Sewing Project - Fabric Vase Wrap - Butterscotch Yellow

Another stretcky and sparkly vase wrap from the fabric given to me by my sister.

I dyed this one with Rangers Alcohol ink in Butterscotch color. Beautiful warm yellow. 

The fabric measured 12" x 10" and again was folded in half on the width to ensure solid color for the full height.

I chose to put a flap on this one because the doing the side seam was much easier.  I did put a seam through across from the side seam after which would have been much easier before.

To finish the edge of the flap I cut it with pinking shears. This fabric will not unravel.

I added some French Knots in a random pattern on each of the layers of the flap then just added some stitches in yellow to keep it from opening.

Cards - Charity - IWin

I picked up some clear butterfly stickers at Dollarama when I picked up the car today.

The card base is Stampin Up Pacific Point in the A2 size. 

I chose some Ranger Alcohol ink in red tones to match the butterfly.  I think the color is Red Pepper.  I diluted it with rubbing alcohol and spread it onto my clear embossed card stock.

I cut a strip of no shed gold glitter card stock to coordinate with the gold in the stickers.  I mounted the butterfly onto the gold strip.

Added a greeting with the SU Modern Label punchie in card base color and a Word Window punchie greeting coordinating color.  White quarter sheet insert.

This card is in the wide or landscape orientation with the Pacific Point card color with a inked clear embossed card stock colored with alcohol inks.

Another narrow strip of non shed glitter card stock.

The butterfly sticker was adhered over the gold strip.

A SU Modern Label punchie in Pacific Point with a coordinating colored Word Window greeting.

A white quarter sheet insert.

I chose SU Tempting Turquoise card base with a layer of my own paste paper cut to leave a medium border.

A strip of non shed gold glitter card stock across the top third of  the card with the butterfly stick mounted over it.

I added a Stampin Up small oval punching greeting in a coordination color.  Added a bit of blue pencil crayon around the edge and mounted with 3D foam tape.

Added a white quarter sheet insert.

This card has the same Tempting Turquoise card base with a looser pattern in the paste paper which I create myself.

Added a narrow strip of non shed gold glitter card stock adhered with double sided tape.

Mounted the blue butterfly sticker over the gold strip.

I added a Modern Label punchid in turquoise with a Word Window greeting adhered to the punchie.

Added a white quarter sheet insert.

Cards - I Win - Acetate Butterflies

I make some cards for the I Win charity.

 I was at ReUse Center yesterday and found a 12x12" sheet of acetate with pink butterflies on it.

I cut the sheet into 4 pieces I could use. The one corner had butterflies too big for my A2 cards.

Then I dug in my stash to find paintable 12x12 card stock.  I used some of my alcohol inks to stain the paper in 4 different colors.

On this card I chose a scallop patterned paintable card stock and added green alcohol ink diluted with rubbing alcohol applied with a sponge.

I mounted the acetate and green paper to the Kiwi Kiss card base.  Greeting and white insert was added.

For this card I chose a heavy 110lb white card base.

I trimmed the acetate to be a bit smaller than the purple paintable card stock layer.  These are held together with black tiny brads. Then this layer was adhered to the card base with double sided tape.

I added a SU Word Window punchie greeting in black to coordinate with the brads.  It is mounted to the acetate with 3D foam tape.

A white insert was added.

Love this one!

The A2 card base is SU Crushed Curry.

I added a paintable card stock layer which has script on it.  It has been painted with yellow alcohol ink diluted with rubbing alcohol and applied with a sponge.

The paintable layer and the acetate had held together with yellow mini brads in each corner.  This is adhered with double sided tape.

I added a SU Word Window punchie greeting in pink.

A white insert and we are good do go.

I will press these over night.

The card base for this cards is Stampin Up Taken with Teal.  

The paintable layer has a script pattern. It was colored with alcohol ink diluted with rubbing alchol and applied with a sponge.

I attached the acetate and the blue painted layer with white tiny brads in each corner.   This was then adhered to the card base with double sided tape.

I added a blue SU Word Window punchie greeting in the top left hand corner.  It is attached with 3D foam tape.

A white insert and we are good to go.

Stitching - Needle Cases

Over the last 4 months I have been working away at making a few more needle cases. I have used a variety of tins and several color combinations.  Some of the tins have been altered.

This case is a simple elegant box of silver toned metal in an oval shape.  I don't know what it's original contents were but now it has been repurposed.

It now holds a stitching needle with 3 applique pins on a felt holder.

