Introducing The Quick Stitch: Design-A-Softie Kit

Good morning, friends! Today is the much-anticipated introduction to Erin Lincoln's new Quick Stitch: Design-A-Softie kit from Papertrey Ink.

The second Quick Stitch Kit will be released on May 1st and it is entitled "Design-A-Softie". This is one collection of tools and stamps that you will turn to again and again to make heirloom quality gifts with heart. Everything you need to make customized softies will be right at your fingertips! Besides the basic softie body parts, there are dies for different facial expressions, eyes, ears and even trendy accessories! You will be able to create special one-of-a-kind stuffed animals according to a child's favorites colors, interests and personality! Think of this as your own person build-a-bear, just on a more affordable level! Get your kit tomorrow night so you can get a head start on holiday gifts!

You are totally going to love this kit! The features Erin has included can be mixed and matched to create just about anything you can imagine. I was able to put together some one-of-a-kind handmade gifts that I know will be treasured for years to come. I had so much fun exploring the possibilities and I'm absolutely certain you will, too! Are you ready to see what this kit has to offer?

How cute is all of that?! This kit truly made everything so easy!

Let's meet Sleepy Bunny first, ok? My cousin had a baby recently and I thought a sweet little naptime friend might be the perfect gift. I had (and still have) a heavy-lidded stuffed bunny as a baby. And this bunny comes with a handy secret that's great for the new mom.

Since this softie is headed for the hands of an infant I made sure to keep the construction very simple, no buttons or loose bits. I created her out of Lavender Moon felt with accents in Vintage Cream, Autumn Rose, and Smokey Shadow. The little heart on her chest is actually one of the leaf images from the Sewing Staples kit.

Erin has included quite the array features to allow you to create any expression your heart desires. There is also a fabulous selection of ears that will take you to any corner of the animal kingdom you wish to visit.

Erin has also designed a mini stamp set that gives you the option to create tiny tags and notes for your little handcrafted friends. I whipped up this sweet accessory tag and just attached it with a simple stitch through the ear, much like the tags you find on stuffed critters in retail stores.

There's also a "tushie pocket" included in this kit that is a special level of genius. You can use the pocket for notes to your favorite kiddo or, as I have here, as a perfect place to tuck a gift card. I'm sure the new parents will appreciate the handmade toy, but the gift card is sure to be a big hit, too. I decided my bunny needed a tail, so I stitched on the heart from Seasonal Stitching: Eggs to dress up her bum a bit.


Next up is Pirate Pete (Sean named him and it stuck)! This kit can do so much more than animals! Pete's modeled after our nephew, Charlie. He's much more detailed than Miss Sleepy Bunny, but he's also going to live with a little boy that won't chew on him, so I'm not worried about the buttons and such.

Pete has a removable hat, treasure map, a peg leg, and even a little anchor tattoo (embroidered with a single strand of floss)! His body was created using natural-colored flannel backed with heavy interfacing. I created his striped t-shirt by stamping a piece of iron-on transfer paper with Background Basics: Super Stripes using Pure Poppy ink. I ironed that to a piece of Vintage Cream felt and die cut as normal. The peg leg was created similarly by transferring the Background Basics: Woodgrain pattern onto Kraft felt.

I used the tiny black buttons in the kit on his eyes. The "holes only" facial expressions are perfect for adding details that you want to include, but don't want to give too much dimension. I cut his hairline freehand and left the bottom edge loose to make it look like his hair was just falling into his eyes. His little ears were created by cutting a couple of the smallish circles and tucking them into the edge as I sewed up Pete's outer seam.

His pants were created by cutting two tushie pockets from Blueberry Sky felt and stitching them onto the front and back (though only the one in the back actually functions as a pocket). The belt was made by die cutting two tushie pockets from True Black felt and trimming off the portion below the second row of stitching lines. His belt buckle is actually the necktie "knot" that I die cut from Harvest Gold felt. His boot is just the lower half of his leg cut from True Black felt and then fashioned with a cuff made with the same strip that I used for the belt. ETA: I realized that I forgot to mention Pete's peg leg construction. It was made with the Baby Bootie: Details die using the Mary Jane strap.

As I mentioned, Pete has accessories! His map is the landscape from Summer Camp, the Crackled Mini in Fine Linen and Classic Kraft, and an "x" from Moments Inked: Posted that I stamped onto iron-on transfer and then pressed onto linen fabric.

Pete's hat was made from a Stitched Circle, half a Mat Stack 1 Layerz, and a circle die from the new kit. The star button is also a kit item and I think it makes for the perfect medallion. The feather is because I can't leave well enough alone.

