The little fleece basket

What is it about the holidays that beckons us to create?  I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say it's so darn cold outside, what else is there to do?  Just kidding.

What paper crafter do you know that isn't creating something at any given time during the week?  It's not just "paper" crafters either, it's crafters in general.  They are drawn to the hand-made item. 

The past week I've been sucked into a blogger warp, jumping from blog to blog absorbing all of the awesome ideas I'd like to incorporate into my own hand-made art.   So many ideas, so few hours in the day. 

For the past year (possibly longer) I've been seeing more and more stitched felt and fabric pieces.  Here I've tried my own hand at creating just that.  I call it, The little fleece basket. 

This little beauty was created with my Big Shot die and the 'Basket and Blooms' Bigz die (which I should add is exclusive to SU!).  The Bigz dies are designed to cut through fabrics and other non-paper products.

So, off I went to the fabric store to pick up my brown floss I so deseprately need for the project in my preivous post, knowing all to well once inside I'd be wandering the store checking out fabric.  Proudly I exited the store with only four items to purchase (way below my regular costly fabric sprees).

Let's cut to the chase (I need to hit car pool soon..it's so cold outside....don't want my kiddos freeze).

To create these little baskets yourself, simply run the die through the Big Shot and stitch it up.  Fleeced was used here, but I've used felt before and it works just as well (just not as soft).

As mentioned before, I am not the best at sewing, so these babies were stitched along the sides using some sort of stitch that, well, keeps the sides together.  Goodness, there's a name for it...it's just eluding me (gotta get the kids!!!).

My original idea was to just run a quick stictch along the sides with the sewing maching and use my pinking shears to make a decorative edge.  It doens't get much easier than that.  Once I started stiching the outside I blew off the pinking shears.  The dog was staring at me and I lost my train of thought...really. 

Check out the image on the bottom right. 

The red with the notches is actually the base die cut of the basket.  I layered the other pieces like this to show you how easily it is to make a flower.  I'll do more later (gotta get the kids)!

That white circle on top of the green circle, as well as the green leaves are the new Stitched Felt "Sweet Pea" SU! will be carrying in the Occasion Mini coming out in January.  Yeah, LOTS of goodies in there. 

OK..I'm outta here.  Try your hand at this...they're fun!

Toodles.

Melanie

Big Shots, Big Savings ~ edited

If you are a member of the stamping world (particularly the world of SU!) then you've heard the news. SU! has teamed up with Sizzix to offer the Big Shot Die Cut machine. The fact that this machine can die cut through 5 sheets of cardstock at one time is nothing compared to its ablitiy to cut through 50 other types of materials, including: fabric, wood, and tin to name a few. If that didn't make your jaw drop, maybe the fact that is is compatable with practically all other dies (with a few extra accessories to make them work).






This is no small investment (although much cheaper than a well known computerized die cutting machine). To introduce those newbies to the world of die cuts, I’m offering a special payment plan. The “Big Shot, Big Savings Program” will allow you to purchase the Big Shot and any $21.95 die cut of your choice for $55.00 per month for 3 consecutive months.

I created this plan especisally for YOU to get the Big Shot in your hands to play with after only your 2nd month of payment! The total cost of the products, S&H and tax are distributed evenly across all 3 months. Here’s how it works:

Month 1: Receive precut dies from the “Tulipe” die and “Birds and Blooms” die 4-pack.

Month 2: Receive your Big Shot Die Cutting Machine.

Month 3: Receive any $21.95 die cut of your choice (must be selected by October 24th). *** This should have also included a $15.95 die cut of your choice, also selected by October 24th).

Payments are processed the 5th of the month automatically by credit or debit cards. If you are paying by check your payment must be received by the 5th of the month before your order can be processed. All orders will be processed on the 10th of the month.


DIE CUT COLLECTORS:

Already have the Big Shot? GREAT! Then you can get started right away on getting use from those exclusive SU! die cuts (like the beautiful Tulipe die).

From September 12th – October 12th, receive 12% off 1 die cut of your choice with every 3 dies you purchase.


For those of you participating in the Big Shot, Big Savings Program, stock up on your extra dies now to play with when your Big Shot arrives in October.