Bella Blvd Fabric Style- Doggy Christmas Gift Set with a Tutorial!

This month I had a lot of fun coming up with fabric ideas for Bella Blvd.

I'm absolutely loving this opportunity to sew every month.  I love paper crafting, but I love sewing, too, and it's such a fun way to create great things for the ones you love.

Our family was fortunate enough to adopt a dog a couple of months ago and he's been such a great addition to our family.  He's a sweetheart and he gets along with the kids so well.  He's a snuggler, and he likes to be wherever I am in the house all day long- including my craft room.  So I thought I'd make him a cute dog bed as well as some other fun Christmas gifts to help make him more a part of our family.

My friend thought I should make him a stocking- since I made all of the rest of us one.

I agreed :)

You can see some of our family's stockings in the Cricut Holidays Idea Book

(they're off my blog for a few more weeks since they were published)

This is Bella Blvd's Puppy Park fabric line for Riley Blake Fabrics.

The felt dog on the front of the stocking is actually one of the puppies on the fabric that I enlarged and cut from felt with fabric scissors.

Then I appliqued him onto the stocking in layers.

The bone is also enlarged from the fabric, traced, and cut out.  I embroidered his name onto the white fabric with an embroidery machine, and then I appliqued it onto the brown fabric using a satin stitch on my sewing machine.  

See?  Now his matches ours.  (I think his is cuter than ours actually) :)

I also made him a dog bed that matches my aqua craft room.

This fabric is not only adorable but it was the perfect color!

He loves it.  He's actually sleeping in it as I type :)

And then I whipped out a quick leash.  MUCH cuter than any leash from the store, would you agree?

Here's a few photos of the creative process behind the stocking.

I had a lot of fun with this one, so I wanted to document it.

You can use plain old Elmer's glue to attach fabric pieces before they're sewn on.

As long as the glue is dry you won't hurt your sewing machine.  I've even used Elmer's glue to piece quilts if I don't want to sew them.  Then you quilt them afterward.

Who knew, right? 

Basically I just cut the fabric 1/2 inch larger than our stockings to allow for a seam allowance.

I didn't have a pattern- I made it up as I went.

I didn't have a pattern for our stockings, either.  I just traced a stocking from the dollar store when I made those ones.

Once the glue was dry, I pinned the dog to the stocking front and sewed around each layer with a different color of thread.

Here's a look at the embroidery process.  I love this machine.  Too bad I don't own one.

I have to borrow my mom's.

How fun is that??

Thanks for stopping by!  Can't wait to show you what I'm working on for next month!

-Tiffany

Imaginisce Goodbye Blog Hop

Imaginisce is having a mini blog hop to say goodbye to the 2012 design team.

The blog hop started yesterday on the Imaginisce Blog and ends today.  Hop along for the chance to win prizes!  You probably arrived from Shelley McDaniels blog.  If you get lost- here's today's order:

Shelley McDaniel

Tiffany Hood- you are here

Guiseppa Gubler

Rhonda Van Ginkel

Cari Locken

Adora Conception

Heather Leopard

Here are some of my favorite Imaginisce projects from this year

I loved the swaps.  Working with Imaginisce allowed me to work with products from many other companies like Canvas Corp, Tattered Angels, 7 Gypsies, and May Arts.

My favorite paper line this year was Love You More, and they've got some fun new ones coming out at CHA that you'll just love.  My favorite tools are probably the I-Rock and I-Top.  I loved using the I-Rock to add bling on almost everything and the I-Top for not only brads, but also for buttons and fabric projects and accessories as well.

It's such a crazy thing to be saying goodbye to the Imaginisce Design Team.  This was seriously such a fast year.  Looking back, I remember so clearly like it was yesterday applying for the team, and it has been a great year working with fantastic people and I have to say that the people at Imaginisce are absolutely wonderful.  Cari Locken has been such a fantastic coordinator to work with, and the other ladies on the design team are so sweet and so talented.  I wish everyone the best.

Hop on over to Guiseppa Gubler's blog

Thanks again for a wonderful year!

-Tiffany

Pebbles "Let It Snow" Christmas Frame

Three days until Christmas and I thought I was so ready.

We (Well- I- alone- in the cold...) shopped on Black Friday and got just about everything on everyone's lists, so then I sat back and relaxed, knowing that we were done.

Well, turns out we're not done.  And so I'll be bringing the kids out shopping for the next couple of days.

We also just took the photo for our Christmas card last night.  Maybe I'll make it a "Happy New Year" card.

How about you?  I'll admit- I'm a procrastinator.  I leave things until the last minute, but I always get them done on time :)  Maybe I work better under pressure.  

Anyway...

