Cuttlebugged Felt (+some BIG news) *GRIN* :O)

A wee cuttlebug idea for ya...Cuttlebug'ged felt and some other fun Cuttlebug stuff...

1...How to... Cuttlebug felt (or use another pressure embossing machine)
2...Inspiration...The Cuttlebug link list turns 200
3...New & Nifty...Some exciting news to share (Cuttlebug Challenge Blog design team!)
4...Party Time!...see creative peeks of unreleased folders

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(Cuttlebug felt)

I love the look of felt, but sometimes it's hard to work with.

Sticking felt to cardstock is a fun way way to cheat:

• I find the stiffer cardstock backed felt easier to sew & to adhere to projects.
  
• It also lets the felt hold embossing (& cuts better with dies)
  
• Not to mention it's a handy way to use cheap thin felts (without having them actually look cheap & thin LOL.)
  

Just stick the felt onto matching cardstock & emboss:

1. Stick felt onto cardstock [I used "Alene's Tack it Over & Over (fabric glue)]

2. Let it dry and Cut it however you like (To die cut with nice edges, try a piece of copy paper on top of the felt. The sandwich that makes with the cardstock cuts better. Thanks again for that tip Martha!)

3. Run it through an embossing folder (for the deepest embossing: mist both the cardstock & the felt side lightly and then emboss.)

4. Stitch it or embellish it however you like.


<--Here's one way to use
felt cardstock pieces

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The Cuttlebug Link List turned 200 today!

Click if you'd like to check it out :O)

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And the news that has me freakin' out!...

There's going to be more Cuttlebug stuff around here, since I was lucky enough to be asked to join in the Cuttlebug Challenge senior design team (insert squeal of joy here)!!! :O) I've been a fan for ages. Maggie always has the latest scoop and breaking news, and she& the talented design team make some truly astounding things. What an honour to get to join in the fun!

You can check out the
amazing fall team here:

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Summer CHA 09' Countdown Celebration!

Sneak peeks and creative ideas with all the new (yet to be released) folders on the CuttleBug Challenge Blog. The fun has started already and it'll keep rolling for over a month! (Until August 1st) Want more details? Please visit the blog here. :O)

Don't wanna miss a thing?

Want to follow the Cuttlebug Challenge blog? Add a blinkie to your blog? Check out the upcoming challenges? Just look in the right-hand sidebar on the blog.

Wanna subscribe to the blog's email updates? check out their left-hand sidebar:

click to visit the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog

I can't wait to share some new Cuttlebug techniques with you! (Don't have a Cuttlebug? Don't worry, some of them have options for those who have no cuttlebug too.)

Thank you so much for taking time to visit!



P.S. Now that I won't be neglecting my Cuttlebug anymore, I just have to get that Cricut Expression up and running too, LOL. Got to get SCAL already!

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Popsicle Bucket (with Purple Onion Design stamps)

This Popsicle Bucket was inspired by a toaster cover--of all things! (That's the colourful embroidered piece in this photo that says "When Yer Hot Yer Hot!") It was embroidered by my loverly Mom before I was born. It's just too apropos that this be up today, since today is her Birthday! Happy Birthday Mom!!! I sure do LOOOOOOVE you sweet Momp-Lady!!!! OXOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Need to beat the heat?
or
Wanna whip up some super quick summer fun?

This was such a hoot to make & really speedy. I had a galvanized pail (rectangular) and just stuck a shaped piece of cardstock & some embossed ribbon on the front. The tiny ice cream & popsicle stamps (from the set "Celebitties" by Purple Onion Designs) are the star of the show though--of course!

