Crystal Effects Techniques: Dried Flower

Use Crystal Effects to encase a pressed flower embellishment.
Some of the products for this card are on the Retiring Products Lists, so make sure to order them before they're gone forever!

Cut a piece of Multi-purpose adhesive sheet and apply it to card stock.

Punch out the shape, peel off the release paper and adhere a pressed flower.

Cover the shape thickly with Crystal Effects and let dry overnight.
I usually outline the edge first and then fill in the middle.









Supplies
Stamps
-Frame It 122850 (retiring)
-En Francais 109521
-Four Frames 123440
-Sincere Salutations 115068 (retiring)
Ink
-Soft Suede pad 115657
-Crumb Cake pad 121030
-Bravo Burgundy pad 105214
-Pink Pirouette marker 120969
-Rose Red marker 100063
-River Rock marker 120972
Paper
-Blushing Bride card stock 119796 (retiring)
-Soft Suede card stock 115318
-River Rock card stock 108640
-Very Vanilla card stock 101650
Tools
-Big Shot 113439
-Ovals die 114525 (retiring)
-Frames Embossing Folders set of 2 123130
-Wide Oval punch 119859
-Decorative Label punch 120907
-Stamp-A-Ma-Jig 101049
Accessories
-Sticky Strip 104294
-Chantilly Crochet Trim 118480 (retiring)
-Crystal Effects 101055
-Stampin' Dimensionals 104430

Crystal Effects Techniques: Acrylic Heart

Crystal Effects is an acrylic paper crafting medium with lots of uses. Not only is it a great adhesive, you can use it to make a raised acrylic embellishment like the heart on this card.
These floral images were stamped with Jet Black StazOn ink and coloured with Stampin' Write markers.
I used a punch to cut out the heart and added another layer of card stock to the back before covering it with Crystal Effects and letting it dry overnight. I tied ribbon around the heart and adhered it to the space on the card front before adding the arrow and tag.

Here's a detail photo of the acrylic heart embellishment.

Supplies
Stamps
-Elements of Style 118611
-Tiny Tags 118091
Ink
-Jet Black StazOn ink 101406
-So Saffron marker 105114
-Daffodil Delight marker 119677
-Pink Pirouette marker 120969
-Pretty in Pink marker 100045
-Bashful Blue marker 105111
-Marina Mist marker 119679
-River Rock marker 120972
-Certainly Celery marker 105106
Paper
-River Rock card stock 108640
-Pink Pirouette card stock 111351
-Whisper White card stock 100730
Tools
-Full Heart punch 119883
-Jewelry Tag punch 117190
Accessories
-Baja Breeze 1/8 in. Taffeta ribbon 122964
-Game Spinner Hands 121893
-Basic Pearls 119247

Summer Smooch Flower Dress

The flowers in the Summer Smooches fabric and Designer Series Paper are so easy to imitate with circle punches and dies!
Use your Big Shot and circle dies to cut the fabrics for the applique on this little dress. Then, cut another fabric circle from the Summer Smooches fabric to make the coordinating yoyo headband.














Here's a detail of the yoyo headband and a link to directions for making a yoyo.
http://www.cherylcanstamp.blogspot.ca/2011/12/bows-and-yoyo-ornaments.html

Peel away the release paper from one side of the fabric adhesive and place it on your fabric.

Use your Big Shot and the 3-1/2 in. Circle die (121811) to cut the olive green fabric.

Fold the the circle in half, place it on the same die and run it through the Big Shot again to get 2 leaves.

Apply fabric adhesive to the other fabrics.
Cut the large turquoise fabric circle with the Clear Circle die (114533).
Cut the red fabric circle with the next to smallest circle on the Circles #2 die (114526).

Peel away the release paper from the other side of the fabric shapes and position them on the dress. Cover with a press cloth and steam for 10 seconds.
I used a close, narrow zigzag stitch to outline the shapes, but it isn't necessary.

