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Friday 27 March 2015

Floral Tote Bag with Zip Fastening

Friday already? There aren't enough days in my sewing week!

On my last post I shared with you a craft or general fabric storage caddie I'd made and after posting it on my Facebook page, I was challenged to make a bag using the same fabrics.

So, I couldn't find a pattern exactly suitable anywhere so I read lots and then designed my own. It needed to be big - big enough for me to use to carry my stash and project life stuff around in or to store extra clothes, toys, books and the rest of the house when I'm out and about with the boys as they always seem to be needing something that I couldn't fit in my bag.

Want to see? Ta-da:

Fabric_Tote_Zip_Fastening

Yum colours and pattern I think with cute little birds, butterflies and flowers too. I found straps and ribbon trim to match which gave me a happy moment or two I can tell you! I've named it the Jelly Tote.

Now whilst I like my bags big and this one measures about 16" across the top and 14" high, I also like my bags to zip up as I'm always tipping stuff out or wondering if someone is going to pop their hand inside and help themselves to the contents. I'm such a trusting soul (not). So I popped a recessed zip inside with fabric to match the outside.

Fabric_Tote_Zip_Fastening

The bag is fully lined and also has a lined matching pocket too, along with a sturdy reinforced plastic base to hold the bags shape - and it's contents.

Fabric_Tote_Zip_Fastening

I'm making these to order now at £25 plus postage. Only to the UK. If you'd like to order one, please drop me an email at:
bluejellystampin@sky.com
or visit my Facebook page and send me a message.

Hugs
Victoria
xxx
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Monday 23 March 2015

PDF Tutorials - only for a few more days

This post will stay at the top until 31st March - please scroll down for new posts.

Due to changes in my business focus and also changes to the way I sell my PDF tutorials, as of 1st April, I will no longer be offering these for sale on my blog.

If you'd like to purchase any of my tutorials, they will still be available via my right hand side bar until 31st march 2015, after this date they will NO LONGER be available.

Victoria
xxx
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Sunday 22 March 2015

Craft Caddie and Zipper Pouch

Hope you're having a lovely weekend?
I had a day off and a girlie day on Friday when I visited the NEC Hobby craft and Sewing for Pleasure with my buddy Kay. We had such fun and I was a bit of a fabric magpie!!

I made myself a craft caddie basket type thing last week and asked for some feedback when I posted it on my Facebook page and the overwhelming response was to add them to my product range. So...

Ta-Dah:

Fabric_Storage_Craft_Caddy_Basket

I am so in love with this gorgeous linen look fabric I bought at the show and the pretty coordinating spot fabric on the inside too. The caddie is a handy size measuring approx 12.5" square and it does fold almost flat for storage. Personally I'd keep craft stash in it, but you could pop toys in, knitting supplies, nappies, towels, whatever floats your boat!

I also made a matching zip pouch which is lined in the same pretty spot fabric inside.

Fabric_Storage_Craft_Caddy_Basket

Here is my slightly larger one in old fashioned sweetie jar fabric - I use mine for keeping my stuffing in ready for all those fabric hearts!

Fabric_Storage_Craft_Caddy_Basket

If you'd like to order one you can pop by my Facebook Page to order or email me at:

bluejellystampin@sky.com

The 9.5" square caddie is £15 plus postage and the zip pouch is £5 plus postage - UK only I'm afraid.

Righto, off to spend the rest of the afternoon with my boys, no doubt I'll get thrashed at some X-box game I have no comprehension of!

Hugs
Victoria
xxx
 
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Wednesday 18 March 2015

Fabric Hearts - The Girlie Collection

Hello. 
I'm trying to concentrate on sewing and blogging and crafting, you know as well as juggling housework, the kids etc and do you know what? The Spark is off work poorly, we're on day 3 now and I feel I should be spending less time doing my stuff and more time being Nurse Jelly!!! He's not often under the weather and I'm hoping he gets better really quickly, also kinda hope he doesn't share his germs with me as I'm off the the Hobbycraft show at the NEC on Friday and I want to be fighting fit ha ha!

I've been busy in the Room of Craft and have created a new range of fabric hearts, I'm calling these The Girlie Collection because quite frankly, that's what they are. Do you want to see?

Ta-da:

Fabric_Hearts_Shabby_Chic_Girlie

 I do like a bit of girlie stuff about the place, mainly to distract me from all the BOY stuff about the place! One day I will insist we have pink towels in the bathroom. Well a girl can dream eh?

