A Little Fabric Purse by Mandi Miles

Hi! Mandi Miles here.  I didn't really have any plans in mind when I got Samantha's purse cut file and started working on a project. I cut and assembled a quick paper version which my girlie promptly grabbed and destroyed in her play. She then proceeded crying for another purse. Hmm... the last thing I wanted to do was cut loads of paper purses that would last 5 minutes. Tops. I mean, the girl is three. So, fabric. It would have to be fabric. And tough. I had picked up some Heat-n-Bond a while back and was wanting to try cutting fabric anyway [I'm still learning how to use this cutter of mine :)], perfect. I love it when I have the supplies on hand!

Here's a bit of a tutorial:

1. Heat-n-Bond. It worked beautifully with the Silhouette Cameo, and I love that I can pick it up at Wal-mart or the local craft/fabric store.  I used the Heat-n-Bond Ultra because I knew I wouldn't be sewing. If you'll be sewing you'll need the Heat-n-Bond Light. Just follow the directions on the package for whatever interfacing you'll be using and prepare two 12 x 12 coordinating blocks of fabric. 

2. I always do a test cut and I realized that, as with most projects I've done, the settings indicated on the Cameo didn't quite cut it. So, for those of you with a Cameo, the settings I used are Speed: 5, Thickness: 33, Blade: 6, and then check cutting mat and double cut. I always do a double cut. It takes longer, but the end results are always better. Cut the first block using the pattern as is. Cut the second block to mirror the first. On the Cameo you do this by going to Object > Transform > Flip Horizontally.

3. With wrong sides together [the ones with the interfacing] use an iron on the settings indicated for the interfacing and line them up nicely and press the two cut purses together. 

4. Assemble the purse. I used my handy dandy glue gun to hold it together. Fabric glue may work as well, but I like the glue gun because I don't have to hold the pieces together forever while it dries.

And that's it. Embellish as desired. I made a flower using Samantha's Spiral Flowers cut file. I also had to make a fabric covered button for the center because I just may be the only crafter on earth who can't make spiral flowers...

My girlie loves this. She wants more. 

To see more of Mandi's work, visit her blog PurdueAvenue.com!

Wanna Be a Cowgirl Card by Jennifer Ingle

Today Jennifer Ingle is back with a Guest post sharing her Wanna Be a Cowgirl Card with Samantha Walker Spellbinders Dies and the Grand Calibur!

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I am so excited to be back as a guest designer here on the Samantha Walker blog!  Today I am going to show you the basics on how to use the Samantha Walker Dies by Spellbinders with the Grand Calibur Die Cut and Embossing Machine.  It’s SUPER easy and gives GREAT results!

The Grand Calibur comes with all the plates you need to get started!  I am using Samantha Walker’s Ornate Artisan Tags and Accents die set.  This set also has a coordinating Samantha Walker stamp set, Ornate Artisan Stackers, over at Unity, however, I will not be using the stamps for today’s card.  I have them, though, and they are GORGEOUS!!!  A wonderful companion set to the dies!  I am also using the Samantha Walker Cowgirl Collection by Creative Imaginations.  This collection is SO FUN!

Let’s begin!

Place the die you wish to use, flat side down, on the Grand Calibur Base Plate.

Trim the paper you wish to cut to size and place, upside down, over the die.  Because I am making a 4 ¼ x 5 ½ inch card, my paper is slightly smaller than my die.  You may want to tape the paper in place with repositionable tape to prevent it from shifting in the cutting process.

Next, you want to place the Cutting Plate over the die and paper to create your sandwich.  Rotate and flip your plate regularly to avoid warping.  Carefully lift the sandwich and use the handle on the Grand Calibur to run the plates through the machine.  To  get a deeper embossing, you can run it through a second time or switch the cutting plate with the embossing plate and rubber embossing mat after the first run.  For a more subtle embossing, or with thinner papers, just once is fine.  I have chosen to run it through just once for this project.

Now you are ready to play with your freshly cut die!  Use an ink tool to apply ink while the die is still on the paper.  This gives you a sharp mask giving a wonderful illusion of depth!

Carefully remove the paper from the die.  For an intricate die like the one I used here, a pair of sharp tweezers or a paper piercer can come in hand for loosening the smaller, more detailed bits.  Work slowly and gently to prevent tearing.  Then you can apply your die cut to your card!

I used the fabulous felted cow print paper as my background, layered my die cut over that, and then added a fabulous Samantha Walker dimensional chipboard sticker!  I LOVE these things! 

