Paper Piecing

Reading this title  you will probably think I am referring to a quilting term.

 

The words “paper piecing” can be applied to quilting – but today I am using it in another aspect.

In addition to quilting I enjoy scrapbooking – and have now ventured off in to the making of greeting cards. As with any hobby, the expense can go on and on as you want new items. The amount of money I have spent on cartridges for the Cricut machine is a fair chunk of change…even with getting them on sale. Often, it turns out there are only a couple or so of the images that I will want to use. On that note, perhaps my mind can not come up with an idea that uses them.

 

I said all that to say this…I have come across paper piecing…patterns are available from several sources on the web. A few I have made copies and filed away for future reference. Some I have used  - and others I have made up on my own…or modified the ones I found.

 

If you don’t know what paper piecing is – well, it is specially cut pieces of paper and stacked in a particular order to achieve the desired item. Some things I cut out with scissors and others I use my paper punches. Let me show you what I mean…Using the largest circle punch I cut the green for the rind…next size punch cut the white, and then using a smaller punch cut the red. Then cut these circles almost in half…stacked them in order to  get this watermelon. For the black seeds I have a cat’s paw punch…using the toes to get the oval shapes which then became the seeds.  This picture makes it look large – but actually it is about 3 inches across and 2 inches from top to bottom. This is one of the items I plan on using for the 4th of July scrapbooking pages.

 

We had a cook out celebrating Independence Day…hot dogs and hamburgers wore top billing. I found a very plain hamburger pattern…so just enhanced it some. The hot dog was my own pattern…granted it was a simple one. On the hamburger used the largest circle punch I have…cut 1/4 of it off for the bottom of the bun…then cut a straight line across…like the bottom side of a bun. For the top of bun, took the 3/4ths circle – rounded it a bit. The veggies and meat were just strips of paper cut with my fancy cutting scissors. Pickles and onions were created using the circle punches. Sesame seeds were made by using the cat’s paw again.

With all the hot weather ice cream came to mind…so created this one….  and this one. I will be using these on birthday cards.

 

This owl was probably the most fun to create…some paper cutting with scissors…but also used the punches in various ways. Mr. Owl will be one I plan on using for both get well and birthday cards.

 

I used various folders on the Cuttlebug machine to give the embossed surface..this adds still another dimension to the item.

 

I enjoy making the cards…and am getting better. If the recipient wants to keep the card…fine…if not throw it away. I had the fun of creating it.

 

 

This is sort of like “playing paper dolls” we enjoyed during our kid years….well this kid is older but I still enjoy playing with paper and scissors.

 

Ya’ll take care . . . nap time here for me.

 

♥Amelia♥

February – Hearts, candles, and Flowers

The month of February not only has my birthday but Valentine’s day. I am too old to do much celebrating for either. I know I am loved all thru the year – so don’t need a big celebration on either day to tell me. I am spoiled – that is Leon’s fault – he tells me if we can afford it (what ever I want at the moment)  to buy it.

 

I still have the mantel done in silver, white, and cobalt blue…for a snowy look. Same way with the coffee table. I posted some pictures back at the first of January. Yes, I have made some changes along the way.

 

But this is a new month – a new look for part of the house.

 

Here are some pictures depicting the “Love” look. Some of the items are new, some are old, some have been painted to give a new look.

Made special for my honey…he counted up the points and thought he was worth more than 14 points!  He is worth his weight in gold!

This  tree was Christmas decoration I got at Hancock’s last year for $2.00. It does not look Christmassy to me – with the addition of the hearts it looks great as a Valentine item. Painted the Dollar  Tree birds white and added Cricut swirled cutouts for the candles – place on a red linen  cloth on a white tray completes this setting.

   

Added white paper lace doilies to soften the look…looks more romantic this way.

The bears and sign have been around for several years now.

 

Added some white milk glass and red salad plates to give this area a completed look. Some how the cobalt blue just did not look right at this time….but it will return…you can be sure of that.

 

Another repainted bird…Dollar Tree item. I like the birds better white than the original tan color…at least for this month. 

Found this vase last week at Good Will for 50 cents…I knew it would fit perfect with the Valentine theme. Added the white roses and red sparkly heart picks…great look I think. These  scalloped vases were clear…painted them red. I think they originally were candles but can not remember for sure.

 

That completes the Valentine tour.

 

Amelia♥

Cricut Machine – another use

 

I keep trying to think of ways to use my Cricut machine – other than scrapbooking layouts.

 

The following pictures show the latest project.

 

In order to use the paper I had I needed something that  gave thin paper some body and to give a sheen to the paper. Answer to this problem – cover the paper with clear adhesive paper (brand name as we know it – Contact paper). Had to make some extra settings to the Cricut to cut it properly. I had a new Christmas cartridge that I was wanting to try out – there were a couple of cuts I wanted to try on it.

 

Last year I had bought (after Christmas) a couple of boxes of the gold chargers – not knowing what I would do with them – as I don’t use them  on the table-  guess we are not “fancy” enough. Anyway, I thought one would work as a Christmas display unit on a easel type stand. Here are the results:

This is in one corner of the kitchen.

Still had some ideas churning around in my head – why not put some cut outs on candles – to spruce them up a notch or two.

 

Got out  some old candles that had not been used in the current decorating whirlwind for Christmas. Of course, had no idea if the plan would work – or where I would put them if the plan produced something useable.

 

Added some ribbon to the middle one for an extra pop.

The one in the middle is silver – but the flash sort of destroys the true color.

Trying to get the paper to stick to the candle proved to be a difficult task…used several different methods – none were real successful. The above candle was a stinker – don’t know why – so had to go to another plan. Being in the sewing room for these craft designs I spotted my straight pins that have different colored heads. I picked out the white ones ….cut part of the pin off and then used the rest to hold the cutout in place….sort of adds still another dimension to this.     

 

This might be an idea to use different cutouts for the different seasons – who knows!

 

 

 

♥ Amelia ♥

Still Creating

The leaves are from last year...can't not remember where they came from - I am sure either Wal-Mart and Dollar Tree. They are made out paper - similar to crepe paper - with bendable wire for the veins in the leaves.

I cut the letters spelling Fall using the Cricut machine.

This location is on the back side of the cabinets above the bar...you know the style of 70's houses...how they are built --- this wall is actually in the dining room area. You can see (poor picture) part of the kitchen...looks real yellow - but it isn't.

This was my latest "play time" project.

Have fun in what ever you do!


Amelia

Added Fall Decoration

I try to come up with ideas of using the "Cricut" machine - that is other than in scrapbooking. These pictures are just lightly stuck to the plate - so no problem in removing them. Oh, there maybe some glue residue left - but WD-40 will handle that.





If the plates look crooked...it is my camera shot...they are actually positioned in the plate frame correctly.


I am enjoying the cooler weather - seems like fall now!


Amelia♥