Simply Crafty SVGs Design Team

Hello, I'm happy to announce that I will be part of the Simply Crafty SVGs Design Team for a further term.  Simply Crafty SVGs designs and sells fabulous 3D digital cutting files for cardmaking and papercrafting.

I'm thrilled to have some lovely new teamies. You can read their bios over at the Simply Crafty SVG Blog. 

Here are some of my favourite projects from the past 6 months.

Handy Storage Drawers

Orchid Box Card

Chalkboard Bird House

Haunted Halloween Castle

Santa Express Box Card

Terrier Pin Cushion

All the project posts contain information on how to recreate these projects, just click on the link below each picture to read more.

I'm SO looking forward to the new term, and can't wait to see the new files that will be released over the coming months.

Terrier Pin Cushion using Simply Crafty SVGs Dog Box Set

Hiya, Today I have a wacky 3D project for you using the fantastic Dog Box Set from Simply Crafty SVGs.

The file makes a fabulous lidded box with Chihuahua and Terrier variations. I fell in love with the terrier version, but thought it wouldn't be too difficult to make it look a bit more like my own pet, a feisty Lucas Terrier. Now comes the wacky part - with a few simple design changes I adapted the design to become a pin cushion and needle case with a small storage compartment for sewing accessories.

The file is designed to be cut from cardstock, but I made my box from felt-covered chipboard with some additional felt elements.  I've included details on the adaptations I made, but this is one of those projects that you can truly make your own.  I used my Silhouette Cameo® 3, but of course the SVG files can be used with other desktop die cutting machines (details here).


Materials Used:

Silhouette Chipboard (light-weight grey board)
Coloured Felt/Flannel 12" x 12" Squares in blue (1) & beige (2)
Black felt scraps or Flocked Heat Transfer Material
Heat N Bond Ultra Hold Iron-On Adhesive, or similar
12" x 10mm/0.75" Tartan Ribbon
Snap Fastener
Card Scraps
Toy Stuffing & Wadding
Beacon 3-in-1 Glue
Silhouette Cameo



Select and Cut the Pattern Pieces

Cut all pieces from the Box1 file, and the leg reinforcement pieces from the Box 2 file in Silhouette Chipboard. Cut selected pieces from the Terrier file (I cut the head twice, and one set of those fabulous eyebrows).


Covering the Pieces in Felt

Apply the iron-on adhesive to the back of a beige square of felt using a domestic iron following the manufacturers instructions. Draw around the board pieces shown on the adhesive side of the felt, cut them apart then trim and apply felt to the board pieces. Re trim the more intricate parts.

Ordinarily, I cut the felt on the Silhouette, but because only selected parts of these pieces need to be covered, it is quicker and easier to cut them with scissors using the Silhouette-cut board pieces as guides rather than edit all the pattern pieces in the software.


Strengthening the box

Design and add a leg at each corner to be partially hidden by the leg parts of the original box sides (all the parts are labelled in the PDF Instructions which accompany the file).  Adhere the legs once the box sides and re-enforcing pieces have been assembled. The box bottom needed to be trimmed before fitting. I just did this by eye with scissors.

Terrier Customisation

Cut and apply features from felt/heat transfer, adapting them if you wish.

I changed ear and eye shape, and added a mouth and card eye detail.

I made a 'neck' with a stack of board circles covered in beige felt which sat between the head and the body. The head and neck were adhered at a slight angle as that is how our terrier often stands.

The chest piece is an enlarged snout piece and the tail is an enlarged eyebrow!

The Pin Cushion

Make a sausage of stuffing wrapped in wadding and wrap a piece of blue felt around it. Secure along the length and at the ends with liquid adhesive. Cut a rectangle of board to fit the dog's back and cover in blue felt, securing with glue. (Optional) Trap some thin ribbon to form a handle between rectangle and 'sausage'.

Adhere the 'sausage' to the rectangle leaving it to dry under a heavy weight (I left mine in a cold heat press overnight).

The Needle Holder/Dog Coat

Add a shaped piece of blue felt folded over the side of the box (I used a bracket shaped square). Adhere it to the inside of the box only, leaving the outer part free. Add a smaller beige felt shape folded in half to serve as a needle holder. Adhere only on the folded edge. repeat on the other side.

Adhere ribbon to a narrow strip of felt, cut into two pieces, one longer than the other and attach a snap fastener to each end.

Adhere these straps to the blue squares so that one piece passes under the box so the fastener meets at one side.

The Storage Compartment

Line the compartment with a blue felt scrap, trimmed to fit.

... and that completes the terrier pin cushion.

Have you used your pets for crafty inspiration? I recommend it - it's a lot of fun!




