mosaic for audition

So, I have been waiting about six months to audition for SYTYC.  The below project is my failed attempt at making it in the top ten.  I am upset, since it makes me feel like a failure, but OH WELL.  I guess it's one less thing to worry about doing, and I tried.  And I didn't do what some other people did...like bloggers with hundreds or thousands of followers that put their kids names, pictures, and even made a list with family members on it.  So what if somebody made a tripod into a lamp?  I made a DRUM into a lamp!  I will live, move on, and maybe contact the other three LOSERS to join me in our own, different competition:)

So, I tried to create many different "audition pieces" for SYTYC. Not that they weren't good, but I just didn't feel they were good ENOUGH. So, I was reading Chica and Jo's post that had an invitation printed on a paint chip....and BOOM I had an epiphany. I love doing mosaic, but tiles are super expensive, grout is super messy, and I have done it with smashed plates but even those take up space to collect. So I decided to use paint chips. They are free, plentiful at your local Walmart or hardware store, and they are...FREE

I started off by priming the laminate and then painting over it with a blue acrylic.  Then I used a clean rag to wipe it off and give it a nice faux-finished ragged look.

Then I stole acquired a billion different paint chips, (by the way, walmart has GIANT paint chips) and using mod podge and a design I pulled out of my head....achieved this look.  You can also gently sketch the design and fill it in as you go.  Work in small areas at a time, and let the mod podge get a little tacky before you start filling in with the paint chips.

To stay organized, I had cut the chips up and put them in a divided tackle box container by color, and this made working super fast and easy!

Memory Quilts

So, my friend Jen asked me if I could make a quilt out of her kids' baby blankets. I figured, hey, why not? So, I worked out a design, since she likes the cupcakes and ice cream cones, I went with that...but added layer cakes since she is a cake designer.

As usual I started off by measuring and cutting squares, then I used all of the scraps to create the applique and borders. Keep in mind, I used ONLY the materials given to me by Jen, with the exception of some fusible web and thread...and this is what we have come up with as a result. No more wondering how to keep your kids blankets or even their baby clothes that are hard to part with:

Hope you like...and hope you decide that you can put those blankies to good use! Would be great to pass down for generations!

Guest Post: A Burp Cloth Makeover

In June, I received an email from Udeni Rosario, who told me that she had seen my burp cloth tutorial and decided to give it a shot. And she made them even better!! She used left over receiving blanket fabric and added a self-binding border with mitered corners. I am so very honored that somebody used my very simple idea and made it so beautiful!

So, thank you to Udeni Rosario for sharing her amazing creations with us! I know I've been absent lately, but I have definitely been crafting! I have several projects up and coming...especially since I have been working on my audition project for So you think you're crafty! Please make sure you go and vote. I will let you know when they are up. Vote for your fave! (hopefully it will be mine) :)

Under the Sea themed quilt

Well, my cousin Nate and his lovely wife Jo are having a baby...gender yet to be determined. I'm THRILLED they are waiting and it's going to be a surprise, but gift-giving in a gender-neutral fashion is definitely challenging!

So, I started off by checking out their Babies R Us registry. Urm...green? ecru? Not really what I imagined they'd be going for.

So I emailed both Jo and her sister, and the consensus was "bright, primary colors that could work for either a boy or girl."

Ok, so what do I do with that one?? I immediately thought circus. I sketched some lions and some seals balancing balls on their noses. It just wasn't working for me. Then I thought...Chatham, MA? Sailboats?? OOH. So I sketched two different sailboats. Then I thought about how I can't do anything "normal." It needed more than sailboats...how about fish?? Then I remembered Mr. Octopus from Tyler's animal quilt. I adore seahorses, so I threw in one of those...and a jelly. I was thrilled with how it looked on paper, but I had no fabric. Or did I? I remembered my mother in law had given me some blue flannel and striped flannel. Plus I had a ton of scraps. So I measured and cut squares, then I used the navy blue remnant I had picked up last week. Then I started cutting out applique pieces, and voila!! I had a quilt top. I don't do anything in a forward fashion. I took pictures of the squares after I had a tentative layout, and went from there.

