EEK!

How does someone turn a sweet little tweety bird into a black Raven especially for Halloween? Read on and I'll show you how... Welcome to the next edition of the Sizzix Blog Hop, featuring the dies from the "Fresh Vintage" designs by my friend, Eileen Hull!

First you take the Sizzix ScoreBoards Die-Bird #657120...

...and cut it out of black cardstock. You'll need two of these for the banner project. To make this sweet little birdy a bit tougher, a little meaner, a little bit raven-ish, we'll first need to give him a sharper beak. With a bit of imagination you can find a perfect beak shape in the wing, as shown in the photo below; cut where indicated. And for the tail... well, Ravens don't have perky tails like this little guy, so we'll cut it and flip it over so the feathers are pointing downward. NOW... we're getting a little more wicked looking!

To make the pennant banner, cut 5 burlap rectangles 7" x 9." Cut 5 text pages from an old book, into rectangles slightly smaller than burlap rectangles. From decorative paper, cut 5 strips 1" x 7." With a sewing machine with black thread, stitch paper to burlap in "sloppy" stitches; stitch paper strip across lower section.

Cut 5" letters to spell E E K from black cardstock; adhere to rectangles above the paper strips. Adhere your "Ravens" to the remaining two flags, with one facing left and the other facing right. Adhere a wing to the side of each bird... keeping the feathers pointing low to add to the raven-ish effect. Draw simple feet using a black marker. With a white paint pen make a round dot for the eye on each bird. When paint is dry add a black dot to center to make a scary beady eye. Arrange rectangles with a bird on each end and the letters E E K in the center. Leaving a 2" space between each rectangle and a 16" tail on each end, stitch rectangles to a 3/4" ribbon. Embellish by tying a 12" strip of tea-stained cheesecloth between each rectangle.

Now you're all set to decorate your hearth... or your wood-pile!

So many possibilities with these dies, so hop on along to the next blog for another great idea! To view the hop, you can click on the Fresh Vintage blinkie on the sidebar. This will take you around to all of the designers on the hop. Be sure to visit the "Oh My Crafts" blog for details about how to have a chance at winning this die. THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!

All about "PINK!"

Westcott Brand is the official sponsor of the Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop this month. With the support of Velcro Brand Fasteners and The Duck Brand, our project challenge is simply... “PINK,” in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I’m proud to be one of 33 designer’s who were asked to use their tools and materials to create one-of-a-kind projects to show-off their products. I’ve made two projects to share with you; a scissor organizer and a “Hello Titty” purse. (You’ll just have to read the story!)

It will be worth it to read all the way to the end of this post, where you will find the details about a very exciting giveaway! Then use the icon to the right of this post to hop your way along to visit the other designers work.

Chair-back Scissor Organizer
Having the right tool at your finger-tips is important. If you’re like me, you’re always looking for those elusive scissors! You know... the ones that would work perfectly for the task at hand... I know they’re here somewhere! I decided to solve that problem by creating an organizer to hang on the back of my desk chair. With such a great selection of Westcott Brand® Cutting Tools I’ll always have the perfect tool at arms reach... now if I can just train myself to put them back after I use them!

Here is a snapshot of the tools and materials I used to create my project. I added some left-over fabric, buttons and thread to what we were given for the challenge.


How to...

1. Determine the size you'll want your chair-back organizer. Mine was approximately 16" x 12" rectangle. Cut two rectangles from fabric remnant, adding 1/2" to all sides.





2. Cut two velcro strips the width of the organizer; pin the hook side of VELCRO® Brand Hook and Loop Fasteners in place across the width of the right side of one of the rectangles, spacing as desired. Stitch in place using a sew machine straight stitch at the edges of the velcro.



3. Determine the length of straps needed by measuring chair back. Mine were approx. 14" long. Cut 4 strips; pin and stitch with right sides together and stitching to a point at one end and leaving the opposite end open for turning. Trim seams, turn strips and press. Top stitch around all edges.



