Hollycopter Design

Speech Bubbles

2011-01-07T15:33:00.001-08:00

I love these speech bubbles from NoBiggie! I think they would really cute to have as props at our wedding photo booth for people to write notes in, I hope I win! :D

How to Make Fabric Labels

2009-07-28T18:05:00.000-07:00

A lot of people ask me how to do this, and it's all in the instructions on the back of the package but I've been wanting to make a tutorial so here we go.

How to Make Fabric Labels

These are perfect for little projects that you want to put your logo on, or names, whatever.

All you need is:

Colorfast Sew-in Inkjet Fabric Sheets (white, NOT cream)
Inkjet Printer
Preferably Microsoft Word (or any software you can arrange graphics)
Iron

1. In Microsoft Word (or any software where you can arrange graphics, like Publisher) create a new document and place as many of your labels as you can keeping them the same size, or different sizes if you like. Make sure the Text Wrapping is on through so you can place them close together. You can do this by going to Format>Text Wrapping>Through. You can make several sizes for different projects. If you want to make bags with pictures of your dog or kids you can do this same process. I created my own logo in Photoshop and then brought it into Word, but you can make a logo with just text or whatever you like.

2. Print the labels using the fabric sheets as you would normal paper. You can buy the paper at any fabric store, I got mine at Hancock. I haven't checked, but they might have it at Walmart. I tried the cream color of this same fabric sheet and it's a lot less firm and the colors aren't as bright. The white is much sturdier like cardstock and the colors are prettier. It also doesn't fray, which the cream does.

3. Remove the back and iron on high heat.

4. Rinse in cold water and lay to dry.

5. Let it line dry, then sew into your project! Easy as that.

I kept trying to rotate the picture...eh. Anyway, Sewing it in left these massive holes, I'll have to keep working with that but have fun with your new labels!

Amazing!

2009-07-22T15:44:00.000-07:00

First of all, my amazing boyfriend got me a book on Amazon with a giftcard he got (how selfless) called Simply Sublime Bags by Jodi Kahn that I'm SUPER excited about. She tells you how to make bags either without sewing or with very little sewing. Bags with duct tape and staplers, amazing. I can't wait to try out the projects.

Secondly, in watching a Martha Stewart video (btw, LOVE Martha) I learned about iron-on vinyl. Now let me preface by saying that recently I've become obsessed with oilcloth, and I've been looking everywhere for some but it seems to only come in a few patterns that everyone uses. Then I discover iron-on vinyl and my world opens up. I can MAKE my own vinyl fabric, with whatever I want???? Have I died and gone to crafting heaven? I cannot wait to buy some and try it out. Can I iron it to the front of fabric or just the back? I need to look into this more, but I'm very excited either way.

Now that I'm back from California and my class is doen, I'm ready to start sewing again. I have a million ideas and I need to get going!

-Holly

Apron

2009-07-05T14:01:00.000-07:00

I've lately had the urge to make an apron, not really sure why. A really cute, really girly one too. I have this green cotton fabric with little white polka dots that I think I want to use, maybe some lace and such? Some applique? That's what I'm thinking for now. I really really like Itybitybags on Etsy who makes really cute appliqued bags:

I really like the food applique, I might do a cute little cupcake on it :)

I also want to make more cell phone buddies when I have time. Me and my boyfriend are going to California tomorrow for a couple weeks to hang out with his family, go to Hollywood and Disneyland and all those fun things! I'm super excited. When I get back I want to sew sew sew! I've recently found an obsession for bows, not ones with the string hanging down, but bow-tiesque. I'm about halfway done with a super cute bag made of this flannel, pink/black/blue/purple plaid fabric (very 80s) and I put a big bow on the front. It's super cute, I'll take pictures when it's done, I'm excited about it, except I think it might be a tough too slim for the opening. Oh well, it's cute :)

NEW!

2008-09-13T22:50:00.000-07:00

So I've decided that I officially hate Blogger. It's so frustrating sometimes! I'm too lazy to make another blog though, and I don't really update this too much so oh well.

