Creations by Penny .::. a sewing blog

Mini-Mini Messenger

2011-09-03T16:29:00.002-04:00

Cute right!? I think so.

Fabric and ribbon "bow".

Inner lining.

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Boldly Colored Slouchy Bag

2011-09-02T07:05:00.005-04:00

I really love this purse. I wish I had the kind of personality I think you have to have to carry a purse like this!

Pleated pockets!
the strap is also pleated but it's hard to see in the photo.

Slip pocket with pen pockets.

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Red Flowers, small purse

2011-09-01T07:02:00.002-04:00

Saw this fabric and loved it! These are my kind of colors.

I really love these buttons I found. I think they are so cool.

Zipper pocket on the inside, which was alot easier to put in than I thought it would be.

I can't stop making purses, as much as I do try sometimes. It's like an obsession now.

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Modern FLowers, another purse.

2011-08-31T09:31:00.001-04:00

This is a pretty basic purse, but I do love this fabric.

Button loop closure.

Inside pockets.

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Modern Flowers - Purse.

2011-08-30T09:28:00.003-04:00

I have to say I absolutely LOVE this fabric. I saw it and just HAD to buy it. I think it's gorgeous!

Inside pockets. Velcro closure. Love this purse.

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Paisley Purse

2011-08-28T09:24:00.005-04:00

Ugh. Yes, I know I need to seriously work on my photography skills. I take great photos of my kids and stuff but for some reason my purse pictures never come out that great!

I really like this purse, I love the fabric and I like the D-rings, I don't know why, but the D-rings are cool.

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Recycled Pants.

2011-08-23T09:21:00.003-04:00

I think this one came out better than the last one I made.

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Coin Purse PDF.

2011-08-22T09:19:00.004-04:00

You can purchase the PDF here, for only $1.50. Easy to follow instructions.

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Purse for my Aunty... a Christmas Gift

2011-08-21T12:21:00.002-04:00

Then I decided to make her a matching wallet... which I had never made before... I used plastic canvas to make it sturdy:

And then of course I had to make a matching coin purse:

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Army ACU Purse for a Friend

2011-08-20T18:13:00.004-04:00

Her only specifications were that I make it "roomy" and make the pockets easy to open {someone had previously made her an ACU purse using the Army's actual pockets which are kind of hard to open}. She gave me only a large ACU top... and this is what I came up with:

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New Look Pattern #E6044

2011-08-08T09:23:00.002-04:00

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Picture Frame.

2011-06-23T09:49:00.005-04:00

This picture frame is ten years old, maybe eleven. Bought it at Walmart... maybe Ames... for about $3 back in the day.

I painted it turquoise and then took some neon green color and rubbed it on spotty, I was going for a beachy look. I hot-glued shells from our trip to Cape Hatteras on the frame.

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Winner .:. Tri-Fold Purse PDF Sewing Pattern

2011-02-26T08:58:00.003-05:00

This morning Random.org is telling me the winner of the Tri-Fold Purse PDF Pattern is #6 !!

Congrats ROZ!!!!

Please send an email to pennyandbryan {at} gmail {dot} com and I will get that right to you!

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Ripped pants = Pretty skirt

2011-02-13T09:21:00.003-05:00

First I cut the legs off the pants just above the cargo pockets. Then I cut strips from the legs, stitched them together into one long strip, hemmed it, and attached it.

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Quilt in Progress

2011-02-11T07:35:00.004-05:00

The other day I was at Big Lots and I browsed thru their books, which were amazingly only $3 each. I walked out with four quilting books.

I found one pattern I really liked, for a twin sized quilt and decided to make it. I'm making this one for Hannah and when I'm finished I'll be making one for Gillian too, with different fabrics, of course.

I haven't decided on a pattern for Matthew yet though.

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The Beatles. A Purse.

2011-02-02T08:11:00.005-05:00

This purse is made using an old raggedy pair of my husband's ACUs, some fabric a friend had given me many years ago, and the front is...

a piece of a sweatshirt I had bought in size XL, which turned out to actually fit me like a size XS... I'm pretty sure it was tagged wrong. But I couldn't throw the sweatshirt away, afterall... the Beatles. So it has hung in a closet for two years just waiting for me to do something with it.

This is now my purse. And I am completely thrilled with it!

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Sewing Machines.

2011-02-01T00:32:00.005-05:00

I may or may not have mentioned in an earlier post that last week my husband bought me a new sewing machine?

I had bought a sewing machine when Gillian was a baby. She is ten now. It was time for a new one. But what to do with my old one??

Right. Teach my daughter to use it. It's just your most basic machine. She'd wanted to learn to sew for a while now so a couple years ago I bought her one of those little mini machines {which, let me say was a piece of crap!} She's made some stuff with the small machine but we both get frustrated because it's tiny and doesn't sew well.

