Christmas Love Birds~

I love chunky wood. So, when I thought about making Christmas love birds, I knew I had to use some chunky wood....

The birds have a somewhat rustic look to them and I just love that. I sketched out the birds and had my father cut them out. Here is where I have to give a plug to my dad...THANKS DAD for all the cutting you do for me! Anytime I get a hair-brained idea for a craft, I call my dad and the next thing I know, he has whatever it is, cut out.

Have a great week!

Scraps to Owls

Today was such a nice Thanksgiving. The weather in Vegas was cold, which helped with the "fall" feeling. We went to dinner at my parents home and we ate WAY too much! I always like to bring little hostess gifts to my mom because even when I make something not so great, she makes me believe it is! So, this morning I was cleaning up my sewing room and was trying to think of what to make my mom. I have a basket of scraps...so this is what I came up with...

Super cute scrap owls!

We were playing around with them and hung them in my moms chandelier.

Well good night all. Tomorrow let the Christmas shopping and decorating begin~

TWO Spots Left~

The next Crafty Girls crop is on December 11th and there are just TWO spots left. If you are interested in more information click HERE.

Have a great Thanksgiving week!

Snowman - Vegas Style!

As you all know, we don't get snow in Vegas. On the rare occasion that we do, it does not stick long enough for kids to make a snowman. So....I decided to turn a stair spindle into a snowman. SUPER CUTE! This pair of snowmen are tall and handsome! They each have a carrot nose and a sweet look to both of them. I may add a little bit of snow to the top hats, I haven't decided yet.

Both snowmen have a cute pair of mittens and a top hat. And yes, Crafty Girls, this will be a kit at the next crop! :)

 

Tin Christmas Star

So, as all of you know, I went to Utah this week. While there, I was only able to visit a couple of stores. :( I wished we would have had more time, maybe next time. I saw a tin star that was covered with Christmas papers and I fell in love with it. I know you all probably have already made one of these, but I was slow to the attempt. I bought a 24 inch tin star on sale for $8.00...

I picked out 6 or 7 pieces of Christmas papers that I really liked. This year I am into the vintage look, so that is what I looked for.

I cut out a pattern of the the star and began to cut the patterned paper out. I then inked the edges and glued the paper to the tin star with mod podge.

Let the star dry overnight, and this is how it turned out...LOVE IT! 

As always, everything looks better in person. I think this year I just may decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving.....I am sure I won't be the only one!

No time for crafting!

I cannot believe that I have not put a post up since Friday night! I have been getting my oldest son ready to go on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Very emotional time around my house, very bitter sweet. I will not be able to sew or craft for the next few days, we are leaving in just a few minutes to drive to Provo, Utah to drop my new Elder off. I am a very proud mother today.

Because I will be in the crafting mecca of the United States, Utah, I will definitely be checking out the stores! If I find the "latest and greatest" I will post it on Friday!

Table Runner Turned Book Bag

Today I had many errands to get ready for the next week. One stop was at Home Goods (the best store ever....) to look for some frames. No luck. But, I did find a great deal on a silk table runner. I loved the pleats at each end of the runner. When I got home I realized that it was too short for our table. So instead of putting the runner in the linen closet, I decided to put it to good use.

I LOVE the pleats in the runner and I thought that this would make a great bag. So, I found some Amy Butler fabric in my stash to use for the lining.

Cut one end of the runner off about 18 inches in from the end.

Cut out your lining fabric one inch larger than the square cut from the runner. At this point, I decided to add a pocket to the interior for a pen and maybe a tablet of paper. I also added some fleece interfacing to the lining to give it some stability. With right sides together, sew up both edges of the lining.

I cut a two and a half inch strip off the runner that I still had for the handle to the book bag. I sewed both long sides together (right sides together), turned right side out and top stitched the strap.

Insert the lining into the bag, right sides together. Also, put the strap ends where you want them to go on the bag. Pin up the top, stitch, leave a 4 inch opening. Turn your bag right side out and this is what you have...

