Fiskars Craft

side 2 of my Tote Bag

REMEMBER when I shared this TOTE BAG that I made a few weeks ago....well I have been asked by Cheryl to show the other side.......

So here it is......I guess I should have shown both sides when I shared it.....sorry!

There are pockets on both sides that are handy for my trimmer,punches,etc..... The large buttons on both sides were inherited from my mum when she died.....so I wanted to include them on this bag as it's a very special bag....has lots of good memories for me. Some of the smaller buttons were mum's also.

I created this bag after I was recovering from a major illness.....so every time I look at this bag..I am reminded of how I turned my life around through crafting!! I went right out of my comfort zone with this bag and a few other projects......will share them also one day!

How has craft changed your life? Would love to hear!

xoxo

Lyn

New Fiskars 12" x 12" Envelope Template

I love that this template has large scallops all the way around the edge.....so you can also use them in your projects......then take a look around the corners of the template....

 

  ....as you can see there are many other shapes on this template that can be used for other projects...and I love that!

Here's what I came up with for my great nephew to start school with this year.....made from the 3 shapes around the edge of this envelope template.....some paper scraps and a left over scrap of cardstock!

I just turned over the oval shape and added in some facial features with a black gel pen.....

Todd struggles with his reading...so I thought I'd make this fun little bookmark and Monster Munch to help him.....and also to make reading fun for him! If you wanted to create a fun character for a girl....just alter it slightly...by tipping the heart up the other way....so easy to change the gender!

I have also coloured a little bit on the cheeks on both characters.......

With school commencing tomorrw for many children throughout Australia....why not create a fun book mark for your child....perhaps the kids can help make their own!

Maybe it's time to get out those punches,scissors,Ultra ShapeXpress Shapecutter,paper scraps and let the kids decorate their books with fun characters!

xoxo

Lyn

Fabric scraps are great for cards

Just realised its DH birthday on Sunday, so i whipped this card up for him.

I used the Woodland template

for the loveheart, just tracing lightly onto the material and cutting out with my Fiskars scissors.

Put the sewing machine to use very randomly!!

Doodled the border and added some little alphabet stickers, a scrap of pp for the insert and its done :0)

Just have to get the present now ;0) 

Have a happy weekend.

Annette
  

Shirring on different craft projects

Don't you just love what Kendra has done with the projects below! This project can be seen over at 

                                         FiskarsCrafts.com

Pillow and Matching Card

Click image to enlarge

Designer: Kendra McCracken
Shirred fabrics can be found on everywhere in fashion and decor right now. I love that they can equally striking on a t-shirt with a pair of jeans or an evening gown from a high-end store. I thought I would share a couple of projects demonstrating that they can be just as versatile in creating handmade gifts.

I started with my sketch, the idea of creating this pillow in mind.

Difficulty rating

Instructions (Print version)

Shirring fabric is very easy to do. The amount of fabric you use depends on
how tightly shirred you want your finished length of fabric to be. I wanted my
pillow to be a standard 16" x 16" so including my seam allowances, I knew I
would need a 17" x 17" square of fabric for my front panel I also knew I
wanted the shirring to be fairly loose on the pillow so I decided to double
the length of the fabric for those panels.

Adding in seam allowance for connecting the panels, use the Fiskars 45mm Rotary Cutter and 6" x 24" Acrylic ruler to cut the following:

2 pieces of coordinating fabric for the shirred panels, 34" L x 6.5" H each
1 piece of fabric for the unshirred panel, 17" L x 6.5" H
1 piece of fabric for the back panel, 17" x 17"

Using a marking pencil and the 6" x 24" Acrylic ruler, draw lines the length
of the panels that will be shirred at 2 3/8" and 4 1/8". Using the longest
stitch length on your sewing machine, stitch along these lines, eliminating
the backstitching at the beginning and end that we are trained to always do!
Long tails of thread are necessary at both ends of the stitch lines. You may
have noticed in this photo that there are 4 stitched lines. This photo
actually goes with the card but the process I'm demonstrating is the same for
both.

Using only the top thread for each stitched line, begin gently pulling which will cause the fabric to ruffle. Once it begins ruffling, you can slide the fabric along the thread with your fingers to minimize the tension on the thread. Work from both ends of the fabric panel, adjusting the ruffling as you go. Once the panel has been shirred down to a width of 17", knot the top and bottom threads at each end of the stitch lines.

