How to Make a Burlap Rose–Part 3

My Journey of trying to cut Burlap with a Pazzles Inspiration Electronic Die Cut Machine – PART 3

Part 1 - How to prepare your Burlap
Part 2 – How to Assemble the Rose.

Well, mud on my face, I was unsuccessful!  I was just told that sometimes a steel die just works….and I truly could have made 100 Roses by now, by not fiddling with this.

But just incase you want to give this a go, I will tell you what I did, and if you figure this out, please let me know!

I took prepared burlap (prepared burlap from now on will mean, I have dipped it in the 50% mod podge and water to stiffen it) and used painter’s tape to tape down to my mat.  I used the balsa wood setting with the blade at 6.  The burlap moved, Had to stop my machine.

I put the raw burlap on my mat and covered it with clear contact paper.  This cuts but you really can’t see the shape well. 

I put the prepared burlap on my mat and covered it with clear contact paper. This cut’s but slips

I tried it again, but sandwiched the prepared burlap between the contact paper. 

I sandwiched the prepared burlap between two sheets of freezer paper and fused it by ironing it.  This performs like the contact paper, except the paper get’s cut perfectly, so when you do a second pass it lifts up.  Contact paper is better.

Oh dear God, where was my mind?  I sandwiched the burlap between two sheets of red tape.  Worked!  but…..OF COURSE it leaves the burlap sticky on both sides….another No-GO and this brainy idea of mine, could have been a blooper!

It just dawned on me, while typing this, to fuse the freezer paper to the burlap and cover it with the red tape…Just measured the thickness it’s 1.69MM which is under the 2.0MM limit of the machine.

I am going to post this, as I need to have a rest from this project.  Have you ever worked on a problem so long that you just don’t want to do it any more?

Sorry folks….at this time, I would highly recommend using the BIGZ die.

 

How to make a Burlap Rose–Part 2

How to prepare burlap for die cutting – Part 1
My journey trying to cut burlap on my Pazzles - Part 3 

Please refer to Part 1, How to prepare your Burlap for Mechanical Die Cutting or Electronic Die Cutting.

Now that you have your burlap dipped in glue, dried and trimmed up, you are ready to cut!

What you will need:

• Sizzix Flower Layers #5
• Sizzix Big Shot
  • or other compatible manual die cut machine.  Product number is 113429 for a Big Shot

Notice I have laid my burlap covering the big flower.  I of course covered with another clear plate and ran this through.

Easy Peasy!

I slid the burlap over and cut the second one.  Of course if you want the little flower you could just cover your die and cut normally.  To make a Rose, you will need three each of this large flower.

I was not happy about all the burlap stuck on my new die!  I found that these lent free towels do a wonderful job of cleaning them up.

Hum…had to go make breakfast, took a shot of this…I think it should say Grease a Marie Callender’s Pie Tin, not a round cake pan…I’m Just Sayen…

The best way to learn how to do a rose is to watch Lorinda's Video.

I’m just going to give you photo’s so that if you are like me, you want to print it out and follow along…

WPC File Of Sizzix Die
Cut up WPC File
InVue PGV File
SVG File
JPG File

This should make since, after you watched Lorinda’s Video.  Should I say, I pray it makes since!

All the black lines are cut lines

• Flower #1
  • Cut between the petals, one time to the center.
  • Cut between the petals approximately 1/4 inch.
  • Cut the top of the petal off just to the right of your cut to the center of the flower and throw away.
• Flower #2 and saved piece.
  • Cut between the petals, one time to the center.
  • Cut one entire petal off and Save it.
  • Cut the top of the petal off, just to the right of your “V Cut” or maybe better said, just to the right of your center cuts, and throw away.
  • Cut between the petals approximately 1/4 inch.
  • From your saved petal, cut two petals, it will resemble a heart when done.
• Flower #3
  • Cut between the petals, one time to the center.
  • Cut two petals off. and Save it.
  • Cut the top of the petal off, just to the right of the above cut out and throw away.
  • Cut between the petals approximately 1/4 inch.
  • From your saved petal, cut 4 petals, it will look like two joined hearts

Flower # 1

Here is where the video is much better than the photos to learn.

Just notice this layer has 5 petals after you have hot glued it.

