My Easter purse and accessory bags

I've been hit with the sewing bug hard. I get a fever over looking at the beautiful spring fabrics and the only sure fired medicine I've found for this "bug" is to SEW! I'm having particular fun using fat quarters in ways other than quilting.

This purse was made from a fat quarter and the pattern for the purse, which is called a Buttercup Bag can be found on Made by Rae's blog HERE. Because I wanted to have the upper band and inside lining contrasting yet complementary to the butterfly fabric I used three different fat quarters that coordinated.
I LOVE how my bag turned out. It is so "spring-y" and fresh!

While it is a small bag, it has enough room for a pocket compartment. I used magnetic snaps for the closure. I had never inserted magnetic snaps before making this bag. They are so EASY to attach. I'm going to be using them on everything from now on!

See the buttons? I made covered buttons from the butterfly fabric. How sweet!

Since this bag was so fast to make and I had scraps from the lining, bag and upper left over, I decided to whip up a little zippy pouch. I think the zipper needs a butterfly charm on the pull tab. I'm going to see if I can find one for it.

And who doesn't need to keep a package of tissues handy in their purse? I made this tissue holder/cover in about 30 minutes from start to finish. It took me 30 minutes because I do everything slowly. I KNOW you can make one in 15 minutes. I'm so pokey!

See below? The tissue hold is just simply made like an envelope in which the package of pocket tissues are inserted through the back and you "dispense" clean tissues through the slit on top.

Here is the complete set. I'm so proud of it.

I made this set for someone special. I hope she'll like it!

Cheers!

Jennifer

Chocolate Bunny

This is a quick Chocolate Easter Bunny card that I put together quickly. With Easter a little over a week away and mailing sometimes very slow, I know I've gotten quite behind this year in my card mailing.

The Chocolate Easter Bunny image is one of the new Stampin' Up! stamps I bought in my last order. It is so realistic looking that one is *almost* tempted to lick the chocolate brown ink! tee hee hee!


Card Recipe:
Stamps: Stampin' Up!
Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia and clear embossing powder
Paper/cardstock: Stampin' Up!
Accessories: Nestibilities oval and scalloped oval dies, Martha Stewart fence border punch, dots and dashes ribbon, prima flowers, pearls and swiss dots Cuttlebug embossing folder.

Brrrr...our weather has turned cold again. We've been spoiled with spring-like warmth but I think March is definitely going to go out like a lion before we will see more sunshine and warmth to help some spring bulbs to bloom. Have a wonderful weekend!

Jennifer

Spring is Sprung - POSTCARD

Has Spring Sprung where you live? It sure is trying to here. We don't have any crocus blooming yet but I'm watching for them soon.

Today's Serendipity Stamps Design team has been challenged to create a postcard or something that is stamped and flat that can be mailed without an envelope. For my postcard I used SERENDIPITY STAMPS Cling set Crocus #995QCL. I colored with copic markers and then tried to give my postcard a bit of a distressed/aged look by sponging lightly with Vintage Sepia Versafine ink on the edges and then took my postcard outside and spritzed/splattered with a toothbrush dipped in Walnut Ink.

For more Post Card Inspiration using Serendipity Stamps, be sure to check out the rest of the Serendipity Design Team members work:

Amy Cokley
Anya Schrier
Kathie Bailey
Lynda Benden

Have you made any postcards lately? This was a lot of fun to do...why not give it a try too?

Cheers!

Jennifer

Easter Blessings

Easter Blessings! I've had this gorgeous Stampin' up set for over a month now and finally got the chance to ink it up. Today's Mojo Monday Week 131 Sketch Challenge provided the perfect layout for this lovely set. Sarah Bigelow is this week's mojo sketch designer and her work and ideas for layouts are always outstanding! Sarah's mojo sketch is below:


I actually combined the Stampin' Up daffodils and sentiment stamp with a Papertrey Ink cross stamp.

