Flower Brooch by Shelli Gardner

Today I am taking out my scraps of fabric and making a few, or quite a few, of these cute brooches.  I plan to also make a few fancy ones to dress up my shoes for Spring.  These are so quick and easing using SU's Flower Folds Die (#115970), Antique Brads (#117273), or a favorite antique button, hot glue gun, and pin back or shoe clip depending on how you would like to use the gorgeous flowers.  The complete directions as well as step by step pictures can be find at the link below. (Why invent the flower, right!?)

Flower Brooch 

Here is a fancier version.

Birthday Card

Cute birthday card using SU!'s By Definition and Sizzix Die Embossing Folder.

Fabric Purse using Scallop Square Die Cut

Fabric Purse - pattern and other ideas.  Quick and easy directions are listed below the cute photos.

Such a quick way to cut out scallop squares to make a purse.  I made 6 to give as gifts this past Christmas but in the flurry of holiday hustle and bustle, did not take pictures.  I have a reminder note on my 2012 calendar to offer a class and this time take photos!  Here are a few from some fellow demonstrators to pique your interest until class:

SQUARE RAG BAG SUPPLIES:

  Batting - (27) 3 3/4" Squares of black Quilters Dream Cotton Batting

  Fabric - 1/4 yard each of 4 different fabrics - 27 Outside Squares and 27 Inside Squares

  Handles  -  1/4 yard of fabric, 1/4 yard 978F Fusible Pellon

  Accessories - Anywhere Glue (104045), thread.

  Tools - Big Shot, Scallop Square Clear Die (#115950), sewing machine

QUICK DIRECTIONS


1.  Cut strips of 5" strips of fabric.  Cut the strips into 5" squares.  Then cut the squares with your Scallop Square Die running it through with approximately 6 squares (depending on fabric - I used cotton) at a time.  Use a thin cardboard shim to get them to cut out completely.

2.  To make your quilting sandwiches, lay down a fabric square of your lining fabric, wrong side up on the table.  Dab the center with your glue stick.  Lay down a square of batting in the center of the square.  Dab the center of the wrong side of an outside square and put down onto the batting.  Pin together.

3.  Sew diagonally across the square, creating an "X".  It saves a lot of time and thread if you chain sew these.

4.  Lay your squares out in rows or 3, 3, 3, 7, 3, 3, 3 representing your bag.  Using a 3/8" seam allowance, sew the squares together with the WRONG SIDES TOGETHER, so that the scallop edges are on the outside of the purse.  Sew in this order, the 3 x 3 Side Panels, then side gusset - to bottom - to side gusset.  Then sew the side panels to the bottom.  Then sew the side gussets to the side panels.

5.  For the HANDLES:  Cut 2 piece of fabric to 4 1/2" x 28" (or length of your choosing) and 2 strips of fusible pellon to 1 1/2" x 28".  Fuse the pellon to the center of the wrong side of your fabric.  Fold and press one side over the pellon.  Press a narrow hem on the opposite side and then fold and press that over the pellon.  Stitch close to the fabric edge.

6.  Insert the handle in the top of the outside front squares, being sure they are between the fabric and the batting.  Pin.

7.  Using a 1/2" seam allowance, stitch around the top edge of the purse.  Stitch again where the handles are about 1/4" above your first stitching.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here are two projects to celebrate Valentine's Day.  The heart box can be found on my website Julie's website under projects.  Along with the project picture, you'll find a complete list of SU! supplies used to make the box.  While visiting my website make sure to take a look around at all the other fun projects you can make with Stampin'Up! supplies.  Enjoy the inspiration!

Stampin'Up! Heart Box

The other project is something I came across on the internet yesterday so it will be on my list of projects to make in 2013.  Cute, cute, cute.  And if you need instructions, just do a quick search on YouTube, there are many!

The pink heart heart card can be found here:  Little Birdie Secrets  and here is the link for the entire post which includes a video (so you don't have to do the searching on YouTube) How to Crochet a Heart.

Pretty Pink Valentine Card

What got me to the pink heart card was finding a basic kraft card with a simple red crochet heart. Which led me to here Crochet Heart Garland .  Now, if I could just remember where that cute card which started my search can be found. I think I have enough ideas to keep me busy without it, don't you think!?

Red Crochet Heart

Red Crochet Heart Garland

Beth Quinn Designs

Beth Quinn Designs  has the loveliest sentimental charm necklaces.  She also sells children's jewelry.

There is also a special with Social Goodies.  $4 from your purchase will go to the charity of your choice.  A little something for everyone. Love the glitter!

Teaching Spring Classes in Monrovia

Springtime Classes begin in March!  I'll be teaching Rubberstamping/Art Classes on Monday evenings from 7-8pm for 8 weeks starting March 26 and Beginning Jewelry Classes on Thursday evenings from 7-8pm starting March 29 for 8 weeks.  Here's a link to the current brochure Monrovia Community Classes which should also be the same link when the Spring Brochure is posted.  Here is a sample of one of the cards I'll be teaching.  So pretty!

Watercolored Rose and Shimmery Paper

Gift Card Boxes

I really enjoyed making these boxes to hold gift cards.  Mini little presents which won't get lost or misplaced.  The nice thing about them is they can be reused year after year.  It took a little time to figure out the dimensions I needed but I now have a template.  The most time consuming task for me of course is deciding how to decorate each box.  I like to make everything color coordinate with the papers I've chosen and add a little embellishment to carry out the theme of the paper.  The one nice thing about these gift boxes is that they gently slide open and there is no "ripping the gift wrap to get to the gift" so all my hard work doesn't go up in a poof of paper.  I prefer the little floral rosettes to the accordion rosettes.

The floral rosettes are circles cut into spirals and then wrapped tightly and glued.  The accordion rosettes are strips of paper scored, joined and glued into a circle and then pressed flat.  In order to get them to stay put you need to punch a one inch circle and hot glue them down so they are secure.  Too much mess an frustration for me so until I figure out a simple solution (as others have) I will keep making the floral rosettes.

Here are a few of the boxes.  I started a few more but couldn't find "just the right paper" to coordinate.