Fun With Sizzix Dresses

Today we are playing with the Sizzix Fabi and having lots of summer fun!  I used this dress die to create a nautical inspired quilt block.

sizzix dress 3

To create this block, I used the pennant die to cut the banner.

Screen Shot 2015-07-27 at 10.41.15 AMI trimmed it down slightly to make them smaller.  The dress is cut from navy dots and the sash from red and white stripe.  I used Heat n Bond Lite on the back of the dress and the pennants to adhere to the white 8.5″ square.  I drew an anchor on the Heat n Bond Lite and appliquéd it to the dress, adding small ric rac accents.  I stitched around all the pieces. Seriously, can I get this dress in my size!!!!!

sizzix dress

 

I am sending the dress block to Sizzix and they are sewing an entire quilt with dress blocks that designers create!  I can’t wait to see everyone’s block!!sizzix dress nautical anchor

Sizzix also makes a little girl dress die.  I let Sally, my 7 year old, have at it with a box of paper, this Dress Die, and the Fabi.  She had hours and hours of fun designing her own fashions.  sizzix dress 2

 

sizzix dress 6We used miniature clothespins to display all of her creations!
sizzix dress 5
I love that the Sizzix machines are simple to use.  My children and I love creating together 🙂

Scripture Cover Tutorial Featuring Vintage Market from Riley Blake Designs

scripture cover tutorial

My daughter and I recently received new scriptures and with new scriptures comes a need for new covers!  I love these little quilted covers, I think of them as blankets for your bibles….heehee 🙂  The Riley Blake Designs fabric I am using is called Vintage Market Fabric by Tasha Noel.  Absolutly everything Tasha designs is too cute for words.  I can’t decide which little scene is my favorite!  I love jam, bicycles, quilts, sewing machines, and all vintage goods.  I guess I love it all!!!

This pattern will walk you through the steps of determining the measurements for your bible or book and how to create a quilted cover.  The two examples shown are a set of regular “quad” scriptures and then the larger “quad” scriptures.  scripture cover  vintage market 5

The first step is to take the measurements of the book.  Hold the tape measure from cover to cover with the book closed as pictured below.  Write down that length measurement.  Then do the same thing width wise and record that number.

scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market

MEASUREMENTS

To determine the measurements for the width (top to bottom), add 1″ to the width measurement and then subtract 1/8″.

To determine the measurements for the length (side to side), measure the length and add 6″.

For the regular quad, the book measures:  7 3/8″ x 13″ so the number we are after is 8 1/4″ x 19″

For the large quad, the book measures: 9 3/8″ x 15″ so the number we are after is 10 1/4″ x 21″

Overview

IMG_8804

Here is a photo of what the finished cover looks like.  The inside consists of 2 flaps to insert the book cover.  The cover also extends beyond the book so it wraps around and buttons to close.IMG_8802

Construct the Quilted Cover

Following the instructions for the “quilt” will give you a quilt that is slightly larger than the measurements required.  Not to worry, I have put a little “extra” in as the quilt tends to shrink after being quilted.  Once it is pieced and quilted you will square it up to the measurements you determined at the beginning.

The quilt consists of 3.5″ cut blocks that finish 3″ square.  The Vintage Market motifs are fussy cut.  They are alternated with hourglass blocks.

How to Fussy Cut

There are many ways to fussy cut an image, this is my method.  Cut a 3.5″ square out of a piece of card stock.  Use this as a little window to center the motif.  Draw a pencil line around the 3.5″ square.  Keep in mind you will have 1/4″ seam allowances.
scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 4

Using scissors  do a rough cut around the pencil line.  Then place the image on a cutting mat and use the pencil lines as a guide to line up the ruler.  Make sure to match the ruler to the grid as the pencil marks might be off slightly.  Any pencil marks shown will be caught in the seam allowance.

scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 5

Next, wrangle your cat away from the fabric so you can continue with this project 🙂

scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 6

Hour Glass Block

To make the hourglass block, cut a light 5″ charm square and a dark 5″ charm square.  Draw a diagonal line on the back of the light square.
scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 7

Place the light and dark squares right sides together.  Sew 1/4″ seam along both sides of the pencil line.  Cut apart and press toward the dark.  
scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 8

Take the two half square triangle (HST) units and draw a diagonal line on one of the wrong sides.  Place the HST units together so the lights and darks are opposite, match the center seam.  Sew 1/4″ along both sides of the drawn line.  Cut apart along the pencil line and press the seams open.
scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 10
This will give you 2 hour glass blocks.  Next, place the hourglass block on the cutting mat and “square up” to measure 3.5″.  Make sure to align each diagonal seam with the 45 degree lines on the cutting grid.

scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 11

It will look nice and perfect when you are done!

scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 13

For the regular quad, you need (5) fussy cut squares and (5) hourglass blocks

For the large quad, you need (9) fussy cut squares and (9) hourglass blocks

If you are creating your own book cover with different measurements, you need enough squares to get closest to your measurement, but not to exceed the measurement.  There will be accent strips to make up the difference.

