Freshly Handmade

Summer Spruce Up: New Outdoor Lights and Porch Floor Painted

2013-06-19T07:08:00.003-05:00

The outdoor lights on the front exterior were fine and fully functional, but I had a few things I didn't like about them. First, they were a bit ornate for my liking and their grayish color blended into the siding. With me now incorporating more contrasting features like the shutters, columns and rails, and the front door, it was only appropriate to do the same with the lights and balance out the front of the house. Here are the old and new images of the ceiling light under the front porch.

The real difference in appearance came from changing out the wall hanging lights. The old ones were a bit small so I wanted the new ones to be slightly larger to make more of a statement. That, along with the black instead of the gray color helped to do so. We changed out four of the wall lights - three on the front and one on the side. A big thanks to my husband for doing to installing for me.

I also was able to get the front porch floor painted. I hadn't done this for three years and it was definitely looking grimy. I used the same gray porch paint I had in the past, but just gave it a couple fresh coats of paint after cleaning it up really well. It's now a refreshing sight.

So, I have a few more things to do including the rest of my plants, the porch furniture and some finishing touches. I have to admit, I am a bit stuck on some color decisions that have to be made so it might take me a little while longer to get these things done.

--Stacy

Summer Spruce Up: Front Door Painted

2013-06-17T10:31:00.002-05:00

The next tackled project for the exterior is the front door system. It had to be painted for a couple reasons. First, the door was a different color than the sidelite, which also had a color inconsistencies. See the yellowed grilles?

Second, now that the wood columns and rails have been painted white (see post), there was too much white at the entry. I knew I wanted to create contrast, so I painted the door the same almost black color that I painted the shutters. You can read about that post here. But first, prep work. I cleaned the surfaces really good and allowed them to dry. Then I taped off any areas that I didn't want to get paint on like the glass, the trim and the handle.

Since the door was going to have to remain open for pretty much the entire day so the paint could dry properly, I built this barrier out of plastic bags and painter's tape to keep bugs, birds or other critters out of the house. Is that a little crazy? For me, it was better to be safe than sorry.

I kept the door in place with wood shims and began the next step of priming. Whenever I am painting a dark color on something light, I always tint the primer by mixing it with some of the paint.

This will help to provide better coverage when painting with the dark color. It doesn't have to be as dark as the paint but it helps to be somewhere in the middle. I ended up with a medium gray.

I've also found that priming your surface twice provides even better coverage and makes painting go faster. This applies even for paints that include primer. It really just depends on what you are painting.

After the primer was dry, I added two coats of the paint and let the door sit open for the remainder of the day. And now there is consistency in color and great contrast.

Love it!

Next up, new lights, porch floor painting and my plants. More to come soon. Thanks for stopping by!

--Stacy

Summer Spruce Up: Columns and Rails Painted

2013-06-15T11:04:00.002-05:00

If anything on the house needed some TLC, it was the columns and rails at the front entry. I've been indecisive about the look of these since we moved in over three years ago. I did like the rustic feel it gave the front and the stained wood was a nice tie-in for the brownish brick and gray siding. Two years ago, I went to the pain staking effort of stripping off the orange colored stain that was on them when we moved in. I sanded them down and re-stained them hoping for a more rich brownish color, but it didn't quite turn out that way. The whole time, my husband told me to just paint them. He hated the stain. I said I would give it one time around staining and if in a year or two it looks bad, I'll paint them. And here we are.

You know when you live in your house and you don't realize how bad something looked until you change it? Well, I have that feeling about these columns and rails. There are a number of problems here. First, the columns are all scratched up from the winter holiday lights and greenery that I hung from them. Second, the sun just beats on them in the afternoon and fades the lower portion. Third, the color is gross because it yellows from the sun and the stain never really went on very even.

To get them ready for painting, I first had to properly prep them. I sanded them down and got as much stain off as I could. I planned to use my sander for the larger flat areas, but in the middle of it all, I realized I was out of sand paper for it. I decided that by the time I clean up and go to the store to get some more, that I could have it done by hand. Let's just say, my triceps were burning by the time I was done. I probably won't make that mistake again.

Here is a crappy photo I took of myself with my phone while I was sanding. It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.

After sanding, I washed everything down and let it dry for at least 24 hours.
Here they are all cleaned and ready for the next step.

Next, I had to fill the gaps that had occurred from probably shrinkage over the years. The gaps at the base of the columns were quite large in some areas so instead of trying to fill them all with caulk, I first filled them with wood shim, secured the bases with long nails and applied a paintable exterior caulk.

