Print-at-Home Fabric for Holiday Pillows!

This is the last of my over-the-weekend projects.  It’s been quite a little while since I made a pillow.  This past week, I was lucky enough to get a peek at Nancie Rowe Janitz’s upcoming workshop at jessicasprague.com.  I can’t spill the beans too much except to add it’s a home decor series with gorgeous wordart like the one above on the pillow and the matching card/tag I added to the zipper for gift giving this season.  Inspiration OVERLOAD—I had to make a pillow using one of the graphics from the workshop.  What do you think of this festive, cozy gift? 

Printing your own fabric at home is very rewarding and really gets you motivated to create.  I printed the wordart onto Fabric Stick and had my Silhouette Portrait cut it perfectly! I was thrilled with that. Then I zigzag stitched it onto a square piece of cotton fabric a bit larger than the graphic, and then I blanket stitched that to the middle of what was the body of the pillow before constructing the pillow case and installing a zipper. It's approximately 12-x-12-inches.  From computer to real-life pillow, this project took me less than two hours.  During that time, I even had to dust off my sewing machine AND re-familiarize myself to installing a zipper (it’s been a while).

Hybrid Embroidery Hoop Wall Art Tutorial

I’ve shared a tutorial at Mouse Paper Lovely showing you the process of making hybrid embroidery hoop wall art.  Click on the link above and go take a look-see!

A little change in my schedule . . .

After five years of being at home with my children, I am delighted to have found a job with our local school district as a substitute school bus driver—Yes!  After taking the necessary training, I obtained my Class B Commercial Drivers License, with proper endorsements, and the CHP Special Drivers Certificate earlier this month---whew!   It’s a part-time position in the afternoons, so I am still able to get my youngest children off to school, get some chores done around the house before clocking into work, and so far, it hasn’t gotten in the way of my creation time, either. 

Here’s a look at some projects I’ve made this month using hybrid supplies from jessicasprague.com.

Always Card Supplies--(jessicasprague.com)

Everafter Paper Pack & Everafter Elements by Cosmo Cricket

Other supplies used:  Cricut Paper Lace and Lacy Labels cartridges; Tim Holtz embossing folder; embroidery floss with sewing machine.

I Love . . . Forever and Always Layout Supplies (jessicasprague.com)

Design 365 Journaling 1 by Carina Gardner
Artisan Labels #2 by Creativity by Crystal
EZ-PZ Template 6--Fotocentric No.1 by liv.e.designs
Decorative Circles by Splendid Fiins

Other supplies used:  Cuttlebug/Victoria Cuttlebug embossing folder; Cricut/Plantin Schoolbook and Graphically Speaking cartridges; embroidery floss/buttons; pop dots.

iPhone Cozy supplies--jessicasprague.com

(iPhone Cozy Tutorial located at Dog Named Banjo--iPod tutorial)

Design 365 Color Kit 2 & Design 365 Journaling 2 by Carina Gardner
lovely little photo frames by Splendid Fiins

Other Supplies Used:  Fabric Stick, felt, white cotton fabric, button, thread/sewing machine, Velcro.

Camera Strap Makeover Supplies--jessicasprague.com

(Camera strap tutorial located at Make it and Love It)

Material Girl Paper Pack by Cosmo Cricket.

Other Supplies Used:  Fabric stick, black cotton fabric, fusible fleece, black thread, and sewing machine.

Also, don’t forget:  Registration for the NEW hybrid Heidi Swapp/Jessica Sprague class MOUSE, PAPER, SCISSORS is OPEN!

This BETA Class is 20% off!

Happy Hybrid!

Happy Turkey Week!

And what a happy week it is—the kids are off, it’s wet and rainy here, and lots of goodies to play with from jessicasprague.com.  Inspiration really IS everywhere right now. 

Here are some projects I’ve been working on through the month of November.

In the past, I’ve created a few of these cozies for my daughter and friends using traditional fabric following this very fine tutorial from The House on Hill Road blog.  Great tutorial.  This time, I decided to print some Cosmo Cricket Early Bird Candy Candy and Early Bird Paper onto some Fabric Stick.  I then cut out the pattern, attached it to some felt by stitching, and then followed the above tutorial.  This one is for ME!

