03.12.07
Posted in Scrapbook Pages, Craft Ideas at 9:00 pm by admin
Babies seem to have some much cute stuff from the hospital. I found this frame at Target. It’s by “Sprouts” and it cost about $8. I made a similar display for Gavin 3 1/2 years ago, although it has less decoration.
This paper is by K & Co. It’s called “Quilt Blocks” I attached one of Addison’s sonogram pictures along with her birth announcement photo and the ribbon from a gift we received. I also included her hospital bracelet, hospital hat, and her birth announcement from our local newspaper.
I used Zots adhesive from Hobby Lobby to attach the bracelet and hat. The flowers are Making Memories and are attached with brads. Total time to complete 45 minutes after I decided what pictures to include!!
AM
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03.05.07
Posted in Craft Ideas at 9:23 pm by admin
Ever since I had Addison I have been enticed by boutique style clothing. I love for her to have outfits for all the holidays. I have seen a lot of really good ideas on Ebay, but this idea was adapted from a good friend of mine. These jeans can easily sell for over $30.
Since I am crafty and I own a sewing machine, I decided to attempt sewing them myself. This pair was for my niece Sydney who is almost 7 yrs old, but I intend to make some for my little Addi real soon!!
I got these jeans from a consignment shop for less than $5. The material is from Walmart. I got 1 yard of 2 different fabrics at $2 a yard and 1 yard of “Wonder Under” double sided interfacing at $.97 a yard. The ribbons for the belt and around the pockets are from Michaels.
To make the patches I ironed the interfacing following the product directions. I used Pinking Shears to cut out the patches. After ironing them on the jeans I used a zig zag stitch to make sure they were secure.
For the ruffles at the bottom I measured the circumference around the bottom of the jeans and doubled that length. After measuring the length of approximately 28 inches then I measure the width, keeping in mind that both the top and bottom would need to be hemmed (which I did using a decorative zig zag stitch).
I pinned the fabrics together so that I could cut them at the same time using a rotary cutter. I found that a yard stick and a hem measuring stick helped me cut in a straight line. I cut the larger cuff 5 1/2 inches and the smaller 4 1/2 inches. This can be altered depending on how long you want to make the jeans.
Keep in mind that the ruffle should hang about 1 inch below the original hem. After hemming the edges of the ruffles, and along the raw edge of the fabric, I sewed 2 rows of gathering stitches approx. 1/4 inch apart, and 1/2 an inch from the top I gathered the ruffles in until it measured approx. 14 inches.
Starting on the inside seam of the jeans, I pinned the ruffles and measured along the bottom hem to make sure it was straight all the way around the hem of the jean. Once it was pinned in place I made one stitch through the middle of the gathering stitches on the top of the jeans. Optional: (This stitch can be covered up by sewing a decorative ribbon on the top)
This was tricky to keep it all straight and not sew the jeans together. Baby jeans that snap up the crotch are obviously much easier than little girl’s jean as there is less room in the cuff, flare jeans are preferred. (I don’t recommend trying to do it on a tapered pair of jeans)
I used a grosgrain ribbon for the belt and be sure to heat seal (using a wood burning tool) the end so it doesn’t fray. You can make a sash using the material, I ran out of time to do that before Valentine’s day.
I also made a pair for St. Patrick’s day using all the same techniques.
Estimated cost $10.
Total time to complete this project 3 hours. Including time to cut out the material, iron on the patches, and hand sew on the ribbons. Plus all of the sewing.
After doing this project I have a new appreciation for the people who sell these types of clothes on ebay. It was a lot of work. Ultimately, I don’t mind sewing them for my family, but I can understand why they charge $30+ for them. However, if you have the time and patience you can make them cheaper yourself!!
AM
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03.01.07
Posted in Craft Ideas at 10:40 pm by admin
My new favorite craft is turning old windows into art. I recently did one for Addison’s room and it was so easy and fun that I decided to do another one for our family. I bought this full size window at a yard sale for $5. The picture can be deceiving as this is a standard size window.
The window was originally brown, but to make it more antiqued I painted it white. It doesn’t matter if it’s evenly covered as I distressed it with sandpaper. I printed the pictures off at Walmart and the center family picture is an 8 X 10 that was trimmed down to make the picture centered.
