Fabric Pumpkins

** This is my second post today. If you are looking for the Handmade Holidays Blog Hop, please scroll down or click here.

Today is the final post for the favorite challenge project on the Pink by Design blog and we are sharing projects that are not cards. I have been seeing these fabric pumpkins all over pinterest and just had to make some too! There are lots of patterns going on here but each one incorporates a little bit of gingham.

This version is a little more squat than others I've seen and is quicker to stitch up too! Rather than sewing together three sides of a panel, cut a circle and stitch up only the edge. It's so quick and easy that you can even do it by hand - which I had to since my sewing machine is on the fritz!

This large one is my favorite and used a jumbo gingham fabric. I added some die cut leaves (felt and glittered paper), a sentiment and tag from Everyday Banners and a couple buttons. 

The middle one is extra girly with a pretty floral fabric. One leaf is stamped with the Gingham Background and again I added an Everyday Banners sentiment and tag plus a glittered button and bow made with my 3 Girl Jam bowmaker. To balance out the feminine quality of these pumpkins and to make them a bit more seasonal, the stalk is cut from an actual tree branch wrapped with hemp twine to give the look of a dried up vine. 

And if were wondering - yes that hemp is leftover from my middle school hemp necklace making days. How it stayed around so long, I have no clue :)

The smallest pumpkin uses a few of the circles from Nature Walk to stamp onto fabric using Crafter's Ink. This time the glitter is on the fabric and the gingham comes in the form of a bow. 

If you have a chance, link up your projects using your favorite pattern on the Pink by Design blog for the chance to win a $10 gift certificate to the Pink Store. It can be a card, layout, tag, altered project - whatever you have in mind. We love to see your PBD stamps but any stamps are okay too!

Have a great weekend!

Handmade Holidays Hop 2012

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Handmade Holidays Blog Hop!!!

Calling all crafters! We’ve gathered designers from some of our favorite manufacturers to show you ways to create something from the heart this holiday season. This 3 day Hop includes over 60 stops with inspiration brimming from every corner. Explore all of the thoughtful and frugal handmade gifts you could create for the holidays, all in one place, during our second annual Handmade Holidays Blog Hop!
To sweeten the Hop, we’re offering a gift for you! For every comment you leave on the blogs in the Hop, you’ll be entered to win a prize pack from one of the participating manufacturer sponsors! Use the Rafflecopter widget on the Clearsnap blog to gain extra entries each day: http://clearsnap.blogspot.com

Visit the list of blogs below and leave a comment on each by Nov 27, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST. Each day we will be sharing a brand new list of blogs with brand new projects for you to explore, be inspired by, and create from!
Clearsnap – http://clearsnap.blogspot.com

Hampton Art - http://blog.hamptonart.com/Graphic45 – http://g45papers.typepad.com/

Fiskateers - www.fiskateers.com/blog

Donna Salazar Designs – http://donnasalazar.typepad.com/

Tombow USA – http://blog.tombowusa.com/

Authentique Paper http://authentiquepaper.blogspot.com/ 

The Twinery - http://www.thetwineryblog.com/

Eileen Hull for Sizzix http://eileenhull.blogspot.com/

Globecraft Memories – http://globecraftmemories.blogspot.com

Kristin Wilson – Graphic 45 -  http://www.kristinwilsonhandmade.com/

Jennie Garcia - Tombow -  earthyscrap.blogspot.com

Gini Williams Cagle - Hampton Art - http://ginicagle.blogspot.com/

Sabrina Alery – Clearsnap – http://Sabrinaalery.blogspot.com ---> you are here!

DeeDee Catron - Globecraft Memories - http://umwowstudio.blogspot.com/

Michelle Grant – Donna Salazar Designs -  http://michellejbg.blogspot.com

Emily Lanham – Authentique Paper -http://www.createserendipity.net

Emma Jeffery – Fiskateers - http://hellobeautifulblog.blogspot.com

Natalie Clause – The Twinery -  http://www.southernbellescharm.com/

Alberto L Juarez – Graphic 45 http://vintageodyssey.blogspot.com/

Vivian Keh - Hampton Art - http://contadinak.wordpress.com/tag/vivian-keh/

Jennifer Priest – Clearsnap – http://hydrangeahippo.blogspot.com
Heather Conklin – Authentique Paper - http://goldiecar.blogspot.com/

I created these stamped coasters using the new Crafter's Ink. They are a super frugal gift as they use no expendable materials (my husband cut a log from our wood pile into slivers) but you could also purchase coasters to stamp as well if you don't have access to power tools. It would be so simple to make many sets in assembly line style.