You can play along with the latest Caardvark Challenge here:

It's a window challenge sponsored by Purple Onion with a HOT prize.

embossed ribbon

I was really impressed with how nicely the Purple Onion
4 Seasons definition stamps embossed on the white taffeta ribbon:



Embossed ribbon:

This is vintage taffeta that I've had for eons (so sorry no source there) but most stiffer ribbons seem to hold up to embossing very nicely. To emboss this ribbon, I just did this stuff:

1...Stamped using Stampin' Up! craft ink (Tempting turquoise, Certain Celery, & Only Orange)
2...Covered with clear embossing powder
& heated using a fairly gentle heat (stop & start several times or pull away from the ribbon) with 3...your heat gun.


<--For another way to heat emboss ribbon,
please see this post.


These wee little POD images knocked my socks off. They were easy to cut out since they have nice simple lines, and way too much fun to add lots of dimensional details...



For some oomph...

---> Copic marker colours:
Popsicles use: Frost Blue B00, BG-15 Aqua & B-16 Cyanine blue; G14 Apple Green, Cadmium Yellow Y15 R-29 Lipstick Red, Cadmium Orange YR07. Popsiclce sticks & Ice cream cones use: Warm Gray no1, Putty YG-91 Copic & E-44 Clay & a colourless blender.

--->Frosty Popsicles: using Crystal Lacquer & glitter.
and

--->Dimensional Icecream...my favourite part was using the Marvy Uchida velvet puffy pen to make the icecream puff up:

Heat the puffy pen & then you have instant puffy ice cream! :O)

The "Summer" sign is made with
POD stamp from "4 Seasons" Words here.

The curvy shape was...

...hand-drawn & folded--then, cut and traced onto this lovely striped paper from marvelous Maria. The stitching is faux with silver Zigpainty pen. I frosted the edge of the paper with a white Close to my Heart marker.

Like curves?:

<---For one way to make

your own curvy template,
please see this post.

<---Want a ready made template that you can re-size? Please see this post.










these stamps would also be super cute for:

• your own patterned paper
• a sleeve to dress up treats
• party favours (& napkins/serviettes...)
  
• barbie accessories (they're the perfect size)
• inchies
• stamping on ribbon

and that's it...

Thank you SO much for stopping in.
Hope your day's a treat!



P.S. Haven't seen the 'Varks Purple Onion Design Flickr gallery yet? It's HERE & they made some stunning things.

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Special-tea (Do it Yourself) teabag ;O)

Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canucks!

Since I'm a teetotaler lately, I'll raise a toast to
good ol' Canada with a local Canadian tea. :O)

Don't you wish there was such a thing as a Smeller-net connection? I sure do (since I wish you could smell the aroma of this Earl Grey Cream tea through your Internet connection!) teaheehee! ;O)

My favourite part about the teapot box set that I posted yesterday was the way the teabag perfumed the teapot:

Here are the details on the specialty tea & the cheese cloth teabag, in case you're curious: :O)

--The tea is Cream Earl Grey made by Winston's (a sweet gift from my marvelous MIL Esther.) It tastes just like a London Fog (or Vanilla Tea Misto)--which is a local Vancouver fave. I wanted Kim to try it & see if she likes it as much as I do. :O)

...make a DIY tea bag

• cheese cloth
• good sharp scissors
• lose leaf tea
• thread & needle
• scrap of cardstock (as stitching guide)
  

Step 1) Cut cheese cloth pieces

A couple things about cheese cloth:

• It's food safe
  
• I like three layers--depending on the size of the weave and your lose tea
  
• I cut it big enough to hold a generous serving size (with some room for steeping & to fold in half to save stitching)
  

Step 2) Cut a template for stitching from a scrap of cardstock & pin it on (if you'd like a guide)



Step 3) Stitch up the sides of your tea bag



Step 4) Fill with loose leaf tea (leaving room to stitch closed)



Step 5) Stitch the top closed. (I didn't worry about perfect stitching since it's going to be hucked out after it's made into tea, anyhow.) :O)

Stick it in a box (if you like):

Teapot Box and Tag (template & tut.)

& other details are linked here. :O)

May you have a happy day, wherever you are in our wonderful world! :O)

(today the ol' blog should be called: Oh Canada! :O))

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