So now here is where we sew together:
Oh yeah... my husband is in the Army... that would be ACU's that snuck into that photo...

I don't know why but when I set up both machines and taught her to use the old one and then we cleaned up our rather large mess and all that was left was the two machines sitting side by side... I had to snap a photo...

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Recycled. Box turned sewing kit.

2011-01-31T00:24:00.006-05:00

I started with a cardboard box that our Vonage adapter came in. It's a nice sturdy box with a lid:
After sanding the shiny box so it would stick, I Modge Podged some K&Company paper to the top and sides. I used the Girl Scout paper pack. I used some CTMH stamps for the buttons and lettering, added some ribbon. I used a brad and twill ribbon to make it easier to open.

I wanted the inside to be sectioned off so I cut some coasters and used CTMH Liquid Glass to attach them inside. I did have to cut the side flaps off the box to make it work with my sections.

And in there you can see the pin cushion I quickly whipped out for Gillian. It took all of five minutes!

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Dolls & Printables

2011-01-30T00:09:00.004-05:00

For a year Gillian's dollhouse has had no dolls. So I thought since I'm all into sewing now, why not try to make a little doll family? They are laughable, really, and so much cuter when they are naked. I am incredibly sucky at the miniature patternless clothes-making. And dollmaking. But I'd say I did pretty darn good considering these are based off nothing and I'm still a beginner sewer.
I also found a website with dollhouse printables, and printed out an "Army Trunk" {which I backed with scrapbooking paper}, some newspapers, lined paper, a "Monopolies" game, a USA map, some awards, a manilla folder, just to name a few.

Here's the link to that, I believe he also has Barbie sized printables on there, as well as 1/2 scale printables: Jim's Printable Mini's.

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Dollhouse Update: wallpaper and flooring on a budget

2011-01-29T00:09:00.003-05:00

I didn't want to spend $30 on a roll of multi-room dollhouse wallpaper just to have my nit-picky daughter tell me she didn't like any of the designs, or to find out that I don't know what the hell I am doing when it comes to wallpapering {I don't}.

So my brilliant idea was to use scrapbooking paper and modge podge! I think it came out pretty good, except for the wrinkles, but I told Gillian, that's okay because wallpaper in real life wrinkles too... haha.

For the bathroom rugs above and for the bedroom carpet I cut up an old hand towel that has seen better days and modge podged that to the floor, then some modge podge along the edges to prevent it from fraying.

And for the livingroom floor, this was Gillian's idea, we simply took a permanent marker {one of the pencil thickness ones} and drew straight lines on the floor. Then went over it with two coats of modge podge to shine it up. The idea came from the fact that this is what our floors look like in our apartment.
Tomorrow I'll show you the dolls I attempted to sew for her.

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Dollhouse Updates.

2011-01-28T08:01:00.006-05:00

Last year we'd bought Gillian a dollhouse for her birthday. We got it put together pretty quickly, it only took one full day:

Then, a few days later, we bought the paint colors Gillian picked out and we painted it:

There are more photos so I will spread this post out over a few days!

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Work in Progress: Memory Quilt

2011-01-26T07:53:00.001-05:00

I've been saving my youngest daughter's baby clothes for THREE years {that is crazy to me that she's three now} and finally cut them up to make her a memory quilt.

I got the front finished. My squares don't all line up, because of the many different types of fabric, but I plan to hide that with knotted embroidery floss. I can't wait to finish it. I just need to buy some batting and a backing and make some binding.

This is my first quilt... I'm feeling totally proud of myself right about now!

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Wall Art.

2011-01-25T07:43:00.005-05:00

I started with the two wooden plaques I had bought a few years ago for 25 cents each at a thrift shop.

I added some paper with modge podge. Added some Basic Grey punch out letters and Basic Grey sticker letters. Stamped some CTMH flowers {which I find is my go-to set for things like this}.

Then I Modge Podged it all on, then Modge Podge over it so I can dust it when the time comes... haha.

For the hanger I just took some crochet cotton the width of the board with loops at either end and thumb-tacked it in place.

Sorry for the blurry photos. The photos looked horrible with the flash on, so I took them without the flash and couldn't seem to hold my hand still.

Two quotes from two of my favorite songs. Perfect for me and my home.

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A Small Pillow.

2011-01-24T09:11:00.002-05:00

I made this pillow for my mother-in-law out of Hannah's baby clothes. I saved the baby clothes for a blanket but my mother-in-law asked if I could make her a pillow as well, so I did! There are still plenty of clothes left for the blanket :)

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One purse in one hour.

2011-01-23T08:03:00.003-05:00

Less than that actually. In one hour I:

Traced and cut the pattern pieces.
Stitched the purse.
Made Hannah a sandwich for lunch.
Let the dog out.
Cleaned up.
Added outer edge stitching to the pink polka dot purse I made the other day.

