Punch Art Class

This is your last chance to make some cards and tags using our retiring stamp sets/punches.

When: Tuesday, June 21st from 6:30 pm-9:30pm
Where: My house
Cost: $15, must RSVP and pay by Wednesday, June 15th.

You will stamp 2 sets of the bug/creature on the projects so that you can take home a set so that you know what to use to make another one in the future.

I will also send out a list of punches we'll be using to those that sign up so you can bring your punches if you'd like. It will make the class go quicker and you won't have to share as much (or wait for the punches you need). Please make sure to label your products when you bring them so they don't get mixed-up with others.

Please bring your own scissors and adhesive. If you don't have any, I will have glue sticks you can use.

Last Chance Stamp-a-Stack

This is your last chance to make some cards using our retiring stamp sets/products.

When: Saturday, June 18th from 9:00 am-1:00pm
Where: My house
Cost: $20, must RSVP and pay by Wednesday, June 15th.

You will make 3 each of the 5 designs for a total of 15 cards with envelopes. I will have other greetings you can use on the cards in case you want to change the occasion for the card.

Please bring your own scissors and adhesive. If you don't have any, I will have glue sticks you can use.

Super Hero Cape Tutorial

I found a tutorial HERE. They have patterns for the symbols to put on your cape, or you can make your own. I used her instructions and this is what I came up with:

I started with 27" long fabric, folded it in half again (it's already in half when you buy it). I then used the instructions on the tutorial and the pictures to make the neck and then angled it out to the edge of the fabric, then cut straight down and rounded the corner, and straight across the bottom.

Cut out your symbol using a pattern, or some type of die cutting machine.

I used my cricut to cut the K and the circle. The K measures about 8 1/2" and the circle is about 9 1/4-9 1/2". Before I cut them with my cricut I ironed the fabric onto Heat 'N' Bond Lite (for sewing). Then flip the fabric upside down, tape down the piece using painters tape (it won't hurt your cutting mat), and cut. Remember to use the mirror image when you cut your letters or they will come out backwards since the fabric is upside down when you cut it out.

Next, peel the backing off of the Heat 'N' Bond from the letter only, aline the two pieces, and iron them together.

Then peel the backing off of the main piece (the circle), align it on your cape and iron it.

I wanted my capes to have a "finished/store bought" look to them so I wanted to use the satin stitch around the decals. A satin stitch is just a very close zig zag. As you can see the stitch chosen was #4 (a basic zig zag). Then I shortened the distance between the zags and lengthened the stitch to make it a little wider to make it easier to catch the fabric as I went around. This was my first time doing this so I am NOT a pro by any means but it was fairly simple to figure out. Use a piece of scrap fabric to play on until you have the stich just where you want it and then move on to the project at hand.

Here is a close-up of what my letter is looking like with the satin stitch around it. I love the way it turned out. It's not perfect, but pretty good for my first attempt. Once I sewed around my letter and circle, I put the two cape pieces together inside out, serged around the outside leaving a 5-6" opening at the bottom to turn it right side out. You could use a regular machine to sew around the cape if you don't have a serger. At this point you'll want to iron the whole cape and iron the edges well so that it all lays flat and is ready to finish. I then sewed a straight stitch about 1/8" from the edge all around the cape, closing the hole at the bottom and keeping it flat.
The last thing I did is put velcro on the neck. I used a 2" piece. One piece goes on the top of the left side, the other goes on the bottom of the right side. I'm sorry I don't have a picture of this.

I don't have any great pics of the girls wearing their capes because I've misplaced my camera and haven't been taking many pictures lately but it was Jade's birthday and Kazia was giving her a birthday kiss. You can see the cape here pretty well.

At the party you can see both of the girls capes and the lengths of them. You can always shorten/lengthen them depending on how tall/short your kids are. I have one in the works for Cooper and it's shorter. I figured he'd want one to wear when he starts walking and playing with the girls.

Kazia had a birthday party to go to and this is what I made. I used the tutorial link above to get the pattern for the batman and superman logos. I then changed the super man S to a J for the little boy whom received the cape.