Daffodils are one of my very favorite spring flowers and I know this bouquet will be among my favorites to use for a variety of occasions.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Abundant Hope" and Papertrey Ink "Everyday Blessings"
Paper: Martha Stewart designer paper
Ink: Momento tuxedo black and Versamark with antique gold embossing powder, Image colored with Copic Markers
Accessories: Nestibilities oval, rectangle and label dies, ribbon, stickles and gold gem stones.

I hope you are enjoying a sunny new week!

Cheers!

Jennifer

Fun with Fat Quarters

I've been doing quite number of small sewing projects lately. I've always been a clothing/tailoring and alterations seamstress but lately I've discovered "Fat Quarters" that most people use for creating lovely quilts. I do not quilt. Correction, I've made one quilt in my life. It was entirely handquilted and blocks sewn together by hand. After that one, I never made another.

Well, getting back to the fat quarters, I am finding a lot of fun small and very fast projects to make. The toddler's bib took me about an hour to whip up from cutting to completion. I can make two toddler's bibs from one fat quarter.

Here is another view with the neckline fastened. I used velcro dots for the closure and backed the bib with terry cloth.
We are having dinner tonight with the very special one year old I frequently refer to. (Paul's granddaughter, Alexis). I am bringing cupcakes for dessert and since I know the icing on them is going to be messy I thought perhaps Alexis might need a special bib to catch the crumbs and save her outfit.

I used one of The Pioneer Woman's cupcake recipes from her blog and if you'd like to make these yummy Yellow Cupcakes with Sticky Chocolate Icing you can find the recipe HERE. (yes, I admit I ate one ... ok two!!)

Until later.....

Jennifer

Thanks, Chickie!

I like chickens! I don't know why I'm drawn to chicken stamps. I just am. In fact, my kitchen is decorated in a chicken/rooster motif. This chicken stamp, by Whippersnapper Designs, just makes me laugh. She's just too cool. A simple outline drawing with pizzazz!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Whippersnapper designs and the sentiment is Papertrey Ink
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black and Stazon brown
Paper: Stampin' Up!
Accessories: Machine stitching Nestibilities dies rafia, button and stickles

It is a pretty simple thank you card but one I hope will give a giggle too.


Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers!
Jennifer

LDS Humanitarian Service Project

I want to share with you today a few little somethin' / somethin's that I made and have sent off to a wonderful lady and blogger, Heather. You can view Heather's blog HERE. Heather's birthday was this month and she decided that she'd like to have a Birthday Service Project. Heather is collecting (and making) items for newborn kits to be sent to LDS Humanitarian Services for distribution to families in third world countries and other areas affected by disasters. You can read more about Heather's Birthday Project HERE.

If you go to the sites linked (above) you can read about what the LDS Humanitarian Service projects in detail. Heather is sending 10 infant kits. Each infant kit will include a layette gown, booties, receiving blankets, diapers, diaper pins, soap and zip lock bags. I chose to make layette gowns.

Each gown is made of 100% cotton knit and 100% cotton ribbing. They are very simple patterns and worked up quickly.

There are so many times when I feel helpless to assist others who are so very greatly in need of basic items for survival and comfort. This project gives the opportunity to reach out and help others and I am glad that Heather brought the LDS Humanitarian Service Projects to our attention.

1, 2, 3 Challenge

It is time for another Serendipity Stamps challenge and this week's challenge is called "1, 2, 3 Challenge." Each of the design team members is creating a card or project using 1 button or charm, 2 ribbons and 3 layers. These challenges are fun!

For my card I used one of the newly released spring cling sets titled, "Table For Two". This is set 1200QCL and also comes with the sentiment stamp, "Your friendship means a latte to me."

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Serendipity Stamps 1200QCL Table for Two
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black and Color Box Cyan (blue)
Paper: Martha Stewart
Accessories: Stampin' Up! Scalloped border punch and Martha Stewart ribbon slot border punch, button, ribbon (yellow and teal satin ribbon from Michael's) and pop dots, copper stickles for the latte steam, and clearn dimensional glaze on the cups.