Hard to see in the photo but this is pleated.

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Grammy's Wristlet Tutorial.

2011-01-22T11:09:00.007-05:00

Grammy's Wristlet makes a GREAT gift. I made this for my mother-in-law. Lately I have been working on a Memory Quilt for Hannah out of all her baby clothes. Now that the front of the quilt is finished I decided to use her left over clothes to make this great keepsake for her Grammy!

She requested a pillow, which I did make. {it's set to post in a day or two} But I figured why not make her something she can carry with her!?

This free 3 page PDF pattern contains two different wristlet styles {we can't leave Grampy out, can we!?} 4 color photos and easy to understand directions!

Download Grammy's Wristlet Pattern Now... FREE!

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Enter to Win: Tri-Fold Purse pdf Pattern.

2011-01-21T09:12:00.003-05:00

Enter to Win my Tri-Fold Purse PDF Sewing Pattern:

Pattern is written with easy to understand directions, 16 color photos & helpful links.
Finished purse measures approximately 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" in it's closed state.
Features 6 credit card pockets, a pocket large enough to hold your checkbook and another slightly smaller than a checkbook sized pocket.

Here's how to enter, you get one entry for each:

Follow this blog {leave a comment saying you are}
Post about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post {leave a comment with a link to your post}
Leave a comment telling me what you plan to do with the pattern if you win {are you gonna make the purse and give it as a gift? are you gonna sell purses you make? are you gonna make a purse for yourself!?}

That is it. Giveaway ends Friday, February 4th, 2011. I will announce a winner shortly thereafter! Good luck everyone!

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Pink Polka Dots

2011-01-21T09:07:00.005-05:00

Honestly, I made this purse without anyone particular in mind, however, as I was making it I couldn't help thinking of my friend Dawn... she's a fan of pink!

I used the button hole foot on my sewing machine for the first time. That was interesting...

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Recycled Jeans Purse.

2011-01-20T09:01:00.004-05:00

I made this purse for my ten-year-old daughter out of a pair of her old jeans.

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A Tri-Fold Purse. Totally my own creation!!!

2011-01-19T09:50:00.012-05:00

I created this purse based off a sketch of a friend's purse. I love her purse. I have no idea where she got it and I'm not sure that she remembers where she got it. The other day she was here and I sketched it out while she had it open, she even let me grab my tape measure and measure the pieces.

Here is my first attempt based off that sketch and my own pattern that I created using it. I'm currently working on a tutorial, which I will give away here on my blog, and then for others the tutorial will be for sale in PDF format in the store.

** edited to add **
The tutorial is completed and available for purchase. Please use the button below to purchase my very own Tri-Fold Purse Pattern in PDF format.

Pattern is written with easy to understand directions, 16 color photos & helpful links.
Finished purse measures approximately 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" in it's closed state.
Features 6 credit card pockets, a pocket large enough to hold your checkbook and another slightly smaller than a checkbook sized pocket.

Tri-Fold Purse Pattern

After you've finished your tri-fold purse, upload your pictures to the Tri-Fold Purse Flickr Photo Pool.

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A Purse for Myself.

2011-01-19T08:56:00.004-05:00

I love how this came out!!!

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Purses.

2011-01-18T08:40:00.008-05:00

So my husband bought me a new sewing machine and I have been busy sewing purses. Because I {sort of} can! I'll be posting them over the next few days, starting today!

This was made for my sister-in-law:

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Anna's scarf.

2011-01-15T15:35:00.005-05:00

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Currently Working On...

2011-01-12T08:49:00.007-05:00

I am currently working on a few scarves to donate to the Special Olympics. If you crochet or knit you should consider making scarves as well.

Here is the link with all the info: http://www.scarvesforspecialolympics.org/

I plan to make two or three scarves. One scarf is not being sent to New Hampshire {my choosen state} but to a bloggy friend whose daughter was in the Special Olympics last year and is waiting on a liver transplant. You can read her blog here.

Anyway, I love the colors they chose {you have to use the same colors so there is consistency}.

I just found out about this project, a little late in the game and so I won't be crocheting nearly as many as I'd like because I can't meet all the deadlines, but I figure even if I can't make alot of them, I can make a few and some is better than none when it comes to things like this.

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Facebook Page has been created!

2011-01-11T09:46:00.005-05:00

Are you a fan of Creations by Penny digital stamps!? Hope on over to my Facebook page and click the 'Like' button!! Or even easier do it right from the sidebar -->

There is also a Like box conveniently located in the sidebar of the store itself.

Use the Facebook page to share photos of cards and pages you have created using my digital stamps. {I would really love to see that!}

Do you have a Facebook page? I'd love to stop by and visit you!