Sew Me a Sailboat

Caroline over at SewCanShe.com is sharing a tutorial each month for a classic quilt block using modern fabrics. I normally sew bags and simple items that don't require a lot of seams to be lined up perfectly. But I wanted to give some of her block tutorials a try.

This month she is featuring the sailboat block. I didn't have any trendy nautical fabrics, but I found some in my stash that I think worked for the block. I definitely need more practice cutting straight blocks or maybe I am just too much of a perfectionist. LOL! It was fun to make. I will probably add a border and make a fun bag out of it. I just don't have enough ambition to make a whole quilt yet. Maybe some day.

Clearly For My Friend

I made a quick card for a challenge.

I am entering this into the following challenge:
Simon Says Let's Be Clear Challenge, I used an embossed vellum layer

SC Sunday Sketch...You Make Me Happy

I just recently started getting the card kit from Studio Calico and I am challenging myself to use the entire kits. No hoarding allowed. We'll see how that goes. LOL!

I also decided to check out the challenges for Studio Calico. I love sketch challenges, they are my all time favorites. Here is my first SC Sketch Challenge card. I pulled out some older Stampin Up background stamps that haven't been inked in years. I still love this stamp with all the wonderful words in fun fonts. I was going for a bold black and white design with just a hint of color. I stamped it on Whisper White with VersaFine black ink. I love VersaFine ink on clear stamps. I used the frame die from the Hello, Hello kit to cut out several layers of black card stock and layered them. Then I used the coordinating stamp for the top layer and glued that on top of the black layers. The ink color is Calypso Coral (SU!). The black striped ribbon is and teal twine is from the Penny Arcade kit. That striped ribbon is what gave me the idea to go with black and white. Love it! The little pennant die is from Penny Arcade as well as the cute little sentiment stamp. I also added a touch of lace from my stash. And I went with the sequin craze and pulled out a few teal sequins from my kids craft stash.

Hello...Studio Calico

I finally decided to dive in and subscribe to Studio Calico's Card Kit. I received June's kit in the mail yesterday. Just in time for my camping trip, yeah! So now I am sitting here in the woods and having fun creating with my kit and other fun stuff from my stash. Here is my first fairly CAS card.

I used some strips of the fun papers, stacking them at angles as I was inspired by a card made by Heidi over at RunningWithScissors that I had pinned on one of my Pinterest boards. I also used some of the pink floss with the pretty buttons in the kit. Love the flower embossed buttons. The chevron ribbon below the buttons is from a roll of ribbon I bought on clearance after Easter at Hobby Lobby. All this on a Whisper White card base that I stippled with Mustard Seed Distress Ink and then stamped the Hello sentiment from the kit with Versafine ink.

I am entering this over at Friday Mashup. I made a "hello" card. I don't have any sequins with me here at the campsite, so I had to sadly forgo those. Although they really would have been cute on this card.

Pretty Pleated Totes

I found an incredibly simple tutorial to make a Pleated Tote on The Long Thread website. I've actually had it sitting in my Evernote folder for quite a while and never got around to making it. So glad I finally made one last weekend. I was camping with my mom and I wanted something easy that didn't require pattern pieces and that I could use some fabric I bought at Joann's that had a larger design. I was so excited that I found this gorgeous purple, brown and turquoise floral print on clearance for $2.50 a yard. What a steal.

This bag is a nice size and so easy to make. I used some plain purple fabric for the interior and added a long simple pocket to one of the lining pieces.

I made a few adjustments based on my preferences for making bags. Instead of fusible fleece I used Drill Cloth, which is similar to Duck Canvas. I like the sturdiness it gives the bags I make yet allows them to be flexible and there is no fusing with an iron. I just sew the Drill Cloth as an extra layer with the lining. I used medium weight fusible interfacing for the outside bag pieces. I used fusible fleece for the handles. For the first bag I made I followed the measurements she used.

On my second bag I used double the width of fusible fleece for the handles to make it sturdier and I sewed several lines on the handle to also make it sturdier. I finished that one up today. I found this gorgeous grungy looking White and Black Paisley fabric at Hobby Lobby. I did the same as with the first bag, using white Duck Canvas cloth in place of the drill and added a pocket in side.