After filling any gaps, cleaning again and taping off, I was ready to prime and paint. Yes! My favorite part. I chose a white that would match closely to the windows and exterior trim. The color is called Powdered Snow by Behr.

I was blown away at how bright and clean it all looked after finishing.

And here is the after shot.

I am SO pleased with the outcome. I should have done this two years ago. Does that mean I have to admit my husband was right? Just kidding. You can see that I am prepping for the front door to be painted. I'll share that transformation with you soon.

Have a great weekend!
--Stacy

Summer Spruce Up: Shutters Painted

2013-06-13T05:26:00.001-05:00

We've had so much rain lately, but as the weather permits I've been painting the exterior front when I can. I started with the shutters, which were a medium gray, slightly darker than the siding.

I'm not sure if they were that color when the house was built or if they've faded over the years, but I wanted them to stand out a bit more and decided to paint them almost black.

The chosen color is called Cracked Pepper by Behr. Below you can compare the difference before and with just a single coat of the new color. The paint is still wet here, so it doesn't appear as dark.

And here they are with two coats and dried.

Not a huge change, but definitely a fresh pick-me-up from before. I am pleased with the result.

Next, I'm working on painting the wood column and rails at the front entrance. Stay tuned.

--Stacy

Summer Spruce Up: Exterior Front Before

2013-06-10T06:58:00.001-05:00

I decided the first project that I was going to tackle for the Summer Spruce Up series was the exterior front of the house. Now that the weather is nicer, I am eager to clean things up and add some color. First, I thought I'd share with you some before pictures and give you the run down on what I plan to work on.

New wall and ceiling lights
Paint wood columns and rails
Paint front door system
Paint shutters
Spruce up and/or replace furniture
Add potted plants
Clean up front entry

I wanted to tackle this project within a two week time frame, but it has been raining a lot so we'll see if Mother Nature wants to cooperate with me. I'll follow up with changes as they are made.

--Stacy

End of the School Year Teacher Appreciation Gift

2013-06-06T09:03:00.001-05:00

Today is the last day of school and I always like to do something special for the teachers who do so much for my children. This year, we made up these sweet treat boxes for each child's teacher to show our appreciation.

I started with a craft box and some crinkled paper shred. The box was $1.00 at Hobby Lobby and the shred I had on hand.

To decorate the box, I wrapped the bottom portion with a good quality, heavy weight wrapping paper.

Because the paper is so wide, I was able to get away with only one seam.

I then added a scallop border out of card stock to finish off the top. I like simple decoration, so I could have definitely done more embellishing, but it's just not me.

I love to bake so I made some of my staples. A stack of brownies with a cute tag that says "brownie points".

And a mini loaf of banana bread. I used clear treat bags and some baker's twine for packaging.

Fill the box with the paper shred and insert the treats. I finished off the box with a couple bows and it was complete.

We also gave these super cute teacher's cards with a special note and gift card. The card template was a free download from Caravan Shoppe. I printed it on my home computer on a flecked card stock for a bit more of a natural feel.

It's a bittersweet day. The kids are getting older, but now we get to spend more time together for a few months.

--Stacy

Summer Spruce Up: Planning & Free Printable Worksheets

2013-06-05T14:11:00.000-05:00

I've been doing a lot of thinking about my Summer Spruce Up house projects. Mainly about how I am going to get all the things done that I want to, especially with two kids on summer break. But, there have been a lot of other things to consider like paint colors and fabric choices, materials needed and staying within budget. Being a list person, I was finding myself with scratch paper here, there and everywhere. I decided I needed a system, a schedule, a plan for all these projects. So, I created a binder for all my thoughts and ideas. Organization makes me happy.

Inside, I made some tabs for each project I plan to tackle. The tabs were made by trimming down manila file folders. Then, I created labels using striped washi tape. Quick and easy.

At the beginning of each school year, I stock up on these clear binder pouches for my own projects. They are great for holding paint chips and fabric swatches.

What is really going to keep me on schedule are these planning worksheets that I created for myself.

There are three different worksheets:

Home Project Plan for writing down goals, materials needed, overall budget and daily tasks.
Project Task List for documenting what steps I need to take and when I will need to accomplish them.
Project Sketches for drawing up ideas of how I'd like the space to look.

And, the good news is that I'm making these worksheets available to you for your own project planning needs. Click on each of the worksheet images below to access a PDF version that you can print at home.

