Sewn and Quilted Scrapbook Layout

Ah yes. I have a new pack of papers from 3 Birds.
This is the new "Brights" collection and I can't wait to show it off on The Shopping Channel September 8th.

I have shown some beautiful sewn paper samples each time I launch a new set of papers. Yesterday I worked on this layout. I had all these ovals from another project and didn't want them to go to waste. My first step was to sew the ovals to the background papers.

I liked my new background and found some fabric that had these cute kid faces. Since I knew which photograph I would be featuring these happy faces just added to the whimsical feeling of the layout. But I wondered if I could add these fabric kids with some extra dimension. I pulled out some thick quilt batting.

I cut some batting to fit under each happy face and then the real sewing test began.
Sewing paper requires some patience if you need to sew a complete circle or square. You can see how I had to roll the paper here to get half of the stuffed face sewn in place. Then I maneuvered the paper to sew the other half.

The faces looked so much better quilted in place.

Love my new sample! It will hang here in my sewing area when I am done showing it off on The Shopping Channel.

Embellished Cards

Some days the cards just get more and more embellishment.

When they are closed and in the clear bags it is hard to see some of the detail.

I love these three paneled card bodies. It gives me another opportunity to embellish the card.

Paris is still a major theme for me. I don't think I will tire of it anytime soon.

The Good Mailing List - Year Two

This is the second year the most amazing invitation has landed in my mail box.
I attended an amfar event organized by the Stationary Show in New York several years ago which is how I may have ended up on this mailing list. The tickets for individuals wishing to attend this event are $1000.

This years invite arrived in a clear envelope. It is holographic plastic paper with gold embossing. Just beautiful. Last year's invite is linked here. I have always loved the business of printing and would have loved to see how this was designed and then actually printed.

Since the invitation is in my studio It inspired me to find my own hot red fabric with gold. I knew I had a piece somewhere.
I made these new yo yo beads Alma demonstrated in our online class this week. So while I won't be attending this event, it will certainly inspire me.

Now. Speaking of inspiration. Look at all the links the jewelery beads have for you this week! Get that second cup of coffee and enjoy!

A Bead A Day
Do you like to mix crafting with jewelry making? Lisa is looking for crafty ideas for using a filigree pendant to create a unique piece of jewelry.

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy announces her first About.com jewelry making video.

Art Bead Scene
While Art Bead Scene Editor, Cindy Gimbrone is on vacation, she's left us a gem from Studio Saturday - her box of inspiration!

Beading Arts
After receiving a wonderful package of crystals from Auntie's Beads, Cyndi set out to make a bracelet that would show them off!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi was at CHA in Chicago and has a fabulous post about Prima Marketing.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
While Cindy's off enjoying the bead-ch, let's get ready for the upcoming HalloweenMas newsletters by checking in on a re-wind. It's Barbe Saint John's magic with Cindy's Calaveraz.

Carmi's Art/Life World
The new Katiedids components are responsible for Carmi's new pearl necklace design.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei shows off her loot from her Bead Fest Philadelphia trip!

Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!
Jean is totally WOWed by the fabulous Margot Potter's latest book: scroll down to read the truly intriguing review of this unique book--it is SO worth it!

Art In The Mail

Before sites like Etsy were developed the only way I would be exposed to a new artist would be through a craft show or traveling to another city. The online world is fabulous for discovering new favorites. This little book arrived in the mail this week.

Beautifully packaged with ribbon and a vintage postcard it was hard to open. The 3 1/2 by 5 1/2 ruled journal has a pen and paint image on the front and bag. Plus it came in it's own felt bag. The artist is on Etsy with her shop: Mary's Granddaughter. How lovely!

If you have time to peruse the internet this morning here are some crafty sites to visit!

About Family Crafts
Grandparent's Day is September 12th... Now is the perfect time to start making gifts to give to your grandparents.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen teaches you how to make spectacular backgrounds using Krylon's spray webbing and also shares with you what NOT to do.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi creates a faux metallic bead with quilted fabric she sews together herself.

Cathie Filian
Check out how Cathie turns an outdated holiday themed cookie stand and a cotton print thrift store skirt into a cupcake stand.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a free knit leaf coaster pattern, a bunch of decorating with artwork suggestions from the book 500 Ideas for Small Spaces, iron safety and cleaning tips from the book 1,000 Clever Sewing Shortcuts and Tips and an environmental labeling concept from Design School Confidential.

Crafty Princess Diaries
It definitely required a learning curve before Tammy was about to reach 50 sales in her Etsy shop.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Here are directions for creating a hat-shaped card. Eileen made a Red Hat card but the directions can easily be adapted to make a cowboy hat, a Mexican sombrero or a frilly lady's hat for an afternoon tea or luncheon.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi is giving away a copy of "Dimensional Beading", so hurry over and leave your comment!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how I melted sequins inspired by the sequin singeing technique in the book Dusty Diablos.

The Crochet Dude
Drew tries out his new video equipment!!

Art Cards

It has been a regular week in the studio. I am back to my 24 cards a day program.
I won't even begin to try and show you everything, but I do have favorites.

These bezels feature images from old wrapping paper.

I am using up the rest of my "Funny Girl" themed pendants.

These "lucky" hearts I removed from a necklace I bought in Paris.
I am shopping for embellishments in my own home. Trying to work my way through boxes and boxes of supplies.
A project which may take a lifetime if I don't stop adding to my stash.

My Katiedids Necklace!

This necklace is so nice to wear. It has just the right amount of weight to sit perfectly when it is on.

The bezels that you see came from the new components collection Katie Hacker launched this year. I visited her at CHA and she gave me a package of five to experiment with. Right away I saw the bezel part as something I could pour resin into.

