New Spring 2011, Tilda

I got my new Magnolia stamps today so Barbara and I had to play. Barbara gave me a lesson in coloring with Prismacolor pencils. These are two of the new Spring 2011 Magnolia's. Enjoy...


Colored pencils:
Face #927, 939, 928, 1014
Hair: #914, 942, 997
Clothes: #905, 941, 946, 947, 992, 997, 1010, 1015, 1033, 1034
Bunny: #938, 963, 964, 1014, 1068
Wagon: #941, 946, 947, 966, 967, 1010, 1031, 1033
Flowers: #907. 908, 909, 928, 929, 930, 991, 1014, 1020, 1021, 1029
Stamped on Stampin-up card stock, DP Simply Delightful by My Minds Eye
Ribbon from Stampin-up Big Scalloped Rectangles LG by Spellbinders

Princess Tilda

Magnolia stamps are some of my favorites and Princess Tilda is one of them. I love the sweet little dress-up look that they have and they are sooooo fun to color. I love the look of the leaf with the distress crackle paint, it looks like an antique... Thanks you Zoe for allowing me to learn something new. Sorry you can't see the detail on it. I hope you enjoy this one....

I have entered her at:
Freshly Brewed Challenge #36 Ribbon and Bows
Truly Scrumptious #51 Swirls & Pearls

Copic sketch markers:
Face: E000, E00, E11
Hair: Y23, E51, E53
Clothes: YR20, YR21, YR12, YR14, YR15, G40, G82, G85, G94, G99
Stamped on Cryogen White by Cut Card Stock, DP Once Upon A Time by DCWV, Flower Leaf Embellishments and Charm from Make 'it' Crafty, the leaf was painted with Distress Crackle Paint, Antique Linen from Jim Holtz, Pearls from Stampin-up, Ribbon from my stash.

PH Romance is in the Air

This is 'Romance is in the Air', a photo I took here in my house using a mirror. I received a 3rd place ribbon with 15 points out of 15 in the "B" class at the photo club last January. Enjoy....

Cupcake Ruby

Sparkle Creations has made this cute stamp, Cupcake Ruby and is here to wish you the very best at their challenge #30. Life is busy here, so Thanks to Barbara for coloring this image for me. She has a paper cut dress to match her background. I can't think of anything that makes me more happy than good food and a party with family and friends.

I have entered her at:
Sparkle Creations #30
Alphabet Challenge Blog P for Paper Piecing
Fussy & Fancy Friday Sweet Treats
Res-Q-Challenge - Don't be S.A.D. RESQ71

Copic sketch markers:
Face: E000, E00, E11, R12, R14
Hair & eyes: E43, E44, E47, E49
Clothes: E50, E51, E53
Other & cupcake: R11, R12, R14, BV23, BV25, BV29, E40, E41, E42, YR20, YR12, YR14, YR16, YR18, YG91, YG93, YG95, Y13, Y32
Candy Dots from Pebbles Inc., DP Just Dreamy by My Minds Eye, Ribbon and lace from my stash.

Spring Whisper

You are getting an excessive peek look at 'Spring Whisper' She is from Little Miss Muffet Designs and Forgotten Scraps and will be available soon, so watch out for her. What was really nice was that Barbara came over to play today and when I showed her what paper I was going to use on my next cards, she quickly colored this one for me. The colors she used will be coming soon. And I also wanted to Thank Zoe for the charm...Good Friends are just what the Doctor ordered. . Enjoy
I have entered her at:
Our Creative Corner - Cut it Out
Phindy's Friday #42 Spring is on the Way
Creative Card Crew - Friendship, cards for Friends
Little Claire's #1 Anything Goes!
Ooh La La Creations #73 For Someone Special

Copic sketch markers:
more to come

Stamped on Cryogen White by Cut Card Stock, DP is Whimsy Matstack from DCWV,Labels Five from Spellbinders, Flowers from Prima, Ribbon from my stash.

Summer Breeze

Summer Breeze is here for Forgotten Scraps Challenge #3 Something Spring-ish or Add Flowers, she is from the Little Miss Muffet Designs. I just love this little girl, with her book, I can feel the light summer breeze just looking at her. Please join us on this challenge. I have added Tiara Glitz Stickles by Ranger to bing it up a little more.


