"Scraplifted" Week- Doodlebug Design layout

Doodlebug's having "Scraplift" week over on the blog, which is such a fun idea because sometimes people make layouts you love and you just want to make one for yourself.

Which is exactly what I thought when I first saw this layout by DT member Wendy Sue Anderson:

Her layout uses Doodlebug's "Hello Spring" collection.

My layout features the "Boys Only" collection, and is a totally different look, but you can tell I copied her's:

 This is my cute son about 7 years ago rockin' out with daddy's headphones.

Check out more scraplifted projects over on the Doodlebug blog.

-Tiffany

Back To School with Imaginisce- Magnet Board Gift with Tutorial

Imaginisce is celebrating Back To School on the blog- and it's perfect timing.

My kids just went back TODAY!

YAY!!! :)

I created a super super simple teacher gift and I've included a photo tutorial so you can make one for your child's teacher, too!  It's a magnet board!

With cute little matching magnets

To get started, you will need:

- a stiff metal sheet (you can find these already made from the craft store)

- a 1 1/4 inch circle punch

- a 2x4 cut to the length of your metal sheet

- magnets

- glass pebbles (from the floral section of the craft store- 1 1/4 diameter)

- paint

- Mod-Podge (how many tutorials have I done with Mod-Podge? :)

- foam brush

- paper plate

- Crystal Effects or E6000 or Glossy Accents (all dry crystal clear)

- patterned paper

- I-Bond glue gun and black glue sticks

Cut a slanted notch into the 2x4 for the metal to go into.  Paint the board black (or desired color).

When the paint has dried, put some Mod-Podge onto a paper plate, and using a foam brush, apply a thick coat to the front of the wood.  Place the paper over the top, and then smooth out using a hard plastic item, such as a ruler or a vinyl applicator or a plastic gift card.  Smoothing it gets a good seal and gets the bubbles out.

 Then paint another layer of Mod-Podge over the top of the paper and wipe off the excess and smooth out the brush strokes.

Repeat the steps with the other paper strip.

Then, to make the magnets:

Punch out several images from your patterned paper.

Apply a TINY bead of Crystal Effects (or Glossy Accents, or E6000) to the back of the glass pebble.

Gently press the punched image face down into the Crystal Effects.  Turn it over to see if you've pressed out all the air bubbles.  Press until they're gone and wipe off the excess. (E6000's the least messy glue I've done this with, it's thick).

When your pebbles have dried, add the magnets.

Use black glue sticks to make the project more clean looking.

Voila!

Just put it together and add a ribbon and you've got a darling gift any teacher would love to receive.

Thanks for visiting!

See more "Back To School" projects over on the Imaginisce Blog all this week!

-Tiffany

"Chillaxin'"- Lifestyle Crafts Pool Party Release

Lifestyle Crafts has a new release today- Pool Party!

I used the sun, sun & clouds, and waves dies on my layout.

I absolutely love border dies.  I love that Lifestyle Crafts makes them in 12" lengths for scrapbookers.

These papers and embellishments are from the Prairie Hill collection by Pink Paislee.

And... here's all the new, limited edition dies

You can get 20% off on these new dies by using coupon code RHINESTONES at checkout at the Lifestyle Crafts online store.

Also- Lifestyle Crafts is having a sale on some of their Core Collection dies.  They are 35% on their website,  and when combined with the coupon code RHINESTONES, you'll be able to shop these products at 55% off!  Here are the Core Collection dies that are on sale:

Thanks for visiting!

-Tiffany

Imaginisce + Cheery Lynn Dies

 This week Imaginisce teamed up with Cheery Lynn Designs and created projects using their dies.

Cheery Lynn's designers are also using Imaginisce's Makin' Waves collection over on their blog, so you can see what they came up with as well.

I decided on a card:

 I used the new Christmas Cheer line.  I love the colors of Christmas Cheer, and the dies I was sent I thought would go well with the collection.

Here are the dies I used:

Fanciful Flourish

Ribbon Eyelet Border

Polynesian Sails Oval

You can see all of the Design Team's projects over on the Imaginisce Blog

and see all of the Cheery Lynn dies on their website HERE.

