13 Crafts I Pursue

1.  Making Cards

2.  Scrapbooking

3.  Sewing ( gift card holders, wall hangings,purses, and dresses for my granddaughters. )

4.  Tee shirts (with vinyl and infusible ink - sublimation)

5.  Shadow boxes

6. Home Decor

7. Jewelry

8.  Keychains

9.  Infusible Ink on tote bags and zipper bags of all sizes.

10. Painted wood

11. Making wreaths

12.Watercolor

13.Sublimated tumblers, pens, pencils, wind spinners, and luggage tags

I'm linking up with other Thursday Thirteen people.  Have fun visiting!

A Few Recent Projects

 

A blanket I made

A dress and matching wristlet.

A baby big

A Dress with lace and buttons.

Please visit Wordless Wednesday at Comedy Plus, Wordless Wednesday at Blogspot, and/or Image-in-ing.

Quick Tip Tuesday

 

Baby Blanket

 

One of the caregivers at my mom's memory center is pregnant, and they had a shower for her yesterday.  I am out of town on a scrapbook trip, but I made her a baby blanket and dropped it off, along with a gift card, before I left. 

It's made from patterned and solid cozy flannel with a satin binding. 

It is not perfect, as you can see in the photo.  This is only the second time I've used a satin binding, and it was harder than I remember from the first time.  I recommend this Youtube video for instruction on mitering corners.

 What's a crooked seam in a handmade gift?  Not a huge deal, right?  My purpose today is not to show you how to make a blanket, but to encourage you to try something new even if it's difficult and even if you're worried it won't be perfect.  Finished is better than unfinished, even if it has flaws and regardless of what type of craft it is.  It's how we learn.  Be proud of what you make!

Visit Craft Schooling Sunday and Sew Can Do for more crafts and creativity!

What does a beginning sewist need?

 

For 3 years I have been back in the sewing game after a 30+ year hiatus, and what I haven't been able to remember on my own, I have been able to learn and relearn. So if you're thinking of taking up the hobby, go for it!

There are a few obvious essentials:

1. sewing machine

2. scissors or rotary cutter (or both)

3. needles

4. thread, bobbins, pins or clips

5. an iron

6. fabric

7. tape measure

8. self healing cutting mat

Here are a few other things that make sewing easier that might not seem so obvious.

9. Seam ripper. I make mistakes. I've had to take projects apart and start over. Even the most experienced sewists do, too. 

10. Pen with Soluble or Disappearing Ink. I need to be able to mark my fabric for patterns, hem lines, cutting, and so on.

11. Nippers. I call them that. They are little sewing scissors that are actually called thread snips. Even if your machine has an automatic thread cutter, you will need these small scissors. Your regular fabric scissors can be unwieldy when trying to cut small threads.

12. Pinking sheers. These not only help prevent fraying but are also one easy way to finish a seam.

13. Patterns. I have purchased a few, but I also find free patterns on the Internet.

I'm linking up with Thursday 13. 

Cute Drawstring Bag!

 Hello!  I wanted to show you another variation of the drawstring bags that are in my Etsy shop.

Isn't it cute?  I think they all are, but I'm biased.

These bags are great for a variety of reasons.  You could carry coins, small toys, office supplies, or even snacks, but better yet, you could wrap a present in these fabric gift bags.  If you are like me and sometimes have trouble wrapping due to arthritis, these bags could save a lot of pain.  Slip the gift inside, pull the drawstrings, add a tag, and it's ready to go under the tree in a snap.

Here is the Etsy link.

Thank you for stopping by!

I've been a busy bee!

 Monday - What a productive day! I bet there are a lot of people that don't often say that, including me!  I was bit by the crafting bug, so amidst laundry, cooking, and a little cleaning, I did some sewing and paper crafting.  You really do have to get in front of all the holiday making and get it done early, unless you want to stress.

I made these adorable Santa shaker cards (4 of them).  That's the most number of any one type of card I've made for Christmas this year.  And full disclosure, it is not my design, but it was just so cute, I had to try it.