Petite Purse die for the Big Shot

Along with the Summer Smooches sneak peek, Stampin' Up! is offering the Petite Purse die for purchase before the new catalogue goes live. Use it in your Big Shot to create a mini version of any kind of bag you can think of!

Petite Purse die 125606
Big Shot 113439

Quilted Chanel Purse
Simply Scored tool 122334
Diagonal Scoring Plate 125586
Glossy White card stock 102599
Brushed Gold card stock 102935
1/2 in. circle punch 119869
1/4 in. circle punch
small gold eyelets
gold chain

Use the new Diagonal Scoring Plate on the Stampin' Up! Simply Scored  tool to create the look of quilting on Glossy White card stock.

Run the card stock through the Big Shot with the Petite Purse die and assemble the purse. It''s so easy!

Secure 2 gold eyelets to the top of the purse flap. My gold chain wouldn't fit through the holes, so I tied the last links with string under the flap.

Punch a 1/4 in. hole in gold card stock

Centre the small hole in the 1/2 in. punch and cut it out.

Cut a section of the circle and you have a Chanel "C". Make 2 and glue them to the front of the purse.

Fabric Purse
Summer Smooches fabric 125411
Whisper White card stock 100730
Sizzix Multi Purpose Adhesive sheets 120805
Brights Flower brads 119734
Real Red 1/4 in. Grosgrain ribbon 109034
Blossom Party die 115971

Apply Sizzix Adhesive sheet to Whisper White card stock.

Peel back the release paper from the adhesive and adhere fabric.

Run the fabric/card stock through the Big Shot with the Petite Purse die and assemble the purse.

I added a Brights Flower brad and some die cut flowers.

Fishing Creel
Soft Suede card stock 115318
Square Lattice embossing folder 119976
Square Fire brads 109112
Silver Mini brads 122941
Fishing Fly

Cut out the Petite Purse die and an extra strap with the Big Shot. Then emboss the purse and assemble it. 

Open the prongs and the tiny teeth holding a Square Rhinestone Brad in place. Remove the rhinestone and cut off the teeth. Cut off the prongs leaving 1/4 in. Overlap the straps, trim and secure with the altered brad.
Attach the strap to the sides of the purse with Mini Silver brads.
Pierce the flap with the fly.

Medical Bag
Basic Black card stock 121045
Real Red card stock 102482
Silver Mini brads 122941
Distress Basic Black card stock and crumple. Smooth out and cut out Petite Purse.
Shorten the strap and secure to the flap with Silver Mini brads.
Cut out a Red Cross emblem from Real Red card stock and adhere to the flap.

Twitterpated Bunny

This is a cute project to make this Easter Weekend!
I used the Twitterpated fabric from the Occasions Mini Catalogue and a natural cotton for the face. All the pieces for the head are cut using Stampin' Up! dies and the Big Shot.
If you use it for a baby shower don't use brads for the eyes and nose. Just sew some embroidery instead. And, make sure to tie a knot in the ribbon around the neck before making the bow.







Directions

Cut the larger of two scallop circles on the Scallop Circles #2 die from natural cotton fabric.
Fold it in quarters and mark the centre with a pin.

With the fabric folded in half, sew a curve from the centre to the edge between the third scallop from the fold.
Back-stitch at both ends to secure the stitching.

Use pinking shears to trim close to the stitching. If you don't have pinking shears, cut small "v's" in the trimmed seam allowance.

Cut the smallest oval on the Ovals die from thick card board. I save packaging to use for this.
Layer the green striped fabric and the pink print fabric with right sides together and trace the cardboard oval on the fabric twice.
I used a disappearing ink pen, but a pencil will work.

Pin through both layers and cut off 1/8 in. of the bottom of the oval.
Sew around the shapes, back-stitching at the beginning and end.
Trim close to the stitching with pinking shears.

Turn the ears right side out and press.
I thread a needle with doubled thread for strength and take a small stitch next to the stitching. Then, pierce the top layer of fabric and bring the needle out the opening.

