Poinsettia Twister

Remember how I always take home fat quarters like homeless puppies?  Well, here is my Christmas version of the Twister table topper using 4 more of the homeless fat quarters.  The pattern for this is from Designs to share with you.  I bought the fat quarter package from Sew Divine as well as the backing.  Now, it sits on my table with one of the school fund raising poinsettia's on it and makes the house very Christmasy!!  Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

The Annual Poinsettia

Every year my son's school does an annual Christmas fundraiser selling Poinsettia plants.  These poinsettia's are AWESOME, and usually last until August when they are thrown out due to vacation schedules.  I have several friends and colleagues that purchase these plants yearly and so to say Thank you for their support of the school I always include Thank you cards.  These are the cards I made this year.  I used my Cricut and the Joys of the Season cartridge.  The card stock is real red, garden green and whisper white from Stampin Up.  After I cut the poinsettia's I used the Distressing Essentials Kit from Stampin Up to flat stamp across the leaves with tea stain ink, just to give the leaves a more "real" look.  I rolled the edges and then used glue dots to adhere each layer and then place on real red ribbon placed over whisper white card stock embossed with the Snow Burst folder.  The centers are made from Flower Soft that I had lying around the craft room.   The last picture is of one of the poinsettia just after being taken out of the plastic wrap, it will get much fuller.  Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

The Stockings Were Hung by the Red Eye with care...

The stockings were hung by the Red Eye with care in hopes that some mending would occur (not likely - I love to sew and quilt but when it comes to "fixing" things not so much).  Every time I look around at the projects people create with scrapbooking stuff there always seems to be a plethora of banners.  So, not to be left out I decided to make one this evening.  I am quite proud of myself for these as a few weeks ago when class handouts came in at work, I decided to keep the cardboard backing from the packages and you never know when some cardboard might come in handy.  For this project it did.  I ran the cardboard through my Cuttlebug (a Big Shot die cutter would work as well) using the Holiday Stocking die, and then the papers from the Christmas Lane Scrappin' Kit.  Some of the trim is from the cardboard as well.  The stocking trims were embossed in the Snow Burst, Perfect Polka Dots, Square Lattice, and Stripes embossing folders, and the decorations are from the Simply Scrappin' kit.  Tied it all together with Cherry Cobbler seam binding.  Entire project including photo, download and blog entry less than 1 hour!!  Perfect project if you need more knickknacks around your home.  Now back to the quilt I was supposed to be working on!!!  Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Have a Very Minkee Christmas

Minkee is a product of which I am confused over.  I love the feel and the look of it, but due to my allergies I have to wear a mask when sewing with it to prevent getting the fibers in my airway and then the spray adhesive required to adhere it to the backing then requires me to wear one of those masks painters wear so as to not breathe in the fumes.  It is a very big process as is the clean up.  I have tried hanging it outside for the fibers to blow off - not good enough, tried putting it in the dryer to get all of the loose fibers off - not good enough.  For this quilt I tried both of these techniques (a little from column A, a little from column B).  To make these quilts I first determine how long I want them to be, and how many color stripes I want on the front.  Once the back is cut to length then I divide that measurement by the number of colors I want and use a 1/2" seam allow to determine the length of each stripe.  The width of course is the same as the back.  I usually use the bamboo blend batting inside as it has given me the fewest problems.  The first strip is sewn on facing up along each edge and then each additional strip is laid on top of the previous strip right sides together and sewn the entire width of the quilt.  Once sewn down, each stripe is then tacked down with spray adhesive and smoothed out for lumps and then the next strip goes on.  I suggest starting early in the day so that you get it completed as these quilts make a BIG mess.  Once done it is so cozy to snuggle with.  Again, it just feels all warm and cozy like Christmas when this is taken out of the box.  Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Bath Bombs

Guess what ???  I like to make things!!  Not sure why, must be some kind of genetic or mental defect, but I really like to know how things are made and if I can control what goes into the making of the product, even better.  Today I decided it was time to make some bath bombs for Christmas presents, as well as replenish my own stock.  I made three of these, however, I forgot to take a picture prior to taking one to Karina when I returned all the stuff I had borrowed from her.  Thought it would be a nice gesture since I am constantly bothering her for something (I come up with ideas in the middle of the night, don't have the supplies, nor the patience to wait for a shipment all the way from Stampin Up), she runs my own personal Stampin Up General Store!!  Thanks Karina!!  I scented these lightly with lavender and a bit of vanilla (vanilla essential oil goes with everything I think), I put some dried Calendula bits and a flower in each bath bomb as well to make them look "organic" and homey.  I always love the feel of my hands after doing these.  Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Mystery Christmas Quilt Clue # 4

This is the clue for week # 4 of my mystery quilt from The Quilt Patch.  It is getting exciting because I really have no idea what this quilt is going to look like.  So far I just have a bunch of random pieces, but I am sure I will love the quilt when I see it as I always love the quilts that the Quilt Patch ladies come up with.  Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Hot Chocolate Gift Bags

I have had lots of requests from people on how to make these mini bags, so this is a post specially dedicated to these bags.  The fabric was purchased last fall from My Sewing Room in Calgary.  Every time I am back in Calgary I have to go there, and always find something I just cannot leave behind (like this).  I sewed the bags using the pattern from my favorite website All People Quilt.  Once at this website search for Small Treat Totes.  These bags are so easy to make, it took me longer to make the cards!!!  The cards are stamped from the Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set from Stampin Up and the colors used were Garden Green and Real Red.  I have also included a picture of the bags with tags as in addition to the package of hot chocolate I included a bag of chocolate mint marshmallows, and a bag of peppermints to enjoy.  Through the back of the tags before I put on the decoration I punched two holes so that I could run a tin tag tie through as I was certain that no string or ribbon would close a bag tight enough to keep marshmallows soft.  Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy