Big Ideas and a Little Inspiration

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Pom-pom Lamp

http://rufflesandstuff.blogspot.com/2009/11/practically-free-pom-pom-lamp.html

Cardigan to Hat

http://thirtyhandmadedays.blogspot.com/2009/11/hi-everyone-i-am-so-honored-to-be-here.html

You can make this longer into a dress, add elastic around the chest for an empire waist, make it flair out at the bottom and add ties under the arms...so many possibilities!

http://indietutes.blogspot.com/2007/07/peasant-blouse.html

Spray painted fabric

Why didn't I think of this?!?! You could do bigger pieces of fabric and stretch them over a wood frame...and it's a cool wall hanging! There are a LOT of cool shapes and patterns out there to use...

http://www.vanessachristenson.com/2009/11/tutorial-spraypainted-wheat-pillows.html

Play Kitchen from an old Entertainment center

I have been looking for a simple way to convert my old entertainment center into a play kitchen for the basement...now I just need to convince Lane he doesn't need it for the new "TV room..."

Cute!!!

Restyled Men's Shirts

http://thecreativecrate.blogspot.com/2009/04/from-mens-shirt-to-little-girls-dress.html

A more modest version of the jumper I found a while back.

50 FREE photocards!

http://freebies4mom.blogspot.com/2009/11/50-free-photocards-shipped-free-too.html

This expires Nov. 30, but that gives us a little time! Shipping is only $3.19.

Resizing a Shirt

A tutorial to make shirts bigger or smaller! Plus, it's cute!

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Amazingly simple princess dress!!!

http://rowena.typepad.com/rostitchery/magistrate-dress.html

magistrate dress

(this post was originally published 12 september, 2007.)

M4490_5 this is one of the most popular costume silhouettes there is--the generic "princess/angel/medieval maiden/rennaissance damsel/magical wizard/monk/every-fairy-tale-princess-in-grimms'-anthology" gown. if it makes any difference, ella calls this a magistrate dress. this makes sense only if you are a fan of sagwa.

and you won't believe how quickly you can fake this dress. you need one piece of fabric, two cuts, and whatever trim you wish. choose a stretchy fabric so you don't have to have a zipper--i used panne velvet but you could use anything you like.

your fabric should be cut as follows:

width: distance from one wrist to the other, measured with arms out to your sides.
length: distance from top of your shoulder (measured just under the ear) to the floor. multiply this number times 2.

fold your fabric in half (right sides together) across the width, then in half across the length. you will have four layers of fabric. at the corner where all the folds meet, cut a SMALL shallow curve. start SMALL--you can always make it bigger later. this will be your neck opening.

then make one cut, from the side where all the cut edges are, toward the neck opening. the exact shape and length of this cut is up to you. the lower you start the cut on the side, the longer your sleeve will hang.

then unfold your fabric and find out what shape you have just made!

the cuts on the sides are the side seams. sew your side seam closed, sew your trim on your sleeves and hem, and then try on the dress. if you need or want to make the neck opening bigger, do so. when the neck is the right size, add your trim and you are done.

this dress can be worn as is, or you can dress it up to match your imagination. pattern catalogs are a great source of ideas on how you can vary the sleeves, neckline, and trim. and the addition of some simple accessories can change the entire look: if you wish to be a fairy, add wings--if you wish to be an angel, add a halo--for a medieval princess, cover a pointy party hat with scraps of fabric and tack a silky scarf to the top--for a wizard add a cape and a beard--for a magistrate, add ella.

How to make a hat and scarf from a sweater

Something for the boys! Yay!

I got this sweater vest at the Dollar Store several days ago (sweaters at the Dollar Store? How random is that??) and I just knew it was dying to be a little beanie and scarf set! I'm so excited to have a project for little boys!

This would actually work best with a sleeved sweater (then you could just use sleeves for a scarf!), but this is what I had, so...

