Thursday, February 23, 2012
New Camera
I got a new camera and I'm super excited because I'm hoping that my pictures for my blog posts will turn out better. I just thought I'd share because I'm betting that you are just as annoyed as I by my blurry, dark shots. It shoots 14 megapixels as opposed to 4, so here's hoping to better pictures.
St. Patrick's Day Rag Wreath
Well, Valentine's Day is past, so it's time to start getting ready for St. Patrick's Day. Previously, I've never decorated for the holiday because I figured that we're not Irish, so it doesn't really apply to us (though we still wear green and eat Corned Beef and Cabbage on the actual day). However, last year at a family reunion, one my uncles, who is retired and widower, informed us after doing a lot of genealogy and family history that, among other things, we are descended from the Irish royal line. Well, that's enough reason for me to jump on the green wagon (green happens to be my favorite color, so I'm super excited about a reason to decorate my house with green).
As usually happens, I was on Pinterest and saw this cute St. Patrick's Day Rag Wreath that The Magic of Ordingary Things made. I was inspired to make my own (since I need a new wreath for my door...I can't keep my Valentine's Day one up all year, can I?). I searched through my fabric scraps, but unfortunately, I didn't have a lot green (not enough variety for a rag wreath). So, off to Hancock Fabric I went. I got 1/4 yard each of 7 different fabrics to add to the 2 I already had at home for a total of 9 different patterns. I cut the strips with my pinking shears (I didn't want to tear them) an inch apart (using the entire 9 inch width). I ended up using 12 strips of each fabric. I searched through my closet and found an old wire hanger, which I untwisted and shaped into a circle (I didn't measure the diameter, I just shaped it until I liked how it looked). Then, I just tied each strip on until the circle was tightly filled. Finally, I added a length of cute green polka dot ribbon (from Walmart) to hang it. What do you think (I haven't decided yet if I like the length of my strips; 9 in may be too long, however, that is an easy fix)?
As usually happens, I was on Pinterest and saw this cute St. Patrick's Day Rag Wreath that The Magic of Ordingary Things made. I was inspired to make my own (since I need a new wreath for my door...I can't keep my Valentine's Day one up all year, can I?). I searched through my fabric scraps, but unfortunately, I didn't have a lot green (not enough variety for a rag wreath). So, off to Hancock Fabric I went. I got 1/4 yard each of 7 different fabrics to add to the 2 I already had at home for a total of 9 different patterns. I cut the strips with my pinking shears (I didn't want to tear them) an inch apart (using the entire 9 inch width). I ended up using 12 strips of each fabric. I searched through my closet and found an old wire hanger, which I untwisted and shaped into a circle (I didn't measure the diameter, I just shaped it until I liked how it looked). Then, I just tied each strip on until the circle was tightly filled. Finally, I added a length of cute green polka dot ribbon (from Walmart) to hang it. What do you think (I haven't decided yet if I like the length of my strips; 9 in may be too long, however, that is an easy fix)?
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| Supplies (plus I used ribbon) |
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| My wire circle and a cut strip. Just tie them right on. |
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| The finished project up close |
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| Another view of the finished wreath |
DIY Pottery Barn Valentine's Felt Envelopes Tutorial
Okay, so I know that Valentine's Day was a couple of weeks ago and I apologize for the tardiness of this post. I didn't finish these envelopes until the night before at around 9:00 pm and by then it was already too late for someone else to go and make one for Valentines this year anyway. We've had the yucks at our house for a little while now (first it was Princess #3, then me, then Princess #2), so posting wasn't at the top of my priorities list. But now I am posting and you'll have a cute little tutorial to come back to next year if you decide you want to make one.
Enough with the blabbing. You don't even know what I'm talking about yet. Do you? While looking through Pinterest, I came upon these cute Felt Envelopes. Imagine my dismay when I clicked on the link and it wasn't actually a tutorial. The person had bought them at Pottery Barn. They were super cute, so I decided that I could make them myself and share that with you. So, here you go.
Steps 1 & 2 - First I bought my felt. I think I bought 1/2 yard of white and a little red (for the heart). Next I measured my kitchen chairs to be an idea of how big I wanted my envelopes to be. I decided on 13 x 17 1/2 inches. I cut two rectangles with my pinking shears to my measurements (you can use a rotary cutter, but I was going for the more scalloped look like in the original).
