> ~ Insights by SewCalGal ~

Friday, December 16, 2011

Day 5 of the AccuQuilt Christmas Theme Blog Hop & Giveaway(Final Day)

Sadly, this is the final day of our AccuQuilt Christmas theme blog hop.  We hope that we've inspired you with some fun projects.  My apologies for my post being released late today, but seems my original post disappeared.  As this also happened to Leona this week, I suspect those blogger mice may have had one too many eggnog at one of their computer Christmas parties this week!.

The blogs participating in this blog hop, are quilters that use Modern Quilting Tools and love their AccuQuilt products!  In addition to great insights, many will also be offering giveaways that they'll announce on their respective day of the hop.  Plus, our sponsor has a special giveaway opportunity for you too!


First, I'd like to recognize and thank those that have participated in this blog hop:

Leona (Leona's Quilting Adventure), Cherry (Cherry Bossoms), Terrie (Bits & Pieces), Nancy (Tattered Garden), Katrina (Sunshower Quilts), Jacque (Lily Pad Quilting), and Paulette (Sweet P Quilting and Creations).

I also want to recognize and thank AccuQuilt for being a sponsor for this blog hop and donating a special prize.

Time for me to share my project with you.  I wanted to make something crafty vs quilty and I loved the idea of a yo-yo Christmas tree with cute red buttons.  This project is very easy  to make, especially with the help of an AccuQuilt and a circle die!  When the lighting in my home is better, later today, I'll update this post with better photos.  So, for those of  you seeing not very inspiring photos of this tree, I hope you'll check back (or that you are good and imaging a beautiful table with this tree as a Christmas centerpiece).

To make this Christmas Tree, I started with the following supplies:
- green foam cone that you can easily find at Michaels, JoAnns, or another craft store
- small clay pot that fits underneath the tree (green foam)
- assorted collection of green fabrics (I used various Hoffman Christmas prints)
- red buttons
- fabric glue
- AccuQuilt and a circle die

After quickly cutting my circles, using the medium size circle on the GO! Circle die, I then made my yo-yo's.  You simply using a running stitch to turn down the outer 1/8" - 1/4" inch of the fabric.  The smaller the amount of fabric you can turn down the smaller the hole will be in your yo-yo, allowing you to use smaller buttons.
After stitching completely around the circle, pull the thread thru to draw it tight.  At first it looks like a little night cap, but you can lightly finger press it flat to form the yo-yo.

Add one red button to cover the center hole of the yo-yo and tie off your thread on the backside.

From the scraps of fabric left from cutting the circles, I glued these pieces to the green foam.  This step helps to cover the green foam, so that when you place your yo-yos on the foam tree, you see fabric in between the yo-yos vs  green foam.

Now you are ready to glue the yo-yos to the covered tree.

Next, I  placed the tree on top of the clay pot, but you could glue your tree to the clay pot if you wished.
Again, this is a very easy craft project.  I'd actually like to make a collection of these Christmas Trees, of various sizes. 

But this particular Christmas Tree is going to be a gift in a gift exchange at a quilty party on Monday.  Shhhh!  Please don't tell anyone this is what is in my bag!  LOL! 



Did I mention a giveaway?  Today, I have a simple giveaway that will help someone make one of these cute Christmas Trees.  The winner will get a bundle of circles, enough to make this tree (or another project).  To enter, simply be a follower and leave a comment to let me know you would like to win this bundle of Hoffman Fabrics pre-cut with an AccuQuilt.  I will randomly draw a winner and announce next Friday.  Just one comment entry, per person, please.



Don't forget to GO! enter to win the prize generously donated by our sponsor.  Yes, AccuQuilt is playing Santa and some lucky winner will be notifed on Christmas morning that they've won a GO! Baby.

Also, today is not just my day in this blog hop, but also the day for Paulette (Sweet P Quilting and Creations) so please be sure to pop on over and see her tutorial and insights today too.  And, if you haven't yet visited all of the other blogs in this hop, I hope you'll take time to visit them.  They have shared some excellent tutorials with inspirational projects, as well as many fun giveaways: Leona (Leona's Quilting Adventure), Cherry (Cherry Bossoms), Terrie (Bits & Pieces), Nancy (Tattered Garden), Katrina (Sunshower Quilts), and Jacque (Lily Pad Quilting).