I had it all planned out, but then I got to Joann fabrics and the one in Walpole had NO good flannel!! Oh my, what do I do?? Then suddenly this interesting circle-pattern caught my eye, add some bright yellow, red and aqua and I had my selection.

So final product was stunning, if I do say so myself. I was so happy with what I had come up with, and the parents-to-be seemed really happy with my soft, fuzzy, one-of-a-kind creation.

Front of Quilt:

Back:

Want to buy the pattern? Contact me and we can work out a deal:)
Want to buy a similar quilt, contact me via email.

I didn't make the cut!

So, I was in on one month to win it and thought my nice, original idea would make the cut. It didn't. I followed all the rules and wouldn't tell ANYBODY which project to vote for. I guess I should've made the first thing I wanted to...a purse. Because that's what won. Also, I had a terrible time editing the photos. Oh well, so here is my project. I think it's very nice. Apparently it wasn't well liked in the voters' or judges' minds.


BEFORE:

AFTER:

So, there it is! My mirror. Anybody want to buy it?

OMTWI

So, I FINALLY MADE IT!! Yes, I will be a contestant on One Month to Win it. You can see this fabulous competition at http://onemonthtowinit.blogspot.com

Go vote for your favorite there!! Also, I WON a prize from familylicious again! Thank you Debra:)

You should go check out www.familylicious.com I have won a red toolbox sample kit and a silhouette sd rhinestone bundle.

AMAZING!! Right now you can go and try win a petcakes, dinosaur train, eggo waffles, goddess garden product pack, a swaddle duo, and whole bunches more! It is super easy, just takes time. I usually enter when I'm lying in bed, or if we are out running errands.

A bowl full of lemons.: May Silhouette Giveaway!!

A bowl full of lemons.: May Silhouette Giveaway!!

Cute tote to cute purse, and another quilt!

My friend Diana (who is a self-proclaimed non-crafty person) asked if I could put a toggle or something on her little tote bag to make it a summer purse.

So, I went to Joann Fabrics with 40% off coupon in hand...but I didn't need it. The toggles were on clearance for fifty cents each.

Then, I made my own piping to have something to loop the toggle through. I used bias tape (on hand) and clothesline (courtesy of my mother in law earlier that day).

I simply pinned the bias tape around the cord:

Then I stitched as close to the cord as possible

I sewed a loop of piping on back, then after three attempts finally attached the toggle. It's off kilter to begin with, so I couldn't get it straight...so Tony had to help me. I used a piece of seam binding to go through the holes, then sewed them onto the center of the front. Voila! Cute little pursey thing.

And now for my quilt.

I just want to mention that the flannel heart fabric and denim with hearts were hideous huge pieces my Nana gave my mom who said "take them" because she didn't like them...so I made a quilt for ME!!

I started out by measuring and deciding that I could get the "most" out of the fabric by making 12.5" squares

And then I added my applique's and sewed the squares together.

Note I added double-scoop ice cream cones, and since the quilt is for me (and not a baby) button "cherries" on the cupcakes.

I had initially thought I would have enough flannel or denim for the border...but I didn't.  Then I remembered the big bag of fabric my friend Karen had brought me.  I had remembered seeing a large white piece in there...but when I pulled it out it was actually the bottom of a couch slipcover.  So, I adapted.  I ripped out the corner seams

I cut it into 8" strips and ended up with two pieces that were perfect for the sides at 60".  Then I found that two were perfect for the top, after the sides are added.  So I sewed on the sides first, then added the top.

Here is the quilt before washing (un-frayed)

Then I clipped and washed it...here are some pics including close-ups of the squares:

So, there's my latest creations!!

Other things I've been up to:
Entering giveaways!!
Check out the spellbinder's giveaway at Favecrafts.com

I don't think this will hyperlink...but go to fave crafts and enter to win!

