Stampin' with Kristin

Fabric Friday - Quilt Block Swap - Part 2

Last Friday I posted the raw materials for a quilt block swap in which I'm participating.  It's taken everything in me to hold this post until this Friday!  I wanted to share them with you as soon as they were finished!  They only took THREE trips to my local quilt shop and to a Big Box store for the backing and batting.  Whew! 

Want to know what I used to make these???  A LOT of Big Shot Dies!!!  That was one of the requirements.  Here they are:

- Tasteful Trim Die (stems)
- Leaves #2 Die (leaves)
- Flower Folds Die (flowers)
- Penant Die (scallop circle on large flower)
- Scallop Circle #2 Die (scallop circle on small flower)
- Circles #2 Die (circles in center of flowers)
- Beautiful Butterflies Die (butterflies)
- 1/8" Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon
- Springtime Vintage Designer Big Buttons (Occasions Mini Catalog) - only available until April 30th!
- Sweet Stitches Designer Big Buttons (Occasions Mini Catalog) - only available until April 30th!

I had to make 9 of these blocks.  So, I snapped a quick photo of all of them before I popped them in the box to mail off to the swap host.  I can't wait to see all of the blocks I get back!!!

Fabric Friday - Quilt Block Swap - Part 1

It's Fabric Friday!  And, guess what?  I'm actually playing with fabric!  Unfortunately I don't have a finished project to share just yet - that will be posted NEXT Friday.  But, I thought I'd tease you with the supplies.  First, I'll back up a bit.  Quite a few months ago (back in January), I signed up to participate in a Quilt Block Swap.  What's a Quilt Block Swap?  It's just like a card swap, but we're making Quilt Blocks!  Thankfully, I only need to make 9!  But, there were some guidelines....they MUST use Big Shot Dies.  They didn't need to use SU fabric.  My first choice would have been to use Springtime Vintage but I don't have much on hand and it's a little late to be ordering it!  So, I ventured out to my local Quilt Shop.  I'd never been there but I used to pass it every night on my way home from work.  I checked them out online and saw that they opened at 10am.  I figured they could help.

Before heading out this morning, I sat down and tried to come up with a layout.  Mine looks more like a card front than a quilt, but I guess that's because I make cards - not quilts!  I cut some pieces of fabric that I did have on hand in the pieces I wanted to use so that I could show the shop owner what I had in mind.  I walked into the store as they were opening and was immediately in love with the colors and patterns.  Fabric is just like paper, isn't it?  I spread my cut fabric samples on the counter and the shop owner was excited about what I had planned and promised me I wasn't biting off more than I could chew (these need to be done in under a week).  She gave me some ideas and let me wander.  She was trying to steer me towards fat quarters - there was even a "sale bin".  But, after being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for close to 5 years, I had no idea how to pair them together!  The colors didn't match in the sale bin.  But, she did have bolts of fabric in coordinating colors grouped together.  So, I told her I couldn't work with the fat quarters.  I needed to use the "families".  Why doesn't everything in the world come in nice coordinated packs and sets like Stampin' Up!  I was drawn to one group and we started pulling out fabric and tried to make it work.  I walked out of the store with a pile of fat quarters from the sale bin and fabric for my quilt blocks.

After a quick lunch of leftovers, I quickly started cutting into the fabric.  I cut one piece wrong (but recovered).  And, the one pattern that wasn't part of the "set" that we threw in was just too bright.  So, back I went to the shop!  She was excited to see my project coming together but could see I was struggling with the one.  We quickly found a replacement and I was on my way.  I've got it planned out, but wanted to take a quick picture of the raw materials before I cut them to pieces.  Check back next week to see how I made out!

Fabric Friday - Embossed Fabric

I wanted to share another project my Die Cut Divas are making this month.  And this card uses a layer of Springtime Vintage Fabric! 

You probably can't tell in this photo (at least I can't) but I embossed the fabric using my Big Shot!  I used the Big Shot Fabric Adhesive Roll to adhere a piece of the fabric to a piece of Very Vanilla Card Stock.  I then cut both with the Top Note Die in the Big Shot and then ran it back through with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder to texturize it!  I layered it over a full Very Vanilla Top Note.  I stamped the sentiment from Word Play (love this set) in Not Quite Navy Ink.  I embellished with some Baja Breeze Seam Binding, Baja Breeze Andornments, tiny butterflies using the Butterfly Embosslit, and pearls.  After the card was put together, I grabbed my Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint/Rubbing Alcohol Mix and spritzed the entire card....and then regretted it!  I think I should have just spritzed the Top Note piece....not the entire card.  But, there it is! 

Fabric Fridays and a FREE Simply Adorned Class

Today's post is doing double-duty.  First off, it's Fabric Friday!  And, secondly, it's advertising a FREE class! 

Let's start with Fabric Friday.  Do you see the fabric in this picture?  You may have to look closely.  I've used some of the Springtime Vintage fabric to embellish the chain on the right!  I've torn it into narrow stips and tied it through the chain!  Fun, huh?  You may remember this project from Leadership back in January.  It was one of the Make & Takes.  The charm in the middle is the one I wear most often.  It always gets lots of compliments.  And, I always love telling people - "Shelli made it!"  Yes, it was one of the pillow gifts from Founder's Circle last year.  The charm on the left was the very first charm I ever made.

Wouldn't you like to have one or all three of these?  I'm offering my first ever Simply Adorned class absolutely FREE!  You are welcome to attend any of the three sessions for this class.  You can make as many inserts as you'd like!  I will have lots of samples on hand in all of the sizes for you to use as inspiration.  You will have the opportunity at the class to purchase any of the charms, baubles, trinkets, chains, or other products to use for yourself or to give as gifts!  These would make the perfect Mother's Day Gift!  AND, it gets better, every person who orders at the class will be placed in a drawing for the Hostess Benefits!

