Perfectly Placed Pleats Challenge at Moxie Fab

Sometimes, I have so many ideas running through my head that I can't craft fast enough to get them on paper. Well, I saw the Moxie Fab blog had a Perfectly Placed Pleats challenge and had an excuse to make up an idea I have had running around in my head since this summer.
The idea for this look all started with two shirts I bought this summer at the Bass Shoe outlet. See the picture below.
I loved the neckline detail of the gathered ruffle finished off with the micro pompom trim! So, I knew this look was going to make it into a paper project! I already had a stash of micro pom pom.
So, I started pondering on the challenge and thinking about my newest die: Tim Holtz's rosette. How was I going to get the look of this neckline in paper? Well, did you know, Tim Holtz's rosette does NOT have to be made round? To get this look, I cut two of the rosettes, cut off the scalloped edge (gasp!), and glued them together. I hand stitched on my micro pompom, then pleated the rosette and carefully glued it so that I got the fans at either end and straight pleats in the middle.
I cut my fancy shape with my Cricut, using Storybook. Oh, I got me all sorts of ideas of cuts I want to use with this rosette now! Squares, fancy labels, maybe even a scroll. Guess there won't be much housework done this week! So, give this look a try and add a detail to the edge of your pleats, and use your rosette on something that isn't round!
Supply List
Patterned paper Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses
Tim Holtz Paper Rosette
Close To My Heart Friendship Blessing Stamp set & ink
Cuttlebug embossing folder (forest green ribbon)
Stickles Xmas Red
Karen Foster Sparkle Burst Brad
Prima Flowers
Micro Pom Pom Trim
Thread

How about a Spider Card?

I just got Tim Holtz's Rosette die and am loving it! As you may have noticed, I tend to explore my latest favorite until it becomes a bit obsessive. Remember my scallops on every cut? My addiction to plastic packaging? Well now, it's TH's rosette! So, the other day I was inspired to try and make a spider with my new die and pipe cleaners. There is something about pipe cleaners and buttons that remind me of my childhood crafting. I used my Doodle bug flocking on the spider body, and my Martha Stewart Punch around the page Iron fence too! What a fun, cute card! Oh, and did you know that the Etsy Inspired Challenge blog allows you to enter their challenges more than once? So, I am going to enter the challenge again! I was inspired by the colors in this card at Capturing Creativity to make my color choices.

Etsy Inspired Challenge #110

It's been awhile since I have had time for a challenge, but this weeks Etsy Inspired Challenge is for a great shop Capturing Creativity I so love her whimsical style and sense of color. I was inspired by her Autum Harvest Creative Kit to make a birthday card in Autumn colors. I love the orange in the leaves and pulled out some of my Basic Grey Fusion line. I also used my SU Harlequin plate, Tim Holtz alcohol ink in terra cotta, and raspberry, bubblegum stickles, micro pompom trim and a bit of ribbon. Stamps are CTMH and Inkadinkado. For my flower, I ran some organza through my Cuttlebug with my Sizzix circle die and layered them, tacking them together with thread through my Papertrey ink button. The bling is Want2scrap.

Another Etsy Milestone: My first order over 10 items

Just listed a custom order for a customer for two Cricut covers and 10 scrap bags. This is an Etsy milestone for me, my first order over 10 items! The first cover is for a Create, and I used the last of my Michael Miller carnival bloom fabric. Oh, I should've bought more of this as I have had so many requests! But I can't even find it online. I am sad to let my last piece go.

And the second cover an Expression. My customer also ordered 10 scrap bags. Without sand to save on shipping and cost. She plans on filling them herself and giving them out to friends who attend a once a year crop she hosts. What lucky friends!
Things have been a bit hectic here lately and I apologize for not posting often. But life gets away from you and kids come first. My youngest had an abscessed tooth that required surgery and the next week the croup.
Next up I am speaking at the S.C.R.A.P. Guild of Northern IL.'s meeting about blogging. And a craft show in early November. I will post detail soon, in case you want to see my covers live and in person.

Fun with Fabric Flowers!

Lately I have been playing with fabric flowers and thought I would share some of my favorites. This first flower is made with polyester satin cut with my Sizzix circle die and then singed with a candle. Be sure to individually singe each layer with the candle BEFORE you sew them together. I like to tack them with my sewing needle and thread and use a button center, but you can use a glue gun.
For the next flower, I used some iridescent taffeta. The kind with black in the weft direction and another color in the warp direction. In this case red. I ripped a strip about an 1 1/2" wide and pulled out the red thread. I then ran a gathering stitch along the opposite long end of the strip and gathered up the fabric. I coiled this around and hand tacked the fabric with a needle and thread. In the center I placed a vintage black glass button with gold foil edges.
Then it occurred to me that the two flowers would look beautiful together! So I made the organza base without the button center and placed the satin flower in the center. See picture below.

You could use this flower on a page, a card, a handband or even a dress. The last one ended up on a homecoming dress I altered for a friend. She loved it!

More with Floppies!

Here is another item I made with floppies for a teachers gift. Who doesn't love post it notes?! I used the Tim Holtz Paper Rosette die in my Cuttlebug and I love this die! In this case, I did not put the wire binding through the post it notes as I wanted them to come off easily! See the inside picture below.

Gypsy Giveaway at Mixology Crafts

I love a good give away, and thought this one is worthy of sharing. How about a chance to win a Gypsy, by October 15th, 2010? Go to Mixology Crafts and see the details. I already subscribe, and I think you will like this blog and all the craft ideas that will have you using your tools for more than just scrapbook pages.