Sewalicious Designs

Finally got my Cricut to cut Freezer Paper

2012-01-06T03:23:00.002-06:00

Freezer paper stenciling isn't new to me. I've done it several time before. Summer Camp Pillows, Recycle T-shirts, Strawberry Shortcake costume and striped tights. But I cut these out by hand with scissors. When I got my Cricut over a year ago I envisioned my life becoming easier b/c I would use it to cut lettering out on freezer paper. But when I tried it never cut correctly. It always peeled up as it was cutting which messed up the letters. I'd given up trying after changing the pressure, speed and blade depth several times.

A year later.... My Mother-in-law wanted to make some shirts for her and some of her friends (sorority sisters) using gems. I have a shirt with my Sorority (Delta Sigma Theta) with the Greek letters and named spelled out in gems that she liked. I bought some rhinestones along with ~~Memar~~ Mylar Carrier sheets some time ago that I never got around to trying so of course I was all game. But counting the number of gems that were used on my t-shirt and looking at the cost I realized that it was gonna be pretty pricy so I decided to do freezer paper stenciling instead.

We got the t-shirts from Michaels around Thanksgiving when they were $2.50 ea and some acrylic paint (b/c there was no fabric paint in the color we wanted) I mixed 2 parts paint with 1 part textile medium so it would adhere to the fabric.

I figured I would have to hand cut my letters b/c I still couldn't get my Cricut to cut right. This would not have been so bad for the large greek letters but I would not have attempted to cut the small, thin print greek name spelled out.

I did a Google search on the topic and found a blog post (sorry I don't remember where) that gave tips on cutting freezer paper with the Cricut. I tried it and it worked!!! It was simple as laying the freezer paper shiny side UP! I'd been laying mine shiny side down. Not really sure why it cut better this way but it worked like a charm. I think it stuck better to the mat this way. The blogger mentioned that her settings were 3 (I assumed that was Medium pressure and Medium speed and her blade was set at 4). Oh and b/c you iron the shinny side to your fabric, I had to flip the text. SCAL (Sure Cuts Alot) has a Flip Horizontal button that does just that so it was pretty simple.

With the text reversed, I was ready to cut, peel off my stencil and iron onto my shirts along with the small pieces (center of a, e, P, etc....). I stenciled the paint on (2-3 thin layers, with freezer paper in between the shirt so the paint didin't bleed through to the back), peeled off when dry and heat set the paint with a hot iron (pressing directly on the paint).

Yay!! They turned out great!

If Reindeer Could Talk.....

2011-12-30T15:44:00.000-06:00

My Reindeer Cake Pops!

Cake Pops for the Holidays

2011-12-29T22:23:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I've been making a lot of cake pops for the holidays for gifts and I had my very 1st order! Here are a few....

I made 2 of these for my kid's teachers

For my Godparents

My 1st Cake Pop order Complete!

Snowmen & Christmas Tree Pops!

More Christmasy Pops

Drawstring Christmas Bags

2011-12-29T22:00:00.000-06:00

I only sewed Christmas gifts for 1 child's class this year. I didn't do my usual Christmas Stockings like I've done the past 2 yrs. Since I got a late start I figured drawstring bags would be a lot quicker. Using the same concept as the drawstring back pack I made these bags.

Fabric came from Hancock. 12 Blue for the boys and 8 red for the girls. For time sake and a different look the boys have a one sided drawstring.

Winter Wonderland Cake Pops

2011-12-26T20:45:00.001-06:00

Here are more Cake Pops! I made these for my son's Winter Wonderland (Christmas) Party. I put one at each table!

Wilton Blue (looks like Tiffany blue) cake pops and swirls sprinkled with white Sanding Sugar

Minnie Mouse Halloween Costume

2011-12-23T19:29:00.000-06:00

So the plan was to make 2 costumes this year, Ben 10 and Minnie Mouse. My oldest son wanted to be Ben 10 (again). But he wanted the 'older' Ben 10 costume. All I would've had to make would have been the green jacket but I just ran out of steam and decided to make Minnie.

