Creatively the second time around - embroidered tea towels

Welcome to Creatively the Second Time Around! Today I've got a real quick little project I'm going to share with you. Kitchen towels. Sometimes plain, sometimes fancy. Always welcome. Perfect for a housewarming gift. Especially thoughtful as a thank you gift. Always welcome.
The towel in the picture came with the delectable cherry border! And I found this one very inexpensively.
So going with the theme, I wrote the recipe in the Bernina artista embroidery software, transferred it to the machine, and when done, had a deliciously cute towel. Even if you don't have an embroidery machine or software through which you can design your own embroideries- you can still use this idea. There are a multitude of fabric pens and crayons that would be equally as wonderful and the bonus is that your handwriting will make the gift all the more special.

Be Creative!

Creative Fiber Fabrications - baby bath towel

Welcome to another Fiber Fabrications! I'm glad you are here. I'd like to share a baby bath towel made from the simplest of ingredients. Here is the "stuff" I started out with: 1 bath towel, 1 washcloth, embroidery thread, embroidery designs.
Find a decorative stitch you like and stitch it on each band of the bath towel. Also trim out the washcloth band with decorative stitches.
Add a second and third row of stitching on each side of the first.
Find the center of the long side of the bath towel. Place 3 one inch pleats on each side of the center. Fold a washcloth almost in half. Serge the sides to form a hood. I serge from edge to about 1" in on the fold.. turn right sides out. Attach the flap created by folding the washcloth not in half over the pleats in the towel with a straight stitch. Curve the hood end under a bit and stitch in place.
The washcloth flap needs to be on the inside of the towel.
A closer look at the stitching.

Embroider the design in a corner of the bath towel. Here's a tip I can share - use a dry cleaning bag on top. it's the lightest weight and doesn't dissolve when washed so the stitches never fall into the nap of the toweling!
Isn't that a cute little duck?
And the happy mama to be at the shower..

Be Creative!

Creative Paper Concepts - 2 hour album - really

This is the first installment of 3.. I want to show you that it's possible to create a project in a couple of hours with very few embellishments and just a few supplies. The trick to to pick a color and stick with it. Repetition will unify the project and limited supplies will spawn spurts of creativity that you didn't know existed. I started with a set of stamps, some black ink, black cardstock, a corner punch, black journaling pen, adhesive, rubons, white journaling pen, and some ribbon. The album is one that is found at your local scrapbook store or a craft store. All paper and held together with ribbon. The interior pages are usually white. With this type of album, it's imperative not to add too much or the finished project will be too thick to close and the pages will start to separate from the staples. The front is indicative of the inside and sets the mood.
This album commemorates a very special time in my life. BSF or Bible Study Fellowship is a non-denominational bible study. It's a very indepth study of the bible without the potlucks and social events. However my leader the first year shared her ranch house with us after the class. That was the year that each one of us in the class was going through a trying time so we bonded with one another as only strangers in pain can. I say it saved my life that year. Kept me grounded and focused. So here's to BSF, my fearless discussion leader and all the ladies who came together in Christ.
Inside front cover has stamps, a QuicKutz title, and a rubon that sets the tone.
Page one - our group shot. names inside a stamp and a QuicKutz flourish die cut. Notice the corner punch.. all pictures are unified with the black mat and the corner punch.
Page two: a black jounaling strip with white writing. Invest in a good white journaling pen! One flower stamp.
Page three is a companion to the page 2. Same elements on this page. See, I told you it was easy.

One stamp, journaling inside and the picture grace page four.
Page five has one stamp with journaling inside and one picture. Really easy and very effective isn't it?
Stay tuned next Wednesday for more ideas to complete your own 2 hour album!

Be creative!

Creatively the second time around - bottle lamps

Here's a quick little project for your Creatively second time around post today. It started its life as a wine bottle. I brought this one home from Chicago because I loved the label. I actually brought the empty bottle home with no idea what I would do with it. Anybody else do this? So I put it up and then one day the light bulb came on!


