Thursday, April 9, 2015

Wild Orange Keeper

I have to keep some info with me at all times and it has been cluttering up my little purse.  I don't need it that close, just within access if needed on the spot.  I decided it was time to make a "Keeper" for this info.
I have been looking at my scrap boxes and wondering why I don't throw them out.  To me scraps are small pieces and strips of fabric.  I've been wanting to make new yardage with them, but then think, what then?  So they sit.  Now I've thought of a "what then" project.

My Wild Orange Keeper

From Instagram I've already had a request to share my process in its making, so here is how it came about...
I got out my orange scrap box and also my box of previously fused graphic bits that have been rejected for use for one reason or another.  At this point I am totally excited to be using some of both!
Some of the graphic pieces are from Lisa'a Altered Art and many are printed on Magic Fabic
I got out my scraps of batting.  Decided on a finished size for my keeper.  I wanted to be able to tuck in a quarter folded sheet of paper plus a bit more.  Then I cut off the flap corners.
I decided on a lining fabric and cut it to size.

Next I pulled scraps of orange then went looking for a couple of pieces of black for pop and layed them on top of the batting.  And then chose a few previously fused graphic pieces to add interest.  At this point you have to be mindful that the graphic pieces will all be right side up when the Keeper is sewn together.  So you'll notice that my flower and group of girls photo in the center section are upside down.


I removed my "shaped" graphic pieces to add on "after" my wild orange base is quilted.  Everything got quilted as raw edge applique...so-to-speak.

I mostly just pressed the whole thing with my iron before sewing the pieces down.  I did however, glue stick lightly a few key pieces that would hold the surrounding pieces in place. 




After the base quilting, I fused on the shaped graphics and appliqued them in place.


**What do you know, I actually fused the pieces going in the right direction.** 

Next I got my binding ready and stitched it across the bottom that gets folded up.


Looky there.  When I stitched the quilting, I should have used a yellow bobbin thread.  Ah well, it adds some interest...I suppose.

Next I stitched the binding to the sides and top. 


I was being hap-hazard and it looks horrid.  But I still shrugged my shoulders.  

I intended to sew on velcro.  But I forgot to do that before stitching the binding to the sides.  So I added a large snap instead.

The backside.

Look at this mess.  It's so crooked (but I managed to take a photo where you couldn't really tell how crooked it looks) and the binding just looks horrid!

I LOVE how the fabric scraps and graphics all turned out.  But I couldn't live with the mess I made.  I had to fix it.  I took the binding off, straightened the base piece, then used a narrower binding AND now I can live with it.  :-)

I liked the way my binding dots landed the first time around better.  But at least now I have a Keeper that I love looking at and it doesn't send my mind reeling about bad binding and crooked-ness.


I'm a happy camper with a right side up flower on the backside.  This was quick and fun to make.  Just the right distraction I needed from my current project.
Wishing you a wild orange kind of happy day!
xxx
Annie

Monday, April 6, 2015

House #6

The Tag It On challenge theme this time is 
A Rainbow of Colours

Hooray, another using of my Neocolors II.  (for coloring the house)
I hate when supplies are expensive then they just sit there staring at me, daring me to try and figure out how to use them.  


The number and words are stamped with Ranger Distress Inks.

And the back...

I'll bet you thought some sweet little old lady lived there.  :-)

Happy Tagging,
Annie



Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Spring Greetings

Happy Easter and Happy Spring
to Ruthie
and to Everyone

The bunny is from Nancy Halverson's book titled Easy Does It For Winter.

I really must learn to look at the photo "before" mailing the postcard...that stray fabric thread is driving me nutso!

Enjoy the season
xoxo
Annie

Friday, March 6, 2015

I'm Late!

My favorite tag challenge blog,
has a new fortnight challenge. 
---------------------------
White and a Number


Since he's already holding a pocket watch, I went with the expected "I'm Late" theme. 

On the back. 

