Sweater Challenge Completed

So I am home for the summer which means I finally have access to a sewing machine and therefore I was able to create these projects out of my sweaters. I made the headband out of the waistband of my green sweater then I used a piece of a dark green sweater vest to make the flower and I used a scrapbooking flower and a button to top it off. My next project is a pillow for my grandma. I just used the middle part of the green sweater and sewed it together. I printed the picture on fabric paper and sewed buttons all around. In a couple of weeks she's turning 90 so this is my birthday gift to her. I had a lot of fun making these projects. Great challenge Amy, sorry I was so late in finishing it. I still have some scraps leftover and I have a few more things up my sleeve so if I get them done I will post them.

Pay to the order of: World Vision

I was able to tour World Visions "Step in to Africa" yesterday night. "The interactive experience takes the participant on a deeply personal journey into the life of a young person living in Africa, where more than 12 million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS. The 2500 square foot exhibit features a stirring audio tour combined with captivating photography that will transport the viewer into the heart of Africa." It was a moving and eye opening experience. You should all check out on line when they are coming to your neck of the woods its something you don't want to miss. After the tour I decided that I needed to finally act on my desire to support an African child who I may one day be able to meet. So here she is the adorable Franny.

Nicks favorite sweater found a new purpose!

After a disaster of a shrinkage (my brother Nick didn't realize wool would shrink if you put it in the dryer) Nick was devastated that his favorite sweater (made by his Aunt Niki) would no longer fit him. But now after a craftacular transformation...he can carry it with him wherever he goes...its his new laptop case!

Since Nick and I have matching laptops, I decided I'd better make a lovely wool case for myself as well!

Mittens in April?

Well, who wants to wear these now? And I wish that the project for this month didn't involve sewing simply because we're giving this away. I'm pretty sure no one else will want my lame attempt at mittens here. I do love the pattern of that sweater though. Also- I updated the purse pictures!

Bottle Cap Cozy

So here is a quicky. I simply pulled the sleeve over this plastic folgers jar and cut it. I use it to hold bottle caps. I was inspired by the planter cozy idea. The beauty of a felted sweater is that it can be a no sew project since it doesn't fray.

How about a purse

Well here it is! I figured I just wouldn't procrastinate and get right to it while I was excited about it! I tend to put off sewing projects because they intimidate me.

So I used the bottom of the sweater for this. I am still excited to use the cute part of the sweater. I have a lot left so I will have more projects to come!

My sewing machine didn't even give me any problems today. I was able to run this thick sweater through my machine. I was afraid it was going to catch on my feed dogs, and I would have to free motion stitch it, but it did just fine. I used one of my pillow cases to line it. I made a little pocket. Now I do have to attach the handles. I only found one, how lame! The cool thing about this handle is that it unscrews and you can put beads on it if you want. I kinda like it just plain though. I also need to make a closure to go over this button. I was contemplating embroidering something on the front, or adding a pocket. But I like it just plain red, what do you think?

orcas island memory box

I made my tin into a memory box of items that I collected at Orcas Island while Allen and I were visiting Sam and Becca. We took the ferry across Puget Sound to the island. We stayed at a b&b called Turtle Back Farm inn.
We all had a fantastic stay so I decided to use my Altoid tin to collect my memories. I am going to put the tin in an old book that I am altering. I will hide it as a drawer inside the book. Sam found a great old book for me to use in an antique store in Sultan. Becca tells me that I will post the finished book later... I say much later. I used lots of Becca's great art supplies such as gesso, paint modeling paste . I scraped away the outline of the box using a palette knife. I had fun making the inside of the lid because I tore paper from the packaging on some homemade soap we bought on the islands and also put logos from places we visited.

easter cards

Here are my cards at last. Becca is helping me learn how to post my projects. I do have to admit that Jenny made the card with the 3 lovely flowers made with the stamp we received. My favorite card is the one with the ribbon lattice. I cut the flower out of some cute paper that Jenny and I found at Michaels. I used Jenny's alphabet stamp to stamp the words onto the ribbon.

