Sunday, December 22, 2013

Sock Snowmen & Animals

Hello Crafty Friends! 
Sorry I've been MIA for so long. The whole family had came down with severe colds and the flu... yay,fun times... NOT! Everyone here is almost fully recovered with the exception of the baby who is teething. It really kicked my butt sideways and had me out of commission for about a month. But now I am back and crafting and not a moment too soon!

All last week I've been seeing a lot of my crafty friends posting on facebook these super cute snowman creations made from socks... yes, SOCKS! One friend had posted a link to an easy-peasy tutorial on how to make them. The best part... it is entirely NO-SEW!

 I used a tutorial by Kim Landmesser from Ms. Kimm Designs to make my snowman.  So, here it is... my very first sock snowman.


I was ecstatic! It came out soooooo cuuuuutttee! I enjoyed looking at my newly finished creation and pondered... "hmmm, how can I make the different?"... then I thought... "why not change the sock color and make something else?"... "ooooh, what about a penguin or a bear?". So, here they are...


&


My little sock family was growing. And each of them turned out better than I imagined. 

I had lots of great feedback from family & friends and sooo many requests for a tutorial that I decided to include it in my blog post.

Supplies needed to make the penguin & bear are very similar to the ones needed to make the snowman but with a couple additional items. 

Penguin Supplies
black socks
cozy socks
rice 
rubber-bands 
white felt
assorted buttons & embellishments
flat-back pearls & black sharpie or black buttons (these are for the eyes)
hot glue gun & glue  (high temp preferred)
Orange 3D fabric paint
scissors
steel rule die (optional)
pink chalk & q-tips for the cheeks(optional)

I started off by using the Kim's tutorial but didn't see the need to start off with two ends open just to close them back up again... so instead of using the tube of the sock I used the foot... already shaved time & work off.




Cut socks like so...

When turned open side up the ends should be straight across.

Fill a tall glass with rice. You'll need about 2 1/2- 3 cups of rice. You may need a second glass ready on the side.


 Place sock over filled glass of rice.
Turn glass over.

Now the sock should hold it's shape and hold itself open. Pour the remaining rice into the sock.


Tie open end close with rubber-band. I like using hair ties instead of rubber and I do this because rubber and elastic over time gets old and brittle. Excessive heat (especially if stored in attics and storage sheds) will speed this process up. And, even if the elastic breaks the threading covering it will still hold hold it close. Set aside.

For the face and tummy I used my old Sizzix  steel rule dies. They cut through felt like butter. I used the Original die Hearts (item#38-0157) & Oval #2 (item#38-0815).

 
If you don't have these dies and have an electric die cutting machine or are cutting by hand you need an oval that is 2 3/4" tall and a heart that is 1 3/4" tall. Set aside. 

Color flat-back pearls with black sharpie. Set aside to dry. 
If you don't have or cant find flat back pearls black buttons also work fine. 

Hot glue heart & oval to sock with heart slight touching the top of the oval.

Then hot glue flat-back pearl eyes in place.

With Orange 3D fabric paint...


Draw a rounded diamond shape for the penguin's mouth...

Fill in the shape completely with an extra line of paint going across for the beak. Set aside to dry.

Once dry stand up your penguin and shape it like so.

I only could find the cozy socks with toes at my local dollar store so I improvised the snow caps.

Still kept to the basic pattern as Kimm's. Cutting the ankle band as the main (neck) part of the scarf. And about a 2 inch wide segment for the tie. And the rest for the hat.

Cut the 2 inch wide piece so that it becomes a strip.

Your pieces should now look like this

Insert strip into the band like so...

And tie it off.


With a rubber-band and the remaining piece of sock...

Gather all the toes as pictured above...

Tie off with rubber-band.

Flip open end up to create a cuff.


Now dress your penguin. And hot glue in place.

Add embellishments with more hot glue.
 And, with q-tips lightly dust checks in a circular motion till you get desired affect. Tip: Apply small amounts at a time.

Your penguin is done! Yay!!

Now, for the bear! Which is really close to making the penguin but with a couple differences.

Bear Supplies
brown socks
cozy socks
rice 
rubber-bands
light brown/ tan felt 
flat-back pearls & sharpie
hot glue
scissors
assorted buttons &embellishments
steel rule dies(optional)
pink chalk & q-tip for the cheeks (optional)

Just follow the previous tutorial on how to make the body. But instead of heart and oval you're going to need 2 circles.


Top circle measures 1 3/8" and the bottom circle measures 3 3/4".



Hot glue eyes and nose.

And for the ears cut out 2 - 1 inch circle from the remaining brown sock material. and put a dab of glue on one end of the circle as shown above.

Pinch that end together making a semi-cupped shape.

Dress bear & hot glue ear to top of the hat.

Repeat and glue remaining ear to other side.

Embellish & chalk.
Add three dots on each cheek with a sharpie, creating muzzle.

TA-DAH!! Sock bear is done! 

Here's something extra...

Repeat the same steps for the bear but cut the ear circles at 2 inches and it becomes a mouse!!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!
Now, go make some awesome sock creations of your own!!

Friday, November 22, 2013

Winter Fun Penguin Card

OH MY GOODNESS!! It is coooooold outside!! Well, the thermostat says 45 but it feels a lot like 30. It didn't help that it rained all night and it's breezy so it feels colder than it actually is. A definite sign that winter is coming... and fast!

