a christmas quilt


This week I've been really busy with a whole pile of projects, and it feels great to get things to a point where they're well underway or almost finished.

One for the almost finished pile is my Christmas quilt that I made using Bonnie Hunter's scrappy trips pattern and cut all of my strips with the 2.5" strip die.
This is the second quilt I've made using these fabrics - the first was for my friend's birthday

I cut the binding strips using the 2.5" strip die too (and followed my binding tutorial)

and now I'm just finishing of the last edge of binding, hand stitching it onto the back of the quilt. It's taking me a little while longer than usual because I backed the quilt in a soft cuddle fabric - like minkee. It has a short pile like a fur and is perfect for a wintery quit because it's so soft and snuggly. It quilts up beautifully, but it does take a little more work to hand stitch into, so I've had to take a few rests to ease my hand as it cramps up a bit every now and then

As Christmas is fast approaching and we start to think abut what we'd like to put on our own Christmas lists I can really recommend the strip dies - they are a little more expensive than regular size dies, and you do need the extended cutting pads (25") too, but for a Christmas present they're perfect. The 2.5" strip is definitely one of the dies I use the most day to day, I would be lost without it these days!

Layout "Coffee, Love, Addict"

This is a layout on my coffee addiction inspired by the new Sizzix embossing folders!

I used them as soon as I received them!

Supply list:

Papers: Basic Grey, Lilybee Design, Color Conspiracy

Glitter paper: American Crafts

Cardstock: American Crafts

Alphabets: American Crafts, Jillibean Soup

Frames: Crate Paper

Wood embellishments: Studio Calico

Masking Tape: Lovely Tape

Sticker Basic Grey

Chipboards: Studio Calico

Stamps: Hero Arts, Glitz Design, 7Gypsies

Ink: Chalk Prima

Others: Ribbon

Dies:

657212 Sizzix Movers and Shapers magnetic die 2PK-mini hearts set

658380 Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing-Folders 2PK- Coffee Set

658002 Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die- Lace and circles

Start by choosing pastel coloured pattern papers and a background with soft patterns (here it is my pretty hearts paper).

Use the coffee embossing folder with a white cardstock: a perfect match for my theme!

I also stamped a cup pattern (Hero Arts) and cut it up.

Cut a lace border with your Big Shot, small hearts out of golden paper, choose some wooden hearts, two Pola frames and some little bubble chipboards.

Gather and glue all these elements around your picture.

Glue the golden hearts with 3D adhesives to make them stand out more.

Add your title using three different fonts.

Add some masking tape strips and your lay-out is done!

Page "Coffee, Love, Addict"

Une page sur mon addiction pour le café largement inspirée par les nouvelles plaques à embosser Sizzix !

A peine reçu, aussitot scrappées !

Matériel :

Papiers : Basic Grey, Lilybee Design, Color Conspiracy

Papier paillettes : American Crafts

Cardstock : American Crafts

Alphabets : American Crafts, Jillibean Soup

Cadres : Crate Paper

Embellissements en bois : Studio Calico

Masking Tape :Lovely Tape

Autocollant : Basic Grey

Chipboards : Studio Calico

Tampons : Hero Arts, Glitz Design, 7Gypsies

Encre : Chalk Prima

Divers : Ruban

Dies utilisés :

657212 Sizzix Movers and Shapers magnetic die 2PK-mini hearts set

658380 Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing-Folders 2PK- Coffee Set

658002 Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die- Lace and circles

Commencez par choisir des imprimés dans les tons pastels et un fond de page aux motifs discrets ici mon joli papier à coeurs.

Embossez sur du cardstock blanc la plaque "café", juste idéale pour ma thématique !

Dans la même idée, tamponnez et découpez un tampon tasse de la marque Hero Arts.

Découpez une frise dentellée à l'aide de votre Big Shot, des petits coeurs dans du papier doré, sélectionnez des coeurs en bois, deux cadres pola, des petites bulles chipboards.

Assemblez tous ces éléments autour de votre photo.

Afin qu'ils ressortent bien, montez les coeurs dorés en 3D à l'aide d'adhésifs.

Complétez avec votre titre en jouant sur trois typo différentes.

Ajoutez quelques bandes de masking tape et votre page est terminée !

Karine

Card "Hello"

Travel card Hello

Supply list:

Papers: Basic Grey

Alphabets: American Crafts

Stamp: Craft Origine

Ink: Prima

Wood embellishments: Studio Calico

Die cut: Jillibean Soup

Masking Tape: Lovely Tape

Dies:

658562 Sizzix Movers & Shapers Magneti Die Set -2PK Mini Mustache & Pointed Finger

657007 Sizzix Movers & Shapers Accessory base Tray

658002 Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die-Lace & Circle

Start by cutting a 21x16.5cms rectangle out of a floral paper piece. Fold in half.

Add a blue paper to decorate the background. Add some red masking tape and a border die cut out of a light pink pattern paper.

The embellishments are gathered in the lower left corner: a school label, die cut, flowers, wood accents and a finger cut out of cork.

Then simply add white foam alphabets.

A nice card to wish “happy holidays” realized in very little time!

Karine

Carte voyage Hello

Matériel :

Papiers : Basic Grey

Alphabets : American Crafts

Tampon : Craft Origine

Encre : Prima

Embellissements en bois : Studio Calico

Die cut : Jillibean Soup

Masking Tape : Lovely Tape

658562 Sizzix Movers & Shapers Magneti Die Set -2PK Mini Mustache & Pointed Finger

657007 Sizzix Movers & Shapers Accessory base Tray

658002 Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die-Lace & Circle

Commencez par découper un rectangle de 21x16,5cm dans un papier floral, pliez en deux.

Ajoutez un papier bleu pour habiller le fond. Complétez avec du masking tape à dominante rouge et un die bordure découpé dans un imprimé rose clair.

Les embellissements sont tous concentrés en bas à gauche : étiquette scolaire, die cut, fleurs, décorations en bois et un doigt découpé dans du liège.

Complétez simplement avec des alphabets mousse blancs.

Une jolie carte pour souhaiter de bonnes vacances à réaliser en un minimum de temps !

Karine

teaching with a big shot


For the past couple of Sundays I've been at a knitting and patchwork shop just outside of Leeds called The Skep teaching Bonnie Hunter's scrappy trips around the world blocks.

This pattern is perfect for using up random fat quarters or strips of fabric that you have in your stash that you don't like too much (it's also perfect for those favourite fabrics too).I've made quite a few of these quilts now, they're fast, they're fun and they use up a lot of fabric.

When you use the 2.5" strip die to cut your strips it's also really REALLY fast to get all of your fabric prepared. I've got to admit I get a bit carried away when I'm cutting strips and end up cutting far too many every time!

We had a whole basket of strips to play with, some were lovely, some were quite interesting (to put it politely!)

But I encouraged everyone to grab a mix of colours and prints to get the full effect of the pattern

and I think you'll agree, the results were lovely! There's no such thing as a fabric that's too ugly in a scrap quilt - when it's pieced into a scrappy block you don't notice the 'ugliness' and instead you see the colour or the tone. The big shot is perfect for cutting scraps, and keeping them under control in smaller pieces that can be easily sorted and stored.

You can make your own 'jelly rolls' with the 2.5" strip, or mini charm packs with the square dies, sort them into colours and keep everything nicely organised. Believe me, it makes you feel ever so slightly smug and pleased with yourself when you turn a big pile of scraps into manageable pieces for easy use!