nichol magouirk

Silhouette Rhinestones (Christmas Decor)

I am so, so, SO excited about Silhouette's newest venture: Rhinestones. To learn all about this amazing new concept check out the Silhouette Blog HERE.

To see the Rhinestone products click HERE.

I just got my rhinestone product late last week and couldn't wait to break it out as soon as I got home from my girlfriends scrapbook retreat! I have been putting off sewing a few Christmas pillow covers and after seeing some of the cute new rhinestone designs I decided to take a break from "work" and dive right into a sewing project. Just the right medicine for a not-so-great-day. 

Here are the Silhouette Rhinestone designs I picked for my pillow:

mistletoe_C00341_2581

 

merry_C20091125002540_20509

 

christmas_phrase_C20091125004913_20509

 

I opened each design in the same window/project in my Silhouette software, using a landscape format so that the longer word would fit. Then I moved the designs until I found a design I liked.

A few notes:

• You can not change the size of the shapes or the rhinestones will not work. Each of the little holes is specifically sized to work with the rhinestones and can not be altered.
• I set up my designs to cut twice (I copied and pasted the design one right on top of the other). This helped my machine cut all the way through the rhinestone template material. I used the pink cutting tip and the "index 90" setting. You don't use a cutting mat with the rhinestone template material.
• I did use three different colors of rhinestones: red, green and clear.  I probably could have covered up part of the design with masking tape but I didn't want to go search for it so I was just careful as to where I dumped them on my design. ;)
• I applied the rhinestones to my pillow cover front and then I sewed the back panels in place. The front panel for my pillow was 14.5" x 14.5". 
• The back panels for my pillow were 14.5" x 12.5". (Cut two of these, fold the long end over twice and sew the seam in place. I created button holes on the back and sewed buttons on. That way I can remove the pillow cover after the Christmas season and put something else in it's place. :)

What the rhinestones look like on the template:

 

After the rhinestones are ironed in place on the pillow cover front (prior to sewing the pillow together):

 
The completed pillow:  

 
This one turned out so well that I'm making another one tonight. This time with cute little trees I think and on red suede fabric (the green on this pillow is suede as well). :)

More fun rhinestone shares coming your way tomorrow!

Have a great evening!

 
 

Fun With Type Fonts Layout + A Sewing Project

I am a week behind but wanted to share my layout for Kelly Purkey's Fun With Type Class from last week. The challenge was to use fonts. 

I used a font I had (Harlow Solid Italic) and cut it out of Kraft Cardstock using my Silhouette to create the background for my layout. A little bit different take on using fonts on a layout.

 

Here's a close-up for the background:

I am addicted to using the same color right on top of each other for subtle texture.

I also used that same font to create my title in Photoshop. I simply opened a digi kit and chose one of the papers and then typed my text right on top and printed it. Easy peasy.

I am also addicted to these little feltie monsters from Sassafras. Love them.

Silhouette designs used:

circle_number_set_C20090914004641_20509

 

thought_bubble_1819

 

Supplies:

Monstrosities Collection Kit by Sassafras Lass 
Monstrosities 12x12 Paper Pad by Sassafras Lass 
Line Up Double Sided Monstrosities Paper by Sassafras Lass 
Mash Double Sided Monstrosities Paper by Sassafras Lass 
Framed Double Sided Monstrosities Paper by Sassafras Lass 
Black 12x12 AC Cardstock by American Crafts 
Kraft Cardstock 
Monster Pal Brads by Sassafras Lass 
Silly Monster Felties by Sassafras Lass 
Tiny, tiny brads by CTMH 
Circle Punches
Silhouette SD Digital Craft Cutting Tool 
Tiny Attacher by Tim Holtz 
Slit Punch by Stampin' Up
DigiKit - So Caught up in You Page Kit by Michelle Underwood 
DigiKit - Curled Photo Frames White by Mary Ann Wise 

I spent the other day sewing. I would love to say I got more than one pillow cover done (as I had planned) but this one took me several hours. I sort of just pieced it together as I went. ;) I will get around to sewing several more pillow covers soon but for now I wanted to share this one:

I used the Sweetwater Authentic Collection Fabrics from Moda for this pillow cover. (It's an 18" pillow)

Here's the back:

 

Having the cover button on/off makes it easy to change it out with seasonal pillow covers or wash it when it inevitably gets dirty. ha!

