New Onsie Designs with my Cricut Imagine!

Yesterday I shared with you my design for the Creative Critterz Imaginations blog.  Today I'd like to show you two more onsie designs that I made yesterday afternoon (in between loads of laundry, lol!). If you'd like step-by-step directions, you can refer to yesterday's post here.

I originally bought a 3-pack of solid white onsies and I had two left in the pack that I wanted to personalize, as well.  I will put them all into a gift bag for my youngest granddaughter's first birthday.

These onsies were so easy to make!  I chose an image on my cartridge, printed and cut it out using printable fabric, and ironed it onto the front of the onsie.  I chose to do some additional stitching with my sewing machine, but not to worry--if you don't sew, it certainly didn't require it.  The printable fabric I used has fusible webbing on the back that irons on beautifully.  If you are using your Cricut Imagine, just make sure to buy printable fabric made for ink jet printers and *NOT* laser printers.  I found mine at Office Max.

The cartridges I used for these two onsies are Nursery Tails and Imagine More Cards.  In yesterday's St. Patrick's Day project, I used the layer feature and cut multiple shamrocks and a separate sentiment to add to my project.  For the onsie below, however, I did not use layers--I printed and cut this image in one piece and added some button embellishments for dimension.

As you can see above, I stitched around the perimeter of the design and then added baby buttons to each of the butterflies. I also added eyelet trim around the onsie neckline, below.

The next onsie was done in two layers, since I wanted to change the background pattern.

I had purchased a package of several socks and wanted to match the colors in these purple ones, so I chose layers and cut the background in a purple pattern.  Then I printed the bird, cage, flower and sentiment in one image, deleting all the remaining layers.

With my sewing machine, I sewed a zigzag stitch around the purple background and added some eyelet trim along the bottom.

If you click on the image, you should be able to see that I also stitched around the sentiment, along the edges of the cage, and added two buttons and a bow for a little extra dimension.

These projects were super easy to make and didn't take long at all!  It was easy to make one-of-a-kind ensembles for Lil' Sissy's first birthday and I know she'll look so adorable wearing them!

Thanks for visiting today and I hope to see you again soon!

Merilee

Creative Critterz Imaginations Post: St. Patrick's Day Baby Girl Ensemble

Hi Everyone!  It's Merilee here today with my post over at Creative Critterz Imaginations featuring a St. Patrick's Day baby girl ensemble.

I have been dying to try printing on fabric and decided to give it a try for the first time today.  My youngest granddaughter will celebrate her first birthday and I thought this would make a great gift.  That's why I chose a pink and green color scheme.

This project began with a package of Avery Printable Fabric that I found at Office Max, as well as the following cartridges:

I would like to note that the printable fabric you purchase must be for ink jet printers and *NOT* for laser printers.  The background image was chosen from Nursery Tails; the shamrocks from A Child's Year; the sentiment from Paisley, filled in with patterns from Blossom.  After making my choices from each cartridge, I measured the space I had to place each object, and sized things on my Imagine accordingly.  I made sure my settings were correct before making my cuts:  my blade was set at 6, but I changed my speed to 3, as well as my pressure to 3.  I then set my multi cut function to 2 but, in hindsight, I really did not need to cut it twice.  This printable fabric cuts like butter with no fraying edges or unsightly corners.

The following photo shows the actual cuts that were made:

Now on to preparation.  This particular printable fabric is backed with iron on adhesive.  However, it can be sewn on, as well.  In my case, I ironed it on first and stitched around everything with my sewing machine.  The project would have been even cuter had I used puffy paints instead of stitching, but as I searched my stash of puffy paints, I found that the colors I needed were dried up so I stitched instead.

I began with a onsie and ironed it all nice and flat.

 

The next step was to add my cuts.  With a dry iron, I first applied the background and then I adhered the remainder of the elements, ironing each layer as I went along.

My next step was to stitch around the edges of selected objects to better highlight the details, as well as secure the entire iron on so it will survive many launderings.

The process was relatively quick, so I began to add a bit of trim around the neck, the skirt waste, as well as the little socks.  Everything coordinated very well by the time I finished.