Anyway, so I have a lot of news! First is I got a new sewing machine!!! My old one wasn't REALLY broken, but I wanted a new machine anyway, so I got one!

Isn't it beautiful?

I love it. Anyway, so I've made lots of lovely new things like my personal favorite, the Alphabet Tote made from that vintage fabric bok I bought:

It has a matching zipper pouch but I hate putting pictures on this thing so check out my flickr for more pics of this bag and all my other stuff.

I'm on an endeavor at the moment to try to start a craft club at my college, where we can learn to do new crafts and such, I'm really excited about it. I'm also SUPER excited about the Maker Faire in October!!! Like, way excited. You should go:

It's going to be awesome!!!!

Peace out.

Vintage!

2008-08-18T20:48:00.000-07:00

Wow.

Ever since I started sewing everyone and their mom (literally) has been giving me their secret stash of fabric they don't want! Which is great, I love free fabric, just some of it is just sort of taking up space cause I know I won't use it..hm..I wonder if I could find some sort of use for fake fur...

I went to Huntsville this weekend to help my friend move into her apartment. If you don't know Huntsville has the most prisons in Texas. WOOOOO!!! Anyway, I made her take me to this antique store to look for fabric, haha. I found this REALLY COOL vintage flour sack that says Hollyhock on it! It was calling to me, haha.

I also scored this really awesome fabric book with the alphabet that I plan to make bags from. I LOVE R FOR ROBOT!!!!

So I'm totally going to be making really cute alphabet things.

*giggle* Robot.

Vinyl Love

2008-08-09T20:38:00.000-07:00

My mom works at a bank, so they had these huge vinyl banners made that I guess they didn't need anymore so my mom gave them to me to cut up! There are two of them and altogether its probably about 64 feet of vinyl SO I'm really excited and made this little guy today. It's a little zipper pouch with a window for an ID and a clip for keys. It can hold money or a cell phone, and the best part is that its made of a thick vinyl that is easy to clean! This will go with the stuff I plan to sell at school, I forgot to put a label in it :/ oh well. I want to make some totes and wallets from this material too, definitely not another pouch as small as this one, it was a booger to turn inside out! Oh ya, don't mind the really crappy sew job on the window there, oopsy.

Save the World, THEN the Earth

2008-07-27T11:07:00.000-07:00

So lately I've been really realizing just how much our culture nowadays is exploding with environmental concerns and being "green" is now bigger than ever. People are using their own bags instead of plastic, recycling everything and trying to conserve energy in attempts to help our planet. These things are amazing, and I try to do them myself, but what about the people in our planet? Wouldn't it be great if all this time and energy put into keeping the earth clean was put into helping the people in the earth too? I know there are millions of people dedicated to helping those in need, and I feel like it's my turn. I don't want to say all this and then not do anything, but I just find it silly that I've been all into recycling lately when what point is there in having a clean earth when there are people suffering everyday?

I remember at chapel once there was this lady who came to speak about sex trafficking. I remember feeling really moved by her stories of children in the sex trade, but thought it was sort of far away and didn't effect me quite as much. Then they played a clip of a girl being interviewed saying she was in the sex trade, forced to do things because she had no choice and she said she lived in Austin, TX. My mouth dropped to the floor. Austin? My hometown? I was in shock. Maybe I'm just naive, I'm sure that's what it was because I was in such surprise that the sex trade happened in the US. In my hometown no less. My heart goes out to children who are caught up in this despicable tragedy. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children says between 100,000 and 300,000 underage boys and girls -- some as young as five years old -- are abused in prostitution each year in the United States. What the hell? This angers me beyond all belief and I want to help. So, I had an idea, though small, it is something. I've been planning on making an etsy shop, so what I'm thinking is making bags and things, out of recycled materials, and having part if not all the profits go toward an organization to help these children. I have to do some more research to figure out how this can be done, but I think it could be awesome. The bags could even have something related to the children, like a logo of sorts so people can be reminded and share it with others. I know there are plenty of things like this, Invisible Children and To Write Love on Her Arms, and I'm sure there's one out there for the sex trade, again I'll have to look into it, but I'm excited about it. I'll keep you posted.

