Ink Techniques: StazOn Ink on Acetate

Use StazOn Ink on hard surfaces. I used Jet Black and Cotton White on this acetate card front.

The White pad comes with a bottle of ink, because you have to re-ink the pad when you start a new project.

I cut the acetate 1/2 in. longer than my card back and scored it to make a tab at the top. Crease and use Sticky Strip to adhere the tab to the back of the card.

Supplies
Stamps
-Fifth Avenue Floral 113734
Ink
-Jet Black StazOn pad 101406
-White StazOn pad with refill 106960
-Basic Black ink pad 101179
-Baja Breeze ink pad 111833
Paper
-Whisper White card stock 100730
-Basic Black card stock 121045
-Baja Breeze card stock 111352
Accessories
-Window Sheets 114323
-Basic Rhinestones 119246
-Stampin' Dimensionals 104430
-Sticky Strip 104294

Here is another project made with Window Sheets and StazOn ink.

I used the Big Shot and the Pillow Box die to make this Bath Salts Container.

Clay Pot Pincushion

On Fridays I will be posting a fabric project! As long as Stampin' Up! continues to carry fabric, that is. I used the Sweet Stitches fabric to make my quick and cute Clay Pot Pincushion.

Cut an 8 in. circle from one of the fabrics and sew a running stitch 1/4 in. from the edge. I doubled my thread to give it some strength.

Stuff the ball and pull up firmly on the thread.

Squeeze the ball to slacken the tension on the thread and sew several gathers together. Continue around the opening to secure all the gathers.
Tie off the thread and cut it.









Cut a 3-1/2 in. circle from a second fabric. I used my Big Shot and the 3-1/2 in. Circle Die.
Fold over 1/4 in. and sew a running stitch around the edge.

Pull up the thread, push the needle through the centre to the back and tie off the  thread, but don't cut it.

Sew the fabric yoyo to the top of the pincushion ball with a few stitches.
Tear a 3/4 in. wide strip from the third fabric about 6 in. long and sew it to the middle of the fabric yoyo with a few stitches.
Tie off the thread and cut it.
Twist the ends of the fabric strip and thread them through the holes of a button.
Tie the strip in a knot over the button.
Push the pincushion ball into a 3-1/2 in. clay pot.
Make the "pins" stake and push it into the pot beside the pincushion.




Here's another version in a 3 in. pot with some tiny scissors.



















Supplies
Stamps
-Four Frames 123440
-Just Perfect Alphabet 115358
Ink
-Melon Mambo ink pad
-Old Olive ink pad
Paper
-Very Vanilla card stock
Tools
-Decorative Label punch 120907
-Big Shot 113439
-3-1/2 in. Circle die 121811
Accessories
-Sweet Stitches fabric 121818
-Brights designer buttons 119747
-bamboo skewer
-3-1/2 in. clay pot

Quilted Potholders: Quarter Squares

The last technique to try is Quarter Squares. Two methods are shown in this post.

Hourglass Potholder

I used Stampin' Up! Timeless Portrait fabric.

Cut an 8 in. square from two fabrics.
With right sides together, cut diagonally through both layers.

Sew a short side of the resulting triangles using a scant 1/4 in. seam.
Open the triangles and press seams toward the dark fabric.

With right sides together sew the triangles together to form the block. Press the seam open and trim the edges. The block should measure 10 in. Layer the block over batting and backing fabric.
Pin and sew through all layers to quilt. I started with a 2 in. square in the centre, then continued sewing squares 1 in. from the previous stitching.
Cut (3) 2-1/2 in. X 18 in. strips from third fabric for binding and refer to the instructions for binding edges from Log Cabin Potholder.




 Ohio Star Potholder

The hourglass squares in this method are sewn differently. You will get two finished quarter squares from each pair of 3-1/4 in. squares.
I used Stampin' Up! Spice Cake fabric.

Cut (2) 3-1/4 in. squares from two fabrics.
Layer a light square on a dark square with right sides together.
Mark from corner to corner with a vanishing ink pen, or lightly with a pencil.
Sew a  scant 1/4 in. from both sides of the line and cut on the line.
Press the seams to the dark fabric. You will have two half squares.

Layer the half squares with right sides together and alternating dark and light fabrics.

Mark from corner to corner across the seam with a vanishing ink pen, or lightly with a pencil.
Sew a  scant 1/4 in. from both sides of the line and cut on the line.
Press the seams open.
You will have two quarter squares.
Repeat with the other pair of 3-1/4 in. squares to make four quarter squares.

Trim the edges to measure 2-1/2 in. square.

Cut (5) 2-1/2 in. squares from medium fabric for the corners and centre of the block.
Cut (2) 2-1/2 in. X 18 in. strips from light fabric.
Sub-cut (4) 2-1/2 in. X 6-1/2 in. strips and (4) 2-1/2 in. squares.
Layout pieces as shown.

Sew squares to hourglass squares to form three middle sections and press seams away from hourglass squares.
Sew these strips together to form middle block and press seams away from middle section.
Sew side strips to middle block and press seams toward strips.
Sew corner squares to sides of top and bottom strips and press seams toward strips.
Sew top and bottom sections to middle section to complete block.
Layer over batting and backing fabric. Pin and sew through all layers 1/4 in. outside star, and centre squares. Sew square, en pointe, from middle of sides and sew an X on corner squares.
Cut (3) 2-1/2 in. X 18 in. strips of binding fabric and refer to Log Cabin Potholder instructions to bind edges.

Pastel Techniques: Magic Pastels

The Stamp-A-Ma-Jig is an absolute necessity for this technique. Use it for perfect placement of any image every time!