Piece the quilt together using 1/4″ seams, block by block, pressing toward the fussy cut blocks.  Then join the rows together, pressing seams open.  The regular size of scriptures has 2 rows and the large size of scriptures has 3 rows.

For both sizes of scriptures, sew a 2″ strip along the top and bottom of the “quilt”.  No need to measure, it can hang off, it will all get squared up soon.  Press seams toward the strips.

scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 14

scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 15

Square up the sides and sew a 2.5″ strip to the right side and a 2.5″ strip to the left side.  Press seams toward the strips.  It is best if these are different colors as they will be overlapping once the cover is finished.

scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 16

Again, do this no matter what size scriptures you are using.

scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 18

Baste the quilt to the batting.  I love to use Spray n Bond because I can baste this little quilt in about 30 seconds!!!  Quilt as desired.

scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 19

Once it is quilted it is time to square up the finished quilt cover.  Here are the measurements again:

For the regular quad: 8 1/4″ x 19″

For the large quad: 10 1/4″ x 21″

It is best to determine the center and than count each side out so the top and bottom strips look even.scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 20

Next cut an angle off the LEFT side of the quilt.  NOT THE RIGHT SIDE LIKE I DID.
DON'T

Cut the angle on the LEFT side.  For the 2-row quilt, measure in 2″ and angle down 2.5″.  Do this on both corners.  For the 3-row quilt, change the measurements to 2″ in and 3″ down.

cutting

You can add lace or other decorative trim at this point.

scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 30

Our quilt is finished!  WhoooHoooo!!!

Flaps

Prepare the flaps by cutting (2) squares the size of the width measurement.  For the regular quad it is 8 1/4″ square and for the large quad it is 10 1/4″ square.scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 22

Press both flaps in half.  Set aside one flap.  On the second flap, press the edges opposite the half crease under 1/4″ inches like this:

scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 23

Cut the lining piece (pink) the measurements of the quilt:

For the regular quad: 8 1/4″ x 19″

For the large quad: 10 1/4″ x 21″

Position the flap without the pressed seams on the left, aligning the raw edges and the folded part toward the center. flap placement

Place the flap with the pressed under edges at the 14″ mark for the regular quad scriptures  and the 16″ mark for the large quad scriptures.  If you are determining your own measurements you would subtract the length of the quilt by 5″.  Pin the right flap in place and top stitch along the folded edges.  The left flap will be caught in the final seam.

scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 26

Place the quilted cover on the lining/flap piece, right sides together.  Match all edges and pin in place.  Don’t worry about the angles, we will cut them later.

scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 27

Leave an opening for turning where the colored pins are:

scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 28

Sew all the way around the cover using 1/4″ seams.  If your seams are larger the cover won’t fit.  Trim off the excess lining where the angles are.  Clip the corner and turn right side out.  Press all edges and press opening edges under.  Top stitch the opening closed.

scripture cover tutorial riley blake designs vintage market 29

The inside should look like this (below).  You can add a little top stitching around the angle flap.  Don’t top stitch around the entire cover or the book won’t fit inside.

IMG_8803

Insert the scriptures and mark where you want the button holes.  If your measurements only call for 2 rows of quilt blocks, you only need 1 button.  For the larger version with 3 rows of quilt blocks, it is helpful to have 2 buttons.  Sew the button holes and then hand sew the buttons, making sure not to catch the thread in the flap.

You’re done!!!!

You can use regular buttons or make covered buttons like these ones:

IMG_8815

True fact:  If you have cute scriptures you are more likely to read them 🙂

scripture cover vintage market

scripture cover vintage market 4

scripture cover vintage market 2

I hope you enjoy this tutorial!  Let me know how yours comes out 🙂scripture cover vintage market 3

Riley Blake Designs Lobster Pillows

riley blake lobster pillowsDSC_0456

lobster pillow riley blake 6

lobster summer pillow riley blake

Home-Dec-Love-AD-01-731x1024I am so happy to be a part of the Riley Blake Designs Home Dec Love Blog Tour!  If you are new to my blog WELCOME!!!!  I love all things nautical and when I saw this RBD Lobster fabric it was love at first sight!  These lobster pillows are the perfect addition to your indoor or outdoor summer decorating.  I like to pretend I have a sailboat and these are the perfect pillows for a relaxing cruise around the bay 🙂  You can find the Lobster fabrics on RBD website.  Let’s get started!