So here we go!

This was my Inspiration

I used this Simplicity pattern to make the skirt. (style on the right)I loved this pattern. No gathering involved just a circular pattern, when sewn it looks like gathers!

I found the pink/ white polka dot fabric for the skirt from Jo-Ann.

I bought the pink t-shirt and added a white

collar and button. I folded my oldest daughter's uniform blouse in half so I could get a shape of her rounded collar. I traced it on some paper to make a pattern and cut the white knit out (on the fold).

Collar basted on t-shirt

Minnie's Ears & Bow

I used some black felt (it was actually adhesive b/c that's what I had but you can just use regular felt). I created a pattern with a circle and adding a tab that would wrap around the head band, cut pattern on fold to get what you see in the picture below. I used a somewhat stiff interfacing between the felt ears so it would be stiff and not flop. B/c the felt was adhesive the interfacing stuck to it which was great. I then hand sewed the ears together (front/back).

Now on to the that Huge bow Minnie wears. I cut/ sewed 2 squares together, left and opening and turned right side out. I stuffed it and sewed the opening up. I put a narrow hem on the long sides of a strip of fabric and wrapped it around the square piece to make a bow and stitched it together. I then hand sewed the bow to the ears.

And here's Minnie!

The collar was longer than I planned and it lapped over but I ended up liking it that way! I sewed a big white button off center. I put on her a long sleeved black leotard and black tights to complete the look. The gloves are from WalMart. I bought them over a year ago on clearance; that's when I decided that her costume would be Minnie for 2011.

Here are all the kids on Halloween!

Mater, Batman, Minnie Mouse & Batgirl

Cake Pop CRAZY!!

2011-12-22T11:19:00.000-06:00

I dropped off the sewing scene for a while and have been making Cake Pops. I first found out about them when I came across Bakerella's Blog. I know that I have read everyone of her post! I purchased her book and have been in love with this sweet treat every since.

So here are a few that I've done. I plan on making other shapes for Christmas so watch out!

I made these for my daughter's class right before they went on Thanksgiving Break.

I made these for an event at church. Colors: Yellow, Beige, and Cream. These are my favorites so far!

These were for my son's Soccer Party. I have them displayed on a styrofoam circle that I painted to resemble a soccer ball. I'd planned on sticking the pops in the styrofoam but it didn't work. I've found that there's 2 types of styrofoam. This kind was more spongy and didn't form holes all the way when I inserted that stick. The styrofoam shown above is more crisp and it works perfectly.

I'll be sharing more later.

If You Give A Cat A Cupcake

2011-12-14T01:17:00.000-06:00

So there was a Pumpkin Contest at my son's school ('Just 4' a school for 4 yr olds). They have it every year. Two years ago when my oldest son was there I helped to decorate his class pumpkin so I did it again this year for my next son (same teacher). Each class is to decorate a pumpkin to represent their favorite book and ours was If You Give A Cat A Cupcake.

First I painted the pumpkin. I think it was like a light brown color. Using homemade paper mache, I glued newspaper strips to the top of the pumpkin to cover the stump and to make the icing. After it dried, I painted it with Acrylic Gesso as a base and to cover the newspaper print. Then I painted over it with white acrylic. I didn't have to use much.

I painted over everything with Modge Podge, then I sprayed Elmer's Spray Adhesive on the icing and sprinkled real sprinkles on top! I cut down blue scrapbook paper a bit narrower and folded them back and forward to give it the accordion look like a cupcake liner and joined them together with tape.

I sat the pumpkin in a plastic bowl to raise it up a bit.

Check out all the Pumpkins from all the classes!!!

(clink link below)

Pumpkin Contest 2011 - 2012

Vinyl Monogramed Christmas Ornament (Gifts from 2010)

2011-12-14T00:33:00.002-06:00

These are gifts I made last Christmas (2010) for 2 of my kid's classmates and their friends at church. I started out with several clear plastic balls that I got from Michaels. They were on sale so they were really inexpensive.