Here's one for all you Shoe Queens:

Fabric_Hearts_Shabby_Chic_Girlie

Or cake fans (Nom, nom):

Fabric_Hearts_Shabby_Chic_Girlie

One for a friend who loves shoes as much as you:

Fabric_Hearts_Shabby_Chic_Girlie

Figured I had better show you the back too! Oh and here is one for you cake fans in pink to make it uber girlie:

Fabric_Hearts_Shabby_Chic_Girlie

 And of course the shoes again but in pink too:

Fabric_Hearts_Shabby_Chic_Girlie

I can make these to order with wording of your choice and they are only £4.50 plus postage (UK only).

You can order by popping by my Facebook Page or emailing me at:

bluejellystampin@sky.com

Hugs
Victoria
xxx
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Sunday 15 March 2015

Sewing Machine Customer Thank You Cards

Happy Mother's Day UK Mums!
I was treated to a lie in this morning - I didn't wake up until 7am (according to my Mum that's the middle of the night!), then I was treated to a coffee along with a scrummy hot breakfast and oodles of kisses and cuddles from my boys. They'd both made me beautiful cards and I think the Spark had a lot to do with my gift too. 

I've been given a pass out card to craft but with the promise not to work and then my Mum in Law is coming round for dinner later. Perfect day.

So I'm catching up with some Project Life layouts and boy am I having fun, proper in the zone I am. So what can I show you today? Well me sewing business is doing very well and of course I need to send out thank you cards with orders so I figured I'd start making them in batches.  I got 10 done really quickly too.

sewing_Machine_Thank_You_Cards

I think these are Stampin' Up! note cards and envelopes, great for printing on. I used the same digi papers I'd used on my Mother's Day cards, this time I printed the patterned paper onto the front of the cards and then over printed the sewing machine images (all from Pink Petticoat).

Then I added a little detail using markers and a flower button on the sewing machine handle.

sewing_Machine_Thank_You_Cards

With blue daisies:

sewing_Machine_Thank_You_Cards

And with pink:

sewing_Machine_Thank_You_Cards

Now I'm back to my Project Life layouts. I'm off to the Hobbycraft show at the NEC later this week with my friend Kay, can't wait I haven't been in over six years!!!

hugs
Victoria
xxx
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Saturday 14 March 2015

Shabby Chic Easter Bunny Gift Bags

How is it Saturday afternoon already? I still have so much to do today. I finished up some orders this morning and at the moment I'm 'mid' making new zip up covers for my Mum in Laws sofa cushions and scatter cushions as a present for Mother's Day from The Spark. Hmm! 

The fabric is a bit gorgeous, it's a Sanderson design to match her wallpaper, was she mad to entrust me to the task? We shall see soon.

Moving on swiftly back to my comfort zone and all that. It might be Mother's Day here in the UK tomorrow but you'll only need to blink and then it will be Easter (or egg day as my boys call it).

So here are some vintage style Easter Bunny Gift Bags I made:

Shabby_Chic_Fabric_Easter_Gift_Bags

These would be lovely packed full of goodies and treats. They measure 8" across and 9" in height and fasten with the drawstring.

Shabby_Chic_Fabric_Easter_Gift_Bags

I added some lace trim (Victoria by Stampin' Up!) around the top edge.

Shabby_Chic_Fabric_Easter_Gift_Bags

And added matching gift tags too.

Shabby_Chic_Fabric_Easter_Gift_Bags

They cost £4.50 each plus postage (UK only) and you can order yours in plenty of time for Easter by emailing me at:

bluejellystampin@sky.com

Why not stop by my Facebook page for a nose around too?

Right then. I'm off back to cushion chaos - may share at a later date depending on how they turn out. Would you believe I have NEVER sewn a zip in my entire life?

Hugs
Victoria

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Friday 13 March 2015

Mother's Day Cards....vintage style

So this morning after spending much time transforming the boys ready for Crazy Hair Day at school in aid of Comic Relief I almost, and I say almost; thought I wouldn't have time to make any Mother's Day cards and that I'd have to nip out and buy some.

Then I remembered, I have loads of card making stuff - doh! Plus nipping out to buy cards would take more time than actually making them. So, I shoved gently moved the sewing machine out of the way and got my paper crafting mojo on.

Ta-dah....

Vintage_Mothers_Day_Card_Shabby_chic

I used some Kraft cards and envelopes I had lying around the place, dejected and ignored since my pre- Christmas rush (!) so figured they'd be a good start. Then I surfed over to one of my favourite digital image shops Pink Petticoat and popped a few items in The Sparks basket (the joys of having access to his paypal account). 

