Friday, November 20, 2009

The "Smisek" Bunch...

Just another Christmas Card idea.  This is my parents actual Christmas Card for this year and she is so excited that we actually got them done early this year.  She wanted the friends and family to be able to see the grandkids faces so we cropped and cleaned up the background for each kid and then added their birth order number in a light grey along with their name so everyone would be able to know which grandkids belonged to each kid.  Aren't they cute!



Inside of the card...


This idea can also be used if you framed each grandchild in a separate 12 x 12 frame and then assembled all the frames on your wall in a nine patch formation.  Or depending how many kids or grandkids you have you just create your pattern from that number.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

The Pioneer Woman

If you have never heard of The Pioneer Woman, then you must go check out her website! Cooking, Home and Garden, but best of all her Photography tips.  She has dozens of FREE Photoshop Actions that you can download and use on your very own pictures.  Just check out just a few of the actions I downloaded and used on my own pictures. 

Original Photo...


Define and Sharpen...


Slight Lighten...



Boost...



Old West...



Seventies...



Black and White Beauty...



Heartland...



Soft and Faded...


She also has a new Cookbook out that she is doing book signings in different locations.  Check it out here to find out if she will be coming to your area next.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Cricut Shirt Tutorial



Starting last year, I started to take my parents Christmas card pictures of all their grandkids.  This year, I had the idea of numbering each kid in birth order. Currently, there are 9 grandkids with two more on the way.  The nine grandkids belong to their 4 children (me included).  So each family was in a different color - Red, Blue, Green, and Grey. 2 kids were in Red, 3 in Blue, 2 in Green, and my 2 kids were in Grey.  I used my Cricut Expression and was so impressed with how much time it saved me, I just had to share the tutorial on how to cut fabric with your Cricut.

Supplies Needed:
Cricut Expression Machine
Plantin Schoolbook font cartridge - comes with the Cricut Expression machine New blade - This is a MUST! Imagine using your paper scissors to cut fabric... not good!
{I went through two blades making 9 shirts and playing around with it while testing it out}

New 12 x 12 mat
Pellon Wonder-Under
Shirt(s) -  I got mine from Old Navy
Moda Layer Cake Squares or 10" x 10" piece of fabric for each shirt

Instructions:

1- Iron the wrong side of your 10" square piece of fabric to the wonder-under. Trim around your fabric square.

2 - Place the paper side of the fabric down on the sticky side of the NEW mat for your Cricut.  Line it up at the correct corner using the guide marks on your Cricut mat.  Place the mat at the opening of your Cricut machine.

3 - Type in the numbers you wish to use for your shirt.  For this fabric, I used two number 2's... enter 22... on the Shadow setting.  Adjust your starting location to Left/Right: 2 and In/Out: 2. I set my blade dial to 4 (can be changed to 5 if needed), pressure on highest mark, speed to the 4th bar and the size they varied between 7-1/2" to 8" depending on the number.  If you set it for 8", then the machine will tell you if there is enough room, if not adjust down to 7 1/2". Load Paper and CUT!

4 - Once your numbers are done cutting, unload paper, then Load paper again.  Set your location to 9 and 2, change size to 2 or smaller... (whatever will fit) I always started with 2.5" and then if the Cricut told me it was too big for the area set, then I reduced until the whole name would fit.  The smallest I did was 1". Type in the name, set it on the Shadow setting... and CUT! 


5 - Once it is done cutting the name, unload the paper and wala!  You have two numbers and a name ready to be applied to a shirt.  NOTE:  You may need to use your Cricut tools to help the smaller letters and details come off the mat easily.

6 - Lay your shirt out flat and position your number for the front.

7 - Remove the paper backing from the back of the fabric and iron in place.

8 - Repeat the process for the back of the shirt and iron on the number and name... jersey style!

9 - Finally, stitch around all your numbers and letters for a finished touch.

Adorable new shirts made with the ease of your Cricut machine!  Make one for each of your kids, grandkids, nieces, and nephews!