And this is my finished ensemble...

I hope you enjoyed my project today.  Perhaps this will inspire you to grab a package of printable fabric and let your imagination go to create something unique with your Imagine.  It couldn't be more fun and the possibilities are endless!

Thanks for joining me today and I hope to see you again soon!

Merilee

Creative Critterz Imaginations Blog Post-Frogs

Hi everyone!  It's Merilee here with my take on this week's cute frog theme at the Creative Critterz Imaginations blog.  My grandson's birthday is coming up in March, so I thought I'd get a head start and create a card for him.  I decided to do an easel card so he could stand it up in his bedroom and look at it whenever he likes.

For this card, I used the Nursery Tails Art Cartridge.  I just loved the frog on this cartridge.  All of the patterned papers are from this cartridge, as well.  I printed and cut the backgrounds and then cut each layer out, as well.  Here are all of the cuts that I used:

Some of these images were extras and didn't make it on the final card, but I'll use them on the envelope, as well as for a gift tag.

The card base was made from two pieces of cardstock; the first cut at 4-3/4 by 9 and the second cut at 4-3/4 by 4-3/4.  Fold the longest piece in half to create a mountain fold and score the edges.  Then fold one of those sections in half again, this time creating a valley fold.  Adhere the 4-3/4 square to the folded section and you've got the base for the easel card.  If you'd like to view a Youtube tutorial for this card, it is available on the Splitcoast Stampers website here.  My card base dimensions are cut slightly different than the tutorial suggests.  You may choose dimensions to suit your needs.

The background is layered atop the patterned paper and is popped up with foam tape.  Then each subsequent layer is added over top with pop dots. 

The cute little frog is attached with an Action Wobble.  He wobbles back and forth as if he's going to hop right off the page!  I added green wiggle eyes for even more movement.

 

For the inside of the card, I cut the square with rounded corners using the basic shapes loaded on my Cricut Imagine.  I then flood-filled the square with one of the background prints from the Bonus Content on the cartridge.  

The trim along the bottom of this card is from the selection of Icons.  I chose the striped trim, flood-filled it with a solid blue and set the size at 2.0.  I then chose the same trim again, kept the striped pattern, but changed the size to 1.5.  It reminds me of rickrack.

Before layering these trims, I added the green print grosgrain ribbon from the Martha Stewart Create collection.  I couldn't believe how well it coordinated with the patterns on this cartridge!  Then the blue trim is adhered to the card with ScorTape, but the striped trim is popped up with foam tape in order to create the "stop" to catch the card front when it is open and create the easel effect.  I then added a blue button from my stash, threaded with two-tone twine from Stampin Up.  Just for fun, one more little frog is sitting above the button.  :o)

This was a fun and easy card to create with my Cricut Imagine.  Although the Nursery Tails cartridge is primarily for babies, so many of the darling images and elements can be used in other ways--this is only one of many examples.  I hope this inspires you to think outside the box and find other uses for your Nursery Tails cartridge.

Thank you for joining me today and I hope to see you again soon!


Merilee

Altered 3-Drawer Organizer

Hello Everyone!  I hope this finds you all happy and healthy!


I would like to begin by apologizing for being inconsistent in my blog posting.  We are in the midst of selling our home.  Sadly, my husband's company is transferring us from Atlanta, Georgia, to Nashville, Tennessee.  We love Tennessee, but we have really enjoyed living in the suburbs of Atlanta.  We are so sad to leave our beloved friends, home and community.  However, as we all know there is one thing you can count on:  the ever-changing world around us.  I keep reminding myself that life is a journey.  It's not about the end result but, rather, the adventure in traveling to our destination. It certainly isn't always easy, but I know in my heart that home is not really a geographical location.  I know that wherever my husband and I are together, I will find the true meaning of home.


Okay, now on to my project.  Today I am sharing two altered 3-drawer organizers that I have made for my two oldest granddaughters.  Santa gave each of the girls a vanity for their bedrooms; however, those vanities only have one small drawer for storage, so I thought these would be perfect to hold some of their smaller things.

