KIM'S CRAFT COTTAGE aka paper rocks scissors are cool too!

Retirement Card

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Fri, 10 May 2013 09:00:00 +0000

I made a card for my boss's retirement. I thought he had enough frog themed stuff so I decided to do something a little different. He is moving to Long Island so I thought a nautical theme was a good choice.

I used NAUTICAL DIGITAL STAMP, and SUGAR SANDS BEACH KIT AND SUGAR SANDS BEACH WOOD PAPER from THE DIGI CHICK.

Three posts in one week, can you believe it?

DRESSER REDO

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Wed, 08 May 2013 09:00:00 +0000

This blog has turned into such an eclectic mix since I started about 4 years ago. One day it is a card the next a dresser. Hopefully I have something for everyone and at the very least you don't get bored!

I have had this little dresser hidden in my closet for years. I think I have had it since I was small. My dad probably got it at a junk yard which was one of his favorite places to hang. He was waaaay ahead of his time. I am sure they could have created an entire series on HGTV around him.

I wanted to use it as a nightstand for beside my bed but once it came out into the light I realized it needed a lot of work. I wanted a rustic look so I put on my rubber gloves and got started.

Before After

This is a bad pic but you can see that it isn't in very good shape.

It is a pretty solid piece of furniture despite the beat up outside appearance but one side had to be repaired as the pieces were coming apart. My husband added some wood glue and fixed that right up.

I initially started the stripping process on the drawers using SmartStrip which I had leftover from a previous project. I like this product and it worked pretty well for me but I had to use a lot and leave it on a long time to get a good result.

Mid way through I found a blog post about another product from Rockler and thought I would give it a try. It is called Soy Gel and it was recommended that I also use a degreaser with it.

I really like this product too but it had a couple advantages over the Smartstrip. It worked just about the same as the Smartstrip in removing the stain but I used a whole lot less of this so it is way more economical. It was also so much, much faster. This is what it looked like on the dresser.

I found a great tutorial on using it but now I can't find it. I swear I pinned it but I have no idea where it went. Hate when that happens! The best advice from the blog was NOT to let it stay on the wood too long. I left it for about thirty minutes then scraped it off. I also found that the degreaser was an enormous help in removing the goo. I used only one application and this is what it looked like after the degreaser.

After letting it dry, I sanded down to bare wood.

I used one coat of MINWAX DARK WALNUT STAIN. I applied it and immediately wiped it off, I didn't let it set for any length of time.

This is a before and after of a couple of the drawers. Really love how that stain looks.

The entire thing got two coats of Fiddes Rugger Brown wax. The top got one extra coat of Fiddes clear. Finally, it got all new hardware from Lowes.

I'm not gonna lie, this was a loooong process (mostly because of my schedule) that took a quit a bit of work. I started it at Christmas time and just finished it about a month ago. It was totally worth it though because the quality of the piece is so much better than what is available at most furniture stores. Now I just need to find something for my husbands side...

Have a great day!

Linky Parties

Mother's Day Gift Box and Card

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:37:00 +0000

Happy Mother's Day in advance if I don't get a post up on Sunday. I think nearly all of us have either made or received hand made crafts for Mother's Day. I know I have a box full of gifts from my kids that I love to go through on occasion and I still love the ones they make the most. You still have time to make something for mom and I have the perfect set. A cute little birdhouse gift box and card. The box is a perfect size for a box of chocolates or a small set of body wash/lotion. I have a tutorial up at THE DIGI CHICK if you want to check it out.

CHALLENGES AND LINKY PARTIES
CREATED WITH LOVE CHALLENGE
FASHIONISTA CHALLENGE
MELONHEADZ FRIENDS

VINTAGE PIN

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

I made this vintage-shabby pin using digital elements from a kit called THRIFTIQUE-THE BIG BUNDLE from THE DIGI CHICK. I have a tutorial on how it was made at THE HYBRID CHICK.

It is a fun technique that can be used to make all kinds of inexpensive jewelry. Check it out if you get the chance.

FROG QUILT

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 01:31:00 +0000

This is what I have been working on in my spare time the last couple months. It is a quilt for my boss who is retiring. Since we work with frogs........

The pattern had eyes on the frogs but I liked it a little more abstract so I left them off. Even though I have only quilted a couple things I think it turned out pretty well. Of course very few of my seams match up perfectly but I am sure he won't mind a bit. Making this reminded me of how much I love sewing. I really want to start making more quilts. It seems like magic to me the way you can sew a few geometric shapes together and come out with something so amazing.

LINK PARTIES

PLEASE DON'T EAT THE CARROTS!

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:07:00 +0000

This is a little garden gate basket that I converted into a holder for little chocolate carrots. I made it with my Silhouette machine and the GARDEN ARBOR BASKET CUTTING FILE available at THE DIGI CHICK. The flower centers were made with punches and the bunny is a die from Paper Trey Ink.

I just used a small oval die to create the holes in a flat sheet of cardstock for the carrots. You can almost see the drool on the poor little guys face since he can't get in to get at the carrots. Aside from my bunny egg holder it is just about the only decoration I got put up for Easter this year. It seems like it came up so fast and with the weather lately???? Spring seems a million miles away!

CHALLENGES
KABOODLE DOODLES
MAKE IT MONDAY
TAMMY'S SCRAPPIN CORNER
THE CRAFT BLOGGERS NETWORK

EASTER EGG HOLDER

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:00:00 +0000

This is a little egg holder that I made from what was supposed to be an Easter card template. Instead of folding it, I just rounded the edge to create a place for an egg. The card kit, THE HOPPY EASTER CARD CUTTING FILE, includes three other bunny shapes and the templates for the flower that is on the bunny too. And it is on sale!

The kit contains files for electronic cutting machines but for this one, I cut out the shapes by hand. They can be used either way which makes using them convenient for times when I am away from my supplies in my craft room. I printed out the template, took them with me to my son's piano lesson, and cut them there. The smaller flowers were tricky but doable and because I was crinkling them up they didn't have to be perfect.

Have a great weekend!

CHALLENGES and PARTIES
CRAFT US CRAZY
DL.ART
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE VINTAGE

MORE BUNNIES

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:09:00 +0000

I have a tutorial on how I made this cute little bunny purse up at THE HYBRID CHICK.

*Sorry I had to re-do the pic, not sure what happened.

CHALLENGES
THE PAPER SHELTER
BEARLY MINE
DEEP OCEAN CHALLENGE BLOG

BITTY BUNNIES

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:43:00 +0000

Can you believe Easter is almost here? I usually feel as though time is going too fast but the past two and a half months have gone by so fast I can't even remember it. Have I finally reached the age where everything is just a blurr? I thought things would slow down once my daughter was in college but it seems just the opposite has happened. Has this happened to you?

Anyway... All the snow has made me want to hibernate in my craft room. Also, even though I only have one required design team project per month at THE DIGI CHICK, the designer's kits have been so awesome lately that I have continually been inspired to create. This kit in particular just had so many fun and pretty elements that I just had to make an Easter themed card.

I used a circular die (I can't remember where it is from, I put all my dies up on a magnet or hook and threw away the wrapping), cut two and made a little tab at the top to put them together. The back side I left "as is" and the front was cut out in a half circle. The bunny, bunny trim, flowers and background paper are all from the kit. The grass is an MS punch. Let me know if you want to know where the dies are from and I will look them up for you.

CARD PARTIES
CRAFTING FOR ALL SEASONS

FAB N FUNKY

FREE DIGITAL KIT

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

If you still haven't tried digital (and I am sure if you haven't it hasn't been from my lack of nagging) now is a great time. There is a new, free kit up at THE HYBRID CHICK for you to download. This is a card I made from the kit.

One really important thing to remember is to use a good quality paper when printing your digital papers and elements. I love Red River Paper's Linen inkjet paper. I am not affiliated I just think it prints beautifully and it has a soft texture that is perfect for card making. I have tried several different types of paper and this has been my favorite.

Have a great week!
I am sharing this card at
ARTISTIC INSPIRATIONS
DIGI DARLA'S CHALLENGES
MAKE IT MONDAY
MAKE MY MONDAY

A BIT OF THIS AND A BIT OF THAT

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 18:07:00 +0000

I rarely have time to sit down and complete a project in a single session. I usually have 5-10 mins of spare time in between jobs and kids activities and well a thousand other necessary things. I not only don't have time to complete one thing, I also have a tendency to start something else before I finish what I am currently working on. Just too many ideas rolling around in the old noggin. I therefore flit from project to project working a little bit at a time on each. This is a long way of saying that I have nothing accomplished to show I just have a bunch of pictures of things I am working on.

Some design team projects.

A (lap size) frog quilt for my boss who is retiring.

Refinishing an old dresser.

Trying to organize my craft space so I can actually find things when I need them.

So many projects, so little time............

FROGGY WENT A COURTIN'

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:38:00 +0000

Unfortunately (for me not him), my boss is retiring and my job retires with him. If you gave me a magic wand and said create the perfect job this would have been it. I won't go into all the reasons but I can honestly say that I didn't have one single day in nearly 13 years that I dreaded going to work. So, I thought I would post some pics of where I work and some of my amphibian friends. This post is mostly for my mom who has never been to see where I work. You all are welcome to join in for the 5 cent tour and a little amphibian education.

This is my lab bench where I spend most of my time conducting mad scientist experiments and where, every once in a while, I yell eureka just for fun. Not really. I do conduct experiments but don't yell eureka. The following are pictures of some current residents with which I share the lab.

These are some Xenopus laevis AKA african clawed frogs. They spend their entire existence under water. Pretty much a standard species in research and in my opinion, butt ugly.

Next up we have some Rana pipiens tadpoles, AKA Northern leopard frogs. If you live in the US or Canada and you have a pond around you may see these guys hopping around in your back yard.

This little guy is Eleutherodactylus coqui commonly referred to as coqui. So named because they make a vocalization that sounds very much like the word coqui. They are indigenous to Puerto Rico but are considered an invasive species in Hawaii. This is the species that we study. Why you ask? (at least pretend you're interested) Well, let me ask you this. Did you know that not all frogs start out their life as a tadpole? If you answered yes, you either spend far too much time watching animal planet or are a biologist too.

This is a picture of the coqui embryo. They in fact do not have a tadpole stage but develop in an egg and hatch out as little froglets. The little black spots are their eyes and the big white blob is a yolk sac. The yolk sac feeds the embryo as it develops. Frogs who have a tadpole stage don't have big yolk sacs, they swim around eating plants for nutrition as they develop into frogs.

They then hatch out of the eggs as itsy bitsy, teeny tiny, adorable little froglets. Yes, I have a bias towards cute things. My son is fortunate to have benefited from this bias. One of the many cool things about this frog is that the female lays the eggs but it is the male that stays with and protects them through their development and hatching process. After that though, it is a heave ho and you better run quick because you might turn into his midnight snack.

Unfortunately I couldn't find my own pictures of this creature, but we also had Pipa pipa which are really, super duper, way cool frogs whose eggs are embedded into the female's back while they develop. Ladies, if you think carrying a child in your womb was tough try carrying about 60 kids embedded in your back for a couple months! I can only guess but it doesn't seem very enjoyable. Here is a Wiki pic of some of the froglets hatching out of the female's back. Makes you wanna squirm doesn't it?

photo credit

So, I am out looking for a job as wonderful as this one and can't imagine that I will ever again be as fortunate. I am however extremely grateful that I have had the last 13 years doing something so incredibly interesting and fun.

Back to crafting with my next post with an update on a couple different things I have been working on.

VINTAGE CALENDAR

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 20:52:00 +0000

Just a quick post to show I haven't fallen off the earth. I made this calendar using some gorgeous vintage digital supplies from OPTIC ILLUSIONS at THE DIGI CHICK. I found the wooden base at a thrift store for all of 2$ and I was going to use it for a recipe holder which is what it was intended for but I thought it would make a pretty calendar instead.

I made the flowers myself using some new paper from spellbinders that I grabbed at JoAnns. I really liked how they turned out and were pretty easy to make. I did take some pics while I was making it but it is pretty straight forward and I don't have time to post right now.
Hope your weekend is going well!

LUV U TO THE MOON

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:56:00 +0000

Isn't it funny how texting words have completely permeated our language in other areas of our life? I find myself wanting to spell that way in almost everything I do because it so quick and efficient. Anyway.... It is getting increasingly difficult to make Valentine's for my son that he doesn't think are sweet and sappy. He of course loves getting the sweets associated with the holiday but the pink cards? Not so much. This year I came up with a more masculine themed treat container that I think he will like.

It is a rocket ship filled with Hershey Kisses and covered in lollipop stars. I have a tutorial on how it was made over at THE HYBRID CHICK if you are interested.