Supplies:

3/4 yard each blue, cream, and red lobster print

1/2 yard natural canvas or denim

2.5 yards trim per pillow

20″ pillow form

22″ zipper

Craft paint

stencil patterns, Click HERE and HERE for Lobster.  Click HERE and HERE for BEACH letters

Begin by creating a stencil.  There are 2 methods I like to use.  The first is to upload the graphic to my cutting program for my vinyl cutter and cut the image in vinyl and peel out the inside leaving a single-use stencil.  The second way is to trace the image on plastic binder dividers and cut it out with and craft knife.  This way you can use the stencil over and over.  For this project I cut the images on my cutting machine.

Cut the fabrics according to the cutting guide below:

pillow cutting instructionsProceed to stencil the letters and the lobster on the corresponding cuts of fabric.

riley blake lobster pillow

riley blake lobster pillow 3

riley blake lobster pillow 5

riley blake lobster pillow 4  riley blake lobster pillow 6

riley blake lobster pillow 15Once the paint has dried, heat set the image with a hot iron.  Piece the strips together as shown in the picture.  Press seams and top stitch along seams.

riley blake lobster pillow 11

riley blake lobster pillow 12Now prepare the back.  Make sure to have your cat inspect and sit on all fabrics!!

riley blake lobster pillow 7

Cut the back pieces 20″ x 20″riley blake lobster pillow 8

Make a cut at the 4″ mark.  This is where the zipper will go.riley blake lobster pillow 9

Sew the zipper in and press the zipper open.  Trim off excess zipper.riley blake lobster pillow 10   Baste the trim all the way around the pillow, beginning and ending at the bottom center of the pillow.  I rounded the corners as I basted the trim in place.  Place the pillow front to the pillow back right sides together.  MAKE SURE ZIPPER IS OPEN PARTIALLY.  Pin, matching edges all the way around the pillow.  Sew using a generous 1/4″ seam allowance.  Clip excess corners and turn right side out.  Insert pillow formriley blake lobster pillow 13

lobster summer pillow riley blake 2 lobster pillow riley blake 4

lobster pillow riley blake

lobster pillow riley blake 3

lobster pillow riley blake 7

lobster pillow riley blake designs

lobster pillow riley blake 9Check out all these amazing projects featuring Riley Blake Designs Home Decorating Fabric!

 

Birthday Cat-Cake Towel Tutorial

cat cakes

It’s my birthday today!  To celebrate I made this fun appliqué towel with cat cupcakes – or Cat Cakes as I call them!  I bought this toweling by the yard.  It comes in lots of colors and styles.

birthday cat cupcake applique day sail 16

To make this towel you need:

1 towel or 1 yard toweling

6 charm squares for cats and cakes, I used Day Sail by Moda

3 scraps for candles

Heat n Bond Lite cut into 5″ squares

birthday cat cupcake applique day sail 6I used the Sizzix cat head and the Sizzix cupcake bottom to create the Cat-Cakes.Screen Shot 2015-07-03 at 7.51.52 AMScreen Shot 2015-07-03 at 7.51.21 AMIron the Heat n Bond Lite to the wrong side of the charm squares and run it through the Sizzix Fabi.  Make sure to position the fabric over the desired shape.  I cut out all 3 at once!

birthday cat cupcake applique day sail 9

birthday cat cupcake applique day sail 10

 

Peel off the backing paper and position the Cat Cakes on the bottom of the towel.  Press to set in place.  Sew around each shape 2 times with navy thread.birthday cat cupcake applique day sail 11

birthday cat cupcake applique day sail 15

 

Make sure your cat approves 🙂birthday cat cupcake applique day sail 21

 

If you don’t have a July birthday, make this to celebrate our Nation’s Birthday!!!birthday cat cupcake applique day sail 14

 

Or make one for your cat’s birthday 🙂birthday cat cupcake applique day sail 2
birthday cat cupcake applique day sail 5

birthday cat cupcake applique day sail 23

Mufasa loves the Sizzix Fabi.  He hears me getting it out and comes running!!!birthday cat cupcake applique day sail 24

Sizzix Crazy Cat Lady Coasters

cat coasters

I am sharing this fun tutorial for “Cat Coasters” over on the Sizzix blog today.  This is a fun project to use up charm squares or other scraps of fabric you have laying around.  Of course you can always change the appliqué to something that reflects you if you are not a crazy cat lady like I am 🙂 cat coasters sizzix. 3