I have entered at:
I Did It Creations #42 Bling it Up
Aly's Sunday Challenge - Bling it Up
Mami Doodles #20 Flowers
DYSU Challenge #6 Ribbon
Stamping with Dragons - Anything Goes

Copic sketch markers:
Face: E000, E00, E11, R21, B21
Hair: E51, E53, E55, E57
Clothes: G20, G21, G24, V01, V04, V05
Book: E70, E71, E77
Stamped on Cryogen White by Cut Card Stock, DP Brenda Walton by K&Company,
Adage Tickets from Jim Holtz, Glitz Stickles Tiara from Ranger, flowers and ribbon from my stash.

Mother Koala

Mother Koala is New from Little Miss Muffet Desgins and wants to invite you to join us at Forgotten Scraps Challenge #3 Something Spring-ish or add a Flower. She is perfect for Spring or that Mothers Day card you need to make.

I have entered this at:
Mojo Monday #178 Sketch
Bearly Mine #4 Ribbon & Pearls
Digital Tuesday #98 Use a Die Cut
Karen's Doodles #50 Animals Friends
Lexi's Creation #33 Bears

Copic sketch markers:
Koala: T0, T1, T3,T5,
Other: Y17, Y21, Y35, G94, G82, E40, E41, E11, E13, E15, E17, E18, E19
Stamped on Cryogen White by Cut Card Stock
DP Super Paper Pad by K & Company, Labels Five from Spellbinders,
Pearls, Just Peachy by Queen and Company, Ribbon by Stampin-up,
Lace Dollie from Wilton

QT Black & White Quilt #4

Welcome back with our #4 on our Black, White, and Green Quilt. Today we are going to talk more about fabric needs. This quilt is going to be 64.07 by 78.21 inches and will have 32 eight inch finished Blocks. My design came from my head to pencil to Electric Quilt 7. I really like to work with EQ7, it's so much fun. It also takes a lot of my work away. If you want a plan for just the block or just sashing and borders it's just a click or two away. The amount of fabric is general more than you need, but I don't mind because it adds fabric to my stash and gives me fabric for the backing if we have not planed on it already.

With the Sashing, Corner Stones, Borders, Binding and Backing you will need:
White: 3 yards
Black: 2 1/2 yards
Green: 2 yards
A few black, white and green for fun...

Blocks:
Assorted Blacks totaling 2 yards
Assorted Whites totaling 3 yards
Assorted Greens totaling 1 yard
I do plan on using a lot more assorted colors than this breaks down too in fat quarters. I don't want to use each fabric more than 3 times each. I really like the scrappy look and I have plenty of fabric.

You will be making about 7 Blocks with black, white and green
6 - 7 mostly black with white
18 - 19 mostly white with black


This is what the layout will be and it will give you an idea of what we are making. I hope you like it. We still have a lot of fun ahead of us.

This is Martha Washington Star
501 Rotary-cut Quilt Blocks, page 168

Ocean Wave
501 Rotary-cut Quilt Block, page 185

Information on how to choose fabric for a quilt:

Color:

Decide the purpose of the quilt, it will tell you if you want to use pastel or darks, civil war or 30's.
Sometime you have 1 fabric with many colors you can pull from, other time you have to choose varying shades of your fabric.
If you are using prints, make sure you choose small, medium and large prints to add visual interest and depth to the quilt.
And vary the tone of color from light, medium and dark to give depth and contrast to your quilt.
At times I love to use a zinger, one fabric that is bright and bold and stands out from your other fabrics. But be careful, a little goes a long way.

Fabric:
I always use 100% cotton, bought at a good quilt shop for better quality.
Look for patterns that are printed on the grain or crossgrain of the fabric that they at straight.
Check the thread counts. The higher the count the better the fabric and the longer it will last. If there is a count on the bolt, look for about 68 to 78 count.
Check for the detail of the fabric, you don't want to find any problems after you buy it and get it home. Always watch as they unroll the fabric.
When choosing the backing, make sure it is the same quality as the top.