XMAS THX

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 18:58:00 +0000

***I have been getting so much spam in my comments that I had to turn the verification back on sorry! I know it is a pain but the spamming is horrible.

I usually don't send pixmas cards but I like to send our thank you cards with updated pics of the kids. I took a picture of them holding the chalkboard frame which said thank you and happy new year. I wasn't sure how I was going to put it together until I saw that THE DIGI CHICK came out with a beautiful chalkboard themed kit called LIFE STORY.

It has so many gorgeous papers and elements to choose from. I put the whole thing together in photoshop and printed on some white, Georgia pacific card stock. The matte card stock gave a nice vintage look as opposed to photo paper which made the image too sharp. I used elements from the kit for the inside also.

Very quick and easy but so nicely personalized. That is what I love about doing digi. Yes, my son badly needed a haircut but I couldn't talk him in to getting one till a few days AFTER I took the photo and by then I was too lazy to take another. Teenage boys are so fun....

MOOSE

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 21:28:00 +0000

The design team members at THE HYBRID CHICK have started to challenge ourselves to come up with unique ways to use some of the designers templates from THE DIGI CHICK. This month we were asked to come up with ideas for the SOAP BOX by KELLEIGH RATZLAFF and this is what I came up with.

It is a little box that I converted into a moose. I think it would be really cute for an animal themed party. I have a tutorial on how it was made HERE and check out what a couple of the other design team members come up with HERE.

FAMILY SIGN

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 16:32:00 +0000

*Scroll down to bottom for a larger view.
We have a very long hallway which I use as a picture gallery. I started out wanting to make a stenciled "family" sign to go on one of the walls but I saw the beautiful, vintage style letters in this VINTAGE CHARM SCRAPBOOK KIT by Quirky Twerp and thought they might make a nice sign.

I started out with an old, light oak, kitchen cabinet door front that I got from our local rehab place Construction Junction. I can't remember the exact price but I know it cost less than 2 dollars. I didn't take a pic before I painted but it looked pretty much like this.

I gave it two coats of Annie Sloan chalk paint in old White and distressed it a bit with some fine grit sandpaper.

Next up was the application of some brown glaze. I used Rustoleums Transformations glaze in Java Brown which I got at Home Depot. I used a foam brush to apply as evenly as I could. Make sure you wear rubber gloves and work in a well ventilated space. It looks yucky at this point but wait....

It is easy to wipe off as much stain as you like as long as you use a damp cloth. The top shows what it looks like after wiping with a dry cloth and the bottom after a damp one.

It is always better to remove a lot and then add more if you want a darker glaze. This was how it ended up after a couple applications/wipings of the glaze.

I printed out the word family from the digital kit onto tissue paper. This is done by taping the tissue paper all around the edges onto a standard sheet of copy paper and printing as you normally would. I sized them to fit the center rectangle spaced evenly.

I used a newer product called Mod Podge Antique Mat. It is supposed to give your projects a vintage tone.

I used 4 layers and it maybe, kinda looked a little vintagey????? Since the wood was already glazed it was hard to tell. I not only put it on the letters but the also the entire sign to keep it uniform.

The letters are so pretty and the Mod Podge blurred everything a little which added to the vintage feel.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

TEA LIGHT HOLDER

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 17:56:00 +0000

Scroll down to bottom of post for a large view.
I made this as a Christmas decoration but it isn't necessarily Christmasy so I am leaving it out. I want to make a few more to hang around the living room but it took a while to make the flowers so I am not sure when I will get to it.

I started out cutting four Spellbinders Labels 20 dies out of grunge paper. Make sure to use the paper not the board as I hear it doesn't cut very well with the dies. I glued two together for each side then painted them a bronze metallic color.

I then cut a strip of paper (I think this was Graphic 45) high enough to reach the top of the tea light and long enough to go around. Then added a quarter inch extra along the long side. This was nothced as shown. Not giving exact dimensions just in case tea lights differ by size.

I cut two layers a Floral Doilies Motif die of paper and one layer of a plain circle of grunge paper. The circle fit inside the two floral layers to form a sandwich. This provided support for the tea light. The strip was wrapped around the tea light for size then adhered to the base.

The tea light can now be popped in and out to access the switch.

I Circle was punch and a little hole made to slip over the top of the light. I did attach this part so it wouldn't slide off.

For the flowers, I used the Posy Patch Die from Heartfelt Creations.One each in the smallest and up to the fourth largest of both a solid color and printed.

