LollyChops

When life gives you scraps...

I think I have been going too easy on you guys.  In my early days of blogging, it seems like every other post had something to do with buttons to cover.  Lolly LOVES her some buttons to cover.  If I thought you guys would let me get away with it, I would dedicate an entire month to nothing but them.  A homage if you will.  So since I cannot possibly do that and expect to have any readers left by the end of that extravabonanza...  I'll just do a teeny tiny little peepy post on my lovies every now and then.  Ahhhh see them over there.  Peep.  Peep.  Aren't they fabulous!?!?!?!  I feel so much better.  I made up that massive batch this past weekend.  They are still sitting on my craft table setting the room all a glow!

So what are buttons to cover?
If you have been living in the dark cave of craftlessness and have no idea what I am talking about...  let me prepare you to become totally and completely more thrilled than you have ever been before in your whole entire life!  Ok maybe I exaggerate just a little...  NOT!  These puppies are the COOLEST!  You can read all about how to make them from my first ever buttons to cover post right HERE.  If you go there...  you must come back cause I am taking them to a whole new level.  Well not really...  but I do have a new nifty way to display them (cause they ARE works of art you know).

A Notion or Two
Let's start with a few things that are totally NOT buttons to cover related (I need to save the best for last you know).  As some of you may or may not know, I am in a virtual quilting bee.  It's called "A Notion or Two" and you can check out our Flickr group HERE.

I did not share my last quilt block and I finished my 3rd yesterday so I wanted to get them both posted cause they are totally and completely different!

The first one is mostly greens that's made from vintage fabric.  There was a piece in there that was so close to my grandma's old kitchen wall paper that it pretty much blew me and MomChops away!  The only difference was that my gramma had a bright yellow background instead of green.  I'll have to look through our old pics to see if I can find an example!  It was rockin stuff!

This second picture is of the block MomChops and I finished this past weekend!  It's kinda a mish mash of many colors but I think everything works really well together!!  I added a little teal bunny applique in honor of BTBW!  I cannot wait to get my next fabric pieces for April!

...and nextly...
I had to share this!  I got some shelves this past weekend from Lowes so that I could get all of my stamps out of their baskets (the shelves were $15 a piece and super duper easy to hang...  I hung them all by my lonesomes!!!).

I have seen this idea all over the place and figured it was high time I got with the program and put something like this together for myself!

When my stamps are tucked away I rarely think to use them in my projects.  I am hoping that having them out like this will give me loads more inspiration (plus... I think they look totally cool all lined up like that!!!!).  I mean seriously folks!!

...and lastly...
I created a little project last night on a whim... and I am going to wait till later this week to share how I did it...  it's a new way to display/store your thumb tack version of sweet little buttons to cover!  Here is a little sneak peak!

The only reason I am not sharing it today is because I ran out of daylight and the pics I took were terrible!  So I'll see if I can get home from work early enough tonight to get better pics!

It's super fun and easy...  and I think it makes for a really nice display too (even without the buttons to cover).

I hope you are all having a terrific Tuesday!

More hugs than you can stand!

P.S.  It's not too late to enter my giveaway!  You can read all about it HERE.

P.S.S.  I got two bunny inspired project shares this past weekend.  Check them out below!

This pic of from my good friend Heather (she and I used to work together many moons ago).  Heather used washable markers and colored the kids' thumbs and pointer fingers and stamped them on paper in the shape of a bunny. Then she embellished each sweet little thumb bunny with ears and tails to make a cute Easter card!

AND

This little softie bunny is from Linda of [wife.daughter.sister.friend].  She enlarged the Binky Bunny template to make this little choo choo wabbit!  Sooo sew sweet!

Thanks for sharing your projects girls!

P.S.S.T. xoxoxoxoxoxo!

Sunday Guest Recipe :: Scones - Irish Style

Hello!  Today my guest is LeeAnn from MintBasil!  LeeAnn has been hanging around these parts since the wee beginnings - so she's kinda a fav of mine!  Let's get to know her a little better and check out her fabulous scone recipe!

LollyChops: What's your favorite ingredient when cooking?
LeeAnn: Fresh herbs, hands down!

LollyChops: What topping(s) do you like on your pizza?
LeeAnn: My absolute favorite pizza toppings is fresh basil, ripe tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella cheese. That is THE perfect pizza!

LollyChops: What recipe do you cook best (the one you are known for or that all your friends always want you to make)?
LeeAnn: There are a handful of recipes I do very well and they all have two things in common.  They are all meat dishes and they are slowly cook and braised in a sauce that includes some sort of alcohol (wine, beer, bourbon). Lager beef stew and Coq a vin are two of my favorites.

