Creative Grids® Sales Tools

Posted on August 4, 2020 by Penny Haren

We just released the Creative Grids® Kitty Cornered Tool by Deb Heatherly and they have been flying off the shelves. Many of you are doing online demos so I thought I would share some marketing material available to make it easier for you!

Visit the Creative Grids website www.creativegridsusa.com to see information on all of our products and encourage your customers to do the same. When you choose a product, all of the patterns that support that tool are shown at the bottom of the page. You can also watch the video demonstrating how to use the tool and download a set of instructions. Yes, the instructions come with the tool, but if you accidentally threw them away, we’ve got you covered!

You can also download an interactive Wishlist that shows all of our rulers so you can keep track of your personal inventory. This list is updated every time we release a new item!

If you are a shop wanting to demonstrate this ruler, we have done a lot of the legwork for you! Click the LogIn button in the top right corner of the Creative Grids USA homepage. Use your Checker Distributors account number and password to log in.

Go to the Storyboard link to download a Block Set of this tool. The block set includes all 11 sizes of this block in actual size! The marketing department literally takes our test blocks and scans them into the computer. You no longer have to sew samples of every size to see the diversity of the tool! Send the file to your favorite print shop and have them print them on card stock. What a silent salesman!

We also have prepared a Storyboard for you. This includes step-by-step instructions on how to use the tool – blown up so it is easy to view. Basically, these boards are the highlights of the instructions that are included with the tool – but in poster size!

Under the Free Graphics tab, you can use the banner created for the tool to advertise that you have it in stock.

While you are visiting the Toolbox, check out all of the other free resources provided for you! Just make sure you have enough product available when the orders fly in!

Hootie in Log Cabins

Posted on July 18, 2020 by Penny Haren

Hootie #CLPLDB007 is the latest in a series of wall hangings designed by Lisa DeBord for Cut Loose Press™ that incorporates log cabin and curvy log cabin blocks. What else can I say when you have this level of cuteness!

Wilmington Prints has a complete line of Essential Gems that come in a multitude of colors – which are the perfect pre-cuts to display with these patterns. Most of the blocks are made with 1 1/4″ strips so these 2 1/2″ strips can be cut in half – a great way to get a variety of fabrics in a colorway!

2-1/2in Strips Essential Gems Coffee Cafe 6 bundles per package

This series uses the Creative Grids® 4″ Log Cabin Trim Tool #CGRJAWMN4 and 4″ Curvy Log Cabin Trim Tool #CGRJAW6MINI.

Creative Grids 4in Log Cabin Trim Tool Quilt Ruler

Creative Grids 4in Curvy Log Cabin Trim Tool

Norbert #CLPLDB006 just came out last month. You still have time to make him for the holidays.

Oliver #CLPLDB005 the koala was inspired by the wild fired in Australia.

Waddles #CLPLDB004 and Noggins #CLPLDB003 are so adorable, I had to make them both! They are totally done so I can’t wait to hang them this holiday season!

Why not do a class? Demonstrate and teach the traditional courthouse steps and log cabin blocks (if needed) in one class. Follow up with a class on the curvy log cabin. Need a shop sample? Divide the blocks up between your employees. Since they are all done with the trim tools, all of the blocks will be the same size and the finished blocks will go together beautifully. An added bonus – everyone will know how to use the tools!

Newest Release From Creative Grids

Posted on June 26, 2020 by Penny Haren

The newest Creative Grids® tool, Kitty Cornered, developed by Deb Heatherly is simply brilliant! It is one of those blocks that I always paper-pieced in the past because I just couldn’t sew those odd angles accurately. Well, not anymore!

Make eleven different sizes of the Kitty Cornered block – two at a time! Cut the odd angles with the tool, then trim them down to size after sewing. Fast, easy and accurate! Make two Kitty Cornered blocks at one time – the printed cutting chart is right on the tool! Create eleven sizes from 1 to 6 inches – and every half inch in between. The ruler comes with fully illustrated step by step instructions or watch the YouTube video to see a demonstration.

And, of course, there are sooo many companions. Daddy’s Ties is a Cut Loose Press™ pattern and is the perfect choice for a memory quilt. I am making this one with a friend who lost her husband a few years ago. We are using his ties – and oxford cloth shirts for the background squares. What an heirloom!

Combining four of the blocks – and sewing them together like a nine-patch creates this stunning quilt – Kitty Cornered Chained. Don’t you love the larger units as accents in the middle border?