 I made this cute drawstring bag (2 of them) with the Marauder's Map on them for my Etsy shop, so if you know a Harry Potter fan (like me), they would love this!

I sewed three other plain, muslin drawstring bags that I am going to use as gift wrap.  Now all I have to do is put the design on them.  I'm thinking about using this design from Creative Fabrica:

Last night, I made some chocolate milk with sugar free Nesquik to have with my toast, and on a whim, I poured in a splash of sugar free chocolate caramel creamer.  It was heaven!

Now for some funnies...

That's all for today!  Don't forget to visit Random Tuesday Thoughts and Happy Tuesday!

Refreshed and Ready to Craft!

 

Hello!  I am back from vacation, feeling refreshed, and I'm ready to get my craft on!  We went on a cruise with my sister and her husband.  They have been on at least 50 cruises.  Us?  Not so much.  Five or six, I think.  I get seasick and have to wear a patch and chew Dramamine, but it works, and I was able to have fun.  Now back to reality and back to CrAfTiNg!

I feel like I've missed so much!  Did you catch Abbi Kirsten's Holiday Cricut Craftfest?  What about Justine Hovey and Laurel Beard's Stress-free Cardmaking Summit?  And Jennifer Maker just announced her Maker Academy. These ladies are some of the gurus of the paper-crafting community.  There is ALWAYS something new to learn, and I'm ready with my all-access passes!

Don't forget that this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Ladies, do your self-exam and get your mammograms on schedule.  Early detection is a life-saver!

And today and tomorrow are Big Deal Days on Amazon in case you're interested.  I'm checking out some deals on toys for the grandbabies (like this year's holiday Barbie - oh, wait, that would be for me! LOL) as well as a treat or two for myself like these new Christmas ornaments and this Echo Dot at an incredible price!  But I digress...

Can't wait to get crafty again!  I've already started some sewing projects.  Tomorrow is going to be my Cricut day, and I'll be posting more items on Etsy soon.  Btw, Etsy is doing a promotion for the next two days:  $10 off any order of $40 or more.  That's 25%!  Off everything!

Now go have a happy, crafty week!

Link up with Stacy and Sandee for a whole lot of fun!  Have a wonderful week, my friends!

Quick Tip Tuesday - Pins and Needles

 

When you are sewing, chances are you're going to drop some straight pins and/or needles at some point.  It's basically inevitable. And have you ever stepped on one? Even in shoes, it's no picnic, and barefooted, I don't even want to tell you how bad that is, and I hope you never have to find out.

An easy fix is to get a magnetic "pin cushion."  Just hover over where you may have dropped needles, and they will be pulled into the pin cushion.  It even works if you've dropped them on carpet.  It's much easier than trying to pick up each pin separately and may even pick up those pesky pins that you don't even see!  Save your feet and get a magnetic pin holder.

Quick Tip Tuesday - For Sewing

 Sometimes starting a new sewing project may seem daunting, and it might even make you put off the entire project because it seems so overwhelming, but if you separate your project out over a few days or even a week in my case, it seems to go more smoothly.

Day 1 - I wash and iron my fabric.  (My favorite iron, and it's not expensive! And my spray starch)

Day 2 - I set aside time to study my pattern and directions as well as cutting out pattern pieces.

Day 3 - I pin my pattern pieces to my fabric. (These are my favorite pins, but I also use clips sometimes.)

Day 4 - I cut my pattern pieces out and transfer all the pattern markings to the fabric. (I use this marking pen from Dritz)

Day 5 - I sew.  If it's a multi-step process, and it usually is, I will do part of it on each day until it is completed.  For example, if I am sewing a top, I may do the bodice and sleeves one day, the bottom of the shirt another day, and the hemming on a third day. (This is the sewing machine I use.)

All that's left is the hem!

Following this routine seems to keep me motivated and feeling less overwhelmed which makes sewing more fun!

You are cordially invited to join my FREE Facebook group!  All crafters welcome! 

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