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Archive for the ‘Fabric Projects’ Category:
Convention 2011: Can this really be Day 1?
For sure, how is it possible that this day was packed with so much, and it was only the first day! Okay, here goes my fast photo tour of the Stampin’ Up! Convention, Day 1… (which was yesterday, if you’re losing track of the days like me!)
Here’s the Main Stage display–Stampin Up does a fabulous job of putting their stamp on everything (ha, bad pun intended), including the stage background.
One of the highlights of the morning was a chance to walk across the stage and be recognized for all the demonstrators who shared Stampin Up with a friend this year. Each of these Green Hat Girls had at least one person sign up to be a demonstrator with them. Way to go!! Just think, you could be one of us next year, if you wanted to take advantage of the $99 special before the end of July!
We also saw several fabulous projects created with the supplies from the Christmas Keepsake Box Kit that comes as a bonus with the July Demo Starter Kit special.
Next surprise? New Holiday Mini Catalog! We saw more of the incredible product suites from the upcoming Mini Catalog (customers begin ordering Sept 1, but demonstrators get to preorder Aug 1!). Then we got our very own copy of the new Mini!! See everyone with their heads in the mini? Those are looks of concentration!!
Then at lunch we had a Sneak Peek of one of the products coming up later this fall… (got a guess?) yum!
After lunch we worked on our own Make N Take projects, this stamping thing sure is fun! Hee hee… We didn’t quite finish the beautiful projects, so you’ll have to hold off for pictures of those. But here is a shot of my mom and Theresa working out the details of one of the projects.
The Annual Awards were held in the evening, announcing and honoring the demonstrators who earned the Incentive Trip to Disneyworld next spring. We also learned the locations for next year’s trips. Drumroll please… Hilton Head Island for the Getaway Trip and FIJI for the Grand Vacation!!
Interested?! Let me know if you have any questions about how Stampin Up can send you and a guest to Hilton Head Island or….FIJI! (can you tell I’m still excited about that one?)
Lastly, the Demonstrator of the Year awards were announced. I was thrilled to be recognized this year as the #35 demonstrator out of roughly 45,000 in the US. Very exciting, plus wonderful to be surrounded by my demo family!
Whee… Can’t wait to see all that is in store for us the rest of the week. I just need to figure out how to stay awake for it!
Happy stamping!
Meg
Subscribe to the comments for this postConvention is coming: sneak peek
Here’s a quick post, since I already mentioned that I’m behind for getting ready!
Each year I’ve made Bag Tags for the demonstrators in our group, since Stampin’ Up! gives us a fabulous bag each year, but then we all have exactly the same bag.
Solution? Bag tags! Here’s a sneak peek, since I’m handing them out tomorrow as we arrive for Convention.
Yes, that’s the new Fabric on those butterflies, cut from the butterfly big shot die!
Big Shot Blowout: Last Chance Pennant Project Sampler
Do you have a Big Shot? Have you clicked on the Big Shot Dies in my online store’s Retiring Accessories section? If you haven’t clicked yet, you’re in for a surprise on some of the prices. Many of the retiring Big Shot Dies are 25-40% off, while supplies last!
When you look at the Big Shot dies in the ‘search’ screen, they show as regular price. But when you click on each die, the sale price will show. Here’s one of my favorite retiring dies — the Pennant Die (see it online).
This was actually one of the first dies I ever bought, and I still use it! Here are a few projects (click the pictures to see my original blog entry):
And for this one, don’t miss the Jumbo Pewter Eyelets that are also retiring (see them online)! I’m going to miss them!!
Sniff, sniff… sad to see the fabulous Pennant Die retiring, but you can still get your own while supplies remain.
Plus when you place your retiring supplies order in my online store, don’t forget to check out my bonuses for June orders!
Happy Stamping!
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Springtime Vintage Thank You Gift
Each year we hold a large demonstrator training event called Spring Into Stamping. This year was our 6th annual event, and I wanted to share a few highlights. Except now I’m having trouble distilling the event into just a few highlights, so I think you’ll be seeing highlights over the next few days!
It takes many many demonstrators to put the event together, and we have helpers for Make N Takes, a Demonstration Fair, Registration, Shoebox Swap, AV help, etc. Plus we have a talented group of coordinators who coordinate some of these areas.
