Friday, November 30, 2012

Pebbling

I was up a little later last night finishing up some quilting.  I absolutely love the look of pebbling!!!


Sadly, my shoulder's aren't loving it so much this morning.  Of all the quilting stitches I do, pebbling for some reason, always seems to tighten me up like crazy.


More to come on this quilt :)



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Thursday, November 29, 2012

Custom Card Holder Tutorial

Gift giving time is right around the corner and this year, I decided to add a little handmade happiness to my gift cards.  And using my Freezer Paper Printing tutorial I thought it would be fun to customize them with fun images.  These little guys whip together super fast and work great for gift cards, business cards, or even a little wallet for credit cards :)  So let's get to it :)


What you will need:
   2 charms squares or 2 large fabric scraps
   1 large piece (at least 8 1/2 x 11) of neutral fabric
   scrap cotton batting
   1 elastic band
   1 matching button

To start, we will make the custom part of the custom card holder.  In your word program draw a square that measures 5" x 4".


 Now add your desired custom image.  You can add names, use images, just customize it for you.  Be sure your image is around 2" x 3.25".  Place it at the top center of your square.


Now go ahead and print your image on your neutral fabric.  To see how to print on fabric pop on over to my  freezer paper printing tutorial.  If you want to do multiples, you can print up to 4 on a page :)


Now trim along the lines.  Your printed fabric will now measure 5" x 4".  This will be used for the inside fabric of your card holder.


Now, to trim up the rest of your pieces.  Trim a piece of batting to 5" x 4".  Trim the fabric you want to use at the outside of your card holder to 5" x 4" and trim the fabric you want to use as your pocket to 4" x 4".


Fold your pocket piece of fabric in half and then stitch a line about 1/4" down from the fold.  You can do a decorative stitch or a straight stitch. Whatever you like.


Now you are ready to layer your pieces.  Start by laying your outside fabric with right side up.  Then lay your pocket with the fold toward the center and right side down.  Now lay your inside fabric (the printed one) onto your stack with right side down.  Be sure that the printed part is opposite of the pocket.  Lastly, layer your cotton batting and then pin through all of the layers.


Now, cut your elastic in half.  Loop the half and place the looped end into your layers between the outside fabric and pocket fabric.  Pin your elastic in place.


Stitch around your layered pieces leaving an opening for turning.  Be sure to back stitch at the start and finish.


Trim the 4 corners and the excess elastic.  Turn right side out through the hole and use a pointed tool to press out the corners.


Give the whole thing a good pressing and then hand stitch the opening closed.


Now just to add the button.  Fold your card holder in half and pull up the elastic.  Mark where the loop sits. Now just sew your button onto the making being sure to only go through one layer of fabric.


And your done.  One adorable custom card holder.

And now . . . how about a few more ideas for customizing :)

OPTION 2

This next card holder has your printed fabric on the outside and 2 pockets.  It follows the exact same steps with just a few little differences.

When you set up your image to print, place the image at the bottom of the square instead of the top.  Second, instead of cutting 1 4 x 4 pocket cut 2.  Easy, right :)


And, of course, fold down both pocket pieces and stitch them.  You can also add some ric-rac or grosgrain ribbon on the stitch line but sadly, I was out of both.  (time to go shopping :)

Now when you layer, just remember to put the printed fabric down first.  Place a pocket on either side with the folded sides toward the centers. Now the elastic: If you want the button on the side with the printing put the elastic between the pocket and outside fabric on the end that doesn't have the printing.  If you want the button on the side without the printing put the elastic between the pocket and outside fabric on the end that has the printing.   Then just finish layering, stitching, turning, and pressing :)


And here's another version.



OPTION 3

This next card holder is more of an envelop look and I added a larger pocket as it will only be able to have 1 pocket.  Once again same steps, but just change some of the cutting at the beginning

For this one all 4 pieces (pocket, outside, inside, and batting) are cut at 4 1/2" x 4".  Yes, that means you need to change the size of the square you print on.  Add the image to the top of the box.  (Sorry, I forgot to add that in the picture.)



Now just layer it up the same way.  You will notice the pocket is a little larger.


After stitching and turning right side out you are ready to add the button.  This is easiest if you add a card first.  Now fold over the top.  You will notice it doesn't fold all the way over.  Mark the button the same way and stitch it in place.


And another cute option that looks like a cute little envelope card holder.



OPTION 4

If you get really into making these, you can always try to throw a little quilting into it.  This one, that I made for my business cards, I decided to throw in a little quilting.  Just decide what options you want to use and then piece your fabrics to that size.  It's easiest just to make it large and then square down.



I decided to do the label so that it folds over onto the top of the envelope.  So when you you layer, be sure to put the pocket on the opposite side of the printing.

I really love how this one turned out.  What a cute way to customize with some quilting :)


And that's it!!  I hope you enjoy this tutorial.  If you whip up some of your own Custom Card Holder's you can add photo's to my Inspired by Happy Quilting flickr group.  I would love to see your creations!!

