Gettin' Crafty

I have been running around like a crazy lady for the last, well, I don't even know how long. It seems like life hasn't had much of a lull since the last part of May. Perhaps these few weeks before the holidays kick off will slow a bit. Then again, my calendar already disagrees with this notion. Ah well. You take what you can get, right? Right! This why I'm so excited tonight; I made a little time for sewing. Yippee!

I had several little motivators to help me along. First, my dad sent home a curtain in need of some repair. I'd already had it several days and figured I should really get it done since it was just going to be two simple passes. I also had the deadline of the first Junior Girl Scout meeting looming. This is Grace's first year as a Junior so I needed to sew all the new patches on the new vest (I loathe scout patches; both the boys and girls!). But even more of a motivator than the fear of looking like the slacker-mom was what recently arrived in the mail.

I have been a SU! Demonstrator for many years. Though I'm strictly a hobbiest, now, something will occasionally catch my eye as a "must have." Most recently, it was the stocking Big Shot die. Those who paper craft will no doubt know to what I am referring. For my sewing friends, the Big Shot is a similar tool to the Accuquilt. It's a die cutting machine, and just last month, Stampin' Up! released a die in the shape of a stocking. Instantly I envisioned little treat holders. I knew I had to buy this and make a few.

Sew...what do you think? Isn't it adorable? (For perspective, those are two brand new pencils in the stocking, stuffed all of the way into the toe.)The only thing I'm still on the fence about is whether or not I should have added a loop for hanging. Ultimately, I think I've made the right choice. The loop would add significant fabric to a narrow seem. And, really, a thumb tack in the upper corner would be more than sufficient and probably look cute if color coordinated.

The first time around, this was pretty putzy. Already I have thought of several time-savers if I decide to make more. Maybe I'll whip up a few and try them at a craft fair. Then again, maybe not. That would mean finding more time, ha-ha!

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If you're interested in making your own stocking and don't have a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, I recommend contacting my friend, Tracy Filter, who is a very active demo with online ordering capability. And, if you love stamping, be sure to find her on Facebook because she offers tons of classes!