Texas QAL

As soon as a friend of mine told me about the Texas QAL hosted by Pretty Little Quilts, I knew I had to join. We were so excited about it that between us, I think we came up with a million different variations to make it our own. I already have plans for a second to highlight my hometown.

The excitement proved too much and I just couldn't wait for all of the designed blocks to be announced over the summer, so I used the general pattern plus a couple of tweaks. I added a gray border and made the background the Texas flag. The Texas itself is bright scraps from a Union Jack quilt I made for a friend of mine earlier this year. I can't wait to get it quilted!

Enough talking and on to the pictures.

Split Personality

My sister requested this quilt. She wanted a quilt to take to tailgates. The problem was that our side of the family are A&M fans, but her husband's family are LSU fans. Her idea was to have one side supporting the Aggies and the other side supporting the Tigers.

I included a double layer of batting with a layer of vinyl tablecloth material in between. I wanted the waterproof layer so that the entire quilt won't get soaked when laid out on damp grass. I tied the quilt with gray thread on the A&M side and yellow thread on the LSU side to limit the number of holes in the vinyl.

Overall, I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out even though I hit several snags making it. (:

September Blocks

So, this summer I decided to start going to the local quilt guild meetings. They have been doing a block swap this year. September was the first month that I was able to make blocks to contribute. Each person gets to pick a theme or color combination and everyone makes a block for them. All blocks are 12.5".

The first was a color combination of red, black, and white. I used one of the modern quilt blocks from Tula Pink's book.

The second had a southwestern theme. I designed this block myself.

Ceiling Tile

Starting this year, seniors can choose to buy a ceiling tile to decorate once they make a decision on their after graduation plans. A few of us teachers got to decorate one for ourselves as an example for the students.  Here's mine:

With Sympathy

I love how this card turned out. Simple but elegant. I adore this color combination too!

Saturated Canary Thank You

I love this image from Saturated Canary. I don't have the right copic colors to color hair yet, so I used the same techniques with colored pencils.

Welcome Baby

I love the Oh Baby stamp set from Avery Elle. I wanted a retro new baby boy card without using traditional baby boy colors. 

Simple Thank You

I was inspired by a card on Pinterest that used a chevron embossing folder. It had a few colors cut out and put back together.

10 min Challenge

I finally was able to complete the 10 min challenge! The 10 min challenge is to make a complete card in under 10 min. Mine was just under, but I made it!

SCC2 Week 3 Challenge

The challenge this week is to try something new. I decided to try copic coloring. I've tried copic coloring in the past, but never with much success. I've be practicing, so I thought I'd try it out for a card. I just love the cute animals from Paper Smooches. I added glossy accents for his eyes and tongue, white enamel on the thought bubble dots, and black enamel on his nose. I'm very pleased with the way it turned out. (:

SCC2 Week 2 Challenge

This week's challenge was to use holiday stamps in a non-holiday way using the color combination for the week.  I used the Day of Gratitude Stamp Set from Stampin' Up!

Summer Card Camp 2 Week 2

This card was requested by my mom. I had to print the sentiment because I don't seem to have any stamps with numbers or the word welcome (might have to change that soon). I stepped out of my comfort zone after seeing Jennifer and Kristina play with distress inks so much. I used this week's color combination and one of last week's sketches.

Outside:

And the inside:

Summer Card Camp 2 Week 1

So, each week there is a different color combination and some sketches for inspiration.  I'm not gonna lie, this week's colors were a stretch for me. I still feel like my card needs something, but overall I'm happy with it. I used the second sketch and added a dark brown as my neutral.

And here's my card:

Summer Card Camp 2 Challenge 2

The second pre-class challenge is a sketch challenge.

My card uses stamps and supplies from Simon Says Stamp and Stampin' Up!

Summer Card Camp 2 Challenge 1

I'm participating in the Summer Card Camp 2 over at Online Card Classes. It hasn't started yet, but they've got a couple of pre-class challenges going on. The first is a color challenge, using at least four of the colors.

My card uses supplies from the June 2013 monthly card kit from Simon Says Stamp. 

Attack of the sewing bug!

I have been bitten by the sewing bug!  I have done some very minor quilting in the past and I've been sewing since I was 9 but it's never been one of my favorite hobbies.  This summer my reader feed has been overrun with quilting blogs.  One of my favorite to read is In Color Order.  Jeni often features vintage sheet quilts, her adorable bunny George, and her lovely pyrex collection.  She has very nice tutorials with lots of pictures.  And I share her love of the colors, well, in color order (hehehe).

One of her tutorials is a lined drawstring bag.  It is super easy to follow and very addictive!  She also sells the pattern if you want to make other sizes.  Her pattern features sizes for tiny, snack, everything, project, artist, laundry, cd, dvd, and a formula for custom sizes.

I made the project size bag for Mom.  She was needing a little bag to store the "extras" to the steam cleaner.  The fabric is some I had on hand, probably from Hobby Lobby.  Just because it's for cleaning supplies doesn't mean it should be ugly!

I also made the snack bag for me to store the chargers to my phone and e-reader when I travel.  I don't have to worry about forgetting to pack one of them because they stay in the bag.  The fabrics for this one are also from Hobby Lobby.

And here they are side-by-side for size comparison.

Now, I just need to come up with some excuses to make more (maybe instead of store bought gift bags?).  I also want to try the outside pocket modification Terri from Sew Fantastic made to the pattern when she reviewed it for Sew Sweetness: Purse Palooza.

Some firsts...

After eyeing the cute cosmetic bag Kristina Werner made, I decided to try my hand at making one.  I used tutorials from Sew Like My Mom and Sew4home to make mine.  I wanted mine to have the handle from Sew4home, but I like the overall tutorial from Sew Like My Mom better.

Now, for the firsts.  I've never had luck sewing a zipper before this project.  I've never worked with vinyl covered fabric.  I've never tweaked a pattern that worked so well.  I love this little bag so much I want to make more!  I can see the original size stuffed with goodies for birthdays or Christmas.  Cause really, don't we all need more cute bags for things?

I didn't take pictures as I went (maybe next time?), and the fabric is just fat quarters from Hancock Fabrics.

Super-sized Blocks

It's been way too long since I've posted anything.  I want to try to post with more of my projects.  I've been trying my hand at quilting.  For graduation, I made a quilt for each of my student aides.  I needed something quick (I decided to do this in May!) and was inspired by Jeni from In Color Order and her quilt.

Aqua & White (Moda Half Moon Aqua fabric) for the girl:

Purple & Black (fabric from local store) for the boy:

Silhouette SD Giveaway

Grosgrain is hosting a silhouette giveaway....

Christmas Cards, part 4

I made one with a more masculine feel to it.

Supplies used (all Stampin' Up! unless noted):

Paper: Very Vanilla CS, Real Red CS, Chocolate Chip CS, Garden Green Cs, Merry Moments DSP

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Stamp Sets: Dasher

Embellishments: Red gross-grain ribbon from Wal-Mart