Felt accents

I've noted interestingly how when you're looking for inspiration, an idea to nudge you to the next step, or project, life has a way of revealing them to you - almost in the next sequence of events (talk about instant!). It could come in form of a book the sale's person recommended after noting how you pored over those pieces of felt (like it was the only thing that mattered in that entire shop full of sewing inspirations and tools!) . Or it could come in form of a friend's simple suggestion, along with pictures of what she was referring to.

And so, here's the next felt bits I've been creating. Felt accents - to embellish scrapbooking projects, journals, even clothing - I think ...? It begins first with a 'copy job' with a little tweaking here and there ...before venturing into one's own designs.

Now there's the other thing that's surprising as I delve into this felt fancy of mine ... the fact that I actually ENJOY sewing (?!) Who would have thought??!

For the longest time, I saw sewing as a mere necessary fun-less function - sewing a loose button was just about what I was capable off. And when it comes to sewing machine ... I wonder what the term is for someone who has a phobia of sewing machines ... because that depicts yours truly - quite aptly too.

Ask me to mend a hem and well, I'll whip up the cellotape! (The idea being why sew when you can stick??) Needless to say my hems were all temporary patchwork jobs that fell back to its wayward length the minute you wash the attire; until of course I make that trip down to the tailor who'd charge (thankfully not an arm or a leg in my part of the world) to hem.

But oh, the hassle involved. The traffic, the parking ... note also how any trip becomes a mini inconvenience when you don't enjoy what you do. Give me a reason to go to any scrapbook/sewing/bake shop and there's no hassle too great!

The wonder of it all....!

The story of the pink hearts

It all began with the idea of felt pink hearts to be used mainly as embellishments on cards.

But one thing lead to another ... and from one pink heart, the creation grew to four various pink hearts of various shade and sizes sewed together with blanket stitch to form a decorative item that can be hung on handbags or even a keyring.

The process began with the idea of sewing a couple of hearts together (the smallest pink and middle darker shade) for a change instead of taking the quick way of gluing the bits together.

Whilst I was sewing the two hearts together I thought then, why stop at two when the third heart could add more dimension to this hearty embellishment. And so the third heart of yet a different shade of pink was cut out to size and gradually stitched together.

Then the thought occured, why not turn it into a kind of keepsake bookmark or a decorative item ... something that can be taken out of card. For that to be, a ribbon simply has to be added. However, after sewing the ribbon to the back of the heart, I realised my sewing wasn't as neat as I hoped it would be and I needed a 'cover up heart'. And so, the fourth heart was added.

It was not until halfway of adhering the fourth heart to the third that I decided to put in the polyster filling to give hearts that extra puffy 'dimension'. The metal ring was a practical afterthought. Just incase the one decides to use as keychain, to decorate handbag or to be hung on Christmas tree ...?

Felty odds and ends ...

With my current felty fancy, I've been experimenting with making my own felt flowers. Drawn and cut out with my own handy scissors. I fear they (the scissors) aren't as sharp as they should be hence the discrepancy in petal sizes. Also felt tends to slide about as one cuts - unlike paper - if you use something heavy enough (like metal ruler) to hold paper down. I have yet to cut out felt while pinning it down ... not sure how that works with my present set of tools (?)

The flower bits are stuck together with good ol' glue. It doesn't have that polished feel of felt flowers from those designer embellishments but i daresay it feels and looks somewhat rustic!

Pink Passion

These are the cards I've made over the last week or so. one is for a friend who just announced that she's going to be married in January next year.

The other a get well card for a dear family friend. All the pink hearts (its for 'Her') to remind her to 'Take Heart' and get well soon.


Materials used for both cards include:

a) A4 card stocks - 2

b) 12x12 Pink Scratch Cots by Carolees Creation (cut out to size)

c) Ribbons and ric-racs

d) Buttons

e) Fabric and Paper flowers

f) Felt hearts cut out from Felt.

Its October ...

..and no, i've not run out of creative juices - just yet!

Just not been taking pictures of the stuff i've been experimenting with. Mainly because i usually scrap into the small hours of the night and taking pictures in that kind of light with my digital compact just irks me. Pictures taken at that time of the day are either a)blurred b)weirdly hued c)disasterous altogether.

The solution of course is to wait for daylight to take them pictures. But come daytime, there's just so many other things to deal with first and taking pictures of one's handiwork isn't exactly top on the the 'To-do List' - until of course, the hurly burly of the day is done, the dust has settled and one finally has the hours to one self.

The only bits of paper that shapes quite quickly in a few hours are cards!

The 'Felt' connection ....

Ta Daaahhhhh!!!

For someone who doesn't sew this was what I made on Sunday - felt cupcake keyrings!

Admittedly, I didn't dream up design from scratch. Instructions were chanced upon while trawling through the various scrapbook/craft blogs for ideas (http://www.mookychick.co.uk/diy_ethic/indie_craft_felt_cupcake_keyring.php). That was weeks ago, possibly even a month!

The main reason why I took my time trying out the idea (don't get me wrong, it was a fantastic tutorial!) was due to the fact that I didn't know HOW to 'blanket stitch'. I did learn how to sew various stitches in school once upon a time ago ... but that was at least 25 years ago and sewing isn't exactly on my list of interests.

But somehow ... some inpirations just egg you on, demanding that you experiment. Demanding you venture out of one's comfort zone of techniques and preferences.

That's what those pieces of felt did sitting in my cupboard that I bought a while back with the intention of turning them into 'felt flowers' scrapbook embellishments.'No sewing needed' - so i thought ...' Just glue 'em together ...'

But instead of sticking felt flowers, I surprised myself and SEWN together cupcake keyrings - complete with blanket stitches!!

I guess when inspired, one never truly forgets how to blanket stitch after all ...!!

Waste not, want not ...

Spent the weekend putting together bits of leftover papers from previous card making project. Manage to make meself a mini-card of 6"x4" - All put together in no time at all!!

Materials used included:-

a) Leftover of green and white polka dotted DCWV printed cardstock
b) Leftover of green A4 paper (90gsm)
c) White ribbon
d) 2 Off white buttons
e) Embroidery ribbon flowers
f) 2 mini green brads