LollyChops

Teal tea toters and more tatters too...

I have more tea stuff and tatting to share today but before we jump into that arena of rabid over caffeinated sharks (I am talking about the tea drinkers not the tatterers)... I  want to share a few peeps of my first ever ScrapyLand Design Team project!

Susan (DT boss lady) asked us to create a project with no constraints...  all she asked was that it have a theme of "resolutions"...  So I busted out every single craft supply in my arsenal and 20 hours later I had a cute little mini book that only had one page (totally not kidding...  just one page...  for reals).  I might be a teeny weeny tiny whiny bit overzealous when it comes to these DT assignments (hard to believe right) but I am having so much fun with it I don't mind putting in a little extra lovin' (crafts are the coolest!!!!!).

So there it is.
My first ever mini book (with a mini-mini book inside)!

It's mostly teals...  are you shocked?

Teal...  really Lolly?!?!

NO WAY!

Hello?

Anyone out there?

If you read this blog with any regularity you will know this is my way of indicating the cricket sound
(also known as the cricket cone of silence)
He's cheesey and teal and I am ok with that!

Speaking of cheese...
(this is what we call a mega veer off course)

I have been thinking that we need a cheese ranking system around here.
If I get a tad too cheesy I have decided to rank my cheesiness.

Here is how this will work...

1 cheese =  when writing the post I utter an inside groan (nothing audible)

2 cheeses = eye roll combined with a barely audible groan

3 cheeses = loud groan with thoughts of quitting blogging because I am losing it

(this particular section...
...the creation of the cheese ranking system
...constitutes a 3 cheese ranking)

 
That's a LOT of cheese.
(If I ever rank my cheesiness too low you gotta let me know so I can revise the cheese rank for the post)
You guys cool with that?
heh

Ok now that I have that out of the way...  back to my project!

The spine of the January mini-mini book is made from felt and it's teal too...
...yet another LollyChops shocker...
(seeing as how I am part felt and I actually bleed teal... this makes perfect sense really)

...and that's the back cover.

You can read ALL about my project (what it's supposed to be, how I made it, see more pics, etc... over on the ScrapyLand blog today!  Go check it out HERE!

So let's talk tea (again)...
After I finished up the paper tea bag template last week (you can see that version HERE) I got to thinking that a fabric version was in order (paper is only going to last so long in your purse and evidently a LOT of you guys carry super special secret blends of tea bags around with you).  So I called MomChops Sewing Shop and she came over with her mad sewing skillz Sunday to help me work the template into a fabric version!

We'll roll right into that and then I have a few more small things to share...

Cut out two pieces of fabric using the template I am going to share at the bottom of this post.
Sew the two pieces together (right sides facing each other).
Leave the end open (the end is the left side where the orange squiggles are in the pic)

Clip your corners and trim your edges.

Then right side out the pieces you just sewed together...

...and iron the seams nice and tidy and tuck the ends inside the little pocket you just made.

Your end should look like this.

Sew around most of the edges like this - see next pic to see what I mean by "most of the edges"
(sewing on top of the seam you just created on the right side of the fabric gives your work a nice finished look)

The only way I can tell you where not to sew is to show you...  so here goes.
You gotta fold the right side over to make the little pocket...  so don't sew on the bottom of the fold or on the left inside corner (does that make sense???).

If you sew all the way around the whole thing and then fold it over and sew again...
...that's just not as nice looking in my crafty opinion.

So that's what your tea pocket should look like when done!

Oh and if you goof...  and make a tea bag holder with a left side pocket instead that's ok too!
You can give it to your left handed friends!
(momChops and I goofed and made the second prototype the wrong way...  we always work in muslin first for just this reason!!!)

So now that you have the pocket made you gotta close it right?!?!

You can either use Velcro (which you need to sew on for best results) ...  this is the sticky kind and it's a bear trying to sew the sticky stuff on...  so get some of the non sticky for this closure method)

OR

You can get all crafty fancy pants and sew a button hole and button on.
I personally LOVE this one (MomChops took the orange butterfly and the pink one home with her and I kept the teal one...  yeah yeah I know...  me and teal).  hehehehe!

You can get the fabric version of the tea bag template below!

 

Now that you have your lovely fabric tea bag holder I thought it might be nice to direct you to a lovely post that Catherine from OriginalStitch wrote for the brewing of proper English tea (you can read it HERE)!  She shared this with me last week and I wanted to make sure you guys saw it.  The very night I read this I had 3 whole cups made just the way she described and I have been hooked ever since.  No more tossing the tea bag in cold water in the microwave.  This is my new favorite way to drink tea!  Give it a try!

Oh and if you want to see another totally COOL way to make a fabric tea bag holder go take a look HERE.  Jennifer sent me that link and I think that's another totally awesome tutorial!

I also wanted to share another pic of my Sister's tatting!  She's finishing up her first week of tatting and she sent me and my mom these pics!

She's evidently making a bracelet for that gold circle thing in the picture
(which she tells is is some sort of thread cutter - coolest looking thread cutter ever!!!).