This year I made special Thank You gifts for the coordinators, based on a gift that Shelli Gardner, CEO of Stampin’ Up!, made for us as a gift at Founder’s Circle this year.
Shelli created these with her daughters for 100+ of us, and I appreciate their work even more now! My mom helped me finish these up in time, so ours was a family project, too. The bags would be terrific for Easter gifts, wedding or baby shower favors, or satchels for potpourri.
The bags are filled with chocolate, and created from the Pennant Die (see it online) for the Big Shot (see it online). The Pennant Die is one of my favorites (check out some of my other projects). Just cut two pennants, stitch the top down to make a little sleeve for the ribbon, sew the two sides together and you’re all set with a simple cinch bag with a sweet scalloped edge.
The fabric is from the Occasions Mini Catalog (available only til April 30). The Springtime Vintage Fabric (see it online) is a perfect match for the Vintage Flower Adornments (see them online) that I used to decorate the tag and the medallion on the bag.
The blue Scallop Square piece under the Adornment rosette is actually punched from the matching Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper (see it online). With the paper piece, there is a little more stiffness to help the medallion stand up a bit more than the fabric pieces.
The ribbons are the Rose Red Seam Binding and the Victoria Crochet Trim (love them both!).
The tag is from the Two Tags Die (see it online) for Big Shot. This wasn’t one of my first die purchases, but it’s always at the top of my stack now. In fact, watch tomorrow for the other gift project I created, also using the Two Tags die!
The stamp set I used is Nature Walk (I’ve been using it a lot recently). The “Thank You” is from the Elegant Engravings stamp set (love it–see it online). And you probably recognize the flower Adornment. The colors here are Early Espresso, Baja Breeze and Crumb Cake, with a touch of Rose Red.
Happy Stamping!
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Sew Sweet Stitches: Little Girl’s Apron
Last week my daughter and I were invited to a party where the girls were supposed to wear an apron and help serve snacks to the moms. Lots of fun, but we didn’t have a little apron on hand. What’s a stamping Mom to do?
Make an apron, of course!
I googled ‘little girl apron pattern’ and came up with a fabulous tutorial by Cindy and I based my apron on her pattern.
The apron uses the Sweet Stitches Designer Series Fabric (see it online). The pieces for the pocket were cut with my Big Shot Die Cut Machine (see it online), using the Scallop Square Die (see it online) for the pocket.
The letter ‘A’ for Abby is from the Serif Alphabet Die set (see it online). And of course the matching Daffodil Delight button is from the Sweet Stitches Designer Big Buttons (see it online).
I started by cutting strips (4″ wide) for my ruffle and waistband. The ruffle pieces are 4 x 28″ and I cut two and seamed them in the middle. The strips for the waist ties were 4 x 18″ and I cut two and seamed those in the middle, too. You may need to cut your strips to 4 x 28″ for longer ties–these fit my daughter, but her waist is fairly small.
Have fun with this project! The steps are below in picture form.
Happy Stamping!
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Sweet Stitches are Sew Sweet
I have a project to share with you tomorrow… I think you’re going to love it! But I have to finish up my pictures, so you’ll have to hang in there one more day!
In the meantime, I’ll give you a teaser taste of the project, since both this one and my ‘tomorrow’ project use the Sweet Stitches Designer Series Fabric (see it online).
The name tag itself is cut from the Table Setting Die (see it online) for Big Shot (see it online). But the flower is the ‘sweetest’ part. This project was shared at the Stampin’ Up! Leadership Conference back in January.
The flower strips are fabric from the Sweet Stitches patterns, ripped into strips and then attached to the tag with a matching Sweet Stitches Designer Fabric Brad (see it online).
I sent one of these name tags to each member of our LovenStampfuls Demonstrator team who participated in my group challenge over the last 2 months. Congrats everyone!
Be sure to check back tomorrow for another fun fabric project!
By the way, did you know that you can receive my blog updates in your email inbox each day for free? It’s easy! Just use this link:
Subscribe to LovenStamps – The Blog –Meg Loven, Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator by Email
Happy Stamping!
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Eyelet Flower Embellishment for my New Scallop Square Tote
Did you see the Video Tutorials yesterday for creating the Extended Scallop Square Tote? You’ll want to check them out if you missed them!