These components were designed so that you can suspend beads and other items through the pre drilled holes. I decided to use some jeweled wire eye pins to close those holes and embed an image and some very old pearls into the two different sections.

The wire I worked with later to create the dangle.

My new pearl necklace is really me!
And I had two more bezels to make yet another coat badge!

Metallic Square Bead

I am in a wonderful summer online workshop with Alma Stoller. She taught us how to make our own quilted fabrics which we are sewing into various beads. I am in love with this cube bead.

I have an abundance of metallic fabrics in my stash and got the idea late yesterday afternoon for a faux metallic bead.

But I ran into all sorts of difficulty sewing the fabric together. The sewing machine got caught on the fabric and literally would not move. The metallic silver thread kept snapping. Everything looked puckered and uneven.

So another idea popped into my head. I covered everything with a light layer of chiffon.

You can barely see the chiffon! The sewing machine just glided over the surface now!

I even cut and sewed three beads in one sitting. I have enough fabric to make 4-6 more, so I know what I'll be doing tonight while watching a little TV.

Frida Cards

My new oval button maker is starting to make it's presence known on my art cards.

I could not be happier with the results!

Beautiful Baby

Today I am back at The Shopping Channel.
I made several new samples this weekend using the products I am showcasing. This is the cover of a calendar I started this weekend. Each month is prettier than the next.

It was so easy to make these pages using this special set I am debuting today.

The foil is from this kit. There are so few left, even I have to order one last set online today!

You won't believe what you can do with this Sticker Stack!
My TV times: 11:25, 3:25 and 8:25pm

Sunday Resin

I managed to make 10 more sets of resin embellishments this week. I need them for my card production. This set is particularly pretty. I am sure it will inspire me to make a very meaningful card grouping.
Here it is Sunday again. I am having my second cup of coffee and enjoying the rain we are receiving. A perfect home day! No rushing about and I can check out all my bead blogger friend's links.

A Bead A Day
Do you have plenty of beads in all the right colors? Lisa is exploring the meaning of the color purple and discovers she might need to do some bead shopping!

About.com Jewelry Making
Have you ever thought about expanding your jewelry business but need a little mulla to do so? Then you may want to learn more about this jewelry grant.

Art Bead Scene
It's the Art Bead Scene Monthly Carnival Blog! Join us as we embark on an exploration.

Beading Arts
Chapter three of Cyndi's e-book is available for download! "Dimensional Beading" looks at how to use textural stitches in your bead embroidery!

Carmi's Art/Life World
This week Carmi makes a floral tribute necklace with fabric flowers.

Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva
This week Cindy's Mad for Monday is about the frit.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie shows the results of her experiments with Ice Resin and LEDs... Light! Science!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean reviews Making Mixed Media Art Charms and Jewelry: not to be missed!

Strands of Beads
Melissa unveils her new Saturn charm.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
For this week's Thursday Giveaway, TWO winners will walk away with beautiful bead sets created by Gaea Ceramic Beads.

Crafty Bead Project

Friday night I just like to watch TV and do a small craft project for myself.

This is my latest favorite bead. I am just completing week two projects for Alma's online class.

My "Crafty Blogger Friends" were all busy this week too. Here are some great links.

About Family Crafts
Discover creative ways to personalize your notebooks and text books!

Aileen's Musings
Join Aileen's creative torso challenge--you can download and embellish your torso tag and enter to win a free collage sheet.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a tutorial on how to paint faces on natural elements, two chances to win a copy of 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse in a "recycle your Swag contest", the first sneak peek into the new book 1000 Artisan Textiles and an interview with the author of Sew Retro, Judi Ketteler.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Do you bead? Are you chic? Then you will want a chance to win Margot Potter's latest book!

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Do you know how to avoid clay shrinkage and distortion with clays baked in the home oven? Let Eileen tell you.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter

Madge shares the third free project from her new book Bead Chic with a giveaway!

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi has one more metalcraft book to give away this summer. Come sign up for your last chance to win!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make an apron for an Aminko or an 18 inch doll from the book All Dolled Up

Magnus Meets Martha Stewart

Here's my Magnus.
He's one super happy puppy.

He, like me, has fallen for Martha. Is it any surprise that she is now in the pet world?
This is the Martha Stewart Crochet Squeak Toy. Pricey. But I had to have it.
This is the rope bone. Magnus loves fabric and fibers to chew on...so these won't last long. I was crazy to even buy them for a teething golden retriever pup.

He can't decided which to chew first. I have caught him with both in his mouth.
Another amazing Martha launch. The best part...these are "hand crafted."

Speaking of handcrafted. Whenever I have a minute I am working on fabric beads.
I am in Alma's summer online class. This is the most relaxing part of my day.

More Flowers Than I Could Possibly Use!

This is my latest necklace sample.
I honestly can't remember when a project in my head came together so easily on my work table.

The inspiration for this necklace and the many many samples I am now working on is this amazing set of fabric and felt flowers. 3 Birds constantly surprises me with fantastic paper arts supplies and I will be presenting these on The Shopping Channel in the next few weeks.

I opened every single package and realized I has a huge selection of flowers and flower parts to work with. Almost too many because I was temporarily blank. What should I do first?

I gathered a few of the flowers and just covered them in one layer of resin. This way they would be extra stiff and shiny. I also had a black lace collar to work on and my handy rhinestone setter tool.

When I attached all the flowers with the rhinestone prongs I thought that it might feel a little scratchy against my neck.

So I glued on one extra layer of soft black felt.

Now that I see the flowers up close I love them even more!

A floral necklace for the most flowery time of the year!