Yellow Cardigan

I'm an amateur seamstress.  I'm self-taught. I just kind of do it.  Technicalities are not important to me whatsoever.  So, bear with me.  

I took an old shirt that was a little too small for me.  

Using straight pins, I marked the center of the shirt and cut it.

Then, I sewed about a 1/2" seam on each side of the front.  

I cut off the sleeves a couple inches longer than I wanted them. 

Using some of the extra fabric, I made a little strip of fabric.  I sewed a little tube for each side.  The seam went on the back.  

I found some cool buttons in a button box left for me from my grandma.  I LOVE them. I rolled up the sleeves twice, wrapped the strip of fabric from the inside to the outside and sewed the button on to hold the strip in place.  

And, here it is! 

Texture and Tags Blanket

Recently, I noticed that my baby girl has been scratching various surfaces.  She is really starting to take notice of different textures.  I saw the Tags blankets at the store selling for $10 or more.  No way I was going to spend money on something that I could make out of different textured scraps of fabric at home.  So, I went to work.

I cut a bunch of 5 inch squares of fabric of different colors and textures.  I sewed 2 squares together; then I sewed 2 sets of 2 squares together and so on until it was all sewn together.  I sewed 1/2" in on each side of the square so they ended up being 4" squares. 

I laid it on top of the fabric that I wanted as the back of the blanket. 

Remember to have both sides inside out.

In order to make the "tags" I looped ribbon and placed the ribbon inside the blanket before I sewed around the edge.  In order to keep it secure I pinned it in place. 

{I usually don't take time to pin the fabric.}

Now you sew all the way around the edge of the blanket until you have about a 5 inch opening or so.

Now turn the blanket right side out. 

I know that there is a way to finish up the seam to keep it hidden, I just don't take the time because I have other things I want to get done. So, I just sewed the last few inches on the machine.  You can kind of see it, but it isn't really noticeable when you see the who blanket.   I also made a few little stitches in the middle of each set of 4 squares to hold the quilt side to the backing. 

 

There it is, texture, tags and all. 

Happy Crafting!

Book Page Magnet Board

Old Book Pages

Old Cookie Sheet

Mod Podge.

Mod Podge torn book pages on bottom of the cookie sheet. 

Old Magnets.  Cover them with Chalkboard paint.

Add some paper flowers.

Happy Crafting!

Heart Crayon Valentines

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching... another holiday where kids get a TON of candy.  However, it doesn't have to be that way.  : )  The play group at church is having a Valentine's Day party, so my friend and I made heart crayons for each child.  All you need is a silicon tray and some crayons.  If you want to see exactly how to make them, click here.

They are super simple and fun!  We're so excited to pass them out.  

There you go: SWEET Valentin's... hold the sugar. : )

Happy Crafting

Basket

It's amazing what a little spray paint can do. 

I found this basket at Joann Fabrics for $5.  I want it in my daughter's nursery, which is all white, so I thought I would make this white as well.  So, I got some white spray paint and then added a little touch of lavender fabric.  We've decided to use the basket to hold some cute little stuffed animals.  

Happy Crafting!

Please Knock

Just as I get my little girl asleep... "Ding Dong!"  

Although it has been fairly recent that this has even bothered the little sweetie, I decided that I wanted to make something cute that was quick and easy and inexpensive that would be a remedy for the situation.  So, I came up with this: 

Materials:

Wood Circle from Joann's

Acrylic Paint 

Paint Pen

Scrapbooking Stickers

Procedure: (super easy)

Paint the circle and put the stickers on. :)

Like I said, I wanted this one to be super quick and practical.  It's way cuter than the piece of paper that I have covering the doorbell currently.  So, now I just need to hang it up.  The best thing about it was that I didn't need to buy anything for it.  Gotta love that.  

Happy Crafting!

Pop-Tab Can Gift

I have a hard time shopping for some people for their birthdays.  I think, "I really wan to get them something that is cool, but that they will use."  I look and look, but to no avail.  So, I end up being the boring one at the party that just gives a gift card or money.  Hey, at least I know they'll be able to use it.  Sometimes I'm cool and give kids a small toy with it like a Hotwheels  Car or Silly Putty or some candy.  