I used the cat head from the “cat die”.  I also used some of my Heat n Bond Lite scraps I had laying around.  I love scrap buster projects!cat coasters sizzix. 5

cat coasters sizzix. 4I

Fast and Easy Sizzix Projects

Much of my life is not magazine -cover picture perfect.  Life is real, my house is messy and I run behind.  I have tried to keep my blog posts authentic to who I am and what I’m doing.   I don’t create for the sake of posting on IG or blogging about it.  Every product or fabric I share is something I truly love.  This summer I have been involved in several major youth activities: a Pioneer Trek Reenactment and a Young Women Camp for girls age 12-18.  Both these experiences were amazing.  I want to share a few projects I made for these activities using my Sizzix Fabi.  It’s my go to creative device, especially when I am in a hurry!

The night before I left for the Pioneer Trek I decided I need to add a little something to this plain muslin cross-body satchel.  I used the Sizzix Large Dresden plate and the 4″ circle.  I put Heat n Bond Ultra on the back of each fabric before die-cutting since I wouldn’t be able to sew the appliqué pieces.

IMG_8031

Here we are in our authentic Pioneer attire.  I took this bag everywhere!!!IMG_8065

For our Young Women Camp I like to have the leaders wear matching shirts – it really makes it easy to find us!  Our theme Anchored in Christ and everything we did had a nautical reference to it.  This fish die is one of my favorites!  I used some fun Riley Blake Designs Prints and Heat n Bond Feather Lite.IMG_8162

I decided to only use 3 fish instead of 4.  You have to be careful on placement 🙂IMG_8165

I appliquéd around each of the fish in navy thread.

IMG_8167

 

Aren’t we just adorable at camp in our neon pink fish shirts!!!  IMG_8263

#kittyquilter Mini Quilt Tutorial


kitty quilter mini quilt

Hey there all you crazy cat quilter friends!  I have a fun mini quilt for you!!  I love using the hashtag #kittyquilter on Instagram.  There is something about felines and quilting that just go so well together!  Baby Mufasa is involved in every step of the quilting process: choosing fabric, cutting, basting, and binding – he’s right there!

kitty quilter mini quilt 15

This fun little quilt sews up fast.  The fabrics are from Blend Fabrics’ Best in Show fabric line.  I am sew in love with the kitty faces fabric – I ordered more yardage to make a skirt!!!   You could easily make this with your favorite cat theme print fabric.

This quilt has 2 different traditional quilt blocks: Kitty in the Corner and King’s Crown.  I choose kitty in the corner for obvious reasons and I choose King’s Crown because Mufasa means King!  Isn’t that the cutest!!  Let’s get started!  (1/4″ seams throughout)

Supplies:

1/4 yard of a variety of coordinating fabrics including cat theme print

Heat n Bond Lite EZ print Sheets

#kittyquilter letters

batting

1/2 yard backing

1/4 yard binding

Fussy Cut (4) Cats

Choose the cats you want in the center of the blocks and cut them 3.5″ square.

kitty quilter mini quilt 2

Kitty in the Corner Block 6.5″ finished

Make (2) of these

Cut the fabric according to the diagram pictured below.  I don’t know about you, but I love when measurements are shown in pictures and not in a long list of cutting instructions.

kitty in the corner quilt block diagram

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the (4) white squares.  Match a white square and a patterned square right sides together and sew on the pencil line.  Cut 1/4″ away from the seam.  Press to the dark.  Do this with each of the (4) white blocks and (4) patterned blocks.  This makes (4) half square triangle (HST) units.  Arrange them as pictured below and sew as you would a traditional 9-patch.

IMG_7601

Kings Crown Block 6.5″ finished

Cut the fabrics according to the picture below.  Make sure to cut (8) white 2″x2″ squares, I only have 4 in the picture.
kings crown quilt bloock

 

Draw a diagonal line on the back of the (8) white squares.  Next make (4) flying geese units by laying the white square right sides together with a patterned rectangle, matching up the 3 edges.  Sew on the line as pictured below:

kitty quilter mini quilt 4

Trim 1/4″ next to the seam and press toward the dark.  Place another white square on top of that unit and sew on the line, as pictured below:

kitty quilter mini quilt 9

Cut 1/4″ away from the seam and press again.  The block should look like this:
kitty quilter mini quilt

If you turn the flying geese blocks around it makes a Sawtooth Star pattern.  I love that each of these blocks has the same center measurement and only a variation on the 2″ sides!