You will now have 3 panels that should look like this.

Pin the panels together along the long edges, right sides together.
Stitch them together using a 1/2" seam allowance.

The reverse side of your pillow front will look like this and should measure
17" x 17" (or very close.)

Using the Hearts Shape Template, cut out an applique by tracing the 3" heart onto the reverse side of your fabric. Place the fabric right sides together with a piece of backing material. It can be any scrap fabric as it will become the reverse side of the applique and not seen. Stitch along the traced line leaving an opening for reversing. Cut out the heart, 1/8" from the stitched line, and hand stitch the opening closed.

Hand stitch the heart applique to the pillow front. Add a length of eyelet
trim if desired.

Cut a 17" x 17" panel for the back of the pillow and pin the front and back
panels together, right sides together. Stitch them together using a 1/2" seam allowance, leaving a turning opening.

Stuff the pillow with fiberfill and hand sew the opening closed.

The shirring for the card is created the exact same way as the shirring for the pillow. I wanted a tighter shirring on the card so I cut a 10" wide x 5" high piece of fabric for it. When I pulled the threads, I kept pulling until I had a 3.5" wide shirred panel. So my fabric length was approximately 3 times what I wanted my finished panel to be versus only 2 times as wide for the looser shirring on the pillow.In lieu of the fabric heart applique on the pillow, I used the Punch Love Stamp set and the My Funny Valentine Scalloped Squeeze Punch to embellish the center of the card. And the Apron Lace Border punch gave me a paper replica of the eyelet trim I used on the pillow.

This is an easy technique that can gives you fantastic results on a variety of paper and fabric projects so get out your sewing machine and start pulling some threads!

Supplies:

Fiskars Item # 95217097 45mm Rotary Cutter
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_45mm-rotary-cutter.aspx
Fiskars Item # 12-87287097 3.5 x 18.5 Acrylic Ruler
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_35-x-185-acrylic-ruler.aspx
Fiskars Item # 87627097 6" x 24" Acrylic Ruler
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_6-x-24-acrylic-ruler.aspx
Fiskars Item # 12-83717097 18 Inch x 24 Inch Mat
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_18x24mat.aspx
Fiskars Item # 01-003778 Scalloped Punch : My Funny Valentine - Extra Large
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_myfunnyvalentine-xl.aspx
Fiskars Item # 01-003505 High-Density Pigment Ink : Fire Me Up
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_ink-firemeup.aspx
Fiskars Item # 01-004660 Punch Love - 4 inch X 8 inch
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_stamps4x8-punch-love.aspx
Fiskars Item # 01-004597 Apron Lace Border Punch
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_borderpunch-apron-lace.aspx

Other supplies: 1/4 yard of 2 coordinating fabrics, 1/4 yard fabric for middle
pillow panel and backing, fabric scrap for applique, 17" eyelet trim
(optional), fiber fill, thread, patterned paper scraps, 6" x 12"

piece of kraft cardstock, stamping ink to match fabrics on card, needle

Fiskars scissors helped me make my first quilt.......

25 years ago!!!

I still have the scissors and (blush) i still have the quilt, all pieced together waiting to be backed and quilted!!

Who would have thought after all these years i would end up working with Fiskars LOL!!

This is my quilt!!

Yes a little old fashioned now, but all lovingly pieced and sewn by hand. YES it was that long ago that i learnt to patchwork by hand not machine as I think alot of them are done today. I may be wrong but i'm pretty sure we had to get 7 stitches to the inch.

Lookey here .....

7 stitches to the inch ;0) !! 

I do have to add here that i didn't finish this quilt because..... i pieced and quilted by hand, not machine, 2 more quilts as Wedding presents for 2 of my friends that i was bridesmaid for, so that might let me off the hook with this one you think? ;0)

I have been iching to get back into quilting and was super inspired when i went down to the Craft and Quilt show in Brisbane in October. If you have never been to see the quilts at this show then you really are missing something, they are absolutely exquisite!!

So I bought myself a kit quilt down there, something that caught my eye from the first day at the show, something i didn't have to think too much about and something that i could do by machine, LOL!!

You basically cut up 36 squares of material and sew them back together again!! Not too hard eh?