Pull the thread, turning the shape. Snip the thread close to the fabric

Make a tuck across the bottom of both ears and secure with a pin.

Cut the second largest circle on the Circles die #2 from the green striped fabric.
Fold it in half and mark both edges with pins.

Pin the ears to the top of the circle, 1/4 in. from both sides of the pin, with the green striped fabric together.

With right side together, pin the circles together, matching the face seam to the bottom of the green striped fabric circle.

Sew around the circles, back-stitching at the beginning and end.
Trim with pinking shears and turn right side out.










Fold the face in half along the seam and insert a pin through both layers for eye placement. Secure blue brads.
Secure a pink brad at the top of the face seam for the nose.









Cut an 8 in. circle of the floral print fabric.
Fold over 1/4 in. and sew with running stitches around the edge. I used doubled thread for strength and secured the beginning with a few small stitches sewn over each other.

Pull up firmly on the thread and stuff the ball.
Secure the folds with stitches before cutting the thread. It helps to squeeze the ball and release the tension.

Trim the neck and sew the head to body opening.

Cut a strip of striped fabric 1-1/2 in. X 7 in.
Fold in half lengthwise and sew a 1/4 in. seam.
Turn the tube and tie a knot in the middle.

Sew the tops of the arms to the neck on both sides.
Tie ribbon around the neck to hide the stitches.








Supplies
Natural cotton fabric
Twitterpated fabric 125412
Big Shot 113439
Ovals die 114525
Circles die 114526
Scallop Circles die 113469
Subtles brads 119745

Summer Smooches on a Bed Spring

I'm such a sucker for quirky recycled stuff! I bought a kit at Village Quilts, a local quilting shop for a pin cushion on an old bed spring and just had to try it with the new Summer Smooches fabrics. At the very least, I hope it makes you smile!

I cut off the top of a bed spring, sprayed it with Tremclad Primer and painted it with enamel model paint. I love that model paint still comes in little cans and bottles. I don't have lots left over to store and the price is right!










Front detail










Back detail










Instructions

Make a 9 in. circle pattern.
Fold a piece of paper in quarters.
Measure 4-1/2 in. from the corner and make a mark on the folded edge.
Continue measuring from the corner and marking to form an arc.
Cut on the markings and open the circle.
Make a 5 in. circle pattern measuring 2-1/2 in. from the corner.





Use the large circle to cut fabric.
Position and pin the small circle pattern to the large fabric circle.









Tear five 1 in. X 18 in. strips from two fabrics and neaten the torn edges by removing loose threads.
Cut each strip into 4 equal sections and fold the sections in half to make the petals.
Using the small paper circle as a guide, bunch the petals under the presser foot and sew them to the fabric circle allowing 1/4 in. to 1/2 in. seam allowance.



Remove the paper circle.
Cut a 3 in. X 18 in. strip from fabric.
Sew the strip 1/8 in. to the inside of the stitching on the petals, using a 1/4 in. seam allowance.






It will look like this.








And this.









Thread a needle with doubled thread folded double. You'll have four strands of thread.
Secure the knotted end with a few stitches on top of each other.
Sew a running stitch 1/4 in. from the edge of the fabric circle.





Stuff the fabric and pull the thread firmly to gather.









Sew through a few folds at a time to hold the gathers.
If you squeeze the stuffing it will release the pressure and make it easier.







Insert and twist the painted bed spring into the opening.
You may squirt some hot glued on the spring and into the opening.








Fold under one side of the fabric strip and overlap the ends.
Sew a running stitch 1/2 in. from the edge of the strip of fabric.
Pull firmly on the thread to gather while turning the raw edge to the inside.
Secure the gathers with a few stitches.





Cut a 3 in. X 18 in. strip of fabric.
Fold it in half twice.
Cut a petal shape and open. You'll have 2 identical pieces.
Sew a zigzag stitch around the edges of the doubled fabric.
Tie the leaves onto the bed spring and position as you like.





Supplies
Summer Smooches fabric 125411