...and this is her other project!
I am so proud of her!
She's totally rocking this tatting thing!!!

So LASTLY...  one more bit of news and I am off!
In about 3- 4 weeks I am going to reach 1 million hits on my blog!  I think that's pretty darn neat and I want to celebrate!!!  I am definitely going to do a giveaway...  I already started making what I am going to give away and you guys are gonna LOVE it (I hope)... 

But... I really wanted to see if you had any other ideas for what I could do to celebrate!  This is exciting stuff right!?!?!?!  I would love to hear your ideas over the next couple of weeks.  I wish we could all get together for a mega party...  would that be COOL or what!!!!  Sigh.  This whole giant planet earth being so big thing is so totally not cool.

I hope you all have a terrific week!  I loves the lot of yas!

 

P.S.S.T.  Guess what comes in the mail today (maybe)?????
MY REPAIRED VIDEO CAMERA!!!  WOO HOO!
I'll be sharing the fabled craft video tutorial next Monday (assuming I don't blow anything up).

O.M.T.  Here is a little sneaky peepy of my NEXT ScrapyLand project!

It's totally FUN!

I cannot wait to show you the whole thing!

More HUGS than you can stand!!!!!

I'd like to buy an owl please...

I shared a sneaky peepy of this little fella two weeks ago and am finally getting around to getting the tutorial done (I believe I made some far fetched promise of posting him "later this week").  ahem.  Let me esplaine LollyTime (entering the twilight zone - and no I am not talking about that hunka hunka burning Edward either (if you need me to explain this reference let me know...).

The LollyChops Space Time Vortex Explained
It goes something like this...  "later this week" could mean later that week or say even maybe later this week sometime next year.  I have invented my own special concept of time.  I hope that helps bring you one step closer to understanding the madness that is my brain and I hope you can forgive me if it takes me a little time to get some stuff done/mailed/completed, etc...

Sew...  now that I have got that confession off my chest let's move on to owls!

I am not sure these fellas translate well to photos but I am hoping you get the gist of how totally sweet they are!  I am really trying to keep my posts shorter so I am just going to jump right into the tutorial!

Start with a bunch of fabric.
Sizzix disclaimer:  I used my Sizzix for this project BUT you don't need one.
All I used it for was to cut circles...
...and once you have those done you need the free template I have at the bottom of this post to do the rest.

I cut the circles using my Circles #2 die (you can see it HERE).
I am showing you this because I have run into 6 people within the past 2 weeks who ALL have a Sizzix and never knew that it cut fabric!!!
That's the only reason I even bought one...  the whole paper cutting thing was just kinda "ehhhh..." for me.
When I found out the other stuff you could cut...  I ran out bought one the very next day.

Here are about 4 pieces of fabric run through the Sizzix.
I have run as many as 8 at time (it's so easy it's scary).
So let's review.
You can cut 8 fabric pieces in perfect shapes in about 15 seconds (this is how I do my butterflies en mass).
If you don't have done...birthdays and holidays are a good time to see if you wrangle one out of your special someone...

Oh and I have seen them on craigslist and ebay too.  For CHEAP.

Once you have a few 2.5 inch circles cut...

...or in my case a few hundred 2.5 inch circles cut out...

Start putting your stacks together.
For the owls you are going to want to alternate between lighter and darker fabrics.
This helps the wing sections stand out a little bit nicer.
You can do just two fabrics or 8 different ones.
It's entirely up to you.

Once you have 8 - 2.5 inch fabric circles stacked together.
FLIP THEM OVER!
Then grab template #2 (you can download it from the bottom of this page)
Trace it over the back of the circles and then sew down both lines.
The circles will kinda look like a baseball or something at this point.

Once you are done you will need template #3.
Trace that over your newly sewn piece.
The cut along those lines.

Note:  The blue fella on the left is all cut out and the green guy in the middle just has the trace lines drawn on him.  The guy on the right has template #3 over the top of him all ready to be traced.

Once you have everything sewn and cut out it's time to flip him back over to the front side and start cutting out the wing sections.
The best way I can describe this is to cut off the top layer and then proceed to cut out each layer underneath a little longer than the one you just cut.
Follow the curve of the baseball lines you just sewed.

Your completely cut out owl will look something like this.
I saved the little pieces so you could see what in the heck I am talking out.

If I have lost you at this point...  go eat some pie.
That always helps me when my brain starts to ache from a confusin' tutorial.

Here is Mr. Owl trying on some eyes (I took about 6 pictures of all of the different eye combinations I tried but for the sake of trying to keep this post short I decided to spare you that agony).

He looks so plain.
So un-smooshed.
So zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

We gotta remedy that!

Ahhhh..  MUCH better!
Give those fellas a little smooshy love (rumple them up good now).

If they look a little too crazy when you are done, give them a little haircut.
It gives them that sophisticated grunge look that everyone pays big bucks for.
...or was that popular back in 1990?

Nirvana Owls anyone?

Anyhoot...

