Halloween Crafts

I freaking love Halloween!  Favorite time of the year, hands down.  I made some new Halloween decorations with my Silhouette and I love how they turned out.

First, a Happy Halloween banner.  I used this shape to create the banner. I deleted the spider webs and spiders then used the cracked font to make the words.

And a close up.  I love glitter paper!

Next, the spiders and web banner.  Same shape used exactly how it was made.

I also layered some of the spiders and webs. 


And the final Halloween decor...Bats.  So freaking cute...or scary?

I feel like I need a lot more for the space but they're looking awesome.  I used this shape from the Silhouette store and I only used the bottom bat in the pair.

First Nursery Craft

I saw something like this on Pinterest (but the link is now broken) and loved it.

So I made my own version for Baby H's room.

I think the original is fabric but I had paper and I didn't want to leave the house.  I used the sewing machine to stitch around the outside of the giraffe.  If I could have figured out how to write well with the sewing machine I probably would have done something like the "hello" on the original but I super struggled.

I have a rhinoceros silhouette that I'd like to use too.  Maybe I'll practice my embroidery skills and see if I can come up with something cute to put on the rhino.

Bedroom Decor

I've wanted to do one of those melted crayon art pieces for a long time...

...but I struggle.  I couldn't make it look nice.  I ruined a glue gun.  I hated it.

So, while Husband was out of town I decided to try a less linear project and just melted crayons all over a canvas. 

I started with a blow dryer...way too slow for me.  Bring on the heat gun.  It was so much faster and I only burned my finger once.

We'll have a grown-up, decorated bedroom one day even if it burns off all my finger prints.

Turns Out I Have A Lot of Time on My Hands

As awesome as having a summer off is, it sometimes gets a little lonely.  No one is home...anywhere.  Not many adults get the summer off.  Shocker.

Anyway, because of this I've got whole days to figure out how to entertain myself.  This summer, I'm loving sewing...I know, weird.

About mid-afternoon, after I had gotten my windshield replaced...ugh...I decided to take a look at my fabric piles and my crafy list.  I decided on the gathered clutch (which I bought fabric for last year around Mother's Day).

I was a bit nervous about this tutorial (zippers, interfacing and lots of layers...Aye yi yi!) but I remembered the things I had learned with my last few sewing projects (pins and rulers are friends) and forged ahead.

Aside from the fact that I added an extra inch to the front and back (which I fixed before it was too late) and sewed fabric onto the zipping part of the zipper (also, fixed.  Thanks seam ripper)  this was remarkably easy.

Let's start with what I learned during this project:

• When the tutorial says "Get an 8 inch zipper" don't get a 7 inch zipper and think you can fool anyone. 
• Pins, rulers and irons are friends...as long as they don't poke or burn you.
• Whomever made the tutorial knows what he/she is talking about.  DO NOT think you know better.

Here's my finished product:

Not nearly as perfect as the tutorial ones but for a first try I give myself an A+++

I changed the card holder part a bit.  Instead of doing 2 pockets and having my cards go in landscape, I did 3 pockets so I could put them in portrait (I've got butt loads of cards and it seemed to fit better).

I should have put one card in the right pocket...but I didn't.  Just pretend with me.

And there you have it, lovelies...another successful sewing project.  Dang!  I'm good.  Feel free to lather me with uplifting and glorious comments.

Plastic Bag Holder

So, you have an old shirt

and a cabinet FULL of plastic grocery sacks?

I understand this is ridiculous.

I have a small solution.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's another successful sewing project.

I'll even give you a mini-tutorial because I did this all on my own which means it was obviously really really ridiculously difficult.

1. Cut a rectangle out of the old shirt.  Bonus if you keep the bottom seam...LESS SEWING!

2. Sew a casing for the elastic on the edge that isn't finished (sorry, no pictures).

3. Add a hook to hang your awesome bag holder.

I just used a scrap from the shirt but you can use anything you want...ribbon, string, twine, plastic bags, anything

4. Sew the sides together to form a tube.

5. Add elastic to top and bottom casings.  (I was going to try shirring but after my initial trouble I thought this would be much quicker.)

6. Stuff with bags and hang. 

It's a little large for my cabinet but I'm over it.  To avoid this, measure first.  I hate measuring.

And that's it.  Now your cabinet is plastic bag free.

