Rubber Stamping & Card Making with Yapha

Alright, this is it. Down to the wire for Sale-a-Bration. You have today and tomorrow (March 31st) to place your Stampin’ Up order and choose free items. Don’t miss out!

I have a different type of project to show you today. One of the main catalog items that is available for free during Sale-a-Bration is the Flirtatious Designer Fabric. The pack of fabric includes three coordinated designs, each in an extra-wide fat quarter size (28″ x 18″). Eve has been really into sewing lately, so I picked up a pack of this for her. (Nice that it was free!) We made a dress for her American Girl doll by tracing one of the other dresses, and tied it with piece of the Whisper White Satin ribbon.

I love all of the different ways I can use my Stampin’ Up products for fun projects! I hope you will stop back later — I’ll have another post up this evening, with projects and information about tomorrow’s Stampin’ Addicts Stamp Jam. We have a virtual stamping party every time there is a 5th Saturday in a month. (If you are receiving this in your email, just scroll down and the post should be below.) I hope you will come join us!

Fabric? Yes, Fabric! Stampin’ Up has come out with a line of designer fabric! This new product line combines their exclusive designs and colors with high-quality fabric–making coordination with our other products a cinch!

Designer Fabric details:

• 100% cotton
• Patterns coordinate with select Designer Series Paper designs
• Each assortment includes three coordinated designs in an extra-wide fat quarter size (28″ x 18″)
• Each assortment includes an instruction booklet highlighting five projects you can create using the fabric

You don’t have to be a seamstress–or even like to sew–to enjoy using Designer Fabric! The colors and patterns in the Designer Fabrics are designed to coordinate perfectly with Stampin’ Up! inks, card stock, Designer Series Paper, and other accessories, and are perfect for adding a stylish touch to traditional paper projects. If you do enjoy sewing, however, the beauty and high quality of Designer Fabric, available in an extra-wide fat quarter (18″ x 26″), makes it perfect for use in quilting, clothing, home décor, or any other project you can think of.

Along with Designer Fabrics, they also offer coordinating products that provide you and your customers with everything you need to start crafting with Designer Fabric.

• Big Designer Buttons – These buttons coordinate perfectly with the Designer Fabric in the 2010 Holiday Mini Catalog.
• Big Shot Fabric Adhesive Roll and Big Shot Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets – Use them to make adhering your fabric die-cuts simple!
• Big Shot dies – Stampin’ Up! offers a multitude of Big Shot dies, including the new Tasteful Trim and Scallop Squares Duo in the 2010 Holiday Mini Catalog.

Want to see more? Check out this great video from Stampin’ Up:

Do you remember last summer when I blinged up Eve’s sandals? (is that even a word?) Here’s the picture of how they looked last summer. I added Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter to them to make them more sparkly.

Well, she finally out grew them, and wore them to pieces in the process. As I got ready to throw them away, I looked at the spots were I had added the Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds, and was amazed to see just how much was still on there! (You can click on the pictures for a better look.) It really lasted! She wore these sandals all last summer, and quite a bit this year as well.

Pretty good holding up, huh? It looks a little grungy, but wow, it’s still there! I’m impressed. That’s quality products for you, and that’s one of the reasons I love Stampin’ Up!

Wow! I just hosted a swap with fellow Stampin’ Up demonstrators around the country, and I know have 50 (FIFTY!) samples of fabulous items made with fabric cut with dies from the Big Shot. They are truly amazing! If you are in the Los Angeles area and would like to see these works of art in person, let me know. They are truly incredible!

But even if you are not nearby, I have a fabric project for you today. This is another one from the Stampin’ Up website.

Supplies: Corduroy button, Sizzix Big Shot, Scallop Circle #2 Bigz die, Fabric, Needle and thread, Ponytail elastic

Instructions

1. Die cut 10 large scallop circles using Big Shot and Scallop Circles #2 Bigz die. Cut off eight of the scallops from each scallop circle. Gather together across the flat side about 1/4″ from edge, gathering all ten circles on the same double-thread. Tie off.
2. Die cut 10 small scallop circles using Big Shot and Scallop Circles #2 Bigz die. Gather the circles across three of the scallops on the same double-thread. Tie off.
3. To cover Corduroy button, die cut a small scallop circle, then cut off all scallops. Gather the fabric around the edge, place button in the middle, then gather up threads and tie off.
4. Attach ponytail elastic to back, then sew through all layers of fabric (including fabric around button), so fabric layers are connected to elastic.

Today’s project is not one that I made, but is from the Stampin’ Up website. One of the great perks of being a demonstrator is a wealth of examples, patterns, and templates. How cute is this adorable onesie?