Early Bird Coffee Cozy Supplies List

Early Bird Candy Candy and Early Bird Paper Pack by Cosmo Cricket at jessicasprague.com.

Other supplies used:  Fabric Stick, red felt sheets, fusible fleece, sewing machine thread, button, and felt flower.  

For the above I got to use the Sentimental Cricut Cartridge with DesignStudio software to design the pattern for the card.  I’m still loving the software.  If you have a Cricut and don’t have the software, trust me, you should get it.

Merry Christmas Card Supplies

Merry Christmas Patterned Paper Pack Kit 1 and  Merry Christmas Element Pack Kit 1 by Echo Park and jessicasprague.com.

Other supplies used:  Cricut Sentimental cartridge; Cuttlebug D'vine Swirls embossing folder; Making Memories Ribbon; snowflake brad, unknown; Embroidery thread and sewing machine

Jackson, CA, doesn’t get much snow—maybe a couple of times each wintery season—but that’s about it.  Last December, the snow actually stuck for about four days.  Two of those days were snow days for the kids from school.  I took the above pictures of our little ones enjoying their winter wonderland—even our pom-chi pup, Dixie, got caught in the action.  You can barely see her next to Gwen making angels in the snow.  I hope it happens again this year.  We also took those few days and decorated the inside of our house for Christmas, made cookies and drank hot chocolate, and just enjoyed the magic of the snow and the spontaneity of it all--TOGETHER.

December Brrrr Layout

Everybody Loves Christmas Element Pack and Everybody Loves Christmas Paper Pack #1 by Echo Park at jessicasprague.com.

Other supplies used:  Cricut Give-A-Hoot & Winter Wonderland Cartridges; CTMH cardstock; buttons/embroidery floss

Do your little ones ever express this giddy emotion from time to time? Well, ALL of mine do.  In fact, it’s part of the genes because I do it, too.  I’m tickled, no giddy, that I captured it finally for at least one of my children.  For the above layout, I included the definition of the word “Giddy” under the chipboard Cricut cut of the word.  I love matching a picture to its definition.

Giddy Layout

jessicasprague.com supplies: 

Daisy Jane Flowers, Daisy Jane Paper Bits, and Daisy Jane Solids by Carina Gardner.

Mask Me Photo Masks and Warm Wuv and Soft Hugs Elements by liv.e designs.

November Collection Journaling Snippets by Creativity by Crystal.

Other supplies:  Cricut Cindy Loo Cartridge; misc. craft buttons and sequins; Making Memories brads; embroidery floss and sewing machine; CTMH bamboo cardstock

I hope that you have had a chance to sign up for Jessica's FREE class, Inspiration Everywhere. Class begins in one week, so spread the word.  Click below for more information.

Black Friday starts the store-wide 20% off sale at jessicasprague.com.  Starting November 26th until December 31st, everything on the site will be 20% off, including self-paced classes. Also, with a $20 purchase during the sale, you will receive a special collaboration kit created just for you by the jessicasprague.com design team at no additional charge.

I hope you all have a loving Thanksgiving with your family and friends.  Here’s to cooking way too much, eating way too much, and spending way too much on Black Friday!  Be SAFE out there.

Jeepers Trick or Treat Felt Bag

I couldn’t help falling in love with The Queen of Quirk’s Jeepers Accent and Paper Packs from jessicasprague.com.  The images are to die for.  It was just the kit I needed this Halloween to inspire me to make a trick or treat bag.  I’ve always wanted to but this was the kit to do it with and I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to make another one.  Gwen has her mind set on this one, Raiden is going to want one, and I think I want one for me, too.  Using Crystal Wilkerson’s Tons of Scallops Template Kit helped me put together a pretty decent design for which to insert the images.  All around, this project was a joy to put together.

I found a pretty easy tutorial to follow online to construct the bag.  I changed things up a bit here and there, like measurements, and using images printed on Fabric Stick instead of the felt shapes.  Also, I like using my pinking shears whenever possible when using felt.   Here’s the link to the tutorial:  kristamaurer.com. 

Jeepers Trick or Treat Felt Bag Supplies

Jeepers Accent Pack and Jeepers Paper Pack by The Queen of Quirk at jessicasprague.com.