I took a skewer and rolled each petal under

Then place it on the table and slightly pushed the flower down in the middle to slightly shape it.

Flower #2

Do the same thing as you did to flower #1, EXCEPT turn it over and snip the bottom so you have a gaping hole in it.  Remember to save the heart for later.

 

Snip Snip!

Remember to roll your petals down.

On the back side of flower #2, put some hot glue all round the gaping hole. 

It was so dern hard to put the glue on, keep it hot, snap a photo with the other hand and NOT show you those ugly nails….

Sit the second flower down into flower #1, off sitting the petals.  I take a skewer and push all around to make sure its down nice and tight.

Ah, reward……..it’s starting to come together!  WhoooHoooo!

hum…wine must have gotten to me…and you…it’s really not blurry…it’s the wine…..

Do the same thing to flower #3, as you did flower #2.  Notice it only has three petals.

Take your saved piece and cut 4 petals…  Save it and flip flower #3 over put hot glue all around the outside and press it into your budding rose….offsetting the petals.

Who’s fingers are those anyways?

Ok, now it get’s a bit hard to explain.  Take the saved piece that has 4 petals.  Roll it tightly up and release it.  This softens the burlap and breaks it down a bit.

Put Hot glue on the edge and roll it up again.  You are making the inner petal.

Take your last saved piece that looks like a heart, soften it a bit and glue it to the outside of the other inner petal.

Here is something I do that’s a bit different.  I take that inner piece, and place it in the flower we have built so far.  In my opinion the inner petal is standing up to high

So, I cut the tip off.  I sit it back in the flower and it looked great, so next I filled up the gaping hole with hot glue well, not full, but was generous.

Place the inner petal into the center…..hold it for a bit till the glue hardens.  It will release from how you rolled it…that’s ok.

YOU did it!  Whew!

After I did two of them, I no longer have to look at my notes!  It’s really quite simple, and comes together quickly…not counting prepping the burlap that is!

Ok, next blog post will be how to cut burlap on an electronic die cut machine, God willing!

How to make a Burlap Rose–Part 1

How to prepare burlap for die cutting
How to Die Cut Burlap – Part 2 
My Journey trying to cut burlap on my Pazzles – Part 3

I think, I am late in the game of Burlap!  Funny, loosely woven burlap has traditionally been used for sacks.  I am going to guess that not many years ago, my ancestors used burlap for clothing, or at least that was the stories told along with no shoes to walk in the snow to school.

If you follow my blog, you know that I am a CASE’D crafter!  “Copy and Share Everything”  My burlap flower was inspired by Lorinda’s video.  My Burlap Rose just made this weeks favorite on Splitcoaststampers for the week ending July 20, 2014. 

So, enough rambling, I will grab another cup of coffee and tell you what I learned!

Lorinda’s video will teach you how to create the rose.  If you have never cut burlap before, you are going to be in for a surprise…not a good surprise, but a surprise…the dern stuff is so crooked on the edges…it’s impossible to cut straight.  Take a look at this and come right back.  I will go get another cup of coffee.

Ok, now that you have an idea how to cut the burlap these are the tools you will need.

• Sizzix’s Flower Layers #5
  • Sizzix is out of stock, however I did find mine on ebay.
• Burlap
  • Wallmart, Joannes, Michaels sells this at about 2.99 to 1.99 a yard.  A yard will make a lot of flowers!    You will need three 3.25” Square’s. If you only want to make a few 1/8 of a yard will do.  You can click on the photo and it will take you to this calculator.

 

• Mod Podge
  • Any kind will do…Elmer’s would do.  I even used Liquitex Matte Gell.  What ever you choose to use mix it 1:1 with water. I used a plastic shoe box to mix and dip in.
• Clothes Pins
• Clothes Hanger
• Sicissors
• Pokie tool thing (this is what I use, you can use a paper clip opened up or a needle)  hum, pokie tool thing?  I guess it’s a dentist probe…not liking the sound of that, I will keep it at Pokie tool thing.

Ok now that you have gathered all your things, it’s time to cut your burlap.  Make sure you take a peek at this, if you have never cut burlap before.

Since you are going to be cutting the large image three times, no need to waste your burlap.  I pulled a thread every 3.25 or 3.5 inches across the short side of the fabric. 