My new addiction

I have been entering blog giveaways here and there, and pathetically stalking silhouette giveaways on blogs to try to win. And as you probably know by now, I FINALLY WON! Now the bug has bitten, if I won once--I can win again, right? Well, we shall see. I have been trying to win. I won the silhouette sd through www.familylicious.com. It is GREAT. You should really check it out. If you follow them on facebook they post on their wall every time a new giveaway comes up. They are currently running a two-day giveaway for Aveeno products. I love Aveeno. We all have eczema, and it is a great product. I would love to win this because my son has been having eczema flare-ups, and I am running low on lotion products for myself! You can enter to win here:

http://familylicious.com/aveeno-mother-and-baby-gift-set-review-and-giveaway/comment-page-1/#comment-165823

Check out Aveeno's great products at www.aveeno.com

I WON!!! And three rag quilts:)

Well, first off and most importantly, I WON!! What did I win? I won a Silhouette SD. It is the tool I have wanted for so very very long!!! I am so excited, ecstatic, and beyond words. I entered to win on about 6 different blogs. My favorite part of the entry process was finding some amazing blogs. I won at "Familylicious Reviews and Giveaways." You can see that I won here: http://familylicious.com/winners-5/

Seriously, check out familylicious.com there are constant giveaways!

How I found out:

My husband emailed me at work: "Shannon-I think you won the silhouette thingy"

Next Email: "I really think you won!"

Next Email: "CALL ME"

So, I called him, and it was true, I REALLY WON!!

So, my craft mojo is back. I had lost it for a bit, hence my absence from the blogosphere, but now it is back in full force! Thank you Debra, from familylicious. You have pulled me out of my funk. Thank you Silhouette for this amazing gift.

I should receive it in 4-6 weeks. It is the rhinestone bundle, so I think my nieces will be sparkly very soon, since I don't think my sons will appreciate the glitteryness:)

So, here's what I have made, and this is my own creation, no pattern, made almost entirely from scratch. Also, please note: this is without a silhouette.

First, I was in NY at my mom's and she had a bunch of leftover squares from various rag quilts. So, I decided to make a rag quilt, but I wanted to incorporate applique. So, this is not only my first rag quilt, but also my first real applique experience.

So I started with a couple of owl squares, and this was my original plan. After rearranging a zillion times I resignedly decided I needed to make more applique squares.

So after a lot of rearranging random pieces that is what I came up with. Owls, snake, snail, octopus with a mere four arms, umm...oh a whale and a turtle.

So, I don't have any pics after washing, but here is the front and back before clipping:

oopsie, forgot about the monkey:)

And after clipping:

So, then I wanted to make one for my cousin's baby.  This one is a girl!  So, I wanted to do cupcakes, but then I had an epic idea...ice cream cones!!  So, I had this huge piece of pink flannel my Nana had given me in her big de-stashing.  I brought a little piece of that to Joann fabrics and decided on some pink and green prints, and bought 1/3 of a yard of each for only $2.99 a yard!  So, this quilt cost about $5 (and six hours) to make:)

First I measured the fabric and settled on 11 inch squares, since that was the biggest I could get out of what I had purchased, and I laid it out (can you tell I make quilts backwards--plan after I cut:) ?

Then on a piece of paper, I drew the tops of ice cream and cupcakes, and the cones and cupcake holders.

Then I cut out a bunch of them, and tried different color combos until I settled on this:

So, using fusible interfacing I ironed them into place, and then stitched around the edges, leaving a raw edge for fraying.  I cut 9 pink 11" squares for the back (the back is all pink), I sewed it all together, and for the border I cut 8" strips of pink to make a 4" border.

I LOVE it. 

Then I wanted to make one for my friend's newborn baby (born Monday) so I decided to do ice cream and popsicles, and I cut out his name and put it in the center:

So, what do you think of my first three rag quilts??

And once again, I will try to audition for OMTWI, however, the competition is steep and I didn't upload my DSLR pics to the blog yet...so they aren't the best quality shots, but that's ok. You never know unless you try. I mean look...I WON A SILHOUETTE SD!

Silhouette giveaways!!

Wow!! So far I have found three great spots to enter to win a silhouette sd. What is that? It's awesomeness!!

