Mini Scrapbook Album

Here's a fun, quick project which also would make a nice personalized gift.  You can fill it with pictures and embellishments.  Great for recording events like birthdays, vacations, or trips to the local apple orchard, and is small enough to fit in a card, or carry in your purse.

This mini album design is based on an origami cut and fold and is easy to do.

I made this one for my daughter about our visit to the Apple Orchard

Finished album is 3 1/2" x 4"

You will need:

• 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock
• scissors or paper cutter
• scoring tool
• pictures and embellishments
• ribbon
• stapler
• Double sided tape or glue
• paper crimper is nice but not necessary

Score your 12 x 12 paper on the wrong side in 3rds, or 4" apart.  Turn the paper in the other direction, and score it in 4ths, or 3" apart.  You could use this divide and score equation on any size sheet of paper.  I like using the 12 x 12 because it divides so nice and evenly. 

It is hard to show the scoring lines in a photo, but if you look closely, they are there.

Now cut along both opposite 4" scores up to the last 3" score mark leaving one segment connected on opposite ends.

The next part is a little tricky, but once you get it, it is easier the next time.  Accordion fold the top and bottom rows along the 3" score lines. Flip the top row over onto the middle row on the last uncut segment, wrong sides together.  Flip the bottom row up on the one uncut segment wrong sides together.

Basically you will end up with one valley fold, and one mountain fold where the three rows are connected. All the segments can then be accordion folded into a booklet.  Play with it.  That's what I did until it worked.  The pictures below shows what it will look like.

Use double sided tape or glue to seal the mountain and valley fold closed.  You will now have 12 pages to decorate in your little album.

Next make the cover.  It should be 4 1/4" wide by 7" long.  If you are going to crimp it, start with a 10" length.

Open your booklet to the middle, and lay it face down on your work surface.  Put your cover on top, and center a piece of ribbon in the middle.  Staple as pictured.

 Tape or glue the 1st and last page to the cover.

Embellish your cover if desired. I finished the cover with an apple design that was cut with my cricut machine, but you could add anything you like - a photo, title, or purchased scrapbook embellishment. 

Fill your pages with wonderful memories.  Trim and tie the ribbon.  You're done!

Happy Crafting ♥

Treasuries Galore!

My fabric has been included in some wonderful treasuries recently. Here are a few:











All these items are clickable links, so shop away. To see more treasuries, check out the Treasury Trove tab at the top of my blog.

Happy Sewing ♥

52 Week Challenge - Week 4

A whole month has gone by since we started the 52 week challenge.  Didn't it just fly though?

Congrats on all those finished projects! 

After this week's posts, I plan on doing a 52 Week Round-Up featuring all our work this month.

 ******************************

Here is my finished project for the week:

100+ Stitched and Notched Paper Sleeves

These were done as a custom order for a repeat customer.  She puts her business card in them to send along with jewelry purchased from her shop.  Since I have done these a few times before for her, I didn't have to spend time in figuring out the size, design, etc., so the process went very smoothly.  Quite a contrast from last week!

I really look forward to seeing what you all have come up with.

Let's get busy!

P.S. ~You will notice that I have increased the size of the link pictures this week.

Those Handy Dandy Tools

This post could have been titled, "I Love Tools 2," since I've blogged about my affection before.  Here's a new assortment of some of my favorites.

The curling ribbon tool.

How simple is this little gadget.  It came free with a package of curling ribbon my daughter bought.  I have one too (which I actually paid for) but don't like it as much because the teeth are too far apart to do the delicate splitting achieved with this one.  It makes wrapping packages fun!

A Must-Have Tool for Quilters, the Gypsy Gripper is a cushioned handle that attaches to your ruler securely by suction, allows complete control while cutting, and reduces the risk of injury. I used one at a Quilter's Retreat recently, and had to get one for myself.

You can use it with all sizes of rulers, although I keep it attached to this one, and use it daily.

This tool has been in my crafting room for awhile, but I just started really using it lately.  It works great for attaching decorative flowers and my business card to the fat quarter packages I send out.

I always feel so efficient and professional using it.

Finally, this medical tool called a crile is great for all kinds of tasks.  They lock into place and can be used to push out corners, pull fabric tubing through, and anytime you want to hold something securely in place while you work on it.

I would love to hear about your favorite helpers for sewing, crafting, homemaking, cooking, or whatever your craft may be.

Happy Sewing ♥

Project Quilting Week 1 Winners

UniquelyNancy's adorable Quilt House was  the Judge's pick for week #1, and the popular vote went to SallysAngelworks for her sweet quoted wall hanging.

Check out all the winners and read the judge's comments on KimsCraftyApple Blog. 

Happy Sewing ♥

52 Week Challenge - Week 3

Have you ever felt like you've aimed for a home-run, but somehow ended up bunting and trotting to first base instead?

That's what my 52 week project was like this week.  My plan was to finish entering my 2010 invoices and inventory into Quickbooks so that I could begin our income taxes.  This would be my rather boring, but necessary, finished project for week 3.