So you wanna attach these to clothing...??
Well you can only do that if you make them removable (cause if you wash them they are gonna fall apart)...  So that means a snap or a button is needed right?!?!?!

SEW... it's time to bust out your mad sewing skills (if you don't have any just call 800-Mom-Chops) 

If MomChops is unavailable here is what you do instead..

Oh and just a note:  Calling her at 1am with a "how so I sew a button hole" sewing emergency is NOT advisable...  Trust Lolly ok.

So in those dire situations you need yourself a sewing machine mascot!

RonChops did not fit on top of the sewing machine so I had to settle for something else...
This little crochet mouse did the trick!

Before you sew all of your circles together you are going to want to sew a button hole to the back piece of your circle stack.

See the sewing machine manual back there in the picture.

SAVED.THE.DAY.
Who knew directions actually worked?

Ta Da!  My first button hole EVER!!!!

I should be nominated for an award or something.
I was so proud I ran to show RonChops.
He was not nearly impressed with me as I was with myself.

Here is a little owl family.
The blue guy and light blue gal were done with all the same fabric (they were made before I figured out the whole alternating colors thing)!

Here are a couple more.

Here is one buttoned on to a little baby dress.
I sewed a cute red button onto the dress...  so if you don't want to button the owl to it you still have a cute little button in it's place!

pssst...you can do the button hole thing with the butterflies too!

...and lastly...here is just some random stuff I wanted to share with you guys...

I got some cheap fabric shelf organizers at Tuesday Morning this past weekend (I love organization stuff BIG TIME).
It's made it MUCH easier to get to my paints and glitter.
Previously I had them all jumbled on the shelf and I would have to paw through everything to get to the one I wanted.  Now I can pull out the shelf and put it on my craft table to paw through.

...and another set of organizers. I got these for my Stickles, alcohol inks, regular inks and refills.
Ahhh...  It's soooo much easier to get to everything!

I personally love seeing stuff like this so I hope it's not boring you to pieces.

Random Saturday morning 1am dog shots.
The dogs hang out with me when I craft.  Pretty much the entire time.
If you squint you will see they have formed the letter "L"...  or was that the bleary eyed 1am squint that made me think they formed an "L' shape.
I just dunno anymore.

I went to another "studio session" at Anthologies this past Friday night.  This is a little sneaky peepy of one of the projects for the post next Monday (it's a yarn project gift box!!!)!  I am WAY excited about it!  Get out your mod podge for this one!

Oh and... I met three girls there last time I went and we arranged to meet up again this past Friday (we were all squealing like long lost friends when we got there...  it was funny).

We are all going back again in two weeks and we have brought 4 more girls into the fold (I figure we'll take over the entire studio session night before too long)!  I can hardly wait!  I think we do as much talking as we do creating!  It's a really super fun time!
If you are in the DFW, TX area and want to join us just let me know!  I'll adopt you!

Lastly (for real this time)
This is another in-progress sneaky peepy of the Mod Podge post for next Monday.

It's got birds!  ...and it's a house!  So what is it????

It's a bird house with a bird punch shingle roof!!!! 
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
I am over-the-top-excited about this project!  I seriously cannot wait to see how it comes out!

So for the project today... you can get the PDF template needed to make the owls by clicking on the image below!

...and if you have any questions let me know!

But before we part... 
I just have one question for you guys.  Do you want to see more random stuff, more tutorials, less tutorials, less writing (I am working on that...really I am), just finished projects (cause I have loads of projects in the works but I cannot post them all cause doing the tutorials takes a little more time and prep).  What can I do to make your LollyChops visit better is what I am asking.  I would really love to know (honest to peanuts)!

 

P.S.  xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo's

Crafty Ketchup

I had big crafty plans this weekend involving mod podge.  Big I tell you...  BUT before I could embark on a new project I had to get myself caught up with the quilt group I joined in January (the guilt of being so far behind has been killing me!!).  You can read all about us HERE (and see what everyone except ME has been working on too).

Sew....  MomChops came over Sunday and we basically worked from sun-up till sun-down (well sun-up for some people (I am not naming any names MomChops... but sun-up evidently does not occur for her until 10:00 am)).  When I called the nameless one at 11:00 am to see why she had not returned my call from 7:00 am she was just sitting down to breakfast (who eats breakfast at 11 o'clock in the morning anyway????).  So needless to say we did not really get started until around 1-ish (she had to stop at Michaels AND JoAnn to get a punch needle and some craft supplies too of course).

So finally...
...when she got here (with her mega box of DMC floss - pictured here) I had to teach her how to Punch needle real quick.  The dirty rat nailed it on the first try.  She did of course have me imparting my punchy wisdom on her (if you want to call it that) but STILL...  that's actually not fair so I decided to steal all her DMC floss (only she does not know it yet)...  shhhh don't tell her ok!?!

Once we ooooh'd and ahhhh'd over the ease and quickness and FUN of punch needle it was time to bust out the quilt square pieces and get to work (RonChops claims to have heard a whip-cracking sound at this point but I have no idea what he's talking about).  Honest.