I really love the rustic texture of the wood combined with the sweetness of the stamps and glitter. Any stamp will work with the Crafter's Ink - the image is permanent and dries within a few moments on porous materials. It also works great on fabric!

Just because you don't spend much to create this gift doesn't mean it isn't thoughtful. All it takes is some pretty packaging to take a simple gift shine.

I tucked a trio of tags inside a wrap that the recipient could reuse as well.They are altered with Design Adhesives, Foils and Mix'd Media Inx. A little Smooch Glitz on the buttons adds just enough sparkle.

And here are the coasters all packaged up and ready to gift.

Clearsnap Supplies: Crafter's Ink - Sweet Pea, Aruba, Limon Mix'd Media Inx Pigment Ink - Leather Mix'd Media Chox Chalk Ink - Sparrow Decades for Graphic 45 Antiquing Dye Ink - Venetian Lace Smooch Glitz - Pink Fizz Design Adhesives - Jolly Greeting, Flurries Designer Foils - Limeburst Other Supplies: Stamps - Hampton Art Cardstock - Bazzill Basics Patterned Paper - Authentique Twine - The Twinery Buttons - Hydrangea Hippo Punches - Fiskars Adhesive - Tombow Other - ribbon, wood coasters

Cheers to creating gifts from the heart this holiday season! Happy Hopping!

Animal Mask Pattern @ The Odd Girl

Hi there. Just popping in today to share about a guest post I have up at The Odd Girl. Kristy kindly invited me to celebrate her blog this month and is sharing tutorials and giveaways all month long - I hear there is even a Copic marker giveaway so be sure to check it out! She designs the cutest stamps - digital and acrylic - too so be sure to visit Some Odd Girl stamps to take a peek!

I am sharing a pattern and tut for these felt animal masks. Super easy to create and perfect for everyday play or a last minute Halloween costume! View the entire post here.

I made a few extra too just in case you don't have time to create your own - they are available for purchase in my Etsy shop.

Thanks and have a great day!

The Strawberry Muffin Blouse + Free Pattern

Hooray!! I have a new free pattern for you today, modeled by the lovely Miss Leah!

So I really wanted to call this pattern the Strawberry Muffin Top. It kind of makes me giggle. But my husband, who is about as crass as they come, thought it was mean and that no one would want to make their little girl a muffin top. So I changed the top to blouse. Was he right?

The empire waist with the more narrow lining kind of reminds me of the way a muffin puffs over the top of the pan. And the colors are very reminiscent of a strawberry. A Strawberry Muffin. Top, blouse - hey even a dress if you lengthen the lower panel :)

The extra details on the bodice make this top extra special. What little lady doesn't get excited about a couple of ruffles and jumbo buttons?! None that I know!

The back has a pretty keyhole detail as well. And I love that no zipper or button panel are required.

The shoulders are quite simple to keep the focus on the other details, but add a nice pop of color in a contrasting fabric. Very fun to sew and I think she likes it too :)

Download the free pattern here in size 4/5T.
(And if you enjoy and appreciate the free-ness of this pattern, I would love if you'd consider becoming a follower of this blog - pretty please with cream and sugar on top?)

And view the video tutorial below.

Hugs and love, Sabrina

Parliment Tiered Maxi Skirt

Finally! I had a chance to take a photo of the maxi skirt I made in December. It feels so elegant and was the perfect thing to wear to the ballet. A big beautiful column of winter white.

Of course I had to sneak off alone to take the pics so the 3rd column is flipped up in every photo unknown to me until editing. Buuut since it took so long to get any pics at all I figured I could live with it :)

This gorgeous embroidered fabric was sent to me by my lovely friend Jacinta of Model Mumma. The tag said it was made in Switzerland and it is truly the most luxurious fabric I've ever worked work. Thank you a million times over Jacinta!!

For the pattern, I layed out a maxi dress and traced the shape onto muslin, rounding out the hip area a bit and slimming down the width to make it more form fitting. Each layer of the lacy material (I'm not sure what you'd call it, do you?) is sewn directly onto the muslin and overlaps the next layer by about an inch from the scallop.

