{Rag Quilt Teacher Gift Set}

I actually made this several months ago, and now plan to give it to my daughter's teacher for Christmas. I saw the fabric on clearance one afternoon and picked up some without knowing what I would use it for. This is a nice little carry-all bag, and I love the studious owls!

I cut all the squares for both the inside and outside of the bag with my Cuttlebug, using my Stampin' Up Scallop Square Die. I love the rag quilt look that it creates. You can check out some of my other scallop projects by looking under Scallop Square Die in my sidebar.

This is a very soft and squishy bag, but also boxey. I lined the bottom with 2 pieces of cereal box cardboard (adhered together), then made a matching sleeve to go over it. (If Vera Bradley can put cardboard in the base of her bags, so can I - hee, hee.) 

I added the little wallet/pouch much later. It's extremely simple and very handy. I have one myself that I don't use for money, but I keep it in my purse just to house my craft store coupons! (I was tired of fishing them out, and since I'm at the craft store A LOT, it really comes in handy. Can I get an amen?!)

The top just folds down...over your coupons. :)

Then I just recently added this little coffee cozy, after seeing the tutorial over at Skip to my Lou . It was VERY easy to follow, and it used up the remaining small pieces of owl fabric I had left over. I'm not sure my daughter's amazing teacher even drinks coffee, but it's too cute to not add in!

Cute, no? My "button" on the cozy is actually a cloth covered brad. It was the only thing I had lying around that matched! :)

So here's the final set....

We will probably add some scrapbooking supplies to the bag (she loves to scrapbook, just like I do!), and possibly a small gift card in the pouch. I hope she loves it!

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the web!

Made with Love Monday at Sew Chatty

Sew Cute Tuesday at Creative Itch

Making the World Cuter
 

{Birthdays & Anniversaries...on a Ring}

Hello there! Here's a little something I whipped up last Sunday afternoon and I love how it turned out. Now I have all the monthly big events in one place and at-a-glance.

These are super easy to make and take maybe 45 minutes...at the most? 

You need: 

scrap cardboard (old food boxes)

die cut of your choice

scrapbook paper

cardstock

adhesive

ink and sponge (if you want to distress)

book ring

I went to my handy-dandy recycling bin and pulled out some large Apple Jacks boxes to be my free "chipboard". I cut them into 5"x5" squares to accomodate my Sizzix Stampin' Up Scallop Square Die, totaling 12. Then I cut coordinating scrapbook papers from my stash and glued those on the squares with glue stick.  I ran them through my Cuttlebug to get the scallop squares, then punched a hole in the corner of each with my Crop-a-Dile.

 I typed up a cover page and a page for each month that fits perfectly on the scallop square. Thscalloped square measures about 4 1/4" x 4 1/4", so if you have something similar, the month pages I made should work fine for you, too. You can download the pages I used over here: Master Monthly Birthday Printable .  

I printed those onto cardstock, distressed everything with chestnut brown ink, and adhered everything together. I added a book ring and a few pieces of ribbon from my scrap jar and voila! Super cuteness, no?

I have written the person's name and their date (in order) on the lines, and this is small enough that I can keep it at my "command station" for easy access without taking up space.

If you want to make your own and have any questions, please shoot me an email or comment and I'm happy to help.  

Have a great day!

Linking up to these parties:
 

{Scallop Square Pillows & Coasters}

I promised to share more projects using a die-cut and fabric, so here are a few SUPER quick and fun projects!

Both are using the Sizzix Scallop Square Die from Stampin' Up, but any scallop square die would work fine. Both Sizzix and Cuttlebug machines will cut through nearly anything! I almost always layer 5-6 pieces of fabric over the die and cut them all at once. The fabric for this pillow is one of the only exceptions, because it's so thick.