A Notion or Two
So as I was saying...  I joined a quilt group in January and managed to get a little behind (ok who am I kidding...  I got WAY behind) and had some serious catching up to do.  I have been bad.  Horrid actually .   So pictured below are all the ones MomChops and I made (plus some we had made before). 

 
I think this is the April block.
Not kidding.
April.

So... do you want to join a quilt group with me?
Do ya?

I do not have a picture of the May block...
...it was too dark when I realized there was no picture.
But it's cute.  I'll post it later.
It's got an embroidered octopus on it.
Real.Cute.
Seriously.

There was no June block so don't bust my chops.


This is the July block.


More of the July block.
I love the tulle under the dress.


We made a little necklace and put a pretty sash on the dress.
(big thanks to Meg for sending me the pink ribbon I used along the hem!!)
Thanks Meggles!


This poor little crooked fella is August One.
I think we were getting tired at this point.
I hope she can make it work.

AND


This stunner is August Two.
(the reason it's "Two" is because this is actually the June block just set a tad late)
(see...  I am not the only one who runs late sometimes)

I am going to do a whole post on this technique some day.
But in the meantime you can read all about it HERE.
But MomChops and I are HOOKED!
It's sooo sew easy!

Now that I am all caught up (whew)...  I decided to line up my next few projects!

Mod Podge
Yep...  I am getting that fantastic stuff out again and I am going to decoupage this mirror (my friend Nancy from Loves to Create sent it to me).  HUGS Nancy!

....you see those little wooden bird houses peeping in the reflection of the little mirror???  I am going to be doing a Mod Podge/felt/paint combo on those fellas too.  I can hardly wait to get going with that project!!!

Second to Lastly...
Another little project MomChops is going to help me with is making a ubber cute bike bag to replace this plain little black one I have now.  I cannot go riding around with this boring thing on my bike!  It's just too un-crafty for me.

So MomChops took a look over the bag and has pretty much got the pattern figured out.  All we have to do is measure the parts and pieces and sew it together.  Once the pattern is all set I'll be making a bag to go with every pair of bike socks I have (in case you are wondering...I have bike socks with owls, bees, dog paw prints, and a crash test sign (that was a joke pair lovingly given to me by RonChops)!  I'll be sharing them all with tutorials too!  Just hang with me a bit!

Honest to Lastly...
The DogsChops and I would LOVE to know what your current/next projects are! 

Dish some details girls!  Are you getting ready for the holidays already?  Do you have 15 projects going on at once or are you a one-or-two-at-a-time crafter like me?

So...how about a picture round-up!
I would LOVE for you guys to email me a pic or two or leave a comment with a description of what you have on the crafty chopping block right now (even if your projects are in progress or barely started).  I'll gather whatever pics/descriptions you send me and post them all next week!  Don't you think it will be fun to see what everyone else is working on?!?!?!  Maybe just a little???

Little Tree HUGS!

P.S.  Big thanks to my wunnerful MomChops (without whom there would be no quilt squares) for all of her help!  Love you Moms!!

P.S.S.  I just want to say I am sorry to my little quilt group for being so behind on my blocks.  They have been super patient with me and I really appreciate it! 

Cupcake Week :: It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a cloud?

For the last cupcake week post I would like to share a simple / silly little cuppy I made using my mad needle felting skillz (they are really not all that mad... there mostly sad... but that's ok).

I corralled a leftover never finished or shared project from BTBW (big time bunny week) as a sacrificial craft element for this project.  I started on a felt bunny pin cushion and I just ran out of time/steam (that was a crazy week for sure).  So I grabbed that bunny bottom and turned him into a cupcake bottom for my needle felted top!  I'll run you through the amazing transformation (get ready to oohhh and ahhh) and then wrap up Cupcake Week with a final amazing recipe from LFM!

 
Here you have a mound of felt roving atop a bunny base.
I used my leftover roving from my Wool Pets Bunny Kit (you can see it HERE).


I started poking away at it to see if I could get the swirls of cupcake frosting happening.
poke
poke
poke
poke
ouch
poke
poke


It's (poke) starting (poke) to (poke) take (ouch) shape.


I even attempted to make a little dollop top.
(which looks rather cloud like if you ask me).


..and here we have store bought cuppy saddling up to needle felted cuppy.
She's short and sweet and he's tall unfinished and hammiesome.
She let him borrow some of her sprinkles.
Cause she's nice like that.

I had so much fun experimenting with PhotoShop brushes that I decided to make a rabid pack of .png files from those cupcakes for you to play with as well (you can use them as digi scrapbook elements too).  These resize and print perfectly (with no crazy fuzzies like the brushes...  which I WILL get worked out)!



Download the .png files HERE (they are in a .zip file)!

Also...  do not forget to head on over to LFM's for the grand finale of grand finales in cupcake land!  Think ooey gooey cinnamony goodness!

Don't forget to download all of the recipe cards from LFM's!



Special thanks to La Fuji Mama for being my cohort this week!  I had such a good time sharing everything with you!  Thanks so much for hanging out.  I'll be gone all of next week recovering from the surgery!  MomChops is officially trained on responding to email to be sure to leave her LOADS of comments to reply to!