I hope you find these worksheets helpful and planning easier. I've decided my first project is going to be to spruce up the front of the house. I'll post on that very soon.

--Stacy

Summer Spruce Up Series: Kick Off!

2013-05-30T12:43:00.000-05:00

Now that the weather is finally warmer I am anxious to knock out some home improvement projects. So, I'm kicking off my Summer Spruce Up series. Here I will document my decorating and home improvement journey. There will be tips, tools and tutorials for painting, sewing and other decor projects that I hope you will find informative. Some of the projects have been on my "to do"list for a few years and some are new developments, but either way, I'm hoping to mark them complete by the end of the summer. I generally over estimate the time I have to accomplish something so I won't hold my breath. My list is quite ambitious. Here is a sneak peek at some of the rooms I hope to tackle.

I've been pinning and pondering ideas which has been fun and time consuming. I'm still working on project planning to determine which room to tackle first.

I hope you'll follow along with my adventures. There are bound to be mishaps that could potentially be entertaining. Plus, who doesn't love before and after transformation photos?

Are you on a mission to do some sprucing up this summer? I'd love to hear what is on your project "to do" list.

More to come soon!

--Stacy

Bloglovin'

2013-05-28T10:28:00.000-05:00

Happy Tuesday! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend. Unfortunately, I fell ill early in the weekend so not much (nothing) was accomplished. But, all those hours in bed allowed me to finally clean up some of my emails. If you're like me, and you love to read blogs, then you've probably signed yourself up for WAY too many email updates. With the exit of the RSS feed, some readers are having to find other ways to keep up with the latest blog posts. Enter bloglovin'.

This is a great way to follow all the blogs you like to read in one place. You can sign up to follow Freshly Handmade by clicking the button in the right hand column under 'Connect with Me' or click the link below.

Follow my blog with bloglovin'

You can still continue to get my latest posts sent to your email inbox as well. No need to change anything if you already do.

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been busy pondering lots of redecorating projects which I'll share with you soon.

--Stacy

A Quilt For My Son: Work in Progress

2013-05-21T08:57:00.000-05:00

Sorry for being MIA on the blog the last few weeks. Seems our schedules have filled up more now that we finally have nice weather, which has left me with less time to sew and craft. I'll take the nice weather any day after such a long winter. And to be honest, I have major house decorating and redecorating on the brain, so mentally, that has been where my head has been at a lot of the time. More on that later.

So here is where I am at with my son's quilt. Not very far considering the time lapse, but I'm making progress slowly but surely. I designed a pattern that would incorporate blocks made up of one color, but in both print and coordinating solid. I'm about half way done piecing the blocks. I'll keep plugging away and keep you posted on my progress. Hopefully, it doesn't take as long as the last post. Like I said, now that the weather is nice, I'm thinking more painting and less sewing...for now.

--Stacy

A Quilt For My Son: Getting Started

2013-04-29T07:41:00.000-05:00

Here is the fabric for my next quilt. This stack makes me beam inside. You see, this quilt will be for my 7 year old son, and the best part is that it was at his request.

It was while I was quilting the Marguerite Herringbone Quilt that "T" came up and rubbed his hand along the top and loved how soft it was. "Cool fabric, mom!", he said, "Would you make me a quilt?" My reply, "OF COURSE!"

I sat him down with the Kona color card and let him pick from the 243 colors to see where his head was at in terms of color scheme.

When he told me he was done choosing and I looked at the piece of paper, he had only seven colors chosen. Then, when I looked at what they were, I was (I hate to say it) almost horrified. Good thing he didn't see the look on my face as my eyes were practically bulging out of my head.

I would have NEVER picked these colors, not together anyway. The only thing I could attribute these choices to is his love for sports teams. I am mostly a muted color-loving gal and while I do like brights, this color combination was definitely going to be a challenge for me to come up with something I felt good about. Sounds kind of selfish.

The next day, I asked him if I could bring small amounts of other colors in the mix and he hesitantly agreed. Whew, I felt relieved. I got the stamp of approval to add six more colors.

Looking better, but I still was at a loss. Then, I had the idea to pair each solid with a print of the same color and white or cream. I was able to pull enough from my stash to where he could choose the prints he liked. When we put it all together, not only was he on board, but I felt really good about what will come of it.

I am SO excited to make by best "little" guy and very special gift. I am still pondering the design of the quilt. I initially thought half square triangles would work great with the pairs, but I am going to do some experimenting and run it past my son before I start.

More to come soon.