For the boys I used Navy blue and Light blue vinyl. Small and large dots.

And for the girls I used Hot pink (looks like red on the picture) and Purple vinyl. Small and large dots.

I tied a piece of grosgrain ribbon on top and voila!!!!!

I'm working on gifts now for this Christmas (2011). Hope they turned out as planned!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

2011-12-14T00:30:00.000-06:00

I'm starting to really enjoy making costumes! I still have to share with you the Halloween costume that I made for my 3 yr old this past October but 1st, to get you in the Holiday Spirit, let me talk about the Christmas Tree costumes that I made!

My 5 yr old's class participated in the Christmas Program at his school and he and 2 other kids were gonna be Christmas Trees while reciting a poem. His teacher showed me this Christmas Tree costume she saw on Oriental Trading website and this is where the idea came from to make the ones that I did.

I started with an apron pattern that I've used before, Simplicity 4286, View D as the structure of the costume.

Pattern Piece extended with flare

I only had to use the front pattern piece to make my pattern (the back piece was exactly the same except it extended out about 1/4" in the back - so I just eyeballed that when I cut out my fabric). I traced it out on a poster size piece of paper, adding about 4 inches to the bottom and flaring it out to a point and back in to make the 'bottom' of the tree.

I decided to use felt because I figured I wouldn't have to hem it but I realized that the arm holes and neck would stretch out of shape if I didn't do something so I ended up using some green bias tape around the neck and armholes.

Basically you just follow the apron pattern when putting it together. When I sewed both sides, I sewed from under the arm, down the side, out to the point and back along the bottom of the flair and stopping at a point so there's room for the child walk. I turned under the raw edge and sewed at the opening of the legs front and back and along the back opening on both sides (if any of that makes any sense). I sewed on green velcro strips for the back (neck to bottom) for closure.

I used my Fiskars circle paper punch (I think it's almost 3") to make a circle pattern to cut out red, blue and yellow felt to sew on for the 'Christmas ornaments'.

For the head piece I simply cut a piece of green felt and wrapped it around the headband and hand sewed it on. Then I used some wire that I had (I forget what kind but it's real easy to bend), folded it in half to make a point and wrapped the ends around the headband. I cut 2 triangle shaped pieces of felt, sewed them together leaving bottom open, turned it right side out and covered the wire. I wrapped the excess fabric at the bottom around the wire and the headband and hand sewed it closed.

Covering up wire with triangle fabric piece

3 treetop headband pieces

I Googled a star to find a picture I could print out and use as a pattern. I didn't feel like clipping corners and turning right side out so after cutting 2 pieces for the star I sewed them together leaving a small opening at the bottom. I stuffed it and inserted the 'tree top' and sewed the bottom of the star closed.

On stage performing!

I finally figured it out!!!!

2011-12-13T19:45:00.002-06:00

I kept getting the error message that my browser is no longer supported by Blogger. It suggested that I try Google Chrome so I downloaded it and now I can open up Blogger through Google Chrome and uploading pictures to my blog so much quicker and easier!!!!! So look out for me to start back posting again. It was beginning to be a pain to do a post because it was hard to move the pictures around and the text.

Working on a post now for 3 costumes I did for my 5 yr olds Christmas play! Should get it up sometime tonight. Lots more to catch up on on and much more that I'm working on.

Seems like forever...

2011-10-23T22:40:00.001-05:00

I've been away from my blog for quite some time now. I've just been so busy! It all started this Summer. My daughter on the swim team, the kid's Summer schedules and plus with me taking a course as well. Well, I got an A in my History class, which was truly a shock but I was so happy for that grade. For a moment I just wishing for a C!

I'm suppose to be taking a Government course in the Spring but haven't started looking to see where I would take it online. Gotta get on that ASAP!

My daughter's turned 8 & 3 over the Summer and we spent their birthdays in Chicago! Where in the world is the time going?