I printed off the other photos so they were all 5 X 7. The photos are attached with “Hermafix Vario tabs” from Joanns. The embellishments are Making Memories flowers attached with Zots adhesive from Hobby Lobby.
Metal signs “Love” and “Cherish” are Pressed Petals. Buttons are “Foof-a-la”. Family is cut using Sizzix machine “Serif” alphabet from “Foof-a-la Jacobean Red” paper. Wooden “M” is Making Memories painted maroon and distressed with sandpaper. Some of the Ribbons are from Michaels (Family, Gingham) and the additional ribbon is from a local scrapbook store.
The ribbon says “live long, laugh often, love much”. “M” is attached with hot glue. Total time to create 3hrs. including allowing time for paint to dry.
NOTE: Pictures can be easily changed as time goes by and you have more recent family pictures. All pictures are attached to the top, however the paper can be measured to cover the openings, embellishments and photos can be added before it’s glued in. However, this makes it more difficult to change the pictures!
My parents recently put new windows in their house. This was the window out of my childhood bedroom. This was an inexpensive and creative decoration for Addison’s nursery. I painted all the wood trim with sage green.
An artist friend painted “Addison” on the top half of the window. On the bottom half I hot glued decorative vellum to the backside and I have added some of my favorite black and white photos to the top side of the glass.
I plan to collage them all together so that I can add a lot more over time. I created the floral arrangement to match her bedding. This could easily be adapted to match any decor or theme.
AM
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02.26.07
Posted in Craft Ideas at 8:06 pm by admin
Recently Gavin started preschool and he loves to paint. He has lots of pictures that I want to display but we already have so much stuff on our fridge. So this was the perfect craft for me!!
I plan to hang this on the side of our pantry where everyone can see it. Gavin will be so proud to show off his artwork!
For this craft I took a yard stick that I bought at Walmart and sawed it in half. I drilled a hole in the other end. You can also use a ruler in you want to avoid using power tools. I took random tags and chipboard flowers (painted green and orange) are “Pressed Petals”.
The striped paper is by “doodlebug” and black school house paper is “Reminisce”. I cut the paper tags out using decorative scissors from Joanns. The ribbons are from Michaels. The “ArtWork” letters are cut using my Sizzix machine “Serif” alphabet.
I hot glued all of the tags on for durability. I also added 4 clothespins to the back using hot glue. The hanger is ribbon tied through the holes at the top to help it hang straight. Total time to complete this craft 2 hrs.
AM
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02.11.07
Posted in Craft Ideas at 9:49 pm by admin
So having a little girl is all about frilly clothes, ribbons and bows. I have been to a few boutiques and looked a lot on ebay. People sell instruction to make ribbon jeans on ebay. I am pretty crafty and I own a sewing machine, so these turned out pretty good for my first attempt. Plus, it cost me less than $8 to make them since I go the jeans for $2.50 and the ribbon 40% off at Michaels. These jeans retail for anywhere from $20-$50 on ebay and in boutiques!
I got these jeans at a consignment shop! HINT: If you are going to embellish jeans it’s usually easier to use boy or unisex jeans as girls usually already have embellishments or embroidery on them!
1. Measure the circumference of the bottom of the jeans and cut a piece of hem tape that length.
2. Cut ribbons long enough to loop keeping in mind that this will increase the length of the inseam. I cut several ribbons and arranged them along the hem tape, alternating the different ribbons. After pinning them in the middle of the hem tape and making sure they were alternated evenly, I sewed them down.
3. Then I pinned the hem tape with ribbons to the inside of the jean cuff. It was a little tricky to sew them down since these jeans are a size 6-12 months (larger jeans would be easier).Turning the jeans inside out helped a lot. After sewing the tape down, turn the jeans right side out.
4. Pin the top ribbon down. I sewed this on the top and bottom and along the seam to prevent fraying of the ribbon edges. A decorative/ zigzag stitch would look good too.
5. The ribbons I added to the pockets and bows are hand sewed on.
6. The ribbon belt is sewed on the sides with a machine to hold it in place and the ends were heat sealed with a wood burning tool from Michaels to prevent fraying. Here’s the finished product!
AM
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