Hiya!
Here's a sweet little craft you can make for the holidays! I'm showing the folks over at Go Greeno on how to make these greeting spools, so hop on over and get the scoop!
Tuesday Tutes
December 05, 2011
October 12, 2011
October 03, 2011
Halloween sign knock off by Parrish Platz
Hello there!
Ooooh, you're in for a special treat!
How would you like to make a frightfully delightful sign to adorn your lovley abode?
Hop on over to Jennifer's place and sit for a spell. She'll show you how to conjure up this sign in time to spook your unwanted welcomed guests!
September 26, 2011
September 19, 2011
January 11, 2011
mobile
Hello!
It's nap time and I have a moment to spare...
I had actually made this mobile before little LaLa (AKA: Stella) was born. I was waiting for the perfect photo opportunity.
Awww... sleepy-sleep...
I've thought about buying a mobile. There's so many cute and wonderful mobiles out there, but with a limited budget, I decided to make my own.
Here's a quick tutorial...
supplies:
-felt balls of different colors and sizes
-lovely doilies (purchased here)
-stiffener (to stiffen the doilies so it would hang nicer)
-the outside hoop of an embroidery hoop
-various colors of embroidery thread
-buttons
-glass beads (not shown)
-hot glue (not shown)
-twine to hang the mobile
-ribbon trim
-24 gauge soft jewelry wire (not shown)
-jewelry crimps (optional). You can just tie a knot.
***
First, following the directions on back of the fabric stiffener, I stiffened several doilies. It took a couple of days and several coats of stiffener to get to the desired stiffness. I then wrapped wire around the hoop, kris-crossing each strand (shown in first photo).
Here, I created a hook on the button using some wire and hot glued it to the doily.
On the other side of the doily, I glued a felt ball.
Then I hung each one with a different color embroidery thread at different lengths to the wire on the hoop. I also used the larger felt balls with a glass beads on the ends to hang as well.
Once I was satisfied with the hanging pieces, I glued ribbon around the hoop to cover the wires and used twine to hang from the ceiling.
Voila!
A special mobile for little LaLa!
***
OH...
Lala's waking up...
gotta go...
see you soon!
{{smile}}
August 05, 2010
March 09, 2010
all in one
A happy Tuesday to you!
As I had mentioned the other day, we are going to sew a scarf, a bolero and a shawl. 3?! THREE pieces, you say?
Oh, no my dears! Just ONE.
This one does it all.
The moment saw this, I knew I had to share with you.
So let's get sewin'!
SUPPLIES:
-1 yard of (54"-60" width) fabric.
*It can be either stretch knit or cotton.
OR
-1/2 yard of (54"-60" width) fabric for the outside and 1/2 yard of (54"-60" width) coordinating fabric for the lining.
***
-6 buttons.
-1 ft of 1/4" OR thinner elastic for the loops.
-Thread.
***
First thing you will need to do is measure to the desired length. Ideally, you will want the shawl to extend past the elbow about 2", end to end.
Next, you will need to measure for the width of the shawl. The book calls for a 16" width which worked out fine for me.
Once you have the measurements, cut your fabric(s).
As you can it's a very simple design and I love simplicity, but I wanted to add just a bit more it.
***This is completely optional and you can skip this part and move on to the next step. For those who would like to add ruffles, stay with me...
What you will need to do cut 6 strips of fabric. You will need to double the width of your shawl to determine the length of the strips.
So if your shawl is a 16" width, than the length of your strips should be 32". For the width of the strips, I recommend 1 1/2".
32" x 1 1/2" should be your dimensions.
Next, take your strips and do a loose stitch down the center of each. I always use two different colors for the gathering stitch. It makes it easier to remove and it serves as guide.
In most cases I would do two rows of a gathering stitch, but for this one, you could get by with one.
Tie a knot on one end of the strip. Grab one of the threads and begin scrunching the fabric down. Gently! You don't want to break the thread... that would not be good.
Repeat to the other remaining 5 strips and set aside.
Take your first ruffle and pin down 2 1/2" from the short edge of your fabric. Sew into place, down the center of the ruffle, using the gathering stitch as your guide.
Take your second ruffle and pin down 1 1/2" from the first ruffle. Sew into place. Repeat for the third ruffle.
Once all the ruffles are sewn, remove the gathering stitches and it should look like this.
Repeat these steps for the other three ruffles on the other end of the shawl.
Now your shawl should resemble this.
Pretty!
***Okay, for all of you who didn't want ruffles, come on back!
Grab your elastic and buttons.
Set the buttons aside and grab your elastic.
Cut six 2" strips.
Make loops and sew the elastic on the center of each ruffle and along the very edge of the fabric.
Sew the other three loops on the other end of the shawl, on the opposite side.
And it should look like this.
DON'T sew your buttons on just yet! That will be your last step. Just set them aside.