I think the next one I make will be smaller. The tutorial is a great guide to use for any size tote. You could make a small bag for a child or really large bag to tote around stuff on vacation.

Camping and Sewing...Bucket Bag

I finally broke down and bought some more expensive fabrics when we went shopping on my birthday. It's my birthday, so I treated myself. I bought some beautiful Moda Fabrics from Goods General Store when we went to Shady Maple for my birthday breakfast. I thought the fabrics would look great used with this fun Bucket Bag pattern from MichellePatterns.com.

I've had it pinned for a while and finally bought the other week when it was on sale for $5.00. Love a sale. {smile}

Oh, and I made this while enjoying a relaxing long weekend camping in the woods. Doesn't get better than crafting while camping. So inspiring surrounded by nature.

Happy Resurrection Easter Day!

Lot's of Love for Lauryn...Fight, Hope, Pray, Believe!

Isn't this little girl just precious? Let me introduce you....

Lauryn was diagnosed with Leukemia on March 27, 2014. She is currently hospitalized in the DC area undergoing chemotherapy to fight this terrible disease.  Lauryn is Linda Payne's granddaughter...many of you in the stamping community probably already know sweet Linda!

As news of Lauryn's illness spread via social media, many of you have asked if there is anything you can do to help, so we have come up with a plan. We decided to have a Card Drive and would like to invite YOU to help by sending "happy mail" to Lauryn and her family. 

Please create cards to share your love and encouragement for Lauryn and her family. Lauryn's parents are Josh and Elizabeth and she has two older siblings: Lily and Logan. We thank the Lord for this dear family and need to pray for them as they are seeking to glorify the Lord throughout this trial. 

Cards can be mailed to:

Children's National
Hematology/Oncology RM 437
Lauryn Newsome
111 Michigan Ave NW
Washington DC 20010

I will be sending this card and little coloring book along with some crayons to Lauryn!

Front

Inside

Coloring Book Front

The inside of the coloring book is several Digi Images from different companies printed on paper for Lauryn to color. I hope she enjoys coloring them as much as I do.

You can find updates on Lauryn via a Facebook page that has been set up by some family. 

It is Fight on Little Lauryn. They have shared how encouraging it is receive a simple "like" on a Facebook status or words of love and encouragement that is posted.

Here is the fabulous group of bloggers who have joined us in promoting this Card Drive. We would love for you to hop with us as numerous bloggers have blog candy and all you need to do is leave a comment... 

Lots of Love for Lauryn
Olga Jewell Craftieodamae
Mary Anne Kelemen Lakeside Stamping
Lisa Haines The Purple Place
Patti Painter Patti’s Paper Creations
Jennie Harper Stampin Away the Day 
Colleen Holmes A Card’s Delight
Jennifer Scull Just Coffee Please…& Stamps & Ribbons & Paper
Anita Autore Cards & Coffee 
Sandra Van Blaricum Cards and Creativity 
Jerusha Borden I Love Paper Crafting 
Jenn Borjeson Stampin' Angel Jenn 
Nina Brackett Crafting in Croatia
Linda Coughlin The Funkie Junkie
Kathleen Curry Will Stamp for Wine
Melissa Czapor My Many Journeys
Vicki Dutcher All I Do is Stamp
Debbie Ebat Debbie’s Stamping Adventures
Tera Fujan Stamp Queen 
Patti Gilliam Cherish Each Precious Gift
Joy Hadden Pieces of Joy
Danielle Haddon The Musings of a Chocoholic
Karen Knegten Studio at the Lake 
Lori McAree Smiling While Stamping
CG Merrill CG Says (something loudly)
Rhonda Miller Rhonda’s Place to Shine
Lee Murphy My Reality
Betty Neville Betty Neville's Blog
Jackie Randolph Paper Moments 
Shirley Ross Card Art, Etc.
Melissa Shultz Coffee Stamps and Stitches
Carla Suto Carla’s Stamping Spot 
Cat Tidwell Cat’s Creations 
Brenda Turner Stamp It Up
Geri Utterback Geri’s Cards 
Cheri Weston Stamp’n Boomer  

SC482...Easter Blessings

Sharing a quick card I made for the Sketch Challenge #482 over at SCS.