The Scallop Square Quilt Pillow

You might recognize this fabric from one of my Impromptu Dog Beds . :) Yep. I originally bought a ton of it on sale for a baby blanket that never happened. (Ahem. Different story for a different day.) This fabric is uber-soft, and the color matches my daughter's bedding perfectly, so I threw together a very quick pillow using my scallop square die. I cut 18 squares, then sewed them together in (2) 9- square sides. Then I sewed almost all the way closed, stuffed it, and closed it up with the machine. Snip all the scallop edges with scissors and wash it, and it gets "raggy" on those edges. (I added the "X" stitching to this one just to make it look more quilted. There was actually no real purpose for the "X" stitch however.)

Coasters

Even easier...coasters using your die! 

For these you need to add batting or fusible fleece between 2 scallop-cut pieces. I used scraps for these, but they are even better with heavier fabric...even upholstery fabric is nice for these. 

 Take 2 scallop squares and sandwich a piece of batting between them. Sew around all four sides about 1/4" inch or so, snip the scallops, and wash to rag them out. OR...you can add an "X" across the middle of each coaster for a more quilted look. I tied these up with raffia and added them to Christmas gifts last year. GREAT project to get rid of scraps, because both sides don't even have to be the same.

If I had to measure squares for these projects it would NEVER happen, let me tell you. The die makes it so easy, and therefore even more fun. ;) 

Take care!

I'm linking up to:

{Scallop Squares...again}

Here are a couple of other creations using my Sizzix Scallop Square die from Stampin' Up. (And no, I'm not a demonstrator, LOL!!  I just love this die!)

This one I came up with to keep all of my daughter's bookmarks handy and in one place. She is kind of getting to the point where she collects them! Easy and cute. I used fabric scraps leftover from her Musketeer Superhero Cape.

 This little project uses 10 squares and 5 small pieces of scrap batting. I have also made these and added handles. I actually might make a few for Easter this year, to sit around my home with treats inside.

The next itty-bitty scallop square project are pin cushions. Talk about quick and cute!

These are made out of 2 scallop squares in the desired fabric (scraps!!), 1 scallop square of felt, and poly-fil. I made several of these one afternoon and passed them out to my sewing friends. :) It's funny how a pin cushion can become cute!
You can see another Scallop Square project here.
I have several other scallop projects to share, so tune in for them in the coming days!

Have a good one!

I'm linking up over at:

{Doll Bed Rag Quilt}

Hello, hello! It seems like it's been too long. We've been having fun on our Spring Break so posts have gone by the wayside this past week. Back at it though, and I wanted to share a project I completed a while ago.

I made this for my daughter's American Girl bed, but you could adapt it to any doll, stuffed animal, or even a real baby. :)  

Isn't it adorable?!!

Very easy to make, especially if you have a die-cut machine. I've not yet been blessed with a Silhouette, so I use my trusty Cuttlebug and Sizzix dies for soooooo many things.

 I purchased the poodle and solid pink fabric, but the pink pattern fabric on the front and back are actually $1 store receiving blankets that I cut up. My daughter loves dogs, poodles, and pink, so I splurged on the poodle fabric...although very little is required.

The reason this is so easy is because all of the squares are cut for me with the Stampin' Up Sizzix Scallop Square die. I don't have a Big Shot, but the Cuttlebug is universal so it's no problem using whatever die you want with it. 

I actually bought this SU Scallop Square die last year with the full intention of using it for sewing projects. I have used it like crazy since then! I think it was around $20...maybe a little less.

So I basically just cut all the squares, arranged them the way I wanted, and sewed them together...easy-peasy! I used fabric scraps to make the pillows to match. Again, my daughter is blessed to have a grandpa who is talented at woodworking, so she has custom-made AG doll furniture that without him she would never have. I then get the privilege and fun of making the 'fabric' stuff to go with all of it!

I'm happy to post a tutorial if there's interest. Once you start making these, you can't stop. ;)

I have several other projects that I've made with my handy-dandy scallop square die, and I'm anxious to share them all with you!

Feel free to email me with any questions and I'd love to know what you think of this project!

Take care,

I'm linking up to these fun parties:
















http://www.skiptomylou.org/2011/03/21/made-by-you-monday-44/