Speaking of a latte, have you tried the new Chocolate Cherry Latte at a famous house that I won't name names but yummm...it is good! :)



For more inspiration using Serendipity Stamps and the 1,2 3 challenge, be sure to check out the rest of the Serendipity Design Team members work:

Amy Cokley
Anya Schrier
Kathie Bailey
Lynda Benden

Cheers!

Jennifer

B A B Y

Serendipity Stamps has the most BEAUTIFUL alphabet stamps and this week the Serendipity Stamps design team is presenting samples of how versatile these lovely letters are.

I decided to make a Twist Top Box with the letters spelling out BABY around it. This twist top box is very simple to create. One of my favorite blogs to read is Becca Feeken's Amazing Paper Grace and she posted an easy to follow tutorial on her blog HERE. Thank you Becca for the inspiration!
This sweet box could be used as packaging for a gift to enclose a baby onesie, a bib, rattles and teething rings and bonnets. Or perhaps you could use it at a baby shower as a centerpiece of gift/favor filled with sweets or treats. The top literally twists open so there is nothing to unfasten or untie to open it. And yet, the cardstock twist top does stay closed so if you tip it, it won't fall open. Isn't this a neat little box?

I want to give you a better view the letters.

Each letter of the alphabet is a different flower design.

I can imagine so many different card and project ideas using the alphabet set. Please be sure to check out the sets at Serendipity Stamps. You can find them HERE and HERE .


For more inspiration using Serendipity Stamps Floral Alphabet, be sure to check out the rest of the Serendipity Design Team members work:

Amy Cokley
Anya Schrier
Kathie Bailey
Lynda Benden

Cheers!

Jennifer

Three Graces

In Greek mythology the three graces are goddesses of such things as charm, beauty, and creativity. In art we see a number of paintings depicting the three graces and one in particular that comes to mind is by Raphael whose work portrays the three graces who are often considered to be the handmaidens of Venus.

The title of this stamp is Three Graces and is made by Coronado Island designs and stamps. This is a stamp that I've drooled over for years and I finally bit the bullet, wiped the drool from my chin and purchased it so that I could begin enjoying it myself.

I'm not sure if you can see it in this closeup but I used Glitter Ritz on sticky paper over the stamped image of the horses so they have quite a shimmer to them. It reminds me of seeing horses run in a fine snow or sleet.

Card Recipe:
Stamp: Three Graces SJ010 - L Coronado Island designs & stamps
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black and just a hint of Copic markers for shading
Paper: Bo Bunny
Accessories: Glitter Glitz, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Ribbon and Prima Flowers, Pearl Brad in the flower's center, and foam tape for mounting the image.

This is the first card I made using this stamp and it is a birthday card. One day soon I'd like to work up sets of notecards using this stamp as the focal image.

Cheers!

Jennifer

Scent with love

Serendipity Stamps has a new spring line of just released stamps that are just too, too sweet. The set I used for this Scent with love card is Serendipity Stamps set 1203QCL SKUNK. When I was a little girl I had a Pepe LePew stuffed skunk and this set brought back fond childhood memories.

This week the entire Serendipity Stamps design team is presenting new spring line cards using the sketch layout below. I love working with sketch layouts and had a lot of fun with this one.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Serendipity Stamps 1203QCL
Papers: Stampin' Up! cardstock and design papers
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up! Brocade Blue and colored with Copic Markers
Accessories: Cuttle Bug Swiss Dots embossing folder, Foam dots, Prima Flowers, Pearls

For more inspiration of cards using Lynda's sketch layout and Serendipity Stamps check out the rest of the Serendipity Design Team members work:

Amy Cokley
Anya Schrier
Kathie Bailey
Lynda Benden

Cheers!