Bye for now,
Janet, DT Member Simply Crafty SVGS

Blog: https://CraftingQuine.blogspot.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftingquine



Simply Crafty SVG Files:
Dog Box Set

Bear Pocket Bags - Combining Felt and Flocked Heat Transfer

Hello Janet here again.
Today I'm sharing a felt project with you over on the Silhouette UK Blog, turning a paper pocket file into a cute felt bag.  It also includes instructions for a no-sew technique for adding fine details to ANY felt project.

Many of the files in the Silhouette Design Store, designed to be used for paper, can be made into felt projects. Felt cuts much more easily on the Silhouette CAMEO®3 if it is first backed with a stabiliser. I used the Silhouette Clean Cut  Fusible Fabric Stabiliser, rather than the Cut and Sew type, as this project wouldn't require any machine sewing. In fact, it requires no sewing at all.

For detailed instructions on how to cut felt backed with stabiliser I recommend that you read my recent post on the Silhouette  UK blog called Cutting Felt with Cameo®3.  I also recommend using a wool/viscose felt mix, rather than a completely synthetic felt. Not only does it cut more easily, but it retains its softness and dimension, whereas synthetic felt can, once pressed, compress and fuse with the layer beneath, losing depth and texture.

In order to make the smaller and more detailed pieces I used my favourite cheat - Flocked Heat Transfer Material. Once incorporated into the the project its velvety texture looks like felt, but more intricate cuts can be made with a level of detail not possible from felt.


What You'll Need
Felt Sheets in Brown Shades (preferably a  30% wool, 70% viscose blend)
Cotton Fabric for Lining
Fusible Fabric Stabiliser (Clean Cut)
Black Flocked Heat Transfer Material 
Iron (on a non-steam setting)
Fabric Adhesive (Beacon Fabri-tac is my favourite)
Ribbon, Cord, or Similar (for a strap)
Downloaded file Bear Hug Candy Pocket by J M Rush (#172324)
Downloaded Bow File, I used (#16778) by Alaa' K

The file's designer, J M Rush, gives full instructions on how to make up the pocket. These instructions can be accessed in 3 ways:

• From the file's details in the Silhouette Design Store,
• Using the Show Properties facility in your software Downloads Library, and
• Directly from this link.

I hope you like these cute bears, I loved making them and LOVE my Silhouette too!

Felt Cushion

Hello,
Today I have a new post over on the Silhouette UK Blog. Its all about cutting felt on the Silhouette CAMEO® 3 with a stabiliser backing. I used the cut design to decorate a blank cushion cover using a cute cactus design by Doodlebug Designs from the Silhouette Design Store.


I added details with a bit of hand sewing.

In a previous post I used my Silhouette Curio™ to cut felt without stabiliser.  You can read the post about the Needle Case I made here.

Have fun cutting felt - give it try!

Craft Book Reviews - Felt and Flannel

I LOVE to read craft books, but find them SO expensive to buy. I borrowed this stack of lovelies from my local library. Don't forget what a great free resource they can be for crafty inspiration.

Felt Sew Good by Christine Leech

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lovely book full of fabulous ideas; gifts, decorations and home decor.

Super-Cute Felt: 35 Step-By-Step Projects to Make and Give by Laura Howard

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great felt-crafting book. Lots of fun and colourful projects.

Felt with Love: Felt Hearts, Flowers and Much More by Madeleine Millington

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Lots of stitch work, and all beautiful. Step-by-step instructions too.

Fabulous Felt: How to Make Beautiful Accessories and Decorations by Corrine Lapierre

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lovely felt projects with lots of top stitching detail. Again, step-by-step instructions on how to do all the stitches.


View all my reviews at Goodreads


Check out my Felt Needle Case project with a Silhouette Curio tutorial (yes, you can cut felt with an electronic cutter - imagine the possibilities)!

Cutting Felt with the Silhouette Curio - A Needle Case

I'm so pleased to finally find some time to play with my Silhouette Curio using felt. I adore working with felt and used to be in a weekly sharing event called Flannel Friday and had a blog totally devoted to making felt toys and storytelling props. Today I'm very excited to be sharing my felt cutting technique with you on the Silhouette UK Blog.

Although most felt can be cut on the Cameo or Portrait if it is backed with an iron-on stabiliser, I have found that the Curio can cut felt without stabiliser. I am sharing the method that I use to cut felt. I also describe how to protect the cutting mat from felt fibres and how to temporarily adhere the felt to the cutting mat using regular vinyl or contact paper.

I hope you enjoy working with felt and the Curio as much as I do. Do share your makes and ideas in the comments or on the Silhouette UK Facebook Community Page.

Here is a link from my older blog on cutting felt with the Cameo.

Silhouette Designs Used: