Locked & Loaded Jacket Patches made with The Cricut and the Blackletter font

Is it strange I am making a jacket when it's over 100 degrees out?

This is my first fabric project I made with my Cricut. I am soooooo hooked!

Here is how I did it:

First I ironed Heat and Bond onto the back of a 12 x 12 piece of black cotton fabric (with tiny white dots just to be a bit cute)
Then I die cut the words Locked & Loaded using my Cricut die cutting machine using the Blackletter font.
Then I repeated the process with a piece of white cotton to get the shadow effect for the ampersand (the "and" symbol).

Then I simply photographed a pair of scissors, uploaded it into my computer and printed it out to get my scissor image. I glued it right side down to the back side of the black fabric to cut it out.

Then to make the top and bottom rocker template off to Illustrator. (feel free to download the pattern)
I then glued the rocker patches onto the back of the white fabric and cut them out. Note: The scissors are there only to make sure there was enough space for them.

Then I pealed off the paper backing of the black scissors and ironed it onto the front of the white fabric. Then cut it out of the white fabric with about an eighth inch border.
I then pressed the letters onto the rocker sections and then aligned everything onto the back of my jacket and pressed it all down.

All that was left to do was some raw topstitching around the scissors and some clean stitching with black thread around the rocker patches about an eighth inch in from the outer edge.

Finally I added a stud to the center of the scissors at the hing point.

I think this is going to be like cross stitching is for me (my house is starting to look like a sign shop because I keep cross stitching all sorts of words and sayings) all my cloths are going to have something to say!

And speaking of signs, here is another one I made, snarky eh? Get it? If you want to see how I made this one (including a great way to align and space the letters super easy) pop on over to Craftside.

A Floral-tasticly good project from the new book- Kanzashi in Bloom

I love making flowers to decorate things and I am always on the lookout for a new way and here one is:
Kanzashi in Bloom: 20 Simple Fold-and-Sew Projects to Wear and Give
By
Diane Gilleland

Kanzashi tsumami is the Japanese art of folding delicate squares of silk into three-dimensional flower petals. In the United States, the online craft culture has sprouted a renewed interest in making Kanzashi with American crafters devising simplified ways to create these gorgeous fabric flowers and incorporating more user-friendly materials like cotton and synthetic fabrics along with the traditional silks.

Kanzashi in Bloom takes the American interpretation of Kanzashi a step further, presenting modern, more easily executed flower designs as elements in a variety of fun, fashionable, hip craft projects. Kanzashi in Bloom offers advice on materials, three petal-folding styles, and techniques for assembling a Kanzashi flower. You’ll also find instructions for 20 projects to wear and give as gifts, including:

• Tiny blossom earrings
• Flowers-in-your-hair clips
• The happiest belt buckle ever
• Elegant floral gift topper

Well since I have to test-drive every craft technique I can possible get my hands on and this one is no exception. I followed the impeccable directions and let's just say I tend to have to try a couple of times when I am doing origami, such is not the case here, first shot out I got it! The photos matched the words and explained everything so clearly.

As you can see in the first photo with the book cover I made a pink gingham flower using two of the folding techniques, the pointed and the round. I think my choice was a bit floppy but I am still tickled with the result. I glued it onto a hair clip and I am wearing it while I type!

So if you are like me and like, flowers, origami, fabric, and making cute little things to embellish and decorate just about anything I bet you will like this book too!

Thanks fellow Church of Crafter for writing such a good book.

Beat the summer Heat with some Cool Crafty Blogger Links

My twin cousin's first communion.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside's got a how-to's on bleaching photos and juxtaposing images, a mixed-media journal out of a wide variety of recycled materials and a video with Scatha G. Allison where she shows the incredible designs from her book Jean Therapy. Be sure to answer the day's questions to be entered to win a free book!

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner
Alexa shares the mental process behind creating a post on her swell craft blog

Crafty Princess Diaries
Have you thought about taking your craft hobby to a different level? Tammy has some thoughts to consider before crossing over the hobby/professional line.

CraftyPod
SisterDiane is thrilled to unveil her new ebook, Weaving Un-Loomed: Simple Ways to Weave Cool Things.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Have fun trying out these new free Candlewicking patterns Connie's sharing. If you use one, send in a photo to show it off!

Mixed Media Artist
Using two very different book pages, you can create a found poem for an altered book...or just because!

Naughty Secretary Club
Jen shares clever and crafty uses for suitcases that have nothing to do with holding clothing. Side tables, laptop cases and portable craft studios oh my!

The Artful Crafter
Eileen shows you how to make a multi-strand fiber bracelet.

The Crochet Dude
Drew reviews the new Simplicty Rotary Cutting Maching - offers up a free crocheted project using fabric strips - and he's giving away a Rotary Cutting Machine to one lucky commenter!

The Impatient Crafter
Madge shows you how to make a quick and easy Altered Chinese Paper Lantern in her first post on Kid/Teen Crafts for I Love to Create!