Giant CUPPY HUGS!



P.S.  If you are interested in finding out how things went with me and GallyChops head on over to Fuji's tomorrow to get the scoop!

Cupcake Week :: One onesie and the brush off test!

Can you believe this is the next to the last day of Cupcake Week?  I am astonished it's gone by so fast!  I hope you guys have been having as much fun as LFM and I have been!  I know we were giggling like crazy women just planning this thing out...  I think our hubs wanted to lock both of us up (which would have been fine with us as long as she has access to a kitchen and I have access to a JoAnn's, Michael's and a Hobby Lobby (that would have been some prison right???).  You guys can come too if you want ok!

So today I am taking the CheaterChops route.  I am going to use the Cupcake patterns I shared on Tuesday (you can see them HERE) and show you how I made a cute little onesie for LFM's baby gurl (and then I have one more surprise way down at the bottom)!

But first...it's time for some onesie funsies (holey corn dogs batman)!

I did a little tutorial on the wonder that is Wonder Under a while back.
You can see it HERE.
I used it again (from the world's oldest roll of the stuff - courtesy of MomChops)


I picked some pretty pink fabrics and got everything all ironed and cut out
(this time I managed NOT to iron the wonder under to my ironing board)


...and like magic the cupcake pieces jumped on to the little Onesie
and effortlessly sewed themselves on.
The End.

I wish.

I nearly had a sewing machine thrown out of the window incident.
...but we'll save that story for the "LollyChops Fun with Sewing Machine Angst" week.
ok?

So...  my next bit involves PhotoShop.  I decided to try my hand at making some little cupcake photoshop brushes and I need those of you out there who have PhotoShop to help me test them out.  I think they still need some tweaking...  but once I get this down...  WATCH OUT (and I am totally not kidding)!  I am going to go into a PhotoShop brush making frenzy for sure (I see Hamie and Hank brushes in your future girls).

You can download the Cupcake Brushes HERE (try right clicking and then saving to your desktop). 
...and you can see a little tutorial on how to install them HERE.
...and you can send me lots of HUGS anytime you want ok?!
 ...and don't forget to go check out my cohort in cupcake craziness (A.K.A. the mob boss of Fuji's Cupcake Emporium ) LFM.

Here is a little sneak of the recipe card for today!



Cupcake Squeezers (and thank goodness that was a short post cause you guys have got to be getting tired of me HUGS),



P.S.  Tomorrow it's farewell to ole GallyChops.  He's had a good run but it's time for him to head off to that place where little Gally's go.  Thanks so much for all of your wonderful emails and cards!  You guys ROCK the craft universe!

P.S.S.  Can you please let me know what you think of the CupCake PhotoShop brushes when you get a chance.  I am dying to see how they work.  I think I need to tweak the crispness and saturation a bit...  your feedback is invaluable!

Oh gosh....  O.M.T. (so much for this being a short post).  You must go check out the cute cupcake embroidery / everything pattern available at Petit Debutant (available HERE) AND go check out the massive Cupcake Party Planning that's going on over at Ready, Set, Craft! (start HERE)  WOW!!!  I want to be Joanne's niece!

Cupcake Week :: Super Sweet Embroidery

The cupcake week fun continues today with some super sweet embroidery patterns just for you!  Since I have not been myself these past few weeks and barely crafting at all La Fuji Mama (co-host extraordinaire) graciously volunteered to make up a little something with some of the patterns!

I have a quick and simple share of her completely adorable cupcake tea towel and some patterns for you to make them all for your very own selves...  BUT first... a silly little RonChops story.

A Study in the HUBS Cupcake Eating Habits - by LollyChops
When I was getting ready for this week and working on my download and print freebies I... ummmm.... asked RonChops to go to the store to buy me some store bought cupcakes (hanging head in shame)!  All I can do now is blame it on GallyChops!!!!  He's being such a trouper lately!  I have not been doing much cooking of regular foods much less a boat load of cupcakes (I left that daunting task to La Fuji Mama and her hips (cause you know that where cupcakes go when they die right....straight to the hips... which is why you must always eat two...  cause you do not want to look all lopsided now do you????)).

So once RonChops got the little package of cupcakes home, he innocently asked me how many I needed for my photos (this dude loves him some sweets).  Once he was given the all clear he dived right in!  It's been a while since we had cupcakes and I had forgotten how he eats them.

He splits them in half.

Eats the top first.
...and follows up with the bottom and a milk chaser.

I asked him why he did it this way in-between fits of laughter.

Come to find out it's very scientific...
...very serious.

It's to avoid the frosting on the nose problem.
(did you even know this was a problem???)

The things I learn about my Hubs....  randomly.
(that pic up there is him modeling his very serious cupcake division method)
(I think he has some totally cute arms)
(shhhh....  don't tell him I said that ok)

So back to the cupcake embroidery patterns (which is really what it's all about you know)!  LFM busted out this totally cute tea towel from the patterns and sent it to me to share with you!  See that lovely cupcake posing with her tea towel?  That's the delicious fella from yesterday.  I think she may have already eaten his twin by the time this picture was taken (remember girls...  eat your cupcakes in twos (thats our new mantra))!!!