Here's Pete's backside. He's got his treasure map tucked safely in his pocket and he's ready for his next adventure! It looks like he's already made out like quite the bandit!

This kit also has some really fun possibilities for your cards! From the moment I got this kit in my hands, I couldn't get the idea of Groucho Marx glasses out of my head. Turns out, Groucho Marx glasses make a pretty entertaining Father's Day card.

I began by die cutting my mustache and eyebrows from black, faux-fur fabric. Then I created a nose from Kraft felt. I die cut the glasses frames from True Black cardstock twice and the lenses from clear cardstock once. I smooshed one of the frames onto a VersaMark pad and then heat embossed them with clear powder to give a shiny finish. I stitched the three layers of the glasses together with black embroidery thread and then set them aside.

I used the "holes only" dies to create the stitching holes for the mustache and eyebrows in a piece of Fresh Snow Linen cardstock. I stitched the fuzzy bits into place and then added the glasses and nose with flat and foam adhesives. If you make a card like this be aware that the die cutting process totally flattens the faux fur. I suggest stitching your shapes into place before fluffing it back up (just rub lightly with your finger). It will make seeing your stitching holes much easier. I finished off the card with a sentiment from On The Links on a Soft Stone card base.

So there you have it! This kit is truly a blast to play with. I already have two more completely unique softies in the pipeline and I'm sure there are more to follow. Erin's Quick Stitch: Design-A-Softie Kit will be available tomorrow, May 1st at 10pm in the Papertrey Ink store, so be sure to pick up your kit then. In the meantime, check in with Erin, Hilary, Rebecca, and Tracy for as much inspiration as you can handle! See you again soon!

More Kit Details:

Design-A-Softie Kit Contents:
Custom tote bag
Design-A-Softie mini stamp set + index label
Softie die collection
Softie Ears die collection
Softie Expressions die collection
Softie Glasses & Mustaches die collection
Softie Kerchief die collection
Softie Patches die collection
Softie Collar & tie die collection
Softie Exclusives die collection
Custom button mix (50 buttons total)
(4) Iron-on 8-1/2" x 11" Transfer sheets

The total retail cost of the "Design-A-Softie" Kit is $105. There will be a limited number of these exclusive kits available, so be sure to get yours while you can! Some individual items will be available for sale at a later date. The "Design-A-Softie" Kit will be available for sale beginning on May 1st at 10pm EST, only at Papertrey Ink. Read all the details on Nichole's blog or contact Customer Service with any questions.

Recipes:

Miss Sleepy Bunny

Felt: Lavender Moon, Vintage Cream, Autumn Rose, Smokey Shadow - Papertrey Ink
Dies: Softie Die Collection, Softie Ears Die Collection, Softie Expressions Die Collection, Softie Patches Die Collection, Softie Exclusives Die Collection, Seasonal Stitching: Eggs, Sewing Staples Floral Cluster Die Collection - Papertrey Ink
Stamps: Design-A-Softie Mini - Papertrey Ink

Ink: Smokey Shadow, Autumn Rose - Papertrey Ink

Other: Vintage Cream Cardstock - Papertrey Ink; Embroidery Floss - DMC; Stuffing - Polyfil

Pirate Pete

Felt: Vintage Cream, Classic Kraft, Harvest Gold, Pure Poppy, True Black, Blueberry Sky - Papertrey Ink
Dies: Softie Die Collection, Softie Expressions Die Collection, Softie Kerchief Die Collection, Softie Collar And Tie Die Collection, Softie Exclusives Die Collection, Baby Bootie: Details Die Collection (peg leg), Stitched Circle Die, Mat Stack 1 Layerz Die - Papertrey Ink

Stamps: Background Basics: Super Stripes, Background Basics: Woodgrain, Summer Camp, Moments Inked: Posted, Crackle Mini - Papertrey Ink

Ink: Pure Poppy, Dark Chocolate, True Black, Fine Linen, Classic Kraft - Papertrey Ink

Other: Star Button, Small Black Buttons - Papertrey Ink; Embroidery Floss - DMC; Stuffing - Polyfil; Feather; Natural Flannel; Interfacing; Linen

Groucho Father's Day Card

Stamps: On The Links - Papertrey Ink

Cardstock: Soft Stone, Fresh Snow Linen, True Black, Clear - Papertrey Ink

Ink: True Black - Papertrey Ink; VersaMark - Tsukineko

Dies: Softie Die Collection, Softie Expressions Die Collection, Softie Glasses And Mustaches Die Collection - Papertrey Ink

Other: Classic Kraft Felt - Papertrey Ink; Embroidery Floss - DMC; Faux Fur Fabric; Clear Embossing Powder - Filigree; Foam Tape - Scotch