Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Introducing Ultimate Baby Inspiration

Boy oh baby boy! And little girls too. Do I ever have goodies for you today. Are you sitting down? Because this is going to be HUGE.


For the May 2014 Release at Papertrey Ink, we've been keeping a little something under wraps until today's group post. How do stitching dies to make your own customizable and homemade felt baby booties sound for your next baby shower or sweet little someone? If you've been a fan of the Coin Purses, Clever Barrettes, and Coffee Cozy in the past, or if you just want to try something new...you are going to love these new die collections. They make whipping up these sweet little things so very easy.

A few specs on the booties. They are 3 and 1/2 inches long, which makes them a large size 1 in newborn footwear. The information I've gathered says that they will fit a 0-3 month old. I think that's a little off in the estimate. I would say a 3 to 5 month old could wear them with a pair of socks on.

How long does it take to make a pair of baby booties with these new dies? I would plan on 2 and 1/2 hours between cutting the felt, embellishing, and stitching. I have made eight pairs of these sweet things over the course of the last two weeks. I find it to be extremely relaxing at night to hand stitch them up while watching a few of my favorite television programs. I even cut a few pairs and took them on vacation with me last week. They are the perfect little project to keep your hands busy while supervising kids, watching television with the husband, waiting quietly, or sitting in the sun.

I have lots of video for you today. Click play to see how the Baby Bootie Die Collection works. And how easy they are to stitch together.



Also note a few of the extra little details I built into the dies. There are reinforcement stitches along the top flap where I thought the bootie would get a lot of wear and tear. Reinforce this area even further by adding Fray Check at the time of assembly. And there is also rectangular holes on both the instep of the bootie top and the bootie sole. This helps you keep track of making a left and right bootie as well as gives your stitching a starting and stopping point to keep the heel centered in the back.

I've come up with several ways to embellish these sweeties with two additional die collections to compliment. First off, you can add patches to the soles using the Baby Bootie Patch Collection.


Are those not adorable? Total, absolute sweetness. And here my husband is wondering about the origins of my recent bout of baby fever. Ahem...you don't have to look much further than these. Somebody have a baby quick so I can make them booties otherwise I'm going to have to do it! And my house is already a circus.



And I'm also introducing the Baby Bootie Detail Die Collection. This set allows you to customize your basic bootie created with the Baby Bootie Die Collection into four basic variations...and then some. So many possibilities. But we'll get to all that a little later.


Getting back to the star booties I showed you first above, I used them as the foundation for a "get well baby gift". I know a little guy who is going into surgery this morning. He needs a pair of good luck booties when he comes out to keep those footies warm in the hospital. So I took this package over to him a few hours ago.

My booties were created using a colorblock design in Spring Moss, Aqua Mist, and Blueberry Sky Felt. I used the Coffee Cozy Detail Dies to add stars to the tops. I carried the star theme over to the Berry Basket where I topped a diaper pin with a felt stitched star from my upcoming stamp set, Sweet Cheeks. I really thought it was neat to weave the pin through the holes in the basket. The second pin has this little guys' first initial out of the new Smooth Alphabet on a circle of Enchanted Evening cardstock.


Inside, I have a little get well note for him...and his parents. I remember what it was like to be a parent and have your baby need surgery. (My Hank had a heart cath procedure to fix multiple ventricular septal defects at the age of six months). I've got a little bit of a soft spot for what they are going through and wanted to let them all know I am thinking about them today. The monogrammed circle was carried over from the front of the Berry Basket. I stamped a sentiment from Healing Touches as well. 


Also included in the package is a matching onesie with the star from Coffee Cozy Detail Dies stitched in the same color felt and floss as the booties. I made sure I washed both my felt swatch and onesie before I sewed things up to prevent shrinkage down the line. 


Moving on, we don't want the girls to be left out. As you might have noticed in the video, I created a girl's version of the star bootie featured above using Raspberry Fizz, Winter Wisteria, and Royal Velvet felt and the Seasonal Stitches: Butterfly Dies.

Instead of a matching onesie, I had a loop of lingerie elastic that I like to use for newborn headbands. It was already machine sewn into a loop. I covered up the seam between two felt butterflies that I stitched up. So easy. I arranged the headband on the Boutique Accessory Card stamped with the new Super Chevrons and Boutique Accessory stamp collection.


Like the boys' version, I sewed in patches from the Baby Bootie Patch Collection as well.



You've seen me use previously released stitching dies to embellish the baby booties created with the Baby Bootie Die Collection. To customize them even further, I created the Baby Bootie Detail Die Collection. Within one die collection (all sold together) are dies to create four different types of shoe styles (and their variations) to build upon the baby booties you've made with the Baby Bootie Die Collection. I'll show you both a photo and a video on how to use each one. You can also refer to the file posted above to see how the four variations within the Baby Bootie Detail Die Collection are grouped together.


There is the Fringe Bootie/Moccasin. Video link to how-to here.