1) Measure your child's head, and cut out a hat shape through both layers (I free-handed this, but if you had another beanie to trace around, that would be great!), then cut a large rectangle shape through both layers for the scarf.

2) Lay the two scarf pieces right side together and pin the non-banded end. Sew with a zig-zag stitch, being careful not to let it stretch too much.

3) Cut out your "face" shapes from felt or fleece. 4 ears, two big circles for eyes, and two slightly smaller circles for the pupils, and a little triangle nose.

4) Lay two of the ear shapes on top of the other two, and sew around the edges with your machine. (not pictured)

5) Pin the ears to the right side of the beanie, facing downward. Lay the other piece of the beanie on top of it(right sides together), with ears sandwiched in between, and pin.

6) Sew the two hat pieces together, leaving the banded side open.

7) Take your scarf piece and fold it over, right sides together, and pin. Sew all the way down the side.

Turn the scarf right side out, and sew the banded edges closed.

9) Pin the face shaped where you want them, and hand stitch them on.

Ta-da!

Glitter Shapes--Brilliant!

Glue and Glitter Cards

These cards are messy to make but the effect is spectacular and I guarantee the kids will love it! They do cover the recipient in glitter when they open the envelope but I don't necessarily see this as a bad thing – I call it festive!

You will need

• blank cards
• kid's pvc glue
• a couple of different colours of glitter
• christmas cookie cutters

Directions

1. Pour glue into a small container or tray until the glue is about 3mm deep. Make sure that your containers is large enough to accommodate the cookie cutters.

2. Dip a cookie cutter in glue and then use it to make a glue print on the blank card. For best results, leave the cutter in place on the card for about three seconds to allow for the glue to drip down onto the card. Repeat until you have made all the glue prints that you want for that particular card.

3. Sprinkle different colours of glitter on top of the glue prints, making sure to cover all of the glue marks. Then shake the glitter off into a tray and allow card to dry.

Print making

Oven Tray Print Cards

Older kids will love being taught this method of print-making and once they understand what to do they'll want to be left alone to do it all by themselves. Provide some additional materials such as sponges, toothpicks and a comb so that they can play around with different textures. If they like drawing, encourage them to draw custom images for their friends and close family members.

Of course, younger kids can do this too – but they may not be able to wipe the edges of the print as described above. Instead, just let them print onto coloured paper and then cut the paper to stick on the card.

You will need

• blank cards
• old baking tray
• acrylic paint
• paint roller
• damp cloth
• cotton buds, toothpicks etc

Directions

1. Work out what size print you would like to make and mark out the rough dimensions on the back of a baking try, using sticky tape.

2. Roll paint onto the tray, then draw a picture using your finger, a cotton bud or wooden skewer.

3. Wipe around the edges of your print with a damp sponge, using the tape as a guide. Then press the front of the card against the the paint and carefully remove. You should be able to make about three cards from each print. When you've finished, re-apply paint with the roller and do it all again.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

nativity magnets

i found this on etsy, and thought is was SO cute and so easy!

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Bead Necklaces

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/jade-beaded-necklace-with-ribbon?xsc=eml_crd_2009_11_04

Little One Fabric Book

http://www.youcanmakethis.com/info/featured-products/Little-One-Felt-Book.htm

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Gifts you can sew

http://www.skiptomylou.org/2009/09/02/gifts-you-can-sew/

This list is growing every day! Lots of fun stuff!!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Old Entertainment Center

I have almost this exact entertainment center in my basement. Maybe I should put it under the window in the mud room to hold winter/summer stuff depending on the season?!?! I could even put some hooks in the tall space for little coats/jackets...

http://creationsbykara.blogspot.com/2009/03/saved-from-dump-thank-goodness.html

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Felt Sea Life Magnets

These are super cute. I love them.

http://purlbee.squarespace.com/felt-aquarium-magnets/

Thursday, June 11, 2009

fabric alphabet magnets

SO cute!!! And easy too, plus, they use modge podge!!! http://angieasplund.blogspot.com/2009/01/magnetic-abcs-tutorial.html

Worksheet Creator

http://www.toolsforeducators.com/

Bingo, word searches, dominoes, mazes, dice maker, board games, crosswords, writing and tracing, etc.