You can see in the second photo how the material bunches up at the top layer. If I did this again and if you try it, I def recommend ruffling the fabric for the top layer to give a little room for movement and so you don't get the same bunching. Or maybe just making the whole dress a bit wider. That might even work better!

The waist is cinched with a wide black strip of elastic which makes it easy to slip on and is great for keeping your top perfectly tucked in. I scored this grey silk beauty at a thrift shop, tags still attached!

So do you like it?! Cause I just LOVE it and it makes me feel so pretty.

Also wanted to mention how honored I am to have my Taking Flight top included in the Best of Burdastyle - Handpicked of 2011!! It's in there along with some really amazing designs like the Ruffled Trench and cute bow shorts. Definitly worth taking a look!

Have a wonderful week!

Sweet Sugar Plum Birthday Dress

Hey there. I've been MIA this week - but not for lack of material to post. The mornings are so busy if I don't preschedule a bunch in advance then I just never get around to it.

Anyway.... I want to share the dress I put together for my little miss' 4th birthday. She requested a purple dress this year and we picked out some very pretty pinky/purple lace from Ben Franklin. It took almost 15 yards to make a size 3T!

The shape is just a basic A-line - I taped together a bodice pattern with a skirt slip pattern and did a little snipping here and there to create the shape I was going for.  The lace is sewn right onto a good quality muslin without any ruffling - that might have been even cuter though!

I tried the keyhole neckline again - such an amazing alternative to sewing in zippers! The button closure was covered with a bit of scrap fabric that was that same shade of purple. For the dress lining I used an old ribbed sweater so it would be extra cozy and warm inside.

The sleeves are my favorite part of this dress!! I wanted the shoulders to be very poufy but the sleeves to be slim. I cut down a pattern for regular sleeves but still had to make a 1" seam to create the very slim silhouette. They could have been just a touch longer but it probably would have bothered her and gotten into her food - still a messy eater - so we compromised.

And one more look at the front view :) I don't like taking photos inside with the flash but it has been so cold here there is just no going out without the heavy artillerary for even a few moments. We picked out some black sparkly tights to go with and she has been asking to wear both every single day this week and has thanked me about a million times. I am just so glad that she loves it. Every little gal needs to feel her very best on her special day.

Hopefully I'll get a chance to post my new skirt tomorrow. Night!

Halloween Costume: Little Mermaid

Yesterday I finished up the final kiddie costume! Saved the hardest one for last since I never did find a pattern that was just right. The green sequin material and netting came from Joann's and the purple is from a thifted wrap top and tank. Pattern was made from measuring her clothes.

We couldn't do the sea shell top because it will just be too cold so I sewed in a tank top covered with a sheer top. It's just disassembled from the wrap top and sewn together in a smaller size. Left an opening on the outside of the sleeves and added in a couple fins there. Ariel doesn't have those, I was told, but she did accept it when the costume was finished.

There are fins on the sleeves and also on the hips. I put a wire stem in each one to help them stand up a little.

And the tail. It was so hard to make this look realistic and easy to walk in. We settled in the middle and added some extra ruffle detail to make up for the lack of authenticity. There is about 2 yards wide of tulle ruffled together to help it poof out. Hmm, maybe I could just sew an extra triangle of fabric in between the fins? That might look much better.

Added a fin in the back as well.

My little gypsy fish. We're off for the first round of trick-or-treating tonight at the zoo. What are you planning to be or will you dress up at all?

Halloween Costume: The Black Spiderman

Halloween costume #2 - the black Spiderman. I think maybe he is Spiderman's villainous alter ego but not totally sure. He costume is way cooler and that's all the matters to the young ones.

We made a half mask rather than a full face mask for easier access to candy eating.

The costume is all attached - I just used a pattern for a one piece pajama and added a belt. Still need to stop by the store and pick up some iron on transfer paper so I can add a spider to the chest area.

The back closes with a button. Pretty simple and he really likes it.

Off to do sewing for one final costume....

Halloween Costumes - Pretty, Pretty Princess

First Halloween costume finished. Actually make that two. I've been sewing like a mad woman this last week trying to get all the kids' costumes together and only one left and still a full week ahead of me! Phew.

All the kids have stuck with the same idea for what costume they wanted since summertime, which is quite a feat if you ask me. Leah wanted to be a princess, plain and simple, so we went with a pretty, girly version with sort of a Renaissance feel.

