Harry Potter pencil case tutorial

I wanted to make a pencil case for a harry potter fan and came up with this using the tuts from here and here.

What you will need:

• Main fabric
• Inner fabric for lining
• Lightweight fusible interfacing
• Zipper 11”
• Thread and of course sewing machine!

I cut the following pieces

• Cut 5.5” X 9.5” in size
• 2 from the outer fabric
• 2 from the inner fabric
• 2 from the interfacing
• Cut 2” X 10” from outer fabric

Fold the long 2” X 10” piece on the short side. Iron. Fold each side again in half and iron. You will get a piece like above.

Fuse the fusible interfacing to the back side of the outer fabric. My outer and inner fabric are the same. You can see two of my pieces have interfacing and the other two don’t.

Stitch the zipper to the outer fabric and then the inner fabric. You can find more detailed photos here.

Looks like I forgot to take a photo of the next step. With the outer fabric right sides together stitch the bottom. Open the zipper partially. With the inner fabric right sides together, stitch the bottom leaving an opening to turn the bag inside out. Flatten the bag with inner fabric and outer fabric stacked one over the other and the zipper in the center. Put your loop in place. Stitch on both the sides. Using the zipper opening, turn the bag inside out. Now to make the box corners. Pinch the corners and sew a 2” inch line like below on each corner.

You will end up with this:

We still need to stitch the opening on the bottom of the inner lining. Do a slip stitch for that.

Turn the bag inside out!

More chevron background

Like I mentioned before, I cut a lot of chevron background from my Portrait ! Here’s another one. I love the simple look of this card! Cut the sentiment using Portrait as well. The stamp is colored with copics and then added some shimmer using Wink of Stella on the balloons and the bow. A closer look at the shimmer here:

Supplies: My Favorite Things Happy Hippo stamp set, Copics, Wink of Stella.

Anniversary wishes with Peony Bouquet

I’ve been having fun cutting the chevron background with Silhouette Portrait 2 (used this design). Here I used the inlaid die cutting technique. I cut the purple glitter paper in chevron and then the antique silver glitter paper also in chevron. In the purple background I fit in pieces from antique silver and vice versa. As a result I was able to get two backgrounds! When I finish the card with the other background will share that as well. It was a lot of fun – I created four card bases using this background!

The peony was stamped using versafine onyx black and colored with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens. The leaves were stamped using the distress inks. The sentiment is stamped in black on vellum and then clear embossed.

If you look closely at the envelope (underneath the card), I stamped that too with peonies – in memento yellow ink. Looks really pretty!

Supplies: Altenew Peony bouquet stamps, My Sentiments Exactly Anniversary Innies and Outies stamp set, Misi stampipng tool.

First card using Silhouette Portrait 2

I’d been waiting for the black friday sale to get a silhouette portrait 2. I sold my KNK Zing sometime back and this was my replacement for it. Zing was a great machine but much more powerful (and hence complex) than my needs. It was also quite big (like other 12” cutters). I leaned towards the Portrait 2 for a couple of reasons:

1. I really like the variety of designs in Silhouette Design Store. It gives you a lot of options.
2. I do not cut anything that’s greater than or equal to 12” on all sides. I can still cut anything greater than 8” in the portrait as long as the other side is less than 8”. That fits the bill for all my projects.
3. The smaller size and the light weight of Portrait swayed me towards it. Smaller size definitely helps in saving space. light weight was probably more of a feel good factor because it’s not like I carry it around.
4. It has the same cutting capabilities as the Cameo – including the bluetooth. I believe the stipple feature is only for Cameo but I don’t care much for it. No longer I wanted to buy a machine thinking “oh what if I needed that feature once in 2 years”. I wanted to buy for my common scenarios.
5. Love the auto-blade feature!

While the price wasn’t that much discounted ($160 vs $200 regular price), I did get $125 credit for Silhouette Design Store and 150 free designs.

Now going back to the card, I really like the clean cuts from the Portrait. For the font I used “bauhaus 93”. It’s one of the fonts that comes pre-installed on Windows. I got the stars from one of the free designs and the chevron background is this design in the store. The glitter paper is from DCWV Glitzy stack. Love that paper! It has glitter but not the kind that rubs off and the paper is very smooth. I used 65lb paper for the background.

