Fabric Flower Tutorial

I can across this tutorial at: http://littlechandlerfamily.blogspot.com/2011/04/fabric-kanzashi-flowers.html

I, in the process of moving have been making these allot.. to do something with the little down time I have. I thought they would be a great tutorial to offer you all.  I have put the pics and instructions below, but feel free to check out the blog they came from. I plan on this week posting some fun goodness I come across each day for you all to try! This one is Craft Donkey tried and loved! 

Materials:
8 squares of fabric (used 10 cm X 10 cm pieces found in fat quarters)
A needle and thread
Button for the center
Glue gun
Alligator clip
1. Fold one piece of fabric in half diagonally.
2. Fold it in half yet again.
3. And again.....
4. Bear with me, this part is a bit hard to explain in words....Fold the two sides of the fabric down as if you are folding a paper airplane....
Get it?? It should look like this on the other side.... 5. Push your needle through the side making sure to pierce all pieces of fabric so it will hold together once they are all strung on.
6. Repeat this seven more times and add them to the thread.
**Do NOT knot between each one as you want them to be able to slide along as you position them correctly at the end!!
7. Once they are all on, your thread gently making sure to not snap it and push through the first "petal" once again so that they arrange themselves in a circle.
8. Once secured, put all the points together.
9. Using very sharp scissors, cut the rough ends off.
It should look like this.
10. Rearrange the petals in a circle and ensure their proper spacing.
It should look similar to this.
11. Pick out the button/s you want to decorate the centre of the flower.
12. Using your glue gun, make sure you get glue on each petal nearest the centre. You want to make sure that they are all secured by the glue.
13. Squish the button on. Large buttons work best!
14. You can actually attach the flower to almost anything - a hairband, a hair elastic, a purse, a shirt, etc. But we decided to attach it to the alligator clip. This allows for versatility because once on the alligator clip, you can clip it to any of these things are remove it to attach elsewhere later on.
15. Using plenty of glue, again try to make sure you touch each petal to ensure that it doesn't fall apart later on.
16. Stick the alligator clip to it. **We stuck a piece of cardstock in between the alligator's "mouth" to make sure that any extra glue wouldn't stick it shut.
17. Once it has cooled and hardened, remove the cardstock and VOILA! A little piece of decorative hair heaven!
Although these look quite difficult, they are crazy easy.  A great project to complete in under 30 minutes!

Alrighty ladies

So, I wanted to say first and foremost, I am sorry for being delayed with the hidden journaling tutorial. But this move has been kicking my butt, as well as watching daycare kids while packing and getting a house and a job. Things shave been ubber crazy!

So, please accept my apologies. I started working on packing my scrappin area and well, now its a disaster and not a place to do any sort of a tutorial. So, I am very sorry.

Soo, I will keep you all in the loop. I move a week from Saturday!!! Soo, close and I'm actually ready for it!!! Been selling alot of stuff I no longer need and packing up a storm!

So, there's the dish. I'll still be posting ideas and motivational things this week, however, I won't be posting my tutorial.. but I promise it's great.. see if I can maybe even find it elsewhere and post it for you all! Thanks for understanding ladies.. stay around, we'll still spark some great convo as well as some wonderful projects!

I'm very excited to be unpacked and the scrappin stuff will be first on the list! hee hee as in the new house I will have an entire room for it all! Soooooo excited! 

This & That on Adhesive & July Giveaway

Ok, so this month I have an amazing giveaway of a Tim Holtz Configurations Frame. But, I know you all didn't forget that! I'm showcasing again today the last box I did. If you haven't but want to see more of this look into some of my first posts about 2 months ago and you'll find a slew of up-close shots of all the details. Also pictured is what is up for this months giveaway, just be sure to be a follower, share on facebook or your blog and the make sure your friends let me know you sent them!

This is going to be a lengthy post, but it's an important conversation to have all crafters must have, A come to Jesus moment if you will.

 I loved doing this project and also wanted to have a little conversation. This project sponsored this conversation for me. I included so many elements on this projects, from fabric, canvas, metal, gems, pearls, acrylic, chipboard...etc. So, say you were to put together a project like this. What adhesives would you use? Would you have to use more than one adhesive? Would it last? I'm always leary to use adhesive people recommend, mainly because my first question is how long have you used it? 