LollyChops: If you were a salad, which dressing would you pick?
LeeAnn: Balsamic! (Then mix in a tiny bit of whole grain mustard, fresh thyme, and orange zest if your feeling frisky!)

LollyChops: What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
LeeAnn: Any one that's free. :)

LollyChops: Butter cream frosting or whipped?
LeeAnn" Oh, this is a toughy.  As much as I prefer to cook with butter I have to say whipped is my favorite. Pure heavenly, fluffy, sugar high.

Big Time Bunny Week :: Little Bitty Bunny Giveaway

Well...  BTBW is officially at a close!  Big bunny thanks to those of you who hung out with me this week!  I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of your comments and your enthusiasm has been incredible!!

I thought it would be fitting to close this week with a giveaway!  You know how much I love a good giveaway and I hope you are as excited about this one as I am!

Le Bunny Pin
I was going to do a tutorial on how to make this...  and quickly discovered that there was just no way.  I think I got to the part where you start adding beads to the foundation piece and came to the realization that it was too difficult to share this as a decent tutorial. (but I'll share the pics anyway cause maybe you can learn it via osmosis).  If I ever get a video camera...  this will be one of the first things I document!  It's actually pretty easy...  cause there is no set in stone pattern to follow...  this is one of those things where the more random and crazy you get the better off you are!  There are just a lot of steps to show is all!

Let's get this show on the toad (ribbit).

 
I use size 11 beading needles.
They are WAY thinner than your average sewing needle.
Some of those bead holes are small potatoes!


I use super stiff felt as my foundation.
I cut a piece of fabric slightly bigger and cut darts all the way around it.


...and then whip stitch the fabric around the stiff felt shape.
It does not need to be perfect.
Trust Lolly ok!


This is when I came to the realization that there was NO way I was going to be able to teach you guys how to do this with a simple tutorial.

 
...so like magic...
...about 1 hour later...
.POOF.
!Done!

Try it and let me know what happens ok?
But make sure you say POOF real real loud.
You might want to get a mega phone to help enforce the magical-ness of the moment.


Le Ugly Bunny Butt
I seem to be all about the bunny butts this week for some reason.


and again...
...POOF...
It's all covered up with a bunny shaped piece of ultra suede!

I am feeling rather magical today for some reason!
Can you feel it too?

Ok what exactly IS that Lolly?
See that pretty little girl there.  That's Fortuna Owl.  She's a sweet little Italian gal who likes to get dressed up for parties and tea time.

No really...this little cutie was me and mummyChops very first owl prototype (we called it a stuffed owl tube).  She came about when we were working out the Abraham Owl pattern.  You can read all about that HERE if you want to go back in time (whew.. that was LONG ago)!

I completely fell in love with her and have her nestled in with the bunnies on ye ole bunny shelf.  She actually thinks she part bunny now - thus Le Bunny Pin (and evidently thinks she's now French and no longer Italian).

I cannot give her away cause she's my fav...  but I can make her another pin and give this one to one of you guys!

BUT first...a few more project shares sent to me yesterday!

Adorable little green dress with brown bunny applique!
From:  Mary


Little bunny t-shirt applique!
Modeled by Lucy and made by Stephanie!
Lucy is sitting with her teacher who just had a baby!
Congrats Lucy's Teacher!


Saving the tasty pastry for last!
This little bunny cake is from Leigh!

Thanks for sharing your projects with me this week ladies!  Inspiring you guys and sharing the fun is what it's all about as far as I am concerned!

So tell us about the giveaway already Lolly!!!
How to enter:  Leave me a comment.  You can just say HI..  OR... you can offer up a few suggestions for more themed weeks...  like embroidery week and bunny week.  A little sneaky peaky for what's coming soon is...wedding week, baby shower week, bridal shower week, and tea party week.  What else sounds good to you guys???

What you win?  Le Bunny Pin of course!

Who can win?  Anyone.  Anywhere.

How long you gots to enter:  Entries will be closed April fools eve (9CST) (no foolin).

We'll get back to regular ole craft madness next week!

Big Time Bunny HUGS and thanks again you guys!
Happy Weekend!

Big Time Bunny Week :: Bento bunnies & other buntasticness

I am so glad you guys are enjoying BTBW!!!  Wait till you hear about the NEXT themed weeks I have planned (don't forget...  the next embroidery week is in June...  so if you want to pitch in and get a sneak peak at the projects...and create some of the patterns BEFORE the big event (to be featured as I am releasing them that week)...  drop me an email and let me know)!  As for the other themed weeks...I am over the rainbow excited about them!!!  I'll be posting about them SOON!

