> ~ Insights by SewCalGal ~

Saturday, June 15, 2013

An eBosser Blog Hop: Fun, Inspiration, Giveaway and More!

SewCalGal has had fun creating with the eBosser by Craftwell an electronic die cutting tool.  Unlike other die cutting systems, this product comes with all the platforms that you need to use dies from a variety of manufacturers (e.g. AccuCut dies, AccuQuilt, Sizzix, Fiskars, Cuttlebug, QuickKutz, Spellbinders, and more.)  And, it not only cuts all sorts of fabric and media but it also embosses.  You can find more info on previous reviews and insights that I've shared with you about this product, but today I want to share insights with you on how I used the eBosser to "super quickly" cut oodles of beautiful Hoffman batiks to create a scrappy table topper.

The ebosser is so easy to use to cut fabric (and other media) using AccuQuilt GO!, Sizzix and many other brands of dies.  I've certainly enjoyed using it for embossing paper and metal and I'm planning a project that will incorporate embossed leather!  But, it is truly so much easier to use to cut fabric than other manual die cutting machines (and it is wider than other electronic die cutting machines, allowing you to use a broader selection of dies).
ebosser


I'm fond of hand sewing Hexies.  They are easy to make and do can be done in a variety of methods, but I'm doing the English Paper Piecing (EPP) technique using paper pieces from PaperPieces.com.  The eBosser worked well with my AccuQuilt hexie die, but Sizzix also has many hexie dies in a variety of sizes at a reasonable price.  


I pre-cut strips ~ 1/4" larger than the shape I was cutting on my die and layered 8 pieces of fabric on my die, covering the shape.
P1010369 masked
Layered 8 layers of fabric on top of my die, which was sandwiched between the A & D plates for the eBosser before I fed them into the machine for cutting.
  P1010154 cropped
I quickly had a good four yards + of hexies cut in various colors. Shown below are just a few of the pieces I cut. I ended up with three large ziplocks full of hexies!
P1010411 masked
I place a paper piece in the center of the hexie, on the wrong side of the fabric, leaving about 1/4" extra fabric around he paper.  I finger press a fold and baste through the paper.  You can also baste by not going thru the paper, but as I throw my EPP blocks and hexies into ziploc bags to take with me on trips, I like to baste thru the paper. And, I find I can re-use the paper many times even when I've punched needle holes through them.

P1010503 masked
There are a variety of hexie designs you can create (e.g. flowers, diamonds, circles, shading, etc).  The project I'm working on now I'm using a four hexie patch shape for the core block.  And then I'll play with color arrangement to make various table toppers that I will use as gifts.P1010550 masked
While I only have a few four patch blocks completed, you can get a feeling of how quickly this project comes together. And, how fun it can be to arrange the blocks to create the color affect you like in a table topper.
P1010549 masked
Once the pieces are arranged in a pleasing color scheme you can hand stitch the four patch blocks together.  I will most likely applique this top to a border, before I sandwich it and quilt it.  But, I've also used a rotary cutter to square it up and add a border, as well as not add a border.  Seems no matter how you mix the patches, border or not, projects made with hexies always look great.  And, truth be told, I've never been able to make them faster and easier than when I've used the eBosser!


For a limited time (this weekend only), eBosser has a special where you can get three (3) embossing folders vs one, found in the typical eBosser package.  And you get a rubber mat and shim.  The retail value of $264, the savings of this special is about $65 (The bundle price this weekend is only $199). If embossing interests you, you may want to check out this special with eBosser.

30040_benefits_300x250
Did I mention a Blog Hop?


eBosser is hosting a blog hop this weekend where you can visit the participating blogs and find oodles of tips and inspiration for using an eBosser.   Here is the line up (everyone posts today).

SewCalGal {where you are now}
Mountainside Bride
Purple Paper Paradise
Llama Tales
Jazmin Rose
Lawn Fawn 
The Official Craftwell Blog



You can also find eBosser info at:
http://www.craftwellusa.com/products/ebosser
http://blog.craftwellusa.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ecraftbycraftwell
http://pinterest.com/teamcraftwell/
http://www.youtube.com/ecraftbycraftwell

 Did I mention a Giveaway?

SewCalGal will giveaway to one lucky follower a kit that includes pre-cut hexies, cut with the eBosser and the AccuQuilt hexie die, using Hoffman Batiks and precut papers from PaperPieces.com.  The kit will be sufficient to make a hexie table topper, which will contain the same number of pieces for the table runner I'm making now.  If you are interested in winning this kit, simply be a follower and leave a comment on this post letting me know you want to win and make a hexie table topper.