You can test for fabric content by doing a burn test:
Cut a small swatch of each fabric you want to test.
Put it onto a fireproof container and light the corner of the fabric with a match.
smell the odor of the smoke:
Cotton smells like burning paper
Silk doesn't always burn easily and smells like hair or feathers
Polyester has a darkish plume of smoke and smells like a chemical or burning plastic

After the ashes cool:
Cotton ashes are soft and fine and turns to dust when touched
Black, brittle ashes that crush between your fingers indicates wool
Hard lumps are the remains of melted synthetic fibers

You can check the thread if you don't know what it is:
A clump of Cotton thread will ignite when the flame get near
Synthetic fibers curl away from the flame and tend to melt

Linen is similar to cotton, but burns more slowly
Rayon will burn after the flame is pulled away and has an after glow, but it does smell like paper when it is burning

Remember that if you are making a quilt for a child, the polyester or synthetic blends fabric when burning will burn to the skin, so do you really want your child in bed or cover with this when there is a fire?

Fabric Grain:
This refers to the way the threads are arranged in a piece of fabric. It is very important when it comes to cutting your fabric and whether it has been pulled in the print progress. Lets break the thread down:
Warp Threads are stretched on the loom and secured and are the lengthwise grain. The yardage as it comes off the bolt.
Weft Threads are woven back and forth, perpendicular to the warp threads and makes up the crosswise grain.
Straight Grain goes lengthwise and crosswise grain and is called straight or straight of grain, and doesn't stretch very much.
Selvage is that bound edges that runs along the outside edge of the fabric. It is weft thread that is turning to change the weaving direction and should never be used in the quilt. It will shrink and pull. Now they are using this edge as a decoration or trim to a quilt and that is OK.
Fabric Bias is the 45 degree angle to the straight grain and is the bias cut. This is great when doing bias binding or applique, but you do have to be careful when sewing a bias edge because it will stretch on you.


I hope you enjoy this lesson. Be sure to leave a comment or question if you have one and please share you blocks with us by using Mr Links.

QT Black & White Quilt #4

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Tilda w/Big Ribbon, The Stump

Here we have Tilda with Big Ribbon and The Stump. I really like these sitting down Tilda....there is so much you can do with them. Tilda is all dresses up for Spring. I can't wait!

I have entered her at:
The Sweetest Thing #104 Sketch
Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Pastels
One Stitch at a Time - Make it Pretty
Phindy Place #42 Spring is on the Way


Copic sketch markers:
Face: E000, E00, E11
Hair: YR20, E50, E51, E53
Clothes: RV000, R20, R81, R83, R85
Wood: E30, E31, E33, E34, E35, E37, E39
Plants: G40, G82, G94, Y32, YR31, Y35, E55, E57
Stamped on Cryogen White by Cut Card Stock, Flower by Prima, Candy Dots by Pebbles Inc. ,
Corner Punch by Fiskars, DP, Ribbon, Lace and rinstones from my stash.

Tilda with Balloon

This is Tilda with Balloon and she is already for Valentines Day all dressed in her Red. It's been fun seeing her colored and just couldn't wait until mine came so I could make a card. Enjoy...

I have entered her at:
Stamp Challenge - Something for your Valentine
Crafty Catz Weekly #69 Valentines/Love
Crafty Ann's Challenge #35 Love is all Around
Annabella Stamps Blog - Say it with Polka Dots
Freshly Brewed Challenge #34 Charm

Copic sketch markers:
Face: E000, E00, E11, R20
Hair: E21, E25, E27
Clothes: R000, R43, R46, R59, N1, N3, N5, N9
Stamped on Cryoden White by Cut Card Stock, DP Bo Bunny
Pearls from Stampin-up, Beaded Ovals from Spellbinders
Ribbon, charm, lace from my stash.

Tilda w/the Big Ribbon & The Gathering Place

Tilda with the Big Ribbon had a hard start. I made the card then changed my mind and recolored on top of most of it, changed the paper and now I am back at posting. I got my new stamps today in the mail and just had to color. This was my first choice with Tilda and The Gathering Place from Bells 'N Whistles Elisabeth Bell stamps. I just thought that they belonged together....


I have posted this at:
Peachy Keen Stamps #45 Sketch
Paper Pretties #140 Inspiration by Valentines
Stamp with Sarah Kay #128 Buttons and Lace
Tuesday Throw Down #35 Buttons
Flourishes #104 Button Up!

