Another Completed Sewing Project

   This week I tackled another sewing project. I have abandon my scrapbooking for over a month but that is only because I have gotten bitten by the sewing bug. This happens twice a year when the weather changes. 

   This time I made a trendy top that is made from a super soft flannel. Here are some photos of it. They are not the best looking photos since it is a rainy day here. I used simplicity pattern #1013

    Here is what it looks like on. It is a loose fitting top so it is great for layering. I should have looked in the mirror before the photos were taken since the plaid looks off in the images but it really isn't. 

Make a Wish Shaker Style

      Last month I made a card that I loved and didn't know if I should sell it but I decided to list it on my shop anyway. I figure if I like it so much I could always make another one even though it would be made from different items since most of my cards are one of a kind. Fast forward to the current challenge over at Cas-UAL Fridays challenge, shaker cards. I knew he was my chance to try to recreate that first card I was in love with. 

   Here is my shaker card. 

Supplies: cardstock (Canvas Home Basics and The Paper Studio), pattern paper (PhotoPlay, Simple Stories and Fancy Pants Designs), enamel dots (My Mind's Eye), chipboard (Crate Paper and Simple Stories), sequins (SpiegleMom Scraps), stamps (Stampabilities, Studio Calico, and Peachy Keen Stamps), mist (Heidi Swapp) ink (Tsukineko) and stamping tool (MISTI) 

   I ended up using a plastic sheet that came from a pack of cork stickers for the "glass" window. 

   Now, this card is one I love as much as that first one. 

Studio Update

   Today, I just did my first very quick video tour of my studio. Sorry it is so dark but today wasa very gloomy day. Later on, I will do a more in depth tour. 

Merging

   The holidays are fast approaching so I am preparing my Etsy shop with lots of handmade items. I have been listing Christmas cards and ornaments this month. I also have already have some cute dog toys listed because we all need to give a special toy out fur babies.

   With all the shop work on listings I am constantly working on marketing. I have been trying to incorporate my blog, shop and instagram account to give me a more cohesive look so when you see the name "MJs Kraze" it will be able to stick into ones mind of handmade items and a designer.

   So what do you think of the new blog look. I am loving the more clean and simple design on my sites it allows the items to pop.  On thing about the blog, I am still trying to find the happy medium of posting shop updates. I am sure no reader wants to just see items for sale.

   Speaking of items for sale I am working on a For Sale section on my blog to sell some stash items of supplies.  I had one up before but it was outdated so i am revamping it. Be on the lookout for this later this week.

Better Late Than Never

   I have a tendency to buy cute sewing patterns when there is a great sale like the $0.99 sale Hobby Lobby and let them go untouched for months or years. This pattern is one I bought last year. I had planned on making before summer but between my eye healing, finding time and looking for the right fabric it never came together.  Even though it is getting cool I still made this since I found the right fabric and had the time, aka the sewing bug hit. 

   Here is how the dress came out. I have to say it took a lot longer than I  planned. Three days worth of work and becoming friends with the seam ripper I am happy to say I love how it came out.. I had the feeling the whole time that it was going to be way too big since it was starting to look like a tent. I ended up trimming the length so it hit at the knee, which made it not so big at the bottom. I just love the vintage look of this. 

   The top fabric has a silver metallic star print.

    To make it wearable during the cooler weather I paired it up with the long cardigan. Plus the combination of this with leggings and tall boots is super cute.  It looks better on me instead of the hanger.

It is Alive

   As of last week my big project is finally done. I decided to make a life size Frankenstein out of terracotta pots. I had 6 large pots hanging around the garage from the container garden fail from three years ago. When I started to work on this I had to buy another pot since one of them broke. 

   This thing is over 5' which means it is taller than me. As soon as October 1st. comes this will be  standing on the front porch. 

Supplies: terracotta pots, ribbon, adhesive, glitter and fabric. 

   Here is some closer shots. 

   I am most proud of how his face came out. I did it 100% by myself.

   His bolts were glittered.

   I am not too crazy over how the hands came out but figured it gave him the look of being put together in pieces.

   So what do you think is he scary or not. I say no my mom says yes because of his size. 

Tag Time

  Today was a rainy fall day so after the farmer's market I headed downstairs with my homemade spice latter to create a cute tag. Last week,  I came across a tad challenge site which I happened to fall in love with. It is called Tag You're It. Each week there is a inspiration photo and this is this week's. 