The winner will be announced the end of September.  And I'll update this post to announce the lucky winner, and hopefully show you my finished hexie table toppers too!

UPDATE:  Time to announce the winner of this giveaway.  The winner will receive pre-cut Hoffman Batiks for all the hexies, as well as the background/border fabric to make a table topper. BTW, Photos for these completed table toppers and pattern will be shared soon.  

Using the Random Number Generator, lucky number is #9 

Who said..


Congratulations to Bea.  I'll send you an email, but ultimately I need your snail mail address to mail you this kit.

Print Friendly and PDF

112 comments:

Gill said...

What a fabulous giveaway - count me in please!

Unknown said...

Wonderful give a way...Since I just started making hexies I would really be interested in winning this. Thanks for the info for the embosser.

Rachelle said...

Ooh, I'd definitely love to be in to win!

annerd said...

I always carry a bag with a hexie projects on my travels, and I would love to make a tablerunner with your fabric!

Thanks!

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

Great giveaway....this could get me into it...thanks for this

Anna Banana said...

Hexes and batiks... two of my favorite things! I'd love to win.

Jacqueline said...

I have not tried hexies or English paper piecing, but what better way to put my toes in with the fabric & templates all cut for me. Thanks for a chance.

Unknown said...

Wow this cuts your time in half. I would love to be able to say I'm a winner, I'm a winner!!! Can't wait to see the finished product. Smiles

beaquilter said...

fun tool, never heard of it before. you know I LOVe hexies..... count me in :)

LauraEva said...

I'd like to win this! thanks for the chance!

Rachel OCrowley said...

Great idea!!

Barbara O. said...

Batik hexies?! Count me in!

Katie Ann Brooks said...

So cool, I love your sweting tips! If I can ever get sewing going ((heh- that rhymes) I am checking this out!

Unknown said...

Ooh! Hexies!

scrapBugz said...

awesome tool & great giveaway

Mandy

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

I would love to make a hexie table topper! Beautiful colors of Hoffman batiks!

Laceflower said...

Making an old traditional shape new; seems to be hexies turn. Count me in please

Joan H. said...

I have never made anything with hexies yet, so I would love to win this kit and make a table topper

Carol McCready said...

I now follow your blog with Google.
Also with the RSS feed (I check
that more often). Would love to win
and be able to make a hexie table topper. Thank you for the chance.

Sue D said...

Wow--what a great way to cut hexagons--one of my favorite shapes. thanks for the chance to win this kit. I am a follower.
slrdowney at hotmail dot com

MO said...

Great post and giveaway..would love to win for teaching at my community center.

Thanks,
Seema
sskcraftshop(at)gmail(dot)com

Pamela said...

I'd love to play with hexies and make a table topper! I haven't tried English paper piecing yet, and it is the next project on my list!

Mary said...

This really sounds interesting. I would love a quicker way to cut my hexies. I love to sew hexies. Great handwork project.

teachpany said...

Wow, 8 layers?? That's great! I thought using the die to cut the shapes larger than the paper pieces was a good idea, for my friends who do hexies. Glad to see you do it! I haven't started hexies yet. So tempting!!

Teresa F. said...

I'm an hexie fan, love to sew them. I would be very happy to win the kit for I don't have any batiks. I'm a follower, of course!

Kathy MacKie said...

For sure I want to win and will make a hexie table topper!

Sewgirl said...

I like the table topper! Great giveaway..thanks for the chance!

kbo said...

What an amazing tool and I would like to make a Hoffman hexie topper like yours. Looking forward to reading about the ebosser and leather project your create.

Unknown said...

This is amazing. Perfect for a sweetheart wedding table!

Joyce Carter said...

I love making hexies so please count me in and thank you so much for the giveaway.Great tool, btw. I can't imagine cutting 8 layers at a time. I am a follower.

Gayle said...

Hexies are SO much fun to make - I'd love to win this giveaway for a table topper!

Jessica said...

Looks like a great tool. I really like how it can use AccuQuilt and Sizzix dies. Love hexies too. I happen to have a table topper pattern I'm hand sewing right now. Can't wait to see your finished project.

Grammasheri said...

Just jumped on the hexie bandwagon a couple of weeks ago and am thoroughly enjoying my first project. This eBosser looks very useful! And I like how it uses other dies.

Betsy said...

Thank you for the chance. The embosser looks interesting

Rilene said...

What a great giveaway! I would love to try hexies!

Beth H. said...