Copic sketch markers:
Face: E000, E00, E11, R20
Hair: E41, E42, E43, E44, E57, E74
Clothes: R20, R30, R32, R35
Chair: E50, E51, E53, E55, E57, E57 YG91, YG93
Other: W1, We, W5, YG91, YG93, R37
Stamped on Cryogen White, DP The Lace & Linen Stack from DCWV, rick rack, buttons lace and dollie from my stash.

Summer Breeze

This is Summer Breeze from Little Miss Muffet Designs. I just couldn't wait to color her and make a card. Isn't she just beautiful? Just a reminder for Forgotten Scraps Challenge #2. I thought she would make a cute Valentines Card, all dressed in Red and Pink and carrying her love story with her. She is just trying to find a place to read.....She can't wait to find out if they get together again....

I have entered at:
A Gem of a Challenge #14 Sketch
Crazy Challenge #53 Lots of Love
Cupcake Craft #128 Seeing Red
Incy Wincy Designs #80 Love
Stamp With Fun #97 Love
Pile It On #6 Bright & Breeze

Copic sketch markers:
Face: E000, E00, E11, R20, B91
Hair: E50, E51, E53
Clothes: R000, R20, R21, R22, R27, R29
Book: E40, YG95, YG97
Stamped on Cut Card Stock, DP The Paper Studio
Pearls from Stampin-up, Adage Tickets from Jim Holtz
Lace Dollie from Wilton, Brad & 2nd DP from my stash

QT Tablecloth Round Robin

My memory quilt

I have tried to take this picture quite a few times and just can't seam to get the color right. It is all 30's fabric and I love the look I get on this wall. It hangs in my lace room with all light green walls which doesn't help when taking a picture. So I will show it to you now and maybe this summer I will try again. This quilt is a lot of things...It started with the tablecloth in the center. My mother-in-law did the embroidery and I wanted to save it for special occasions. The top was a table runner round robin I was in a few years ago in Utah. The rest is just a round robin I did with myself. Starting with the center and doing 1 row at a time with out knowing what the next would be. I enjoy designing quilts, not know what will happen next, but letting the quilt talk to me. Please enjoy.

PH What's Alittle Moss Between Friends

A photo. It's been awhile since I have posted a photo. Driving through Links Lake State Park here in Texas I saw this beautiful moss gowning on the trees. I loved the color so I just had to stop and take a photo. I hope you like it too. Some time the abstract art really strikes me.

Christmas Dino

Christmas Dino is here from Little Miss Muffet Designs (an all new company) and already for Lollipop Crafts #24 Sisters. The challenge this week was Sisters and the mid week inspiration is being sponsored by Little Miss Muffet. Designs by our very own Barbara at Forgotten Scraps. Until now the only way to get Christmas Dino was to win the challenge #1 over at Forgotten scraps, but now you can buy her, as well as all the other digi's Barbara has created. Don't look now but I know that more is coming soon...sooooooo don't forget to checking back to see the new stuff she has in store for us. My new stuff is Christmas Dino and my neglected is my flower. Come join us at Lollipop Craft this week.

I have entered at:
Sketch N Stash #54 New/neglected
Stamp R Us #13 Animals
Aly's Sunday for the Guys
The Crafty Pad #106 Something for the Boys
Delicious Doodles #10 Dots & Strips

Copic sketch markers:
BG11, BG45, YR12, YR16, YR18, YR20, YR21, YR23, YR24
Other: R000, R21, R22, R24, E42, E43, E44, E47, E50
DP Score - School Spirit Collection from Crate Paper
Stamped on Cryogen White by Cut Card Stock, Spellbinders Label Two, Button from Stampin-up, Flower and gemstones from my stash.

QT Black & White Quilt #3

Here we are with Block 3 and 4.

Block #3 is Army Star and is on page 32 in 501 Rotary-Cut Quilt Blocks. This is also an 8 grid block but the center is a little different. Because it is an 8" block you know that the center 4 squares are a 4" square finished. If you don't have the book, draw up other grid that is 4" and put your grid lines in and find your pattern. Lay out your pattern pieces and find the grid and the easiest way to piece it together. You can see here how I did it.

Here is the finished block

Block 4 is Castles in Spain and is a 4 grid block. You can still use your 8 grid you drew up last time. Find your patten and add your seam allowance. Laying it out again to find the easiest way to sew together.