I got the very delicate Amelie paper collection and printed one of the designs onto white linen card. Then I used the Lovely Mum sentiments and printed on another sheet over the pretty floral design.

A bit of cutting and layering and additions of doilies, washi tape and too cute wooden domes and I was done. But then I felt the need to doodle so added some dots and dashes round the edges 'cos that's the way I roll.

Vintage_Mothers_Day_Card_Shabby_chic

I made three...Mum, Step Mum, Mum in Law. See - was worth popping things in The Spark's basket as now he doesn't need to buy a card for his Mum. One good turn and all that.

Vintage_Mothers_Day_Card_Shabby_chic

And just because I think these are so pretty here's another close up:

Vintage_Mothers_Day_Card_Shabby_chic

Did you want to see Zac and Blake with their crazy hair? Do you? Please say you do as I feel an overwhelming desire to blast you with them anyway...


Wonder what the bath water is going to look like later....

Hugs
Victoria
xxx
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Thursday 12 March 2015

Easter Bunny Egg Cosy

Ooh it's nearly 'Egg Day' as my boys would put it! I have of course secretly squirrelled away their chocolate based goodies, obviously so that it's a surprise fort hem, but more to prevent me from scoffing the lot!

A slight alternative Easter Gift to share with you today....the sort that covers either a boiled egg or indeed a chocolate one and i know which I'd prefer under my cosy. Yes of course it's an egg cosy.

Appliqued_Egg_Cosy_Easter_Gift

Nicely padded out with wadding in between the layers so that if you do prefer boiled to chocolate, well it's going to stay hot whilst you cut your toast into regimental soldiers of course. Cor that's made me peckish now, I might have to boil one up for my lunch.

Of course these are available to order too, currently from my FACEBOOK PAGE whilst I'm working on my on-line shop.

Must dash, lots of heart orders to get working on today.

Hugs
Victoria
xxx
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Wednesday 11 March 2015

Gift Bags and Matching Tags

Where's the sun gone? Today started off so sunny and bright, I even pegged my washing out, but not to worry folks of Nottingham, I brought it back in again so you never know, it might not rain!

Thanks for so many cute messages asking after Blake. He was sent home from school poorly yesterday. Despite him insisting he wasn't tired he slept for four and a half hours on the sofa and then slept right through the night too. He's back at school today and doing much better - phew!

I'm going to share with you another recent fabric make. When I a Stampin' Up! demo I used to love making gift bags or boxes and tags and figured fabric shouldn't be so much different to work with really so I came up with these small tote bags:

Fabric_tote_Bag_Gift_Bag

I love these sweetie jars with old school style Bonbons and Humbugs on, they make me smile.
Here's a close up on one of the bags:

Fabric_tote_Bag_Gift_Bag

I made the tags using Perfectly Preserved stamps and coordinating dies from Stampin' Up! along with naturals card and some other stamps too.

Fabric_tote_Bag_Gift_Bag

Don't these sweets make you want to go out and buy a quarter to enjoy?

Fabric_tote_Bag_Gift_Bag

The bags themselves are a great size to use as gift bags measuring 8 1/4" across and 10" down (plus the handles) and are just £4.50 plus postage (to UK only).

Great idea for popping your Easter treats in. You can order by emailing me at:

bluejellystampin@sky.com 

or message me via my Facebook Page.

hugs
Victoria
xxx
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Tuesday 10 March 2015

Personalised Pet Fabric Hearts

Time to share another of the makes from my sewing shop!

Lots of you have got or have sadly lost beautiful pets. I've created some shabby chic style  hanging fabric hearts that I hope you will love. Would you like to see some examples of some of the orders I've made recently?

One lady ordered these of her sister and her own pooches:

Personalised_Pet_Shabby_Chic_Fabric_Hearts
 
This fella got himself into a whole lot of hurt and inspired me!

Personalised_Pet_Shabby_Chic_Fabric_Hearts

These were the first ones I created:

Personalised_Pet_Shabby_Chic_Fabric_Hearts

I also did a very handsome cat too this week:

Personalised_Pet_Shabby_Chic_Fabric_Hearts

If you'd like to order one or more (!) please drop me an email at:

bluejellystampin@sky.com

They are £4.50 each plus postage (to UK only) and all I need is a name and a clear digital photo. I have a new selection of fabrics to choose from which I'll share on my Facebook Page tomorrow too.

Sorry to be short and sweet today - got a poorly Blake snuggled up on the sofa downstairs, bless him I took him into school this morning thinking he was OK but he went downhill. He's slept all afternoon so that should have done him the world of good.

Hugs
Victoria
xxx


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Monday 9 March 2015

Jute Bags for Crafters

The boys are home from school today as it's an inset day. Or as Blake said to me this morning 'Happy Insect Day Mummy'. Not sure quite was he thinks I have planned for them to do today now, a bit of bug spotting maybe? Mind you arachnid day would be more appropriate as I spotted two whoppers in the bathroom earlier - shudders.

Anyway, that was his cute start to the day. 
I'd like to share with you some bags I created for my sewing business with crafters in mind, particularly those with a passion for sewing, Ta-dah!

Craft_Bag_Jute_Sewing_Tote

What do you think? I was drawn to the lovely bright colours in the fabric and really enjoyed creating these. 

Craft_Bag_Jute_Sewing_Tote

Aren't the images perfect?

Craft_Bag_Jute_Sewing_Tote

The bags are a great size measuring 11" square and 4" deep, perfect for carrying your stash on the go. Or your shopping, whatever floats your boat!

You can order them by visiting my Facebook Page or by emailing me at
 
bluejellystampin@sky.com

They cost £8 each plus postage (to UK only).

What would you keep in yours?
Victoria
xxx
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Sunday 8 March 2015

Making Minecraft Inspired Costumes

Morning peeps, hope you're having a lovely Sunday?
 I'm relaxing in the room of craft whilst Blake sprawls on the floor next to me playing a game. I was up with him most of the night as he had a fever and of course just like a typical child he seems fine again now and full of beans! Zac is out with The Spark spending the pocket money he's been saving for a game he wanted so that's both boys content.

During teh school half term break a few weeks ago, I'd planned lots of activities to do with Masters' Sew n So and one of them was inspired by their favourite X-box game of the moment Minecraft. Wow, have you seen how expensive toys and accessories for this are and also how hard they are to get hold of? They had seen Minecraft cardboard dress up heads and there was no way I was paying £10 to £15 each for one so I had a good search on 'tinterweb and found a fantastic and free download and tutorial to make them ourselves.

Here's the finished result. I think the dudes look totally cool as Creeper and Steve!

Make_Minecraft_Dress_Up_Heads

The download and tutorial couldn't be simpler (although I printed onto UK A4 card and set printer to border-less or they would have been a bit small). All it took was five pieces of card per head and some glue.

Make_Minecraft_Dress_Up_Heads

Couldn't have been easier to piece together either.

Make_Minecraft_Dress_Up_Heads

Ta-dah!

Make_Minecraft_Dress_Up_Heads

Luckily for me the boys had matching tops in their wardrobe, although I did have to turn Zac's (the blue one) inside out as it had printed image on the front:

Make_Minecraft_Dress_Up_Heads

We made matching foam swords later on but that's for another day.

If you want to have a go you can find the downloads and tutorial HERE. He has about every Minecraft character going, great stuff.

Hugs
Victoria
xxx
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Saturday 7 March 2015

How to Make a Thomas the Tank Engine Costume - sort of

OK - I'm being brave, yesterday I showed you a photo of the Thomas the Tank Engine costume I made for Blake for World Book Day at school / dressing up in for the rest of his life.

I'm going to share with you some of how I made it, I'd love to do proper instructions for any of you with little Thomas fans in your house, but truth be known I totally winged this make and was fast running out of time so my photos along the way stopped. But I'll do my best. Here's the finished costume with Blake inside it in his train conductor costume which was an E bay bargain last year!

Make_Your_Own_Thomas_Tank_Engine_Costume

It's a little blurry as I robbed this photo off the school website as I thought he looked so please with himself! Here's mine from earlier in the day, posing with Zac as the Pirate Who Said Please:

Make_Your_Own_Thomas_Tank_Engine_Costume

Righto, a rough list of what you'll need:
  • Blue cotton fabric
  • Red cotton fabric
  • Grey cotton fabric
  • Black cotton fabric
  • Red ribbon or tape
  • Yellow, white and black felt pieces
  • Blue, black, grey and red sewing thread
  • Pieces of foam - the sort used to make seat pads on chairs
I can't give you quantities as I didn't measure - sorry!