For the flower I used some Therm O Web Heat N Bond Iron On Adhesive on a strip of fabric and then cut the "flower petals" from it, removed the paper backing and ironed then in place on the front of the pillow. Then I just randomly stitched around the petals to secure them and to add a decorative touch.

The center of the flower is a Prima floral and a MM Vintage button. :) Love being able to incorporate "scrapbooking product" into my sewing projects!

Fleur Danseur Arabesque by Prima Marketing 
Silver Buttons Vintage Findings by Making Memories 

 

I did remove the rhinestones from the Prima Flower. I didn't really like the way they looked with this project and they pulled off easily. :)

Okay, back to work I go! Getting ready for a big birthday party/sleepover tomorrow for my almost 9 year old daughter and then we're going to see Wicked as a family on Sunday. Can't wait!

Sewing Questions + Silhouette Shares

Good morning!

First thing, thank you for all your comments on the die cutting machines. Please keep those requests and comments coming. If you have a response please post it HERE on this post. I really appreciate all the feedback.

Next, some sewing stuff. :)

Yaneri asked: Do you know any blogs that are great with doing projects, especially for beginners! Please let me know! Or if anyone who posts......

Here are a few sewing links/blogs I visit:

Susan Weinroth: she is an amazing scrapbooker and sewer extraordinaire. Love her.

Heather Bailey: love her fabrics and her blog is eye candy.

Sandi Henderson: more amazing fabrics and her blog is full of eye candy as well.

Sweetwater Blog: you know that amazing green/black/cream fabric I shared on that t-shirt project? Well they have a blog. There are some fun sewing projects scattered throughout. I want to try making THIS quilt.

Moda Bake Shop: Some really fun projects posted here too. I've found several things I'm just itching to try. 

Fiskars Craft: There are some cute sewing/quilting projects shared here too.

Rhadonda mentioned youcanmakethis.com. There are some darling projects found here, too!

If anyone wants to share more links or websites let me know and I'll add them to the list!

Sweetwater Authentic Fabric

Robin wanted to know where I purchased my fabric for the t-shirt. I bought mine HERE at the Fat Quarter Shop. It loooks like they are sold out of the fat quarter bundle I purchased but they have several other items. You can also purchase the fat quarter bundle HERE at Hancocks fabric online. And HERE is a link to all the Sweetwater Authentic collection that they carry. You can buy individual fabrics, etc. at Hancocks. I purchased a couple of the jelly rolls to make a quilt. :) I can't wait.

Silhouette Shares:

Seeing how it's almost time for another release (get ready for some spooky and scary designs this coming Thursday!) I thought I had better share some of the rest of my projects from the September 10th release!

How about some Christmas Tags?

These tags were cut with this new Silhoeutte design:

tag_2130

I cut them out of craft paper, stamped them with Versamark ink and then heat embossed with white embossing powder. Then I added ribbons, florals and stamped greetings that I embossed as well. I love these tags. I want to make a bunch of them for the upcoming holiday season!

Supplies:

Big Holiday Words Design Block Stamp by Hero Arts 
Stunning Snowflakes Design Block Stamp by Hero Arts 
Holiday Sayings Clear Stamps by Hero Arts 
Large Sentiments Clear Acrylic Stamp Set by American Crafts 
Versamark Ink by Hero Arts 
Zing! White Opaque Embossing Powder by American Crafts 
Zing! Green Metallic Embossing Powder by American Crafts 
Zing! Rouge Opaque Embossing Powder by American Crafts 
Silver Large Brads by American Crafts 
Misteltoe Poinsettia Blossoms by Making Memories 
Winter Mix Flower Shop Blossoms by Making Memories 
Silhouette SD Digital Craft Cutting Machine by Quickutz 
$25 Prepaid Download Card for Silhouette 
Kraft Cardstock 
Baja Blue Ribbon by Stampin' Up 
Green Ribbon by MM 
Red & White Silk Ribbons by Creative Impressions  

Have a fabulous Wednesday!

Weekend Sew Fun

This weekend I took a bit of a breather from scrapbooking and played with some fabric. 

I love fabric. 

Have I mentioned this before? I buy it, I touch it, I hoard it. 

