Squirrely Layout with Woodland Tree Shape Template

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I have a lot of big plans for the new Fiskars Woodland Tree Shape Template! So many fun themes to be played off of this and countless ways to dress it up. For my first project using it, I decided to look to nature itself for my inspiration. Tree bark is textured. Tree bark has a variety of shades of brown and grey in it. So I decided to piece together the Woodland tree with different brown fabrics. And what better way to use the shapes on the template than with the corny but cute squirrel/nut theme? These photos of my son pestering his grandpa fit in perfectly with it!

Difficulty rating

Instructions (Print version)

Designer: Kendra McCracken

Beginning with a sheet of brown cardstock, iron on a layer of fusible
web. Using the Ultra ShapeXpress tool and the template, cut a tree and a
squirrel from the cardstock.

Peel off small sections of the paper backing for the fusible web and
iron on small sections of fabric. Use a pair of small scissors such as
the No. 5 Softgrip Micro-Tip Craft Scissors to trim the excess fabric
around the tree. I left a small border and frayed the edges.

The finished tree will look something like this. And from here, hand stitches and sequins or beads can be added if desired.

After following the same process with the squirrel, this is what my
completed squirrel looks like.

And my tree.

The Woodland Tree Template includes a template to make an acorn but I opted to use the What A Nut Squeeze punch instead, feeling the ruffled edges of the cap worked well with the Apron Lace Border Punched trim I added along the top edge of the layout.

And puffy clouds cut from muslin, again using the Woodland Tree Template, are a fun place to add a bit of hand stitched journaling.

Stitching some strips of dark green wool felt along the bottom of the
layout for grass finished off the layout with more awesome texture and a touch of color!

Supplies:

Fiskars Item # 01-005267 Shape Template Tool - Woodland Tree (12 inch x 12 inch)
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_shapetemplate-woodlandtree.aspx
Fiskars Item # 01-005095 Limited Edition : What a Nut - Large Squeeze Punch
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_whatanut.aspx
Fiskars Item # 01-004597 Apron Lace Border Punch
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_borderpunch-apron-lace.aspx

Fiskars Item # 48007097 Ultra ShapeXpress
http://fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_ultra-shapexpress.aspx

Fiskars Item # 98887097 No. 5 SoftgripR Micro-Tip® Craft Scissors
http://fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_no-5-softgrip-micro-tip-craft-scis.aspx

Other Supplies: 2 pieces of 12" x 12" cardstock, 1 sheet brown cardstock, 1 sheet off-white cardstock muslin for clouds, variety of brown fabrics, fusible web, forest green felt, coordinating embroidery flosses, beads and sequins, letter stickers