Online event registration for Simply Adorned powered by Eventbrite

Fabric Friday - Fabric Brads

Okay, I admit, this card is a stretch for my Fabric Fridays!  BUT, I've been fighting the worst cold all week long.  I haven't even left the house since Tuesday afternoon.  (That's my secret to lowering my gas bill - don't go anywhere!)  I didn't even stamp for a few of the days.  To give you an example, on Wednesday I received a box full of some goodies that you'll be able to buy next month (you've never seen them before - they're from the next BIG catalog!!!)  BUT, I was SO sick that the box sat on my back porch for HOURS before I got up the energy to go and get them.  Yup.  That sick!  I attempted to make something with them on Wednesday night but didn't get very far - I took the paper out of the packaging and assembled a four-stamp set.  I decided that the best course of action (considering my schedule for the rest of March) was to just sit on the couch and rest.  But, now I'm making up for lost time!!!  Look out!  Over the next few days I'll be posting the fruits of my labor!  TYou see, I woke up this morning at 3:30am with the worst coughing fit.  I couldn't get back to sleep.  My mind was racing with everything that Claire and I have to do for next weekend's HUGE Spring Fling event.  So, instead of torturing myself (and listening to my husband snore), I decided to stamp.  I must be feeling better, right? 

Now that I've shared too much information, let's move on to today's card.  Many of you have asked when I was going to do something with the Build-a-Blossom Stamp Set and Blossoms Punch.  Well, to be honest with you, they don't excite me!  Sure, I've seen cute projects, but they just weren't lighting my fire.  However, one of my hostesses this weekend specifically requested the card on page 5 of the Occasions Mini Catalog.  At least the design work was pretty much done!  I decided to tweak the colors and use the Sew Suite line of products as my inspiration.  I chose to use the Sweet Stitched Fabric Designer Brads for the center of my flower.  I changed the colors to Daffodil Delight and Wild Wasabi.  As a demonstrator, I love that the brads are all the same size - making it easy to design a card!  So, there ya go - my Fabric Friday project - Fabric Covered Brads!!!  Does that count?  I kept the card a Mother's Day Card and stamped the sentiment from my favorite hostess set (at least today) - Something to Celebrate.

Be sure to check out my blog over the next few days - cards will post!  I promise they will be there because I'm going to be scheduling them next!

Fabric Fridays - Butterfly Tote Bag

I have been wanting to share this tote bag with you for a couple of months!!!  Last December my group of demonstrators gathered together for our first annual holiday party.  We exchanged names about a month before and made a homemade gift for someone else in the group using Stampin' Up! products.  Some people baked goodies and packaged them up with SU products.  Others made fabric book covers, trivets, home decor items, and a variety of other wonderful gifts.  Today's tote bag was the gift I received from April Boyea.  Does her name sound familiar?  Yes, she's also the demonstrator responsible for yesterday's card!

I just love this tote bag and I know many of you do too.  It's been in my classroom for the past two months and many of you have commented on it.  April used the Springtime Vintage Designer Fabric in the Occasions Mini catalog to embellish a bag she picked up at a local big box craft store.  She cut the fabric using her Big Shot and the Butterfly die.  She embellished each butterfly with one of our self-adhesive pearls.  She tells me that she adhered the butterflies to the bag with hot glue - easy enough, right???  She stamped my name in coordinating ink and even made the letters glittery.  To top it off, she made ribbon out of the fabric and tied it to the handles.  How is that for an adorable, personalized, homemade gift?!?!?  Thanks April!

Introducing Fabric Fridays!

Welcome to my newest blog series - Fabric Fridays!  Each Friday I will be bringing you a project that features Stampin' Up! fabric!  (I probably should have saved yesterday's card for next week!)  This is a REAL challenge for me since I don't sew.  So, I'm sure you'll see my sewing skills improve (hopefully) over the weeks to come!

This first card was inspired by a card that Shelli showed on stage last year at convention.  I was designing projects last Tuesday and I needed a card that incorporated sewing.  So, I Googled ideas!  I came across someone's blog who was sharing her convention photos.  I missed most of Shelli's fabric presentation last year because I was back stage getting ready for one of my presentations. 

I changed my card just a bit.  Shelli's included several hand-cut elements that I thought would be too time-consuming.  And, Shelli's card didn't have a puffy heart - her's was just a flat fabric heart.  The idea to make the heart puffy came from one of my newer customers, Susan, who was here for a class.  And, thank you Susan, because my stamp club loved it!

Did you know the fabric from the Holiday Mini is still available for purchase?  Well, you're in luck, it is available!  That's where this fabric came from.  To make the heart, I cut two hearts out of the fabric using my Big Shot and the Hearts & Brackets Die.  I also cut a piece of white fleece to use as batting.  I then hand-stitched the heart using pretty wide stitches.  I punched a scallop circle layer out of the First Edition Specialty DSP and glued it behind the heart.  I also punched an Antique Brad through the top of the heart. Believe it or not, I glued the heart to the card using SNAIL and it hasn't fallen off yet!  I've also included a close-up of the heart along with a complete list of the supplies we used to make this card.  I hope you'll check back every Friday for a fun fabric project!

• Notably Ornate Stamp Set
• Artistic Etchings Stamp Set
• Basic Black Classic Ink
• Cherry Cobbler Card Stock
• Crumb Cake Card Stock
• First Edition Specialty DSP
• Victoria Crochet Trim
• Antique Brads
• Scallop Circle Punch
• Scallop Oval Punch
• 1-3/4" x 7/8" Oval Punch
• Paper Piercing Tool
• Mat Pack
• Big Shot
• Hearts & Brackets Die
• Needle
• Thread
• Deck the Halls Designer Fabric
• Fleece