Place the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig on your work surface and snug the clear plastic sheet into the corner of the tool.

Ink the image with a dark colour and stamp it on the clear sheet using the corner of the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig as a guide.

Secure the card stock to your work surface with temporary adhesive.

Position the image on the clear sheet over the card stock.

Snug the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to the corner of the clear sheet.

Remove the clear sheet and stamp the image using the corner of the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig as a guide.

For this technique use a light ink colour. I used Crumb Cake.

Use foam eyeshadow applicators to apply pastels to the image. Blend the colours and don't worry if you get some of the chalk outside the lines.

I used Early Espresso, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron and More Mustard.

Now line up the image on the clear plastic sheet with the chalked image on the card stock.

Snug the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to the corner of the clear sheet. Remove the clear sheet and stamp the image with dark ink. I used Early Espresso.

Use a cotton ball and the eraser from the Stampin' Pastels kit to clean up the chalk around the image.

Supplies
Stamps
-Nature Walk 121925
-Sincere Salutations 115068
Ink
-Crumb Cake ink pad 121030
-Early Espresso ink pad 119670
Paper
-Crumb Cake card stock 120953
-So Saffron card stock 105118
-Confetti Cream card stock 102835
-Early Espresso DSP/Neutrals Collection 117157
Tools
-Stamp-A-Ma-Jig 101049
-Piercing tool 116631
Accessories
-Linen thread 104199
-Stampin' Pastels 120962
-Metallic Brads 119741

Pastel Techniques: Poppin' Pastels

Use a pigment ink like Stampin' Up! Craft Stampin' pads with pastels to make an image pop on a dark background.

I used the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder to emboss part of the card front and mounted the matted image on Stampin' Dimensionals.

Ink the image with Whisper White Craft ink.

 Place the stamp right side up on your work surface.

 Place the dark card stock on the inked image and apply light pressure.

Craft ink is slow drying so you have plenty of time to apply the pastels and do some shading too.

I used foam make-up applicators from a Dollar Store to apply Old Olive, Melon Mambo and Daffodil Delight pastels to the flower image.

Use a cotton ball to remove some of the chalk around the image.

Use the eraser from the Stampin' Pastels kit to remove all the chalk around the image if desired.










Supplies
Stamps
-Inspired by Nature 111656
-Upsy Daisy 111710
Ink
-Whisper White Craft Stampin' pad 101731
-Basic Black Classic Stampin' pad 101179
Paper
-Basic Black card stock 121045
-Melon Mambo card stock 115320
-Daffodil Delight card stock 119683
Tools
-Big Shot 113439
-Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder 117335
-Stampin' Dimensionals 104430
Accessories
-Stampin' Pastels 120962
-Black Scallop Dots ribbon 124145

Quilted Potholders: Half Squares

The next skill to try with strips or squares for piecing quilts is half squares for more design options.

Rosebud Block
This block is a variation of the Bear's Paw block.

I used Stampin' Up! Twitterpated fabric. 125412

From Stampin' Up! Twitterpated fabric cut:
Pink print: (3) 2-1/2 in. X 18 in. strips and sub-cut (1) 2-1/2 in. square
Floral print: (1) 2-1/2 in. X 18 in. strip and sub-cut (1) 4-1/2 in. strip and (1) 6-1/2 in. strip
Stripe: (1) 2-1/2 in. X 18 in. strip and sub-cut (1) 6-1/2 in. strip and (1) 8-1/2 in. strip

From background fabric cut (1) 2-1/2 in. X 40 in. strips and sub-cut:
(5) 2-1/2 in squares
(1) 4-1/2 in. strip
(1) 8-1/2 in. strip
(1) 10-1/2 in. strip

Place a background square on the ends of the print fabric strips and mark a diagonal line lightly with pencil.

Copy the direction of the diagonals in this photo and sew on the pencil lines.
Trim 1-4 in. from the stitching and press the background triangle over the seam allowance.

Use a scant 1/4 in. seam allowance and sew a background square to the pink print square and press the seam toward the print fabric.

Sew 4-1/2 in. background strip to the unit and press seam toward background.

Sew 4-1/2 in. floral print strip with background triangle to the unit.

Sew the next floral print strip with background triangle to the unit.

Continue sewing strips to unit and pressing seams as you go.

Trim the edges and layer over batting and backing fabric. Quilt through all layers 1/4 in. inside and outside printed fabric shapes. I used pink thread.

Sew pink print strips together to make binding and refer to Log Cabin Potholder tutorial for binding edges.

Open Rose Block
Another half square block. I used Deck the Halls Stampin' Up! fabric. 121716

Red print: cut (2) 2-1/2 X 18 in. strips and sub-cut into (12) 2-1/2 in. squares
Green print: cut (3) 2-1/2 in. X 18 in. strips and sub-cut into (16) 2-1/2 in. squares
Tan print: cut (3) 2-1/2 in. X 18 in. strips and sub-cut into (2) 2-1/2 in. squares and (1) 2-1/2 X 6-1/2 in. strip

Pair up 8 sets of green print and red print squares. Mark a diagonal line and sew on the line.

Cut off one triangle leaving a 1/4 in. seam allowance.

Press seam toward green fabric.

Lay out squares and strip.











Use a scant 1/4 in. seam allowance.
Sew squares together to form sections.
Sew sections together to form block.
Trim edges and layer block over batting and backing fabric. Quilt through all layers following photo. I used red thread.
Sew tan print strips together to make binding and refer to Log Cabin Block tutorial to finish edges.