Evergreen Runner is a fast, easy project combining half-square triangles and Kitty Cornered blocks.

By reversing the lights and darks in the block, a whole new design is created in Happy N Blessed.

Nostalgia combined Kitty Cornered blocks with three inch log cabins – created with the four inch log cabin trim tool.

Need a patriotic table runner this summer? Liberty Runner is just the ticket and you can finish it in an afternoon!

I love this Maple Leaf table runner that is cut from 10 – 10″ squares so it is easy to kit for classes! I cut kits for this yesterday and am using a gray background – can’t wait to start sewing!

Aptitude is a full pattern that includes instructions for a lap as well as a queen sized quilt. This pattern uses the Creative Grids® CGRDH2 Strippy Stars Tool and the CGRDH5 Kitty Cornered Tool. Fabric selection is easy! Just choose a background and two additional contrasting colors.

Catagonia also features lap and queen sizes and combines the Cat’s Cradle tool by Deb with the Kitty Cornered tool. The pattern calls for a variety of fabrics in the cat’s cradle units so pull out your scraps!

Sassafras combines the Ultimate Flying Geese tool with the Kitty Cornered Tool for maximum effect. With just three colors, it is oh so simple to choose fabrics.

Pick out 9 Fat Quarters and a background fabric, and use the Creative Grids® CGRDH5 Kitty Cornered tool to make this fun 55″ x 70″ quilt designed by Christine Van Buskirk. Don’t you love the dark background???

Flurry is a 64″ x 80″ Fat Quarter friendly quilt is stunning in blues. Using CGRFCC (6″ Folded Corner Clipper) is also featured in the instructions as an optional tool for the diamond in a square assembly.

The tool and Cut Loose Press™ patterns are in stock. The full-sized patterns are due in any day so place your orders now!

New from GE Designs

Posted on June 1, 2020 by Penny Haren

Gudrun Erla has released four new patterns this season. The hardest decision is going to be which one to make first!

Taylor is an easy pattern you can make from fat quarters or a mix of 10″ squares, 2-1/2″ and 1-1/2″ strips. It is a part of the Stripology Mixer series of patterns. Construction is very easy with the Stripology XL ruler by GE Designs. You can tailor the layout to your liking, more uniform or go very abstract. The pattern comes with 5 different size options: crib, lap, full, queen, king.

This striking pattern is so versatile and much easier to make than it looks. The pattern has 4 different layout options and endless variations. Make it with assorted 10″ squares or just 2 fabrics, using the Stripology Squared or the Stripology XL ruler by GE Designs and be successful every time. Instructions for using regular rulers are included. The pattern comes with 5 different size options: crib, lap, twin/full, queen, king.

Gudrun featured this pattern in a “quarantine sew along”. 16,000 quilters participated in this all day event so many shop owners already have their sample made! We think that must be a record!

Elvira is a fun and fast to make quilt from fat quarters. Construction is very easy with the Stripology XL ruler by GE Designs and the GEasy point trimmers. Instructions for using regular rulers are included. The pattern comes with 4 different size options: crib, lap, full, queen.

Hope was also featured in an all day sew along and over 6,000 quilters participated from all over the world. So, once again, many shops have samples completed. For this sew along, Gudrun donated over $35,000 to local charities – quilters could make a donation in lieu of purchasing the pattern for this event. Doesn’t it give you goosebumps??? What an amazing story and what an amazing event!

Hope is a fun and easy pattern you can make from fat quarters or 10″ squares and 2-1/2″ strips. Construction is very easy with the Stripology XL or the Stripology Squared ruler by GE Designs. Instructions for using regular rulers are included. The pattern comes with 4 different size options: crib, lap, full, king.

These blocks can be laid out in a multitude of ways to create dynamic quilts!

I love these stickers – and use them all of the time on my rulers and cutting mats. They now come in three “Fruity Fiesta” colors.

G-Easy Ruler Stickers - Fruity Fiesta Palette

Everything is due to arrive June 20th so place your orders now!

Microwave Bowl Cozy

Posted on March 15, 2020 by Penny Haren

These bowls are great gifts – and now have never been easier. The Gypsy Quilter™ has chosen 100% cotton batting that is microwave safe – and even cut it to shape. The darts are even cut out!