The edges were sponged with a light brown ink.

On the smallest two flower sizes, I used a stylus and a foam mat and worked in circles to bring the petals toward the center.

On the two larger flowers, I turned the petals outward with a piercing tool by wrapping the edges of the petals around it.

The two largest petals were attached directly to each other and a pop dot was placed on top.

The next set was then placed on top of the pop dot and the center on that.

The flowers were then added around the edges of the candle. It took 5 loosely placed to go completely around.

The tea light was attached to the frame with glue. It took a while to hold it together while the glue set because it is an awkward arrangement. I added a couple flourishes and flowers to the edges and wrapped some wire around a pen to make a hanger.

It looked so pretty lit up at Christmas!

GOODWILL BOX REDO

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 05:00:00 +0000

I had no idea what I wanted to do with two boxes that I found at goodwill for $1.49 each. Then I saw a shelf that had some raised decorations along the edge and thought maybe I could replicate the look and decided to practice on one of the boxes.

This is what the box looked like when I found it. Someone had rubbed off the picture that was on the side but they were good sturdy boxes and way cheep.

I cut some grunge paper (Tim Holtz) using some spellbinder's dies. Make sure you get the paper and not the board. I haven't tried the board but I have read several posts about people not being able to cut through the board. The grunge paper cut pretty well but I did have to use small, fine edge scissors, to trim out some of the more intricate parts. These were glued on to the box. I have had good results with some new glue I picked up recently. It is Beacon 3-in-1 craft glue. It adheres quickly and dries clear. It is a little stringy but overall it works pretty well. I cut two of each of the dies, glued them together then glued them to the box on both sides.

I then spray painted the entire thing with dark brown paint.

Next up was two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in old white followed by a little distressing with fine grit sandpaper.

To finish, I added a dark brown glaze. I left quite a bit on cause I liked the darker, worn look. This pic is before I wiped off the glaze.

For the holidays, I made some candle wraps for the candles that I wanted to put inside the box. The candles were first wrapped with a strip of burlap then I used another spellbinder die to make a top. This was tied on with some twine.

I cut some more dies of leaves and flowers to embellish the candle.

The leaves were attached on top of the twine.

Then I made some flowers by first cutting them out then spritzing them with a little water.

I then scrunched them and let them dry.

For some reason I didn't take a picture of this but I then layered the petals onto a brad to form the flower.
And then attached it to the candle.

The box technique is such a fun one that can be used on so many different home decor items and it is fairly inexpensive and easy to do. I have quite a few ideas in mind for this in the future.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
I am entering this project in the monthly DIY PROJECT PARTY

STEAM PUNK (SORTA) CLOCK

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 05:00:00 +0000

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I thought it appropriate to have a post centered on time for New Year's day!

This started out as an idea to make a wall clock for my son using the robot/steam punk theme. It morphed into something I really love and want to use in my living room. My son will have to wait for a new clock....or maybe a trip to target to buy one.

I had a cigar box that I bought at a flea market which was used for the base. Paper mache boxes were used for the top portion. I used only the deep parts of the boxes and left the back open because the lids interfered with the stacking of the rounds. So, ignore the painted lid in the picture. They were painted with two coats of a dark brown craft paint.

I wrapped the edges of the circles, covered the front and base with some scrapbook paper from Simple Stories Documented collection.

The decorative elements on the box are Spellbinders dies cut from brown card stock.

To make a little shelf to hold some tiny Tim Holtz bottles was made using another die. I cut one of paper and one of grunge paper. I trimmed off the top and glued the two together.I folded the edges to form a little shelf with the center of the die.

This was attached to the medium circle.

I made the gears for the front of the clock using Sprightly Sprockets die, also from Spellbinders and grunge paper from Tim Holtz. The far left is the raw grunge paper. They were then painted dark brown and then covered with some bronze metallic paint.

And finally dabbed with some pewter metallic paint.

The clock was purchased at JoAnns and was really simple to put together once I realized the little washer parts were attached to the clock and not lost....doh. I added so Tim holz feet thingies to the bottom of the base to lift it up.

This is one of my favorite projects that I have made. You know how things don't always turn out how you envision them? That happens to me a lot! Well, this turned out better than I had thought and that is so rare that I can't wait to put it in my living room and enjoy it. I just have to finish another project in order to have something on which to put it.