Portrait cut settings:

• For DCWV Glitzy cardstock, I used the built-in “Cardstock, Glitter” setting.
• For the 65lb cardstock, I used the built-in “Cardstock, Plain” setting.

How to use sewing patterns 101

I’ve been using sewing patterns for a few years now to stitch clothes, bags etc. There are a lot of companies that make these patterns – McCall, Simplicity, Vogue, Burda are the big brands and then there are a lot of boutique designer patterns. Even after using the patterns for sometime now, I’m still learning them. That made me think how intimidating it must be to first start using them and hence the idea for this post. I thought I could share what I’ve learned so far. Here you go:

1. Let’s start with the basics – pick the right size of pattern. Take your body measurements and look at the pattern to see which size you would need for your body measurements.
2. Select the right fabric. This is one of the most important things. I have learnt the hard way. There were times when I chose to ignore what were the recommended fabrics for a pattern and just bought the fabric I wanted to make it with. Not a good thing to do. If you don’t know much about fabrics, you can search online fabric store for the type or better still go to your local fabric store (preferably not a big box store) and the attendants there are very helpful as well as knowledgeable. You can show them the pattern’s recommended fabric list and ask them what would work.
3. Read the instructions completely before starting. And make sure you understand most of it. Some of them may get more clear when you start sewing it but you should get a good idea about what the general instructions are and how you would be sewing what you would be sewing.
4. Cut the pattern to your measurements. It’s possible that the bust size of Size 16 is right for you but the waist is not. Every pattern has instructions on how to cut a pattern if your 3 measurements belong to two or three sizes. Read that and cut your pattern accordingly. This might mean you will not cut the pattern on the line for one size.
5. Pay attention to instructions. When sewing, make sure your garment looks like what the picture shows at that step. It has happened to me a couple of times that I misunderstand the instruction and then my garment picture doesn’t match the pattern picture at that step. I think oh it’s a problem with the picture and carry on. No! Don’t do that! You might have to rip the seam and do it again and do that till you are satisfied with it.
6. Be ready to rip the seams. Don’t be afraid or lazy to rip the seams as needed. It’s important to do it right for the pieces of the puzzle to fit together. For that if you need to rip the seams multiple times do it. The end result will be worth it.
7. Try it out if it’s a garment. As often as possible try out the garment to see if it fits well. Once it’s done you can’t change much but you can right now. So try it out and see if it’s lose/tight/low/high/etc.
8. Take notes. I’ve found things vary by pattern company. So take notes. Did the pattern company ask for more fabric that you needed? Did the size fit you well for this pattern company? Were the instructions clear? And so on. This is something I regret not doing.

Work in progress

If you are wondering what am I up to these days, well I’m working on some dresses for myself. Yes correct, in plural!

I have had these patterns for sometime and decided to put them to good use.

I bought some linen blend fabric for this one – will be posting pictures soon. Cutting out the pattern pieces currently and pre-washing the fabric.

For this, I got some nice soft cotton. Originally I’d selected a print from Cotton+Steel and it was so beautiful. However the fabric was short by 1/4 yd and I wasn’t sure if that would be ok or not. So I picked this other print which quite close to the one I liked. Again pictures will be coming soon!

Inlaid die cuts

I stamped the background using a gingham background stamp. Then die cut the background with the larger flowers. Also die cut the large flower in a dark blue cardstock. Using the inlaid die cut technique, placed the blue die cut flowers in the spaces in the background panel. To these I added the light blue die cut flowers and finally embellished with adhesive pearls. Decorated the card with stickles and stamped the sentiment. It looks so pretty! My goal was to make a masculine card with the gingham background but my girly brain always takes the turn towards flowers, glitters and pearls! Sigh!

Misti helped me in getting a nice background as I could stamp repeatedly till I was satisfied! Love that ability!

Supplies: Waltzingmouse Say it loud stamp set, PapertreyInk dies, Recollection colored cardstock, Impression Obsession cover-a-card Gingham background, adhesive pearls, Stickles, Misti stamping tool, Memento dew drops.

