A Blue Basket with Bunny

As I promised yesterday, here is the round blue basket that I decorated.  I think it maybe turned out to be my favorite, even though I love the pink one a lot.  As I did with the pink basket, I placed a decorative egg photo holder into the basket to hold the card.

This bunny is sporting a little ribbon bow tie.  The roses are hot glued onto the ear.  (It only hurt him for a little while.)  Instead of using tulle (I only had pink.) I used a material of some sort (can't remember what it's called) from the floral department for the basket filler.  I think it looks nice with this color story.  I hot glued roses all across the handle and tied a ribbon bow onto each side of the basket handle.

I will share with you how a lucky accident helped me to figure out the best way to attach the skirt to the basket.  After I fitted the skirt over the basket, it slipped off.  When I went to pull it up, it turned wrong side out and slipped up to the handle.  That is when I realized that this would be the best and easiest way to attach the skirt.  You see, up to this point, I hadn't really known for sure how I was going to do it:)  I just knew that I wanted to hide the rows of stitching.  So here are the directions, step by step.

To make the skirt for the basket:

• Measure out and cut 2 long strips of fabric, depending on the size of your basket.
• Make a seam to attach the 2 fabric pieces into 1 long piece.
• Make a second seam, so that you now have a fabric tube.
• Sew 2 rows of long stitches, for gathering, along 1 edge.
• Gather up the fabric until it looks close to the size you'll need for your basket.  This is trial and error, but pretty easy. 
• Slip the fabric tube over the basket, with the wrong side out and the gathered edge closest to the top of the basket.  This means the edge that will become the bottom edge of the skirt is now up at the top.  The fabric tube is now on the basket upside down and wrong side out.
• Run a bead of hot glue along the top edge of the basket, doing a small area at a time.
• Be careful because this is hot glue.  I did get burned a bit.  It's all in the price of being an artist.
• Gently press the gathered edge into the bead of glue.
• Continue, a little space at a time, until all the fabric tube is attached to the basket.  You will need to adjust your gathers before you start and continue adjusting them as you go along.
• Once the hot glue has cooled, allow the fabric tube to gently fall down over the basket and... you have your skirt.  It's just that easy.

As with all projects like this if you think it through before you begin, it's pretty easy and a ton of fun.  Don't forget:  Our fabric is on sale at half price right now.  I got this More Amore fabric on sale!  Stock up while supplies last.

Come back tomorrow and see my Easter pails.  I have a cute little trio of pails that I decorated for Easter.  They are all ready to add treats.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Chalkboard Frames

Today, I thought we'd take a break from collage frames and I'd let you check out some cute little chalkboard frames I've made.  Have you tried the chalkboard technique yet?  It's a lot of fun and so easy...  and there's no side effect of fingernails scratching on the board:) 

It's a little difficult to see the 'chalk smears' effect in the photo, but it's there:) 

 

Do you remember my cards I made with the Chalkboard Technique in this post 

     (... and Laura's card in this post) 

I used the same technique for these cute little frames.  I added a sprig of torn fabric as a ribbon and some left-over buttons.  I used Liquid Tombow Adhesive to attach the fabric and the buttons to the frame.

These would make a cute little gift for a special someone.  Have you tried a framed project yet?  If not, get going now and give it a try!

Tutorial: How to Add Fabric to Your Framed Projects

In my last post, I mentioned that I'd been using fabric in my frames.  Today, I'll share how I did it.  You'll be amazed at how easy (and fun) it is to do!

First up, I'd like you to see what I added to one of the frames from my last post.  The background is fabric.

I've used elements from a Simply Scrappin' Kit!  Want to see the rest?  It's at the end of the post.

I've added buttons and used dimensionals, to give it a happy look.

So... how do you add fabric?  Here we go:

You need fabric, cut to the size for your project.
You need an iron and you need our roll of Fabric Adhesive.

Cut the Fabric Adhesive to the size you need and iron the DULL side of the Fabric Adhesive to the WRONG side of your fabric.  Let it cool.  Gently peel off the Fabric Adhesive backing (as in photo below) and you'll see the shiny side exposed.  This will be kind of tacky.