Whale Bag!

2008-07-21T20:42:00.001-07:00

whalebag 010, originally uploaded by hollycopterdesign.

Ok, so I'm testing out this flickr blog thingy. I wanted to put more than one picture, but I guess this will do. This is my new whale bag! I think it's really cute, it's made with a thin blue canvas, pretty swirly cotton on the lining and a cute felt whale appliqué! More pics on my flickr (hollycopterdesign).

BACK FROM FOREVER

2008-06-29T21:56:00.000-07:00

Yayyyy I finally have a camera! A brand new beautiful Canon that is way better than my Samsung 3 megapixel piece of crap I've had since the beginning of time. Now I get to post a butt load of pictures of the stuff I've been up to! Not like anyone reads this anyway...sigh...on to pictures!

I'm pretty new to sewing, so the idea of going to a fabric store with those large spools of cloth and asking some old lady to cut it for me (which by the way those ladies are always really hard to find when you need them) scares me, so I always stick to the scrap bins. AMAZING! If you haven't discovered this treasure trove yet, you need to. They basically have scrap fabric for sale and it's great for me because its like a dollar for half a yard which is great for me to make like 5 pouches from, or at least something really cool. I spent WAY too much money on this sweet fabric at Hobby Lobby, I love the Care Bears! I can't wait to get sewing with this stuff.

This summer I told myself I would give screen-printing a go cause it looks so freaking awesome. Problem is, I'm poor and a screen-printing kit is like $60. Boo. So I found this tutorial online to screen print using Modge Podge instead of Photo Emulsion. DEF cheaper, though the screen itself is like 30 bucks which is a little excessive for a freaking screen and wooden frame, come on now. I wanted to go the route of a plastic embroidery frame but I couldn't find screen anywhere. Anyway, this is my first attempt at screen printing, it's a little muffin! I think he's pretty darn cute myself, a nice first try I would venture.

Ok, so I've become a little obsessed with pouches. I scoured the internet for tutorials and after much dismay found this tutorial to be immensely helpful and very well done. So I've pretty much been going crazy with these things. The white and red one is actually made out of a melted white garbage bag. There are tons of tutorials on how to fuse plastic bags with irons online, it's very environmental, you know.

That's pretty much it for my pics for now I reckon, definitely more to come. I think I'm going to start making tutorials just for fun, since I sometimes have a really hard time finding them myself. Hopefully by the time I have a lot of them people will actually be reading this, yay!

-Holly

zipper pouch and plush

2008-06-04T15:12:00.000-07:00

Hello all! If anyone even reads this that is. It's been a while, so I'll catch everyone up.

I've started to intern at HC&B Healthcare Communications which is an advertising company specifically for healthcare. It's paid (woo!) and I go two days a week from 8:30 to 5:30 so I feel like I'm actually working a full-time job! It's very exciting.

I'm also working with a company to teach water safety at the lake to the partiers, so that will be cool. I start that this Saturday.

In crafty news I got a sewing machine and have got to really use it lately! I broke my camera a long time ago (poop), but I wanted to update this so I just used the webcam on my laptop to take crappy pics, haha. I've recently become really obsessed with zipper pouches, and my first one was shaped like an oldschool gameboy, I think it's the cutest thing in the world!

It's made of gray, black and lime green felt with the lime green cotton cloth for the lining. The zipper is 7 inches so it's big enough to hold a bunch of crap. I want to make more eventually, and when I get enough stuff to have an etsy store I'll put it in there.

I made this bear a while back and it was around my sister's birthday and she saw and it and was like "OOO can I have it?", so that was her birthday present. I forget what she named it, she think its like an alien but it was supposed to be a bear...oh well.

