needle & thread

I consider myself a VERY crafty person. But like every good super crafty hero I do have a nemesis and that is: needle & thread crafting. You know sewing, pattern reading, crochet, knitting and embroidery. I try and for the most part I can make "something" but it doesn't resemble the piece I was TRYING to make. I can sew straight lines on a sewing machine but my goal is to make a top or t-shirt for myself. But for now I will stick with my pillows and aprons...another thing on my to do list is to make a SAMPLER - which consists of fun embroidered art patches...but in the mean time here are some of the things I have been playing with

 

 

I know this is WAY TO SIMPLE but yet it is still not perfect.

 

I even made an ANTI-VALENTINE heart - would you dare wear that out in public? I don't think I could...besides for me LOVE absolutely doesn't suck - I love being in LOVE!!!

 

 

Since it is so easy I thought I would share the tutorial for it of

 which is super self-explanatory...

 

cut out 2 heart shapes out of felt

on the top heart "embroider" with needle & thread a letter or a saying and just do the basic back stitch

 (see how on you tube)

when you are done with the top -  blanket stitch the edges - leaving a small opening to stuff with poly-fil. then close up

add a pin back or barrette clip to put on and wear.

 

super simple and these would make a fun gift to give to your pals --- just attach them to a fun embellished tag and you got a cool handmade gift.

 

So many fun blogs sharing lots of cool Valentines Day crafts: sharing my hearts with the following parties:

 

market yourself Mondays

craft-o-maniac

made with love Monday

made by you Monday

craftastic Monday

sew cute Tuesday

 

have "LOVE-LY" week

 

xo, tina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



a four letter word

its nothing too nasty - actually quite sweet...its the word

LOVE

 

I have been working on some cards and trying to make one extra special for my sweet hubbs...

Here is round 2..

 

sweet and pretty much says everything. He makes my life BLISSFUL - truly sounds super sappy but it's how I feel.



 

I gotta share something with you 

 it seems that the word DEPRESSION is settling nicely in various people in my life. To be totally truthful - I have never really understood how mental & psychological disabilities worked in people. I don't get how something can consume someones thoughts and mind and then affect their way of living. Before you think I am un-sympathetic - I feel - I do have a heart. I even have people in my immediate family that are affected with various illnesses such as bi-polar, depression, Alzheimer's and cancer. I have been affected directly - but I have never been able to wrap my head around how it works. With that said, I have never been affected personally, I don't ever feel depressed. Sure I have bad days but I never feel like all is lost. I never think there is NOT something better tomorrow...that's just me.

 

 I know life can't be great everyday, I know that my kids aren't perfect, I know that my house isn't close to well decorated or spotlessly cleaned. I know that I will never be a super-model (no matter how much weight I lose) I know I will never be anything more important than a MOM (I am totally o.k. with that) I know that I will never have thousands of dollars in our savings account, I know that the world is getting more violent, more deviant and will continue as my kids grow up, I know that I can't prevent all the evil in the world or even the evil surrounding my  kids....BUT even knowing all that, I am NOT scared - I am not fearful, I am NOT worried - I don't feel helpless, I don't STRESS about it all - it's NOT in my nature.

But truth be told - I have a secret weapon (sappy is on its way again)

My Husband. He keeps me grounded. He keeps me calm, He NEVER stresses, he doesn't get mad, he HELPS me when I feel overwhelmed (housework, kids, dishes....)

 

I know it sounds like I went off in a tangent but my point (didn't think I had one did you?) is 2 fold, you understand why it is important for me to make the PERFECT card...also I think anyone can get through anything no matter how tough if they have a SUPERIOR SUPPORT SYSTEM. Mine just happens to be my husband. {YOU & ME}

 

Here's wishing that you have a wonderful support system.

 

I truly believe we are all alright and that tomorrow HAS to be better than today!

 

stay strong

 

xo

tina

 

BTW- I am linking this card up to the following challenges:

 

creative belli - rhinestones

ruby's rainbow - valentine

sisterhood of crafters - hearts

aud sentiments - adult valentines

delightful challenges - red * white

going grey w/ scrap creations- valentines

little miss muffet - hearts & flowers

milk coffee challenge - valentine

sugar bowl - anything goes

 

 

 

 

 

 



Burlap LOVE

I know that I have shared my love for burlap plenty of times before...and I know I shared my cool little burlap pillows for the holidays.

Well here are 2 more burlap pillows for Valentine's day...

Small pillows that are sitting on my wicker chair in the front room. Cute right?

Super simple too....

• step 1: cut the burlap to the size you want to make,
• step 2: then sew around all the sides making sure to leave an opening for stuffing when you are done with that
• step 3: use some stamps & acrylic paint for the words and lastly
• sew up the hole and put out with the rest of your holiday décor or wrap up and give it away to someone special...

Anyway, just something I whipped up --- Hope you like it

Happy Crafting...xo--- I am linking this up to the following parties

flamingo toes-think pink sunday
the Saturday 7 - positively splendid
sew darn cute - sew many ways
sunday showcase
Saturday link & greet

feeling the LOVE

I have got the LOVE bug lately. Everything I make seems to be red, pink or Valentine-y!

take for instance this card...

 

 

Just something I threw together. I was making a paper bag album & a banner with these papers and decided they needed to be used as a card too.

I am thinking that perhaps this may be the card I give to my sweet beloved hubster...

 

Luckily for me this works for the following challenges:

 

bunny zoe crafts - anything goes

cheery lynn designs - sweethearts

created with love - anything goes

make it Monday - anything goes

stamp & create - Love

tammy's scrapin corner - red & hearts

victorine originals - valentines- red, white & pink

 

Happy LOVE prep...

xo

 

 



Creating Keepsakes

I love scrapbooking and I have declared that more than once here on the old blog, and as much as I believe that times change and things change and people ideas change with the digital era, BUT I think that scrapbooking is so important. Enough so, that I continue to make my small intimate paper bag albums...which start off with one of these...I sew the center of bags for extra reinforcement and durability for all the hand touching sure to be shared with these albums.

 

I also make accordion albums that also hold photos and are ready to go - just add photos and your scrapbooking is done.

 

These types of albums are fun because they fan out and are double-sided and look great spread out like you see below

 

These look great on your desk at work and invite people to check out your family photos.

 

See there plenty of room for photos...

 

Cute, easy & pre-made - can it get better than that.

 

Another type of scrapbook I make are made of chipboard and I usually bind them either with book rings or coil bindings - I love to coordinate my papers and my embellishments and make my albums look like something that anyone would love to GIVE as a GIFT or keep for themselves.

 

This album is a bit rustic & shabby-ish wouldn't you say?

 

 

Love these papers and the colors in chartreuse, grey & yellows...LOVELY

 

I like to add minimal embellishments but still fun & matchy so that your photos make the album POP!

 

 

As you can see I am all about CREATING KEEPSAKES and because most people don't feel that they can make one I do if for them and I absolutely LOVE doing it.

 

I guess that's why I say with times changing and things going digital and things get easier then ever - I am glad to know that there are a few of us left that are still holding on to the hands on approach to scrapbooking.

 

I think its important to create those keepsakes and when they are this small it makes them easier to finish and much less stressful and hey they make a great gift.

 

If you are interested in any of these albums I have them listed in my ebay shop...

 

Here's wishing you a happy journey in your own personal scrapbooking projects.

 

I am linking this up to the following parties:

 

MARKET YOURSELF MONDAYS

CRAFT-O-MANIAC

MAKE IT PRETTY MONDAY

JUST SOMETHING I WHIPPED UP

ONE PROJECT AT A TIME

TOO CUTE TUESDAY

 

XO