I placed the patterns on the PDF's in three ways.  Completely together, just tops and just bottoms (you will see what I am talking about below).

I hope you enjoy these little patterns (and I would especially love to see what you make from them...hint hint hint)!
 

CCW - Embroidery Patterns 1
Download the PDF HERE
 
 
CCW - Embroidery Patterns 2
Download the PDF HERE


CCW - Embroidery Patterns 3
Download the PDF HERE

AND...  there is always more with LollyChops (I am such a windbag...I swears)!
 
La Fuji Mama has a recipe for KILLER savory cupcakes today!  Potato Focaccia Cupcakes (with a "frosting" that's made from a dip recipe my gramma gave me when I was 15)!
 

Super cupcake HUGS!



LC Update:  I found out late yesterday that they have to move my surgery to Friday instead of today.  So sad.  I guess GallyChops has a few more good times left in him after all.

HUGS and thanks for the well wishes everyone!  xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

SpoonFlower called...do you think I answered?

Do you guys hear that?

Is that singing?

Lolly Lolly Lolly get your Pear Pops HERE!

chirp chirp.  chirp chirp.  Nothing huh?  It must be in my head then (typical for ole LollyChops).

Sew seriously...GUESS WHAT!!!
Stephen from SpoonFlower emailed me last night to tell me that I had won the SpoonFlower fabric of the week contest!  Good thing he told me last night and not today or I would have thought he was pulling my leg!

It's no April fools day joke!  Honest to planters you guys!

YIP.  YIPP.  YIPPEE!

So guys.  Thanks...  I would have never ever ever EVER have won without your support!

P.S.  I'll announce the winner of the Bunny Pin giveaway tomorrow.  There is still time... so enter if you dare!

P.S.S.T.  Did I say thanks already?  Maybe not enough...  here are a few more just in case there were not enough to go around from up top...

O.M.T.  HUGS X 1000 billion = more hugs than you can stand!

One more O.M.T.  Ok I fibbed..  I should have said two more things.  Go check out the SpoonFlower etsy shop for one week only to purchase some Pear Pops - Gumbo fabric yourselves!  You can take a peep at it HERE!

Big Time Bunny Week :: All ears...

I was torn between sharing the decoupage bunny project and the felt project today...  after much deliberation...  I went with how I felt.  So felt it is!

Today I'll be using all of the patterns from yesterday!  So you have nothing else to download...  you'll just need felt and DMC cotton thread (I am using 3 strands again).  Oh and some paperclips too!

Seriously...paperclips Lolly?
I have seen this idea of using paperclips and felt/fabric combo, paper and felt toppers all over blogland (they can be used as bookmarks).  It was new to me so I had to make three (hundred) but with bunnies of course!!  ...oh and I made this totally random teal leaf guy too.  He somehow snuck into the bunny basket when I was prepping everyone for the photo shoot.  He's a rebel like that.  Don't let the smile fool you!

I cannot really tell you the best way to get the paperclips in between the felt pieces - I can just tell you how I did it.  But firstly..  let's start with a few felt cutting tips and of course some Wonder Under.

I have found that using a head pin to secure the paper shape to your felt is the best way to get felt shapes cut out (cleanly and evenly).  You just trim around the shape while it's held snugly in place.
That's just my way - but if it works for me it might work for you as well.
I kinda struggled with this at first so I wanted to share how I cut out shapes.


I also use the exact same paper shape for tracing my shapes.
This is a piece I have prepped with Wonder Under already.
I simply trace the shape onto the paper, cut it out and poof..  Savvy Bunny shapes ahoy!


Here is the shape ready to be attached to a linen cloth napkin.
This is the same method I used to make the yellow bunny towel tucked inside the basket up top (and down below when you get that far).


Hi everyone!
(how did he get in here???)


Here are a few of the paperclip bunny bookmarks I made.
I basically blanket stitched all the way up one side and down the other - and when I got to the bottom, I stuck a paperclip in there and blanket stitched around it.  I should have gotten RonChops to help me with the pics so I could share more here.
All I can tell you is to work with it (that's really helpful right).
The only problem I had with this is that the paperclip was sliding up and down inside.

Sew...I placed a small dab of felt glue inside just before I closed everything up.
That seemed to secure things nicely...  but you have to wait a day for it to dry.
I have not used the heck out of these clips
(I am pretty gentle with them...  so I am not sure how long the felt glue is going to hang in there).
We'll have to wait and see.
If you know of a better way to get these fellas secure, please let me know!


Here they all are - marking the spots of stitches I want to try from my favorite embroidery book!
They look really cute all lined up.

 
Group Shot...  with the applique bunny towel!

So did ya really think I was just going to leave you with one project today - and no downloads???  C'mon you guys!  You know me better than that!