Turned out rather well I think. The cape is reversible. I'm going to make more for our house so when boys come over and the girls want to dress-up, we'll have something for them.

Pillowcase Shirts/Dresses

I found a tutorial HERE. I loved them so much I made 5 for each of the girls...matching of course. Money is a little tight so they generally only get matching clothing for pictures or if I make them. Here is one of the outfits:

These are SO adorable! I ended up having their 4/6 year old pics taken in them. I also made Cooper a matching bowtie (out of the red/white polka dot fabric) and had kid pictures taken as well.

I love that these are SUPER easy and quick to make. After the first one (where you make all of your mistakes) they go together nicely. I can make 2 in about 1 1/2 -2 hours from start to finish.

I also made the leggings. I used a pair of Old Navy leggings that Kazia had in her closet, turned them inside out, traced them the best I could onto tissue paper and voila, a pattern. This way I could make 4 sets of leggings to match each of the shirts/dresses I made.

Some of them are shorter (shirt length), mid thigh, and to the knee. This way they're all a little different (besides the pattern on the material). You do not have to add the coordinating piece at the bottom, but I think it's WAY cuter with a chunky hemline.

All of my shirts/dresses were made from fat quarters. To add length I made the coordinating fabric wider, to shorten I took a couple inches off the length of the fat quarter but still added the coordinating fabric at the bottom. For the ties, you can use a piece of coordinating fabric, bias tape, or ribbon. I have a large selection of ribbon so it was easy to find ribbon to go with everything I made. The girls love to jump...twirl....

and model these outfits.

They're very cozy and let them move however their heart desires.

Watch for upcoming pictures of the other 4 shirts/dresses I made!

Becky's Baby Gift

I had some cute ideas floating around in my head for a baby girl yet my girls are definitely NOT babies anymore. When Becky told me she was having a girl I knew just what I was going to make.

This first outfit is a white onesie that I die cut a flower from the Flower Folds sizzix die (sold by Stampin' Up!). I ironed it on and sewed around it then added a button. I used the same flowers for the flower that goes on the headband but I alternated the layers with fabric and white felt, sewed the layers together, added a button, then glued it to a clippie.

Now for the best part....RUFFLED BUM!!! I LOVE ruffled baby bums! It was a little time consuming to add the ruffles but super easy. I used the Tasteful Trims sizzix die (sold by Stampin' Up!) to cut the scallop edges out, sewed a gathering stitch close to the straight edge, gathered, pinned, then sewed one layer at a time starting with the bottom layer. I LOVE how it turned out!

Sorry the lighting isn't as great. My phone camera is not as great as my other...but the other is vacationing, somewhere. This is a smaller version of the pillowcase dress/shirt. I really hope it fit Alana because I didn't have a pattern to go from so I just guessed.

I also made some matching leggings to wear under the shirt/dress. They sure are CUTE! I didn't have a pattern for the leggings either. I used a pair of Kazia's leggings to make a pattern for my girls. I then shrunk it to a size that seemed fit for a newborn. I just hope I'm not way off.

June Club Projects

I used a tutorial found HERE to make my "magic slider card". I tweaked it just a little and voila.

I think it turned out pretty cute!

I got the idea for our pages on a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator site. I tweaked it just a bit and got the pages you see above.

I will post supply lists at a later time.

May Club Projects

Please forgive the quality of these images and the posts to come. I've misplaced my camera and so I'm using the camera on my phone.

Supply Lists are on their way!

The Retirement Lists are Here!

Dates: June 1-30, 2011 (select items while supplies last)
Details: It's time to say goodbye! Hundreds of products from the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog and Definitely Decorative brochures are retiring, and now is the time for you to get them before they're gone.

Last Chance Lists (Remember to go through My Store for best pricing. Click on the "shop now" button under my name and contact information. You can also call or e-mail me to place an order.)
Clear Mount Stamps (for PDF format, click HERE)
Wood Mount Stamps
Accessories (for PDF format, click HERE)
Definitive Decorative (for PDF format, click HERE)