So get your handmade custom card holder sewing on and Happy Quilting!!
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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Thanksgiving keeps Giving

We had a wonderful time with family and friends over the Thanksgiving holiday.  Sadly, one of the not so wonderful things about the time with family and friends was that a few of the cousins were sick.   As much as you wash hands, and try to keep the infected kid isolated, germs are bound to spread.  And spread they did.

This morning I declared a state of quarantine when I found all this little bodies laying on the carpet in front of the fireplace.


Even this one has a constant runny nose and a general daze about her.


So as much as I would love to get to some quilting today, it appears I will be spending most of my time wiping noses and reading stories.  Maybe after bedtime I can get to that tutorial that I have been trying to type up for days :)
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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Winner & Get Better Julie

So did you all have a super happy shopping weekend??  I didn't do much shopping, I wasn't up for fighting the crowds on Friday but we did order a few things on Monday :)  

Before we get to the winner, I wanted to say thank you to Julie for this generous giveaway.  Her shop was so busy over the weekend that she had a little accident trying to keep up with it all.  One of those rotary cutter plus finger doesn't end up well type of things.  Wishing you a quick recovery for your finger Julie!!


So let's pick a winner of this beautiful Black and White bundle from Julie at The Intrepid Thread!!
 Congrats to Stacey Day!!!  I am sure you will enjoy your beautiful black and white bundle!!!

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!  I am hoping to get some stitching in.  Things have been a little crazy since we got back from Thanksgiving ;)

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Monday, November 26, 2012

Cyber Monday Sales!!!

Today is the day to let your fingers do the shopping!! So check out the great deals here at Happy Quilting and at it's sponsors shops.  Enjoy all of the fabric goodness and try not to drool on your keyboard :)

Happy Quilting - All Patterns are marked down to $5.00!!!

      

Burgundy Buttons - 20% off the entire store and an additional 5% off Marmalade, Simply Color, and Odds and Ends

Fat Quarter Shop - 25% off your order with the promo code JINGLE



Green Fairy Quilts - All Layer Cake are marked down to $24.50 and 40% off Fat Eighth Bungles


The Intrepid Thread - 20% off your order with the coupon code CYMONDAY20 and be sure to enter the Black Friday Giveaway here


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Friday, November 23, 2012

Black Friday Giveaway!!!

It's Black Friday  . . . Are you  shopping or are your recovering because you were up before the crack of dawn???

We'll . . . however you have spent your day, you are here now!!  So let's celebrate this fun filled shopping day with a fabulous Black Friday Giveaway!!!

Julie at The Intrepid Thread  put together this adorable Fat Quarter Bundle of Black and White prints and you can win it!!!



How do you enter . . . Simple!!

Just pop over to The Intrepid Thread and find your favorite item in her store.  Then pop back here and leave me a comment of your favorite :)  Easy as that!!

One comment per person please.  Giveaway will Nov 27th and a winner will be announced here.  Thank you to Julie and her generous giveaway!!  And congrats to her on just opening a Brick and Mortar store!!!



Oh and one last note.  While you are at The Intrepid Thread choosing your favorite . . . you might want to fill up your cart with some fabric goodies because Julie's Black Friday sale gives you 20% off your entire cart with the coupon code BFRIDAY20.  And if you miss Friday, you can always get 20% off on Cyber Monday with the coupon code CYMONDAY20.    Happy Black Friday Shopping!!!
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Thursday, November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!!

May you enjoy the day spent with family and friends and reminisce on the wonderful blessings we all share.



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Wednesday, November 21, 2012

The Even Shorter List :)

So the huge finish for me this week is Christmas.  I have never been a last minute shopper but this year my goal was to be completely done by Thanksgiving.  And as of yesterday, everything that needed to be shipped was shipped. Everything that needed to be delivered at our Thanksgiving festivities is wrapped and ready to go, and everything for my family here is hidden safely away into top of the closet.  


It's a good thing my kids aren't much into trying to find their presents because this is what I mean by hidden. Not to hard to realize there is candy in that bag for stockings and lots of something behind the bed skirt.  Oh ya, I am one tricky mom ;)


Now if only I was ready for Thanksgiving.  I have to get these piles of laundry put away so that I can turn around and pull it back out again to pack our bags ;)  And then tonight, I will be making 4 pies.  My husband loves pies!!!!


And I did get some quilting done this week as well!!  Nothing in the completed stage, but . . . this quilt that needed to be sashsed last week is all basted and ready to be quilted.  That's my after Thanksgiving project :)


And, this lovely stack of beauties was cut up, pieced together, and shipped off to Natalia to be quilted.  When it arrives back my wonderful Mom in law has said she will put the binding on for me and then off to the publishers it will go :)  Yippee Skippee for getting that almost crossed off the list.


So here's the rundown for the rest of the year :)  Yippee for short!!!

Designing Stage
  • Circle Meets Square Quilt
  • Scrunchy Stripes
Piecing Stage
  • Jessi and Me Quilt 
Quilting Stage
  • Solids Quilt for Free Motion
  • Modern Blocks Quilt - Basted and ready to go
  • Super Shabby Spin - Sent to Natalia
Completed Stage


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