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Spread A Little Love

September 5, 2012 by 5 Comments

Mod Podge CardsReady for a bit of Mod Podge fun? Grab your supplies and let’s get started.Mod Podge and Fabric suppliesFor these cards, you will need the following:

  1. Fabric Mod Podge
  2. Regular Mod Podge
  3. An applicator
  4. Fabric scraps
  5. Cards with cut out (I purchased mine from Michael’s but you can also make your own with card stock and a paper punch or craft knife)
  6. Protection for your work surface (aluminium foil, wax paper, butcher paper, etc.)

Cut the fabric scraps approximately 3/8″ to 1/2″ bigger than the opening. Working on a protected surface, apply Fabric Mod Podge to scraps and allow to dry completely. 

Using Regular Mod Podge, adhere the fabric to the card stock. (These cards are tri-fold cards, so I affixed the fabric square to the second flap in order for it to appear in the cut out of the first flap. If your cards are regularly folded cards, you can affix the fabric to the back side of the front flap so that the right side shows through the cut out.)

Now all you have to do is figure out how to put them to good use. One thing you might consider is donating them. Hospitals and hospice centers usually accept donations of cards. Check with your local hospital or hospice for any specific guidelines they may have. Things like glitter and confetti may not be allowed. 

There isn’t always time to make blankets or chemo hats for hospitals. This quick project is easy to fit into any schedule and will certainly brighten up someone’s day. I hope you’ll consider making some and donating to your local hospital or hospice center.

Filed Under: charity, color, crafts, fabric, mod podge, sis boom

From Chocolate to Charity

September 6, 2011 by 3 Comments

Remember the Devil’s Food Cake cupcakes? Last night we had them with mascarpone icing instead of ice cream.  A few tablespoons of mascarpone, about 3/4 tablespoon of powdered sugar and an eighth of a teaspoon of vanilla bean paste–mix it well and watch it disappear.  Seriously, someone is going to lick the bowl, it’s so good.

I made the cupcakes from Betty Crocker’s Gluten Free Devil’s Food Cake mix–with some serious Melissa P tweaks.  These are more like Mexican Chocolate Cupcakes. I added one teaspoon of cinnamon and over one teaspoon of vanilla bean paste. They’re perfectly fine straight out of the box.  I just couldn’t leave well enough alone.

It may have been the weather.  It may have been the chocolate.  Or it may have been the stack of Loulouthi waiting for my attention.  Whatever it was, it motivated me to make this bag for my sister.  This is my free pattern, the Movin’ and Groovin’ Bag.

I’m sure you aren’t surprised to see that I tweaked it a little too.  I added fabric bands along the top and attached them with binding to match the bag body.  And I widened the strap and added a decorative “ribbon” band using another print.

The bag closes with a magnetic snap instead of velcro.  You can also see that I added a band to the lining.  Okay…so I tweaked it a lot.  I confess.  I just get carried away when I have all these prints that want in on the action.

Today I switched gears completely.  And I’m hoping you will decide to do the same. Scott at Blue Nickel Studios is collecting 10.5 inch squares to make quilts. These are for Bumble Beans Basic Quilt Gather.  Here’s Scott’s post with details. And here is Victoria’s page on the project.

It doesn’t take any time at all to stitch up a 10.5 inch square.  So grab some scraps and sit down at the machine for a few minutes.  Don’t think about it.  Don’t put it off until later.  Like Nike says, “Just do it!”  And if you need a nudge, grab a cupcake first.

Filed Under: Anna Maria Horner, bag, charity, fabrics, pattern, quilts, scraps, sewing, tutorials

Scrap Happy

December 13, 2010 by 6 Comments

‘Tis the season for crafting mayhem. Lots of little bits left over from various projects need something to give them a life of their own.  I love fabric scraps.  Crafty projects involving fabric scraps are always high on my list.  And if you’ve been following the blog for very long, you know that Mod Podge is on my Essentials List too.  Here’s a way to bring those two together in a form that everyone can appreciate–whether grouped together as a gift set or separately as a special card.