Mail and Magazine Organizer

I've been crafting again...this time, successful but not as much.

Before we get to the craft, let's talk about what I learned with this craft.

• I should ask questions of people who work at the fabric store when I'm not sure.
• The cheapo left-over fabric looks a lot different when rolled as opposed to unfolded.
• Hot glue really is hot.

 Alright my lovelies...I used this tutorial. 

Mine is not nearly as pretty (or as finished) as the tutorial.  Also, I used the wrong kind of interfacing so it didn't stick to both sides of the fabric.  My solution?  Sew the crap out of it.  Also, I didn't glue down the backing fabric first.  I just pulled and stapled...and stapled and stapled and stapled.  I loved staples in this craft. 

Moral of the story: One day I will be a good crafter and things will look professional-ish.

Something I Sewed That I Can Actually Wear

Okay, lovelies...I've been sewing all freaking day.  I know.  SEWING.  And...dun dun dun dun...it's been successful.  It's been a good day.

I went to my list-o-crafts and decided on this skirt.  I also used this tutorial on shirring.

Before I get to the amazingness that is my skirt, a few things I learned:

• Shirring is difficult, at least for me.  It did not work at all...at first. 
• Pins are friends.
• Sewing is fun.
• Measuring is a good idea and makes for projects that can actually be used (instead of something like this lovely)

My first try at shirring...like I said, difficult

 I feel pretty cool.  And crafty.

I Need Some Power Tools

I just found this site.  It makes me want to make every. single. thing.  Serious.  Even though power tools terrify me (mostly because I think I'm going to somehow injure my cute little hands...I need all 10 fingers!), I'm very tempted to start building.  I think this will be/should be my first project. 

Crafty McCrafterson

I've decided that instead of saying I'm going to read 90 books in a summer (and failing miserably), I'm going to be crafty.

Here's a list of some things I want to do or make:

• Paint the rest of my house
• Make this cute skirt (Done!)
• And this one, maybe
• Make this cute bag...and another bag that I have a tutorial for somewhere on my computer
• Freezer paper stencil something or other?
• Add something like this frame to my home (scroll all the way down)
• Jersey knit bracelets
• Maybe a baby life quilt...I'm not sure who it would be for but it's freaking adorable
• Cute pillow for my bed or couch
• Ruffle-tastic shirt
• Another ruffly shirt
• I think I really like ruffles...here's another shirt
• Maybe I'll use the hoards of my-dryer-ate-one-sock-so-I-need-to-keep-the-one-I-still-have-for-sentimental-reasons socks to make these cute baby rattles
• More pillows?  here, here, here, here
• Something to organize my mail.  Maybe this? (Done-ish!)
• Pretty sure I bought fabric to make this clutch last year.  Maybe it's time.  (Done!)
• I love this rug.  I want it. 
• Cute wristlet
• Makeup pouch...maybe for gifts?
• Organizer Wallet...I'm feeling like a lot of these things may end up at my family reunion auction this summer...or next because I can't go this year.
• I love giant bags...especially reversible ones!
• And a big summer tote
• A paper  bag skirt...still not sure if it will be flattering or frumpy though
• Kiddo knot shorts...who's baby wants some shorts?...maybe I'll make them adult size too?
• Long skirt refashion
• Flower neck Tshirt
• Ruffle shirt
• Zig-Zag Ruffle Shirt
• Lace shirt
• 20 minute skirt...only much longer
• The Grandview Bag...(part 2)
• Instant Gratification top
• Bucket ottoman 
• This cute table...I have a random wall that needs something.  I think this would be perfect! 
• Denim skirt
• Dress Refashion
• Updated T Shirt
• Tuxedo Tank
• Hemline Headband
• Ruffly Flower-ish Top
• Dress with Tuxedo Top
• Multi-layer Flower T Shirt 
• Super cute pleated skirt (minus the pregnancy band part). 
• Bead necklace 
• Zipper Wallet 
• Seat Storage for school

I'm sure I'll add more soon but these should easily get me through the no-one-else-is-off-work-and-I'm-bored-out-of-my-mind weekdays this summer.  We'll see how many actually get done.

This Would Also Look Nice on My Wall

I'm totally stealing this idea.

via

I Know My Birthday's Over...

...but I really want a Silhouette. 