Printable games.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Fruit Bouquet

I found this on a friend's blog! So cute and yummy looking!

Friday, June 5, 2009

Printing on Fabric

By Lisa Otto

While sewing in itself is fun, so is finding new and exciting ways of embellishing and manipulating fabrics to create something new. Printing on fabric with your home inkjet printer is one of those exciting techniques that allow you to add extra flair to a sewn outfit or creation.

Printing photos and images onto apparel and home décor items has definitely become easier over the past few years with the launch of more effective and long lasting inks and fabric photo papers. So, not only can you capture a beautiful image and apply it to a garment or décor item, but it will last after washings, wear and use.

How do you get started?

Surprisingly, it’s easier than you might think. First, decide what you want to decorate with a printed image. Maybe you’ve sewn your daughter a new summer dress and want to add pictures to the skirt or bodice. Perhaps you’ve created pillows and want to embellish them with printed images. The sky really is the limit when it comes to embellishing sewn projects. Be sure to use a inkjet printer for the methods listed below, and not a laser printer which becomes too hot during the printing process.

Next, you’ll need to decide how you want to transfer your printed images to your project: either by iron- on transfer or sew-on. There are several great options in fabric photo papers (often called T-Shirt transfer paper) on the market. Simply, choose the image you want to print and the size of the finished image, and print it onto fabric photo paper which you feed through your printer. Once the image comes out of the printer and has dried, you iron it onto your project. The ironing process heats the ink and helps to make it permanent. This method works great on fabrics which have a high cotton or natural fiber content and may not work as well on synthetic fabrics, so be sure to read the paper manufacturer’s directions and fabric recommendations.

The sew-on method (as I call it), actually allows you to place fabric in your printer! You’ll need 100% cotton fabric and freezer paper. Then, cut both your fabric swatch and freezer paper to no larger than 8 ½” x 11” or the size of a standard piece of printer paper. Then, place your fabric to the shiny side of the wax paper and iron for a few moments, or until the fabric is slightly stuck to the freezer paper. The fabric/paper combo has a tendency to curl at the edges, so be sure to keep a pencil handy for keeping the curled edges down during printing.

Then, place your fabric/paper into the printer and print your images or text right onto the fabric. Be sure there are no stray threads on any of the edges which may get caught on the way through the printer. And, use the pencil to gently feed any curled areas of the fabric through the printer as it processes. Once dry, remove the paper from the back of the fabric. Then, place the fabric ink-side-down onto an ironing surface, and iron on medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes. This will help set the ink for washing. Once completed, you’ll have a printed fabric swatch to sew onto or within any project that you like!

Now, the question is: What will you decorate first?

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Spring Flowers

http://www.alphamom.com/holiday/2009/05/spring_flower_pinwheel_craft.php

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Little Purse

http://theobjectproject.typepad.com/the_object_project/2009/05/kid-flick-girls-purse-tutorial.html

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

I am a WEINER!! (winner :D )

Here is the craft contest thing I won 2nd place in... just bragging myself up a bit. :) PLAID ONLINE Spring contest. Thanks Laura for emailing me about the contest!

You can see the other winning entries. I am just waiting for my big box of goodies to come in the mail - it was so fun to have $50 to spend in their online store. I could have spent $200!

And I loved it in dress form, but I would attach it to a different bodice w/ sleeves so she doesn't have to worry about an undershirt "bugging" her. :O)

This link is to a pattern to buy, but I think we could make it up, and hook it on any bodice we want!!

So cute!!!

http://www.youcanmakethis.com/info/featured-products/Ellies-Twirl-Dress-Any-Size.htm

Another tutorial and an easy way to calculate how long, etc.:
http://home.earthlink.net/~cornpatchcreations/twirlyskirt.htm