I love this wreath set. I purchased it during Christmas vacation and finally inked it up last week for the sketch challenge. Getting my stamping mojo back. Have a great week.

Supplies
Stamps: Seasonal Wreaths (SNSS)
Ink: Memento Black, Copic markers
Paper: The Kidlet 6x6 stack (DCWV), Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White (SU), XPressIt

God is bigger...Amen!

Over at SplitCoastStampers.com (SCS) there is a weekly challenge called Teapot Tuesday. It's been a while since I've checked out the challenges over there. I haven't even stamped since December, Yikes! So I am a Teapot Tuesday Newbie.  When I read the challenge thread for this week, there was no doubt that I had to participate. You can read the thread here to find out what the challenge is all about.

Not only did I not stamp since December, I've had stamps and paper in a bag that I bought after Christmas and some SNSS stamps I ordered from the last release that I just pulled out to play with. Here is my first card stamped in 2014. I am submitting this for both the Teapot Tuesday Challenge #296 and the weekly Sweet N Sassy Stamps Challenge #6 to use a bird, birdhouse or rose.  I used the cute teacup with the bird holding a teabag being brewed in some hot water. The Teapot Tuesday Challenge is to make an uplifting, encouraging card. Remembering the God is bigger than everything else certainly uplifts my spirit.

Supplies
Stamps: Special Blend, God is Bigger (from SNSS)
Paper: Xpress-It for stamped and colored image, Recollections & Bazzil card stock, Adornit pattern paper
Ink: Memento Black, SU Cherry Cobbler, Copic markers
Other: Washi tape from Joan Fabrics

Sunflowers and Mugs

I finally finished the bag my neighbor asked me to make.

She wanted a normal sized purse with a divider. She also requested yellows and browns.

I found some gorgeous fabrics at Joann Fabrics that I knew would be perfect. The yellow fabric has sunflowers. She loves flowers so I knew she would love this fabric. I found a coordinating brown pattern and green pattern. I tend to be drawn to bold and bright colors with modern patterns, but I have to say I just love these fabrics.

I created the bag pattern myself. It is a pretty basic pattern. It took me some time to figure out the divider part. But I finally came up with something that I think will work for her. The finished size is about 10 inches wide by 8 inches high and 4 inches deep.

I also took some pictures of another bag I made a while ago using some gorgeous fabric with mugs printed on it.

I really love the colors in this fabric. I love anything coffee/mug themed. Yep, a big surprise there. LOL! I have a bunch of coffee themed fabric, but I have a hard time cutting into it. The bag pattern is from Simplicity. I got it at Joann Fabrics when they were running one of their pattern sales for either a buck or two per pattern.

Anyway, once I cut out the pattern I knew which fabric I wanted to use for this one. I found some dark brown with white polka dots to go with it and I lined the bag with some tea dyed muslin.

Although the pattern didn't have them, I added lots of pockets on the inside of this one. It would be perfect to tote around a small laptop or tablet computer plus some other essentials.

Quilted Travel Bag and a New Blog

Since I am now sewing as much as stamping I decided to create a new blog to share both. For my first post I am sharing some quick photos of a travel bag I made as part of a sew along sponsored by Ellison Lane. I had the bag finished except for the binding on the top. I finally added that so I could get it completed in time to enter it for a chance to win some more sewing stuff.

I wanted to experiment with the Quilt As You Go technique I learned from the class that I purchased a while back from Craftsy. I pulled out some fun fabrics and scraps to make the front and back of this colorful tote. The Quilt as You Go technique is fun and a great way to use scraps.

I know the photos are a little dark. Hopefully as the daylight hours get longer I will have a better opportunity to get better photos of my bags. I will be back this weekend to share some more bags I've made that are just waiting to be photographed.

So there is my first post under Coffee, Stamps and Stitches. My new alias because my two favorite hobbies, Stamping and Sewing are most definitely fueled by coffee.