As you can see, these organizers are blingy and girlie, just like my granddaughters.  They like all things glamorous, so the patterned papers I used were The Lady Couture Stack and The Street Lace Stack, both by DCWV--and nothing less than gorgeous!  :o)

These organizers began life as plain, utilitarian organizers by Sterilite.  I found them at Walmart, but you can buy them just about anywhere.  The drawer fronts are covered in rhinestones from a 1-pound container of acrylic stones labeled "In Bloom", by Bead Design.  This collection contains several different sizes and cuts of rhinestones.  I sorted through them and chose the size and style I wanted to use and adhered them with super strong Terrifically Tacky Tape.

The rhinestones are easy to apply.  First of all, I covered the entire drawer front with Terrifically Tacky Tape.  I then applied the large rhinestones--as many as would fit to cover the surface.  To address the remaining gaps, I selected the smallest stones and placed them in and around the large rhinestones, and then medium stones along the edges of the drawers.  Note:  Be careful placing the stones--once they're on, you will not be able to remove them. Terrifically Tacky Tape has a super strong hold!

The next step in the process is covering the sides and the back of the organizer.  After removing the drawers, I chose a flower pattern from The Street Lace Stack.  The quality is great--it is heavy cardstock with a durable finish that will last a long time.  It's hard to see in this photo, but it has a glossy, glittery finish--perfect for my girlie-girl granddaughters! 

I matted this pretty flower pattern on black cardstock with my ATG gun and then adhered the panel onto the organizer with hot glue. Tip:  Be sure to remove the drawers ahead of time.  You'll need that extra space to get a good grip on the organizer as you adhere the panels, and you don't want the hot glue to ooze out and glue your drawers closed!

The top of the organizers are actually easel cards adhered to the lid with hot glue.  If the girls choose to display the glamor girls as art, the card remains open; however, if they need the space for something else, the cards can be closed and they can use the top of this organizer for an additional flat surface, as in the photo below.

The colors I chose to use for this project are all neutral tones--black, white, shades of gray, and sepia tones, so the girls can accent their rooms in any color they choose and these organizers will always blend right in.

For the card itself, I found a tutorial on the Splitcoast Stampers website here.  It really isn't hard to make at all.  The card base is done in white cardstock with a small, glittered flower pattern over top. I then cropped the pretty glamour girl to center on the card front, matted it on leopard print paper and, again, on black cardstock.  The edges of the cardstock are inked in browns and black for added dimension--it just makes everything pop right off the page.

Once the card front was in place, I added three large rhinestones (upper left-hand corner) to tie in the drawer fronts.  I then added tiny colored rhinestones as necklace and earrings in the girls' favorite colors--blue for Missy and purple for Sissy.

The base of the card features a "faux crocodile" belt.  This serves two purposes:  Not only does it add plenty of glamorous detail and further tie in the rhinestones on the drawer fronts, but it acts as a stop for the easel card to keep it in place when open.  

For the belt, I used black cardstock embossed with the burlap folder from the Tim Holtz Texture Fades, Alterations collection.  Even though the texture is supposed to be burlap, it is perfect to create this faux crocodile skin.  It is then layered over the flower print; and, finally, layered over plain black cardstock, popped up with foam tape, and additional rhinestones placed in all four corners.  

The buckle is created from metallic silver cardstock by simply cutting two nesting squares, one large and one small, using my paper cutter--easy as can be!  It is then layered atop the belt with pop dots for dimension.  The card base upon which everything rests is covered in leopard print cardstock matted on black.   The finished belt is adhered onto the card base with foam tape which, as you can see below, creates the stop that keeps the card in place when open.

The entire card is adhered to the top of the organizer with hot glue. The view below gives you a better idea of the layering process and the finished product.

Well, this is my project for today.  I hope you are inspired to make one for yourself!  These would be oh-so-posh as organizers on any desktop!  

Thank you for joining me today.  I truly appreciate your visits and I look forward to seeing you again soon!

Merilee