The rooster label fits in perfectly with my kitchen decor.I had my nephew drill a hole in the back - thanks Matt! This way the cord could go inside the bottle. This however, is not necessary. There are lamp kits on the market that just plop on top of bottles without having to drill a hole. This can really be a quick project.
Purchased a shade to cover at a craft store. Found some fabric and trim to make it special. The chicken embroideries are stitched on a Bernina. I stitched them on polyester and then "cut" them out with a hot wood burning tool. When you touch it to the polyester, it just melts the fibers, seals the edges and you have an instant embellishment.
Couldn't help but share this fuzzy friend, I think he will become a tassel one day. I did add some dried pinto beans to the bottle to give it a bit of additional weight. If you have a clear bottle, try marbles, bb's, or anything else that would look pretty.
Be Creative!

QuicKutz club 8/15/09

I have to share this video. Those of you who missed club missed a whopping good time. I know, it's summer, I know you have a life :). I just want to share this. But let me give you some context or else you will think that at DML we have x-rated classes -NOT!!!

We were putting the new embossing folders through the QK Revolution and decided that we needed to use 2 Spellbinders rubber embossing mats to get the perfect embossing. The ladies kept misspeaking and thereby created some very funny moments. Naturally the Flip wasn't too far away!



Be Creative and enjoy life!

Creative Fiber Fabrications - embroidered breakfast set

Good morning! It's time for breakfast. I love all that goes around setting a table. I believe it also sets the mood. Breakfast is not only good for the body but it's good for the soul too. So why not enjoy it with a cheerful table setting?
I had stumbled across this provencal fabric years ago but there are so many fabrics out there that substituting should be easy. The placemats started out quilted, white and very plain. They were purchased and not self made. I spruced them up with a bit of binding and two rooster embroideries. I used the Bernina binder attachment 84 with its corresponding sewing foot.
Once the tea cozy was cut out and quilted with decorative stitches, I embroidered a cheerful "Good Morning" design directly on the quilted piece before sewing the pieces together.
One rooster in the bottom right corner of the placement.
One rooster on the top right.
Coordinating egg cup covers. These are quilted with the machine 'hand-look' quilt stitch from the machine.
At an auction, I purchased this antique just because it had a rooster on top. Function of the object? It is an egg warmer.

Fill with water, light the candle put your boiled eggs in the top cover and your eggs stay warm until meal time!

Be Creative!

Creative Paper Concepts

Don't even ask! Facebook Farmtown has taken over my life and we've had something to do almost every evening and I've been out of town 2 out of the last 3 weekends and this last one although I was home, was so busy! Okay past the excuses... On to this month's QK Club project.


I've used 3 pieces of the Basic Grey June Bug paper group and one piece of Basic Grey from another group - it's the yellow green. I also used the June Bug sticker paper. We will supply the Core-dinations for the journaling tag. The front is missing something, but I think that once you have a picture on the piece, you will find the fitting embellishment!
The back has some quickutz dies on it and one die that is another brand but stinkin' cute. I've embellished with various colors of Liquid Pearls. and I used the big 4x4 QuicKutz dimensional leaves. Look closely, i bet you can figure out where they are!

We are going to use the Distress embossing powder in class... You'll love it!

Supplies:
4 pieces coordinating designer paper (Basic Grey June Bug used in sample)
1 page coordinating stickers (Basic Grey June Bug used in sample)
8x8 1/2" chipboard (furnished in class)
Liquid Pearls (optional)
Coredinations (furnished in class)
QuicKutz 4x4 dimensional leaf die
QuicKutz Cookie Cutter Circles
QuicKutz embossing folder Journaling Shapes
Black Soot Distressing Powder
Embossing Ink
Black ink for edging
1" circle punch
Small sharp scissors
Big Scissors to cut chipboard
Cheetah adhesive runner
Pop dots
adhesive runner
6" ribbon
Ruler
Pencil
Corner Punch
I will bring the Spellbinders bird die


See you Saturday morning at DML, 10am!!
Be Creative!

oops it's friday so what have I been doing???

Fiber Fabrications will post tomorrow. I guess not being home the last two weekends has now officially caught up with me, or caught me unprepared. No Fiber post! Stay tuned Saturday, it will go up.

