Zippers Made Easy

 Check out my tutorial on how to make easy zipper pouches.

Zipper pouches are fun gifts, but sometimes zippers can be intimidating. Zippers are made easy with the tutorial on how to make quick and easy zipper pouches to give to friends or use as storage for yourself. Check out how you too can be installing zippers with ease. Product Links (some affiliate): Fiskars Fabric Scissors: https://amzn.to/3i2EhDG Fiskars Rotary Cutter: https://amzn.to/3j9Vigy Beebeecraft Zippers: https://www.beebeecraft.com/p-benecreat-48pcs-12-inch-30cm-diy-nylon-coil-flower-zipper-lace-zippers-for-diy-sewing-tailor-craft-bed-bag-24-color-11087.html Isacord Thread: https://amzn.to/3czrc3F Sew Steady Slide Mat: https://amzn.to/3kTPyrH

Thanks for watching. Please give this video a thumbs up if you like it, share with your friends and subscribe for more crafty tutorials.

Thanks,

April

Anything Goes at the 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 A Charmed Life - add a charm.  Our wonderful sponsor is Crafty Sentiments and if you enter you have the chance to win a $10 gift certificate from their shop.

I used the stamp set Stanley Heart Balloon to create my card.

          

A Charmed Life Card Recipe

I started with the coffee cup image and printed it on my Kodak printer.  This little bear is just a fuzzy adorable little critter.  I colored him with Copics and then added colored pencil to get the furry effect.  I didn't need to add anything but a sentiment because he carried the card.

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:

Fiskars scissors for fussy cutting:


Fiskars Trmner:

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

April

A Charmed Life 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 A Charmed Life - add a charm.  Our wonderful sponsor is Jan's Digital Stamp Shop and if you enter you have the chance to win a $10 gift certificate 3 from their shop.

I used the stamp set Expresso Yourself to create my card.

          

A Charmed Life Card Recipe

I started with the coffee cup image and printed it on my Kodak printer.  I don't know about you, but my morning is not complete without coffee.  I added some color to the coffee cup and then used a coordinating card stock for the background.  The butterfly charm (which is a button, but is being used as a charm) matched the colors perfectly.  The heart is colored with some glitter marker.

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:

Fiskars scissors for fussy cutting:


Fiskars Trmner:

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

April

Let's Get Organized - How to Store Your Fabric Using Comic Book Boards

I have been working on organizing my craft space and that includes finding a way to organize my fabric.  I've put projects that I want to work on first in bins on a shelf, but I still have lots of pretty fabric that is waiting for its project to come along.  For those pieces of fabric, I am going to use comic book boards to store the fabric so I can see it.

Storing my fabric in the open accomplishes at least 2 things.  It keeps my fabric visible so I remember I have it.  The second this it does is acts as a decoration for my crafting area.  Bright fun fabric on display can brighten anyone's day.

Here is my video showing how I am going to label those bins with my projects and also my new crate shelf that will be housing my fabric display.  Please give this video a thumbs up if you like it, subscribe and share.

Here are those comic book boards I am using in the video (affiliate link):

Thank you for stopping by.  Check out my other blog posts for more video organizing tips and tutorials on quilting, card making and t-shirt decorating just to name a few.

Have a great day, be kind to yourself and everyone else and eat some chocolate.

April

Let's Get Organized - How to Store Your Fabric by Project

I don't know about you, but if I am going to finish those projects for fall and Christmas, I better get going now.  I am going to share how I organize my fabric for fall, Halloween, Christmas and other holidays so that I can easily get started on a project.

We started by pulling out all of our fabrics and organizing them by project.  There is also fabric that is not project related once you're done organizing.  I will show you what I do with that fabric next time.

Check out my video.

Thank you for watching.  Please give this video a thumbs up if you liked it, subscribe to see more videos and click the bell to be notified when I upload new videos.  Share with your friends, too.

If you have suggestions on what other content you would like to see, let me know in the comments.

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

April

Let's Get Organized - How to Organize Your Season Fabric for the Upcoming Holidays - Part 1

I don't know about you, but if I am going to finish those projects for fall and Christmas, I better get going now.  I am going to share how I organize my fabric for fall, Halloween, Christmas and other holidays so that I can easily get started on a project.

Check out my video.

Thank you for watching.  Please give this video a thumbs up if you liked it, subscribe to see more videos and click the bell to be notified when I upload new videos.  Share with your friends, too.

If you have suggestions on what other content you would like to see, let me know in the comments.

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

April

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.