Sew the block together and press seams open.

kitty quilter mini quilt 8Happy Cat blocks!!

kitty quilter mini quilt 12

kitty quilter mini quilt 7
Prepare the applique

Print the letters on the EZ print sheets and iron them to the back of the desired fabric.  Cut around each letter and peel off the backing paper.

kitty quilter mini quilt 11

Cut the remaining strips according to this cutting diagram:

#kittyquilter design

Position the letters on the white strip and press in place.  Top stitch around each letter.
kitty quilter mini quilt 13

Sew the (4) blocks together and press seams open.  Sew each of the rows together according to the layout diagram.  Quilt, bind, and let the cat have a nap on it:)

kitty quilter mini quilt 18

Mufasa loves it!  and I hope you do too!!!

kitty quilter mini quilt 14

Quilt Design Board DIY

quilt design board diy 7

I purchased this rather large frame off of Craigslist last year.  It’s been sitting in my garage and I didn’t know what to do with it.  The other day I though, “Gee it would be nice to have a quilt block design board!”  The hamsters in my brain began spinning their little wheel and I put 2 and 2 together!  Here’s how you can make one!

IMG_7564

quilt design board diy

Supplies:

a large frame with an ugly picture 🙂 – you can totally paint the frame, I liked the vintagey metallic of this frame

If your frame is empty, you will need a piece of 1/4″ plywood that is cut to fit inside the frame

Batting, enough to fill the frame plus 2.5″ on each side 2 times

Hot glue

Nails

quilt design board diy 3

Begin by laying the picture or plywood on the cotton batting.  Cut around the picture leaving about 2.5″ on each side.  Then cut another piece of batting the same size.

Place the picture or plywood in the center of the first piece of batting.  Begin hot gluing around the edges and adhering the edge of the batting – pulling so the batting is taught.  Continue gluing all the way around.  Then repeat this process with the second piece of batting, pulling and gluing and burning your fingers.
quilt design board diy 2

I was a little worried the picture with 2 layers of batting would be too thick for the frame, but it fit perfectly, it almost didn’t need to be secured.  Insert the batting covered board into the frame.  Hammer a few nails around the frame to secure.  Then add picture hanging wire, making sure it’s the proper weight for the frame.  Tada – done in about 5 minutes!!!

quilt design board diy 5Baby Mufasa approves!  I had to hurry and hang it so he wouldn’t claw it!!
quilt design board diy 6

It’t perfect to display all your blocks in progress.  I like that mine is always different depending on what I’m working on.  It’s like having a new picture everyday!

IMG_7566

Come Sail Away With Me {pattern}

IMG_7534I am sooooo excited to announce the release of my new pattern!  I had so much fun creating it.  I was inspired by all the wonderful prints in the Day Sail fabric line by Moda.  The fabrics are AMAZING!  I didn’t want to cut it up into tiny pieces, I wanted the fabrics to shine!  I feel like they do in this quilt.  I love all things nautical and I NEEDED a nautical quilt!  So meet Come Sail Away With Me!!

This pattern also includes a bonus wall quilt pattern.  The pattern is available to purchase HERE.

day sail nautical quiltThe large quilt measures 59″ square.  The perfect size for a picnic, day at the beach, or to take on your sail boat…..heehee I wish I had a sail boat!  day sail nautical quilt

The Wall Quilt measures 41″ x 48″ – perfect to hang, fold over a couch or lay on a table.

daysail moda nautical quilt

Baby Mufasa was very helpful in creating this quilt!!  #kittyquilter

IMG_7502


daysail by moda nautical quilt pattern
I hope you love these quilts as much as I do!  Thanks for stopping by!
Day Sail Moda Quilt Nautical

Day Sail Nautical Quilt patern

IMG_7535

Blogger’s Quilt Festival Original Quilt Entry – Choose Happy

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I love The Blogger’s Quilt Festival!  And a big thanks to Amy for doing such an amazing job at putting this on!  It’s so fun to come together as quilters – everyone is so talented!  This is my entry in the Origional Quilt Category :  It’s called Choose Happy!  The fabrics are from Pat Sloan for Moda and scream HAPPY!!.  I actually designed this quilt with the intent of giving it as a gift.  My friend always uses the phrase Choose Happy.  Such great words to live by!  I wanted to incorporate that thought in this quilt so she could hang it in her home.
The quilt measures 30″x 40.5″
It has 16 pinwheel blocks surrounding the machine appliquéd “Choose Happy”.
It is machine quilted and hand bound
The pattern is actually available for free on the Therm O Web Blog 🙂  Just for you!!!IMG_5954
I love the pebble quilting around the words – some of the fabric actually has this same pattern!
choose happy quilt 26
I just feel happy inside when I look at this quilt – I hope you do too!  It was really fun to make!

Mufasa approves!!  Thanks for stopping by!!!

choose happy quilt 25