Matching hair tie

Now that you have a dress, here's a cute hair tie to make and match your creation! :)

This is how to make the hair tie to match your Super Easy Dress. :)

Supplies:

Fabric scraps from the dress (t-shirt & cotton print)

1 rubber elastic band

Scrap of craft felt (about the size of a half dollar)

3 cookie cutters (I bought mine at Jo-Anns; they came in a package of 6 for $1.99; if you don't have the cookie cutters, you only need 3 of the same shapes that are small, medium and large)

Not pictured:

Hot glue gun (I used a low-temp one for this project)

Pins

Scissors

Step 1: Fold one of your fabric scraps (this will be used for your largest size shape) into fourths.

See photos below for any clarification.

Step 2: Repeat Step 1 for other fabric scraps. You should have 3 squares that are large enough for your large, medium and small shape.

Step 3: Trace your shape onto your fabric with a pen.



Step 4: Cut out each of your shapes. Note: it is easier to cut all 4 shapes when the layers are pinned together. You won't have to cut each shape out 4 times. :)

Step 5: Fold each of your shapes into fourths. See photo below for clarification.

Step 6: Place a drop of glue near the center of each of the fourths to hold its shape.

Step 7: Arrange your shapes, to where it looks like the original "whole" shape. Note: I left mine spaced apart so you could see what I mean.

Step 7: Cut your scrap of craft felt into a circle. Approximately the size of a half dollar.

Step 8: Place a drop of glue into the center of the circle, and arrange your large shapes with no spaces between them. See photos below for clarification.

Step 9: Place a drop of glue into the center of the circle, and arrange your medium shapes with no spaces between them, rotate the shapes 90 degrees; so you won't have a space between each seam and layer, and have it look like it is four separate pieces. See photo below for clarification.

Step 10: Place a drop of glue into the center of the circle, and arrange your smallest shapes with no spaces between them; rotate the shapes 90 degrees so their seams line up with the larger shapes below. See photos below for clarification. (Sorry the photo is so dark, but you can see what I'm trying to say best in this photo as far as the rotation goes.)

Step 11: Use another scrap of your middle layer fabric and make a knot. Trim the ends off.

Step 12: Place a large dot of hot glue into the center of your shape, place knot from Step 11 on it and press in place.

Step 13: Turn over shape, place a large drop of glue in center and place rubber elastic band in glue. Rotate to have glue cover rubber elastic band completely. Note: let glue completely cool and dry before putting in hair. I don't think that anyone would put this in their hair while still setting, the low-temp glue gun takes about 10 minutes to completely cool.

That's it! :)

Library Totes! :)

My kids absolutely love going to the library. We end up with at least a dozen books by the time we leave between the three of us. Trying to manage the kids and balance the books getting to the car without dropping anything is what inspired this project. :)

This is the book I saw a similar project in, (from the library) and it was to show kids pointillism and the project was a flag. I thought what a great idea!! Plus, it could easily make other items too! :) Thus, the library tote hatched in my head and now you can make one too!



Supplies:
1 large canvas tote bag per project (I bought 3 at Jo-Anns for $3; used my 40% off coupon; they are usually $5)

80 grit sandpaper sheets (Home Depot for the project, but found some at Dollar Tree last night)

Carbon paper (this was tricky to find- I found it at Staples; only needed if you are tracing letters from a printed page)

Cookie cutters

Crayons

Scissors

Pen

Iron (not pictured)




Step 1: Trace letters for personalization on to back of sandpaper (rough side down) using carbon paper to make them exact. Note: the rough side of the sandpaper must be down for this project to work. Also, the letters will look backwards when you look at the rough side.




Step 2: Trace cookie cutter shapes on to back of sandpaper.







When you are finished tracing shapes/letters it should look like this.



Step 3: Cut sandpaper shapes out carefully.

Step 4: Arrange shapes/letters on bag to see if you need more.

Step 5: Color the rough side of the sandpaper in any way you like. Note: Make sure to color hard and thoroughly or the color will not transfer fully. :)

Step 6: Arrange colored shapes rough side down on your canvas bag.

Step 7: Iron shapes in place. Similar to when you would iron on a patch. **Note: This step should be completed by an adult to prevent child from burning themselves. **

Step 8: Carefully remove your shapes/letter to see if the color has fully transferred. Repeat this step if necessary.

That's it!!

Enjoy the tote, it could also be used for grocery bags. :)

Technological Difficulties! >^/ grrrrr

Alright, it seems that my computer has decided to wage war against me or at least my bank account. Why this computer has decided to not like me anymore and make my life miserable is beyond me. I treat it well, take it in for tune-ups, no downloads filled with viruses and Trojans, my protection software is updated each week... why oh why must it hate me so? ;)

Anyhoo... my desktop has decided to not like my photo cards (I've tried several) and will not allow me to upload my photos. My laptop has the Internet/Ethernet port broken so I can't use it either- that's a whole 'nother story. :/ So... I can't post a blog with instructions/photos until I figure this out.

I am working on it. Until then hopefully the weather near you is beginning to look a lot like Spring! It is here finally! Enjoy the sunshine!!

