How to Sew Your Own Face Mask Using a Serger or a Sewing Machine

So when this pandemic really took off I started sewing face masks for first responders in need.  I donated them through my LQS.  Then friends and family started asking for face masks.  I started sewing them for them.  Then the requests for certain themes came about and I started looking for fabric to fulfill those requests.

Then my daughter announced her engagement and nuptials.  I had 2 months to plan a wedding shower and a wedding during a worldwide pandemic.  It was at that time I started sewing face masks to provide at the shower and the wedding for those who 'forgot' them.  My mother also helped in that endeavor.

So here we are, still wearing face masks.  I am tempted to start sewing fall face masks, but am hoping we won't need them.  I know - wishful thinking.  So if you too are thinking it's time to start making those seasonal face masks to celebrate fall and Halloween and Thanksgiving and Christmas and Hanukah and Kwanzaa - this how to is for you.  I share how I make my masks on a serger and a sewing machine.

Please give this video a thumbs up if you like it and subscribe if you want to see more.  Click the bell to be notified of new videos.  And of course share, share, share.

If you have requests for future videos, let me know in the comments.

Have a great day and be kind to yourself and everyone around you.

April

Something to Say Challenge at Creative Knockouts

It is Thursday and that means it is time for a new challenge at the Creative Knockouts Challenge Blog.  This week's challenge is Something to Say - Add a sentiment.  Our wonderful sponsor is Sheepski Designs and if you enter you have the chance to win 3 free images from their shop.

I used the stamp set Garden Party to create my card.

          

Something to Say Card Recipe

So I started with the fun image and printed it on my Kodak printer.  These little gnomes were begging to be colored with Zig Clean Color Clear Brush Markers.  I colored the hats on one image and then cut out the hats and popped them up on the other image.  I colored noses and shoes and highlighted the beards.  I looked for gnome related sentiments on the internet and found this one.  It made me laugh so I typed it up in Word, printed it and used it.   The watercolor background is from a 12 x 12 paper pad.

Enter your card in the challenge at Creative Knockouts for a chance to win.

Here are some affiliate links for products I used for this card:
Zig Clean Color Clear Brush Markers:  

Fiskars scissors for fussy cutting:


Fiskars Trmner:

Have a great day and enjoy the journey , eat some chocolate and be kind to everyone.

April

Sparkle and Shine Challenge at Creative Knockouts Challenge Blog

It is Thursday and that means it is time for a new challenge at the Creative Knockouts Challenge Blog.  This week's challenge is Sparkle and Shine.  Our wonderful sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps and if you enter you have the chance to win a $12 voucher for their shop.

I used the stamp set Make It Snappy-Happy Birthday to create my card.

          

Sparkle and Shine Card Recipe

So I started with the fun image and printed it on my Kodak printer.  Copic markers were the name of the game for this image and that cake just screamed out for bright cheery colors.  I found 2 of my Copic markers that dried out and need the nibs replaced.  Fortunately I had similar colors so it didn't interfere with my coloring this image.  Now what flavor is lime green icing?  I hope it isn't lime.  And though it is hard to tell from the picture, the sparkle is on the 2 stars and the candle flame.  I swear it's there - you just can't see it.  I filled those in with a sparkle gel pen.  The sentiment is from Stamps of Life and was stamped using Catherine Pooler ink on my MISTI.  I popped the image up on the lavendar cardstock.  Speaking of which I need a pant suit in that color for my daughter's wedding.  I need to go shopping. 

Bugaboo stamps are one of my favorite digi stamp companies.  Their images are bold and fun and perfect for coloring.

Enter your card in the challenge at Creative Knockouts for a chance to win.

Have a great day and enjoy the journey , eat some chocolate and be kind to everyone.

April

Thank You 4 Kids Challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge

It's the 1st Saturday of the month and that means it is time for another challenge at the Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge Blog.  The theme for this challenge is Thank You Cards 4 Kids or Anything Goes 4 Kids.  This challenge no longer has sponsors so you will be participating for pride not prize.

Send a Smile 4 Kids charity is dedicated to collecting and distributing handmade cards to children who are inpatient at Children's Hospitals.  Please send us your handmade kids' cards for holidays, birthdays, and everyday cheer.  Help us put a smile on our kids' faces.

Thank You 4 Kids Card Recipe

I used a background stamp from Catherine Pooler along with some Tim Holtz Oxide Inks in Twisted Citron and Shaded Lilac to create my background. I inked up the stamp with the oxide inks and spritzed it with water.  I laid a piece of watercolor card stock on top of the stamp and pressed down.  I used a butterfly die from Hero Arts to cut out some butterflies to give the card dimension.  The thanks die is from My Favorite Things and I cut it out in purple card stock.  The enamel dots are from Fun Stamper's Journey.  I layered the card front on a pastel purple back ground.  And let me say - I love Range Multi Medium Matte glue.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Consider entering our challenge and donating your hand made cards to our great charity.

Have a great day and enjoy the journey and some chocolate.

April

DIY Sewing Machine Cover using Vintage Camper Fabric Panel

My sewing machines collect dust.  Fabric dust, dust from the environment and any particles floating in my basement.  I want to make some really cute covers to protect my machines but will also be decorative in my crafting space.  Enter a fabric panel from QT Fabrics.

Watch my tutorial for step by step instructions on how to quickly put together one of these covers.  Or multiple if you need to cover multiple machines.

Here are some links to tools that I use.  Some are affiliate.

Find the fabric panel here: Vintage Camper Sewing Cover Fabric Panel Tools used for this project can be found here(affiliate links):

https://www.instagram.com/lirpastory/ https://twitter.com/lirpastory https://www.facebook.com/lirpastory
Thanks for watching.