I think the hat really makes it. It was so simple to make with just two triangles of felt, a sheer scarf and a bit of ribbon to keep it on her head.

For the dress, I used Simplicity 2463 and 2460 for the sleeves. Had really wanted to add those long flowy sleeves but there just wasn't enough material in the dress I upcycled.

These sleeves are super cute though. The same one's I used for her 4th birthday dress.

Also added some trim to the middle section to give the look of a corset. Along the front neckline and sleeves I added some pintucked material from a thrifted silk top. And rather than gathering the skirt along the top, I added pleats.

Ooh and the skirt is my favorite part! It was just cut from the bottom of the thrifted dress so no need for hemming or anything! I turned the vent to the front so there would be a mountain of tulle piling out. There is also a large gathering right in the rear so she has a big booty bump like all the gowns in Cinderella. KWIM?

On the inside, I pinned up sections all around and just stitched a little pinch to give it this look that I'm not really sure is called - drapyness? If there is time, I'd be great to go back in and hand sew little flowers or beads at all the pinches. Am crossing my fingers for that.

And the before of the material. It was a pretty Vera Wang bridesmaids dress that I picked up for $1. Tags still attached. A shame really, I almost hated to cut into it, but it was the perfect shade of pale pink.

Check back tomorrow for a peek at the black Spiderman :)

Bob the Builder Invites

Just popping in to share some Bob the Builder invites I put together for a friend's son's upcoming 4th birthday. Was a little stumped for these but thought some 'Party' caution tape would draw it all together.

Supplies

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics

Patterned Paper - Basic Grey, Crate Paper, Glitz

Stamps - Hero Arts, Pink Paislee

Ink - Colorbox Dye Ink in Wicked Black

Sticker - Cosmo Cricket

Punch - Marvy Urchida

Die Cut System - Sizzix

We have 3 birthday parties to attend this weekend, not sure how we'll ever survive it!

Olivia's Party Dress

Last month a sweet girl I know emailed to ask if I could create a special dress for her little sweetie's 2nd birthday. The theme is Olivia the Pig so she wanted black/red and white and something classic but simple. She sent me a photo of a Jenni Bowlin paper pack she was using for the invitations and luckily I tracked down a print very similar in this etsy shop.

(Hope you don't mind her modeling this M. It was just for a few minutes and the dress just looks so much prettier on a person than a hanger :))

This was seriously the most gorgeous fabric I've ever worked with! It's a cotton/rayon blend and is the perfect sturdy weight. Easy to sew + beautiful! The pattern is a combination of Simplicity 2767 and the bodice from Simplicity 2460 and a few of my own additions.

The red material is this luscious stretch satin I found at Joann's. It is on the cuffs, neckline and sash and also the lining so it feels pretty on her skin. The lining is shorter so the hem pulls up to make a bubble shape. There is a little tulle sewn in there as well for extra poof. The wrists are elastic so she can pull them up when it's time for cake.

The best part of course being the backside! I skipped the zipper and instead added in a keyhole and button closure for a bit of elegance. The sash also buttons so she can wear it with or without.

And to pay homage to Olivia, we had to have the oversized red bow. So glad I could help to make a little girl's birthday extra special again this year!

Princess Invitation Set

A couple weeks back one of my bestest friends asked if I could put together some invitations for her daughter's upcoming birthday party - princess themed of course. She is a very girly girl - all pink and purple and sparkles - so it was easy to whip something up that would suit her.

I used the Scor-Pal board to create a gate fold design and layered some papers from Basic Grey Euphoria and SEI With All My Heart (thank you Cassie!). I punched more butterflies from the paper scraps and put them in a little baggie along with the border punch negatives to make a little bit of confetti for the table.

Since the pile was so tall with the brads and pop up dots, I used the Scor-Pal again to make a little box to deliver them all in. Like a purdy present all in itself.

Can't wait for the party, I get to dress up like a princess too!

Supplies:

Cardstock - SEI

Patterened Paper - SEI, Basic Grey

Punches - Martha Stewart, EK Success

Stamps - Pink Paislee

Ink - Colorbox Pigment Ink - Silver

Flower - Prima

Adhesive - Tombow, Therm-O-Web

Other: Ribbon, Doily, Thread