Tote Bags

I tend to make gifts with a similar theme. Recently my theme was tote bags.

I made this bag for my daughter's piano teacher. I had been eyeing that rose trim at Hobby Lobby for months. Finally I knew exactly what to use it on! Everyone knows I don't (cant!) sew, so of course it is glued on with fabric glue, haha!  The verse was purchased from the Silhouette store and cut on green holographic heat transfer vinyl.

This bag was made for my friend who loves dogs and is very involved in dog rescue organizations. I used a silver sequin trim around the top and black and red heat transfer vinyl. It hung in my craft room for a very long time because I thought it needed something else, but I couldn't get her to tell me her favorite color. I just knew she doesn't care a lot for red so even though something red would match the "love," I didn't want that. I finally found this big black flower and decided it would be perfect.

My daughter's friend's 16th birthday was coming up and she wanted me to make her "something Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman!" because that's her favorite show. Let me tell you, there's not much Dr. Quinn merchandise or quotes to get ideas from.  I looked forEVER and finally found an "I (heart) SULLY" picture and, since I had another bag left over, thought it would work. I traced a drawing of Sully - that thing was a beast to weed, he has a lot of hair! In fact, I gave up weeding and just left it how it was because it was beginning to rip in places. I used the same gorgeous rose trim that I used on the black bag.  I think it turned out OK and she loved it!!

It's always fun trying to get pictures of my stuff - this is my cat, Luna, knocking down the display board with the bag as I was trying to photograph it. Silly kitty.  More kitty photobombs to come in future posts!!

I have some different tote bags I picked up that I hope to work on soon, once I figure out what to put on them. I've been in a card making mood lately though so I'm thinking my next post might (hopefully) be cards.

Look What You Can Do With Heat Transfer Vinyl!

I wanted to do something nice and unique for the photographer who took  my son's senior pictures. I had already made her two school spirit shirts with glitter vinyl. Since she is just starting out in photography, I figured a little self advertising wouldn't hurt.

I bought a camera strap and camera bag and applied heat transfer glitter vinyl to them.

Isn't that the cutest strap? I got it from Pick Your Plum. They have them occasionally in really cute designs. You can't tell in the picture, but I used black glitter vinyl.

I was worried about whether HTV would work on this bag. The front is a textured vinyl and I didn't know if it would melt from the heat of the iron. I didn't think regular sticky vinyl would stay on because of the texture and the design is kind of small.  I used a small craft iron and took a lot of time and it seemed to work just fine. The bag didn't melt and the transfer felt secure, so I hope it stays on long term! Again, this is black glitter vinyl.

I also added white glitter vinyl to the inside removable bag.  In hindsight, I probably should have used regular vinyl here. The glitter seems to catch a bit on the inside cloth of the main bag when removing/replacing. But, a girl can never have too much glitter, right?

Overall, I was really pleased with the way they turned out.  But wait! There's more! ;) I had bought an extra t-shirt when I made her school shirt, so I decided to use it too.

These shirts from JCPenney are my favorite. They are so soft and stretchy and comfy! On the front I put her logo and on the back a cute saying that I was dying to use on something - seemed fitting!

The best part of it was that she said her husband was impressed with it all too! Men are hard to impress with this crafty stuff, so I consider that a definite success!

Baby Boy Gifts

When my friend told me she was having a baby boy, I knew I wanted to make some onesies and I had plenty of time to do it!  Except he decided to make an entrance 4 weeks early so of course I wasn't finished before he was born. The little guy spent some time in the NICU with breathing issues due to being early, but he's home and doing great, and my baby gifts were waiting for them when they got home (because they live halfway across the country {sad face}).

 

My friend's oldest daughter is into mustaches, so I had to include a mustache onesie!  The "born in the USA" is a free Silhouette cut file from Create and Babble and the "chick magnet" is a free cut file from The Rhinestone World.

The tie and suspenders is a Silhouette file. I did a print and cut using Square 1 Masterpiece iron on. The sunglasses and sleeve tattoo were also print and cuts on Square 1 I created from images found online.

A few t-shirts for when he is bigger ;)

I had to make a little something for mom too, because she's pretty good at making adorable babies!

I also made a name wall  hanging on a blue painted canvas with red, white and blue vinyl.  This was a download from Silhouette and is recommended to be used as a print and cut...which I didn't realize until after I had started cutting the vinyl.  It was difficult to get together but I think it turned out pretty cute.  Dad is in the Air Force so I added a cute little airplane to the bottom.

Welcome to the world little Coleton!