I made up some cute little bunny labels (that match with my header and another card project I'll share later this week..  speaking of that card project...you ARE going to need some vellum ladies).  :D

Big Time Bunny Week - Labels
(these work with Avery the 5260 Address Labels)
psst...  this file is HUGE because of all of the details in the pictures..  so you will have to be patient while it downloads ok!

Check out these bunny labels in action (they are being used to help me seal off the package of the Onesies and the little dress that's going to my friend).  You can use them on cards and such too!



I'll be back tomorrow with more bunnies galore!

HUGS,

Big Time Bunny Week :: Day Bun

Well... it's finally here!!!  Are you guys ready for 5 days of nothing but bunnies???  I dunno about you, but I am personally 42 different kinds of excited!  Possibly 43..  but I cannot be sure!

This week I am going to have a little something for everyone!  Sewing/embroidery, felt, paper crafts, beading, decoupage and even a giveaway (whew..  how in tarnation are we going to squeeze all that into 5 measley days??)!!!  I dunno yet..  but we'll figure it out.  Trust Lolly! 

Let's hop right in to today's project (brace yourselves girls...  the bunny/hop/tail/ears jokes are going to be rampant this week)!  Feel free to corn it up with me though!!!  I cannot be the only silly one around here ok!

I have a dear friend who recently had a baby!  I have been so busy I have not really had a chance to make her anything nice for her new baby gurl.  So I decided that I would use this as an excuse to whip up a few onesies with BTBW flair.  Since she also has another little daughter, I did not feel it was right to leave her out, so I am making a little something for her as well!

The templates....
I have 6 bunny shapes below (3 different sizes of each shape).  I have named each one so when I am using them in a project I can reference them by name.  So for this project I used Savvy Bunny!

This was actually pretty simple.  I used the miracle that is Wonder Under and traced my Savvy Bunny pattern onto the paper backing of the fusible webbing (after I had ironed it to the fabric).  I cut the little fella out and ironed it on to the front of a washed and dried Onesie.  I then used a blanket stitch with some DMC cotton embroidery thread (3 strands)...and viola..  I had one down!

Since I wanted to make something for her sister as well (and I cannot actually sew anything you can wear)...  I went to Walmart and purchased a little dress in teal & greens (it was only $6.00!!!..ummm "Hello... cheap.  ..it's me.. Lolly").  I specifically looked for something with a plain white front - so I could get buntastic all over it (don't say I didn't warn you)!

I went straight from Walmart to Hobby Lobby on a matching fabric quest!  I took the little dress inside with me and low and behold...  they had fabric that perfectly matched with the little dress!  I was over the moon excited!  On top of my good luck - it was on SALE 30% off (be still my quivering credit card).  I washed and dried the little dress too - just in case it thought about shrinking on me!

I created two wonder under/fabric Savvy Bunnies this time..  one for another Onesie and another one for the little dress.

I decided to bust out my sewing machine and zig zag stitch all around the edges of each one (I wanted to make sure they were tacked down good).

Once I had both finished I decided that I did not like the plain white buttons on the back of the little dress...  so I pawed through my button stash and found three teal buttons that matched pretty well with the little dress.  I ripped off those plain jane buttons and sewed on the pretty teal buttons with bright green thread! 

Before...
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

After...
Yip Yipp Yippee!

I am working on matching bunny hair clips...  I am not 100% sure I can get them done by the end of the week but I am sure am going to try!  I have never made hair clips before so this should be pretty fun!  I'll share them when I am done... even if it's post-BTBW.

Here is the new front to the little dress.  I think it came out really cute!

Here are their matching outfits!
I did not realize that the teal bunny on the Onesie might not be a good idea (but it has flowers so it might be ok).  What do you guys think???  Should I whip up a little baby bunny headband or something?  Do people put those on their kids?  They sure are cute as pie...

Here are the templates I was talking about earlier.

Binky Bunny & Baby Bunny
 

Bunny Cup & Amy Bunny
 

Bug Bunny & Savvy Bunny

So believe it or not that's all I got for today...  BUT...  here is a little sneak peak of a few of the projects coming up the rest of this week...(and I actually mean teeny tiny sneak peak...  I cannot give away ALL of the surprises now can I???).

I have a few more things brewing so starting tomorrow I might have to double up on the projects so I can get them all in!  Can you stand it?

Big Time Bunny HUGS!

P.S.  I saved some of those Onesies for future projects...  I know it's really popular but I have never done anything with them before...  talk about FUNSIES!  I have to hurry though...  I bought the 6 - 9 month old size and my friends daughter is approaching 4 months here soon!!!!  If you have any Onesie projects to share with me - please let me know!  Those are just the cutest little things I have ever seen!

Hamie meets a hottie named Heidi...

Hamie and I were talking the other day and he very quietly mentioned that he had a new lady in his life (he was worried that I might be jealous).  Her name is Heidi and they are thinking about getting married (it was love at first site... what can I say...).  I helped Abe and Wendy get together so I offered him my heartfelt advice and sent him off into wedded bliss.  I am kidding of course - but making up corny stories is what makes me laugh the most!!