I'm still not sure if I'd actually use it but I see all these amazing projects that are possible and I think, "Hey, I could do that!" 

So if any of y'all have $300 laying around that you'd like to send to Silhouette for me, I'd appreciate it.

What I Love...Day 18, 2011

I love...

Rust-Oleum ColorShft spray paint.  It's the most amazing spray of my life.

For the wedding decor, we bought cheap-o frames at the dollar store then sprayed the crap out of them with the green version of this paint.  I L-O-V-E how they turned out.

Maybe one day when I get my house put back together, I'll have a picture of the frames but until then just believe me.  This stuff is awesome.

What I Love...Day 21

I love...

...amazing crafts that involve no measuring.





I used this tutorial to make this headband. Love it!

Wreaths Apparently Make Me Super Happy

I am in love love love with the book wreath I made.

See! Isn't it the cutest ever?




It's amazing. I don't know where I'll hang it yet but it's freaking fantastic.

Big thank you to Living with Lindsay and her great tutorial on how to make the wreath.

Here are the reasons I like this so much and why it turned out looking good:

1. NO MEASURING!

2. The steps are roll and glue. The end. Love it!

3. Hot glue is my friend (except when the bugger burns the crap out of my finger tips).

4. It was super cheap...under $3 but would have been $1 if I had the acrylic paint.

5. It matches my color scheme in my house...Just wait, the pictures of the paint, curtains, throw pillows and other decor coming soon.

6. It was super easy.

Book Wreath

Oh.My.Heck.

I'm so making one of these wreaths.

And guess what, I have plenty of old books sitting around my house. Instead of these books taking a trip to the D.I., they'll be taking a trip onto my wall.

Wahoo crafts!

Sew Easy!

I made the scarf and it was actually pretty easy. For those of you who actually know how to sew, you could probably do it while grilling salmon, sorting your recycling, and teaching your cute baby to speak Mandarin Chinese.

Here are some tips that will make your life easier if you decide to follow this tutorial (hurry! It's only up for a limited time!) and make your own:

1. Have one of these mat things.


2. Use this kind of cutter (not crappy scissors).


3. Measure.

4. Don't get as impatient as I got and just hurry through it.

5. Did I say measure?

6. Actually plan out where you want your ruffles. Don't just start sewing.

Well, here it is, my so cute scarf. Thanks for the great idea Vanessa!



I tried to do a full body model-esque shot by using my self timer but I kept getting weird angles and headless shots so I did this instead.

Crafty Blog Ladies

I am OBSESSED with crafty blogs.

I think my fascination with these wonderful crafts comes from the fact that I cannot do crafts well so I like to look at all these lovely things and pretend that "if I had time" I'd totally be able to make things of the same caliber.

The first crafty blog I found was Made. Dana is a freaking crafting/sewing genius! I blogged about her so cute stuff here.

Dana is now a part of So You Think You're Crafty. This is a competition in which the 10 crafty bloggers are given a theme and they have to make something to go with that theme. This lovely blog has introduced me to Vanessa at V and Co, Mique at 30 Days, Marilyn at Krafy Mum, Jill at Homemade by Jill, Jessica at Happy Together, Dana at Made, Alish and Whitney at Sisters Stuff, Lindsey at Inspiring Creations, Kathleen at Katydid and Kid, and Ashley at Little Blue Boo.

After the last two themes (Winter and Mittens), I love Vanessa of V and Co. She makes such cute things. I've decided to take her winning entry for the Mittens theme, The Perfect Accessory for Your Mittens Scarf, and make it for me. If it's as easy as it looks you'll probably get one for next Christmas. Please forget that you just read that last line.

I'll show you the results when I'm done.

Wish me luck!

Crafty Craft Craft

I began working at Hallmark when I was 16. That made me a crazy person about Christmas decor. I bought everything. I had nothing to decorate until recently which lead to me having many, many boxes of Christmas stuff.

One of the many years that I worked at Hallmark, I decided that I wanted a tree with only gold, silver and bronze ornaments.

Today I decided that I didn't want to do that but what to do with the boxes and boxes of gold, silver and bronze ornaments? Make a super awesome wreath, that's what.

I wish I could take all the credit for it but I saw this wreath on this blog. She got the idea and instructions from this blog.

Yippee Team Awesome!