All 4 kids are in school this year, which has been soooooo nice.

My older 2 go to a new school, which I LOVE and they have awesome teachers. The 1st grader loves his teacher so much that he announced that he wanted to stay in 1st grade forever! My 4 yr old goes to a school just for 4 yr olds, called JUST 4. I've never seen a kid love school as much has he does. He smiles everyday getting out of the van and heading into the building. His teacher taught my other son 2 years ago and she is great! And then the baby, well she's no baby anymore, goes a half a day. Same place the 4 yr old went last year. And I can't say enough about her teacher. I'm just impressed and at awe everytime I see her working with the kids and seeing the things they learn.

What I've been working on the past few months.......

Hmmm, gotta think for a moment..... I made my very first pillow dress! I even made some pants to go with it and trimmed the bottom with white ric rac. Started some tops and pants but haven't finished. Guess the girls will have to wear them starting in the Spring.

I've made more drawstring totes. A Hello Kitty one for my daughter to put her PE clothes in (no picture of that one yet) and Spongebob one for a friend's son. I used my Cricut and adhesive vinyl to put his name on a bucket too.

Oh, my biggest project for the Summer, I made 2 banners that turned out great for a lady who coordinates weddings. I'll put those pics in the next post.

I've been making and dreaming about cake pops lately! Made a few red ones for my Mom's Red Hatter group and about 58 for my church's Women's Ministry Retreat. This was the first time I did the pops as the base. And the first time I used candy coloring to get the pink and darken the purple chocolate. They turned out great!

So far I've mainly made simple balls but I'm so ready to start shaping some into different shapes, characters and such! With the holidays approching I hope to get a chance to experiment more. I already have some new molds that I ordered so I'm ready!

Well, it's October so I'm of course working on Halloween costumes. I'll update what I've got going on so far in the next few post.

Drawstring Backpacks & Ribbon Totes

2011-07-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I'm finally getting the post up about what I made for my pre-schooler's classmates for the end of the year.

Finally something for the boys!

Lightning McQueen Drawstring Backpacks

So remember when I attempted to do a drawstring bag for my daughter and ended up with this? I couldn't figure out how to get the drawstring part right. Anyway, I found a tutorial on Noodlehead to figure out how to make the casing for the drawstring with a lining. So I used her tutorial for that part and they turned out great! Trial and error with buying the drawstring to run through. The first one I bought was too thick since it has to run across each other twice. I ended up finding 1/8" on a ribbon spool from WalMart. I think it was .99.

There were 5 boys and 3 girls but by the end of the year the boys dwindled down to 4 and only 2 were coming everyday. So I guessed right and fully completed 3 (with the black drawstring). One was for my son, the other classmate that came and I decided to give the 3rd one to his 2 yr old brother.

When I gave it to his Mom, she said the one thing that I love to hear - This looks like it came from a store! I think that is the Biggest compliment ever!!!! And that's what I strive for everytime I make something. I figure that I would expect top quality when I purchase something from a store but I've noticed sometimes that even store bought items have very noticable flaws. But I'm not happy until it passes the 'store bought look' test!

I made 'Ribbon Totes', as I like to call them, for the 3 girl classmates. Two are a HK theme and one is a variety of Pink/ Green colors. (sorry the pictures aren't so great)

I really liked these and hated to part with them. I even found myself hoping all the kids wouldn't come so I could take them back home with me! Lol I get attached to my projects like that. Am I the only one?

The teacher was so excited that she called the parents of one little girl and she did come and pick hers up before the day was over with. Lol

A Sweet and Fruity 4th!

2011-07-04T20:29:00.002-05:00

Happy Fourth of July!

I saw these Red, White & Blue strawberries at Grin and Bake It and thought they were so cute!
I had all 3 ingredients already so I was ready to dip.

Make your Blog into a Book

2011-06-22T23:19:00.005-05:00

I saw this link for Blog2Print somewhere and decided to check it out. After putting in the blog web address, my blogged totaled more than 100 pages and the soft cover came to about $105 I think. That's a lot but I guess not too bad for over a couple of years of blogging.