Make_Your_Own_Thomas_Tank_Engine_Costume

Clearly I had no idea what I was doing as I made the back piece first. Blake was at school so I measured up against a coat he wears! I cut one of the foam pads and them cut a piece of blue fabric folded in half wide at the top, wide enough to leave space either side of the pad and a lot more at the bottom. I hand cut a number one in yellow felt and appliquéd it on with red thread in a zig zag stitch. I think my next trick was to sew a line of red ribbon across the top of the panel - through both sides so that the foam wouldn't go right to the top when I popped it in. Then I sewed down each side - right sides facing and turned out like I was making a bag or cushion cover.

then pop the foam piece in and totally make a mess hand sewing as close to the foam as possible to seal it in! Then because you didn't do it first - hem the edges and add red ribbon trim. See if I had done this with time and thought, I'd have done that bit first! 
 
Make_Your_Own_Thomas_Tank_Engine_Costume

Making the face was actually the easiest bit for me. I printed a black and white image of his face which I found on Google images and drew around the edge onto grey cotton Added about an inch for seam allowance and consequential sewing errors and then cut out.

First i cut the eyes and mouth out of the template and cut around white felt. To get them in the right place I popped the paper template over the cotton fabric and pinned them in place - it looked kinda creepy at this stage and very unlike Thomas! I used a zig zag stitch again in black cotton. Follow the same steps in black felt for his eyebrows and pupils.

I actually used a pencil to draw in the nose, cheeks etc and sewed over and then added a bit more details with grey thread. 

Make_Your_Own_Thomas_Tank_Engine_Costume

Then I got into difficulty! I don't like sewing round things, never have and never will. If you look at the first collage you'll see I drew four circles onto thick foam the same size as the first pencil line around Thomas' face. Cutting these out wasn't easy and I wasn't very precise either. I measured round the edge and added an inch to get the width of the black fabric for the tube. Then I piled the four circles on too of each other and measured the length and added 2 inches for seam allowance.

First sew down the long length to make a tube and leave inside out. Then carefully pins Thomas' face, also wrong side out to the tube as shown and then stitch slowly to avoid puckering.

Then hold your breath, cross your fingers and toes and turn right side out and relax, I only went slightly oval the the bottom left of his face, pretty sure Blake won't give a monkeys!

I literally shoved the four pieces of foam in and then set about making a front panel for Thomas the same way as I'd made the back. Next step, I pinned the stuffed tube to the front of the costume, turning the raw edge of the fabric in and then hand stitched it on as tight as I could.

Make_Your_Own_Thomas_Tank_Engine_Costume

You can see on the photo above I'd cut circles of felt in yellow and black and sewn them in place first.

The rest is hit and miss! I made two straps out of blue fabric and sewed them to the front and back to hold them in place - leaving enough space for Blake's head. then decided he needed side panels. I constructed them in the same way as the front and back but using much smaller pieces of foam and just sewed them straight onto the front and back pieces. 

I thought I was finished but Blake said it needed Number One sewing on the sides and of course a funnel. Grrrrrr. 

I made the funnel by grabbing a toilet roll tube, stuffing it with foam so a little popped out of the top. then I made a tube of black fabric, sewed gather stitch across the top by hand, pulled together and turned inside out. Then pop the cardboard tube inside and painstakingly sew to the top of the foam tube!!

My job was done, I could now have a glass of wine and consider clearing up the next day!
My joy came in seeing Blake wearing it, so far most of the time, in fact if you are in Tesco near here you may spot him wearing it right now as he is out with The Spark!!!

Hope this makes some kind of sense to you.
hugs
Victoria
xxx

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Friday 6 March 2015

She finally makes a card

Yep, it's been a while since I made a card. My bad I know, I have to confess I even resorted to buying a few recently. I kinda lost my love for a it a little but have to confess making this one made me smile.

Shabby_Chic_Heart_Sewing_Machine_Card

I love this super cute digital image and wanted to keep my card nice and clean looking so I added a sentiment (my own) and a button. The card is Stampin' Up! Naturals and the spotty designer paper is also Stampin' Up!

I made a hanging fabric heart to match the card - LOVE this and NEED to make a similar one for myself - quite clearly with a different sentiment!!

Shabby_Chic_Heart_Sewing_Machine_Card

Here's a photo of my boys dressed up yesterday for World Book Day at school. Introducing Thomas the Tank Engine and the Pirate Who Said Please:

World_Book_Day

Blake insisted on going as Thomas, he went as the train driver last year (eBay £3.19 bargain costume) so making the actual Thomas costume was a challenge. Luckily I took plenty of photos so over the weekend I'll share how I created it with you and you too can share my pain!!!

Hugs
Victoria
xxx
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