Well, I saw a Pop-Tab Can (like Campbell's soup cans) used as gift wrap, so I decided to make one.  I made one to wrap a tie that we were giving to my dad with all 10 of his grandkids' thumb prints on it.  It was fabulous, but I didn't take a picture of it... OOPS! 

Well here is how you make it:

First, you need to have one of those nifty can openers that breaks the seal of the can instead of cutting through the metal on top.  This is important because most of the cans that have the pop-tab lids have the rounded edged bottoms, which don't work with can openers.

Open the can and make something yummy with the contents in the can.  

Okay... here is where I was dumb had a mom brain moment.  I forgot to put the stuff inside the can first.  MAKE SURE THAT YOU PUT THE GIFT INSIDE BEFORE THIS NEXT STEP! :)

After the can is washed, place the gift inside and then hot glue the can shut. 

 {I used JB Weld on the first can that I made and that worked really well too.}

Now spray paint the top and bottom of the can.... the rest of it will be covered. 

Cut a piece of paper (any color, patterned or not) to 8 1/2" by 3 3/4" approximately.  Glue it on the can.

Get creative with puffy paint, ribbon, stickers, or markers and decorate the can.  Now, they will be able to open up the can and be surprised by what's inside! 

No more being the boring "just a card and gift card" person at those birthday parties. :)

{Since I forgot to put anything inside this can, I just finished making it for the fun of it. Haha.}

Happy Crafting!

Use discretion when deciding whether or not the recipient is old enough to open this gift as the edges of around the top will be sharp after opening.  

Diaper Cake

I know that SO Many people have made diaper cakes, but a few months back I took a stab at making one.  I think it turned out pretty cute.  Just in case you haven't seen how to make one, I'll post some pictures  on the steps to making one. 

Diaper Cake

I started with a charger plate from the Dollar Store.

Roll up the diapers and place a small rubber hair band around each one to hold it in place.  It's easiest to do this all at once and then assemble them. 

Place a large baby bottle with a rubber band around it in the center.  Slip 6 diapers around the bottle inside the rubber band.  Then place another rubber band around the set of 6 and slip 11 or 12 more diapers inside that rubber band.  Do the same thing with 18 diapers around the outer edge. 

This is the base of your cake.

Build the middle tier in the same manner as the first, with 6 diapers and then 11-12 diapers.  

Now build the third tier.

It will require a small bottle to complete the top tier. 

Place ribbon around the middle of the diapers to cover up the rubber bands.

I only tied a bow on the top tier, but you can do this on all three if you want.

Now, complete it with fun as well as practical things like stuffed animals, baby spoons, wash cloths, nail clippers and small toys. 

So cute. 

Happy Crafting!

Spring Wreath

Spring Wreath

I know that I just posted a tutorial for a wreath... but I really like wreaths right now.  I thought this was a super cute and easy one as well.  I hope you go to Patty Schaffer's blog and view her tutorial!  

Have a good weekend!

Fabric Wreath

Here is a very inexpensive and easy wreath.  

A foam wreath form: I got one at the dollar store.

Scraps of fabric: I got them in the remnants at Joann's

Straight Pins

Hot Glue (not in the picture)

Cut your fabric into squares.

 

They don't have to be perfect.

Fold one in half and pin it.  

Put a dot of glue on the pinhead and fold the fabric over so that the layers all overlap.

Put 2 to three other pieces of fabric (just folded into messy fourths) onto the same pin.

I made a bunch of them before putting them into the form, 

but you could certainly place them as you go.

I made similar ones with my second color.  Make sure you fold it to cover the backside of the fabric. 

For this one I folded it in half...

then folded a third over...

then pinned it...

then glued it.  

This one is folded in sixths.  Make three more without pins and add them to complete the flower.

Like this!

First I put all the green ones to cover the wreath (except for where I wanted the purple ones to go).  

I decided to put all of my "flowers" together in one spot.

And it's done!

Happy Crafting!