And sometimes I make stuff with it. 

I want to make more stuff with all the beautiful fabrics I own. Like THIS collection from Sweetwater for Moda Fabrics. I have plans for all the fabric I purchased of this collection. :) There will be a quilt coming in the future. 

I started small, though. I needed to get my feet wet again with the whole sewing thing. It's been too long. I had bookmarked THIS pattern from Sandi Henderson (and check out her new fabrics...love.).

I made this tee for Payton. I think mama needs one too. ;)

I printed the mariposa applique pattern out at 75% it's original size and 50%. 

Then I simply chose a few fabrics and began cutting out the pieces. I pinned the pattern to my fabric and cut it out:

Then I applied spray adhesive to the back of the cut out piece and adhered it to some plain white canvas fabric. The canvas helps stablize the fabric a bit and really helps the overall appearance of the applique once it's sewn onto your project.

Here are several of the pieces all backed with canvas fabric and adhered to the tee with spray adhesive (just noticed I have pop dots stuck to my Krylon spray adhesive. ha.).

Next, I machine stitched around each piece. Nothing fancy. Just a basic straight stitch. I want the edges to fray a bit with wear and washing so I didn't worry about the raw edges.

I started with the larger flower (the one at 75% the pattern size) and then added the other two smaller ones (50% original size). Just playing with the pattern pieces to see what I like.

The last thing I did was sew on some buttons. Easy peasy!

And the finished design. I had so much fun with this that I'm using my Silhouette to create "patterns" for some Halloween tees for the kids. :)

Hope everyone is having a terrific Monday!

a new bag + Vegas photos.

A girl always needs a good travel bag, I say.

You may remember this post where I made these as Christmas gifts and this one that I made for Payton as a dance bag. Well, I've been wanting to make one for me thinking it would make a great little travel bag. :)

I made this Saturday afternoon so that I could take it with me to Vegas.

These super cute fabrics were all from Hobby Lobby. I couldn't believe it when I came across these here several weeks ago and I picked them up just for this bag.

And this bag is working GREAT. So much easier than a purse and the drawstring on top keeps everything safely inside. Love that.

And...it's machine washable. Yea!

We're having a great time here in Vegas. :)

Sunday evening we ate Sushi at Mandalay Bay and then saw O at the Bellagio...it was amazing. Such an incredible show. Our tickets were close and Chad and I both definately want to see another Cirque du Soleil show! Then, after O, we grabbed a cab and hit the House of Blues at Mandolay Bay for the Purple Rain show. If you like Prince songs, then you will love this show! This is the second time I've seen it and the guy who is "Prince" is amazing. Looks like him. Moves like him. Sings like him.

It was a late night. Even though the clock said 12:30 a.m. when I crawled into bed, it was 3:30 my time. That is late, late, late for me. If you know me you know I turn into a pumpkin after midnight. :)

Monday we tried to sleep in but at 6:00 a.m. our phones starting ringing and come to find out Chad's dad accidentally set off our house alarm at home. (He had run over there to grab some diapers and a sippy cup for Ethan!) oops. Not cool. The police came and so Chad had to talk to them and tell them it was okay and he had to call the alarm company. Good stuff. After that hoopla I tried to go back to sleep but Chad started snoring and I only got about 40 more minutes of sleep. :)

We had a late breakfast and then went to the Fashion Show mall, picked up a few new clothes for the kids. Chad got a pair of jeans, me a shirt and a new pair of black Nike tennis shoes. :)

We met the group for lunch at Dick's. I was really nervous about going. Chad gave me a little info. on how things are done there...yelling at the customers, throwing napkins at you, being rude, making paper hats for the customers to wear that say, er, funny things, etc. I usually hate that kind of thing but I went anyhow.

And I won't share the photo of me in my hat here...it wasn't very nice. I was embarrassed. :P

After that we went to see the Bodies exhibit. Very informative. Very interesting.

Came back to our room and neither of our room key cards worked. Peachy. Chad went down to the lobby twice and we waited for over 20 minutes outside our room and finally they sent someone up who fixed it in less than a minute.

Finally supper with our friends from Oklahoma and it was early to bed for me!

We're going golfing today. I better find some sunscreen!

Here's a few of my favorite photos from the conservatory at the Bellagio.