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love
Check out Vickie's free pattern for a knitted lace, iPhone cozy!

About Family Crafts
I need your help! Be the first to submit a photo of this completed craft and be featured on the Family Crafts site!

Aileen's Musings
Your help is needed...Please take a moment to help make a difference We have a chance to get our ovarian cancer charity project on the cover of a northern CA magazine. Your vote is needed! The project benefits the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Deadline for voting is July 23rd so hurry and cast your vote!

Drink Mermaid Jewelry inspired by the wonderfully innovative book- A Charming Exchange

I have a theory that there is simply nothing that can't be re-purposed and this wonderful book is lending credence to my theory!
A Charming Exchange: 25 Jewelry Projects To Create & Share
by Kelly Snelling and Ruth Rae

"Readers will be introduced to techniques and inspiration for creating mixed-media charms and other jewelry items from a selection of twenty-five talented contributing artists. Together, these artists have collaborated to create a stunning charm bracelet that demonstrates techniques such as working with wire, beads, solder, fabric, found objects and more which can be applied to other crafts. In addition to reading about each individual artist's inspiration and creative thought process, readers will learn how to organize art swaps or collaborations of their own."

Kelly Snelling is a self-taught mixed-media artist whose work has been published in Artist Trading Cards Workshop, Somerset Memories (Formerly Legacy), Somerset Studio, Somerset Gallery and the 2007 Top Hat Calendar. Kelly holds a master’s degree from Ohio State University in journalism and telecommunications, and spent several years in the Creative Services office of NFL Properties.

Ruth Rae received her artistic training in metalsmithing and lapidary arts, but has also worked in fiber arts, polymer clay and precious metal clay. Her work can be found in retail shops within California and online at www.Belecia.com."

A Charming Exchange is packed with some of the wildest and innovative jewelry made from very unusual things. It also contains excellent how-to photographs and directions for lots of jewelry making techniques. I loved every page for it's complete unexpectedness. It also has a cool concept of making jewelry as a group, something I never thought of and is now on my "to-do" list. But for now I am taking my inspiration for today's jewelry from this page:
It contains a project titled "Tire-swing Babies" it is a very cool necklace made out of tiny plastic babies, the kind you use for decorations at a baby shower. Well, I didn't have those but what I did have that I thought would make some fun jewelry were some drink mermaids. I spray painted them silver and tried two ways of linking them to a necklace.

This first one I linked a jump ring around the waist and then a smaller jump ring to link it to the ball chain. This one is more floaty and the position of the mermaid can move around. More "swimmy"

This one I linked a small jump ring on each arm and then connected the two with a large jump ring. Then I linked the two ends of chain to the large jump ring independently. This pretty much keeps her floating in one spot.

So if you like making jewelry out of unusual things I bet you will really like this book too.

The Card Album in The Judikins Booth at The Carson Rubber Stamp Show and Crafty Blogger Links

This is the Judikins booth at this past weekend's Carson Rubber Stamp Show. As you can see I couldn't get very close because of the crowd watching all the cool techniques that Cherryl Greene was demonstrating!Not only was Cherryl teaching cool techniques, Judi, yes one in the same of Judikins was also sharing cool stuff you can do with all their great new products. One of which is the Card Album, as seen below. Not the best picture but hey it is such an exciting event, picture taking was a little crazed!
OK, that's the stamping and shopping news of the weekend here is the crafting news from my fellow Crafty Bloggers:

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love
Vickie's 10 Craft Tips for Busy Parents!

The Impatient Crafter
Madge shares the 411 on how she made a gorgeous crystal, rubber and exposed wire collar inspired by African jewelry.

The Crochet Dude
See a sneak peek video of Drew's new pattern line that launches August 1st!

The Artful Crafter
If you’re a polymer clay beginner or just want a quick professional looking project, use molds!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is the latest episode of Look, Learn & Create featuring the fabulous cloth doll artist, Patti Medaris Culea, a fun vegan recipe for Frushi (fruit sushi), a how-to on making a tennis ball training tool, and an Illustrator tutorial to make a digital word ATC and as always a bunch of questions that if you answer you are entered to win a free book!

Mixed Media Artist
Do not fear...making altered books will not cause lightning to strike you!

Cross Stitch at About.com
What do you do with odds and ends of embroidery floss? Read these ideas and share your own.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Have you thought of starting your own craft weblog? Here is why crafting rocks when it comes to niche blogging.

Cathie Filian
When you need a crafty break - whip up this quick and easy snack of homemade hummus and baked bagel chips.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen gives you a sneek peek at some felt banners she's making for a swap, and tells you how to make easy rolled felt flowers to use as embellishments.

About Family Crafts
As a parent, one of the biggest crafting dilemmas you may face is what to do with all the wonderful masterpieces your child creates. How do you display each piece so it gets the attention it deserves?