Sew...I have 3 things to share today.  1) bento bunny box 2) bunny craft apron (made for me by MomChops AND 3) bunny patterns for cards.  Settle in folks.  It's going to be a long one (there are patterns to download at the end though...  so it's pretty much worth it right?).

Firstly...  the bento bunny box!  La Fuji Mama and I were talking excitedly about BTBW (how else can you talk about a crazy event such as this)... and she mentioned that she would love to do a post on her blog in honor of BTBW!!!  I was of course excited... I mean heck...it involves food AND bunnies!  Go Fuji!  You can read all about her bento bunny fabulousness HERE...  and see those apples up there..  those are BUNNY shaped apples, nestled in green coconut grass with cheese stars (and grapes that look like dyed eggs)!!!  HELLO...  completely edible and completely bunny!  I love it!

Nextly...  I am going to share a little craft room apron that MomChops made for me!  She's been making my flight attendant sister aprons like a mad woman so I asked her to make me a craft room apron using the same pattern!  Only..  I wanted bunnies on MINE (well... my sister has a spring apron with bunnies on it too but mine is BETTER...  right Mom?!?!?!).  So seriously..  if you are flying SouthWest and see a short (and I mean SHORT) skinny girl wearing a crazy apron...  that's my sister).  My mom has made her one for each holiday...  she even has a St. Patty's Day Apron!  Crazy COOL right!?! 

 
Sew...  see that bunny there.  MomChops drew it!
So I asked her to draw it for me so I could get it into the computer.
So what does she do????


She grabs a scrap piece of quilt bunting...
and a pen...
...and draws me a bunny!

A FAT bunny.
:D
You think he might have been snacking on the bento box...??

The pattern is below for you to download!
Thanks MomChops!

See that blonde cutie there?
That's FujiDaughter snacking on her bento bunny box!

So cute.  So so cute.

Sew...  lastly... I have a little card pattern you can download!  I tried to make some cards with it...  but frankly... I stink at making cards.  Stink in the sense that it takes me about 4 days to come up with something I am really happy with.

So I'll show ya what I made..  but I know there are some uber talented ladies out there who can make this little download and print template about 4 trillion times better than what I came up with!

If you know me (and a lot of you are getting to know me maybe more than you ever wanted to)..  I heart vellum.  So for this patten I specifically had a vellum print in mind when I made it!

I had a piece of paper with clouds all over it.  It's from Basic Grey and you can find it HERE.

I love this cloud paper with my patten (it's the header for BTBW and the same pattern from the labels I posted earlier this week).  It looks like the bunny is sitting in a field of flowers with a beautiful sky behind him (if you use the vellum for the pattern and that clouds paper of course).  I wish I could have made the cards a little better...  but I think you'll get the idea!  Here are the samples!

On the left is a 5x5 (cut from a 12x12) piece of...
Basic Grey /Mellow / Lenient paper
Available HERE.
The bunny pattern printed on vellum.
...and a little border I cut and stamped with blue leaves.


I made a little frame with those 3 pieces and then pop-dotted them on a plain white card
(which I stamped the edges of with dark brown ink).
I also punched a small butterfly and placed him over the butterfly that's in the pattern.


Here is another card I made but I really do not like this one as much.
I think I should have stamped the Happy Easter onto the vellum instead of behind it.
(unlike the other card the vellum is raised too high and the text is fuzzy looking)
I also added more punched butterflies to this one and LOADS of glitter!
and ummm... if you make stuff with this pattern...  pretty please send it to me!!!

...and finally
a GREEN ONESIE with a GREEN BUNSIE!
 
So where did this come from you may be wondering?
I got an email yesterday that Malea of The Walliser's had made a little bunsie onesie!
...and she even sent me a pic!
I think it turned out totally CUTE!
I did not know those things came in green!  swoon!

..AND..


Check out this CUTIE!
Kelly sent her to me and I am amazed at this girls MAD MAD MAD blanket stitch SKILLZ...
I mean LOOK AT THAT!!!!
Puuuurfection!
She said she got the felt from Hobby Lobby and the paperclip is from oriental trading co.
I totally love love love this!

Kelly..  when are you going to teach me to blanket stitch like that???  hmmmm?

So let's roll out the templates!

MomChops BunnyPops

 

:: and::

 

BTBW Bunny Cards

That's all I gots for today.  If I can muster up the time to get it done, I'll have a little bunny pin cushion to share tomorrow!  Fingers crossed!

Big Time Bunny HUGS!