Here is the finished block

When I sew I like to end with a scrap of fabric or a block to another quilt, so I can cut down on the lose threads. It keeps my sewing room cleaner. I always cut the dog ears off the corners to cut down on fabric in the block, both for pieces and for quilting.

Press for Easy Machine Piecing. Remember the back of the quilt needs to lay as flat as the front and I like to make the back look as good as I can. Don't forget the starch, it makes the pressing much nicer, press as your go. Press towards the dark if possible. When you sew one seam to another the second seam needs to go the other direction. You can lock the seams together with a pin or just wiggle the two seams between your fingers and they will lock together. Opening the seam will make your seam weaker, so try not to do this unless you need to. I don't find a difference from pressing from the top or pressing from the back, but I usually do both. Curved seams should be pressed toward the patch with the inside curve and it is not necessary to clip the seam allowance. Applique Blocks try to avoid crushing applique and place face down on a towel to avoid flattening the applique or causing any shiny spots. Sashes and borders press toward the plain border or the side with the fewest seams. Pressing quilt tops will help in quilting.

Just remember that pressing is the key to a successful quilting project.
Don't forget to save all of the little scraps of fabric for another lesson.

You can upload pictures of your blocks with the Zinkz at the bottom of this post, share what you have been doing or post a comment or ask questions.

Quilting Black & White Lesson #3

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Valentine Bear

This is Valentine Bear from Little Miss Muffet Designs, Our very own Barbara at Forgotten Scraps. She is here with a new blog....new name....selling her designs and much more, even her own challenges.....We hope you will join in with us at Forgotten Scraps Challenge #2......It sure is a lot of fun!!!
I have entered at:
Priscillastyles - Midnight Madness Sketch #89
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes + Flowers
Timeless Tuesday #103 Valentines
Bunny Zoe's #8 Love is in the Air
Lexis Creations #32 Valentines
Paper Playtime #34 Anything Goes - Digi's
Simon Says - Show Some Love
Stampin Scrapin Challenge Central

Copic sketch markers:
Bear: E50, E51, R20, E53, E55, E57, E57
Other: RV11, RV13, RV14, RV17, YG99, G20, YG95, YG97, RV19
Stamped on Cryogen White by Cut Card Stock, DP Infuse Collection Pack by Basic Grey, Spellbinders Petite Scalloped Circles, Pearls from Stampin-up, all other from my stash.

Blog Candy and Challenge #1 Winners

This is Barbara taking over my Mom's blog to post the winners! :D I can't believe it's February 1st already and I'm so glad to find out that today is a "Snow Day!" I didn't realize how much time it would take to coordinate all the posts and I'm bursting with excitement even though I've already run into the wee hours of the morning. Sigh... or more like Yawn!

This post is all about the announcements and we've split it up onto both of our blogs, so be sure to check out Forgotten Scraps for more winners! It's such a huge surprise to see so much support from everyone and before we get onto the winners, I am excited to announce a new adventure! We've been keeping this a secret until now so I am pleased to introduce...

Little Miss Muffet Designs
Digital Stamps, Handmade Cards and More!

Come on over and take a look at what you all inspired!! Yes, YOU - everyone who joined us as Followers and left comments contributed to the excitement - Thank you! :D

Let's get on to the winners, shall we? This is the day you've been waiting for and we're not going to keep you waiting any longer. Remember below are half the winners and the other half are listed at Forgotten Scraps.

Using Random.org, the winner of the the of 2nd Blog Candy is...

#479 Catharina Fong

Congratulations!! You win all the goodies in this picture below!
(Please email me with your mailing address to claim your prize.)

Now onto the challenge with so many wonderful ideas that it was difficult to choose! So we decided to choose SIX top picks and award each of them a prize! :D Below are Grandma's three picks... and check back with Forgotten Scraps tomorrow for details on the next challenge!

#4 Dorcas

#5 Catz

#7 Zoe (Aus)

Congratulations ladies!! All three of you win Christmas Dino!!
(Contact me to claim your prize and receive the Top 3 badge.)

Christmas Dino

Thank you to everyone who participated and I can't wait to see what comes next. ;D Remember to visit Little Miss Muffet Designs and if you like it you can become a Follower over there too! Thanks again and we hope you have a wonderful day.