Today’s Video Tutorial demonstrates how to make the Eyelet Flower Embellishment for the tote, using the Perfect Setting Die for the Big Shot Die Cut Machine.
Stampin’ Up! Supply List: (order 24-7 through my Online Store)
- Big Shot (113439)
- Perfect Setting Bigz XL Die (115961)
- Extended Cutting Plates (113478)
- Scallop Circle Die #2 (113469)
- Sweet Stitches Designer Fabric (121818)
- Sweet Stitches Designer Big Buttons (122302)
Here’s Part 3 of the Extended Scallop Square Tote Video Tutorial:
If you’ve enjoyed this project, be sure to check out some of my other projects using the Big Shot Die Cut Machine, as well as more of my Video Tutorials on a variety of stamping and crafting techniques and projects.
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
New Scallop Square Extended Totes
I think many of us have seen the sweet Scallop Square bags that can be created with the Big Shot Die Cut Machine and the Scallop Square Die from Stampin’ Up! (check out my bag from a year ago).
But this winter I decided that I needed a small tote that’s a little wider than the regular Scallop Square size. No problem! I’ve come up with a solution and created a Video Tutorial to show you how to make these bags on your own.
Here are 2 Video Tutorials for the Extended Scallop Square Tote. Part 1 includes directions on cutting your fabric with the Big Shot Die Cut Machine. Part 2 shows the sewing instructions for assembling your bag. Watch for Part 3, coming tomorrow, for directions on creating the Eyelet Flower Embellishment.
Yes, be very afraid, I have created a tutorial on sewing. **Disclaimer: I am NOT a seamstress, I just play one on tv** 
And here is Part 2 of the Video Tutorial:
The finished tote comfortably fits a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2″ card, so this is the perfect tote for carrying a few swap cards at a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator Event, or for making a really special set of cards for a gift.
Stampin’ Up! Supply List: (order 24-7 through my Online Store)
- Big Shot Die Cut Machine (includes regular Cutting Mats) (113439)
- Scallop Square Die (115950)
- Sweet Stitches Designer Fabric (121818)
- Early Espresso Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (115615)
As I’m posting this today, I’m also working on finishing 10 of these Extended Square Totes for the demonstrators on my LovenStampfuls Team who are headed to the Stampin’ Up! Leadership Conference in Nashville this week. Here’s hoping there’s not too much snow for those Southern gals!
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Dress Up Your Bag, Stampin’ Style
Need a fun ornament for the purse from yesterday? The flower below was cut and quilted from the same fabrics that I used for the purse, this time using the Flower Folds Big Shot Die (see it online).
These flowers are perfect for tying on a purse handle or backpack–they’re quite the rage! They’d also make a cute headband, if you’re 10 years old or if you can get away with wearing one in your hair.
The small Scallop Circle in the center is from the Scallop Circle #2 Die (see this one online). Each flower layer is made up of three pieces — the bottom fabric layer, the middle cotton batting layer and the top fabric layer. All 3 pieces were top stitched together by sewing machine.
After all the 3 flower pieces were stitched, I used scissors to cut a slit in the center of each, then put the 1-1/4″ Striped Grosgrain Ribbon through the flower center. I tied a small knot in the center and fed the ribbon end back through the holes.
Thanks to Jill Olsen for the inspiration on this project! After seeing some of her quilting projects at the Founder’s Circle Retreat the last few years, I’ve been inspired to brush the dust from my own sewing machine.
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Every Crafter’s Wish List
What should every crafter have on a Wish List? My top pick is the Big Shot Die Cut Machine.
The Scallop Square die for the Big Shot is probably in my top 5 favorite dies, and for fabric or quilting projects, I think it’s my #1 favorite.
My most recent project was a quilted Bible cover. This time I made a different kind of quilted project — a small tote or purse.
This is actually a pretty easy project–and quick, too! The Big Shot will cut 6-8 layers of upholstery or quilting fabric at one time. And I can cut 4-6 layers of the cotton quilting batting with no problems.
From uncut fabric to finished purse, this bag didn’t take all that long to complete–only about an hour.
For directions on how to put together purses like this, check out my post from last winter. The only difference is that here I added a layer of natural cotton batting between the front and back pieces of each purse panel.
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