SUPER CUTE book bag! I love it. The chocolate brown and the pleats are great. But, the bag is missing the "cherry on top". So, I cut a strip of the leftover fabric to two and a half inches. Gathered one of the long sides, pulled the thread until the strip was gathered together. Sewed the bottom side of the flower to secure it. Sewed the button in the middle, added a pin back and attached the new flower to the front of the bag.

Oh, so pretty.

The book bag falls right at the hip.

I am very happy with tonight's creation.

Dust on the Sewing Machine

I have avoided my favorite crafting machine of all...my sewing machine.

I walked into my studio and noticed it sitting there, so sad. I had the quick thought of the mop in the attic on the Swiffer commercial. So, tonight, I dusted off the dust and made this tonight...

This is a great bag. I don't use a pattern, I just cut and create and I love the size and feel of this bag. I made it approximately 12 inches tall and 15 inches wide with a 2.5 inch width. I have had this fabric for some time, it is a line called Birdie Damask by Patty Young for Michael Miller. I just love the black and brown harlequin pattern and the reds are such a pretty tone. I use a bag similar to this one everyday to carry files & my lunch back and forth to work - works great because of the size and the wood handles.  I love how the gathered red fabric stripe turned out on the front and back of the bag. There are 5 pockets on the inside.

What shall I sew next?

December Crop Announcement!

It is time to start planning for the December LV Crafty Girls crop! There will be a lot of new kits (pictures to come soon) and lots of good food. If you would like to sign up for the December crop click HERE for more information.

So, call your friends and family and sign up together!

When: December 11, 2010

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

full day

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m

half day

4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Another Button Idea

So, a little while back I made this...

Well, this button tree was a kit at the last LV Crafty Girls workshop and I had two kits leftover. So, I wanted to make a companion picture to go with this. But, in my brain...groupings of a decorative item needs to be in "three's". I needed a third button picture. Tonight, I made two more button pictures. Before I show you the button pictures, I have to apologize for the quality of the pictures. For some reason my camera kept giving my an error message of "reinsert the memory card". I reinserted that memory card 100 times! No use. I went to the good old camera on my phone. Needless to say, my phone does not take good pictures.

This is how the button wreath turned out. Super cute in person. These frames are silver and are 8x10. So, these pictures makes them look super small.

Here are the three button pictures together. I wish you all could see them in real life...adorable! These will find a home this holiday season for sure! Or, maybe I will just leave them hung up right now.

We Have A Winner!

Out of 42 entries, and chosen by random.org, the winning number is #21, who is KRIS!!!! Congratulations Kris, you won the Heather Bailey handbag! I hope you enjoy the handbag!

Kris, please email me your mailing address to lvcraftygirls@gmail.com!

Final Day of Giveaway!

Hey everyone...today is the last day to enter to win the Heather Bailey fabric bag! Entries end at midnight! This adorable hobo shoulder bag is made out of Heather Bailey Nicey Jane, 100% cotton, quilt weight fabric. The colors are beautiful greens, pinks and light blue. There is a magnetic snap closure on the inside of the bag. On the outside of the bag is a beautiful 1.5 inch button. This bag measures 15 inches tall and 14 inches wide at the bottom of the bag and 11 inches wide at the top of the bag. The strap is 21 inches long, so the bag sits nicely under your arm. The Jane bag has a medium weight interfacing, to give it just enough strength, as well as fusible fleece interfacing to give the bag softness. This bag is very roomy on the inside with an interior pocket for your cell phone and a pen.

I just opened an Etsy shop for some of my bags & crafts and I wanted to celebrate the opening by doing a giveaway! This is all you have to do to enter the giveaway:

1. Become a follower of my blog & leave me a comment on this post telling me you are now following me. If you are already a follower, please leave me comment telling me so!
2. Become a fan on the LV Crafty Girls Facebook page.
3. Go to my Etsy store (tab on side bar) and come back and leave me a comment on which bag you like most.

GOOD LUCK!

Another Successful Crop!