So I have a few sharesies today (I hope you can all hear how to pronounce that word in your heads like I can)!  Share-s-eeee-s.  Make sense?

So let me finish off the Hamie post from Monday first..  you need to know how to sew on his 65 little leaf spikes right!?!  ...and then we can move on to the luv story!

To begin, call Lolly and ask her to sew the leaf spikes on for you (you can reach her at (555) lol-chop.  When she does not answer leave her a funny voice mail.  When she does not return your call forgive her and bust out a needle and thread and start sewing.  Sound like a good start?

No really..  this is NOT like the topiary.  I had all of his leaves attached within an hour.  No foolin.  This actually goes MUCH faster than you think.  You will simply be whip stitching each leaf on with about 3 stitches..  that's it.  Simple as pie.  I did it after I had him all stuffed and sewn closed. A fat Hamie is a happy Hamie (words to live by).

I basically laid a leaf in the spot I thought I wanted it to be and then came up under each edge and poked the needle immediately through.  I then went through that same spot over and over about 3 times... and then moved on to the next leaf.  Laying it where I thought I wanted it and then just moving from the leaf I just came from to this new one (holey mackerel that was confusin).  See the pics.  I hope this helps you to see what I am talking about.  I am not being too clear here...  I worry you know.

Note to readers:  Ignore the horrible cuticles in that pic.  I need a manicure.  Which actually leads me to a short but funny story... 

A few years ago I was telling RonChops about how badly I needed a manicure...  being the thrifty guy he is...(totally a man after my own cheap heart)  he asked me if I thought he could do them for me.  I figured that was not a bad idea so we went out and bought all the stuff you needed...  you know...  the usual... special clippers, cuticle pusher thingy, cuticle oil, skin remover ointments, etc...  well... (and this is where it gets funny)...  he was good up until the part where you had to actually cut the cuticles.  I think he turned about 4 shades of pale and declared that he would not be able to manage it.  The poor guy really really tried too.  I think he had the clippers in his hands and went in about 4 times to cut them and just could not even do it.  He might have almost passed out but I cannot be sure.  A line of sweat formed on his brow and HE decided that I needed to pay someone to do it for me.  Ah well.  Some things are better left to the experts right?  Thus ends the little Chops love story...  back to the sewing!

So now..  you see where you come up under the last leaf you sewed on...  and then start on the next one?  That's ALL there is to this.  You just move along in a line adding leaves as you go.  It's easy.  Trust Lolly.

Show me the pink flower covered babe (this is Hamie talking not me)!
So you want to talk easy...  ladies...  Heidi could not be any simpler if she tried.  You start with your basic naked Hedgie.  This is a family site so we'll not be sharing THOSE pics.  I decided to make a light pink Hedgie and completely cover her fabulous little Hedgie body in Prima flowers.  I have several bottles of these things and I have only used about 10 from each bottle (if even that).  So I used a bottle similar to the ones pictured HERE.  Scrappers, stampers and card makers will all be familar with these flowers.  You sewing and other crafting gals may not...  these things are fabulous.  You can use them in so many different types of crafts.  I recommend taking your 40% off coupon to your local craft store to pick up a bottle of your favorite colors.  You will be amazed at how many uses you find for them!  I did not even use an entire bottle for this project.  I still have loads left over!!!

All I did...  was take these flowers and place a larger flower on the bottom and a smaller flower on top and then I stuck a stick pin with a round white top through the middle of each flower set.  Since the Hedgie is like a giant pin cushion..  it worked out pretty darn well!

If I had any holes or gaps...  I simply placed one of the smaller flowers (with a pin through the center) in that spot!

I am telling you..  I had her completely covered in less than 30 minutes...  and she's totally cute too (at least Hamie thinks so)!

As for for the eyes... MomChops took back her massive button stash cause she had some serious crafting to do of her own, so I have been left buttonless...(it's a horrible state to be in)...  so I only had a few lame buttons to pick from.  I think their eyes could be MUCH cuter but I have to wait for Mom to bring her buttons back over to my place!

I decided to cover Heidi's round little Hedgie bottom in flowers...  and opted out of covering Hamie's.  I like the way his spiked leaves wrap around his cute little back side (this is me talking not Heidi).

So that's really all I have for today!  I know the original Hamie might seem a little daunting - but I am really hoping that Heidi seems more doable.  You do not need a special machine or anything..  just some material for the Hedgie body, head pins and any ole flowers... and you will have one adorable little lamby.

I hope you are all having a terrific week!

Make sure you go check out The Butterfly Project pics that have been posted to my Flickr group (HERE)!  There are some really nice ones out there!

Wendesday HUGS,

 

Pink P.S.  This Friday I'll have another Crafting With Lolly project!!!  You will need the following:
hard boiled eggs, easter egg dye, freezer paper, blue painters tape and some of your favorite punches!  It's gonna be FUN and EASY! 

xoxoxo

P.S.S.T.  You can get the Hamie and Heidi pattern HERE!