Fun description of a great machine. Would love to win the kit. Sounds great. Thanks for the opportunity.

Raewyn said...

Wow this looks like a great machine - thank you for the chance to win :-)

Else49 said...

Sign me up to win for sure. Would love to try these hexies if that is how you write it.

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

How neat! I just finished my first project with hexies (flowers in a border of a mini quilt). The Paper Pieces company is located about an hour from my home. Hexies have been fun so far. I'm looking forward to doing a bigger project with them. Thanks for the chance.

Bonnie58 said...

Wonderful giveaway. Thanks for sharing I've been considering a die cutter for a while now. It sounds like I need to check into the ebosser as well.

giddy99 said...

Wow, that would be fantastic!!! I've been cutting hexies by hand like a chump! ;)

Anonymous said...

HI! WHAT A NEAT GIVEAWAY!
LOVE TO DO THIS TABLE TOPPPER!
THANKS!

msstitcher1948@yahoo.com

quiltndj said...

What a generous give away. I would love to win the hexies!

Colleen said...

I would love to win the hexies. What a fun prize!

Missy Shay said...

That would be a great way to practice hexies, I would love to win!
missysaprons@gmail.com

newscrapper said...

Love the hexagons a table runner would be a great way to start my sewing adventure.

Polly said...

Count me in! Thanks for the chance to win!

Iris said...

Thanks for a chance to win.

Janarama said...

I'd love to make a table topper with precut batik fabric. Thanks for the chance to win. I follow via GFC.

Lourdes said...

I want to win and make a hexie table topper! thanks for the chance to win.

B Greene said...

I am a follower and would love to win this prize and make a table topper. I am obsessed with hexagons!!

batgirl said...

love your post and would love to win!

Denise Bryant said...

Great project! I'd love to make a table topper!

The Quilted Dog said...

The Hexies are cute & a nice hand sewing project. But what do you think of the eBosser vs. the Cameo?

Linda said...

Amazing giveaway. Thanks for the chance to win.

Beth said...

Well how fun! I would love to win this giveaway. I made a batik table runner for my friend Rebecca for Christmas, and would be delighted to follow it up this year with a hexie table runner made from these beautiful batiks. And you bet I'm a follower. :)

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

Wow, another great machine for cutting, thanks for the review! Love your little hexies too!

Lori said...

Oh this does so look like fun. I would love to win. I am a follower.I have yet to make hexies and this would be the perfect time to start. These colors would go perfect in our front room. Thanks for a chance to win.

Vicki H said...

I would love to make a tablerunner. Thanks for the chance.

Barb said...

Oh wow...that is a lot of hexie cut outs at one time. Enjoyed your review...don't enter me because I have hexie die.

Thanks...that embosser looks fabulous.

Kathy in GA said...

I love hexies, so would love to win! I already follow your blog via email. Thank you so much for the information about the ebosser, and the chance to win some batik hexies!

Barb Neiwert said...

I still need to learn EPP and this hexie project would be ideal. Can't wait to see your table topper.

Unknown said...

Hi! I haven't worked with hexies, yet, but would love to win the hexies and papers to make the table runner! I think it would be a wonderful place for me to start!! I know it is all the rage now, and I'm afraid I've caught the bug!!! Thank you for the chance to win!

Martha said...

That is an amazing machine!!!! I would love to win some hexies and make a table topper quilt!! How fun!! Thanks for the opportunity and thanks for sharing!!!!

HeatherK @ A Reformed Heath'n said...

Sweet! Looks like an interesting gadget. I'd love to try making some hexis! Thanks for a good review.

Lou said...

I want to win and make a hexi tablerunner!

Nita said...

I would really like to try making hexis. Winning this little kit would be a perfect introduction. Thanks for the chance!

Jodi - usairdoll said...

How cool! These batiks are going to make an awesome tabletopper! I'd love to have one myself.

Thank you for a super giveaway and a chance to win.

usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

Carin@Ullhärvan said...

Great give away!
carin(dot)aschan(at)hotmail(dot)com http://ullhrvan.blogspot.se/












Peggy Wolf said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Linda Nelson said...

I have a table that is all scratched, and have been wanting to make a table topper for it for months! This would be the PERFECT project!

Peggy Wolf said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Peggy Wolf said...

As another prolific quilter, I would love to win the eBosser to make things quicker and better. Now on to reading the blogs for information and inspiration. Happy quilting everyone!
I really love the Letter Size and the Teresa Collins Collection.

Anonymous said...