4. Pin raw edge of straps to top edge of right side of front rectangle. Pin right sides of rectangles together. Stitch together leaving a 4" opening at bottom; trim corners, turn and press into place. Stitch opening closed and Top stitch around all edges.



5. Stitch large buttons onto ends of straps.



6. Cut two 1" pieces of VELCRO® Brand Sticky Back Hook and Loop Fasteners. Adhere hook side on straps on back-side directly under buttons. Adhere loop side of VELCRO along top edge of organizer under strap.





7. Measure and cut 1/2" wide ribbon the width of the organizer plus 4" extra. Cut the same length of the loop side of VELCRO® Brand Hook and Loop Fasteners. Pin and stitch the VELCRO to the back-side of the ribbon along the edges.

8. Decide how you would like to organize your cutting tools by laying them in place on the organizer. Lay the VELCRO backed ribbon over the scissors allowing "wiggle" room for easy removal. Stitch reinforcement stitches near each side of your scissors. (Note: these stitches may not be needed depending on the strength of the VELCRO product you choose to use.)



Hello "Titty" Purse

In case there is anyone in the universe haven't told... I have this little Granddaughter ... at 21 mos old she's quite the talker, but her words don't always come out exactly as you expect. My DIL had just texted me that Grace calls Kitties, "Titties" when my box of The Duck Brand® Patterned Duct Tape Rolls arrived on my doorstep. Knowing this Breast Cancer Awareness "PINK" challenge was on the horizon, I busted out laughing when I saw that the box contained "Hello Kitty" Duck Tape! Perfect timing to make my little lady a "Hello Titty" Purse! Thank you, Grace for always being such an inspiration to your Grammy!






I came across this video on the internet and it inspired the purse I made and will be sending to Grace. As you'll see, I modified the basic instructions by folding the Duck Tape "Fabric in thirds to create a flap over the purse.













Now that you've read through my long post, here are the links to the details about the Online Promotion/Giveaway: http://www.facebook.com/WestcottBrand and http://westcottbrand.blogspot.com/ http://www.facebook.com/velcrobrand & http://www.facebook.com/ducktape) The giveaway winner will receive a Deluxe Assortment of Westcott Cutting Tools (assortment may vary). In order to be eligible to win, you must comment on the DCC Blog Hop Post on  http://westcottbrand.blogspot.com/  prior to November 1st. Westcott Brand will choose/announce the random giveaway winner on November 1st!

Superheros!

Kids have always been my favorite people. And I'm so thankful to have a whole bunch of the most darling little ones in my life. My sweet little granddaughter, Grace (the most beautiful 20 month old child in the universe :), enjoys playing dress-up. Her Daddy sends me pictures of her wearing cock-eyed hats and socks on her hands and always a proud grin on her little face. I thought it would be fun to make Grace and all her little friends superhero capes. Her little second cousins need capes, too, so I made a whole batch! When her Daddy was little I made "Kid Terrific" capes for him and his friends with the same logos. I can't wait to see them all wearing these while running around the park! They even have Super Power magic magnetic fasteners!

Designer's Craft Connection: iLove to Create challenge

Fun new product!


For this month’s challenge, the Designer’s Craft Connection has partnered up with iLovetoCreate for a new product challenge! Thirty of us were provided with a fun new product called, Beads in a Bottle by Tulip. We’ve each created a unique project to share with all of our readers. On July 1st, start here and then use the link in my side-bar to hop along to the next fabulous design!

I love to leave a little somethin’ behind when I’m visiting family or have stopped by to visit at a friend’s home. When I was dreaming up something fun and unique to do with the Beads in a Bottle, I thought of these sweet little message stones and how much fun it would be to tuck one here and there under the leaves in a potted plant or in a garden amongst the basil. Finding one of these, when you least expect it, would surely put a smile on your face!











