My Sheri Crafts Challenge #95: It's Picking Time!

Time for another My Sheri Crafts Challenge -- it's 'picking time', so we're asking you to include a pumpkin or apple on your project.  I took 'artistic license' and went with my 'pumpkin' in the form of a jack-o-lantern face on my burlap silverware (or plastic ware) holders -- Hee!!!

My first glimpse of the original idea for these with a gorgeous flower was here on Pinterest -- of course! Since I'd recently purchased a bunch of burlap in several colors (can you say 'new obsession'?), I just had to modify these to work for either a dinner table or an outdoor get-together with plastic ware, especially if you're doing something around Halloween for a child's or even adult's party. Thanks, sweet friend, for that clever idea -- add a little fun to a party and keep it simple when it comes to clean-up!

Then, inspiration struck as I was writing this post and it was back to the 'drawing board', as I had the idea for the apple -- great for back-to-school with any number of items tucked inside other than silverware -- pencils, pens, ruler, bookmark, large candy bar -- I'm sure many Moms, most children and certainly all teachers could think of dozens of ideas?!  Might be a cute/inexpensive idea for the upcoming fall/Christmas/winter holidays!!! NOW my head is spinning again and I don't even have any school-age children!!!

DIRECTIONS:
Cut burlap 14 1/2" long by 4" wide
Fold over 1 1/2" and zigzag stitch about 1/2" from raw edge (forgot
this on cream holder, but no big deal)
Fold bottom up 5 1/4" from last fold
Stamp with paint (I slipped bottom of holder under my craft mat at fold and stamped, then just wiped paint off mat where it bled through fabric -- easy/peasy!)
Once paint is dry, zigzag stitch up right side from bottom edge, in about 3/8 to 1/2", across top and down left side
Pull long threads from top/both sides for fringe 

NOTE: These are not washable, spot clean only, but burlap is sooo inexpensive and once you have the measurements, which I've included here, they are sooo quick/easy to whip up!

To create my orange/tan holder, I cut 1 piece from each color and layered tan atop orange and made per above directions. For my face, I merely cut pieces of craft foam for stamps and attached to acrylic block with 1/2" wide strips of Scor-Tape, squirted on a dollop of black craft paint, smoothed it out a bit with a sponge brush and stamped, beginning with the mouth, then nose & eyes for easy lining up -- simple/easy/non-perfectionistic!
Apple was stamped using . . . an apple, of course! Found a Pink Lady that had a tiny spoiled spot, so perfect for my needs!  Cut in half, spread my red paint with a sponge brush, stamped (had to do a little touch-up as my cut wasn't perfectly 'flat'), cut a Spellbinders's leaf from craft foam, and took the actual stem, held with a tweezers, dipped in brown paint, and added a bit of touch-up to the stem. If I can do it, you CAN TOO!
Hope you enjoy making these and hope you'll come up with an idea for a project for My Sheri Crafts to share with us too -- look forward to seeing your crafty pumpkin/apple idea -- hmmm, now another idea just hit me -- time to cut more burlap!!!  ;-)

Sew, Sometimes I Craft Without . . .

. . . PAPER -- shocking, huh?!!!  LOL!
I got a new sewing machine and decided that to learn all it's fabulous functions, I'd sew AG Doll clothes. I'm safekeeping my grown DD's dolls until she has room to take them -- IF I can bear to give them up then, that is? Hee!!! These are truly fabulous dolls IF you have a special 8-11 year old little lady in your life -- or you never had a special doll in your childhood -- just sayin'!!!  ;-)
I found THIS ADORABLE free pattern created by Amanda online. NOTE: there are actually TONS of free doll patterns out there if you just Google AG dolls! When I saw this darling fabric at Joanns, I HAD to grab it!
Amanda stresses in her post that the dress is very snug and how to sew it to fit your doll. Not sure if there's much difference in the newer AG dolls and  our original Pleasant Company dolls from the early 90's, but when I got my dress nearly done & tried it on Kirsten, there was no way it would go over her arms/shoulders. Knowing I wanted mine to be shorter in length anyway, I decided to cut 1 1/4" from the top of the skirt, which gave me more width for my back seam. I then stitched the bodice/skirt together and stitched the back skirt seam just 4 1/2" up from the hem edge, leaving a 5 1/2" opening to the neckline. This allowed me to sew a 7" centered zipper into the back and it's PERFECT! I still did a 1/2" hem, doubling my fabric over.