Wow, an awesome giveaway, put me in Thanks. Yes, I am a follower too.
(smjohns63 at yahoo dot com)

CLS said...

Oh how I need to win something!!! And how I love hexies.

Karen said...

Great giveaway. It would be nice to win the hexies alrady cut.

Rhonda D. said...

What a great giveaway! I just love hexies, and would love to
have the chance to win! I am
also a happy follower. Thanks!

wigglypup2(at)yahoo(dot)com

Vicky P said...

I would love to do a hexie table topper. Thanks for the info on the ebosser too.

Unknown said...

What a fabulous giveaway. I recently had to take a medical retirement due to e-Coli poisoning and the flesh eating bacteria...nasty little bugger it was so I am unable to return to my job as a flight nurse and am trying new things to kill the time....hexies look lie a fabulous little thing and I would love to learn how to make the table topper. Thank you for your kindness!

Marjorie said...

Love your project and the ebosser looks like fun. Don't include me in the giveaway (I have too many cutting tools already), but am enjoying the blog hop.

Rebecca Grace said...

This is amazing. I love how you're combining the very latest technology for cutting the hexies along with the age-old tradition of hand piecing the units with the foundation papers. My favorite projects seem to be the ones that blend traditional methods with technology, like this one.

Emily C said...

I am a follower. Love the hexies, would love to make my own table topper!

KT said...

I am a follower! what a great giveaway

OhioLori said...

How cool!!! I am just learning to make Hexie's!! Would definitely looooove to win the eBosser!!! & Kit!!! Yay!

Mom C said...

I follow. I'd love to win! Thanks.

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

Sounds like a great tool. Count me in.

Deb said...

Wow! I'd love to win an embosser, hexie die, paper pieces, and fabric! Thanks!

June D said...

I'm already a SewCalGal follower.

Please put my name in the hat for the drawing!

Thanks!

Karrie said...

I want to win and make a table topper! Thanks for the chance to win!

Jacqueline Bahí said...

Me encantará poder hacer este hexie table topper si soy afortunada.

Joan H. said...

I would love to win and make a table topper. Thanks for the opportunity.

Quilting Tangent said...

Hexie cutter giveaway count me in.

Stephanie said...

Thanks for chance. I'd like to make the table topper.

Debbie P said...

Thank you for offering another great give away!! It would be so much fun to have precut hexies to make a cute table topper!!

Becky said...

This looks like fun I haven't made any hexies yet. A table topper is just the right size. Thanks for the generous giveaway!

Quilt Doodle Designs said...

This would be so much fun to win! I would make a lap quilt if I could cut out a zillion hexies. I just finished a cute little handbag made using hexies. Thank you for the chance :)

Sallie said...

I'm a follower. I want to win and make a hexie table topper.

Nanbon44 said...

didn't know the ebosser would work with fabric... got to have one now

tich said...

That ebosser looks wonderful ...sigh! I love hexagons and the materials you khave picked are super. I am a follower.

CJ said...

I have never worked with hexies before and would love to give it a try and make a table topper. I love following your blog - you are a true inspiraton!

Cloud 9 said...

I'm a follower. Great giveaway, I'd like try a hexie project but a little intimidated at cutting all them out.

Becky said...

I am doing alots of traveling in the next month. I've never worked with hexies. Would love to make your tablerunner. Take care!

Unknown said...

I've been wanting to make something with English Paper Piecing but I don't have anything to cut any out with. I have been wanting to get an Accuquilt but I just can't afford one right now. I've never heard of eBosser before it sounds great. Thanks for the chance to be able to win, I appreciate it!!

Debbie P said...

What a great tool to use!! Would love to try it out! I follow your blog through email and love all of your reviews! Thanks!

CarolWTX said...

I've wanted to try paper piecing but worried I couldn't get an accurate piece cut, this will allow that to occur. I envision a whole new technique and craft opening up! Thanks for the offer to enter.

Ann said...

I'd love to try hexies

Kathy L said...

Wonderful giveaway. Thanks for the chance to win.

Lyndsey said...

What a great give away. I love hexies so I really like to win, thank you for the chance.

June D said...

Nice giveaway - and great review of the product. Thanks for putting my name in the hat for the give away!

: )
June

Margaret said...

wow what a great giveaway. Please count me in. thanks for the great review.

Pamela said...

I've been wanting to try a hexie project and the only thing holding me back is the thought of cutting all of them accurately. Pre-cut hexies would certainly solve that problem. Thanks for the chance to win! I follow you on Bloglovin.

suesinger said...

I love to do paper piecing, This would be a great addition to my stash.