Here is my take on it. 

Supplies: cardstock (The Paper Studio), pattern paper (Crate Paper), chipboard (Studio Calico), ribbon (Love Bug Creations), doily (Doodlebug Designs), tag (?), manual die (Heidi Swapp), manual die cutter (Spellbinders), and staple. 

   I am now in love with tags so I am planning on making a bunch of them with scraps from my 6 x 6 paper pads. 

   I borrowed my dad's stapler to add the ribbon to this. While I was doing it my dad said staples on a card, which he didn't know it was a tag. I said of course.

A Halloween Card

   Today, I am sharing with you a Halloween card created with the CAS(E) #190 card sketch. 

Here is my take on the sketch. 

Supplies: cardstock (Canvas Home Basics), stamps (Karen Foster), ink (Close to My Heart), doily (Doodlebug Designs), markers (Spectrum Noir)  and stamping tool (MISTI)

  I stuck super close to the sketch but felt that it needed something extra so I added a doily.  I think my coloring is getting better. I think the shading on the Count is spot on. 

Make a Wish Card

   This card I created was actually for no challenge but for an upcoming birthday of my grandpa. I felt I needed to make him a card instead of picking one out of my two boxes of card stash. I think I just really wanted to play with pretty paper. Plus, I know my grandparents love their handmade cards a lot, they may or may not have my cards displayed in their home that were sent to them in May, June and August. 

Supplies: cardstock (Canvas Home Basics), pattern paper (Photo Play Paper and Fancy Pants Designs), filler card (Simple Stories), stamp (Stampabilities), manual dies (Spellbinders), die cutter (Spellbinders), punches (EK Success and We R Memory Keepers) and stamping tool (MISTI)

   I love the crisp image I get with the misti. I even stamped happy birthday inside of the card. I came out perfect.  The two perfect male collections every once needs to have is This Guy by Photo Play Paper and Good Fellows by Fancy Pants Designs. 

  Here is a picture of just the card.

Stamped and Colored Hello Card

  Today's card share is for the Paper Smooches "Anything Goes" challenge. 

   I only have one stamp set that was from Paper Smooches and that I got years ago in a Studio Calico kit. I never used it before , except for the "hello". It was perfect since I was in a fall mode. 

Supplies: cardstock (Canvas Home Basics and Bazzill Basics), stamps (Paper Smooches), ink (Tsukineko), markers (Spectrum Noir)

   This was the first time I created a scene stamped and colored card with no pattern paper. As you can see, I need more practice on the marker work. 

  Even, though the shading is off I still like how it came out.

    Here is a closer look.

Clean and Simple Joy Card

   This is my last post for today. I promise. This post is for another card that I created with this week's CAS-Ual Fridays challenge. 

Here is my take on the challenge. 

Supplies: cardstock (Canvas Home Basics and American Crafts), pattern paper (Scrap Works), wooden ornament (Target), stamp (Close to My Heart), ink (Close to My Heart), bakers twine (Bella Creationz), sequins (SpiegleMom Scraps), dies (Spellbinders), die cutter (Spellbinders) and lace (Heidi Swapp)

   I love the big snowflake on here. I got it in a pack of gift toppers from Target at the end of the season last year. 

I think this look is such an elegant look for the holiday card.

   I love the triple layer bow with the sequins star center.

   I couldn't resist to add a touch of lace to the bottom of the card.

Black, White & Gold Christmas Card Set

   Can you believe this is my second post for today and expect one more later on. This post is for a card set that I created with this week's CAS-Ual Fridays challenge. I have been a long follower of their blog but never got to play along, that is until now. This week's challenge was black, white with a pop of color. 

   Here is my take on it. I opted for gold as the pop of color. This color combo looks so elegant for Christmas cards. 

 Supplies: cardstock (Canvas Home Basics and American Crafts), pattern paper (Scrap Works), stamps (Studio Calico and Close to My Heart), inks (Tsukineko and Versamark), manual dies (Spellbinders), die cut machines (Spellbinders), embossing powder (Stampabilities) and brad (Quick Quotes).

   Here is a group shot of just the cards. 

   I used pop dots under the sentiment frame to give it more interest since I layered it on top of the same color cardstock.