Check it out! Once you type in your blog web address it allows you to flip through all the pages like a book.

Frustrated with Blogger

2011-06-18T20:28:00.002-05:00

Posting is starting to become a pain! It's taking me forever to load pictures and then drag them where I want them to be within the post and text. Anybody have some tips? I've been thinking of changing to another blogging service but have no idea who plus I'm thinking that will take a lot of time to transfer all my info over.

HELP!

Totes for Teachers

2011-05-30T22:08:00.008-05:00

For the end of the school year I made Tote bags for my kid's teachers. What teacher can't use a tote bag?

These are the 2 I made for both my son's (Pre-K and Kindergarten) teachers. I've had this fabric for sometime and I'm so glad that I got to use it. I couldn't remember where I'd gotten it from until I saw it in Hancock. The lining (black woven cotten with colorful letters & numbers) came from WalMart I believe. I don't remember where I got the ribbon from.

(The 'teacher/ school' fabric print and ribbon is both the front and back of both the totes.)

(Closer picture of the lining fabric, shown at the end of this old post)

For my 7 yr old's teacher I had decided to purchase a gift card and chocolates for her since I didn't have enough of the fabric above to make her a tote. But while at Hobby Lobby I picked up a journal that reminded me of some ribbon that I had at home so I decided, the night before, to make her a tote as well!

This is how it turned out.

I was so glad I decided to make her a tote as well!

(The top of the tote is ribbon sewn on, front only)

I'll post about the drawstring backpacks and ribbon totes that I made for my Pre-K's classmates.

Making Up for Lost Sewing Time

2011-05-25T05:13:00.002-05:00

I did get all my sewing gifts done! I lost some major sleep time but it was worth it. My kid's last day of school was Tuesday and I cranked out 3 tote bags for their teachers, 5 drawstring backpacks and 3 ribbon totes for my 4 yr olds classmates. Oh, and I made some doughnut cake bites for my 7 yr olds class.

Now I'm too tired to post the pics! Lol Hope to post by the weekend.

Well, school has started up again for the Summer for me. I'm taking U.S. History, which should be a more easy read than Biology, even though I hate history. Just finished an assignment (that's why I'm up so late) and my 1st test is on Friday! Ok, my kids just got out of school and I'm starting up.... somethings wrong with this picture!

3 Months Away

2011-05-13T16:06:00.002-05:00

Wow, it's been 3 months since I've posted on my blog. Life has taken over and I haven't had much time for sewing sad to say. I think I made 2 skirts for my daughter (I can't put my hands on the pictures right now) and I altered a girls prom dress. Really awful for 3 months! I do have a few things coming up though. A lady that coordinates weddings wants me to make a banner for her by mid-June and I want to make something for my youngest son's teacher by the end of school, which is May 24.

I finished my Biology class and came out with a B so that's good. Next is History, which I'll start May 23, which is bad. I at least thought the Summer semester wouldn't start until June but oh well.

I'm trying to plan the activities the kids will be doing this Summer and I'm overwhelmed already thinking about how I'm gonna have the energy to get them to all these places and study and have time for me!!!! I've got to come up with a better plan to craft, even if it's only 1 day a week! Anyone else having a crafting slump?

I do have a few non-sewing crafts in the works so hopefully I can share on those soon. I'll try to take baby steps and do small projects here and there so I'll have something to blog about.

I definitely plan to have another post up within a week!

Happy New Year & Blogiversary, Christmas Recap

2011-02-02T21:48:00.001-06:00

Wow, it's been a while since I've blogged! I hope everyone is enjoying the New Year! Also, I had my 3 yr Blogiversary! Yay! No giveaway since I've been too busy to come up with and make anything.