 The lovely Beth who worked with us using the quilting tools at the show gave me a run down on all the Fiskars quilting tools that are available at the moment. Much easier than when it was me and just my lil old orange fiskars scissors!! I haven't been able to get my hands on one of the rotary cutters up here, every time i go to Spotlight they seem to be sold out so i had to use my little baby fingertip rotary cutter, which i might add did the job of cutting through 4 layers of fabric at a time!! Imagine what the big one can do LOL!!

I have made a start on this one, 6 blocks down, 30 to go!!

Wish me luck :0)

bfn

Annette  

 

 

 

Christmas scraps for a birthday card

Hello :0)

In keeping with using "scraps from your stash" i have created a birthday card out of the scraps leftover from a christmas class i taught HERE.

I used the strip towards the bottom of the paper on the right as a starting point. This was perfect to make a scallop border with. The paper is double sided so the stripey flower was made from the paper on the reverse side.

 

The lovehearts are border stamps by Heidi Grace stamped with black Stazon ink.

 
The Fiskars punches are great to get the most out of your scraps and to change the look from being christmassy to a birthday card instead. Also adding stamps can help to achieve this as well.

I have used the

Threading Water border punch

and the extra large Seal of Approval punch

as well as the 1inch circle squeeze punch. 

We've had some great examples so far of using your scraps, can't wait to see what else you guys come up with, you still have a couple of days up your sleeves.

Send your entries to: [email protected].

If you missed the details you can find them RIGHT HERE!

Have fun

Annette :0) 

BABY QUILT

You Are My Sunshine - a baby quilt

Click image to enlarge

Designer: Susan Weinroth

I love “no rules” quilting – or just making it up as I go, with a basic idea (or sketch!) in mind.  I wanted this quilt to work as a “stroller quilt” for my baby-on-the-way.  It needed to be gender neutral in color (and to match my orange stroller!), and also be fun and happy in design.  I used a few different Fiskars Shape templates to create my sun and tree blocks, and then pieced together my house block to finish off my “You are my Sunshine” theme.  Take this basic quilt sketch and turn it into anything you like – change the color scheme and/or create different focal point block designs…  Just have fun!

Note: My finished quilt measures 30 x 31 inches.  To work from the sketch and increase the size of your finished quilt, simply make your rows of rectangle patches longer and/or add additional rows of rectangles (i.e. 4 or more instead of my 3).

Difficulty rating

Instructions (Print version)

STEP BY STEP:

1.    Start by using the Fiskars rotary cutter and mat to trim three blocks of fabric for your focal block bases (trim to 7.5 inches tall by 5.5 to 8 inches wide).

2.    For the “Sun” block: Use the Fiskars circle shape template to trim a circle from orange fabric.  Place circle in the middle of the block, trim rectangle strips (rays) from orange fabric and arrange around sun.  Pin all in place and use a straight top stitch (close to edges of design) to appliqué to block.  Don’t worry about edges fraying later when washed – this will add to the charm of the quilt.
3.    For “Tree” block: Use the Fiskars oval shape template to trim an oval from green fabric.  Trim trunk from brown fabric – I sketched my trunk shape onto paper, trimmed the paper and then traced onto my brown fabric.  Arrange your “tree” onto the center of your block.  First pin green oval only and appliqué using a close zig-zag stitch around the oval.  Then arrange your trunk back into place, pin and and appliqué using a close zig-zag stitch around the edge.

4.    For “House” block: I pieced my block together from the starting point – there are many tutorials online that can walk you through the steps.  To create a similar block you could also just trim the square and triangle shapes using Fiskars microtip No. 5 scissors and appliqué in place.

5.    After your focal blocks are created, trim the rectangles that will go next to them.  All rectangles should be 7.5 inches tall – width is up to you!  (each of my finished rectangle strips measured 7.5 tall x 24 inches long.

6.    Arrange rectangles with focal blocks, similar to sketch shown, and then sew together using ¼ inch inseams.  Press seams all in one direction on backside.

7.    After three rectangle rows are finished, trim white “sashing” to go in between and around.  Sashing strips should be 3.25 inches in width.  Trim 2 pieces the length of your rectangle rows.  Place between rectangle rows, pin and sew all together with ¼ inch inseams.  Press seams all in one direction.
8.    Trim sashing strips for top, bottom, and sides of quilt top.  Pin and sew, then press seams.

9.    Congrats, your quilt top is finished!
10.    Using the basic directions from my “How to Quilt” article: http://www.fiskarscraft.com/articles/t_howtoquilt.aspx - layer backing fabric, batting, and quilt top – baste in place – and then quilt.  I used a “stipple” or freemotion quilting stitch/technique.  You could also just straight stitch around rectangle rows and in between blocks.

