Faith Collection

 I've been wanting to make some items that have Scriptures on them that are encouraging and can be given as small gifts.  I have a "bucket" of stamps with Bible verses and took a couple out to add to some wooden blocks.

First I painted the blocks - where did I get the blocks?  I look for them on clearance racks at Michaels and Hobby Lobby and I find some at thrift shops.  When I bring them home, I paint them and cover them with pretty Stampin Up papers for the backgrounds.  

These two have cut outs from Forever Forest and Encircled in Nature dies.  They kind of remind me of my trip last year to the National Parks.  The one on the right looks a little like the Grand Tetons!

Here is another one that I made a while back for a co-worker.  Once I glue down the papers, I sand them with a fine sanding block and then add the embellishments.  When they're done, I spray them with Krylon using a satin finish.  This keeps the ink for smearing if they get wet.  

I've got blocks in all sizes and I can't wait to make some more.  :)

Patchwork Topper for the Kitchen

 Yesterday I finished a small patchwork table/counter topper for my kitchen.  I cut out and sewed 2 1/2" squares that I had left over from the table runner that I made last month.  I fussy cut a couple of birds squares from the fabric to give it some interest.  It looks great in the kitchen and coordinates with the table runner.

Remember this?  I had finished it last month at my sewing retreat.  When I go on my retreats, I like to bring at least one small project so that I had something finished when I get home.  They both look nice in the kitchen.  My old table runner was getting stained and it was time for something new!

It looks bright and fresh for spring.  

Hexagon Table Topper & Tree Skirt

In my sewing class, I showed the ladies how to make an easy table topper using four 2.5" strips. I will try to come up with a tutorial, because they are fun and quick to make.  

I made this one a few weeks ago to put in my bedroom.  These are the colors in my room, so I'll find a place for it.  

How long does it take for me to make one?  One hour and 6 minutes.  LOL

Here is one that I made for Christmas. He's tucked in the corner of the kitchen on the counter with one of my nutcrackers.  They make nice toppers and I'd like to make a lot more for this year.  They make a nice gift to give during the holidays.  

I put this one out during fall for a table centerpiece.  I have a couple of tables in the dining room that I like to decorate.

I wanted to try making one a bit bigger to be used as a tree skirt.  I wanted soft colors in it for the little tree in my granddaughter's room.  This one has eight rows. I found that you want to increase the size using an even number of rows.

Instead of sewing up the final side, I left it open for an edge to put the ties so that you can wrap it around the tree.  Once it was finished, I added some lace to the bottom edges to give it more of a dressy look.  

I will definitely make more of these for next year.  No matter what theme you're using for Christmas or another holiday, you can make one of these to match.

Quick and easy- where would you put one?

 

Tan Colored Hotpads and Bowl Cozies

This week I made a couple of hot pads and bowl cozies for a friend.  I didn't know her kitchen colors so I made them using tans, which I thought was a neutral color. I cut my tans into strips, about 1.75 to 2" wide and then sewed them down onto a piece of heat-resistant batting.  I really like how they came out. I need to make some of these for myself!  

I like to free-motion quilt my bowl cozies - it mades them look more finished.  It takes a little bit longer, but I like the quilted style.  You can use them for hot dishes or cold dishes, like ice cream.  :)

Of course, no gift from me would be complete without the addition of a couple of little birds.  I added some crocheted flowers and buttons to them for their wings.  You can put them on a shelf or in a bowl as decor.  As always, I had fun making them.  
 

Chunky Crocheted Baby Blanket

For my granddaughter's baby shower three years ago, I had made her two crocheted baby blankets.  One of them is just like this one and she has carried it around for several years.  Needless to say, I think she is ready for a new one, so I made this for her.

It's made of the chunky Bernat yarn that is very soft and easy to work with.  This particular one is made using the variegated pink colors.  

I've made this baby/kid's blanket several times.  It comes together pretty quickly and I often give it as a baby shower gift.  

I've also made it in smaller sizes for doll blankets.  Last year my daughter gave me 10 skeins of it and I've completed several blankets from them so far.  