I wish you all the best for a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year! I am entering this in the monthly DIY PROJECT PARTY

FREE HYBRID CLASS

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 05:00:00 +0000

If you have ever wanted to learn how to make hybrid (using digital scrapbook supples to make real-life projects) projects from digital scrapbooking supplies now is your chance. And it is FREE!!!!

The very talented Catherine St. Clare, designer of the Paper Garden Projects line of digital supplies, will be teaching this class. It begins January 3rd and will be located at THE HYBRID CHICK.

BATMAN SCARF

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 16:22:00 +0000

I showed you the robot I made my son for Christmas, now I will show what i made for my daughter. She loves all things super hero geek (go figure with a science geek mom) so I made her a batman themed scarf with built in pockets for keeping her hands warm. This is probably the only way I will get her to wear a scarf and any semblance of a glove.

This was so super easy to make. I printed out a pic of the batman symbol and used it to make a pattern to cut out the yellow background and bat symbol from black and yellow craft felt. I used a blanket stitch to attach them to the scarf. The scarf was made of black anti-pill fleece. It was a strip 10 X 60 inches. The pockets were 10 X 12 inches.

They were placed at the ends of the strip and sewed around the edges at about 5/8 ths of an inch.

So easy and so much fun to wear.

If you have been hit with snow like us stay warm and have a great day!

FELT ROBOT

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 02:20:00 +0000

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

About two years ago I started to make a crobot (crocheted robot) for my son. I started that thing over and over again, repeatedly pulling out my terrible work. I finally gave up but my son still kept asking when he was getting his robot. I finally made him one...but out of felt instead. I had this idea rolling around in my head for about as long as the trial (and error) of the crobot and I finally decided to make it for him for Christmas. With the exception of the neck band and the band for the ears, I used spellbinder dies as pattern pieces for the entire thing.

I used labels 2, nested squares, sprightly sprockets, nested rectangles. nested circles, scalloped hearts. The felt was from Joann's and was a 35% wool /rayon blend.

I cut 4 of the largest labels 2 die and 4 of the next size down. Four of the largest squares and four of the next size down.

I made the mistake of putting the head together before adding the eyes and other front pieces but these should be attached first on the flat piece. It is much easier to sew them that way. I used a blanket embroidery stitch for just about all the sewing on this.

The ears were made with the circle dies and strips of black felt about 1/2 inch wide. I wrapped the strip around the circle to get the correct proportions for the length.

Attach these before putting the head together too. I obviously didn't and it was much more difficult to sew. To keep the proportions of the circle intact, I used the circle to draw on the inside of the side of the head and used it as a sewing guide. Otherwise the circle can become distorted with the stuffing inside moving it around.

Once the eyes, etc., were on stitch the sides of the labels 2 die.

Then added the square sides, tucking in some polyfill before completing the stitches. Both the head and the body were done the same way.

I next made arms and legs from the rectangle die as shown. The edges were doubled over length wise and whip stitched along the raw edge.

I put a couple stitches in the middle of the arms/legs to add a little joint to the limbs.

The hands and feet were put together like the head and body but with squares only.

The arms/legs were attached to the blocks and then attached to the body as shown.

The head was attached with a strip of wool about 3/4 inch wide by 3.5 inches long. A little stuffing was added to prop up the head. This was a little tricky getting the stuffing to stay in the neck while sewing it to the body. I needed one more hand!

I added the mouth last because I didn't think it needed it till after I finished but as with the other face parts put it on before assembling the head. I cut it using the two labels 2 dies then trimmed off everything except the bottom.

Cute huh? My son loved it and hopefully he will forget about the stupid crobot.

I am entering my little bot into the DIY PROJECT PARTY monthly contest.

Linky Parties

GIFT CARD HOLDER

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 15:05:00 +0000

Just a quick last minute gift card holder I made for my Son's bus driver.

I used all digital products from THE DIGI CHICK for it. Can't beat printing stuff immediately without fighting the traffic and holiday crowds. I used the Advent Calendar Templates and Cutting Files for the little box that holds the gift card and the paper and elements are from Christmas::Revisited.

WAITING FOR FROSTY

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I have a sweet little project tutorial posted at THE HYBRID CHICK today. Even though I am an adult, I still find it sad to see Frosty melt in the greenhouse. My hat, button nose and corncob pipe are just waiting for that Christmas snow to blow in and.........

Happy Birthday!!!