P.S.S.T.  For tomorrow's big time bunny finale..  I have a little giveaway surprise.  I think it's the best one I have ever done (at least I think so anyway).  Stay tuned...

Big Time Bunny Week :: Meet Pensive & Stubborn

Are you guys getting tired of bunnies yet?  If you are, just check back Sunday.  LeeAnn from MintBasil is going to be my guest with an Irish scone recipe!!!  Yum-ers!

Decoupage Bunnies anyone?
If you are NOT tired of bunnies yet...  here's another project sharesy!  This is something I have always wanted to try but just never have.  I decided this would be the perfect opportunity!

I have two subjects for today's post.  Ms. Pensive Bunny and Mr. Stubborn Bunny.  We'll save the lady until last (we just need to get ole stubborn potato pants out of the way first).

What I used:
ModPodge - Matte-Mat
Beaten up and chipped ceramic bunny & plain brown paper form bunny
Napkins (for the Mr.) and fabric (for the Ms.)
Sponge on a stick thingy

Let's hop right in!

I had an old beaten up ceramic bunny covered in holes (he was a lantern).
I got some cheap napkins at Tuesday Morning..  cream colored with leaves.


I used my rotary cutter and made slices of the napkins.
They were 2-ply - so I removed the white part and saved the pretty / thicker parts.


I slathered ole stubborn holey britches with some mod podge
(is it just me or is that the most impossible thing to say...I always want to call it modge podge).


I layered the thinner white part of the napkins all over him first.
He's rather upset with me here.
I think he was about to go for my throat...
...but I stopped him cold with my sponge sword...and glue...and napkins!!!

MUHAHAHAHAHA


I think it was at this humiliating moment that he decided to change into Stubborn Bunny.
Do you see his fangs coming out???


No wait...  THIS was actually the moment he turned on me.
For whatever reason...  he did not like being decorated.
With pretty green leaves.
I don't get it.
All I can say...
...is that he had better be glad I didn't cover him in flowers.


Ta da!
I had to balance him on the modge podge
(I don't care what they say...  that's what I am calling it from now on)

He was so vicious I had no choice.

Notice how there is not a shred of tutorial here now?


He has an ugly butt...
I just hate that.'
We must do something about it!


This is him doing the groundhog thing.
He's looking AWAY from his shadow.
See what I mean.
Stubborn as Pie.


Let me interrupt my riveting story to bring you a smidge of tutorial.
Once you trace around the hot bunny bottom...
...onto felt..  yeah I know.  more felt.
Cut about 2mm inside your line..  


It will make an ever-so-lovely felt bottom...
...and cover up all that butt uglyness.
Ok back to the story!


Thus enters...
Ms. Pensive Bunny
Is it just me or does she look a tad on the pensive side here?
Kinda unsure of herself.  Scared.  Apprehensive.  Pensive?


She's checking out the floral motif on her hips...
She knew she should not have had that extra helping of emu scrambled eggs last night.
Get a load of those ears...!!!
shhhh don't tell her I said anything ok!


See what I mean.
Pensive.


She's trying not to look now.
Giving me a bad case of the GIANT ears.
Or cold shoulder if you will...


So what do I go and do?
I show you how much nicer looking her backside is as compared to Mr. Stubborn Britches.
I felted her bottom too.
We all need a little felted bottom in our lives.
Right ladies?


Here is the happy couple.
.or not.
She's still rather upset with me.
She wants to know how she ended up with such a stodgy ole codge.
He on the other hand...
Mr. SPB (Stubborn Pants Bunny)
...is pretty happy.
He ended up with one hot mama.
He's a sucker for a lady with a little hip in her hop.
wow that was bad...I should delete it.
.but I won't.

So are you all tired out from that tutorial.  Whew.  Now that you know how to make your own decoupage bunnies (or not)...  I hope you'll give this a try.  It couldn't be any easier.  Just make up a story as you are going along and you'll get the hang of it in NO time.

No seriously...
If you want a real tutorial let me know.  I am sure I can find something else to cover in fabric!!!  Trust me!

Bunny Week Hump Day HUGS!


P.S.  There is a little giveaway going on over at Loves To Create (you can check it out HERE).  She's giving away all THESE MIRRORS that NEED to be spray painted in GREEN!!!  or TEAL.
...or any bright and springy color really!!!



Tell her Lolly sent ya!  Unfortunately LollyChopsters did not win the last giveaway I sent you to... but we halfta to win this one girls!!  I am not even going to enter...  you guys need to enter so you can win and show me your spray painting prowess ok!  GO GO GO!