Sweet husband brought home a new toy. An Ultra HD Flip camcorder. Such a tiny little thing. takes up to 2 hours of video. charges on your usb port. uploads to u-tube. emails. can take a picture from the video. software on the camera. Easy! that is the key component. not great for far off shots (lacks zoom depth). easy to carry. Cute.

Thursday evenings during the summer months, find us and a group of friends at the Buddy Holly Center. It's music and drinks on the patio. Last night was a very fun Mariachi group.

Although it's quite warm during the summer evenings, they have misters going, lots of liquid to quench your thirst and shade provided by older trees.

Tried to upload video directly from the camera, but after 5 hours I figured that wasn't working. So uploaded to utube and now you have video... man this last video - who are those old folks??? LOL.


Be creative!

Creative Paper Concepts - clearly framed

A 12" acrylic sheet cut with a large accu-cut (sp?) die, stamped with white Stazon ink, embellished with paper, flowers and buttons creates an eye-catching display for a cherished photograph. Stand this on an easel for added presence.
Supplies:
4 prima flowers - assorted
4 tiny silk flowers and buds
Bella Bella designer papers
4 white buttons, assorted
2 clear square buttons
Size 8 Pearl Cotton yarn
Glue dots
E-6000 glue
20 gauge silver wire
Wire cutters
metal brad
Decorative Scissors or paper edging punch
Adhesive white pearls
5" decorative ribbon
Evergreen twig punch (3)
Creamy beige and chestnut roan stamp pads
white Stazon ink pad
Paper Inspirations Floral Flourish Stamp
12" Clear acrylic frame

Trim the brown piece of decorative paper scissors or an edge punch along one 6" edge. Edge all papers with Chestnut Roan ink pad. Lightly "highlight" the white and blue flowers with the creamy beige chalk ink. This gives them an aged look. Tie yarn through buttons. Tie ribbon into a knot. Trim. Stamp the flourish stamp with white Stazon ink along the outer edge of the clear acrylic frame varying the placement of the flourishes. Let dry.

Layout papers as shown. Adhere to acrylic frame with glue dots. Use them sparingly because they will be seen from the back side. Begin layering the flower and adhere with glue dots. Add buttons, ribbon and pearls as shown or as desired.

Wrap the 20 gauge wire around a pencil or larger in diameter object about 6 wraps. Trim one end and adhere the metal brad (see the flying bugs?) to one end with E6000 glue. Let dry. You might have to create a prop until the brad is dry. Trim the other end of the wire and adhere to the acrylic frame with E6000 glue. Let dry.

Attach a 5x7 photo over the top of the paper pieces. Enjoy!

Be Creative!

Creatively the Second Time around - sewn scrapbook flower

Another edition of the Second Time Around. I have stuff. Stuff for sewing. Stuff for handwork. Stuff for scrapbooking. Stuff for beading. Stuff for dying fibers and fabrics. Stuff for card making. Just stuff. Everywhere. It's a disease. Is there a remedy? You'd think I would have found it by now. Sweet husband says there is - just don't buy. LOL

I knew that at some point the barriers between all this stuff would be blurred. I would use stuff for one craft for another. And it's happened.
This flower was embroidered on fabric, trimmed with good scissors, button sewn on with silk ribbon. Oh I didn't use a pop dot or fabric glue - well you have to maintain some sense of propriety -don't you?

I used a Spellbinder's flower die for my flower pattern. Because these are nestibilities, there is more than one size of the flower in perfect proportion to one another. I traced them with a water soluble fabric pen (I've had some major catastrophies with the air soluble ones) onto some fabric. For the demo I used a solid linen, but love the look of the finished piece made of several different fabrics.
Die used as a tracing pattern.
Layer fabric, flannel or cotton batting, fabric and sew on the traced designs. Use smaller stitches so that the curves maintain a "curve" to them instead of getting spikey.
Trim them out of the fabric sandwich. Stack and embellish as you desire.
For a really fast stitching of the designs, digitize the traced designs in your embroidery software and then stitch with the embroidery machine.

Enjoy and Be Creative!