--Stacy

Make Your Own Decorative Envelope Tutorial

2013-04-28T13:00:00.000-05:00

I'm finishing out the week of card tutorials by showing you how to make your own decorative envelopes. It's so exciting to get a cool envelope in the mail, especially when the rest is junk mail. Decorative envelopes also complete a wrapped gift when you're delivering the package in person.

FINISHED SIZE:

5.75" W x 4.5" H

SUPPLY LIST:

Envelope template
Decorative scrapbook paper at least 8.25" x 8.25"
Acrylic ruler
rotary cutter
Xacto knife
Double sided tape or mono adhesive
Tape
Pencil

You will first need to print off the template and follow the instructions to make your own cardboard template. Click on the template below to open up a full size PDF version.

Once you have followed the steps on the printout, your cardboard template should look like this.

ASSEMBLY:

Step 1: Place Piece 1 on the front of the decorative paper. What you see through the hole is what will show on the front of the envelope. If position doesn't matter, you can flip the paper over to the back side to save a step. You'll see why in steps 2 and 3. Once you have Piece 1 in position, trace around the perimeter with a pencil. See red line below.

Step 2: If you are tracing on the front side of the paper, remove the template and trim just inside the lines you drew using an acrylic ruler and rotary cutter. If you are tracing on the back side of the paper, complete Step 3 before trimming the outer lines.

Step 3: Place the template on the back of the paper so that all corners match. Make small, light marks on the paper where the red dots are shown below.

Step 4: Align Piece 2 with the four marks made on the back of the paper.

Step 5: While holding down the template, fold all the sides around Piece 2, making sure to create crisp folds. Below is what your paper will look like.

Step 6: Apply double stick tape along the edges of corner C, which is the bottom, and adhere it to the side pieces (A and B). Make sure to keep the tape close to the edge without going over so that you don't end up taping your card inside the envelope.

Step 7: Remove template Piece 2 and insert your card. Apply double stick tape to the edges of the top flap (D) and adhere it down.

You've just made a really cool envelope. Add a decorative seal to the flap for a bit more fun.

Make sure to add a label to the front if the paper has a dark color or a busy pattern so the post office can read the name and address of where your card is going.

Let me know if you have any questions!

--Stacy

Simple Ombre Thank You Card Tutorial

2013-04-27T11:22:00.000-05:00

Day 4 of card making tutorials. Today, I bring you a super simple ombre thank you card. There are minimal supplies needed to make this card and there is a good chance you can just raid your scrap bin.

Let's get started.

FINISHED SIZE:

4.25" W x 5.5" H (requires an A2 envelope for sending)

SUPPLY LIST:

4.25" x 11" dark gray card stock
(5) 3.75" x 1" strips of card stock in various shades of color (you could also use an old paint swatch as well)
3.75" x 5" white card stock for inside
Scoring table and bone folder or scoring tool
Sentiment rubber stamp
Dark gray stamp ink
Double-sided tape or mono adhesive
Ruler (optional)

ASSEMBLY:

Step 1: With the gray card stock, score a line at 5.5" down the middle of the sheet. Fold card in half along score line.

Step 2: Starting from the top down and working darkest to lightest, apply double stick tape to the back of the colored strips and adhere them to the front of the gray card stock. Your darkest piece should first be placed .25" from the top and centered width-wise. You can use a ruler to help align the first strip.

The card will look like this.

Step 3: Stamp sentiment centered on the lightest strip using your rubber stamp and gray ink.

Step 4: Apply double stick tape to the back of the 3.75" x 5" white card stock and adhere it to the center of the inside for writing your message.

You're done! How simple was that?! So clean and modern looking too. I can see these in so many pretty color schemes.

Now make your own and send it to someone special.

Let me know if you have any questions.

--Stacy

Antique Anniversary Card Tutorial

2013-04-26T16:55:00.000-05:00

Day 3 of card making tutorials. Today, I am sharing how to make this beautiful, antique-looking anniversary card. I really like the natural feel that it has as well.

Let's get started.

FINISHED SIZE:

4.25" W x 5.5" H (requires an A2 envelope for sending)

SUPPLY LIST:

4-1/4" x 11" aqua card stock
4-1/4" x 4-1/4" dark brown card stock
4-1/4" W x 4-1/8" H decorative paper (butterflies)
4" x 5-1/4" craft card stock for inside
3-3/4" x 5" white card stock for inside
1-1/2" wide ribbon cut to 6-1/2" long
3/8" wide cut to 6-1/2" long
Scoring table and bone folder or scoring tool
Scallop edge punch (Stampin' Up!)
Sentiment rubber stamp
Dark brown stamp ink
Double-sided tape or mono adhesive
Small sponge
Scissors

ASSEMBLY:

Step 1: With the aqua card stock, score a line at 5.5" down the middle of the sheet. Fold card in half along score line.

