Bunny Banner

bunny banner
I’m so happy Spring is here!!!  All the trees have blossoms, the sun is shining, and it’s time to make things with bunnies!!  I love bunnies – they are the cats of spring 🙂  This garland is a quick project that lets you use your favorite fabrics and can be mad in a few hours.  I choose to use an assortment of Riley Blake Fabrics from lots of different fabric lines.  This is a great scrap buster project.  The bunny is cut with a Sizzix die cut – It’s my favorite!.  You can see my other bunny projects here and here and here 🙂  The bunnies are stabilized by ironing a piece of Heat n Bond lite to the fabric and then ironing it to felt.  Here’s how you can make one:
bunny banner 2

Supplies

Scraps of fabric

felt

cotton twine, cording, ribbon, etc for fabric ties

6-8 feet lace

scraps of lace

Heat n Bond Lite fusible applique paper

Sizzix Bunny die , flower die and bow die

Begin by ironing a piece of Heat n Bond Lite to the wrong side of the fabric.

bunny easter garland

Peel off the backing paper and iron it to the felt.  Be careful when ironing to polyester felt, it can shrink and melt.  Place the iron on the fabric side and only press until the felt is adhered.

IMG_3858

Trim the piece to fit on the Sizzix die.IMG_3859

 

Run it through the Big Shot Machine.bunny easter garland 5

Do the same thing with the flower pieces.IMG_3860

Once all the pieces are cut out, lay them on the desired length of lace.  Pin in place and sew using a straight stitch.  Make sure the bunnies are positioned just so the sewing catches the top of their back, if the bunnies are too high, they will flip over and hang upside down.  The same with the flower, make sure they are bottom heavy.  Once you have the shapes sewn to the lace, add the flower centers and bows.  The flower centers are made by cutting 2 pieces of lace in a 2.5″ or so circle.  Gather a little and tack down with the sewing machine.

bunny banner 5

To make the bows, I used the Sizzix bow die.  I cut the background piece with felt, the “loops: with striped fabric and the center with dots.  I glued them together.  You can use hot glue if you like burning your fingers, or may I suggest Fabric Fuse for a burn free way of gluing fabric 🙂
bunny banner1

Glue the bow to the bunny.

bunny banner 9

bunny garland 2

Baby Mufasa always loves helping 🙂

bunny garland 3

For the scrappy fabric garland, rip 1.5″ x WOF strips of fabric.  Each strip will give you 2.  Cut the strip in half and tie the fabric to the cotton twine.  You can also add in lace, ribbon, etc.  Keep tying and tying and tying!  My friend ties the end of the twine to her foot.  I found it helpful to tie the end of the twine to a door knob, you need to be able to pull the twine tight.

I like how the two look layered together.
bunny banner 3

You can also add a little space between them.

bunny banner 7
bunny banner 8

I have another Sizzix rabbit die – it’s a sitting rabbit.  I made this smaller garland the same only used a cotton canvas for a neutral bunny.  I might add some pom pom tails!
bunny banner 13

 

Ok, I just glued the pom pom tails on and I LOVE it!bunny garland 4

I found this cute Easter printable from Yellow Bliss Road

bunny garland

Heat & Bond One Direction Concert T-Shirts

one direction concert t-shirt_7

In celebration of One Direction’s  release of their new song, Steal My Girl, I thought I would share how to make your own 1D concert T-shirt.  I love going to concerts and we always make some kind of fun T-Shirt to celebrate the occasion.  (click HERE and HERE for Taylor Swift Concert T-shirt ideas) A few weeks ago One Direction was playing at the Rose Bowl so my husband and I took our 6 year old daughter.  To quote her, “This is my dream come true!”

Then the following night I took some cute girls (so their moms wouldn’t have to go) and we rocked out!  Yes – I am officially a One Direction Groupie!

DIY one direction concert t-shirt 2

Here is how you can make your own shirt!!

Supplies:

Small piece of red fabric

Small piece of white fabric

Heat n Bond Lite EZ print sheets

Black T-Shirt

Begin by printing a heart and 1D logo in reverse onto the EZ Print Lite sheets.  These sheets are great because you can run them through your printer and not have to draw the pattern.  I created the heart in MS Word and googled the 1D logo – easy peasy!  Once you print the images, roughly cut out the heart about 1/4″ away from the heart.  Press the heart to the wrong side of the red fabric.  Do the same with the 1D.  Cut out the heart and 1D on the pattern lines.

HeatNBond_EZPrintLite

Next peel off the backing on the 1D and press onto the heart.  Leave the backing on the heart for now.
one direction concert t-shirt

I thought it would be easier to sew the 1D and then iron the heart onto the T-shirt – it’s hard to maneuver a T-shirt in a sewing machine – especially a small, child’s t-shirt.  Sew around the 1D in black thread.

one direction concert t-shirt_3

This is how the back should look:
one direction concert t-shirt._2

Now, peel off the backing paper on the heart.  It may take a little time to peel off all the paper in-between the letters.  Now, press the 1D heart onto the black T-shirt.  Sew around the heart twice in black thread.one direction concert t-shirt._3

 

I love to personalize my concert T-shirts with the date of the concert.  I cut out the words on my cricut in vinyl.  Then I removed the letters to leave a “stencil”.  I put the vinyl stencil on the T-shirt and using a stencil brush and craft paint I stenciled the letters.  Let the paint dry completely then remove the vinyl.  It looks pretty good!!
one direction concert t-shirt diy

one direction concert t-shirt_5

DIY one direction concert t-shirt
one direction concert t-shirt_8
We had too much fun!  Here is a little video clip!!