Back View

I actually used an old zipper I'd removed/replaced in a skirt I repaired. It was missing it's 'pull tab', so I came up with my own by using a paper crafty wire   safety pin and some beads -- not sure I'm crazy about it, but for now it works, which is all that matters and Kirsten doesn't mind!  I have a brand-new 7" zipper from WalMart and think it was only $1.22, so it's not expensive to add one to a doll dress, really.

Because this print had the fun red hearts in it and wanting to practice with my machine's special stitches, I used plain white fabric and stitched the little hearts in red thread on the sleeve bands -- too fun!!! Now I'm thinking Kirsten needs a little red shrinky-dinky heart necklace -- the fun never ends when you love to craft -- LOL!

Do go check out Amanda's post and see the DARLING print she made her dress from & leave her some love!!!  ;-)

JustRite Friday Challenge #081: Charm Me

For the current JustRite challenge, wherein we are to add a charm, I knew right away I'd make my own. Again using JustRite's Botanical Butterflies, even though I used it for the last challenge, I simply had to stamp that bee again to create a charm to use with Authentique's sweet Carefree papers featuring flowers & bees!

I began by stamping the round dotted frame from JustRite's Charmed cling set and my bee onto shrink plastic, die cutting with JustRite's Custom Charm Dies, then shrinking with my heat gun. LOVE how cute it turned out and the bonus with these wonderful charm dies is you don't have to remember to punch a hole before shrinking -- LOL! 
Spellbinders So Trendy M-Bossabilities folder made me think 'honeycomb', so I embossed and then sanded Core'dinations paper for the bottom section. Also from Botanical Butterflies, this fabulous sentiment is stamped and die cut with JustRite's Custom Antique Labels One Dies, a new FAV now! For my flowers and leaves I used Spellbinders' Bitty Blossoms dies and die cut my leaves from stiffened burlap and edged with a Copic Marker.
Thanks for stopping by to visit today and please leave me a comment to let me know your thoughts on my card!

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #094: My Family

The challenge this week @ My Sheri Crafts is to create a family-themed project or card for a family member. My original idea had to be scrapped as my die cutting machine is 'ill' and out for repairs!  :`(  Sooo glad it's still under warranty and should soon be back and cutting like 'new' again!

Since my SIL just had major surgery and is home recovering, a Get Well Soon card for her fit the bill perfectly. 
I began with Heartfelt Creations China Fragments' Tea Cup stamp set that coordinates with Spellbinders' Nested Tea Cup dies I won last fall. LOVE both these stamps and dies, which were cut from white CS, colored with Copics to coordinate with Authentique's Delightful floral PP. The cup is aged with Black Soot distress ink and popped onto a doily  spritzed with Smooch Spritz Pralines & Cream. Want2Scrap's clear rhinestone 'steam' swirls from the cup's rim. A Lace Doily Accents border edges the left side. My sentiment from Little Paper Shop is stamped onto a JustRite Custom Antique Labels One Die that's accented on each end with halves of a decorative die from Lacy Doily Motifs, then laced with Martha Stewart ribbon tied into a bow to finish this card!
Hope it brightens my Sister-in-Law's day when she receives it and that you'll be inspired to create a family-themed project to post @ My Sheri Crafts now!

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #93: Last Day to Wear White!

Since we live in the 'warm' SW desert, I don't really follow the 'last day to wear white' is Labor Day 'rule',  BUT our current challenge - to create a 'white-on-white project' - seemed like the perfect excuse to whip up a wintery snowflake card! This was totally challenging project, as I kept wanting to add a bit of color somewhere, but in the end LOVED how it turned out!
My snowflake was built using a combination of Spellbinders' 2010 Snowflake pendants, Create-a-Flake Three dies and even one cut from Snowflake Wonder, an early Spellbinders' die that cuts 5 snowflakes from one plate.
After cutting/embossing my die cuts, I hit the embossed areas with Glossy Accents, sprinkled on Martha Stewart's Crystal Coarse Glitter and secured the layers with a crystal brad.
I mounted my snowflake onto white 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" CS that I'd embossed with SB's Elegance M-Bossabilities Folder, Side A. I then cut 1/2" from the bottom front and as shown in the photo below, embossed the back inside edge with a Provo Craft "Frills" border, added a strip of Scor-Tape, sprinkled with more coarse glitter. To complete my card, I then repeated this process with a 3/4" strip of CS and used Scor-Tape to atttach it inside my card front. A simple ribbon tied in a bow completes my white-on-white project!
What will you create for your white-on-white project -- a wedding card, a Christmas project or a snowflake ornament?! Please make one and upload it for us all to enjoy @ My Sheri Crafts -- you may just be our next Guest Designer!