Once you have your strips it’s time to mix up your glue.  You don’t have to be exact…just eyeball it and mix it with 50% water in your plastic shoe box.

Take your strips and dip them in their…oh WAIT…..I had to do this outside, close to my garbage can because it’s going to drip like crazy. 

Really wishing I had a clothes line at this point…Now, the card I posted above, I did that bunch of burlap by dipping into the glue and squeezing it out and then hanging it…oh my gosh….yes, it worked, yes, it dried faster, yes, I used way less glue but holy heck Batman, I had to iron it, and iron it again with steam…it was 106 that day and I swore I would NEVER do that again!  Glue is cheep…Air Conditioning not so…

Notice how straight my burlap is….  no ironing this way!

I pour my glue back into the glue container and use it again .

Ok this next step you can do or not…I prep my burlap before I need it, and it would not surprise me if I had a bit of OCD going on.  I trim up my edges.  This makes the next step way easier, if you are concerned with saving burlap, because you can see the edges clearly.

Ah, come on now, aren’t you impressed with how that burlap feels?  Wait until you cut it girlfriend!

That’s all for today folks!  Get your burlap ready and I will see you on the next blog post – Topic – Cutting stiffened burlap on a big shot.  Oh and after that, God Willing, how to cut burlap on an electronic die cutter….

….pssssst….if you took the time to read this and I took the time to write this, please leave me a comment!  It’s the only way I know, if anyone reads them.  It encourages me to write again.  Let me know if you enjoy/or not, my postings.

DIY Patio Pillows and Swing Canopy

Where was my mind?  My Freshman year, we had to take sewing.  I lived with my Aunt, and she was an excellent seamstress.

Should be easy, right?  WRONG.  It was a black and white print dress, short sleeves and a STUPID Invisible zipper.  I had to rip out that zipper more times than I can remember.  The material around the zipper was so ripped up, the dress was never worn....needless to say, my Aunt never revisited sewing with me again and I received a "F" in the class.  NOT because I did not apply myself, but because, I simply could not do it.  Part of the problem was I was left handed and everyone else was right handed...or this is what I tell myself, and it makes my Aunt and myself feel better.

So, as I started doing this project, those memories came flooding back.  Yeppers, my husband is enjoying telling everyone I am an expert seam ripper....had to buy 4 spools of thread, just to complete the project.

Hubby went and purchased a new patio table set, which only came with seat cushions….I wanted back cushions.  The old swing set was green and totally worn out.  So that means, I needed cushions for it and a canopy redo.  Hubby spray painted it black to match the new table and chairs and the rest was up to me. 

I usually document my projects on this blog...but truly, I followed the directions exactly has Christy wrote them on her blog “Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer”  What a cute name for a blog!  Thank you Christy!

So All the pillow backs and swing pillows I just followed Christy’s directions.  I took the arm rests off the swing and just used that as a pattern.  Thank goodness for Velcro. 

Did you notice the little envelope pillows on the swing?  Brandy at “Craftaholics Anonymous” had the easiest tutorial!  I bet they were done in 15 minutes…remember, it’s been decades since I have sewed, so if I can do this, you can!  I can’t wait to make some of these for gifts!  Thank you Brandy!

Ok, last but not least is the canopy.  I was totally afraid of this, so I saved it until last.  I decided to hem around the whole piece of the material, then pinned it onto the metal frame…oh did I mention my husband spray painted it to match the table?  Gotta give credit where credit is due…

It’s 112 right now…to hot to do any thing else at this time, one morning or cool evening, I plan to use adhesive Velcro to attach it to the frame….I will update this blog with photo’s when I get that finished.

I think the seat cushions match the material I purchased, so I am going to wait on covering those, even though, I purchased enough fabric to cover them…or maybe not…HA!

Lattice Basket–Finished

What an event! I believe that this has been the hardest project I have ever attempted!

This basket was created for a 60th Wedding Anniversary. So had to go with the bling! I have filled the box with hand made cards and notepads.

 

Bling covering brad, that is holding on the handle

Bling covering brad on inside of basket. Can’t tell from photo, but this is a large rhinestone circled by little rhinestones.

If you want to read past blogs…and some tips of how to do this:

Inspiration, Frustration

Lattice work mastered

Almost done

and the final page! Well, you are on it! whew, what a challenge.