I've been so busy since I started school last month. I'm only taking 1 class (Biology) but trying to squeeze in time to study just about everyday is wearing me out. I end up sitting down in the evenings and fall asleep! I have 3 courses to take that I didn't have in undergrad before I can start the Masters program. I'm actually enjoying school though, which is a surprise. It feels really good to be learning again and to feel smart! Lol I've been home with the kids so long that everything is so routine and I feel like I'm not doing anything right most days! So it feels great to get away and go to lab 1 day a week and to be learning something new! I got an A on all my tests so far. But I'm mad that I didn't make a 100 on 2 of the tests. I guess I'm a Nerd now, huh? Lol

So here is a recap of the Christmas Stockings I made for my 4 yr olds class. I made Lightening McQueen for the boys, the same as Chirstmas 2009. I had cut extra stockings that year so all I had to do was sew everything together, which made things come together pretty quickly.

I didn't decide on what I wanted to do for the girls until 2 nights before I had to have them made. But I finally decided on Strawberry Shortcake. I had everything that I needed to make them. (The 'cuff' is made from a red corduroy)

I filled each one with a candy cane and a small coloring book with stickers & crayons.

Gotta upload the pics of the Christmas Ornaments and then I'll blog about those next!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T16:56:00.002-06:00

From Our Family, To Yours

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas with family, friends and loved ones!

Sooooo....

2010-12-14T18:41:00.009-06:00

Soooo, I got my Cricut Expressioin at Black Friday (I got the plum colored one) and I've been doing all kinds of things with it. After this week I'll have time to fill you in on everything. This is my kid's last week of school before Christmas break so I'm in the middle of Christmas gifts for their classmates and teachers!

I will show you a picture of Kalynn's new Ribbon Tote Bag, just in time for the Holiday Season! She's been using the Halloween one to carry her diapers, wipes and snacks in every day so I needed to make another one, season appropriate.

Since I have 3 kids in school this year, the Christmas Stockings for all the classsmates would be way too much to do. Last year I think I did 40 something! So I'm only making stockings for my 4 yr old's class. There are only 8 kids in his class, 4 boys and 4 girls. I had some of the Lightning McQueen stockings already cut out from last year so that's what I'm using for the boys. I'm still undecided on what I'm using for the girls. But I have to have it done by Friday.

As for my other 2 in school, I'm planning on decorating Christmas Ornaments. I bought several of the clear plastic round ornaments from Michaels at .39 each (they were half off). They look like this, except that it's plastic and not glass. I'm going to use my Cricut Expression and cut vinyl that I got from Expressions Vinyl and cut out the initial of each child's first name and some dots and put it on the ornaments. That's the plan at least. I'm getting ready to try it out and determine the font, font size and dot size so we'll see.

I saw this done at a booth in the mall on clear glass ball ornaments. Here it is on a wine glass. Should be pretty easy once I get started since my machine will do all the work! The color vinyls I ordered was pink and purple for the girls and dk blue and lt blue for the boys.

Wish me Luck!

My Black Friday Item

2010-11-25T15:56:00.001-06:00

I will be at WalMart at 12AM to get the Cricut Expression! They'll have it for $185.00 and in 4 cool colors. I staked out the location in Walmart this morning and I plant to get there at 10 or 10:30. I think there were 16 machines total. I've never done Black Friday shopping so this will be my first experience. Wish me luck!

What's your Black Friday must have item?

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Candy Jar with Etched Glass Initial

2010-11-06T12:13:00.000-05:00

Yep, I made another one! This one was made for my 3 yr old's Teacher. They had their Fall Fiesta Friday, Oct. 29 so I made a gift for their teacher from all of the kids.

Supplies:

1 glass bowl - $1.00, Dollar Store

1 Terracotta pot

2 Terracotta saucers (2 diff sizes)

1 knob

E-6000 Industrial Strength Adhesive (grey tube)

Armour Etch Etching Cream

1 roll of vinyl

I spray painted the Halloween Candy Jar and was going to do the same with this one in off white but the gloss spray paint was very runny and ended up leaving raised streaks. So I started over on a new pot and saucer and used Ceramcoat Buttercream Acrylic Paint. It turned out great. I painted the pot, saucers and knob.