The Penny Loafer Bootie. Video link to how-to here. There is both a boy's and girl's version of these. You can also leave out the penny "opening" and have the thick cross strap serve as a foundation for embellishments.


The Spatted Bow Bootie. Video link to how-to here. Again, the eyelet oval makes a lovely foundation for additional embellishments.


And lastly, the Mary Jane/Button Strap Bootie. Video link to how-to here.

You have the option to thread the strap through the top of the bootie like the Aqua Mist Mary Janes. Or, you can opt not to die cut and stitch the strap opening and just button it down for the Button Strap Bootie in Dark Chocolate felt shown below.


So, what do you think? Are you as excited as I am over these things? You should have seen me back in March when I got the prototype dies. It was right in the middle of the March Release and I was up to my eyeballs making coin purses. Man, I dropped those like they were hot and had whipped up a bootie within a hour of getting the dies. I just needed to see how they worked! 

Just a few days after getting the original prototypes was my little sister's baby shower. My new nephew got a pair made out of Ocean Tides felt and embellished with a Smokey Shadow star and button. She knew I made them...but she didn't know I made MADE them.  It is sort of fun having that secret. And you are now in on the secret too. Nobody needs to know just how easy these are to make! You get the fun and ease of making them AND get all the kudos at the next baby shower for being so darn crafty and creative. :)


Before I leave you today and wrap up this mammoth blog post, I have a card using Sweet Cheeks stamps and dies and Lizzie's new Text Block: Baby. Also busting out the dies from the Shakers & Sprinkles kit. Man, those frames are awesome. You can see how the rectangular frame just about fits the text block. Close enough for me. And a handy little feature of the diaper pins from Sweet Cheeks (one I didn't factor in, but was pleasantly surprised by) was how you can "pin" them through things like I did here on the Aqua Mist inner frame. Love that!

I'm DYING to see everybody's projects. Click below for links to the other PTI'ers blogs.

Danielle Flanders 
Ashley Cannon Newell

Additional new product previews by:
Lizzy Jones
Melissa Bickford
Lexi Daly

Interested in adding these dies and stamps to your collection? Everything will be available to purchase at www.papertreyink.com on May 15th at 10 PM EST. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies

Berry Basket Boy Star Gift Set
Stamps: Sweet Cheeks, Healing Touch
Dies: Baby Booties, Baby Bootie Patches, Coffee Cozy Detail Dies, Smooth Alphabet
Felt: Spring Moss, Blueberry Sky, Aqua Mist
Aqua Mist Buttons
Cardstock: Blueberry Sky, Enchanted Evening, Stamper's Select White

Butterfly Gift Set
Stamps: Super Chevron, Boutique Accessories
Dies: Baby Booties, Baby Bootie Patches, Seasonal Stitches: Butterflies, Boutique Accessory Card
Felt: Winter Wisteria, Raspberry Fizz, Royal Velvet
Raspberry Fizz Buttons
Cardstock: Winter Wisteria
Ink: Royal Velvet, Winter Wisteria

Fringe Booties
Dies: Baby Booties, Baby Bootie Patches, Baby Bootie Details
Felt: Lavender Moon and Winter Wisteria
Lavender Moon Button

Penny Loafer Booties
Dies: Baby Booties, Baby Bootie Details
Felt: Ocean Tides

Spatted Bow Botties
Dies: Baby Booties, Baby Bootie Details
Felt: Scarlet Jewel and Autumn Rose

Mary Jane Booties
Dies: Baby Booties, Baby Bootie Details, Bitty Button Stackers
Felt: Aqua Mist, Harvest Gold, Vintage Cream

Button Strap Booties
Dies: Baby Booties, Baby Bootie Details
Felt: Dark Chocolate
Dark Chocolate Button

Little Angel Card
Stamps: Sweet Cheeks
Dies: Sweet Cheeks, Shakers & Sprinkles Kit, Text Block: Baby
Cardstock: Spring Moss, Aqua Mist, Spring Rain, Stamper's Select White
Spring Rain Simple Stripe Pattern Paper
Ink: Blueberry Sky, Simply Chartreuse
Vintage Cream Button




33 comments:

  1. Wow, Erin, you have outdone yourself! What an amazing set of dies - I've followed you since the CK days. You just keep creating more amazing stuff every year. Well done!

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  2. I loved your mammoth blog post. All of your creations are beautiful. Thanks for sharing them with us

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  3. Oh my goodness Erin! You are so creative! I cannot wait to make all of these booties!! They are so precious, adorable and sweet! You have thought of everything my dear!!!

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  4. You are now officially a genius in my books! Shoe designing! It can't get any more fun than that! Over the top sweet.

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  5. Are you braced for the stampede coming your way?! You will now go down in the book of famous engineers. Your dies don't miss a trick, and it takes so much time to make something like this be flawless in every way. I live in a baby-less world or I would be signed up for these in a flash. I will be buying the round patches though (thanks for their being a separate die), because these can be used on other felt projects and put on cards in felt or paper.

