Splash of Spring

Divas in Glasses

These kits will be retiring May 30. Get them while you still can!

May 1 Rachel will reveal her newest kit!

 Until then I am playing with KT's Flower Garden:

Here are my girls showing off their Diva side:

Project 4- Or the Reincarnation of the purple sparkle fabric

Another project from the  Dollar Store Crafts Super Secret Stash Challenge.

Remember this piece of purple fabric??

I used part of it to make this:

Now I have two smallish scraps left and I have plan.

Gather supplies- You will need:

Scraps of fabric

Scraps of batting or fleece

a piece of card or an old file folder

A pattern- you can make your own by tracing the clip and adding 1/4 inch all the way around for the top pattern and then only add 1/8 inch for the batting and the bottom. Or get my pattern. 

2 snap clips- you can get these at the dollar store or sometimes I find them in the quilting section of the superstore labeled hem clips. 

Needle and Thread

Embellishments

Trace and cut out the decorative fabric. Trace and cut out he bottom fabric and the batting or fleece. Mark the small line on your bottom fabric. 

Layer your pieces as shown:

Clip

Batting

Fabric

Using a running stitch (up, down, up, down) go around the large end and then pull tight. It will gather like above. Then start sewing the fabric back and forth under the prong. This doesn't have to be pretty, it will be covered up with the bottom piece. When you get to the small end, do another running stitch and pull it tight make a couple more stitches to keep it secure. 

Don't Cut your thread now!! 

Fold the bottom piece in half and cut a small slit on the line from the template. Slide the fabric onto the prong and place on the back of the clip. 

Now you will be turning the edges of the bottom under with the needle and stitching it in place. Stitch all the way around the clip, keeping your stitches small and on the bottom of the clip.

Forgive the blurriness, she's 2

Wear it, or add more decorations like buttons, sequins or beads. If you wanted embroidery on the clip, I suggest embroidering through the top fabric and the batting before sewing it onto the clip.

These clips hold really well in my fine hair and have been known to stay in my 4 year-olds hair ALL day!

Project 3

Another project from the  Dollar Store Crafts Super Secret Stash Challenge .

This time I used some of the yarn that was included in the stash. Then I added yarn I've had sitting around waiting for the right project.

So with out further ado- I present my take on 

Wool Dryer Balls

1: Start winding the yarn, I am using acrylic yarn from the envelope, but keep in mind that the outside of the ball will be wool so that it can felt and not become a big tangled wad of yarn. As you wind, keep it really tight- this will stretch out the yarn, keep it on the ball and it hurt my hands a bit by the end. (See how tight the light purple yarn is wrapped- compared to the darker one?)

2: My first finished core. To secure the end of the yarn, locate one of your recent passes around the ball and slip the end of the yarn under that 2-3 times and then pull really hard. Mine tied into a smooth know and I pulled so hard the yarn end snapped off. 

3: 2 Cores ready for some wool. Each is about 2 inches in diameter. It doesn't matter what colors or textures are in the core, they will be completely covered with wool. 

4: The beginning of the process of wrapping the wool. Can you tell I'm still wrapping very tightly? Now keep wrapping and wrapping and wrapping- this is a good mindless project to watch a good movie or if you're so inclined- Brothers and Sisters.

1: These both have one layer of wool, I just used what I had left from making a couple of soakers. 

2: Keep wrapping....

3: And more wrapping.... (that light blue yarn was pretty fine and I used and entire skein on the two balls) these do take a good amount of yarn so the more you can use a cheaper yarn like an acrylic, for your core the less wool you will need)

4: These are complete except for felting. They almost bounce- and they are about the size of tennis balls.

This may look a little strange- but it works!

Place the balls in an old nylon or stocking, tying a knot in between each ball. We want them to felt individually instead of one big lump.  I didn't want to keep untying knots to check them after each cycle, so they are tied in a twisting series of knots.

After you have secured your stocking, place in the washer with your regular laundry. Hot water and lots of agitation will felt faster. I left mine in while i washed about 5-6 loads of laundry. 

And the Reveal:

Can you tell that they are more fuzzy?? It's really hard to catch this on camera. I decided they were ready when I tried to move some of the threads and they were very secure.  

I made 4 and plan to use them all at the same time. We have been using the plastic ones we bought in the grocery store, but they break and some people are concerned about the fumes that plastic could release when heated. Since starting to use the dryer balls, we haven't needed fabric softener or sheets which is great for our budget and there is less residue in the washer and dryer.

Tissue Paper Flowers

Another project from the  Dollar Store Crafts Super Secret Stash Challenge .

This time I cut strips of tissue paper and played until I had flowers.

I used the Tissue paper in the envelope, the word tags, and added in some glue dots and scissors from my stash.

I accordion folded the paper first, and then decided that I needed some thinner strips so I cut some in half-ish. Then I just started gathering up the paper and sticking it to my glue dot. The folds made the flower have a better "ruffle" effect than if I'd just gathered up the paper. 

After a layer of paper fills a glue dot, add another and keep building. I did three large layers and two small ones. Then add a couple more glue dots and stick on the tag. It might be easier to stick the glue on the tag first to make sure it's all covered.

I made a second flower that was a little smaller, I used my thumb as the base and only used one large layer and one small layer, then instead of a tag, I sprinkled glitter (from the envelope) on the final glue dot. 