Step 2: On both the dark brown card stock and the decorative paper, use the scallop edge punch along the top. For the decorative paper, make sure it is first oriented to be 4-1/4" W x 4-1/8" H.

Step 3: Apply double stick tape to the back of the decorative paper and adhere to the dark brown card stock, aligning the straight edges on the bottom and sides.

Step 4: Take the 1-1/2" wide ribbon and lay it across the front of the decorative paper. Apply double stick tape to only the right side of the ribbon.

Step 5: Flip the ribbon over to adhere it to the front of the paper about 1" down from the top of the brown scallops. Now, flip the paper over toward you.

Step 6: Apply double stick tape to the back to adhere the ribbon flaps.

Step 7: Apply double stick tape along the edges of the brown card stock, generously where the ribbon lies. Apply this to the front of the aqua card stock aligning the straight edges of the bottom and sides.

Step 8: Take the 3/8" wide ribbon and slide it under the thicker ribbon on the left-hand side. Tie the thin ribbon into a knot creating a slight pucker in the thicker ribbon. Trim ribbon ends on an angle.

Step 9: Apply your sentiment along the right edge on the aqua card stock with your rubber stamp and ink.

Step 10: Next, you're going to create the antique effect along the edges of the card. To do so, take the small sponge and blot it on the ink several times.

Step 11: Flick it along the edges from the top of the card toward the back at a 45 degree angle. Do this along every edge, even over the ribbon.

Step 12: Layer and adhere the 4" x 5-1/4" craft card stock and the 3-3/4" x 5" white card stock on the inside to finish off the card.

That's it! I hope you get a chance to make a similar version for someone special.

Let me know if you have any questions.

--Stacy

Girls Numbered Birthday Card Tutorial

2013-04-25T15:39:00.000-05:00

It's day two of card making tutorials. Yesterday I featured a tutorial on how to make an elegant wedding card. Today I am going to show you how to make this cute numbered birthday card that I just made for one of our little friends who turned four.

FINISHED SIZE:

4.25" W x 5.5" H (requires an A2 envelope for sending)

SUPPLY LIST:

4.25" x 11" pink card stock
5" x 5" decorative paper (green/white dots)
3" x 3.5" decorative paper for the number (more for double digits)
brown scrap paper and decorative scrap paper for flower
3.75" x 5" white card stock for inside of card (optional)
Bigz Top Note die by Stampin' Up!
5" x 7" dots embossing folder by Cuttlebug
Die cutting machine such as Big Shot or Cuddlebug with plates/platform
Scoring table and bone folder or scoring tool
Numbered rubber stamp (approx. 2" W x 3" H)
Dark brown stamp ink
Flower punch
1/8" hole punch
Medium size brad for flower
Double-sided tape or mono adhesive
Small foam self adhesive dimensionals
Small scissors

ASSEMBLY:

Step 1: With the 4.25" x 11" pink card stock, score a line at 5.5" down the middle of the sheet.

Step 2: Emboss the front of the card using the dots embossing folder. To do so, align the first row of dots on the folder to the score line. Don't emboss over the score line to the back of the card. Make sure that when the paper is embossed the dots are raised instead of indented. Close the folder and run it all through the die cutting and embossing machine according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Fold the card at the score line. Your card should look like this.

Step 3: Place the 5" x 5" decorative paper (green/white dot) over the die lines on the Bigz Top Note die. Run it through the die cutting machine according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Your die cut should look like this.

Step 4: Generously apply double stick tape to the back of the Top Note cut-out paper since it will be applied to a textured background. Apply vertically to the middle of the pink card stock.

Step 5: Stamp the number onto the 3" x 3.5" decorative paper using the rubber stamp and ink pad. As an alternative, you may print a number out on your printer if you don't have a stamp or ink. Cut out the number using a small scissors.

Step 6: Apply several double adhesive foam dimensionals to the back of the number. These will allow the number to stand off from the green dot paper.

Remove paper from both sides and apply the number to the center of the die cut paper.

Step 7: Using the flower punch, cut out one flower each from the brown scrap paper and the decorative scrap paper.