Place the shiny (tacky) side of the fabric/Fabric Adhesive onto the back of whatever you'd like to attach it (in this case, chipboard) and gently iron again ON THE FABRIC SIDE.  Here, you see the back of the chipboard, after I've attached the fabric to it.  (This is the chipboard that came with the frame.)

Carefully trim off the excess fabric, after it cools.

Notice that, with fabric that has a definite design (in this case writing) you'll want to be sure you attach it so it's straight.  Line it up with one edge of your chipboard and it should be fine.

Before reassembling your frame, decide if you'd like some ribbons around the edge of the frame.  In this project, I used torn strips of fabric as the ribbon.

You'll notice that the glass is on the BACK side of my frame.  I needed it to make the thickness right for the frame, so it would go back together correctly.  If you don't want to use the glass, cut a piece of cardboard that is about the same thickness.  I just like to use the glass so I don't have to worry about throwing it away.

Now, you're ready to add a photo or stamped image or whatever else you can think up to make a cute display.

So, want to see the large frame again?  ... all of it?   Here it is!

In this frame, the fabric is ironed onto and directly attached to the glass.

I've left room for photos or other memorabilia.  See how much fun it is?  

As for the Fabric Adhesive, remember that you can iron it onto chipboard or glass.  It works!  

Here it is on chipboard (above and below).  I did both sides, so the project has a nice finished look to it.

Here it is on glass (behind the mat). 

 Fabric adds such a wonderful touch to a project.  I hope you'll give it a try.  

Frames with Fabric / Collage Frames

I've started some new collage frames and I tried something new for the background --- fabric!  As you know, I love making framed projects, especially collage frames.  I will post some fun projects over the next few posts, to share with you what I've been doing and how you can do it, too.

When I start a new frame, I always start with the background.  It may be one piece of DSP or several smaller pieces, using a different design in each section of the frame.  For this project, I decided to try fabric.

 

I've used one solid piece of fabric for my background, using our More Amore designer fabrics.  I've laid out the other patterns from this group, along with a couple from our Summer Smooches designer fabrics.  As with papers, laying out your patterns of fabric helps you think about what looks best together.

I do NOT have glass over my fabric, because I wanted the texture of the fabric to really show.  I actually ironed the fabric onto the glass!  In one of my next posts, I'll share with you how to do it.  It's really easy.  

Here's another frame with the same fabric.  

Now, my next step will be to add objects and/or photos to my frames.  I'll be sharing those another time --- very soon --- so be sure to come back to see.

Remember, I have my Third Thursday Class --- Collage Frames --- this week, so let me know if you'd like to join us.  The frames are included in the materials for the class, so it's a really good price.  We'll be using papers for our class projects and I'll have a variety available so you can choose what you like the best for your project.

Here are some of my other frames, so you can see the endless possibilities.

Here are some other framed projects my customers and I have made:

Would you like to try creating a framed project?  Here's how:

• Choose a theme for your project.
• Think about where/how you will use your project --- gift, home decor...
• Choose a frame suitable for your project.  Frames with divided sections or divided mats work really well for collage frames.
• Choose your colors --- fabric or papers.
• Cover the background for your frame --- either all 1 piece or different pieces in each section.
• Collect photos / special objects to add to your frame, keeping with your theme.
• Look through your stamps and create images to add to your project.
• Choose some embellishments to compliment your project.
• Step back and look at your project.
• Decide if you think it needs something else to add to it.
• When you think you're finished, step back and admire.
• Give it to someone special, hang it on your wall, or set it on your mantel for all to enjoy.

Before I go, I'd like to share a few beautiful photos of my sweet Olive Jane.  Imagine creating a collage frame of winter photos and using photos something like these in your frame.

Think about it.  The photos plan your theme for you.  Her cute little coat sets the color scheme. Now, find a few more photos, depending on the size of your frame, stamp some winter images, add some embellishments (Snowflakes out of silver glimmer paper would be nice.) and you're on your way to a beautiful collage frame of a beautiful little child.  When you think of it like this, your collage frame is really a 3-D scrapbook page.

Now, go try one.  You'll love it!