Lastly, I want to announce the winner of last Friday's giveaway sponsored by the Electric Quilt Company, for a copy of EQ7.  The winner is:  VickiT




.

update:  Winner of the giveaway, for the Hoffman Christmas fabrics cut with the AccuQuilt circle die, to make a yo-yo Christmas tree is: #14 Josie McRazie (insanity defense)

note: I will not be responding to comments for entries in this giveaway, due to volume of emails I'm currently receiving.

AccuQuilt is also giving away 22 free quilt patterns for those that sign up for their newsletter. Simply click on the image below to sign up.

60 comments:

Deb said...

Nice use of yoyos! It's so much easier with pre-cut circles.

Apple Avenue Quilts said...

I love your little tree and have been wanting to make one. Thanks for the chance on you giveaway!

Gill said...

Great idea! It would be so much quicker cutting the circles out with a Go than a pair of scissors!
I would love to win some!!
Merry Christmas!

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

Oh yes..count me in...very cute tree

suemac said...

Since I moved to Austin I have not had much in the way of decorations. This would help.

WvHmmngbrd said...

Cute idea! I would love to win! Thanks!!!

Martina said...

What a cute project! Love it! Thanks so much for the blog hop! It was fun , I am a follower and would love to win those circles!

Patty Benner Young said...

Very cute! Thank you for hosting the hop!

teachpany said...

I would love to make a tree like this! So cute, and great idea. Easy enough for kids to help. Love it!

Terry@ a quilting blog said...

Adorable tree...would love to be entered to win the bundle of circles. Thanks for the chance!

Unknown said...

I am not a big fan of yo yos. However, I shall rethink them after seeing your darling little tree. I am a fan of "little trees".
SallyKingemail@gmail.com

Robin (RsIslandCrafts) said...

Very cute tree!

Kathy MacKie said...

Such unique projects all you ladies have given us- thanks so much.

Josie McRazie said...

What a cute tree! I like how easy that one is to put up year after year! LOL

ritainalaska said...

i do like all these circles ... the tree is cute! thanx for the opportunity to win!

Dee said...

Very cute tutorial. Thank you for all the information and hard work

Dirt Road Quilter said...

Oh wow! How many of these do you think I can whip out by Christmas? LOL. Your precut circles would be a great start! Thank you for the opportunity to put my name in the hat!

Unknown said...

Oh this is so cute....You know I need to make something for our guild on Tuesday night and I think this would be perfect. Thanks so much for the tutorial I will post a pic on my blog but I will have to make mine for me out of something else or get more green fab...lol Also thank to the other ladies for joining in on the fun and to AccuQuilt for being Santa this year...I am still keeping everything I have doubled for a win.
Oh and congratulations VickiT what an awesome prize to win...

Bente-I like to QuiltBlog said...

cute, cute tree, do you knoe that I love yoyo´s.
thank you!

Teri said...

Cute Christmas tree. I'm sure the receiver of this tree will love it. Have a Merry Christmas. And thank you for the fun blog hop.

susan said...

Thank you so much for posting about why people don't win give aways! I would never have known had you not told me! I sure appreciate your help in this.
Thanks!

susan said...

Can I tell you something funny? I was looking at your Isacord to Sulky chart. At the top you have used the word Sukly instead of Sulky. Just thought you'd like to know. Sure love your blog and I can't wait for the FMQ challenge!

Quiltin' Sandy said...

Your tree is grgeous! What a great idea. :)

karamino said...

Cute tree, thanks for tutorial!

Talin's Corner said...

Love your yo-yo Christmas tree. It would look great on a mantle or table centerpiece.

Anonymous said...

Your tree looks fantastic,what a great idea and thankyou for a chance in your giveaway.

Granny Kay said...

I would love to win the bundle of Hoffman Fabrics pre-cut in circles with the AccuQuilt Circle dye. I just purchased my Go cutter and have to wait to get more dyes. Thank you for hosting this blog hop. I certainly have enjoyed it and all the good tutorials.