I ask this because, I've fallen in love with alot of adhesives over the last 10 years. Then over time, I find out their not all I had thought. For instances about a year in a half ago I made a Bucket List Book. I love it, poured my heart and soul into it. It sits on my shelf to showcase to others, which is saying alot as it's very personal.

 I went to pack it a few days ago, among other projects (I am moving) and that book was FALLING APART!!!!! Not all of it but the words I had glued on with a runner (wal-mart kind) were all falling off on their own or when you ran your finger over the words. Embellishments such as metals and plastics I had used hot glue or other adhesives for were holding on for their life if not already unattached.

NO ONE wants this to happen, I was urked! To say the least. There were many words used not appropiate for blog readers. So, I wanted to bring up a discussion of ADHESIVE and what I have been going to for over 6 months. I have been using Helmar Adhesive and I have to say, it's held up to the most important element ever..............TIME.

As a side note the below project I completed just with Helmar Quick Dry 450 adhesive. That's RIGHT! Everything, still as in tact as it was 6 months ago.

I wanted to share as well, without an adhesive that stands the biggest test of all, TIME. Your projects are subject to fall apart on you. I use Helmar for everything now. It's wonderful on paper (doesn't warp it), holds for over 6 months even when being displayed on a shelf, holds anything I've ever used it on, including plastic!

I am sharing this, because this album falling apart and having to put it back together nearly broke my heart! I wouldn't wish it on anyone to have to piece back together an album that important to you. Also, as a little side note, I am in no way sponsored by Helmar or anything! Just a fan giving a shout out to them. BECAUSE THEIR AMAZING!!!

Here is their blog. It includes places to shop for their wonderful products as well as wonderful projects and videos. I'd recommend if you are hesitant in ordering something new in a tight economy to try out a mini bottle of Helmar's Quick Dry 450. This is what I began with, and then later after trusting it began adding their other forms of adhesives. http://www.helmarusa.typepad.com/  

 Also, feel free to head over to their Facebook page, and "LIKE" them,  tell them The Craft Donkey sent you. They display alot of projects and inspiration on there that you do not always find on the blog and you can read the testimonials of hundreds of others. http://www.facebook.com/#!/HelmarUSA

So, in an effort to spread the love for this wonderful adhesive I'm  ALSO offering you all a small bottle of Helmar's Quick Dry 450 with this months Giveaway! (pictured are 3 large bottles, as I'm obsessed with them! OBVIOUSLY! You will rec. a small bottle with this months giveaway if you are the winner at the end of the month!)

Thanks ladies! I'll be announcing the winner of July's Giveaway in a week!! So if you're new to the blog, say HIIII!

Motivation Monday

Ok, so first and foremost. I have gotten quite a few personal emails, regarding the hidden journaling technique I was going to showcase last week. I am very sorry. Between packing and some other things going on I was not able to get the post up. Blogger was being a butt head, and then just things around here. I will be showcasing it this week!

Ok, so on to Motivational Monday.

I thought I would do some visual motivation today. I think sometimes like I've said before that some of my greatest motivation comes from simple images that excite me! Some are pictures I want to use for image transfer, some are color palettes for when I'm having scrappers block, some are just the very design and flow, some of even the way the photo was taken! So here we go. Enjoy! Take motivation and run with it! Be patient, there are a lot of photos that may take a moment to load.

(images are thanks to Pinterest.com)

Wandering Wednesday

So, as of yesterday, I was still flying by the seat of my pants as to what I would be showcasing for today's wandering around....

Then last night I received an update from a blog I follow and

OMG!!!

I had to share what is going to be coming out from Prima and Ingvid Bolme and what all of you wonderful wholesale and retail ladies need to pre-order so that I can ravage it from you all!!! Hahah how do you like that for excitement! I saw these and literally began squealing! I can't wait!

I'm going to share them here!! Because well, I just found my entire Christmas want list! They are all either resin or metal pieces and I must must must own them all!  Check them out. Let me know what you think. Which are your faves? Then head over and let her know which you all prefer! Click Here! Tell her your thoughts!