I love the winter time! I'd rather freeze than sweat any day! And my kiddies don't fall far from their maternal tree... During meal time, while saying grace, they always make sure to ask God for snow. It's the cutest thing! And, I wouldn't mind the snow either! I mean if it's going to be cold anyway... at least be cold for a reason! I say "bring on the snow"... I'm ready for it!

Speaking of snow, here's my newest card!!


All cut files for this card are from Designs on Cloud 9. I used Fun on the Ice for the penguin wearing ice skates. Scallops for the scalloped circle. And, Snowflakes Galore for the snowflakes. 

Let's not forget today is Friday!! And, you know what that means... Freebie Friday!!
And today's freebie is:



This would look awesome on a layout or on quick & easy holiday cards!!
But remember, it's only free for a week. so, you have until the 28th to download it for free before it's replaced with a new one.

Get crafting friends! I know I'm going to!
 I gotta start my Christmas cards... hmmm, what to make??!!

Friday, November 15, 2013

Give Thanks Owl Card

Hello Crafty Friends!!
If you haven't been over to Design on Cloud 9's Facebook fan page lately head on over. DC9 is having a new craft challenge! The theme: Fall/ Thanksgiving. You have until 11/21 to get your entries in. All entries must be complete project and not just paper piecings.

To help you get a little motivation I made this super cute Thanksgiving card.


The file used to make this card are all from Designs on Cloud 9.
For the card base and the scalloped circle I used Owl I want Card file. I switched out the card mat in this set for the stitched mat from the Noel Wreath Card. I also used the banner from this set and turned vertically to make a long pennant. The owl and pumpkin came from the Thanksgiving Owls set. And lastly, the tree branch and acorn came from the I love Fall Owls set. 

I love the way this card came out. I may make multiples and mail them to my loved ones for Thanksgiving... Let's just see how enthusiastic I feel after the first three and we'll go from there! LOL!

And now, FREEBIE FRIDAY!!!


This file is free for the week of 11/ 15-11/21. It is called Trendy Lights and you can download it from the Design on Cloud 9's website.

Have a fantabulous weekend & happy crafting everyone!!


Monday, November 11, 2013

Sweet 16 Candy Centerpieces

Hello again crafty friends!! I've been busy busy busy!! A while back I had volunteered my help to a friend for her daughter's sweet 16 birthday party... little did I know I was gonna be the sole decorator. I don't mind doing the work at all but it's getting down to the wire... her birthday party is this Saturday and we just got to see how HUGE this room is this morning. I'm gonna have to put in overtime to fill that space. I still need to make her birthday banner, make more props for the photo booth, decorate a photo mat, and make about 150 cake pops and all in 2 days. I know what you're all thinkin'... "Mitsy, you are CRAAAAAZZZYYY!!!"... YES, yes I am!!

BUT, the good news is I did finish a couple project that weren't listed above. Yes, there was more on my to-do list. Here are the 2 projects I did complete:


These are gonna be decorations for on top the candy buffet table. Probably gonna put them between the candy jars. 

CHEVRONS ARE SUPER HOT THIS YEAR!
I got these from Design's on Cloud 9's Chevron Labels file for the medallions centers.


The cupcakes were made using the Cupcake Fairies file . I printed the jpeg image on my printer. Then I blew up the image with a projector and traced the image onto mat-board  and cut it out. The great thing about using mat-board is that it comes in different colors! I did not need to paint the boards! I did, however, chalk them and add detail to them in the same way I would a regular paper piecing... but I used the chalk inks with extra large daubers instead on finger sized ones. For extra stability I hot glued  a wooden dowel to the back of each cupcake. This made the backs straight otherwise they would bend and slouch.

 Here you can see how tall these cut-outs really are... they're as tall as my daughter and she's about to turn 5.

For you out there who have a handy man in your life... have them cut these out of wood instead! then you won't need the wooden dowel! I, unluckily, do not have a handy man nor the tools to do that myself so cutting it out of mat board was the best option for me. When cutting mat board make sure to use a heavy duty pair of scissors or a sharp xacto knife or utility blade and always be very careful when handling sharp objects.

If anyone would like me to do a step by step tutorial on how to make your own giant cut-out message me or leave a comment below.

I think I'll try this for Christmas next!

HAPPY CRAFTING EVERYONE!!






  


Monday, November 4, 2013

Thanksgiving Layout - Turkey Time

Hello Crafty Friends... Now that Halloween is over and we are officially in November I thought I'd do a little Thanksgiving crafting. Here is my very first Thanksgiving layout... ever!! 


All cutting files used are from Designs on Cloud 9.


I used DC9's Thanksgiving 1 for the turkeys & their outfits.

For the 12 inch vertical borders I used Betsy's Borders. Instead of cutting out 2 pieces, I welded 2 borders to a 4.5" x 12" rectangle so it would cut out as on piece. This eliminated me having to make sure that the pieces were adhered straight. 


Love this font... It's a free font called Cafe Rojo.


 I used the pilgrim clothes on the Thanksgiving 1 file to dress up the turkeys.


The flourishes are from Floral Flourishes.


I also enlarged the turkeys eyes. These eyes were not original to the file.


All the pumpkins are from a retired set called Pumpkin Fun.


The leaves were made using the Fall Flourish Cards. I only used the card fronts and gave them a 2 pt shadow.


For the scalloped border on the photo mat I used Photo Mat Fun.


And There you have it my very first... ever... Thanksgiving layout! I hoped you all enjoyed it as much as I did making it!

Happy Crafting Everyone!