Now I have two pretty flowers, but I'm not sure what to use them for. My girls love flowers, but they play so hard that I can just see them with a soggy mess of tissue in their hair and purple dye running down their faces if I put them on some kid of clip.

I'll take any suggestions, what do you think they would be good for?

My 4 Princesses Designs is Celebrating! + a Freebie

My 4 Princesses Designs is Celebrating! Purchase $5 or more & get your choice of alpha for free and EVERYTHING is 40% off. Offer ends April 24th!

2 Products will be retiring as well: School Daze which is on sale for only $1

Pucker-up which is on sale for only $0.75

Here is the QP from my layout a couple weeks ago.

Image is Linked

25 days of templates (Summer Edition) giveaway

Tiffany is giving away a spot in her class to one lucky paislee press reader!


I entered to win, Have you? 
Plus if you blog, tweet, or post to Facebook, you can get an extra entry.


Description of the class:
           Discover the secrets to making changes to templates, learn how to design your own, and find new ways to create beautiful, stunning layouts in this next workshop. By the end, you will have crafted amazing, template-based layouts that document your favorite summer memories and showcase your definitive, scrapbooking style. Simply put, you’ll fall in love with templates all over again.

My Scrap of Purple Sparkle Fabric

I managed two projects out of this scrap of fabric:

The first is an embroidery floss card/bobbin. Here's what I did:

1. Cut out the shape from scrap cardboard ( I haven't thrown away a cereal box in months, my husband is getting a little frustrated).   Cut out the shape from the fabric. Cut 2 cardboard and 2 fabric

Tip: cut out the cardboard in pairs- cut one and then use that one to make the next one, they will look better in the final bobbin. I marked mine with letters, if you look carefully you can see a G on the crackers, that matches the other G and then I get nice, neat cards.

2. Using white or craft glue, spread a very thin layer on the cardboard and press it to the back of the fabric. Let it dry. (It will curl a bit, don't worry we'll take care of that later.)

3. cut slits along the edge of the fabric, this will allow it to lay flat and go around the corners. Apply a thin line of glue around the edge of the board, then smooth the tabs down. You will get gluey (is that a word??). Let this dry and do it all again to make a second one. 

4. When they have both dried, apply a thin layer of glue to the cardboard (back) of one of the pieces. Place them together, check for squishage,  (clean that off) then weight it until dry. The Weight will flatten it out and when it's dry it will be stiff and straight.

I have made a few of these before, and tied them up with some cute ribbon to give to a needlepointer, I think they would also work to wrap bits of ribbon around for storage in the craft room. 

I have another project made with the scraps of this one so I'll be back soon.

This project is part of the Dollar Store Crafts Super Secret Stash Challenge

just in case you'd like the shape I use, here it is- resize as you like and cut away!!!

A Week In The LIfe

I just read about Ali Edwards' A week in the life project-
She starts tomorrow and I am glad to have found it today, I love a project with a beginning, middle and an end so I'll start in the morning and try to follow along for the week.

I've never done something like this before so I'm pretty excited.

If you want more information check out her post here.

Dollar Store Crafts Super Secret Stash Challenge-

Did you hear about this?? Heather of Dollar Store Crafts picked random people to participate and sent each an envelope of stuff. Well, she picked ME! I am so excited to participate. When I got a big envelope in the mail, I wondered:

who do I know in Oregon? 

who would be sending me such a big envelope?

Then when I was pulling out all the stuff, I didn't understand what it was until I read her enclosed letter.  I am so excited that she sent me the  Purple stash, I love purple and pink so these items are great.

I started thinking right away and had some ideas:

-Tissue Paper Flowers with word tags in the center

-The burgundy runner looks like a great piece of fabric and with the zippers and the cord, I'm thinking some sort of bag or purse.

-Somehow use some of the purple yarn to edge the hankie. 

I'll be back with pics and "craft alongs" (i don't know that they can be a tutorial if I am kind of figuring out as I go along). 

TaylorMade Designs Giveaway & Dare

Amanda from TaylorMade Designs is hosting this week's dare at The Digidares! 
She is giving away this template:

Just for blogging, tweeting or posting on Facebook about the challenge. 


I like to participate in challenges because it forces me to think beyond my norms and sometimes scrap something I wouldn't have thought of otherwise.

Check out April Days + a Freebie

I am having a ton of fun with these papers:

I like the shabby, muted look.

Check Out My Layouts:

And now a QP for you

Image is Linked

(If you downloaded the grey background QP, I fixed it. Now it is ready to slip pictures under)

Who Loves a Bounce House?

I couldn't wait to get these pictures into Rachel's great kit

Bright Colors and Subtle Prints make up this kit:

Lewis Carroll

When I was processing pics from our Easter egg hunt, I knew the red in her shirt would look great with the bright colors in Rachel's new kit: 

I'm having fun with this great kit, check it out!

I want to make the page into a QP, but I'm going to bed now, so that's for tomorrow. 

Portraits at 2

I had fun creating with My 4 Princesses Designs new kit
KT's Garden
 

(I changed the opacity of a couple of the elements to match the color to my photos a little better)

Check out her website later today for the reveal!

Robyn Pali is Retiring

Robyn Pali is retiring, Don't miss this great deal-

I'm working on a few pages and watch for a new release from My 4 Princess Designs