Lesley said...

I would love to win these pre-cut circles...I hate cutting circles and shy away from projects with circles...if I win this, I would be very joyful! Thanks for a great week of ideas and inspirations!

Teresa Marie said...

Very, very cute! Yes, I would love to win these adorable pre-cut circles. :)

Ariane said...

Your tree is so cute!! Love this idea!! Thanks for sharing!!!

Teresa said...

I'm a Follower who'd love to win this.

Barb said...

I love the tree...just fabulous...such a cute idea!!

Cheryl Willis said...

I am a follower who doesn't have the circle dies, looking at this I can see doing squares for prairie points and having a unique tree to display in the center of the table.

JoyceLM said...

I'd love to win a bundle of pre-cut circles. I'm a follower. Thanks for the tutorial & giveaway.

Cecilia said...

I'm a follower and I love your tree.

LauraLee said...

Thank you Sew Cal Gal,AccuQuilt and all of the lovely gals that did this really fun and inspiring blog hop giveaway! I am a follower and would love to win!

Janet said...

Your tree is very cute! Thanks for a chance to win circles! I am a follower.

MoeWest said...

What a cute project! Please count me in your giveaway.

Marilee said...

The most informative blog hop yet. BTW how much waste is there?

Beth said...

Pre-cuts are always great--think how much time I'd save with your cute circles instead of my scissor-cut ones. Thanks for the chance to enter. I'm a follower, for sure.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the great tutorial - I LoVe yo-yos and like your use of the little clay pot! Thanks for the great giveaway and this wonderful blog hop.

Mom C said...

Thanks for the tute and the giveaway. It has been fun to see what everyone has been making with their dies. Thanks for organizing the blog hops.

Nicki said...

That's such a clever idea to use the clay pot for your yo-yo Christmas tree. Thanks for giving us a chance to win this pre-cut fabric for our own tree.

Nicki

rebecca said...

That yoyo tree is great! I will be picking up some things to start making one today! And add it to my list of 40 things I want to make in the next week. loL!

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

What a cute tree! Congrats to Vicki on the great win!

Anonymous said...

Great centerpiece! Would love someone to cut my circles! I'm in it to win it!

stichnRN said...

cute tree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wonderful idea. i think i want to make one to use my mom's buttons.

free indeed said...

I'm interested in those circles. I would probably make one of those trees too. My decorations are starting to show their age!

Anonymous said...

Sure would like my name entered in your lovely draw.

The Quilted Finish said...

Love the tree! I sure would love to win to make cutting circles so easy!! Thanks for the opportunity. Merry Xmas.

Mrs.Pickles said...

What a cute tree. I have never made or worked with yo yo's before

Kim said...

How adorable.
Sure I'd like to win those circles.
Also I have ordered myself a accquilt GO Baby so Santa can give it to me......I can't wait!
I've been lusting after one long enough :0)

Happy sewing and Merry Christmas

Carla G said...

What a cute tree! I would love to win some circles to make my own! I'm also a follower! :)

arlette said...

Your tree's super cute, I love it, I love the circles :)

Jodi said...

Your tree is lovely - what a great idea. I would love to win the circles so I could make one too.

Jodi - usairdoll said...

What a great idea! Love your tree. Yes please, I'd love to be in the drawing.

Thank you and Accuquilt for your giveaway and a chance to win.
I'm a follower as well.

usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

Marcia W. said...

Without circles cut for me, I would not tackle cutting circles with scissors for the yo yos. Thanks for the chance to enter the giveaway and perhaps get to make my first yo yo using your die cut circles. I follow.

Unknown said...

What a cute tree. I WOULD love to win and try to make one myself!

kimmyc said...

Sweet tree and I love the red buttons. I am new to your blog. It is amazing! I hoot to do your machine quilting challenge.

bingo~bonnie said...

you've been in my google reader for over a year, but just now became a "follower" :)

I'd love to win your bundle of Hoffman Fabrics pre-cut with an AccuQuilt. What an adorable tree project you shared!

Merry Christmas! ~bonnie