Slow Stitching Project - Cushion Cover

I bought a scarf at the thrift store thinking of repurposing it.  I was not sure it was synthetic but it felt lovely.

Unfortunately, when I tested it a home it is polyester.

I am thinking of an upcoming show I thought I could create at piece with the scarf despite the fiber content.  Wrong!

I cut the fabric to 16x16 inches.  I placed a 12x12 piece of cotton at the back and invisible baste them together.

I then started my Organic Blanket stitch with my focal area offset from the center.

I chose green blue colors. I started a circle around a 2" shape.  I did several rows in a turquoise blue then did a circle of yellow then moved to a deeper blue, then another shade of deeper blue and ended with a dark blue around the last rows.  I stopped putting stitches whenever I reached the 12" mark.  The fabric passed the needle test but it is unravelling a lot.  I did place a sewing machine stitch line at the edge of the 16 inches.  That seems to be holding so far.

For the flower focal element I cut 2 flowers one from batik blue fabric and the other from turquoise cotton fabric.  I stitched all around the edge with running stitch to hold them together.  I then put concentric running stitches in the petals with the same blue embroidery thread. I cut a yellow flower from yellow cotton fabric and stitched this to the blue one.  When that was done, I stitched the flower and the magenta button to the center of the space I had left when I started the blanket stitch. 

I think I will create a cushion cover with this piece.  It will need to be lined with cotton in order to be sewn by machine.  It will just be a fold over envelope type cover. There should be enough fabric to finish the cushion cover.  Keep you posted.

Christmas Card - Embossed Snowman

I am doing card making as an activity at a staff Christmas party tonight.  I designed some large cards which are half of an 8.5 x 11 piece of card stock.  I used a coordinated set of dies and embossing folders from Sizzix.  The elements are a great size for these large cards.

Here's the Sizzix Bigz Die with Bonus Textured Impressions - Snowman and Hat by Beth Reames.  I did not use the hat.  The snowman was cut from white card stock then embossed with the coordinating folder.

I chose a warm blue card and scored it down the middle. I added a piece of Mince Pie - Christmas Magic by Fancy Pants Designer paper which leaves a nice border of the card color.

I added a red thread scarf and a red round snap in the center of the snowflake on the lower ball of his body.   He was adhered to the top portion of the card with 3D foam tape.

I color printed the several greetings onto 5.5 x 8.5 inch piece of white card stock then cut them down to 1.5 inches tall and 5.5 inches wide.  Each was then placed in the Stampin Up Banner Triple Punch to put the flag on both ends.  It was adhered to the bottom of the card with double sided tape.

The banner punch does 1.00, 1.50, and 2.00 inches wide banners.  Works really well.

Christmas Card Challenge - May - Snowman - Paper Piecing - Tag

Here's my card for the Christmas Card Challenge for May which is Snowman, Paper Piecing and Tag.  

I chose the Tim Holtz Assembly Snowman Bigz die which made the paper piecing very easy.  I selected the background designer paper first.  It's American Crafts - Campy Trails.  I got a real winter feel from this paper so thought it went well with the snowman.  As a background to the tag I placed a piece of cream pearl card stock, cut to leave a large border all the way around. I decided to use the Jumbo Crescent Tag from Sizzix and cut it from the designer paper.  The paper has a warm white in it so I chose a warm white card stock to cut my snowman. The band on the hat is the same cream pearl card stock. Brown for his arms, a deep red for his scarf and orange for his carrot nose. I drew the eyes in with a black marker. I was tempted to put something on his belly but resisted.   I used quick dry glue from Scotch to assemble the pieces of my snowman.  I glued him to the large tag.  I added a soft seam binding in a complimentary color.  The tag was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Have you started your Christmas Card stash?  Today may be a good day.  I hope this card provides some inspiration for you to start or continue.  Leave me a comment if you have started!

R2G Card Kits - Polar Bear

Another card kit for my April class.
I chose the polar bear from the Cricut Joy of the Season cartridge.
I cut it from white and then cut a purple scarf.  I added a nose, eye and ear with a black marker.  I cut a snowbank with my Creative Memories wavy cutter.  I punched a pearl white star.  I cut a piece of sparkly decorative paper for my night sky and adhered that to a black card.  I then added the snowbank first, then the bear then the star in the upper right hand corner.  Love the decorative paper.