It seemed like a good place to include some of my extra punched letters.  No meaning to them, just random letters I picked up. 

To all my sewing/quilting buddies, I'm working on a new quilt. Really I am. 

Don't be late!
xxx
Annie

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

I'll Give You My Heart

This is a 4X6 piece cut from my handy test paper pad.  I liked what I accidentally created on my test pad with this image.  I have been staring at it for months.  What to do with it.



I finally decided to recreate the work on an ATC sized tag.  I was working on her when the DragonsDream Tag It On challenge was announced...Pink and Hearts.  Well, I had the pale pink background.  But I didn't see a way to add a heart.  UNTIL I started cleaning off my desk top.  There it was, a leftover tiny fabric stamped heart from the Valentines.  The perfect final detail for her.  It was just what she needed.



On the back.


xoxo
Annie

Sunday, February 22, 2015

My Accomplices

The postcard theme this week at Sunday Postcard Art  is "Pieces of Pictures".  I'm awfully glad the theme was posted early to give me some time to think about it.  Odd theme, it stumped me.  In the end I took it literally.

I stamped several of my people stamps then punched inchies from the images.  Which gave me "pieces of pictures".  

These people, and the butterfly, are my accomplices in my art.


I painted the inchies with Neocolors.  I also bravely tried to make a watercolor blob under the butterfly.  Not great, but not too awful either.  (Otherwise it would be residing in the trash bin)  Then I finished with my new punched letters.

xoxo
Annie

Thursday, February 19, 2015

...so boring. NOT

On the blog Mail Art Projects Louise is celebrating her 55th birthday this year and her wish is to receive 55 art envelopes in her mail. 

I've had this envelope, not knowing where to send it. So I've added Louise's upcoming age to the design and will be sending it to her. 



I added a Happy Birthday note on the back along with some other small artistic touches and it's ready for the mail. I have a feeling Louise will be receiving much more than 55 envelopes for this birthday celebration. 

I do not know Louise at all.  I just want to help her celebrate her birthday with this great art envelope project. You can send her an envelope too if you are so inclined. 

Happy Mail Day!
Annie

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Heart Postcard

Hearts and Flowers is the theme this time at the Sunday Postcard Art blog.  I had this punched heart just lying around (not used when I made the ATC turned tag).  I love how the heart on that ATC turned tag looked.  I should know by now when a happy accident happens not to try and duplicate it.  But, it's not that bad.



I snuck that tiny flower in just for the challenge.   I purchased a large set of Neocolor II, but I'm not good with watercoloring.  But I need to use them!  They're just sitting there.  I colored the tiny flower with them.  hahaha...that's not saying much is it...haha  I really must find some ways to use them that works for me.

Do you like this?  Would you like to find it in your letter box?  Just say the word.  I love making postcards and all sorts of mail art.  But I cannot keep it all.

xoxo
Annie

Friday, February 13, 2015

One More Valentine

A tag.  Because I seem to be making a collection of them now.
This Valentine tag is inspired by the similar postcard in my previous post.  


Front

Back

I've had a great time with Valentine art this year.  I don't normally have much success with ideas for Valentine's Day, so this was fun.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY
xoxo
Annie

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

ThIs Love-ing Time of Year

The Sunday Postcard Art theme this week is Thoughts of Love.  And I've had lots of loving thoughts for my friends and family. 



This first postcard is my "pretty" favorite. 

These next two are my "fun" favorites.  They've been mailed but I haven't heard yet if they've been received. There was a little Valentine note inside the zip pocket. I'm anxious to know if the notes were there when they received the postcard. 




This next little hearts postcard was fun to make but I don't know who to send it to. If you'd like to receive it, speak up. 



This next is just here with me because of the fluttering butterfly. 



I also made an ATC. But I don't make ATCs.  So I plan on punching a hole in it so it turns into a tag. 



I have another tag in mind, so I hope the DragonsDream blog has a Valentine theme this week. 

Love to all my blogging friends, 
Annie