Halfway through the week however, I realized that I just wasn't going to have it done by Wednesday.  I still had almost 200 invoices to enter, grandgirls visiting for the weekend, children's fellowship to coordinate, and my house to clean.  Something had to give.

Then I decided that my finished project would be an interesting printing experiment I'd recently heard about involving styrofoam, a ballpoint pen, and washable paint.  The plan was for my granddaughters and I to try out the process, and then use it as a craft Sunday morning with my group of 4 to 7 year olds at church.

However, this experiment turned out badly with bits of Styrofoam all over my dining room, blue paint on the wall, and worst of all, our prints looked like splats of color on paper.  Not what I had envisioned at all.  Plan B, had to be scrapped as well.

Finally, here is what I ended up with:

Wool & Emery Felted Pincushions

I am pleased with how they turned out, and will list them in my Etsy shops. (There is still all that bookkeeping to do though).


I hope your plans fared better than mine did this week.  I can't wait to see what you've come up with.

Let's get busy!

Intergalactic Quilter

Fun video about an intergalactic quilter. He has a "Grandma Program" in his spaceship that gives him the tools he needs to quilt.

Happy Sewing ♥

Time to Vote for Project Quilting's First Challenge

Head on over to Kim'sCraftyApple Blog to vote for your Favorite.

This week's theme was primary colors, and there were many colorful and unique entries.  As a guest judge this week, I can tell already that it will be difficult for the panel of judges to choose a winner.

There are prizes for the judges pick, the popular vote, and even for a lucky winner among those who leave a comment on Kim's blog.  Don't miss out on the fun!

Happy Sewing ♥

Rolling Back Shipping Prices!

As promised, I am offering another special to celebrate my shop anniversary - and YOU benefit!  

Starting Sunday morning, and running through next Saturday, shipping prices (on most items) for the U.S. and Canada will be rolled back to $1.25  and 1.50 per item respectively.  

Some of the heavier fabric bundles and tools will not be included in this discount.  However,  as always, shipping in the U.S. for purchases of $40 or more, is free.

Here are a couple of new items in my shop to get you started:

 

These shipping prices pertain to sale items too, which you can see here. 

Happy Shopping ♥

52 Week Challenge - Week 2

Hooray, we've made it to another week!

I loved seeing your finished projects from last week.  It was fun checking out your blogs, shops, and flickr accounts. Part of the fun is to encourage each other in the challenge, so please click on each others links and leave a comment.

This week I learned that self-imposed deadlines are a better motivator than deadlines set by others.  I found myself working late, getting up early, and just generally focusing more completely on this week's project once I determined to get it done.  And it was fun!

Finished Curtains

I made these quilted curtain panels for my sewing room.  The pattern is called Winding Ways, or Wheel of Mystery.  I love the interlocking circles it creates.  An unexpected surprise of the design was the way the light shines through it in the morning like stained glass.

Curtains in progress (before backing added and quilting)

If you are joining the challenge for the first time, you can learn more about it, and catch up with the previous week's here. Then just jump in, we would love to have you!

Please link a picture with Linky from your Flickr, blog, facebook, or website. See below where it says, "Click Here to Enter".  Linky will be open until next Tuesday for you to post your project.  Next Wednesday, a new week's post will go up.

I can't wait to see what you've come up with.

Let's get busy,

Project Quilting - Season 2 Has Begun!

The 2nd season of Project Quilting is underway!  This fun and challenging contest is based on the popular TV reality show Project Runway, but is especially for Quilters.

SpringWater Designs from Season 1

 KimsCraftyApple came up with the idea, and is the host blog for the contest.  Kim herself participates in the challenge (just for the fun of it) since she is not the one to choose the challenge themes.  Every two weeks, a new challenge is issued.  Participants have one week to come up with their designs, post pictures, and tell the story of how they decided to solve the challenge.  Read about the inception of Project Quilting here.

KimsCraftyApple from Season 1

Anyone can participate in the contest.  Great prizes are to be had for each project, plus a grand prize at the end of the season.  There are even some prizes for those who don't participate, but leave comments on the blog.

I am pleased to be a sponsor of Project Quilting again this season.  In addition, I also have the rather daunting task of being a guest judge for the first challenge.

LoveBug Studios from Season 1

Be sure and check out Project Quilting, exciting for participants and quilt enthusiasts alike!

Happy Sewing ♥

Adventures of the Singing Quilter

I was very blessed by a blog post written by Cindy from the Adventures of the Singing Quilter today.  Not only did she feature some wonderful projects created using fabric purchased from Fabric Fascination, but she wrote a recommendation of my shop which means the world to me. 

Cindy came into my life as a lovely customer, and has become a valued online friend.

Here is a pillowcase she made using a screenprint from Hoffman Fabrics called Spring Pearl.  She made it as a Christmas gift for a girl in college. Isn't it sweet!

Cindy also made Poochie Bags which was a new pattern to me.  You can get the link to this fun and easy free pattern on her blog, The Adventures of the Singing Quilter, plus see many other wonderful creations she shares.  Be sure to have your earphones on when you visit.  This Singing Quilter will entertain you with music while you explore her blog.