Peony bouquet happy anniversary

Had so much fun making this card with Altenew Peony Bouquet stamp set and my misti! I used a combination of distress inks and memento dew drops. The sentiment is from My Sentiments Exactly.

Supplies: Altenew Peony Bouquet stamp set, My Sentiments Exactly Anniversary Innies and Outies stamp set, Misi stampipng tool, Distress inks, Memento Dew Drops, Neenah solar white cardstock, Papertrey Ink Pink cardstock.

Hippo Bird-day

The hippos in th Happy Hippo set from MFT are so cute! The set has many hippos and all doing different things which gave me the idea to make this card. I wanted it to look like all these hippos are coming in different directions and eyeing the cupcakes. The circle die cuts serve as windows. Really loved how it turned out!

Supplies: MFT Happy Hippo, Zig Clean Color Brush markers, Stickles, memento tuxedo black ink, Bristol Smooth cardstock for watercoloring and PapertreyInk cardstock for the base.

Another pop up box card – garden theme

If you would like to know how to make these pop up box cards without using a die refer to my previous post. They are really easy to make and look so cute!!

For this one, I changed the dimensions a  little bit. In the previous post, the box flaps and the box sides are the same dimensions 2” X 2.5”. In this I changed the box flap to 1.5” X 2.5” and the box sides are 2.5” X 2.5”. I think I liked the original dimensions  better – although this looks good as well.

I used a strip of acetate cardstock to attach the bee so that it looks like it’s hovering above the grass. I colored the images using copics as well as prismacolor pencils. The grass die cut I had cut using my zing sometime back.

A closer look:

Supplies: Lawn Fawn Gnome Sweet Gnome, Copics, Prismacolor pencils, KNK Zing, acetate cardstock, Papertrey ink cardstock.

Pop-up box card – without using a die

You must have seen pop-up box cards popping up (pun intended!) all over the internet! They look so adorable that I wanted to try some out! The good thing about these is that they’re pretty flat – of course not as flat as a single or double layer card but still not bad. Plus they don’t need additional equipment. Yes there are dies in the market for these but you can make them just using your paper trimmer!

Here are some more views

and more

Here’s what you need to make these:

• 1 - 4” X 10.5” cardstock
• 3 – 0.5” X 3” cardstock strips (this is where the sand castle, crab and trees are attached to in the above card)

Instructions:

1. Take the 4”X 10.5” cardstock.
2. Score the short side at 0.5”, 2.5”, 4.5”, 6.5” and 8.5”.
3. Score the long side at 2”.
4. For the scoring that you did in Step 2, cut the score line from one end to the 2” score line (from step 3). For the 0.5 inch score, cut away the 2” X .5” strip.
5. Glue the short sides together using the 0.5” scored tab.
6. Now you have your box ready. You just need to add the strips. Before you attach the strips decorate the outside of the box if you want to. It’s much easier to do this now than after the strips are attached. Of course you can do it then as well if you change your mind.
7. For the strips, score each at 0.5” and 2.5”.
8. using the 0.5” inch tabs, attach the strips to the inside of the box as shown above. I just eyeballed the distance. However if you are not comfortable doing that then mark the box edge at 0.5” distances. The first strip is at 0.5”, the second at 1”, the third at 1.5”.
9. Voila! Your pop-up box is ready!

Supplies: Lawn fawn Life is good stamp set, Copics, Papertrey Ink cardstock.

Amigurumi: Cutest little owl

I’m always looking for some amigurumi patterns. When I found this one I knew I had to make one (I think I might make more than one ). Isn’t it the cutest owl?!?! Love he colors!

The pattern worked mostly. Couple of things I struggled with:

1. The head was not perfectly round. If you stare at it enough you’ll see that the top is pointed. I had to make sure that I didn’t fill it to the full or it would have looked very pointed at the top.

2. Like everything else in amigurumi, the white eye patched were worked in spirals as a result of it when you finish/end it, it’s not a complete circle. Maybe that is expected, just seemed weird to me.

Regardless of the issues, I still love how it turned out!

You’re out of this world

Made this card for Mother’s day. I think the sentiment is so apt for my mom – you’re out of this world! Sponged the background on watercolor paper using distress inks.