The November Crafty Girls crop was yesterday and it was a lot of fun! Every month is always so fun talking and laughing with friends while we craft together. Here are just a few pictures from the crop. I am so bad about keeping my camera with me at the crop that I didn't get too many pictures.

We are already planning crafts for the December Crafty Girls crop! Mark your calendars now, the crop will be on December 11th!

And again...a special thanks to Piggy Tales for supporting Crafty Girls and providing the goodie bag & raffle prize for the crop!

Tomorrow is the November Crafty Girls Crop!

Click HERE for info on the crop tomorrow! Can't wait!

Don't forget to enter!

Just a reminder to enter to win the great bag using Heather Bailey fabric! Click HERE to enter!

Piggy Tales!

They say in this world that "It's all who you know." And you know, I believe that! I know Debbie. Debbie is the owner of Piggy Tales. I originally met Debbie about 5 years ago at the CHA show in Las Vegas. I was there with my girlfriend taking in all the "new" in scrapbooking when we walked up to the most humble little couple. They had a Costco table set up and maybe 4 or 5 stacks of paper on the table. Oh, the best part, Debbie and her husband were working the convention with their 6 week old baby! My girlfriend and I had to stop to talk to this cute little couple. Honestly, they were cute. After talking and checking out the new lines that they were launching, we went on our merry way.

Now, fast forward about 5 years. I am sitting in church...teaching the 3 and 4 year old children. In walks in a gal that I didn't think I knew, and so to strike up conversation I commented on her Piggy Tales bag she was holding. So, I asked, "Oh, a Piggy Tales bag...do you scrapbook?" The gal gave me a simple little grin and said, "Yes I do." I actually was going to tell the humble story to her about Piggy Tales when she said, "I am Piggy Tales". I just laughed.

I am so happy that Piggy Tales has launched into such a great company! So, after teaching Debbie's son in church, and probably getting her second son in my class in January, I feel comfortable enough to email Debbie and tell her I am in a slump, I need inspiration. Well, she answered that email by showing up at my house yesterday with.....

WOW! Do I have inspiration now!

What caught my eye the most was the great Drawbridge Book. Crafty Girls...be on the lookout for a great kit using this Drawbridge Book!

Piggy Tales has so MANY great paper lines, but this Beauty and the Beast collection is just beautiful!

You too can enjoy some Piggy Tales! Head on over to her blog HERE and she is offering Piggy Tales Academy Kit club for FREE!

Stay Tuned for some great creations using Piggy Tales!

P.S. All you Crafty Girls that are coming on Saturday will get some Piggy Tales too! Whoo Hoo!

Don't forget to enter to win my great handbag HERE!



Heather Bailey Hand Bag Giveaway!

All you Heather Bailey fabric lovers are going to love this! I am giving away one of my favorite bags! This adorable hobo shoulder bag is made out of Heather Bailey Nicey Jane, 100% cotton, quilt weight fabric. The colors are beautiful greens, pinks and light blue. There is a magnetic snap closure on the inside of the bag. On the outside of the bag is a beautiful 1.5 inch button. This bag measures 15 inches tall and 14 inches wide at the bottom of the bag and 11 inches wide at the top of the bag. The strap is 21 inches long, so the bag sits nicely under your arm. The Jane bag has a medium weight interfacing, to give it just enough strength, as well as fusible fleece interfacing to give the bag softness. This bag is very roomy on the inside with an interior pocket for your cell phone and a pen.

I just opened an Etsy shop for some of my bags and I wanted to celebrate the opening by doing a giveaway! This is all you have to do to enter the giveaway:

1. Become a follower of my blog & leave me a comment on this post telling me you are now following me. If you are already a follower, please leave me comment telling me so!
2. Become a fan on the LV Crafty Girls Facebook page.
3. Go to my Etsy store (tab on side bar) and come back and leave me a comment on which bag you like most.

That's it! Super easy to win the bag!

This giveaway is open now, and will remain open until Tuesday, November 9th, midnight. I will announce the winner on Wednesday, November 10th!

Good Luck!