Just place pre-cut batting on the wrong side of a 10.5 inch square of cotton fabric. Using 100% cotton thread, fold and stitch darts 1/4 inch away from the batting cut edge. Trim out fabric excess. Repeat with the second square of cotton and pre-cut batting. Put right sides together and stitch around the outer edge. Leave an opening for turning. Turn and stitch the opening closed. That’s all there is to it! OR sew five 2 1/2″ strips together to equal 10 1/2″ and make two bowls from a strip set!

One package is enough to make four bowls.

Crazier Eights Playbook

Posted on March 8, 2020 by Penny Haren

This companion book for the Creative Grids® Crazier Eights Template Set #CGRMT7 features eight projects. This 16-page booklet includes instructions for cutting from scraps, 10” squares and fabric strips for effective use of your fabrics. Learn to use the five templates as a set, individually or in different combinations to create the projects in the book.

Or use the free pattern that comes with the template set!

Everything is in stock so order now!

Sixty-degree Angles Just Got a WHOLE Lot Easier!

Posted on January 23, 2020 by Penny Haren

Designing quilts with sixty-degree angles just got a WHOLE lot easier with the introduction of Sheila Christensen’s Creative Grids® Half Sixty ruler.

Creative Grids Half Sixty Triangle Ruler

This tool is the perfect companion to the Creative Grids® 80-degree rulers. Since it is 12-1/2″, it works with both. Sew the straight side to create pieced 60-degree units; sew the angles side to create pieced rectangles. It is really that easy!

Just look at the possibilities! This Cut Loose Press™ pattern – Pinwheel Hexagons #CLPSCH001- is a great beginner class. Sixty-degree triangles are pieced from two half sixties and then squared up to create blocks with half sixties. How simple and easy is that!

But this is NOT a one-trick pony! Look at just some of the possibilities! Who would ever think that they were all created with the same tool!

And don’t you love her vibrant choice of colors? The sixty-degree triangle is our number one selling triangle of all time – and now it has a friend! Your customers will love it!

Coffee for Christmas

Posted on December 3, 2019 by Penny Haren

Coffee Break from Cut Loose Press™ by Karla Alexander is so much fun to make! I got out my Fiestaware and started throwing out fabrics that coordinated. It turns out, I couldn’t stop at a table runner. They are just way too much fun – and I am a little OCD…

So what is a gal to do? Make 35 more and turn them into mug rugs for gifts for coaches, teachers, principals….you get the picture. And, if you have a good relationship with your machine quilter, she may even add their names.

But, I live in Ohio – and they are #1 so…..

These individual cups measure approximately 8″ so I cut an 8″ square of fabric, folded it in half, and used it as a pocket on the back. I’ll put coffee gift cards in the pocket as a homage to Karla. After all, she lives in the Pacific Northwest and KNOWS good coffee!

You still have time to finish six or six dozen by Christmas so get started!

Rotary Blade Guards

Posted on November 1, 2019 by Penny Haren

These were a big hit at Market! These guards protect your fingers from the blade! They come in packs of four – and should be a must have for every rotary cutter in every shop and class!

They are specifically designed to work with the OLFA ergonomic cutter.

They are also available for the 60mm size:

What a great stocking stuffer! They will be available very soon!

Creative Grids® Cutting Mats

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Penny Haren

The hit of Houston! Creative Grids® now has cutting mats in four sizes: 6 x 8; 12 x 18; 18 x 24; and 24 x 36 inches.

Why am I soooo excited about these mats? Gudrun Erla and I were on the design team from the very beginning and got to create our dream mat. The Creative Grids® Rotary Cutting Mat is double-sided. One side features one-inch grids with eighth-inch markings over the entire surface. All numbers are printed outside of the grid area, so they are always visible. Popular 1-1/2 inch cuts are highlighted with white stars; 2-1/2 inch cuts with white squares. Eighth, quarter and third-yard cuts are marked with dashed lines for easy reference.

The other side is designed to use with the Creative Grids® Stripology series of rulers. Line up the fabric and rulers on the spaced horizontal half-inch grid lines. That is all you need – no other distracting markings and lines are needed.

AND, they are not available in chains! If you buy three of each mat, the display rack is free. Just order the assortment. The heavy-duty rack can be purchased separately as well.

Creative Grids Cutting Mat Assortment With Rack

The black and white markings on our rulers show up perfectly on the gray and teal colorations. For designers, it photographs wonderfully so is a great backdrop for demos, videos, and illustrations! Give them a try!

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