Happy Sewing ♥

Thank You!

Karen Griska, author of "Quilts from the Selvage Edge" and the popular Selvage Blog featured my selvage tags and business cards earlier this week.  I was honored by her positive words about my shop and blog.

I just ordered her book on Amazon.  It has gotten great reviews and is all about making selvage quilts.  I can't wait explore it!

In other news, I have some new batiks from Tonga in my shop.  This one is called Sunflower for obvious reasons.  I have grouped it with some other yellow kona cottons and Robert Kaufman batiks for a Sunny fat quarter bundle.

Happy Sewing ♥

52 Weeks - Week 1

Here's my finished project for week #1. 


 It is a selvage backpack style bag, which I've listed in my kimbuktu shop.  The selvages are from Sandy Gervais line Adoring for Moda.  They were given to me in a jelly roll of selvages as a gift from fellow Etsian.  I had fun making this bag because I learned a new and better way of putting in the lining.

While working on the bag, I was thinking about why I sometimes procrastinate in finishing up projects I've started.  I came up with several reasons.

• The prep ~ just getting started is the hardest part sometimes.  Getting the tools and supplies together, making sure I have everything needed for the project, preparing the work area etc.

• Getting bored with the process and running out of steam.  It is often more interesting to start a new project for me, than to finish up one that has become dull.

• Striving for Perfection ~ I can be excited and moving toward completion on a project, and then find an imperfection in my work which takes the joy right out of the process and drags me to a halt. 

And it is all about process for me.  Finishing a task is not as important to me as enjoying the process. While I am not trying to change what makes me, me, I am hoping this 52 week challenge will help get me over these procrastination hurdles and in the habit of finishing.

What about you, do you sometimes have problems finishing, or is finishing the main goal?

I can't wait to see what you have completed this week. 

Please link a picture with Linky from your Flickr, blog, facebook, or website. See below where it says, "Click Here to Enter".  You can read more about the 52 week challenge here.

(Don't forget to click and comment on each others creations too)

Sampler Block - Winding Ways

It has been awhile since I last posted a Sampler Block. In fact, the last one was in August, the Rose of Sharon block.  Since I am working on Winding Ways blocks for my curtain panels, it seemed a good time to incorporate this block in the sampler.

For a finished 8" Winding Ways Block, you will need:
1 dark fabric, 10"wide by width of fabric
1 lighter fabric, 10"wide by width of fabric
Thread
Accuquilt Die #55069 Winding Ways

If you don't have this die, or an accuquilt machine, you can copy and paste the 3 pattern pieces below to a word document, resize them on a copier and use them as templates.  There are also acrylic templates like these from John Flynn that you can buy for this block.  I will warn you that this block must be cut and sewn very accurately to work.  The accuquilt makes it easy.

Piece A

Piece B

Piece C

These are the fabrics I used.  

If using the accuquilt, cut 10" strips. By the way, I love my new cutting tool, the Gypsy Gripper.  It has made ruler slippage almost nonexistent for me.

You will make these blocks in sets of two, using two contrasting fabrics.  Double your fabric on the blade to cut two blocks of each color.  Send the die through the machine at a very slight angle for the best cut.

This is how much fabric I actually throw away.  I use the larger leftover pieces from the cut for my ongoing 1000 pyramids blocks, and the smaller pieces for my ongoing Chinese Coin quilt.

It is a very good idea to lay out your two blocks before you start sewing, and during the sewing process.  It is easy to get turned around on these blocks.  Trust me, I did my share of frogging (Rip-it, Rip-it) at the beginning.

Use a scant 1/4 seam with a 1/4 inch foot if you have one.  Accurate seamlines are especially important in this block.
Start with Pieces B and C 

 
Always sew  with the concave piece on top.  It will look like a "C" shape on top, as pictured below.

Pin shape B to shape C.  Use 3 pins, at the beginning, the end, and one in the middle (at the notch if you are using a die cut shape).  I found that inserting the beginning and ending pins with the heads away from the seam worked well for easy removal.  Once you have practiced sewing the curved pieces, you will find that you can just finger pin because the accuquilt die cuts the pieces so accurately.

Chain sew whenever possible.

Press seam toward shape B.  The correct pressing direction is very important in this block because some of the seams abut each other, as you will see as we go along.

Repeat for remaining BC units.

Next sew two A units together.  This is the only seam which you will press open.

Then add an A piece to one of the BC units.  Press toward the BC unit.

Add the other BC unit, and again press away from the A piece so your back will look like this. Repeat for other ABC pieces.

Add the two sewn A units to one of the ABC units.  I do use one pin in the middle for this line of stitching.

Press away from the AA unit.  You might want to give it a little press from the back first, just to get it going in the right direction.

Finally stitch the remaining ABC unit to the piece you just pressed.  As you can see, you will be sewing directly next to the previous seam line in the middle.

Press away from the AA unit as before.
TADA! Your finished block!

I love how the back looks as neat as the front.

Happy Sewing ♥