1D Concert Clip
 

Sewvivor – Jedi Craft Girl

 

Sew-vivor3COMPETITION

Welcome to the Jedi Craft Girl Blog!  I’m Amanda and this is my submission for the Sew-Vivor Sewing Competition over at Family Ever After.  Thanks Rach H for putting so much time and personality into this fun online sewing competition!!  I have been quilting for 16 years and I love quilts in any shape and size .  I couldn’t decide on a quilt to enter so I thought a quilted pillow would be fun and mix things up in the competition.  Meet my Modern Pumpkin Throw Pillow.  This is an original design.  October is a super busy time of year, so to get my fall quilting fix I came up with this 18″ 18″ pillow.  I love it because it has my 2 favorite colors, it involves half square triangle piecing,  and uses machine appliqué.

modern_pumpkin_throw_pillow_tutorial

I love the tightly quilted meanders in the background and the black “loop de loo” accents on the pumpkins…..loop de loo is a real word, right?

IMG_5330

IMG_5331

IMG_5338

I had some fun with the back by adding an appliqué spider below the zipper.

applique_spider_pillowI can’t believe fall is just around the corner – yikes!!!  Thanks so much for stopping by – this is such a fun competition!!!

I Heart Whales Throw Pillow

i love whales pillow tutorial

 

Isn’t this the cutest fabric?  It’s from the True Blue fabric line by Blend.  Everyeday this week I will be featuring a project using fabrics from this fabric line – all with a whale theme!!i love whales pillow tutorial_2

I totally LOVE whales and I have loved them since I was like 4 years old 🙂  I thought this pillow was super fun and I love the colors!  My tutorial is over at the Therm O Web blog – so hop over there if you want the instructions to make your own!!

i love whales pillow tutorial_18

i love whales pillow tutorial_17

i love whales pillow tutorial_16

I’m Back

IMG_8957

When I came home from our Young Women’s Camp (which I was the director of) I literally hit a wall and wend into hiding.  I was completely exhausted spiritually and physically.  I turned 40 that next week.  My children were all away at my parents.  My good friend and her family moved away.  I think I had some kind of break down or something.  It was the hardest week of my life!!!!  I am writing to say I am getting back to my usual self – but it’s been hard.  Has anyone else freaked out when they turned 40?  I really didn’t see it coming!!

 

Here is a little recap….

My friend invited my husband and I to the Kenny Loggins concert on my birthday.  It was super fun and we got to meet Kenny afterwards.  It was a good place to turn 40 – I was the youngest person there!!!
IMG_9100

 

My friend and her family moving away from Southern California to Utah – not a good day at all.

IMG_9142

I finally made it up to my parents house to for a family reunion.  They surprised me with another birthday party.  40 – really?IMG_9181

We had fun at the beach:

IMG_9177

Lots of swimming!IMG_9519

Peach PickingIMG_9483

and fun dinners!!
IMG_9417

I hope everyone is having a great summer.  Summer is my favorite for sure!!  It’s good to be back 🙂

“Manly” Zipper Pouch, aka I LOVE Bacon

 

zipper pouch father's day

 

Do the men in your life LOVE bacon?  The ones in my life do 🙂  Bacon themed items are super popular and what I love most about the bacon trend is Jim Gaffigan’s comedy bit about bacon – if you haven’t heard it -click HERE … you will laugh so hard!!  This week at Jedi Craft Girl has been all about the fabric line Ribs & Bibs and Father’s Day
.  I love this zipper pouch because it is “manly”.  I used a light weight black denim on the outside, a chunky metal zipper, and the taupe utensil fabric on the inside.  I used white house paint to stencil the word “Bacon” on the bag.  Therm o Web fusible stabilizer gives the bag more stability.  This zipper pouch is my new FAVORITE!!!