Jennifer

Lemon Drop Martini Cocktail Apron

The big and very exciting reveal took place yesterday when the apron from my secret partner in the Martini Madness apron swap arrived! Grace B ( aka: Katmom) from Spokane, Washington, thank you so much!! I've never had a Lemon Drop Martini before but I'm sure it is going to quickly become my favorite cocktail. ESPECIALLY since I can wear this OH SO ADORABLE lemon/lime apron.I just have to tell you, this apron is beautifully made and all of the details are sheer perfection! Can you tell how much I love this apron?

Oh wait, Grace not only created the apron but also filled the box to capacity with all types of wonderful treats. Just look!

Now in case you can't make out all of the wonderful extras she included let me list a few: laminated recipes for a variety of martini's (oh how smart you are to laminate them for me! *wink* Also there is the martini glass and shaker, a sachet filled with oh so wonderful scented lavender, a crocheted pot holder (too cute!) a hand beaded bracelet that I'll look so chic wearing along with my apron (they match!) and beaded glass ring/indentifier, and also a rubber stamp! Soooooo...you lurked my blog and discovered I'm a stamper! Oh how clever!

One more picture of the apron. I am wearing it as I post today. Grace (Katmom) thank you so very much. This has been so much fun and I adore my new lemon drop cocktail apron.

Cheers!

Jennifer

Martini Madness - Flirty Apron Swap

For the past couple of years I've been participating in Sassy Apron Swaps and Flirty Apron swaps and they've really been a lot of fun. This month Shawnee hosted a swap called Martini Madness and all of the participants received a secret partner for whom we'd create a flirty cocktail apron. Did you notice the banner along the right column about Martini Madness and wonder what I was up to now?

First I want to show you the card I made to enclose with the apron I made for my secret partner:
This apron stamp is one of two delightful Lockhart apron stamps. Of COURSE I had to have both stamps in my collection since I'm an apronista too! I paper pieced the image trying to match the fabric similarly to the apron I made using BoBunny paper and ribbon as well as attaching the same buttons I used on the apron.

And here is my secret partner's 1954 Retro cocktail apron. I hope she'll enjoy it. Since it is nearly Valentine's Day I wanted to make her a sassy/flirty little cocktail apron. The points are actually small pockets.

Now, you might wonder where the "Martini Madness" part comes in. One of the requirements was to also include a martini glass that was decorated. I didn't think my partner should drink alone so I filled two martini glasses with Hershey Kisses and wrapped them up for her to share with a loved one or friend on Valentine's Day to enjoy.

Above is a closeup of the contents that was shipped off to my secret partner. I sure hope she'll enjoy it as much as I did putting the package together.

And now I'm eagerly checking the mail for the apron that a secret someone is creating for me. I'll be sure to post photos when it arrives.

Until then,
Cheers!

Jennifer

Let's put on a puppet show!

I've been having just the most fun making these hand puppets and I just had to share them today. Unfortunately a photographer I'm not, so the details aren't showing up very well in my pictures. Nevertheless, I thought some of you who have children and/or grandchildren might get a kick out of these.

These are my first three I've made. Meet my Dog puppet (who looks very much like my Landseers, Gabe and Paige), my funny Monkey and finally, the Blue Bear.
The blue bear doesn't have a tail but I wanted to show you the dog and monkey tails. The monkey has pipe cleaners inside the tail so you can bend it in any direction and shape you'd like.

My little dog puppet DOES have a nose but it is a black pompom and blends into the black muzzle in the photo.

I just have to giggle when I see this funny monkey. His misshaped head just adds to his whimsy, I think.

I do believe that the blue bear is actually a polar bear. Afterall, he's made from POLAR fleece and perhaps it just got too cold outside that he turned BLUE.

These are really quick to make and I used reminents of polar fleece for the bodies and the hands and muzzles (faces) are made from scraps of ultra suede. So these fun puppets are completely washable.

I'm hoping a special little girl will enjoy these for many years to come as she celebrates her first birthday today. Perhaps her Grandpa will build her a puppet stage to put on shows!

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers!

Jennifer