Materials:

*Beads in a Bottle by Tulip
*Flat stones
*Krylon Indoor/Outdoor spray paint in light colors
*Krylon Chalkboard spraypaint
*Permanent marker
*Chalk

Instructions:

1. Clean and dry flat stones
2. Spray paint stones with Krylon spray paints and/or chalkboard paint; allow to dry.
3. Embelllish stones with Beads in a Bottle leaving space in the center for message; allow to dry.
4. Use permanent marker to write message or inspirational word on face of stone. Use chalk to write erasable message on stones painted with chalkboard paint.





iLove to Create has generously offered a giant giveaway to a lucky follower of the Designer’s Craft Connection blog hop. Check here http://ilovetocreateblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/beads-in-bottle-blog-hop.html

  Visit here for all the details about how you can enter for a chance at this amazing stack of creative goodness!

For more BEADS in a BOTTLE inspiration be sure to check out their video here.



Thanks for stopping by!

Weddings Galore!

This is a big summer for weddings! We have THREE, amongst our special friends, all in the course of one month... then, of course, there's that one on the other side of the "pond." When the team for the Designer Craft Connection decided weddings would be our theme for this month's blog-hop, I was delighted! As we "speak" I'm in the process of creating proto-types for two sets of wedding invitations I'll be making over the next few weeks. I also have the honor of creating three hand-bound and stitched wedding guest books for the events I mentioned before. (Not the royal wedding, mind you, the other three!)

A couple years ago our son, Chris, married our beautiful daughter-in-LOVE, Sarah. It was truly one of the most joyous days of my life! We are crafty people (the good kind of crafty), so much of the wedding was DIY. Sarah made her own table decorations, her bridesmaids did her floral arrangements and bouquets, Sarah's Mom decorated their cake and they allowed my hubby and I the great honor of creating many other items for the wedding. We made their Save-the-Date cards, their invitations, ceremony programs, aisle decorations, guest book, and garter. I think the day was extra sweet, especially with all of the personal touches that went into it!

Here are a few pix of this blessed event...

The happy couple near the end of their wedding reception.


The assembly line for the 200 invitations!


You don't quite understand how many 200 is until you start addressing and stamping those puppies!


The programs for their ceremony were embellished with an arrow though a heart, which was symbolic because Chris is an archer.


I had the honor of making Sarah's garter, which is a very special tradition in our family. It was her something blue and included a button from my wedding dress. Stitched inside were two pennies, each from the birth year of the bride and groom, just as my grandmother did in mine. The pink garter is a purchased one for tossing.


The handsome groom and his very proud Mom!


One of MANY kisses!


The hand-bound guest book I made for them, included a photo printed on canvas for the cover. We had a photographer take a black and white photo of each guest/couple/family who attended and they wrote a note on a separate piece of paper that had been pre-printed with a journalling block. The photos were later printed and added to the book with the note for the attendees. There are extra pages in the back of the book to be used at future milestone anniversary parties.


(Pardon my teeny pictures... long story short... computer issues)

Designer's Craft Connection

So inspired by the blog-hop we participated in a few months back, several designers decided to keep it going! With our blogs linked together by the widget in our sidebars you can easily move back and forth through the series of participating blogs.

Every month, beginning on March 13th, we'll be posting something handmade or inspired by a specific theme. With wedding season fast approaching and a certain royal wedding in all the news, we decided we'd start with weddings as our very first theme. You can check back on the 13th and move through the series of blogs to peruse many "love"ly designs!

As a kick-off for the exciting Designer's Craft Connection there will be an amazing giveaway... a Cricut Expression! Just hop around the Designer Crafts Connection ring and locate the 9 blogs that are displaying the Cricut bug logo. List them in the comment section of Julie McGuffee’s blog to be entered in the drawing to win!



As part of this exciting kick-off we decided to share a bit about what we saw and/or were inspired by at the recent Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show. Here are a few snapshots of what inspired me and I would I'd like to share with you.