Flora and Fauna Challenge at Creative Knockouts Challenge

It is Thursday and that means it is time for a new challenge at the Creative Knockouts Challenge Blog.  This week's challenge is Flora and Fauna.  Our wonderful sponsor is The Artsy Stamper and if you enter you have the chance to win 3 images for their shop.

I used the stamp set Aster Garden to create my tag.

          

Flora and Fauna Card Recipe

As normal, I printed the image on white card stock using my Kodak printer.  The ink in this printer just doesn't run.  I love it.  I colored the flower with glitter markers.  Did I mention I printed the flower 3 times?  I used my Brother Scan and Cut to cut out 2 black and white images; as well as the image that I colored.  I used foam tape in between the layers of the flower to give the flower some real dimension.  The sentiment is from the Aster Garden collection, too.  I popped it up and inked the edges for a distressed look.  I used clear and red rhinestones on the wood board look background and matted with a swiss dot red.  Can you see the pattern on the wood grain?  Isn't that cool?

Enter your card in the challenge at Creative Knockouts for a chance to win.

Have a great day and enjoy the journey , eat some chocolate and be kind to everyone.

April

Straight Line Quilting is Your Friend - Who Knew?

I have always felt like I was going to be a cheater if I finished my quilt with straight lines.  Where is the challenge in those I thought.  But then I saw a video from Nancy at OnPoint TV and she stitched her straight lines next to the ditch.  I decided to try it and I am very pleased.

Here is my video showing how I used straight line quilting to finish my QAYG (Quilt As You Go) Strip quilt.  Check it out.  Please give it a thumbs up if you like it, subscribe to see more and share with your friends.

Thank you for watching.  Be kind to everyone and I will be back soon with some Chenille-it.

April

Tag Time Challenge on the Creative Knockouts Challenge Blog

It is Thursday and that means it is time for a new challenge at the Creative Knockouts Challenge Blog.  This week's challenge is to use a tag on your card or make a tag.  Our wonderful sponsor is Fabrika Fantasy and if you enter you have the chance to win 3 images for their shop.

I used the stamp set Happy Mouse to create my tag.

          

Favorite Color Combo Card Recipe

I printed this cute mouse out on white card stock.  I colored him with Copic Markers and then found a tag die with stitching on the edges from My Favorite Things to cut out this tag.  I happened to have a House Mouse stamp set that had this cute and quite appropriate sentiment.  I had to cut it to get it on 2 lines, but I think it worked out.  I stamped it using my MISTI.  I inked around the edges to give it some character and found some black and white twine to top it off.

Enter your card in the challenge at Creative Knockouts for a chance to win.

Have a great day and enjoy the journey and some chocolate.

April

Share and Tell on my Youtube Channel

I have a little share and tell video on my youtube channel. 

My youngest daughter is getting married on August 22, 2020.  Yes, 2020.  I am working on centerpieces for the wedding shower and reception.  Check out my video to see one of them along with a small mishap that involves a cat named Oliver aka my brother's revenge. 

I also found some fun fabric panels for fall and one for Christmas at Hobby Lobby.  Want to see them - check out my video.

If you like the video give it a thumbs up, subscribe to see more and share with your friends.

I hope everyone is doing well.  Please be kind to everyone because you never know what they're going through.

April

Repurposing to Create My Janome Continental M7 Sewing Table

I've been struggling with the machine sitting up too high and quilts getting caught on the corners so I've been on a mission to find a table for my sewing machine to sit down in.  There are some very expensive tables and some less expensive tables, but they are quite small.  Someone in a Facebook group I am a member of said that her husband converted a table by cutting out a hole in a table and I had an idea.

At first we were going to use an old dining room table by replacing the leaves with a piece of wood that had a hole cut out for the sewing machine.  That wasn't going to work because the supports would make it so the sewing machine had to sit in the middle of the table. 

I have a library table that I got from my grandmother.  My husband said it was a ratty old table.  I said it is an heirloom.  It does look like a ratty old table because back in the day it was stained really dark.  So I decided that we should convert that table into a sewing machine table.  Once we flipped over the table, we discovered my ratty old table is actually oak.

We are still going to convert it to a sewing desk.  Right now we are just going to touch up the desk, but at some point it can be refinished to bring out the pretty oak wood.

Here are some pictures of the progression of the library table into sewing table.

We actually found gum under the table so it may have been in a school.  Who knows - a piece of that gum might have been my Dads.  :-)

Have you repurposed old furniture to make something you need.  I would love to see what you have made.

Have a great day and be kind to everyone.

April

  

Christmas in July 4 Kids or Anything Goes at Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge Blog

It's the 1st Saturday of the month and that means it is time for another challenge at the Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge Blog.  The theme for this challenge is Christmas in July Cards 4 Kids or Anything Goes 4 Kids.  This challenge no longer has sponsors so you will be participating for pride not prize.

Send a Smile 4 Kids charity is dedicated to collecting and distributing handmade cards to children who are inpatient at Children's Hospitals.  Please send us your handmade kids' cards for holidays, birthdays, and everyday cheer.  Help us put a smile on our kids' faces.

Christmas in July Card Recipe

These cute little sheep are from Lawn Fawn.  I colored them with Copic Markers and put some mistletoe between them.  The mistletoe was kind of hanging in the air so I place an enamel snowflake at the end so it looks like it is coming out of a snowflake.  I matted it with red card stock and added the adorable sentiment which is also from Lawn Fawn.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Consider entering our challenge and donating your hand made cards to our great charity.

Have a great day and enjoy the journey and some chocolate.

April