DIY: Mini Pennant Banner

Hello my pretties,

Today I want to share a fun little project with you - how to make a mini pennant banner using a Big Shot (or other die cutting machine), Spellbinders dies, and a sewing machine.

I am using Spellbinders Nested Shapeabilities Dies, Lacey Pennants  

with my London Market paper pack

I am using pieces of scrap paper from this pack, which works perfectly because the small dies are really little.  So cute!  You simply line the dies up, face down.

Put the paper and dies between the two pieces of plastic, on top of the cutting platform, and run them through your Big Shot machine.

Once I cut several little pennant pieces I took them over to my sewing machine.

My tension was set to auto and my stitch length was set to 3 on my Singer Esteem sewing machine. 

I pulled enough thread through so that I would have enough to use to tie my banner.  I then pushed the first piece of paper up against the presser foot, and lined the paper up using the right edge of the presser foot as the guide.

Grab the left side of the paper to hold it straight and just use the hand crank to run it through the machine.
Do not use the pedal!

Once the paper has cleared the presser foot completely then press another piece of paper against the presser foot and repeat the process.

This is my finished product.  

Perfect for using on a scrapbook page, to hang over a framed picture, to hang on a bookshelf, at the top of a mirror, etc. etc.  The decorating possibilities are endless.

I've used mine to decorate my miniatures shelf.

Hope you found this helpful!  I'll post a video as soon as I get another tripod.

Thanks for reading! <3

Myria

Feeling Uninspired

Hello Loves,

I have been in a funk lately - I've been uninspired and unmotivated which can really add to one's depressed feeling, especially if you create art as an emotional outlet.  It is incredibly frustrating on days like this, when I am home alone, and have all the time in the world to work on projects.

Some tools that I (and probably most of you) use to become inspired are Pocket, Bloglovin, and Pinterest.

The major downside to these are that you can get sucked into the web, and end up spending hours just browsing, reading, and pinning - AAAHHHHH!  What's a girl to do?

My answer is go back to paper.  Read your craft books and magazines because unlike the internet - they are finite.

 Once you've flipped through the pages it's done.  The End.

My favorite crafts books are:

The Stampin' Up Idea Book and Catalog.  Great for card making layout ideas - especially if you're a Stampin' Up customer.  Because then you can get ideas on how to use the materials and tools that you've purchased.  Mine is an older version but it is still great for looking up layouts.  Another added bonus is that your Stampin' Up rep will often give these to you for free if you ask.

 Button Jewelry by Sara Withers

I found this book at Tuesday Morning and bought it to get ideas on what to do with my button hoard.

Tuesday Morning has REALLY inexpensive books.  Some as cheap as $1 each.

A Jewelry Affaire Magazine by Stampington & Co.

I seriously love this magazine but I only own 2 of them because they are about $15 each.  

Look how many pages I've flagged!

I am always impressed with the artists that Stampington selects for their many catalogs.

The Artful Ribbon by Candace Kling

I absolutely love this book but I haven't actually tried to make anything using it yet.  I bought it because I have a plethora of ribbon, and I figured learning how to work with them would come in handy.  Plus, ribbon embroidery is a dying art.  Let's keep it alive!

I have, however, read through the entire book and I can say that the instructions are very easy to follow.

Pretty Little Things by Sally Jean Alexander

My friend Kate introduced me to this book and I absolutely fell in love!  So gorgeous...

This book is primarily focused around soldering instructions, but on this page they show you how to do mixed media collage, which is useful in all sorts of projects.

Again, I haven't made anything using the instructions in this book yet but I am planning on getting into soldering.  I've received most of the tools necessary but I'm still missing some holders and clamps.

Inspired to Sew by Bari J

I just love this lady!  Not only is she an amazing seamstress but she is also an amazing painter!

You can purchase her fabrics and prints and other items on her website.  Plus if you subscribe to her newsletter she sends you monthly freebie wallpapers for all of your devices.

 This book comes complete with patterns.

So, basically if you actually want to be productive yet still gain inspiration, books can be an amazing tool.

I hope you found this useful!
Love,
Myria

Vintage Korean Doll Re-Work, Art, and My Mom's Craft Room

Hello Cutie-pants,

During my visit to my mom in Arkansas, my mom and I tasked ourselves with finding goods for my booth at Antiques and Things.  We found many many many good things to keep and to sell.  I'll be sharing them on my Instagram page so be sure to follow that.

One of the things that we found was this vintage Korean doll, called a Bradley Doll.  I was super excited to buy it for $5.

My aunt had some of these in her doll collection so I've always liked them.  What I like in particular is their starry eyes!  Sooooo cool.

As a result I am particularly fond of art with starry eyed females in it.  I've added a bunch to my Pinterest board Fabulous Art so swing on over there to check some out.  Here is one example by Kat Kalindi Cameron

Getting back to the doll...she was so cheap because she was a mess!  I tried to clean her up but there were deep stains and sun damage.  My mom and I decided to just make her a new dress.

Here is another Bradley Doll that we picked, up whose eyes needed to be re-done.  

This photo was taken after my mom and I drew in her eyes and took apart the first doll's dress and hat.

I still need to go in with some white paint to add the stars to the doll on the right.  We also messed up and got some ink on her forehead, to the left of her eyebrow, so I'm going to try to get it out.  We may have ruined this doll...whoops!  Oh well - crafting isn't always perfect.

I surprised my mom in her little sewing room while she was sewing the new dress.

 Posing for the camera - my mom is 67!  She looks so good for her age.

While I'm in here I might as well show one of the cute little pieces of furniture that she found second hand.  It is a bit shabby but it is definitely chic!

 Inside is storage for thread and other notions.  Cute!

 Working away...

 Patiently waiting...

 We were going to sew her an entirely new dress but my mom remembered that she had one for a 16" doll, so she just altered it to fit our Bradley Doll.

 Unfortunately, she accidentally sewed it crooked.  As a result, she had to un-sew and then re-sew by hand.  

Here she is holding it center so she can begin stitching.

 Meanwhile I added a tulle petticoat

When the dress was done she looked great!  I like it because she looks more proper - less like an 1800s bar-maid.  I made the hat.

 I added lime green feathers, ribbon, and rose to it for drama.

What do you think?  Love it?  Hate it?

Actually, don't tell me if you hate it.  "If you can't say anything nice..."

 What's important is I like it.

The glue gun is my friend <3

Thanks for reading!

Love,

Myria