Tiffany

Doodlebug Design for Riley Blake- Fabric Projects! Amy Butler Rainy Days Raincoat and Field Bag

 Did you know that Doodlebug designs the cutest fabrics for Riley Blake Fabrics?

You can see all the current Doodlebug fabrics HERE.

The design team got the opportunity to work with one of the newest Doodlebug fabric lines-

the Tuxedo Collection.

These beautiful fabrics are black, white, and grey, and you'll recognize the patterns from Doodlebug's fabulous paper!  How fun to have the same patterns on fabric!

I made two sewing projects:

The fabrics are available in cotton and a few patterns are also available in cotton laminate.

See the cottons HERE

and the laminated cottons HERE

I've always wanted to try making something with laminated cotton, so I took on the challenge!

This darling raincoat pattern is by Amy Butler.  It's the "Rainy Days Hooded Raincoat and Runabout Jacket."

You can find the pattern HERE. 

It was about 103 degrees outside when I took these pictures :)

I made the outer coat with the White Tuxedo Main Laminate

and lined the coat, hood, and pockets with White Tuxedo Stripe Cotton

If you're wanting to make this pattern you may be worried about the sizing like I was.

I'm 5'5 and a size 4/6 and I made the Medium Knee Length option.

The sleeves were really loose, though, so I altered them to a size small, and there's still plenty of room for a sweater underneath.

The coat goes exactly to the middle of my knee. 

Here's the darling lining fabric. 

A few tips on sewing with laminated cotton- then more photos:

1) Use a walking foot.  If you don't have a walking foot use a Teflon foot.

If you don't have either then put paper tape or masking tape on your presser foot.

Laminated cotton likes the metal on the machine and foot a little too much and they'll stick like you can't believe.  (You'll see a photo below of some stitching without the walking foot- not so straight)

Switch to the walking foot and all of a sudden it's the easiest thing you've ever sewn.

2)  Use binder clips instead of pins.  Pins will leave permanent holes.  I used my two year old's hair clips.  You can get binder clips at the fabric store.

3)  Use a pressing cloth to iron the fabric.  Iron on the wrong side, too.  Laminated cotton will melt if it gets too hot.

4)  Use all-purpose thread.  You don't want seams that are too strong.  If you're going to rip a seam you'd rather the thread break than the laminate tear.  You can't fix a tear.

5)  Check your bobbin thread often.  If your bobbin runs out when you're in the middle of a stitch, you'll kick yourself if you have to un-pick and start over because the old holes won't go away.

I sewed the entire coat except the button holes with black thread for some contrast.

You can see here that the walking foot was not used- not as easy to get your stitching straight.

The pockets are the first thing you sew.

I used the walking foot after that.

Here's a close-up of the pocket lining.

The buttons were made with the Imaginisce I-Top tool and I-Top Large Button Daddies.

The sleeves:

The belt:

The button holes:

The belt:

And project #2:

The Field Bag!

This is the Amy Butler "Field Bag and Tote." You can find the pattern HERE.

I am so in love with this HUGE bag!  It's the biggest bag I own! 

I used the Tuxedo Main Gray Cotton and the Tuxedo Daisy Gray Cotton for the main parts of the bag. 

Believe it or not this bag took three times as long to sew as the raincoat did.

It's got 8 yards of interfacing in it (double thick) as well as fusible fleece.

It stands up on it's own- no problem.

The cording took a bit of time to make.  I used a plain black fabric for it.  You'll need a zipper foot to make this bag.  I don't think it's possible without it.

I changed the top of the bag a little to make it more stiff.  I wanted the zipper to hold it's shape even when the bag's full of heavy stuff, so I stitched a horizontal line across the top and the fleece now holds it's shape.

The flower was made using the Tuxedo Basic Shades Slate cotton.

It's not part of the pattern, I just made it up.  I used a ruffler foot and then just rolled the ruffled piece into a flower and attached it to a badge pin so it's removable.

I also changed the inside of the bag a bit and divided the inner pockets, so instead of two large inner pockets, there are four.  They are still all large enough to hold a standard size notebook inside.

I hope you enjoyed my projects.

I had a ton of fun making them!

Thanks for visiting!

-Tiffany