    You are flat out awesome!

    PS I've already pinned you to a SEWING board and FELT board so more folks other than PTI groupies will see these.

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  6. ADORABLE. I will be attempting to order these - but my guess is they will sell out quick.....

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  7. Oh my gosh, Erin, you are amazing and so are all of these darling booties!

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  8. I never imagined another fantastic idea for creating with felt but you never cease to amaze me. Such variety built right in to the brilliant basic design. Way to go, Erin! Congratulations on another design success. I can hardly wait to start designing my own.

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  9. Adorable. Just love the booties. You have thought have everything. All the details. Can't wait to make them

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  10. WOW!! I am in awe, these are genius, Erin and so beautifully done :)

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  11. I love all the different booties. It's reminding me of Imelda Marcos' closet!

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  12. Totally outdid yourself - these are awesome!

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  13. Man oh man, and I thought I loved the coin purse dies! Erin, you have outdone yourself - these are just too adorable! CANNOT wait to get my hands on them!

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  14. Erin, you absolutely blow us away with your creativity each and every release, but none more than this month. I LOVE this concept and would love to spend just one day crafting with you to get inside your head and how you think on this plane of creativity. You continue to amaze!

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  15. Oh my stars and garters Erin!! You absolutely knocked this outta the park!! I don't have enough superlatives to express my awe and amazement, so adding each and every die to my cart will have to do that for me!! I can't WAIT for the dies to come! Also for a grandchild. But in the meantime I can make booties to my hearts content!! WAYTOGO!!

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  16. I had to come over and say "WOW!!!"
    You took me by surprise with these dies and just "WOW!!"
    While my baby factory days are done...baby child turned 8 just yesterday so I would NUTS to do it again...
    we attend church with almost 1000 members and there are always women who are preggers and these would be PERFECT for gifts...
    and so nice on my wallet! *wink*
    So stinkin' adorable!

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  17. Martha Stewart has nothing on you, Erin! These are so fabulous!!!!

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  18. This booties are so adorable. Great Idea!

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  19. Erin, you have truly amazed me with this one! I know that you put TONS of time and effort into getting these adorable booties just right, and the end result is beyond words. THANK YOU! I look forward to hours of stitching once I can get my hands on these glorious dies!

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  20. You are going to sell out of these dies in seconds. I cant wait to buy them. You know how much I love my coin purse dies. Every single bootie is adorable. Congratulations! xo

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  21. Yikes!! You are killing my wallet Erin! I've got the coffee cozy, coin purse and now I have to have this!! I know at least two mommies to be that will love these booties!! One question, I couldn't make out the name of the spray you talked about in the video to help make them sturdier...can you please let me know? Thanks!!!

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    1. Jenny...it isn't a spray but more like a liquid waterproof glue. It's called Fray Check and I would put it on the reinforcement stitches to strengthen those.

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  22. I'm speechless. LOL. Your talent with these adorable boogie dies is awesome! I'm with Jenny, my wallet is screaming with delight.

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  23. Erin, I have never been more excited in my entire life to know a bunch of pregnant ladies...including myself! Woohoo! You better believe I'll be staying up late on release night to make sure these dies are coming home to me pronto. You are my hero!

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  24. so totally adorable.. what a fun gift..

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  25. Erin, you are one clever little momma! Every detail off the cutie scale! Love them all, want them all, will be buying them all! You're amazing!

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  26. These are all so cute. Love how you matched the onesie to a pair of booties. such a wonderful thoughtful gift.

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  27. Oh my word! I am in my 40's and darn it, but my ovaries are twitching BIG TIME! Brilliant and perfect gift for all the new mothers to be at the call center that I work in.

    Linda

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  28. These dies look like pure genius!! How do you come up with such fantastic ideas?! I am glad that you do :). All of your bootie samples are beautiful....just hope that I can get my hands on a set before they sell out!

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  29. Hi Erin,
    First of all, I am loving your baby booties dies and think you are absolutely brilliant. I am such a fan. The only issue I am having (3 pairs in) is that the holes on the circumference of the booties are breaking so it's looking really messy and very complicated to sew. Everything else is easy and delightful. I am using 100% wool felt from PTI, so I'm not sure why this is happening. The holes are just ripping out even though I'm being very careful. Could you help me or provide some tips? I can send pictures if that would be helpful. Thanks so much!

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    1. Hey Jen,

      I can't get an email for you, so I'll just reply to your comment here.

      I do have some tips that will get you making some rip free baby booties in no time.

      1. Pull with gentle pressure toward the next stitch hole or to toward in the inside of the bootie. Do not pull out into empty air (perpendicular to the bootie).

      2. Use two strands of floss.

      3. Do not pull taunt, just pull with a gentle tension. Just enough to get the floss through the hole.

      Hope this helps. Let me know how it goes.

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