Wednesday, November 11, 2009

It's not only for the scrapbooker...

This handy dandy little machine is perfect for the sewer, home decorator, interior designer, craftster, let's face it... it is perfect for EVERYONE!

You can cut FABRIC with it, paper, chip board, they even make vinyl in sheets in several colors that you can cut and make your own wall art to stick on your walls!  I was so tired of cutting out numbers and letters for everything by hand and had heard how great it worked on fabric... so I splurged and got me one.  IT IS A-W-E-S-O-M-E!  I have made so many shirts in such little time using this machine.  It is a HUGE time saver.

A sneak peak for a shirt idea and tutorial coming soon using the Cricut Expression!

Friday, October 30, 2009

ABC Book and Snail Softie Tutorial

Go check out my latest tutorial posted on the Moda Bake Shop!

A cute little ABC soft book great for babies and toddlers. Great to use as a quiet book and can be attached to the handle of a diaper bag.
Also a quick and easy softie snail to make for that special little one in your life. Hope you enjoy!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Spider-man Turns Three!

Spider-man aka Matthew {my youngest} turns three on Sunday and we plan to have all kinds of Super Heros at our house for a big birthday bash!


He even made the cover of the Daily Bugle!


More Spidy party ideas to come...

Monday, October 26, 2009

Fizzy Yummy Gift Tutorial

These types of gifts are a fun, quick way to say Thanks, Happy Birthday or just because.

First, start by purchasing a 6-Pack of the recipients favorite drink that is contained in a cardboard container.

You will need approx. 10 regular sized candy bars. Depending on the size of the candy bar you may need more or less to fit all around the drink container.
Using double stick tape, apply the candy bars as shown to the drink container.
Finally, tie some ribbon around the container to finish it off.
You can even tie some ballons to the handle for a greater impact. Deliver and enjoy! Who doesn't like Soda Pop and Chocolate!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Quilt Market "Rap" Up - Moda Booth

The camera guy in the Moda booth would periodically break out in a rap, so I thought it would be fitting to come up with my own rap for my Quilt Market "Rap" up.

There were Quilters, Sewers and Designers abound...

Not to mention the hookers and strippers that were also found...
{DISCLAIMER: The hookers and strippers mentioned above refer to Rug Hooking and Strip Piecing. Thank you!}
For those of you that have not had the opportunity to attend Quilt Market and Sample Spree... this is just a small portion of the line that was waiting outside the doors waiting for Sample Spree to open... CRAZY, I tell you... It's like a mad house! I asked the ladies in the very front of the line how long they had been waiting... 5 HOURS!

Okay... so I am not very good at this rapping thing... so here are a few pics to make your heart go Ring-a-ding-ding.




The Moda Bake Shop...

Wondering what I wore the first day? Well... it was a Skirt made from Favorite Things - Hip Skirts {pleated version} out of the Martinique fabric collection by 3 Sisters. Borrowed picture from Fat Quarter Shop... thanks girls!
Kansas Troubles Quilters and her new line Butterfly Garden...
Me and My Sister Designs and their new line Spring Fever...
Minick and Simpson and their new line Bar Harbor...

Sweetwater and their new line Make Life...
American Jane and her new line A Breath of Avignon...

Lila Tueller and her new line Eden...

Brannock and Patek and their new line Looking Back...

Laundry Basket Quilts and her new line Aloha...

Deb Strain and her new line Cherish Nature...

Sandy Gervais and her new line Frolic...

Kathy Schmitz and her new line Bird Song...

Blackbird Designs and their new line Garden Party...

Chez Moi's new line Hunky Dory...

Holly Taylor's new line Lakeside Resort...

Fig Tree and Co. and her new line Whimsy...
Love how she took the Rose lantern idea and applied it to a lamp shade... so cute!

French General and her new line Rural Jardin...

New Designers Lauren + Jessi Jung and their new line Botany...

New Designer Kate Spain and her new line Verna {LOVE this line} didn't get a picture of the actual line, but here is the adorable Kate herself...
Enjoy!
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