Pebbles challenged us to create holiday cards and gifts without using holiday papers and embellishments, since they don't have a Christmas line this year.  No problem.  

I dusted off my Cricut for this one.  Really, it had dust on it.

I need to use it more I guess.

Isn't it cute???

That darling snowman is from the Winter Frolic cartridge.  He's full of dimensional foam adhesive.

Then I cut various shaped snowflakes from the Winter Woodland cartridge.

Wondering where the "SNOW" word art came from?

It's Thickers that I stuck onto Doodlebug Sugar Coated cardstock and trimmed around with my scissors.

Then I stuck that onto a poppy parade piece of cardstock from Stampin' Up and trimmed again.  The white and red are separated by foam dimensional adhesive.

The other letters on the banners are Thickers as well.  That same pack has the little "burst" that's in the center of the "O."  I thought it looked a bit like a snowflake.

The banners are from the Hip Hip Hooray collection.  It's a banner kit that comes with tons of banners in different shapes and colors so you can make your own custom banner.  I love that little kit.  I need to get another one. I popped them up with dimensional foam adhesive and then adhered the twine to the blue paper with liquid glue.

The snowman's made with Doodlebug crushed velvet cardstock in white, and the pearls and twine are also Doodlebug.  The picture frame I got at Hobby Lobby and spray painted white.

And the little "snowball" is a dimensional circle from the Hip Hip Hooray collection.  The hills are hand cut.

Hope I inspired you to go out and make some homemade holiday decor.

Or maybe you already did- since you're not a procrastinator like me.

Wish me luck on my last minute shopping- and Happy Holidays!

-Tiffany

Doodlebug Advent Calendar

Merry Almost-Christmas!!!  I'm so excited!!!

It's finally been snowing here more, and though it's not enough yet to go sledding, it's still enough to get you excited for a white Christmas.  It's freezing, though.  Wouldn't it be cool if it could be 70 degrees and snowy?  

I've been wanting to make this Advent Calendar since I got my Silhouette for Christmas last year.  This was last year's advent calendar sold by Silhouette, and it's great because the boxes are big enough for decent size treats (for those of us with a sweet tooth) or even little gifts.  I made the boxes with white paper because I didn't want to use up all my cute patterned paper where you wouldn't see it, but then I covered the fronts with patterned paper and punched the tab with a 3/4" circle punch.

Even if you can't get one of these Silhouette advent calendars, there are lots of different companies that sell ready-to-embellish advent calendars of all shapes and sizes, some that look a lot like this one.  Just pick one up and then pick up the North Pole collection from Doodlebug, lots of letter stickers, twine, pearls, jewels, and go to town!

I guess this is a lesson in embellishment.  When embellishing something like this I like to stick to a color palette of 3-4 main colors.  That way it won't look more busy than it already will :)  In this case: red, green, white, and grey.

Then just think of ways to add interest by adding the following:
Twine
Jewels
Pearls
Buttons
Brads
Glitter
Stickers
Die Cuts
Number and/or letter stickers
and my favorite thing in the world:  Dimensional foam adhesive

Just make sure you're spreading out your colors evenly, and add texture with crushed velvet number stickers and twine, dimension with dimensional adhesives, and voila!

An advent calendar your kids will go nuts over!

-Tiffany

Closing one door and opening another... Doodlebug Design Team announcement and final Imaginisce Design Team projects

Lots of sick kids around here lately. I don't understand why the happiest time of the year also has to be the time when the kids pass their illnesses back and forth and are hacking and coughing constantly.  One of these years I'd love a Christmas with no coughs, sneezes, runny noses, fevers....just happy healthy little kids.

Onto some brighter news....

Doodlebug announced it's 2013 Design Team yesterday and I'm thrilled to say that they've invited me back for another year of colorful happy crafting fun!  I'm so so so excited!  They're such a great company to design for.

Here's the new Doodlebug Design Team family.  I can't wait to get to know everyone.

Amanda Coleman  Idaho

Blog: http://popperandmimi.blogspot.com 

Amy Chappell Utah – Sewing Specialist

Blog: www.amerooniedesigns.blogspot.com

Jodi Wilton  Canada

Blog: http://luvalotland.blogspot.ca/

Kathy Martin North Carolina – Card Specialist

Blog: http://www.card-blanc.blogspot.com

Melinda Spinks  Australia

Blog: www.thescrapfarm.blogspot.com

Monique Liedtke   Netherlands

Blog: http://moniquesscrapbook.blogspot.com

Sherry Cartwright  Texas

Blog: www.itsawondramouslife.blogspot.com

Shellye McDaniel  Texas

Blog: www.thepaperedcottage.blogspot.com

Stephanie Buice   Alabama 

Blog: http://mybitsofsunshine.blogspot.com

Tamara Tripodi California

Blog: www.happylifecraftywife.blogspot.com

Tiffany Hood Utah- That's ME! :)

Blog: http://www.rhinestonesandribbon.blogspot.com

Tya Smith Utah

Blog: www.simplytya.blogspot.com

Wendy Sue Anderson  Utah

Blog: www.wendysueanderson.blogspot.com

Also today my last Imaginisce Design Team projects are up on their blog.