11.    Continue following “how to quilt” ariticle instructions to bind your quilt.  Enjoy your finished quilt!

SUPPLIES:

18 Inch x 24 Inch Mat –
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_18x24mat.aspx
6" x 24" Acrylic Ruler –
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_6-x-24-acrylic-ruler.aspx
45 mm Comfort Grip Rotary Cutter –
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_45-mm-comfort-grip-rotary-cutter.aspx
No. 5 Microtip Scissors –
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_no-5-micro-tip-scissors.aspx
ShapeTemplate™ Tool - Circles-1 w/Scallop Border –
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_shapetemplate-tool-circles-1-wsca.aspx
ShapeTemplate™ Tool - Ovals-1 w/Cloud Border –
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_shapetemplate-tool-ovals-1-wcloud.aspx

OTHER: Fabric, Thread, Pins, Batting

This project was shared over at Fiskars Crafts.com don't you just love what Susan has created!

Coming soon to Officeworks -DIY Workshops

  
 

Hi everyone,

Just giving you the heads up on some fabulous DIY Workshops coming up in Officeworks Stores around Australia during 2010. We are all so excited to have been asked to be involved once more!

Fiskars are proudly involved again in the Papercrafting Area...having had our Team of Ambassadors hard at work behind the scenes the past few weeks creating some fabulous Paper Craft Projects.....the first one shall be a Formal Birthday Invitation created by my fellow Lead Ambassador....Dawn Stan.

 

So pop on over to OFFICEWORKS for times and dates in each State.

At this stage it's being held at 11am Sunday February 7th in all States except WA.......you'll need to check the website for the date in WA as it is confirmed on the Officeworks Website.

Using Critine Re Papers and Embellishments,Quill Product along with the fabulous Fiskars Tools these projects are going to be taught by the Officworks Employees in each store with the help of Power Point Presentations and Step by Step Instructions.........ooh what fun!

Good news is these DIY Workshops shall be running all year for FREE........so a great opportunity to learn some new tips and techniques......maybe create a Card,Invitation,Gift Bag,etc....with a friend.

We'll be showcasing all the Fiskars Ambassador Projects in the lead up to each DIY Workshop on here throughout 2010.

xoxo

Lyn

quilting shares by Debbie from " The Plague and I "

Don't you just love this Peter Rabbit Quilt that Debbie Guihot from New South Wales has created from some of her scraps of material. Debbie is one of our talented Fiskars Demonstrators and has her own Patchwork Shop in NSW......called ......wait for it........ !!!

  " The Plague and I " (Patchworking is a disease says Deb) Don't you just love that LOL!   

   address is:      Gaskill street Canowindra  NSW  Ph 0268442736

Debbie tells me that she made this Ribbon Dolly with the help of her good friend Robyn Wilkinson! How cute is this? Wouldn't you just love something like this on your craft area...maybe on a bed.....in a little girls room...OR a BIG girl's room.....LOL!

The Quilt is just gorgeous isn't it....so very pretty......just love the colour scheme Debbie!

                          Lime green and pink always look great together!

                                      Here's what Debbie had to say 

" To make her hair I sewed double bits of ribbon into The seam of her head . then tied bows after she was stuffed.So much fun to make and little people."

                        Below is a work in progress by Debbie......her Poppy Quilt!

 "The flowers are going to be raw edge appliqued and then emdroidered to embellish.  Robyn is doing some stamping onto the earth fabric which I have hand died and painted my self."

Just a reminder that the FABRIC FROLIC is on at the moment in the Outer Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne.

I believe a lot of fun is happening as crafters travel  around the stores involved. This might be a great opportunity to start sewing....or maybe purchse some fabric to finish off a project you may already have started.

Fiskars make some fabulous sewing/quilting tools also...have you seen some around the stores?

xoxo

Lyn

Robyn crafts with some scraps

Robyn Wilkinson from New South Wales has sent through this wonderful card that she has created from some scraps that she had left over from some other projects. Looks great doesn't it!

Want to enter this challenge and create something from your scraps?

Feel free to send through some pics by Jan 30th. It's amazing what you can make when you just use up some left over scraps....papers,cardstock,ribbon off cuts,etc.

For further details you can look here