I am entering this project on the March Challenge on the Ribbon Girls Blog. not sure what the heck I am doing, as this will be my first challenge I have ever participated in....

 

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Make your own Memo Pads!

This was SIMPLY to much FUN!

Recipe for Memo Pads

Ingredients

8 1/5 X 11 Bright White Paper (regular ol printer paper)
8 1/5 X 11 Chipboard (not to thick, for backs, can even use cereal boxes)
Paper Cutter
Glue
Wooden Shims
Clamps (even binder clamps work)

Design your paper!

You can use any “typing” program you have!  Here are the directions for Creative Memories Storybook 4.0.  Now, don’t worry.  The concept I have done for Storybook 4.0, is really, the same for pretty much any software…like word..or publisher for example.  I just love love love Storybook!  I have very expensive graphic draw programs….but…..after working in IT and coming home, the last thing I want to do, is learn another program…..these graphic programs, I found hard.  Not simple to us…..I did, however, find Storybook very very SIMPLE to use….kinda like a no brainer….and the link I gave you….you can try out for free for 30 days…what more can you ask for!

Printer your design!

I print 22, so that I have a pad with 40 in it!  I get 2 pads from this print job.  I usually make 2 of one design and two of another.

Cut your paper into quarters (4 1/4 X 5 1/5)

I have to tell you….I got out my Zutter Dreamcut machine!  because, it cuts papers evenly each time.  As you probably already know, using a paper cutter, doesn’t really do this, when you are going to stack 40 ish papers together….its very hard to cut them all the same.  My dreamcut machine does this soooooooooooo nicely.  I bought it for production type activities and this was certainly one of those events!
Stack, Clamp and Glue
Notice from the first photo, I took some pieces of wood (I used shims) for 1.57 all I did was lay one, one way, and the other, the other way….you know, so that it was squared up.
Stacked my paper as even as I could get it in this order:

• blank piece of paper
• chipboard
• 40 or so pieces of my very own designer paper
• blank piece of paper…marked where the top is, so I glue the correct side….

Clamped it so I could then glue.  Now, for clamps, you can just use something very heavy and put the edge of your papers right on the end of your table so you can glue the edge….or you can clamp like I am going….or you can clamp with those big binder clips you get in the office area of stores…  the point here, is stack your paper crisply and evently, hold down the paper stack tight so that the glue only goes on the edge….(use clamps, books, anything that will hold it tight)
Now for glue.  All over the internet they tell you to buy padding compound.  Well, I could not find it.  oh, I could on line for about $20.00 or so…enough to last 5 lifetimes….heck!  then I found you could make your own…
My inspiration came from Andrea Arch, however, when I seen the glycerin, I did not even try….Glycerine…I have shopped for in the past, hard thing to find…
so, I used good ol Elmers.  Now, don’t go out and buy this one….look in your stash, look for glue that is thick not runny.  When you find it, take brush, or a sponge brush and paint the edge.  After you paint the edge add some more clamps so that the edge stays straight.
Let it dry to the touch and remove only the clamps on the edge so that you can paint another coat, then clamp back down.  Dry and there you go!
I got the biggest kick out of that notepad you see above.  We were going to my brother-in-laws for dinner.  He is a retired butcher…so, I thought, he might like a notepad….I went to google and searched butcher silloute (notice I did not even spell silhouette correctly!) and found these…to dang cute, so, yeppers, I used the one of the pig chasing the butcher.  He loved it!

When looking for images I often go to google.com, then click on images (on the black ribbon, third one from the left), then type in my search words…in this case it was butcher silloute and STILL found some images…wonder what I would have found if I spelled it correctly!  HA!

WOYWW - 197

Notice the lattice panels! Yeah! Finally! if you are crazy, and want to lace up your own, I blogged some tips, on the blog just before this one. Actually, in several blogs prior to this one!

What you see there is one heck of a complicated project for me! I am gluing on the lattice panels in the above


I think I am going to use this for a diamond anniversary. Have to go shopping for some bling. I need a diamond brad not a star!

I am sooooooo close to finally finishing this! Just the fun part of decorating left! The hard part is over!
What you see is what is on my desk this morning! Stop over at Julia's to find out more about WOYWW!

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