It's made out of some fabric...I don't know what it is really. It's kinda thick canvas-ish...anyway, and maroon felt with button eyes. I still have some of that fabric left, I might make a pouch with it. That's all I got for now, I'm saving up for a camera so hopefully I'll get one soon and make lots of new plushies/pouches to photograph. Yayyyyyyyyy!!!!!

pouches

2008-04-15T19:07:00.001-07:00

Lately I've become really obsessed with pouches, zipper pouches specifically. I really like these
by kaylah7 on Etsy. I'm desperate for zippers and fabric so I try to make some. I don't know why it's taken me this long to get into sewing, it's such a fascinating and creative process to take string and fabric and turn it into something useful and wonderful. It's so cool! Yay.

YAY PLUSHIES!

2008-03-01T20:19:00.001-08:00

Yay! I finally got to borrow someones camera and take pictures of my plushies! I really need a new camera :( Anyway, now for a plethera of plush!

I, like a lot of people I know, sleep with their cell phones in their bed. Well, sometimes it falls on the floor, or gets stuck in a crevice, etc. so I decided to make a plushie to hold it! Thus, Pinky was born. I made her with a pocket for a mouth that can hold my celly during the night and keep it nice and tidy. She likes to eat things, even her hands sometimes. She has a lightning bolt on her tummy for POWER and a little buttheart. I like butthearts. I think she's really cute, and I plan on making different variations!

She's about 15 inches tall if I had to guesstimate. Handsewn and machinesewn. Made with felt and stuffed with polyfill.

This is Marty the Goldfish! He is my first animal made with my sewing machine, so thats why he's a little messy. He likes to stand on his head and read novels on rainy days. He is made of felt and stuffed with polyfill.

This is Nelly! She was one of my first plushies, so she's kinda deformed. I think I'm going to try her again cause I think the shape is cute. I used felt and an old cordouroy shirt for her belly. Completely hand sewn and stuffed with polyfill. AND a cute butt-heart

She's about 6 inches tall and 11 inches long.

I think rocketships are SUPER cute, so I made this cute little plushie of one! The design is of my original design, and it's made from felt and polyfill. It's all handsewn with love! It's about 10 inches from the tippy top to the bottom of the flame! I hope to make more from the same pattern but with cool designs and colors!

I have another thing, a felt guitar hero guitar that I made for my friend and a bunny I made for my neice but I don't have pictures of them yet! More to come!

Plushies

2007-12-13T21:54:00.001-08:00

On DeviantArt there are a lot of really talented artists and lately I've been really getting into plushies (if you don't know a plushie is basically just a homemade stuffed animal)! I decided that over Christmas break I would try to make my own and I spent like 6 hours making one last night. I made this picture a long time ago called "Lunch" with a fish, and everyone liked him so I tried to make him into a plushie. It's not as good as I wanted, but I'm pretty happy with it. I'm going to keep experimenting and making stuff and maybe I'll take another crack at him cause I think he's cute. The picture sucks...sorry. By the way, all my art (including the picture this is based on) is on my deviantart account- link here.

Creative Sparks

2007-12-13T21:45:00.000-08:00

All of my life I've gone to Half-Price Books and never thought to look for the Graphic Design section until this year, and now I love it. Cheap books on design, are you kidding me? Amazing. Tonight I picked up this book called Creative Sparks by Jim Krause. It's really awesome! It's basically a little books of 150+ ways to spark your creativity (makes you wonder where the title of the book came from). The pages are very well designed and it's fun to look at and read. Not to mention its so cute and little (only about 5-6 inches tall). Jim Krause apparently has a bunch of other books I'd love to get, he's very good at giving advice that is actually useful, and very inspiring actually.

First Entry!

2007-12-04T17:36:00.000-08:00

Well this is exciting. I've done livejournal and xanga, but those seem so...out of date. Onto the new trend of blogs. I plan on sharing cool stuff I find (probably on other blogs) and my art when I actually have time to do it!

First things first, I never really went into Journeys before cause I don't like to spend 60 bucks on shoes, but I went in one today and they have THE CUTEST bags (heres the website)!

I want this rocket one REALLY bad! It's so cute!

That is all for now.