Imaginisce is also a wonderful company full of great people.  Cari has been a fantastic coordinator, and it's been a great year.  I decided not to reapply to this team, just thought I'd try some new things this year, but I wish them all the best and I'm excited to see who their new team will be.

They'll be announcing their new Design Team on the blog TOMORROW- so stop by.

They'll have lots of fun with the new collections.  I got to play with them recently to help make projects for CHA and their catalog and they've definitely got some cuteness coming out.

We were asked to create Christmas cards.  I think Imaginisce's die cuts make cards to easy.
This cute ribbon is from May Arts.  They've been providing the designers with ribbon all year long.
I have so much I literally don't know what to do with it all (not that I'm complaining ;)

Santa here is a chipboard sticker.  I popped up everything with dimensional foam adhesive (like I always do, right?) and the card bases are ones I've had in my stash for a few years from DCWV.

It's kinda sad to think that the year with the team will be over soon, but when you get a feeling that you need to try something new, you go with it, right?  Who knows what's around the corner.

I feel so fortunate to have been able to design for all the companies that I've applied for and I can't wait to dive in and get started with more crafty cuteness in 2013, and a big thanks to you all for visiting my blog and for your nice comments.

See the new Imaginisce Design Team announcement TOMORROW on the Imaginisce blog HERE.

Tiffany

Pebbles "Look Who's 2" Layout

Here's one of the layouts I created for my Pebbles Design Team application.  I'm in love with it.

Not only is this collection adorable, but my daughter's pretty darn cute, too! :)

I love the bright happy letter stickers and the felt embellishments, and the pinwheels! Swoon.

This layout features the Hip Hip Hooray! collection by Pebbles as well as some older felt stickers and twine from the New Additions collection.  I also did a ton of machine stitching to add texture.

My altered item I submitted for the design team will be published in March in a Mini Album magazine for Northridge Publishing, so I can't show you that, but I'll show you my other layout and my card soon.

-Tiffany

Pebbles "Whip It Up Wednesday" Quick Super Easy Cards

Pebbles "Whip It Up Wednesday" is all about creating quick cute projects.

I can't think of anything faster than these cute little love notes.

What's even better is that they only use the 6x6 Seen & Noted paper pad, and the Seen & Noted Accent and Phrase Cards, some cardstock for the card base, and some twine.  You could whip up lots of these in no time at all.

I simply popped the cards out from the pack, wrapped them with twine, and then adhered them to the front of the card using dimensional foam adhesive.  Easy peasy!!

See more cuteness on over at the Pebbles Blog.

Tiffany

Pebbles Thank You Cards and Imaginisce Iron-On Motifs

Are you wondering where I've been? ;)

I've been on a long Thanksgiving vacation-of-sorts.

We had Thanksgiving at our home this year for the first time ever.  Ever.

It was a lot of work but totally worth it and wonderful.  I'd do it again.

After that, we've been enjoying time together as a family, and I've had quite the break from DT assignments. It just happened that nothing was due for a while.

But now back to work.

Here are the two assignments that were posted for Pebbles and Imaginisce while I was gone.

Pebbles had us create projects with "Gratitude" as the theme.

I thought it was a good opportunity to create more Thank You cards, as I never seem to have enough of them.  I used the Walnut Grove collection, and I'm seriously beginning to run out of it since I've used it so much.  It's such a beautiful and versatile collection.

And here's one of my very last projects for the Imaginisce Design Team.

Applications are all in and they're choosing their new Design Team soon.  I've decided not to continue on with Imaginisce next year, but the company and the people and the coordinator, Cari, have been fantastic to work with.  They're such a great company.

I have been playing with next year's collections, though.  I was asked once again to create projects for their Winter catalog and for Winter CHA. 

Wish I could show you my projects, but they're under wraps for now. :)

I'll show you after CHA is over, after the new stuff's been revealed.

For this project we were asked to create something using their Iron-On Motifs.  This studded design is a pre-made Motif you iron on using their Mini Iron.  The paper is from the new Love You More collection, which is available now.  It's my favorite collection to date (though two of the new collections coming out might fight for that title :)

Can't wait to get back into the swing of things and start creating more fun projects.

I've got more Pebbles and Doodlebug coming up soon.

-Tiffany