Speaking of knobs......I recently found 3 packs of knobs at Tuesday Morning for $2.00! A total of 36 knobs for that price was a great deal. At the time I bought it I hadn't made any of the candy jars but I predict I will be using all of those knobs now!

While all the terracotta and knob dried, I worked on the bowl. I'd showed a picture of the Halloween Candy Jar that I made to 2 other parents when I was telling them I could make a gift for the teacher and one of them metioned putting the teacher's name on it. I felt that would take away from the jar and and also I couldn't decide on a color of paint marker to use that would coordinate with whatever ribbon she wanted to change so I decided to put her last name initial T on the jar. I'd had this Armour Etch for some time now. Bought it from Hobby Lobby after reading some blogs and watching videos about the topic. So I decided to finally give it a try.

I tried it first with contact paper. Tracing the letter T on the back and then using my itty bitty scissors to cut out the T. After peeling off the back of the contact paper I put it on the jar and followed the instructions on using the Armour Etch.

But as you can see, the cream went underneath contact paper at the bottom and messed it up a bit.

I went to Hobby Lobby the next day to get some of the reusible sheets that was on the ailse with the Etch creme. It was expensive, 1 small sheet for about $6 or $7. Then I realized that it looked like vinyl. So I went in search for vinyl and found a roll for about the same price and I was able to show my email on my iphone that had my 40% off coupon so it ended up being $4 something.

That night I tried the vinyl and it worked great! I figure the contact paper would do fine on a flat surface so I'll give it another try some other time.

Now that the paint had dried and my T was on the jar it was time to put everything together using E-6000. I put a lot on the bottom of the jar and set it in the bigger saucer. I've read it takes a few minutes to set so you have sometime to position your object how you want it but I think I put too much adhesive b/c I would walk away and come back and the bowl would've slid off center. I had to keep moving it back until it set. Next time I won't use so much adhesive. And I think I'll use a smaller saucer to sit the bowl in, the same size as the top.

For the ribbon I used wire ribbon I'd got from Walmart for $2.00. I wanted it to have a Fall look so that's why I chose the color ribbon that I did. I really wanted to buy more ribbon and pre-cut them, put them in a bag and label the gift A Candy Jar for All Seasons. The ribbons would be a mixture of Seasons/ Themes: Christmas and maybe Valentine, Spring colors, etc..... That way she could change it out. I still might get around to buying some and giving it to her later.

Ribbon Tote

2010-11-05T09:00:00.007-05:00

I mentioned in a previous post about some ribbon totes I've made. I don't remember when I had the idea to do this but once I got started I couldn't stop! I've got several others made up but not completed. I plan to put linings and zippers in some, make some smaller sizes with long straps for little girls and zip pouches.

Here is how I put together the Halloween Ribbon Tote that my daughter (Spidergirl) had on Halloween.

I started out by getting all my ribbon together that I wanted to use.

I cut 2 pieces of rectangle muslin fabric the size I wanted my tote to be and cut the ribbon the same length as the muslin. I laid the ribbon on the muslin until I was pleased the pattern and how it looked and put it to the side, keeping the ribbon in the order that I liked.

I sprayed one side of each muslin piece with the Elmers Craft Bond

and placed each ribbon on the sprayed muslin. Any ribbon extending over the edges of the muslin was trimmed and I sewed each ribbon onto the muslin. Right side to right side, I sewed the tote together along the side, bottom and side.

The straps were sewn on the outer front/ back of the bag (I also sewed on some ribbon onto the black webbing straps), the lining sewed up the same as the outer bag, with an opening left at the bottom. Insert the tote (right side out) inside of lining (wrong side out) raw edges even up top and tote/ lining stitched together at top all the way around. Tote pulled out through the opening in the lining and lining stitched close. (I left a bit of the lining (blk/white polka dot) showing at the top of the tote.