Finished altoid box

Here is my altoid tin project. I used it to store my cray pas that go inside my little travel art box kit. I sanded it, painted with gesso, used some acrylic paints, a stamp, some beads, glitter and some modeling paste. I put on stickers and painted over them. I used liquid applique over the ART letters. I also used pearl ex to get a shimmery look over some of it.

My {Amy} 5 signs of spring (I have to get the last 2 off my friend Ashley's camera)


{Fresh}

My morning bowl of oatmeal.

{Color}

A creative sign I saw in Denver, CO.

{New}

A tea mug I p/u after touring Celestial Seasonings

{Hatch}

Gifts from my friend Matt's baby shower...the baby will hatch at the end of April!

{Energy}

One of many windmills seen while driving through NE.

Amy's March Cards:

I got these done in a matter of an hour our so. My Grandma was over and said she needed me to make her 2 birthday cards for her sisters...pronto. I decided this would be a great way for me to use these cards. So I made 2 for her (one of the photos got lost in the computer abyss somewhere so I only have 3 to show) and 2 for me to send out with spring greetings.

A cute birthday quote I found is:

"Its better to wear out then rust out!"

And an adorable spring quote I found says:

"Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of snow." *Doug Larson

IDEAS for this week's challenge!

Remember those Altoids? This week's project involves wiping out the minty powder inside your tin and transforming your box into something spectacular!! Get out your decoupage, flip through some old mags, consult your scissors, and snip, snip, snip. Actually, you can take artistic liberty and decorate your cover any which way you choose...This is merely my method. :) Right now I'm lovin' aqua + red. Aren't they a smart couple? The possibilities are infinite.

Make your mini box your own.
Fill it with tiny keepsakes.
Turn it into a thoughtful gift.
Stash away your eyelets, fibers and more in it and tuck it in your creative space.
Store a needle + thread + buttons in it and deem it your emergency sewing kit.
Keep sweet little love notes inside.
Mix & match some fun, crafty notions and send it to another fun, crafty girl.
Fill it with delish candies for a birthday surprise.
Decorate it with extra girly flair to create a home for your niece's Barbie accessories.
Plaster it with your 2nd grade stamp collection and store postage + return address labels inside...No more rooting through a desk drawer hunting for tiny necessities.
Stash office supplies (paper clips, erasers, extra staples, etc.)

Whatever you do...Be creative & enjoy & as always, share!

Ta Da!

As promised my Feb. page. A little late I know but here it is. I made felt flowers and used the clothespins as leaves. The rest is kind of self explanatory.

Cards all ready to go!

The St. Patty's card is painted in a couple shades of green. I used my fave. UTEE and some glitter- painted my own little shamrock I made of chipboard.

I had a lot of fun with the cards. Glitter seems to be messy, but lots of fun!

I dry embossed this card. It was the first time I used the stencil. Note to self: Never do that again! It took FOREVER! And it would be easier with a light box. For the eggs: punched holes and put pink behind, flowers drawn with white gel pen, rub-ons, crochet stash, valentine stamp and half embossed

Well, I've really been into embroidery lately. I decided to learn the lazy daisy. It's really crappily done, sorry! I think it would be better to take a circle and prick the holes for the ends of the daisy. It was really hard for me to eyeball it and make them even. This is my least favorite card!

Ahead of the Game

I won't be late this month, here are my cards from the March kit.I used one of the egg die cuts as a leaf in this one. Then I used a line stamp to make the grass. My flower is a chipboard flower painted green, a blue stamped flower, and a white flower from a jar of flowers. The stem is ribbon.
I painted the tag pink and white and put a flower on top of a button for a 3D effect. I put a swirly rub on on it and a little ribbon. The background is some torn paper and some hand painted swirlies.




This one was fun to make I embellished all of the eggs with either a stamp, ribbon, paint, or paper and then I put the buttons in between, broke out the label maker and ta da!

This one might be my favorite. I used a circle cutter on the paper and put some ribbon and embroidery floss behind it. Then I strung some embroidery floss through the button and painted some dots around the circle. It's simple but I love it.