like to find out how to change the style of stitches in the digitizing process, like something with a vintage feel to it.   Maybe I’ll figure that out in the next couple of years—Lol! In the meantime, this style will have to do.  After my machine stitched the design out, I used it to make a drawstring bag to hold some goodies for Valentine’s Day. 

Me & You Pillow Set (Stenciling Fabric with my Silhouette Portrait)

Last week I experimented using a fabric pen in my Silhouette Portrait with a digital brush set and experienced success.  Remember this post?

This week, I wanted to experiment using a stencil cut by my Silhouette Portrait.  Again, MORE success!  I used one of Nancie Rowe Janitz’s upcoming Valentine Words brush sets.  The words were sized to accommodate the pillows in PSE and saved as a png file.  Using the Silhouette software, I retrieved them and cut them from cardstock.  Once I had my fabric cut, I sprayed the back of each cardstock stencil with repositionable spray adhesive, so that it would stay in place on my fabric without slipping.  I used a brayer to position them in place really well.  Textile Medium was added to acrylic paint to make my own fabric paint.  To apply the paint to the fabric, I used a foam brush and in no time at all, about a couple of hours, I had this entire set of pillows sewn and stuffed. 

Peace Pillow (Using Silhouette Sketch Feature)

I was recently inspired by a photo I saw on Facebook (thanks, Nancie) to construct a pillow using Nancie Rowe Janitz’s Only Words {heartfelt} brush set (available soon at jessicasprague.com).  To do this, I decided to take advantage of the sketch feature of my new Silhouette Portrait machine using an Amy Chomas adjustable marker holder with a fine black fabric marker made by Tulip. The results were amazing. In no time, I had constructed this 11-1/2-x-14-inch pillow with one of the brushes from Nancie’s upcoming brush set.  I can’t wait to try this again!  More details coming soon!   

Crate Paper’s Storyteller Collection at ACDigitals.com!

Crate Paper’s Storyteller Collection is now available at acdigitals.com.  Click on the above collection image to be taken directly to the product pages at ACDigitals.

Here’s the description from acdigitals.com:

Let the Storyteller Collection from Crate Paper help you tell the precious and memorable stories of your life. Filled with vintage-style elements with a distressed style, this versatile collection will quickly become a favorite you will reach for again and again.

Buy the full collection and save 20%! The Storyteller Full Collection includes the following individual kits:

• Storyteller Element Pack #1 includes 70 elements in PNG format
• Storyteller Element Pack #2 includes 69 elements in PNG format
• Storyteller Paper Pack #1 includes 11 12x12 patterned papers in JPEG format
• Storyteller Paper Pack #2 includes 11 12x12 patterned papers in JPEG format

Here’s what I did with it!

I’m pretty sure that I used a piece from each pack in the collection—the prints and pieces are gorgeous!

This card was put together with a little help from my Silhouette Portrait (a lot actually).  All of it was produced utilizing the print-and-cut feature with the Crate Paper Storyteller Collection coupled with a Silhouette cutting file by Lori Whitlock called “quilt” card available from the Silhouette America online store—ONLY 99 cents!  This beautiful (and versatile) cutting file features 9 circles that are perforated just right to form the quilt pattern. The finished sized is 4.25-x-5.5-inches.  Also, just a tidbit extra about the Silhouette Portrait, the embellishments on the card, like the sentiment, the heart, and the label were cut from chipboard.  This was something that I thought previously could not be done with the Silhouette.  To add to that, I’ve been able to cut watercolor paper as well.  That will be for another day . . .

Crate Paper’s Pretty Party!

Crate Paper’s Pretty Party Collection is now available at acdigitals.com.  Click on the above collection image to be taken directly to the product pages at AC Digitals.

Here’s the description from acdigitals.com:

Put on your party hats and get ready to celebrate with the Pretty Party Collection. This collection is designed with soft pastels and a vintage feel. It is filled with all of the traditional elements, such as birthday cakes and candles, and also features lovely florals and beautiful butterflies. This is truly a collection worth celebrating.

Buy the full collection and save 20%! The Pretty Party Full Collection includes the following individual collections:

• Pretty Party Element Pack #1- includes 46 elements in PNG format
• Pretty Party Element Pack #2 - includes 32 elements and 12 borders in PNG format
• Pretty Party Element Pack #3 - includes 45 journaling cards and tags in PNG format
• Pretty Party Paper Pack #1 - includes 11 12x12 patterned papers in JPEG format
• Pretty Party Paper Pack #2 - includes 10 12x12 patterned papers in JPEG format

The “Happy Day” card above was made using patterned papers and elements from the Pretty Party Collection which were print-and-cut using my new Silhouette Portrait machine (this machine is a dream!).

Also available at acdigitals.com, is the Mayfield Edition Childhood Mini kit for Project Life.  Click on the above collection image to be taken directly to the product pages at AC Digitals.

Here’s the description from acdigitals.com:

Don't let all of those precious moments of childhood pass you by. Let the Mayfield Edition Childhood Mini Kit guide you through documenting the memories of your child or even your own childhood. Designed by Lori Whitlock, the Mayfield Edition features pretty pinks, oranges, yellows and greens. Create a Project Life using exclusively this kit or mix it with your other Project Life kits to create a unique album full of precious memories.

This collection includes:

• 40 3x4 filler and journaling cards in PNG format
• 80 3x4 prompt cards in PNG format
• 10 4x6 journaling cards in PNG format
• 10 4x6 title card  designs in horizontal and vertical format for a total of 20 4x6 title cards in PNG format
• 4 PDFs with all of the cards for easy printing

As of this date, I haven’t started my PL yet, but I was so inspired by the designs in this kit that I was compelled to make a card with it—Lol!  Again, I used my new Silhouette Portrait to print-and-cut the digital elements of this kit.