Step 3 - Measure the center of your envelope (only the front piece). You need to make a diagonal line from the center to each of the top corners and cut out the triangle (thus creating the front of your envelope).
Step 4 - I really liked the red lining on the envelope, so this is the next step (you can always skip this step for a plainer, simpler envelope). I was just going to sew it with red thread, then realized that it wouldn't have the bold effect that I wanted (you would hardly be able to see it). Fortunately I had some thin red ribbon the same color as my red felt (I had bought them together with extra red felt for a separate project that I didn't end up doing). So, I cut small slits (wide enough for the ribbon) about 1/2 an inch in from the edge and from each other all around the front piece of the envelope. Next you will thread your ribbon around the envelope to create the cute envelope look (in my other envelopes I actually used yarn because the ribbon was a little too thick for my liking).
Step 5 - Sew your front piece to the back piece of your envelope on the outside of your ribbon/yarn (I made sure that I sewed the ends of my ribbon at the same to keep them from coming out of the envelope). Remember that you are only sewing three sides, NOT the top.
Step 6 - Now we need to make the flap for the envelope. I decided that I wanted it to hang about 2/3s of the way down my envelope (you want it past the middle so that it "closes" all the way). I made a triangle with my pinking shears that was a little wider than my envelope (remember it was approx. 17 in at this point) and about 8 or 9 inches long at the tip. You will then create the lining for it like in Step 4.
Step 7 - After completing the "weaving" on the flap, you need to attach it to the actual envelope. Just lay it right-side up on the front side of the evelope and sew the two tops together (you will actually be sewing it to the backside of the envelope since you cut out a triangle from the top part).
Step 8 - Finishing touches. Cut a heart from the coordinating felt (in my case red) and sew it to the flap of your envelope. Voila. You're done. I didn't actually make the straps to attach it to the chair because I ran out of time, so I'll do that next year. However, if you can't figure that out on your own, I'd suggest cutting two strips from your coordinating felt and either sewing or hot-gluing them to the back of your envelope. I think I will add magnets to the ends of mine to hold them togather, but you could do buttons, velcro or even just tie them in a bow. Enjoy.
If you have any questions, let me know.
Enough with the blabbing. You don't even know what I'm talking about yet. Do you? While looking through Pinterest, I came upon these cute Felt Envelopes. Imagine my dismay when I clicked on the link and it wasn't actually a tutorial. The person had bought them at Pottery Barn. They were super cute, so I decided that I could make them myself and share that with you. So, here you go.
Steps 1 & 2 - First I bought my felt. I think I bought 1/2 yard of white and a little red (for the heart). Next I measured my kitchen chairs to be an idea of how big I wanted my envelopes to be. I decided on 13 x 17 1/2 inches. I cut two rectangles with my pinking shears to my measurements (you can use a rotary cutter, but I was going for the more scalloped look like in the original).
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| The first one I made, I cut out my 2 rectangles with my rotary cutter, then pinned them together and cut them with my pinking shears. On the other two, I found this wasn't necessary and just cut each rectangle with the shears. |
Step 3 - Measure the center of your envelope (only the front piece). You need to make a diagonal line from the center to each of the top corners and cut out the triangle (thus creating the front of your envelope).
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| On the first one, I forgot to cut out my triangle before I started weaving my ribbon. Oops! Pretend like there isn't any ribbon here. |
Step 4 - I really liked the red lining on the envelope, so this is the next step (you can always skip this step for a plainer, simpler envelope). I was just going to sew it with red thread, then realized that it wouldn't have the bold effect that I wanted (you would hardly be able to see it). Fortunately I had some thin red ribbon the same color as my red felt (I had bought them together with extra red felt for a separate project that I didn't end up doing). So, I cut small slits (wide enough for the ribbon) about 1/2 an inch in from the edge and from each other all around the front piece of the envelope. Next you will thread your ribbon around the envelope to create the cute envelope look (in my other envelopes I actually used yarn because the ribbon was a little too thick for my liking).
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| I used a quilters marker to mark my spots and then just snipped (sorry for the blurriness, my camera is getting old, but I'm getting a new one) |
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| This is how your front piece will look when weaving is complete |
Step 5 - Sew your front piece to the back piece of your envelope on the outside of your ribbon/yarn (I made sure that I sewed the ends of my ribbon at the same to keep them from coming out of the envelope). Remember that you are only sewing three sides, NOT the top.