101.113.05.2_Web

Here’s how you can make one:

Supplies

fat quarters of outer lightweight denim fabric

fat quarters of lining – I used taupe “grill master”

fat quarter “open pit” for pig motif

Therm O Web Fusible interfacing, medium weight

Heat n Bond Lite fusible applique

White paint

Zipper

Letter stencils or cutting machine

 

Cut (2) lining pieces (2) denim pieces and (4) interfacing pieces 8″ x 11″

Begin by preparing the stencil  I used some extra vinyl I had laying around (that’s why it’s pink) and ran it through my Cricut.  I used the font “Playbill”, weed the letters to leave the outline.
bacon zipper pouch father's day tutorial

 

Using a masking strip to adhere the stencil, place the Bacon word on the center of the denim piece.bacon zipper pouch father's day tutorial_4

Using a stencil brush, stencil with white paint.  I literally used the trim paint from my house.
bacon zipper pouch father's day tutorial_2Let it dry then peel off the stencil.  I love how it turned out!

bacon zipper pouch father's day tutorial_5

Here are the pieces you should have cut 8″ x 11″

bacon zipper pouch father's day tutorial_6

Iron the interfacing to the wrong side of both the lining pieces and both the outer bag pieces – 4 total.  Iron a piece of Heat n Bond to the wrong side of the pig fabric.  I liked the red pig the best.  Cut out around the pig leaving a little white boarder.  Stitch around the pig in white thread.  Press the front of the bag, heat setting the painted letters.bacon zipper pouch father's day tutorial_7

Now you are ready to construct the bag.  Follow this tutorial here.   A word of advice if you are using a chunky metal zipper…..It was my goal to not break my needle.  I was super careful to hand move the needle when near the zipper – that way the needle can find it’s way around the zipper teeth.  I thought I was in the clear and then resumed with the pedal and snap – the needle broke – darn!  I bet you can do it without breaking the needle 🙂

bacon zipper pouch father's day tutorial_8

I just love this project to pieces!  I might need one for myself – my kids all want one too!!


The Perfect Potholder {Father’s Day Tutorial}

the perfect potholder

I know the claim “The Perfect Potholder” is pretty bold!!  I am a bit of a potholder snob.  I can’t stand silicone ones, I don’t like them if they are too stiff or puffy, I also don’t like them if they are too thin.  I love the cute quilty ones, but I am always afraid to use them.  So I resort to my trusty terrycloth potholders…..behold:

hot pad tutorial

Aren’t they beautiful!  haha!!  They’ve been used and washed at least a million times and I can never give them up…..until TODAY when I came up with a homemade version that is just as functional yet much more stylish.  The trick is that I cut up a hand towel (or bath towel), layered with batting and quilted it.  Are you ready for the tutorial?  Here we go:

Supplies:

1 bath or hand towel (not kitchen) the thicker the better!

Fat Quarter Bibs and Ribs fabric – still loving it!!

Scraps of cotton batting

fabric for the binding

Therm O Web Spray n Bond

Begin by cutting the towel 8.5″ square

hot pad tutorial_3

 

also cut the batting and fabric the same size, 8.5″ square.

hot pad tutorial_4

Use the basting spray to baste all the lawyer together with the batting in the middle.

hot pad tutorial_2_5
Quilt as desired.  I made 4 of these and did vertical lines, diagonal lines and then criss cross.  Using a cup, draw a rounded corner on each of the corners and trim along the line.

hot pad tutorial_6

 

hot pad tutorial_7

Cut the binding on the bias 2.5″ x WOF, or enough to sew around the potholder.  Sew the binding to the back of the  potholder then pull the binding around and machine sew the top of the binding down.hot pad tutorial_8

Seriously, tears of joy were shed over this project.  I cannot contain my excitement!!  It actually feels just like my old trusty potholders – YIPPEE!!!hot pad tutorial_9

Now that I knew they were a success, I got a little creative.  Try rounding all the corners but the top left corner like this:

hot pad tutorial_10

 

Then sew the binding like this:hot pad tutorial_11

 

Take the little tail and give it a twirl to make a loop to hang or to just be decorative or to just finish the binding nicely.

hot pad tutorial_14

They are the perfect addition to my collection of Father’s Day Gifts!!
hot pad tutorial_12

New Home for Jedi Craft Girl!!!

I have moved my blog to www.jedicraftgirl.com.  You will be taken there momentarily.  If you are not able to redirect automatically, please click HERE.

See you after the jump!!!!
Amanda

Harper Girl: Blogger’s Quilt Festival Entry

union jack quilt_2
Thanks for stopping by!! This is my second entry in the Spring Blogger’s Quilt Festival at Amy’s Creative Side. Here is my “Harper Girl” quilt. I created it for a dear friend’s new baby, Harper.
AmysCreativeSide.com

I was inspired by this Union Jack Panel from Riley Blake Designs as Harper’s mommy loves all thing British.

The quilt measures 30″x39″. The letters are machine appliquéd and the quilting is by machine as well. To read more about the quilt or instructions on how to make your own, click here.

union jack quilt_3

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Amanda

Bunny Bricks: Bloggers Quilt Festival Entry

DSC_0650
Thanks for stopping by! I am entering this quilt in the Spring Bloggers Quilt Festival over at Amy’s Creative Side. I recently created this quilt called “Bunny Bricks” and it’s one of my favorite. I just can’t get enough of those appliqué bunnies!
AmysCreativeSide.com
bunny quilt 6
The quilt measures 38″ x 54″. The fabric I adore – It’s called Grace from Anna Griffin. I machine appliquéd the bunnies and machine quilted the quilt.

 

I have it hanging in my family room. I made it for Easter, but I can’t part with it just yet!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!


Amanda