Instructions

1. Die cut 12 pennants using Big Shot and Pennant Bigz XL die. Gather and adhere to 1″ elastic using sewing machine and thread.
2. Die cut seven small scallop circles using Big Shot and Scallop Circle #2 Bigz die. Fold over five scallops and adhere to collar of onesie using sewing machine and thread.
3. Die cut 10 small scallop circles using Big Shot and Scallop Circle #2 Bigz die. Gather the circles across three of the scallops on the same double-thread. Tie off.
4. To create ribbon flowerette, tie a knot in the end of Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon, then tie a new knot every three inches. Gather the ribbon in between each knot.
5. Adhere ribbon to flower, then sew entire piece to onesie.
6. Wash and dry to give shabby-chic look.

Have questions about using fabric with your big shot? Check back on Monday for some answers to common questions.

Don’t forget! This weekend is the Stampin’ Addicts Birthday Blog Hop, starting right here at noon Eastern time on Saturday! Come see all of the fantastic birthday themed projects!

One of the highlights of the Leadership Convention that I attended earlier this month was a display of fabulous quilts by Jill Olson. She used the Big Shot to easily cut her fabric to make quilts and a variety of other projects with fabric.On the last day of Leadership, Jill was presented with the “Bright Idea” award for her wonderful integration of fabric crafting into her Stampin’ Up business. But it was we demos who won, because Shelli gave each of us our very own quilt square, made with the 5-Point 3-D Star Die. (The points are turned in to make the flowers.) This is one of the quilt squares. (As always, you can click on the pictures to see them bigger.)

This is a brooch that Jill made, and was wearing when she won the award. (I was excited to be sitting right behind her, and she was kind enough to let me take this picture!) It uses the three different scalloped circle dies.

I was also able to take pictures of the booth that Jill Olson had set up to show all of her bright ideas. Here are some of her projects:

Did you know, that if you use the Clear Bigz Dies (which are hollow) you can cut up to EIGHT pieces of fabric at one time? Crazy! That’s why the Big Shot is the quilter’s new best friend! And Sale-a-Bration is the best time to buy one! Contact me for more info, or start shopping today.

P.S. I’m hostessing a fabric samples swap on Stampin’ Addicts and will have even more amazing examples of what you can make with fabric and your Big Shot at the end of February, so stay tuned!

Eve was a very sad six-year-old last weekend. The strap broke on her absolutely favorite sandals in the whole world. They were white and covered in tiny rhinestones. It was sparkly awesomeness as only a six-year-old can adore. We looked for replacement sandals, but none of the white sandals were sparkly at any of the stores we went to. It was a sad, sad day. We found a pair of cute white ones with flowers, and Eve in her brilliance said, “Mom, can’t you put some Dazzling Diamonds on these to make them sparkly?” And I thought, why yes, yes I can!

Stampin’ Up to the rescue again! I put Crystal Effects in the center of each flower, and also around the outside of the biggest flower (also Eve’s idea), and liberally poured on the Dazzling Diamonds glitter. Wow! It worked beautifully!

Thank goodness I had my Stampin’ Up supplies! You just never know when they are going to come in handy!

I had another Big Shot moment the other day. My most favorite, most comfortable, most worn pair of jeans got a hole in the knee. And it is just too cold to be walking around with a hole in the knee! So once again it was Iron-on patches and the Big Shot to the rescue! (Remember the first pair of jeans I patched like this?) I didn’t want to use the same bandana fabric again, so this time I just used a darker jean material. I die cut the patch into a large scalloped circle, and ironed it on. I love my Big Shot!

The only thing that would be cuter would be to layer another scalloped circle on top of this one, in a different pattern, of course! I think I might need to go find some more iron-on patches in different fabrics!

One of the great things about the new school where I am the librarian is being able to wear jeans on Friday. But even so, I didn’t want to wear my favorite pair of jeans with the big hole in the knee. I didn’t think it looked professional. So I went in search of something to patch it with, and I found a bandanna print iron-on patch. I though it would look pretty good. And then I remembered that the Big Shot cuts fabric! Wouldn’t it be cute, I thought, to make the patch into the shape of the Top Note die? So I did!

This is how the jeans started out.

Then I ran the iron-on patch through my Big Shot. I had some material left over, so I also ran it through using the Scallop Die #2, and made two small scalloped circles to decorate the other leg.

The patch ironed on quickly and easily. I’m a big fan of iron patches!

And viola! The finished product:

I love them! I can’t wait to try my Big Shot on even more types of materials!