There are two skeins left and what will I do?  Make another one, for sure!

Here's the instructions if you'd like to make it:

Chain 50 very loosely.  In the first row, skip the first chain stitch and single crochet all across the row, chain 2 and turn.  For the second row, double crochet all the way across and chain 1. Turn.  Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until your blanket is the desired size.  Sew in ends with a large yarn needle.  

Here's a close-up of the rows.  Keep the stitches loose, but not too loose.  The single crochet rows tighten up the stitches a bit to keep the blanket from getting all stretched out.

I made this blanket a bit bigger for my granddaughter for her bed.  Now to just switch out the "old" one with this new one!  :)

Mixed Florals with Coneflowers

This week I used the new sets, Mixed Florals stamp set along with Mixed Labels for the sayings and Elements of Text for background.  For this first card, I stamped the beautiful coneflower image (one of my favorite flowers) and colored it in with a Q-tip using Copper Clay ink pad.  I wanted a soft, natural look to the my flowers and that's why I used the Q-tip for coloring.

The papers are from Nature's Sweetness, one of last year's specialties.  I love the neutral look of this card and how it turned out.  The die cut is from Nested Essentials die set.  I added Wink of Stella to the flowers and although you can't see it in the photo, it makes them shine.  This card idea is from Teri Allen.  

My next card is made using the coneflower stamp, only this time I colored the flowers and leaves in with Blends markers.  I used the striped paper from the Mixed Media Florals designer pack.  I embossed it using the Timeworn Type folder.  The circle is cut from Spotlight on Nature die and I added a stamped image from Elements of Text, a new online set.  

This card has a delicate spring look to it and I added to my Sympathy card pile.  I saw the idea for this from StampwithRachel.  I added some twine along the side a textured cut out for more interest.  

The third time that I made the card, I used Crumb Cake cardstock for the textured cut out.  It gave the card a more neutral look with less pink.  This card also has Wink of Stella on the flowers.

For my third card, I went with a gray and red color palate.  The designer paper is from Country Lace paper set and image of the tulips is from the same set as the other two cards, Mixed Florals.  The white middle piece is stamped with the saying and then embossed with the Subtle folder.  These flowers have Wink of Stella on them, too.  It's my interpretation of a card from Jolanna Johnstone.  

I enjoyed making each of these cards this week and I just love the Mixed Florals set.  I can see myself making coneflowers in all sorts of colors.  But here a few ideas for you.  

 

Take to the Sky

This week I was playing around with a new stamp set, Take to the Sky.  I bought it to make some masculine cards.  Here is my first attempt at using it.  

For this card, I started with Copper Clay cardstock.  I seriously love this color.  I added a navy blue banner that I embossed with a folder, a piece of the sky designer paper and then a stitched square.  On the square I stamped some clouds and some splatter.  I colored in the plane with Blends and cut it out.  I added a small paper strip to the bottom of the clouds with some twine and then 2 cute little banners from Nested Essentials dies.  I got the idea from Carole Parsons on Pinterest.  

The next card is made with Navy blue cardstock.  I like how Susie Wood cut the paper and added a strip to the top and to the bottom of the card.  I tied a a twine around the middle to give the card a more masculine look.  I stamped the plane directly onto the white rectangle and colored in the plane using some watercolor pencils.  It's hard to see in this photo.

I stamped a couple of clouds and added them with dimensionals to give the card more interest.  I had an extra banner cut out on my desk and I thought that it looked great on the bottom of the focal point.  I trimmed it a bit and like how it looks.  It gives the card an additional contrasting color.

My third card has a side fold.  I like this fold - it's easy to do and it highlights the designer papers.  Add a focal image and a saying and you're all set!  For my card, I stamped the plane and cut it out and added it to some cut outs from Stitched So Sweetly.  They're a few years old, but one of my favs.  I added Happy Birthday, some twine and a few sequin embellishments.  Even though it is simple, I kind of like this card!

I would like to try making some more plane cards, but didn't get a chance this week.