And here is my completed card!  If you have never worked with the Grand Calibur before you are missing out!  This machine is AMAZING!  I lived without a machine like this for years, finally decided on this one and got it for my birthday last February and I use it ALL.THE.TIME!  I had no idea just how useful it is!  And Samantha’s dies are gorgeous and a perfect fit with this wonderful tool!    If you enjoyed this, I’d love for you to stop by my blog, Just Jingle, and join me over there!  We have a good time!

Thanks for reading!

Jingle Out!

Introducing Guest Designer Jennifer Rodriguez!

Hi everyone, my name is Jennifer Rodriguez and I blog over at All Things Belle. I love to quilt and spend most of my days sewing with  my two little girls playing at my feet. I am so excited to bring you a project today using Samantha Walker's amazing Decadence line! I love the playful pears and the rich colors. When I first saw this line, I thought it would be perfect in an outdoor space. The pears are a fabulous natural motif and the rich, strong colors of the fabrics would be colorful fun on our patio.

Today I will be doing a tutorial on how to create a fussy cut, reverse applique table runner for your patio table. That was a mouthful! It's actually quite easy and adds a great comfy touch to your outdoor living area.

Final Size: 11" x 32"

Materials needed:

1/3 yard of brown print

1/3 yard of pear print

1/2 yard of orange print

1/3 yard of light weight fusible stabilizer

1/4 yard of light weight fusible webbing

*All seams are 1/4" unless otherwise noted.

Directions:

1.) Cut a 5"x32.5" strip of brown print fabric and light weight fusible webbing. Iron on the webbing to the wrong side of the brown fabric strip.

2.) We will now make the windows for the pears to peer out of. We ironed on the webbing to the brown fabric  for a couple of reasons: reduce the inner window fabric from becoming ragged, stabilize the piece, and add extra adhesion to our fussy cut pears.

Each pear measures about 2.5" x 3.5" on the fabric and that is how big we will make our windows. Starting at 1.5" inches in from the side, I drew with an iron-off pen 2.5"x3.5" rectangles every three inches. I had 6 windows on my piece, but you could play with the measurements and increase or decrease as desired. Once you are satisfied with the placement of your windows, carefully cut them out.

3.) The definition of "fussy cut" is that you are cutting the fabric in a particular way to spotlight a certain area. I think Samantha Walker's pears are a delicious motif and I really wanted to spotlight each one.

For your next step, audition the pear fabric by placing different pears behind the brown fabric so that they peer through the window. Once you are happy with their placement, pin the fabric together. You will need to cut off the excess fabric that surrounds your chosen pear.

4.) With a zig zag stitch, sew around the perimeter of each window. I chose a bright white for contrast, but if you want a more subtle look then pick a thread that matches the brown fabric.

Your piece should now look something similar to this. Don't worry about the fusible webbing yet, that will be taken care of later in the project.

5.) Now you will need to cut (2) orange strips measuring 3" x 32.5". Sew on to the long sides of the runner and press.

6.) Now cut the remaining brown fabric into (2) 1.5"x32.5" strips. Sew on to the long sides of the runner and press. The front of the runner is now complete - set aside.

7.) For the back of the runner, you will need to cut an orange fabric piece and fusible stabilizer 11.5"x32.5". Iron on the stabilizer to the wrong side of the large orange back.

8.) We will now complete the runner. Pin the front and back, right sides together. Sew around the border, leaving a 4" hole opening to turn.

Clip the corners up to the stitching line as it will give you a sharper corner edge. Turn the runner right side out and press. When you press, the fusible webbing will adhere to the runner back, increasing the stability of your reverse applique.

9.) Topstitch the border of the runner, making sure that you close the hole opening. For this step, I did use a matching thread to the brown fabric.

And that's it! Doesn't this porch look comfy and inviting? I'm planning on spending many late afternoons here with a drink & a book watching my children play. I think our outdoor living spaces are sadly overlooked when it comes to our sewing projects. This is a fun and quick way to liven and comfy it up!

Thank you so much for spending this time with me! I hope you are inspired to go play with this yummy fabric  for the summer ahead. If you love that pillow on the porch chair, be sure to come by my blog, All Things Belle later this month. I will show you how to create two oversized pillow covers as well as a doll quilt with the Decadence fabric.

Introducing Projects by YOU!

We would like to invite YOU to submit YOUR projects using Samantha Walker products!  Simply upload your project to our "Projects by You" Facebook album and tell us a little about it.  If selected, your project may be used for a feature right here on the Samantha Walker Blog!  


Do you have projects you want to have considered for our "Projects by You" feature but do not have access to Facebook?  No worries!  Simply email your photo to  social.samanthawalker@gmail.com instead.  Don't forget to share a little something about it!

We just can’t wait to see what YOU create!