Crystal’s Tons of Scallops Template Kit by Creativity by Crystal at jessicasprague.com.

Other Supplies used:  Fabric Stick, Black felt, white felt, black embroidery thread, sewing machine, and pinking shears.

Craft Apron Tutorial

Click the above picture to download the PDF to make this hybrid apron.  To purchase the digital products used in the making of this apron, head on over to jessicasprague.com and/or select the links below:

Templates by Crystal V.01, Creativity by Crystal

Brilliant Paper Pack, The Full Collection; Delicious Sweet Pea Paper Pack, and Delicious Grapetastic Paper Pack by Splendid Fiins

Chalkboard Paper Collection by Kitschy Digitals

Sitting Pretty, The Accents, by The Queen of Quirk

Summerific Labels Element Pack by liv.e

Happy printing/sewing!

Some Digital Card Inspiration and Something that can Travel with You

The above class started today and I’m already inspired—see!

I used Crystal Wilkerson’s You Are Awesome Mini Kit.  Clicking the above picture will take you to the exact item at JessicaSprague.com.

I get a lot of inspiration by visiting blogs and finding new tutorials.  Recently, I was inspired by this lined zippered make-up bag tutorial by FlossieTeacakes' blog and could not wait to try it.  I’ve done quite a few make-up bags in my little time of sewing, but this one was different—see the covered ends to the zipper—in the tutorial?  Well, I tried the tutorial, but I didn’t get it exactly right—I’m thinking my zipper was not exactly 8-inches, which was recommended in the instructions, so I will try it again.  Below is how mine turned out the first time.  Not too shabby.  Also, I put a spin on it.  I printed one of the papers from the The Queen of Quirk’s Sitting Pretty Paper Pack onto Fabric-Stick and used that for my fancy fabric in the tutorial.  I’d been keeping my eye out for a tutorial that would use that particular print.  Clicking the below picture will take you to the exact item at JessicaSprague.com. 

TIP:  When using Fabric-Stick, I like to iron fusible fleece on the back as my interfacing—I love how the finished piece feels.  

This little bag will be going places . . . right into my purse and along for the ride. 

A New, Creative Adventure

Last week, I held my breath, took the plunge, and submitted some projects below to a Creative Team Call put out by the Jessica Sprague (JessicaSprague.com).  If you’ve been scrapbooking for a while and use Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, you probably know the name.  Jessica Sprague has been a leader in the digital and hybrid scrapbooking education for the past few years and is responsible for any success I’ve accomplished in using these two programs to create my projects.  She also writes a monthly column for Creating Keepsakes and special digital scrapbooking issues, which I own all of and will continue to purchase when new ones become available.  These issues have been a constant resource for me over the years.  She also teaches live classes around the country.  Her website features classes, forums, a fun-loving, sharing community, and digital products from brilliant designers that I can’t wait to get my hands on—yes—hands!  I can’t wait to print these papers/elements out and introduce them to my scrapbook room, home, friends, relatives—well you get the picture.  I’m beyond thrilled for my new adventure and hope you come back often to see what I’ve done with these new goodies.

(I used Give-A-Hoot, Street Signs, Winter Woodland Cricut Cartridges, DesignStudio, and the basic black Cricut Pen with Digital Papers to make the above layout.  Also, incorporated my Singer Futura-250 for the embroidery stitches)

(The above is a picture of my new Kindle Case I made to hold the Kindle I got for my birthday—Thanks Kids!.  I used the custom shape tool (the grid) in Photoshop Elements to insert various digital patterned papers, printed it onto Fabric Stick, and used a combination of a couple of tutorials from The Sometimes Crafter and One Pearl Button to help me put it all together.)

(There’s that Fabric Stick again.  I printed a dingbat font (Crowns and Coronets from Fontspace) image on some Fabric Stick and made a pillow; printed the same image on some white cardstock and adhered it to chipboard, cut other chipboard pieces to the same size, covered with black cardstock, which I then binded using a Bind-It-All, to make a photo book for a coffee table; printed the same image again, onto white cardstock, and adhered it to black coasters and sealed it with outdoor modpodge to make coordinating coasters).