Aren’t these mini-charm packs the absolute cutest? I have a bunch, but I never know what to do with them. Happily, today I’m showing a bunch of ways you can start using these cuties up. My mini charm pack is Rhoda Ruth, Elizabeth Hartman‘s adorable new fabric. (It will ship in September.)
Last week, in preparation for a new tutorial, I started messing around with one of my new Sizzix dies, the 30 Degree Fan Blade Die. I wanted to pause to show you the different shapes I was able to cut from a mini charm pack using this die, none of which turned out to be what you are supposed to get from the die.
The mini charms, or 2 1/2” squares, aren’t big enough to cover the whole shape on the die. So by manipulating where you place the square you can get a different looking fan blade.
If you place the mini charm at the widest part of the die shape you will get a wider wedge. (I skipped the curved part of the wedge because it doesn’t go with my design.) This wider wedge will ultimately give you a bigger center circle, which I happen to adore.
Whatever size wedge you choose, you can cut multiple wedges, by stacking the mini charms 3 high and layering them across the three shapes on the die. Don’t forget to make your Sizzix sandwich, with the plastic cutting pieces on the top and bottom. Then send the whole thing through your Sizzix machine – I’m using my Fabi.
Here’s more of my wide wedges.
Now, by putting the mini charm at the more narrow end of the wedge you will get a narrower wedge. And ultimately this will give you a smaller center circle.
The difference may be subtle with these mini charms, but can you see the difference in shapes in the above picture? The teal wedge on the left is a wider set wedge and the pink wedge on the right is the narrow version.
Ok, back to the wide wedge because I’m a wide wedge kinda girl, this is what the fabric will look like after being cut but not removed from the die.
Now, with the wedges, you can make a mini tumbler design as I show above.
You can arrange them into a circle….
Or you can turn the wedges into Dresden blades by folding them in half and stitching. Here’s mine chain pieced together.
Snip a little bit from the seam allowance to get a pointy corner.
Press seam open and then press like so.
Then turn right side out with a blunt sewing tool or in my case a dull pencil.
And there you go… Dresden blades.
So, what did you think? Are there any favorite ways that you use up your mini charm packs?
Thanks!
Heidi Staples says
I absolutely LOVE this!! And I definitely need to break out my mini charm pack of that Rhoda Ruth…
Allison CB says
Very clever! Love them!