Gab with Gaby

An engineer's creative corner studio.

Diy

Quick Quotes Shaker Tag How to

Crafts, Paper crafting, How to, Diy, Graphic, Scrapbooking, Quick QuotesGabriela SimsComment

Hello everyone Gabriela here today with a video showing how to make a shaker tag! I started by choosing a paper from the Chiffon collection and die cutting my pieces. I stamped an image on what would be the inside of the tag and while that was drying I worked on the front of the tag. This tag can be used with a gift or it can be adhered to the front of a card. I finished it up with a stencil some Powder Puff Chalking Inks, die cut stickers, and a piece of ribbon. Check the video out below to see the whole process.


I hope you enjoyed the video and you make some shaker tags of your own, happy crafting!


Quick Quotes Products used: 
Chiffon 103 
Powder Puff Chalking Inks 2016
Farmhouse Die Cut Stickers
Ribbon

Quilting with Beyoncé

Diy, Quilting, Paper crafting, Knitting, CraftsGabriela SimsComment

So I have known for a while I am not your average knitter, scrapbooker, or quilter.  Whenever I go to any local gatherings like this I am usually one of the youngest. This doesn't make me feel out of place, but it does make for interesting conversations.  I was making a few things recently (while listening to Beyoncé and then Rihanna) and I thought, does the typical quilter/knitter/scrapper know all the words to XO and Work? I find it hilarious because you can never judge a book by its cover. I remember one time about 2.5 years ago, I was looking at thread in a big box store and I was just checking all of the thread to see what was available. A lady came up to me (a customer, not an employee) and said "Oh, that's quilting thread, is that what you're looking for?" I slowly turned to her (because I had to be sure this was really happening) and said "I'm just looking, I'm getting new thread." She pressed on with "Well, that's for quilting, I mean you're not quilting are you?" This last part was delivered with a mix of derision and panic. I responded "No, I just wanted new thread...do you work here?" Realizing her error, she fumbled a little and said "Well the machine thread is over there...this is quilting thread..." and proceeded to roll her cart away. I laughed because a.) I could not believe you tried to deny me this thread, b.) You don't know me so you have no idea what I'm looking for, and c.) Why would it be so shocking that I might be quilting? It's not like if I buy this thread I'll use up all the quilting space in the world. My quilting doesn't hinder your ability to quilt, but the confusion in her face was so real. I giggle to myself everytime I buy thread now, since I can quilt and I've graduated to embroidery, I'm using all of the good thread. I also think sometimes when I'm knitting, quilting or scrapping that I am not the average crafter, because I do craft to music you might not expect and I may not look like everyone else in the guild, but I'm just as happy as anyone else to show my work! I hope everyone feels that free when you're creating and don't let anyone make you feel nervous about it. Happy crafting (cues Drake-Hotline Bling)!

New fabric and thread stash. 

New fabric and thread stash. 

Flannel Blankets in Record Time

Diy, Blankets, Crafts, SewingGabriela SimsComment

Hi there! I am on a craftastic voyage and I wanted to try making some swaddling blankets and I found this really cool tutorial that walks you through a self binding flannel blanket. I finished this one in a few nights and I took several breaks.

I started with my front and back. 

 

I spy elephants! 

I spy elephants! 

Next I lined up my layers.

 

Lining up my layers. 

Lining up my layers. 

Then I did my stitching on the wrong side. 

 

Leave open a 5-6" length. 

Leave open a 5-6" length. 

Finally ready to turn it inside out. 

 

Here's the blanket turned right side out. 

Here's the blanket turned right side out. 

Finally, after some top stitching, this flannel blanket is done!

Nothing left but a wash and press. 

Nothing left but a wash and press. 

Try this out if you need a quick baby shower gift or some more blankets around the house, or to donate. Happy crafting!

A Craft Evolution

Diy, CraftsGabriela SimsComment

When I first started this blog, it was called engiknitting because I'm an engineer, who knits. As I started to expand my craft horizons, I realized I loved a lot of different crafts, and I wanted my site name to cover that. In the past few years I've discovered knitting, crochet, paper crafting, sewing, and quilting. What has been so great about this is that anytime I discover something "new" to me, I can easily find a community either online or in person that has people with wells of experience. More often than not, they are happy to share their knowledge with someone eager to learn, it keeps crafts going and builds new relationships.  I feel a sense of accomplishment when I learn a new skill and that makes me want to get better at whatever it is I'm doing/learning.  I have been extremely lucky that I have encountered so many people that are more knowledgeable than I am and gracious enough to help someone learn. I hope you've experienced that same warmth in your own crafting adventures! My next task is to use my Big Shot with the new strip die and plates I just got, I will definitely post about that experience here soon! Happy crafting!