Step 8: Layer the brown flower on top of the decorative paper flower and punch a hole in the center of both flowers using the 1/8" hole punch. Insert the brad through the hole.

Step 9: Punch a hole through only the cover of the card where you want to place the flower. Insert the prongs of the brad through the hole and spread apart to secure.

Step 10: This is optional, but you can add a 3.75" x 5" piece of white card stock to the inside of the card for additional structure. It's also nice to add that additional layer for writing your message.

You're done!

This design can be easily adapted to suit the age of the recipient using different numbers.

Try it out and make it your own!

Let me know if you have any questions.

--Stacy

Elegant Wedding Card Tutorial

2013-04-24T14:41:00.000-05:00

Last week, I discovered a surprise package on my door step that just happened to be from my sister-in-law. Inside contained these six beautiful sheets of decorative paper from Paper Source, one of my favorite stores, as well as a sweet card.

I was so touched by the random gesture and found encouragement and inspiration to create some lovely paper crafts. I used the very pretty periwinkle and white scroll paper to make an elegant wedding card for my cousin.

I've created step by step instructions for you to create your own.

FINISHED SIZE:

6" W x 6" H

SUPPLY LIST:

12" x 6" white, textured card stock
5.5" x 5.5" decorative paper (periwinkle/white)
(2) 6.5" x 6.5" envelopes (green)*
White scrap card stock
Ribbon - one 7" length and one 4" length
Spellbinders Nestabilities, Labels Four dies - set of 6
Die cutting machine such as Big Shot or Cuddlebug
Scoring table and bone folder or scoring tool
Decorative and sentiment rubber stamps
Dark brown stamp ink
Double-sided tape or mono adhesive
Bordered label for envelope
Scissors

* If you have card stock to match the color of the envelope, then you only need one envelope.

ASSEMBLY:

Step 1: With the 12" x 6" white textured card stock, score a line at 6" down the middle of the sheet.

Step 2: Fold card stock in half so the fold is on the left-hand side. It now measures 6" x 6".

Step 3: Now you will adhere the 7" long ribbon to the decorative 5.5" x 5.5" paper. Apply a small strip of mono adhesive to the wrong side of the ribbon in the middle. Center and press the ribbon, right side up, onto the right side of the decorative paper approximately 1.25" from the bottom.

Step 4: Wrap the ends of the ribbon to the back side of the decorative paper and adhere with tape.

Step 5: Apply tape along outer edges and some to the middle of the back side of the decorative paper, then apply it to the middle of the white card.

Step 6: Using the largest label die, cut out a green label from either scrap card stock or your second envelope. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for cutting dies on your die cutting machine. Using the second largest die, cut a white label from your scrap card stock.

Step 7: Stamp your sentiment and decoration onto the white label with dark brown ink. I used stamps from "Well Scripted" and "Fresh Vintage" stamp sets by Stampin' Up! As an alternative, you can use your computer to lay out a design, print it out and then die cut the label after.

Step 8: Apply double stick/mono adhesive to the back of the white label and apply it to the center of the larger green label. Do the same for the green label and adhere it to the decorative paper.

Step 9: Make a bow by taking the shorter ribbon and slipping one end under the horizontal ribbon on the card. Tie the two ends together. Trim ends on an angle.

Step 10: Address the label to the lucky recipients and adhere it to the front of the envelope.

Optional additions include:

Your name on the back of the card that says, "handmade by (your name".
More card stock to the inside of the card. I like to do this for greater structure. Typically, I layer with one or two smaller sheets.

This design can be easily adapted to include different colors, papers and sentiments. Try it out and make it your own.

--Stacy

20's Inspired Wedding Stationary

2013-04-22T12:58:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of attending a wedding this weekend for one of my relatives. I also had the pleasure of custom designing and assembling all the wedding stationary. The bride was looking for an invitation design inspired by the 20's. This could have easily gone to full-on roaring 20's, but I think the overall look ended up very classy and elegant with inspiration for that era.

The wedding colors were peacock blue and black with hints of gold.

I designed a folder that could hold the invitation along with the response card and reception information. All pieces carried a similar design on natural colored cream card stock.

Invitation Folder

Reception / Enclosure Card

Response Postcard

Program

Table Number

Place Cards

Table Tents

It was so nice to get back to my graphic design roots for awhile. I had a lot of fun and was glad that I could add to the elegance of someone's special day.

--Stacy

Marguerite Herringbone Quilt: Finished

2013-04-19T07:07:00.001-05:00

I feel like I have been working on the Marguerite herringbone quilt for so long, but I had to put it aside to take care of some other commitments. I posted about this quilt previously here and here.