Check out fireflies and jellybeans...it's an awesome blog and worth your time http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/

Another great giveaway spot is a bowl full of lemons: A bowl full of lemons.: Silhouette GIVEAWAY!!!!: "A SILHOUETTE GIVEAWAY!! I was sent a Silhouette Rhinestone Starter kit this month, to try out and giveaway along with a Silhouette SD Mac..."

And the other is familylicious.com
If I could only win this I could expand my crafting! Check out the company too: http://www.silhouetteamerica.com/

This site is dedicated to giveaways!
So, good luck!

A bowl full of lemons.: Silhouette GIVEAWAY!!!!

A bowl full of lemons.: Silhouette GIVEAWAY!!!!: "A SILHOUETTE GIVEAWAY!! I was sent a Silhouette Rhinestone Starter kit this month, to try out and giveaway along with a Silhouette SD Mac..."

Rag quilt in progress

So, a few days ago I made two owl applique squares for a rag quilt...
I had no real plan, all I knew was that it was going to be for a friend.
Originally, it was just going to be the two owls...then I added a snake and a snail.
They seemed lonely, so I added a whale.
The whale needed another ocean friend, so mr. Octavio joined him. Then came the turtle and the tree...I think that's it. So I will update with some more details of how I made my very first rag quilt with applique. Hope to finish Friday, tomorrows my ten year anniversary, so new sewing.

I simply drew the shapes on some flannel, cut them out and used double-sided interfacing to attach them to the backgrounds. I used machine and hand-stitching to permanently attach them.

Won't it be so cute once it is all together!!

In Memory Of...and a failed lampshade

So, I usually try to blog at least on Sundays...but then I ate baklava. Why is this a problem? Because three years ago this May I contracted flesh-eating strep. I know, weird. Apparently after receiving numerous human immunoglobulin transfusions...I received other people's immune systems. Hence, bizarre allergies I had never had before, like nuts. So, forgetting to think about the contents of the delicious Greek pastry, I delved in. Then the reaction started. I am FINALLY after 24 hours back to "normal." But that's why there was not a smidge of blogging or crafting. Even this one is mediocre at best.

However, I can deal with the food allergies, since I still have my leg, and my life. A huge percentage of people who get FES either end up amputees, or dead. I am LUCKY. Thanks to the transfusions, the fact that I am NOT allergic to penicillin, and the horrible contraption called the hyperbaric chamber (aka clear coffin).

Hmmm....Ironically this post is actually about somebody who died. My father-in-law's 37 year old girlfriend (don't do the math...I know, I know) DeeDee tragically died in February. She left behind two young children and a dog, which thankfully I got rid of yesterday.

Wait, I meant the dog!!

The kids are with family.

Anyways, when we left the funeral, we had a basket arrangement. I have been plucking flowers out and drying them, and I promised my father-in-law a keepsake of sorts, so here it is.

First, I let the flowers hang-dry.

Then I snipped them off and alternatingly glued them across from each other.

I kept going until I ran out of roses...it's not PERFECT, but it's for a guy...a guy who is definitely not a perfectionist, so it works

So, that's that one. Then there is the lampshade. So, my friend Jen sent me a link with one made out of film negatives, that I LOVE and I am going to make. But I wanted to try this one, found here:

http://thepleatedpoppy.com/2011/02/scrappy-lampshade-tutorial-and-long-story/

But, I STILL don't like it.

Please disregard the disaster that is my craft corner in the background...didn't feel up to cropping!

So, back to the drawing board on that, must make a negative one, I just haven't had time. And I REALLY want to be on One Month to Win it...but probably won't make it this time with THAT lampshade. The one on pleated poppy was much cuter.

Oh, and one more thing...make sure you check out www.spoonflower.com YOU can design your own fabric there!! How awesome is that? I mean, really really really cool. I gave it a shot, and I intend on continuing practicing...I am determined!! Here is what I made from a photo the other day:

My fabric link

Good Night. Back to work tomorrow, hopefully HEALTHY!