Spellbinders Sneak Peek

Today I am revealing my new licensed designs, the new Butterfly Corner set (S5-165) and Ornate Squares set (S5-166). The corner die will allow your creativity soar and the Ornate Squares work perfectly with Spellbinders basic square templates, allowing you to build off the core, expanding your collection's versatility!  

3-D Hanging Snowflake Decoration

Supplies:

Spellbinders dies: S5-166 Ornate Square

green card stock

ribbon

brad

Tombo Mono Adhesive

Instructions:

Using the Spellbinders S5-166 Ornate Square set, use the ornate square to cut 12 square shapes, repeat with an embossing pass, then snip off one corner of each of the 12 square shapes, as pictured. 

Fold in half, so that the cut end is mirrored, and the other end comes to a point.

Fold edge up at an angle as pictured.

Fold the opposing edge as pictured.

Very carefully match up the lace edge of the square with another lace edge of a different square. Continue combining the lace squares until you complete a set of six to form a star-like shape or snowflake. Then repeat this step to create another set of six.

When you have your lace squares combined into sets of six, then cut off most of the lacey edge. Start at about 1/2 inch from the outside, down to about 1/4 inch in the center. Continue all the way around the circle until all are trimmed, then trim the other set of six that you glued together.

Now we will combine the two snowflake shapes. Carefully line up the inside edge of one snowflake with the other, then glue each of the edges to combine both snowflakes.

Each point of the snowflake should look like this when combined.

Now you have your combined snowflake. Lets add a little embellishment.

With the Ornate Square set, cut two of the littlest square shapes by running the die through the Spellbinders Grand Calibur, then switch to the embossing plates and run it through to emboss.

Next combine the two squares by interweaving the corners. 

Cut and emboss the flower shape, then add that to the center of the interweaved squares.

Now add a brad to the center, and feed it through the snowflake.

Add a ribbon to hang it up, and enjoy!

Here is another card using the S5-166 Ornate Square that also features a coordinating stamp from my JustRite stamp collection:

Supplies:

Spellbinders dies: S5-166 Ornate Square

JustRite Happiness is...Ornate Square

blue card stock

Yellow card stock

grey card stock

white embossing powder

Tombo Mono Adhesive

This next card features the new S5-165 Butterfly Corner die set:

Supplies:

Spellbinders dies: S5-165 Butterfly Corner

Dark Pink card stock

Light Pink card stock

Green card stock

Tombo Mono Adhesive

Sewing a Kay Whitt Skirt!

I started this week intending to get so much done.  I have...but not the stuff on my list.  I've had to attend to the other stuff that creeps ahead of all that you want to do, and prevents the kind of productivity that makes me happy. Today was a classic example. This morning, I laid down in a dentist chair for 4 hours. All that dental work that I had been putting off since last summer, I finally didn't have an excuse that I would be out of town, that deadlines were looming near, or that I ran out of FSA or that I couldn't arrange for someone to watch the kids that long.  Everything lined up, and I was at the mercy of my dentist for as long at the work would take. Good news...it's now done...and over with.  Bad news...I'm way behind on my blog post, cleaning my craft room, and working on some fun new projects that are about to burst out of my head, and I have two aching teeth despite all the work that was done. (no fault of the dentist...just my mouth over reacting to the crazy construction work that was performed within today.)

Okay...onto the good stuff.  It's BLOG HOP time again!  Yeah!  My team has been working hard and they are ready! I think we have a full house...that means LOTS of inspiration for you! Also, I have exciting news...we have a new addition to our team. Many of you may know her already, or are familiar with her crafting style. May I present to you, the fabulous, Jimmi Mayo...she is one heck of a talented lady and she has stepped in to replace Katherine Bley. Katherine stepped down to attend to family matters and we wish her the very best, and are sad to see her go.  

Okay...onto my project to start off the hop...it comes with a story....a continuation with my CHA experiences, and it really does have to do with the project I'm sharing with you this month. For those of you who attended the show, you will know that we shared the convention center with an unlikely group of people...many who were quite opposite of the crafting bunch. The Body-building and Fitness expo was going on at the same time as CHA...just a hallway separated our two shin-digs.  

From my hotel, I had to walk down from the side of the hall where the Body Builders and fitness gurus lined up waiting to get into their event. Many of which were wearing all black, with multiple tattoos and piercings, spiky hair-dos, and scruffy faces...not that there's anything wrong with that...it was just that it was such a contrast to many of the ladies on the other side of the convention center with their quilted jackets, and knitted themed sweaters, and colorful home-sewn bags, and all the other creative paraphanilia that goes with the crafting crowd.  

So as they were waiting to get into their event...I walked down the hall in my home-sewn skirt made in my fabric that is florescent pink, with brown ruffles, multi colors, and a ruffle rosette. I would hear snickers and comments like, "what is she wearing?" or "you've got to be kidding me..." "whoa...need my sunglasses...that is BRIGHT." or similar sniggerous remarks.  However, as I approached home turf where the crafters were gathering, I heard comments like, "how cute." "do you think she sewed that herself?" and my favorite, "oh, I love that fabric." Both sets of comments made me smile, I have a sense of humor, and the whole thing was rather humorous.