Tonight's project! :)

This is not my idea, but I am sharing it with you all because I absolutely *LOVE* it and it is perfect for the Easter season and can even carry over for a year round decoration. :)

One of the local blogs that I follow is Tatertots and Jello; Jen has amazing ideas for decorating and you can usually make her projects with items laying around the house or in your craft room. Jen was vacationing in Hawaii so she had several guest bloggers do posts for her, this project is from one of her guest posters Erin and I am finishing up mine tonight. :) Her directions are really simple and easy to follow, she has pictures to show her steps as well.

I'll post pics of mine later... anyhoo... here is the link to the Egg Book Wreath on Tatertots and Jello's blog.

Sorry for all of you book lovers, because 1 book was sacrificed for this art project. :(

Supplies Needed for her project:
1 wreath- either foam, grapevine, etc- not the fir tree kind; although that could be cool too... (Found at Dollar Tree)

50 mini plastic fillable Easter eggs (I found mine at Winco for 88 cents; she found hers at Hobby Lobby)

1 book (Deseret Industries 50 cents)

Mod Podge (Michaels is where you can buy it- I've had mine forever, so can't remember how much it was)

Sponge paintbrush to apply Mod Podge
Scissors

Ribbon to match the wreath size- or your own personal preference. :)

That's it!

Now have fun crafting your wreath and make sure to send her pics of your finished project! :)

Personalized Pillowcases!!

Alright, personalizing pillowcases is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when having something personalized for a kid. However, I made these for both of my kids about a month ago, and this is the *only* pillowcase they use since then. The flannel gets softer and softer with each wash and they just *love* them. :)

Ok, enough of how cool they are... ;) Here's how to make 'em!

Finished size is that of a standard size pillow: approximately 29” x 20”

Supplies:

1 yard fabric of your choice (preferably a print- the farm equipment)

1/3 yard coordinating fabric of your choice (preferably a solid- light blue)

1/3 yard fusible paper backed interfacing (the kind that makes your fabric into a sticker- if you're not sure what this is, ask a person who works there)

1 skein of embroidery floss (I use white usually, but you can pick any color to match fabric)

Step 1: Pre-wash all of your fabrics and dry as you would normally do your wash. Note: Do not wash/dry your fusible interfacing! :)

Step 2: Iron your fabric to get any wrinkles that may have occurred during the laundering process. Cut away any of the frayed strings on the ends of your fabric.

Step 3: Fold each fabric in half lengthwise. They should each be approximately the same length that you began with.

Step 4: Cut your main fabric color in to a 25 1/2” x 20 1/2” rectangle on the fold. Note: your actual rectangle will be: 25 1/2” x 41” if you opened it up. Keep scraps for Step 6.

Step 5: Cut your coordinating fabric in to a 9” x 20 1/2” rectangle on the fold. Note: your actual rectangle will be: 9” x 41”.

Step 6: Trace your letters of desired name on your fusible interfacing- shiny side up. Note: Do not cut them out yet. Leave them whole. It makes it easier to iron on later.

Step 7: Preheat your iron to correct setting. Note: You will have to look at the directions on your fusible interfacing; it can vary from cotton to wool setting. If you make it too hot, the interfacing will not work properly and ruin your fabric.

Step 8: Iron your fusible interfacing to the fabric; your fabric from Step 4 is used here. Put the fabric face down (you will be looking at the back of it) and iron your fusible interfacing also face down (the shiny side will be touching the back of your fabric scrap) until completely adhered to one another. This should take no more than 90 seconds per letter. Let cool completely- about a minute. If your iron is not on the cotton setting, put it on there now so it is pre-heated for Step 12.

Step 9: Cut your letters out carefully.

Step 10: Take your fabric rectangle from Step 4 and fold in half width-wise. Note: your actual rectangle will now be: 25 1/2” x 20 1/2”. This is the main body of the pillow. Place aside for use in Step 14.

Step 11: Take your fabric rectangle from Step 5 and fold in half length-wise. Note: your actual rectangle will now be: 4 1/2” x 20 1/2”. This is now the coordinating edge of your pillowcase.

Step 12: Carefully peel away the paper backing on your letters and center your letters on your pillowcase’s coordinating edge to desired positions. Iron in place. Note: I placed mine so the name faces toward the edge of the pillow.

Step 13: Use the embroidery floss to sew the letters permanently in place. You could use your machine if you wanted to; but I like the look of this better; whatever your personal preference is it will look just fine. :) Note: Be careful, you don’t want to go through both sides of this; it is easier to do this if you open the coordinating rectangle, at this point.

Step 14: Now that the name placement is completed, fold the rectangle again like in Step 11 and place on top of the fabric rectangle from Step 10 with the correct sides (pretty sides) facing each other and pin together.

Step 15: Sew together along pinned edge. Note: You should have a rectangle that is approximately 29 1/4” x 20 1/2”folded width-wise.

Step 16: Pin bottom and side of rectangle and sew. Note: Your pretty sides should still be facing each other.

Turn right-side out when complete. That’s it!! :)