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| Pretend the flap isn't on (I forgot to take pictures of the last few steps as I was doing them, so I had to take them at the end) |
Step 6 - Now we need to make the flap for the envelope. I decided that I wanted it to hang about 2/3s of the way down my envelope (you want it past the middle so that it "closes" all the way). I made a triangle with my pinking shears that was a little wider than my envelope (remember it was approx. 17 in at this point) and about 8 or 9 inches long at the tip. You will then create the lining for it like in Step 4.
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| The flap (pretend there isn't a lopsided heart) |
Step 7 - After completing the "weaving" on the flap, you need to attach it to the actual envelope. Just lay it right-side up on the front side of the evelope and sew the two tops together (you will actually be sewing it to the backside of the envelope since you cut out a triangle from the top part).
Step 8 - Finishing touches. Cut a heart from the coordinating felt (in my case red) and sew it to the flap of your envelope. Voila. You're done. I didn't actually make the straps to attach it to the chair because I ran out of time, so I'll do that next year. However, if you can't figure that out on your own, I'd suggest cutting two strips from your coordinating felt and either sewing or hot-gluing them to the back of your envelope. I think I will add magnets to the ends of mine to hold them togather, but you could do buttons, velcro or even just tie them in a bow. Enjoy.
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| The finished project (I need to redo the heart, so pretend that it isn't crooked) |
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| And since I have 3 Little Princesses, I have three different envelopes (I like yarn weave in the red and pink ones better than the ribbon in the white) |
Sunday, February 5, 2012
ZigZag French Braid
My Princess #1 has long beautiful hair and on mornings when we aren't rushed (like Sundays), she lets me experiment with her hair. A few weeks ago I had the idea of zigzagging a french braid across her head. I wasn't sure how it would turn out, but it was a success. I took the top part of her hair and French braided it from right to left. When I reached the left side of her head, I gently reversed the direction of the braid (this was the most complicated part) and went back to the right side. I continued the process until I didn't have any more hair left to add to the braid, then I braided the remainder of the hair. I wasn't sure what to do with it next. I looked weird if I just let it hang down her back and there was a big empty spot on her scalp, so I twisted the remainder of her hair into a bun in the empty spot and pinned it into place. It turned out quite cute (and Princess #1 felt pretty cool getting to wear her hair like that to church).
Valentine's Ribbon Wreath
Be prepared for another awesome Pinterest craft. This is so cute and of course you could make one for the holiday/season of your choice. I really wanted to make one right away, and since Valentine's Day was the next approaching holiday (and since I really don't have many V-day decorations). I won't go into the tutorial too much since you can find tutorials for it here, here, and here. I bought a lot of Valentine ribbon (the wider the better) and cut it into 4 in lengths. Then, you fold all the ribbon in half (right side out) and sew the ends together. This creates a little crevice on the underside of the ribbon that you can open up and put a dap of hot glue on. Next you glue it onto your wreath. You continue the process until your wreath is completely filled. Jello and Tatortots recommended that you wrap your wreath in ribbon before you start gluing the sewn ribbon to it. I didn't and wished I had because you can see the straw from my wreath in a few spots.
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| All of my ribbon after it had been cut and sewn (and actually I ran out, so I had to cut and sew more later) |
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| A close-up of how the ribbon is sewn together |
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| My supplies (wreath, glue gun, ribbon, scissors) lined out, ready for assembly |
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| Instead of gluing by wreath section, I glued by ribbon, so that I could have them evenly spaced. |
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| The finished project hanging on my front door |
Love Message Board
Ahhhhh...Pinterest. What have you done to me? I now have more project ideas than I have time to make them...and that makes me happy. Last month, I saw this on Pinterest. I loved it. It is so cute and such a simple idea, and super easy and quick to make. There is a tutorial here. And here is my "finished" project (I put finished in quotes because mine is still very plain. I didn't add any rosettes like the original. I don't know if I'll add those or something else, but for now it is functional):
*Side Note: the creator recommends Vis-a-vis markers to write on the board, however the problem with these is that you have to use a moistened towel/tissue/... to erase the message.
*Side Note: the creator recommends Vis-a-vis markers to write on the board, however the problem with these is that you have to use a moistened towel/tissue/... to erase the message.
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