This is all you need: Fabric Mod Podge, applicator, fabric scraps, note cards ready to decorate, card stock and Glue Dots.  Actually, the Glue Dots are optional as Mod Podge can take care of it all.  But I have Glue Dots from the Marvelous Mod Podge Queen, Amy, and I wanted to use them.  The ready to decorate note cards came from Michael’s and are ridiculously inexpensive.  They come with a window already cut out–in this case a circle but there are other shapes too.  (If you’re a scrapbooker, you have all the necessary goods to make your own–card stock and paper punch.)

The whole thing comes down to prepping and gluing.  Prep your scraps by applying Fabric Mod Podge in a thin even coat.  When dry, cut fabric at least 1/4 inch bigger than the opening on the card front.  (For instance, if your circle is two inches across, cut a two and a half inch circle or square.)  Cut card stock approximately one half inch bigger than the fabric piece on all sides. 

Now for the gluing.  Apply fabric to card stock wrong side down using Mod Podge.  Allow to dry.  Apply Glue Dots to the edges of the card stock on the same side as the fabric.  Position behind the opening on the card front and press into place.  And that’s all it takes.

These makes great gifts when bundled as a set.  But they are also great to give to hospitals.  Did you know that most hospitals accept cards through their volunteer donation programs?  Just don’t use glitter in your cards.  And be sure to see if your local hospital has any other restrictions.  There isn’t always time to make quilts or blankets or chemo hats. But a half a dozen cards are quick and easy.  And would certainly brighten the day of patients who have to spend their holidays, or any day, in the hospital. 

Filed Under: charity, crafts, mod podge, sis boom

Rainbow Block Reminder

August 3, 2010 by 1 Comment

There’s still time for you sew up some blocks for Anna Maria Horner’s Rainbow Around the Block Project.  The blocks do not have to be complicated.  Nor do they have to be fancy.  They don’t even have to be bright and colorful.  There’s only two requirements:  1) measure 12.5 inches square and 2) be monochromatic or use two harmonious colors on the color wheel (like red and orange). 

If there are quilt blocks you’ve wanted to try but never felt inclined to make a whole stack of them….make one.  And then send it to Anna.  Find more details and two block patterns here.  And if you need more inspiration, browse through the Rainbow Blocks on Flickr.   The last deadline is September 1st.  What are you waiting for?!

Filed Under: Anna Maria Horner, charity, sewing

Rainbow Blocks Part 2

June 9, 2010 by 1 Comment

I’m having way too much fun with the Rainbow Around the Block project.  Time to send a stack off to Anna Maria.  I think what I like about this kind of project is that you are not repeating the same thing over and over and over again.  And digging through scraps is liking searching for buried treasure.  What’s not to like?

This block is my favorite one.  Three different collections of Jane’s fabrics but they play so well together.  It’s hard to tell in the picture but it reads as a much deeper blue.  A great mix of speckles and dots and checks and squares in squares.

You don’t have to make a stack like I did.  You can make as many or as few as you wish.  And they needn’t be so dramatic, so graphic and so over the top.  They can be quiet, calm and subdued.  Whatever is in your stash. 

Filed Under: charity, sewing

Rainbow Blocks

June 6, 2010 by 4 Comments

Anna Maria Horner has set up Rainbow Around the Block to provide quilts to those who lost their homes in the floods last month in Tennessee. As she explains so well in her blog post, “Money can only replace money. But giving of our time and talents will replace much!”  Visit the link for details and to see how you can participate. 

If you have large graphic prints in your stash, you will be able to whip up some beautiful blocks very quickly.  Simple is beautiful when you let the fabric do a lot of the work.  Medallion squares, pinwheels, nine patch, whatever you contribute will be used.  You have all summer to stitch up some love.  But don’t wait too long to begin.  If you need some more inspiration, visit the Flickr pool.

Filed Under: charity, Kaffe Fassett, quilts, sis boom