Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Sweet dreams...



I will be giving handmade pillowcases as Valentine's gifts this year to friends and family. These are so easy to make and are called the "20 Minute Pillowcase". My Mom told me about them after she sent my son a Jaguars pillowcase that he adores! I think the possibilities are endless with all the fabric combinations out there. I plan to roll them up and tie with red ribbon and make a gift tag that uses the saying "Sweet Dreams...". Some chocolate would go along nicely as well, don't you think?

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Ahhh...Ribbon!




One of my resolutions for 2008 is when I am crafting, sewing, scrapbooking, etc. I will try to use what I have. Since I craft in my guest room it is hard for me to often know what I have. So I have been on a major reorganizing kick lately and this is what I designed as my solution to the ribbon issue. I have a tendency to buy new ribbon when I am planning a new project. But now, I will know exactly what ribbon I already have and with it so easy to access I have no excuse but to use it! :-)

A friend has already requested one for her craft room, she suffers from the same affliction. Poor girl!

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Auld Lang Syne Necklace



This is my entry for the Craftster Sheet Music Challenge. I think the deadline is tomorrow and then voting begins. The challenge was to use sheet music in a creative way.
You can see it here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=217249.0
Having just completed my inchie swap, I wanted to make inchie charms from sheet music for the song Auld Lang Syne. I like that song, and had recently read an article about it's history and with it being the new year I thought it would be a good choice.
I had originally planned to do a bracelet, but once I started I knew it was meant to be a necklace. I made beaded dangles with glass beads and Swarovski beads, used silver chain, black cord and a snowflake charm. I'll post more info about voting when it's set up and if you like it I'd love your vote!

Inchies away!



I mailed all my inchies yesterday! This is how I decided to send them. I did a 3-fold card thanks to an idea from my friend Cheri. She also let me borrow the pink ink pads and heart and square stamps which was much appreciated!! I sent one set to England and one to Spain which I always think is exciting as I have never been to Europe, but at least some of my creations have! I have received one set of inchies already and they are awesome, so it will be fun to continue to receive little inchie packages.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Okay, now I'm tired...




My closet redo is done YAY! and I actually know what fabrics I have and where to find them. I started putting up the shelves last night and was all done and reorganized by this afternoon. I had a lot of stuff in that closet! One thing I noticed is that I pretty much buy only prints, and have very few solid color fabrics. I also have WAY too many uncompleted knitting projects and WAY too much yarn for a Florida girl!

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Inchies!



I am participating in an Inchies Swap on Craftster. Inchies are little one inch works of art and pretty much the sky's the limit. The premise of the swap is that you make 50 inchies, keep 5 and send the other 45 to nine other people. So in the end you have 50. I made mine out of fabric, stitched them with silver thread and then modpodged on mini pictures of Blythes and used my bedazzler to attach paper flowers. Then they all got a touch of glitter paint. Very fun! Now to send them out, I have to come up with a cute envelope idea....

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Swap fever!!




I've been working very hard over the past few days! I completed everything for the Pullip winter swap, my partner wanted a red cape so I made a red velvet cape for her Pullip as well as a matching sweater and sleeping bag. That was mailed today.
Then I finished the Transform a T-shirt swap project. I made a tote bag out of a hot pink t-shirt, and my partner likes clowns, so I appliqued a clown on the front pocket for her. His collar is the arm and hem of a blue t-shirt. I love his face, I hope she does too! That will mail out Monday.
With these projects done, all those fabrics I showed you in an earlier post are now gone! Only one swap to go and many more projects on my list. A new purse design is on the way too!

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Paper crafting


I think I wrote about this prior to Christmas, but never posted it. I made 2 of these canvases for Christmas gifts this year. This is in no way my original idea, in fact it's a pretty common technique. But I really love the finished look, and I have always been a modpodge fan.

Just get yourself an artist's canvas and paint your base coat, whatever effects and colors you want. Allow it to dry. Then choose your pictures and mount them on decorative paper. Modpodge the matted photos on the canvas. Then put a nice even coat of modpodge all over canvas, I do crisscrossing brush strokes so when it dries it looks like an oil painting. If you want to add ribbon or fibers just stick them on while modpodge is still wet. Wait for canvas to dry. Add whatever embellishments and any lettering you want and your set. Super easy and fun, kids love to make these too! Canvases come in a variety of sizes, so even showcasing one photo can look beautiful. (This has a number of photos, as it is a 16x20 canvas.) Give it a try!

Monday, January 7, 2008

Three bags done, three bags done....


I keep singing this in my head, to the tune of Three Blind Mice. I guess I'm a little tired and need to go to bed! Well, the bags are done! YAY! I have 2/3 of my Pullip swap done as well and plan to finish tomorrow so I will post pix then.

Tomorrow is back to school (finally :-}) and Scrapbook club in the morning, which I am really looking forward to. Goodnight xoxo

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink
Pretty in Pink,
originally uploaded by carriemepics.
Sanrio sock = new sweater! She needs it, we are freezing here in Florida...Now I just wish I had one to match :-)

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

One down, too many to go!




Well, I can check one thing off my list! I got my Pullip envelope style sleeping bags done and now have one for the swap I am participating in on Craftster and put 2 in my Etsy store. I think the purses are next....Stay tuned...

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year to all!! xoxo Carrie






On the top are the fabrics I'll use for the newly announced Amy Butler contest!!! First prize Janome machine valued at $1999....Nice, you know I'm in!