Monday, December 23, 2013

Big Shot Snowman Applique

The Big Shot is a useful tool for both of my favourite hobbies; sewing and paper crafts. I used framelits and the Big Shot to make the patterns for the Snowmen on my Lap Quilt.









Choose Fabrics (from left)
-1 grey and aqua print for hats (scrap)
-1 aqua print for hats (scrap)
-1 aqua print for hats and binding (0.50 m.)
-1 light aqua snowflake fabric for background (2.00 m.)
-3 red prints for hats and sashing (0.20 m.)
-1 white print on pale aqua background for snowmen (0.30 m.)
-3 white on white prints or pale print on white for snowmen and sashing (0.50 m.)
-backing fabric (2.70 m.)
-batting (1.50 m. X 1.90 m.)

Snowman Pattern
-use a compass to make circle patterns or trace a household item
(I traced a cheesecake pan for the 9 in. circle and a cereal bowl for the 6-1/2 in. circle. I used a Big Shot framelit to cut the 3-5/8 in. circle.)
-cut 3 large circles and 3 medium circles from the white print on pale aqua
-cut 3 large circles and 3 medium circles from the pale print on white
-cut 2 large circles, 2 medium circles and 5 small circles from each of the white on white prints

-arrange the large circles on the background fabric and sew 1/4 in. from the raw edge
-stack medium circles on the large circles and sew 1/4 in. from raw edge
-stack small circles on medium circles and sew 1/4 in. from raw edge

(I left the edges of the snowmen unfinished so they would fray)











Hat Pattern
-cut half circles using 3-1/4 in. framelits with the Big Shot or trace the framelit and cut with scissors
-cut smallest circles with the Big Shot or trace the framelit and cut with scissors




-cut card stock oval with framelit using the Big Shot
-position framelit over oval and cut hat brim pattern
-trace the pattern on fabric and cut with scissors









-stack hat pieces and position on the snowmen heads
-sew around edges with close zigzag stitch starting with pom-pom







-use circle and oval framelits as templates for mouths
-trace curve with a Frixion pen (the ink disappears with heat)










-zigzag mouth over marking
-zigzag arms
(I used grey thread for the mouths and arms)
-cut triangles of a scrap of orange fabric for noses
-zigzag noses to face

-pull zigzag threads through fabric to wrong side
-thread ends into needle and anchor under stitching
-trim ends of threads









-sew red and white strips together using a scant 1/4 in. seam and staggering the ends by 2-1/2 in.
-press the seams toward the red strips
-sew 2 sets of 4 strips and 1 set of 2 strips



-use a quilting ruler to cut 2-1/2 in. wide strips at a 45 degree angle
-sew strips together into a long sashing strip
-sew sashing to long sides of quilt top
-sew sashing to short sides of quilt top
-layer quilt top, batting and backing fabric
-pin through layers
-quilt layers together (I sewed simple snowflakes of over-lapping x's with white thread)
-cut 2-1/2 in. binding strips from aqua print and sew into long strip
-fold in half lengthwise and press
-sew to edges of quilt (see detailed tutorial)
-sew button eyes to snowmen (I used Stampin' Up! buttons)

Stampin' Up! Supplies
-Big Shot 113439
-Circles Collection framelits 130911
-Ovals Collection framelits 129381
-Neutrals buttons 130031 (Basic Black and Smoky Slate)
-Brights buttons 130028 (Bermuda Bay)
-Regals buttons 130029 (Island Indigo)
-Subtles buttons 130030 (Pool Party)

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Noel Paper Pumpkin

The November Paper Pumpkin makes 4 beautiful Xmas cards. I love them just as they are!

But, 4 cards wouldn't be enough for my friends and family card list. So I came up with a simple design using the elements from the kit plus some Real Red (102482) and Very Vanilla (101650) card stock to make a stack of cards. You're going to need more Vanilla (107300) envelopes, too.








-stamp the sentiment on 1-1/2 in. X 4-1/4 Vanilla card stock mat
-cut the striped card base on the score line, then cut 1/2 inch wide strips.
-adhere the strips under the edges of the stamped mat and adhere it to a Real Red card base
-cut a length of 8 stars from the garland and adhere them to the card front

Note - One striped card base = 22 strips (1/2 in. X 4-1/4 in.) which will make 11 cards





If you need an excessive number of cards you can cut the stars apart and adhere 3 or so to each card front.















Don't forget to stamp the envelopes!


















Do save some of the star garland to make a banner from the "NOEL" pennants.


-cut 2 striped card bases in half
-measure and mark 7/8 inch from the bottom on each side and 2-1/8 inch on the bottom edge
-cut from the side marks to the centre




-stamp the star in red on each NOEL pennant and adhere them to the striped mats
-punch holes and thread onto silver ribbon (132137)
-cut lengths of stars from the garland and adhere them to the pennants









Use up the rest of the star garland on some little gift tags.

-ink only the "Merry Christmas" part of the sentiment and stamp it on 1-3/4 X 3-1/2 Vanilla card stock
-trim the corners, adhere a circle of Real Red card stock over the end and punch a hole for a length of ribbon
-adhere stars from garland