Supplies: Technique Tuesday Out of this world stamps, Zig clean color brush markers.

Flamingo scene

Really loved how this turned out! I’d been searching for different ways to use a flamingo stamp and then I came across a card that built a scene. That made me search for flamingo photos… one thing led to another and I wanted to create a beach sunset scene.

The sky was sponged using distress inks, the sun was cut using dies. The beach was fuzzy cut.

Supplies: Lawn fawn Gnome Sweet Gnome stamps, Lawn fawn Life is good stamps, distress inks, nestabilities, Waltzingmouse stamps Say it loud, Zig Clean color brush markers.

More foiling and coloring

This is so addictive! Trust me you should try it out. Stamp an image, make a copy it on laser printer, foil it and then color it!

Wanted to try a more “mature” color combination after the bohemian colors I chose in the last one. Loved these colors too!

Supplies: Mini mic, Zig clean color brush markers, hero arts large petal background stamp, MSE sentiment stamp, gold foil, gold embossing powder.

Foiling and coloring

This is my favorite stamp! I keep searching for new ways to use it and looks like I found another one . Stamp the image, get a photocopy of it using a laser printer and then foil it using your foiling machine. I used my mini minc here. Then color it with your favorite markers – for me that zig clean color brush markers right now! Of course, you should not be making photo copies of stamps on a commercial basis. For personal use it’s ok.

Supplies: Mini minc, gold foil, zig clean color stamps, hero arts large petal background stamp, MSE sentiment, versafine black ink, neenah solar white cardstock.

Still cozy…

A cute anniversary card. Had so much fun coloring this! Check out the checks in the picnic mat

Supplies: Zig clean color markers, Penny black stamp, My Sentiments Exactly sentiment, Versafine black ink, Papertrey ink cardstock, Smooth bristol board paper.

More art impressions goodness

Another Art Impressions stamp colored with copics. Stamped the background using various sentiments.

Supplies: Art Impressions stamps, Copic markers, Versafine black ink, Papertrey ink cardstock, Smooth bristol board paper.

Wine a little you’ll feel better!

Used my Zig clean color brush markers to color this Art Impressions stamp. I used the Smooth Bristol board paper and it’s a joy to color on that with the Zig markers.

Supplies: Zig Clean color brush markers, Art Impressions stamps, Smooth bristol board paper.

Remote control couch caddy/holder

One of my friends asked me to make a remote control caddy for her. That motivated me to look around what people were making and what kind of a design would be good. After looking around on the interwebs, I came up with this design of my own. Sorry I don’t have a pictorial tutorial – but I promise that it’s so easy that you wouldn’t need one.

What you need:

• 1 yard of fabric (if you want to add contrast then you can take two pieces of half yard of fabric)
• Fusible fleece – 17” x 36”
• Thread, scissors, rotary cutter and cutting mat (you can omit the last two if you want to cut the fabric using scissors); and of course a sewing machine

How to make remote control holder:

1. Cut the fabric into two pieces – each measuring 36” X 17”.
2. Iron the fusible fleece to the wrong side of one of the pieces (whichever you want to be the front).
3. Now you have one fabric with fusible fleece and one plain fabric piece.
4. Take the two fabrics, align them right sides together and stitch all around at a 1/4” (or 1/2” if you prefer) seam. Leave a small opening – around 4 inches wide – one one of the short sides.
5. Now turn the stitched piece inside out using the opening. Iron the stitched piece so that the edges are crisp and fold in the fabric on the opening so that you can stitch it in the next step.
6. Topstitch 1/8” the short side that does not have the opening.
7. Take the short side (the one that does not have the opening) fold it 6” inwards. This will form the pocket. Pin it.
8. Topstitch 1/8” all around the edges. Now you should have a big pocket.
9. Make a mark 4” from the side of the pocket, on the pocket. On both the sides.
10. Stitch vertically on the 4” mark from the bottom of the pocket to the top of the pocket. On both the sides. I drew a line first so that my stitching is straight. You now have 3 pockets!
11. If you chose two different pieces of fabric, then the fabric of your pocket will be different from the front fabric. So pick fabrics that you like together.