This is a special quilt made for a special friend. Her name is also Stacey (spelled with an "e"). I met her in college and we've had lots of fun times. Back then our friends called us Stacey (her) and Sta (like "stay" - me) to differentiate ourselves. Seems so silly now. Thank goodness "Sta" never stuck for me. Well, 14 years later my long distance friend was diagnosed with cancer. I wanted to do something for her to show my support and I knew that she was the kind of gal to appreciate handmade goodness, so I decided to make her this quilt.

I would consider her to be a girly-girl so between the floral pattern of the Marguerite line and the sweet colors, I felt it was a good fit. Like I mentioned in a previous post, I used the Love Song pattern but did not include the vertical white stripes in between the columns. Here are a few shots of the front.

I paired all the prints from the Marguerite fat quarter bundle with a Kona white cotton.

For the back, I used two large print pieces from the Marguerite line which includes a gray floral and the "green" (more like gold) diagonal stripe.

For the binding, I used the pink floral from the line. I quilted it by stitching on both sides of every seam.

It turned out to be 57" x 66.5".

Here she is all ready to be shipped to my sweet friend.

I do have some leftovers from the fat quarter bundle that I am dying to use. I have to say that this is probably my most favorite quilt of any I have made so far.

Enjoy my friend!

I am linked up to Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Friday.

--Stacy

Covert Robin Gift Exchange

2013-04-16T15:35:00.000-05:00

I recently participated in the Covert Robin, a mystery gift exchange of handmade goods by fellow crafty bloggers like me. Think Secret Santa in April. I thought I'd share what I gave and what I received.

WHAT I GAVE:

I designed and made this scrappy tote for Kimberly who blogs at Swink Girls Quilts. I didn't have any information on her so I had to go with my gut as to what she might like. The good news is that she was pleased with her gift.

I paired 32 different prints with a linen/cotton blend for the bag itself. For the straps, I used a fun large polka dot print by Amy Butler.

Stitching on each side of the seams gives it additional detailing.

Here are the sides and the bottom views.

The inside of the bag is lined with a sweet blue and cream floral print that I adore. I included a couple small pockets to hold little necessities.

All jazzed up and ready to be sent to New York.

I love this bag. Good thing I cut enough fabric to make myself one.

WHAT I RECEIVED:

Grace of Tiny Loved & Co. sent me a variety of clever handmades including an embellished tote bag, scented candle and pillow cover. She also made me a bracelet made from lace ribbon and a sentiment charm necklace. She finished off the package with some candy and a sweet note. Thanks Grace!

It was fun to create something special for someone I've never met, and anticipate a surprise for myself as well. You can see what other gifts were exchanged here.

--Stacy

Modern Madness: Join The Fun!

2013-03-21T02:44:00.000-05:00

March Madness. The time of year when Americans go crazy over filling out tournament brackets to see if they can pick the NCAA college basketball championship team. Well, if you are not much of a basketball fan and more of a fabric fan, then Fat Quarterly has just the challenge for you. Each year, they coordinate what's called Modern Madness where fabric lovers, like me, can fill out tournament style brackets for the most popular fabric lines of the past year. You can download and fill out your own bracket here. Participation is just for fun. The first round of voting begins today and will continue through April 8th.

If you aren't familiar with all the fabric lines, I suggest doing a Google Images search, but Fat Quarterly will also be posting links where you can view the collections. I have to admit, there were some tough choices to be made. There were so many great fabric lines from the past year. For me, it was close for the Madrona Road collection by Violet Craft, but in the end, I picked Pearl Bracelets to take it all. I just love this fabric line. It is simple, but versatile, and there are so many colors from which to choose. Below is just a sampling. It is definitely a stash staple.

Collection: Pearl Bracelets

Designer: Lizzy House

Manufacturer: Andover

Will you be participating? What fabric line did you choose as this year's champion?

--Stacy

Marguerite Herringbone Quilt: Work In Progress

2013-03-20T06:07:00.000-05:00

I was able to assemble all the blocks that I will need for the herringbone quilt I am making for my friend. As you can see, I have paired the prints from the Marguerite collection with a Kona white solid, which I think works beautifully.

Now, I'm just auditioning the blocks on my design wall to see what block arrangement I would like for the quilt. I'm loving the color combination and the feminine feel.

I'm on a roll, but unfortunately I am having to put aside the quilt for a few days to work on some other projects for which I've committed myself. I'll be back with more on this beauty soon.