Now unfortunately, the photos dull down the effect fabric--especially when you don't have proper lighting when taking pictures...but just know that the fabric is bright. VERY bright! It is fun, it is cheerful and it makes me happy, regardless what anyone might say about it. I'm proud of my skirt...it is literally the 3rd thing I've sewn for myself, and the first thing I've sewn for myself in about a decade.  I had so much fun, that I definitely will be trying more patterns out soon.  I encourage you who are new to sewing...TRY it out!  It's a blast, and the rewards of making something yourself are indescribable!

This pattern comes from the ingenious designer Kay Whitt. Her book called: Sew Serendipity is a brilliant effort to simplify a bunch of patterns into a series of base patterns that can be modified slightly for a completely different look.  Her techniques are totally approachable for the beginner and I appreciate that she has photos of just about every step that you will have to take in completing your project. The book is a bargain considering how many patterns are included with the book. I am not affiliated with Kay, I have met her, I know that she is a talented lady and I'm happy to promote something that I think is fabulous!  Kay, you rock!

This last photo is here...sheerly for the purpose of showing off the sassy pair of Delman shoes, that I couldn't bring to CHA.  I would have loved to have worn them with the skirt...but heels are insane at a show like that. You are literally on your feet all day...and there is a lot of walking involved.  So I brought what I thought was a smarter choice. Some suede wedge loafers...seemed sensible to me, right? But I was wrong...OH SO WRONG! My advice to you...now that I know...never ever bring a pair of shoes to CHA that you haven't tested on your feet for at least a whole day of active walking. The shoes I chose were probably more brutal than the heels ever would have been. I paid for wearing them in a sum of 5 blisters on the toes of each foot, that are still in the process of heeling. Okay...silly I suppose. But I just know that there are other shoe lovers out there who would appreciate a good shoe story.

CHA Report...the Etsy Generation!

Last month I had the opportunity to go to CHA (Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show) in Los Angeles. As always it was a smorgasbord of delicious new trends, and exciting new products. One trend I saw come through strong was catering to the "Etsy Generation." If you haven't heard of Etsy, then you haven't been on the internet lately. Etsy is the non-auction equivalent to e-bay for home-crafters and indie (independent) artists to sell their wares. Etsy is also a trend seekers hot spot. Etsy has it's finger on the pulse of the younger generation.  And what is cool to them? Well, in one word, Vintage...but really, it's more than that! This generation is revisiting Grandma's crafts and many other lost hand-arts. That makes me so happy! Hallelujah!

What exactly draws these women to these lost crafts, retro color schemes, and kitschy themes? One thing I am learning, is that many of these crafters are young.  They are 20 somethings to mid 30 somethings.  That means the majority of these crafters are post 70's babies...women who were born in the 1980's.  It dawned on me, that this group of ladies totally missed the living through the colorful 1960's and 1970's! So in order to reflect the essence of a more carefree and simple period of time, I believe they are drawn to recreating that colorful past by reincarnating the crafts of those eras with uber-cool twists.

They literally want to live through those decades, so they are doing it vicariously through their crafts. It makes sense to me that in this complicated decade, with our current trials and hardships around us, and particularly the recession; these artist with their resourcefulness and creativity, have invented a way to make an extra buck or two by using their hands to make useful works of art. Some of these crafters are more than supplementing their incomes and have built a loyal customer base and big businesses. I think it's marvelous! Long live the lost arts, crafts...and folk-arts!

One of the biggest trends in crafts that I see is the resurgence of yarn and needle crafts. Yarn is hot!  In fact...Yarn gets my vote for "product of the show." They were by far some of my favorite booths at the show...with decadent displays of knitted capes and shawls, cozy hats and fuzzy sweaters.  One of the manufacturer's had a chic fashion show going on with gorgeous designs. The textures and colors were so wearable, and bundled my heart with warmth. It's not just clothing or afghans that are being created with yarn these days, but also crocheted flowers and cute cuddly creatures, bags, soft jewelry, cup warmers to finger puppets and so much more!  Yarn reminds me of my Grandma's house laden with bright-random colored afghans with flower-centered "granny squares." These afghans were crocheted with whatever skeen of yarn was available at the time.

The eclectic mish-mash of colors also seems to be embraced by this young "etsy-generation." Yet, it seems to be a mish-mash with skilled purpose.  Color schemes seem to flow, then have that one pop of spunky unexpected color that works...like Hot Pink juxtaposed with Olive and brown and orange. I love the innocence of such combinations. They make me smile!

Yarn can be Sophisticated...

Photo From Mojospastyle. Link to her etsy shop.

To Fun and Funky...

Photo from Evalinen. Link to her etsy shop.

To absolutely adorably cute! (it's a baby hat...so sweet!)

Photo from FidlestyxStudios. Link to her etsy shop.

Beyond the yarn...the etsy generation has inspired designers of fabric, paper and stickers to look at kitschy themes. Retro Rockets, woodland critters, vintage nursery rhymes, ephemera from the past, flamingos, gnomes, lace, doilies, flowers, flowers and more flowers. And beyond paper and yarn, I even saw an entire booth dedicated to paint by numbers on black velvet...though I don't think many of us are ready for another slew of "Velvet Elvis" paintings. Though I do think the idea of crafts from the past are definitely what is motoring the craft industry today. The future of the craft industry is bright in our past!