With your lining and front fabric facing each other, sew 1/2" along the edge, all the way around.
***Leave a 3" opening for you to turn your fabric inside out.
Trim the corners.
Turn inside out.
Iron and topstitch about 1/4" along the edge.
Now add our buttons,
AND...
Presto!
You got yourself a beautiful scarf... shawl... bolero... all-in-one accessory that is sure to please!
HAPPY CRAFTING!!!
February 24, 2010
packaging pt.2... OVER HERE!
Hello my dear friends!
Want more ideas for packaging? Hop on over to Buggie and Jellybean for more packaging tutorials. I have three new ideas!
Go see and say hello!!!
xox
February 23, 2010
packaging pt. 1 (freezer paper bags)
Happy Tuesday my lovelies! 2 reasons to be happy: ONE, just three more days until the weekend and TWO, it's tutorial day!!! You can find soooo many great tutorials throughout blogland on Tuesdays and if it wasn't for YOU sharing ideas and crafts... I would be a lost soul.
I have been wanting to do a tutorial on packaging for a while. There is just so much that needs to be addressed and so many cool ideas that I don't know where to begin. Packaging is (I think) a vital part in any retail business. It's the "icing" on the cake and your last opportunity to wow your client and make your last impression one they will talk about, spreading the news like a bad rumor wild fire.
Imagine if you will, a shop full of beautiful products. It tells a story. You fall in love and buy. And when you receive your package, it's just so-so. Once floating on a cloud of anticipation, romanticizing of being part of that story, only to be brought down to earth with an unexpected ending.
I like happy endings.
As mentioned earlier, there are so many ideas out there. I will post a list of other great links to inspire you at the end of this tutorial. Also, I'll be hanging out with Buggie and Jellybean with more neat ideas on packaging later this week so please do come and visit and say hello!(I'll keep you posted)
Phew! Too much talking... let's get craftin'!
***
First, before we even go to packaging and especially if we're dealing with fabric, let's start with folding. Now this is where all my GAP experience is paying off... you've probably seen it on SNL skits bagging on GAP employees and their folding skills (among other things), but seriously, it kinda helps here. (Don't laugh... I see you...)
This is how I fold all of my aprons. It's "apron-igami"...
Now you don't have to go to the extremes, but folding your products nice and neat is a big plus.
When folded, I try to keep all the aprons the same dimensions. That way, you can mass produce your packaging a head of time and It'll save you in the long run.
Freezer bags are awesome. I use it for many reasons:
-It's fairly cheap.
-150 square feet of it , which translates to MANY bags.
-It has a thin lining of wax on one side so during transit, if your package gets wet, it will have some protection.
-Freezer paper is used in multiple crafts (i.e. screen printing fabrics) so it's recyclable.
-It's white paper. A clean palette to decorate and make it your own.
*You can use brown paper bags, newspaper, plastic grocery bags, pages from a magazine, construction paper... many, many choices out there. RECYCLE-REUSE. A trend that's here to stay!
***
Back to packaging...
With the dimensions from the apron, I will add 2" in the length for seam allowance (yes, I'm going to sew the paper) and triple the width.
So I am left with about 10" x 21" paper.
Turn paper over, wax side up and fold up 7" (the same as the width of the apron). As you can see, it resembles an envelope.
Stitch the sides. Straight... zig-zag... whatever floats your boat!
I use a scallop edge to give a finished look. You can leave it, use a different style of pinking shears, whatever you fancy. You could even fold over the edges and then stitch for a more reinforced edge.
See? Sooo purdy...
Now here's the opportunity to make the bag more personalized... more YOU.
I have made my own custom stamps (so easy to make). I'll use them and sometimes combine them with stamps I already have.
Mix it up! Have fun! It's ALL YOU.
I'm starting to add this little label now to all of my bags. Not everyone knows what they can do with the bag. A simple reminder and perhaps even inspire someone to make something! Ya never know!
To keep the bag closed I used a piece of yarn (sometimes ribbon) and my business card. I ordered mini moo cards specifically for this. They're so little and too darn cute!
GOLDEN RULE #1: ALWAYS leave a business card.
Tah-dah!
Add a thank you card, maybe a little "gift", place it in a box (or even an envelope) and it's ready to go!
BUT WAIT!
You could stop there, but why? Can you imagine, waking up Christmas morning and seeing all the gifts under the tree not wrapped? NO pretty paper? NO mystery? That's no fun.
Let's take one more step...
Remember the stamps? Stamp the box. Make it pretty! How about mailing labels? I just print them out on regular paper and tape it on. Easy!
Okay... NOW you can send it on it's way!
***
Here are some really cool sites to bring more inspiration:
-ESTY
***
Do you have any cool packaging ideas?
See you at Buggie and Jellybean with more ideas!!!
***
HAPPY CRAFTING!
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