Thanks for stopping by!

--Stacy

Marguerite Herringbone Quilt: Getting Started

2013-03-15T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday!

I am still working on getting rid of my cold, but the good news is that I have some renewed energy to start sewing again. I'm tackling a new herringbone quilt pattern ** that I purchased recently and am busting open my Marguerite fat quarter bundle by Stitch Studios for Riley Blake.

I am making this quilt for a dear friend and I am hoping the pretty prints and lovely colors will make her happy.

More to come...

Have a great weekend!

--Stacy

**UPDATE
Since this post, the shop where I purchased the pattern has closed.
Pattern: My Song
Designer: For the Love of Joy

I Surrender: My "Must-Do" Kind of Week

2013-03-13T09:03:00.001-05:00

After making Mr. Polka Dot Pillow for my nephew and cleaning up my sewing room from the mess, my sewing machine has been pretty well neglected. The past week or more has been consumed by my other "to-do" list. The one with items that I'll get to but rarely do because I push them off for more fun things like quilting or sewing. Unfortunately, I reached the point on several items where I just didn't have a choice to push them off anymore, so I surrendered.

Clean vacuum filter every 3 months. Oops!

The vacuum cleaner kept turning off on me. Before I took the time to have it looked at, I figured I read the manual. Yeah, that booklet that comes with every appliance you buy that usually gets tossed in a drawer. I know how to operate a vacuum. Why do I need to read it? Turns out the vacuum cleaner needs to be cleaned beyond just emptying the canister, duh! I had no idea the vacuum could be dissected into so many parts. Parts that need to be cleaned. I would have known that if I...um...read the manual. So I spent the time to properly clean that sucker and replaced any filters. Wowza!! Once I started it up again, that vacuum was like new! I forgot how much I loved it when I bought it. And that was all it took to jump start my cleaning spree for the next couple days.

My all-or-nothing personality was in full force after that. I tore apart and cleaned the dust buster. I cleaned the oven. I cleaned floors, sinks, nooks and crannies I haven't paid much attention to in my normal cleaning routine. How often do you clean your washing machine filter? Goodness, I like a clean and tidy house, but I was feeling foolish that I neglected some of these tasks for so long.

I didn't even notice this little guy on the front of my washer until my husband pointed it out.

Back to the "Must-Do" list, my car could no longer go without an oil change, tires rotated and a cleaning, so there went two hours of my life waiting for that to be done.

My son's soccer jersey wasn't clean so that sparked me to wash every single item in the house. Moderation or a schedule might do me some good. A day spent there washing, folding and putting away.

Then, in the middle of a design project, the warning from my computer that I have been ignoring reared its ugly head. Go away. I have work to do and I don't want to spend hours purging and backing up files. But, that is what I had to do. A good day spent without a computer and continuously checking on the oh-so-slow status bar from transferring files. However, I am glad that I finally took the time to back things up. I would feel horrible if I ever lost any of my precious family photos.

And, now that I feel like I can take a break from cleaning, I've come down with a cold and very sore throat and my overall motivation is gone. Watching TV and relaxing became the priority. Reality TV overload. I hope for the sake of my husband, I get better soon because I am the WORST sick person.

I will again surrender as hard as it may be. When I'm feeling better, I'm sure my go-go-go, do-do-do personality will yield some pretty fun projects.

--Stacy

Polka Dot Pillow Friend

2013-03-02T10:59:00.003-06:00

My nephew just celebrated his 2nd birthday. As a gift, I've created this super soft polka dot pillow friend out of a variety of fabrics.

The body and face are made out of cuddle fleece. The whites of the eyes and the green hands and feet are made from terry cloth. The arms and legs and the "hair" are made from a variety of cotton prints. I added some scrap black twill for the eyes and used black floss for the mouth.

I sure hope he likes this cutie.

Happy Birthday Aaron!

Now, to clean my sewing room. If you ever worked with cuddle fleece, you know what a disaster it creates.

--Stacy

Burp Cloths for Baby Evelyn

2013-02-22T09:45:00.000-06:00

In honor of my friend who had her first baby yesterday, I am sharing with you the adorable burp cloths I made little Evelyn (love that name).

This set of three is made from designer quilting cotton and ultra soft cotton chenille.

These burp cloths are super absorbent for all of baby's little (or big) spit-ups. And, they are super cute!

A perfect handmade gift for the new mom.

Thanks for stopping by!

--Stacy