I chose to make a black felt holder with an accent of red near the bottom.

This mint tin had advertising on the lid which I was not keen to leave there.  I sanded the lid to remove most of the writing.  I then decorated it with alcohol inks in yellow and blues.  Once it was dry I sealed it with a coat of Modge Podge.

The felt holder has a base of turquoise with a yellow accent on the left hand side.  It holds 1 embroidery needle and 3 applique pins.

A safe way to carry your stitching needles.

This tin had the same issue so I handled it the same way as the one above. 

I chose yellow and pink alcohol inks for this lid and again it was sealed once dry.

The felt holder has a flower stitched onto it and holds 1 embroidery needle and 3 applique pins.

This tin has the Vienna Opera House on the lid which needed to alteration.

I stitched a house felt holder in black and turquoise which holds 1 embroidery needle and 3 applique pins.

This is again a mint tin and I knew that alcohol inks would not completely cover the writing on the it but I think it altered it enough to work.

Again, it was sealed once the ink was dry.

This tin opens differently that the others so I had to alter the felt holder.  I added a ribbon at the top of the tin so it can be pull out of the tin to access the pins.

The felt holder is green with blue on the back.  Whip stitching around the edge with triangles and French knots as decoration.

It holds the same pins as the others.

This is a tall and slim metal tin similar in shape to the previous one. The bonus on this one is the lid is clear.  It closes very securely.

I made the felt holder from burgundy felt with a bit of a flower stitch along one side.

It hold 1 embroidery needle and 3 applique pins.

I spent quite a while thinking about how to package these. I did not want the pins to be touched, I wanted the felt holder to stay with the tin and I wanted the beauty of the tins to very visible.

Here's what I did.  I sealed the felt holder with the pins in a cellophane envelope.  The used a Zot to adhere the envelope to the inside of the tin.  This ensures the needles can not be removed nor can the envelope be removed from the tin.

The envelope can be removed and discarded to use the needles then the felt can be placed back in the tin.

I think this will work well.

Small Tin Needle Cases

I found a few small metal tins at the ReUse Center and thought they could be used for Needle Cases.

You can see the Lipstick Needle case I made earlier.

I cut a couple layers of felt just the right size to fit in the box.   For this one, it was 2 pieces of blue and white for the back.  I blanket stitched around the edge and overcast stitched the join. 

I am debating whether the felt needs more adhesion to the box.  I will have a discussion with my sister.

There's enough room for a few needles and several applique pins.

Here's a small Altoid tin which has a hinged lid which is a bonus. No lost lids.

I chose white felt for the front and royal blue for the back.  I added blanket stitch all the way around the edge.

I added a line of stem stitch on the right hand side. 

These are a great way to carry a few needles and pins for a needle work project on the go.

It closes securely and will keep the sharps away from the bag.

I debated whether I wanted to disguise the branding and decide to keep it just the way it is

UPDATE:

In September as I was working on these needle cases I decided to alter this tin with Alcohol Inks to change the way it looks.  I think it looks a bit more artsy now.

Alcohol Inks in blue and yellow.  Allowed to dry then sprayed with spray acrylic sealer and then brushed on coat of Modge Podge.

This black tin is just a bit wider than the Altoid one. 

I cut a couple pieces of felt in sunshine yellow and an orange and stitched all the way around the outside with blanket stitch and yellow thread.

I added a bit of an accent in green along the left hand side.

The hinged lid is a bonus and it closes securely to keep the sharps away from the inside of your project bag.

How To: Mixed Media - Shrink Plastic Flowers

I have decided to stretch myself this year and try more mixed media techniques.  Today, I worked with shrink plastic and alcohol inks.  I used Ruff 'N Ready shrink plastic.  I used a collection of Tim Holtz® Adirondack® Alcohol Inks to color the ruff side. I placed a couple drops of each purple, red, orange, green, and yellow then used rubbing alcohol to dilute the colors as I applied them to the shrink plastic.  It dries really fast and you want it quite light because it will concentrate the color when it shrinks.  Once dry, I used the Sizzix Bigz Flower #2 to cut a large poinsettia flower that was over 4" in diameter. I used a 1/8" long reach hole punch in the centre of the die cut flowers.  I then placed them on a pizza pan covered with parchment paper in a 275F oven and waited.  Soon they started to curl and shrink. After a couple of minutes they flattened right out. The final flowers are half the size of the originals at 2" across. Check in a bit to see the cards I made with these flowers.