Back to School

I know that most schools are in by now, but for some reason our school starts later this year. We have until September 10 to enjoy summer. Preparing for school, the one most important thing to have is a good pencil case. I can never find a big enough case to hold all of my pencils, pens, highlighters, markers, etc. So, I decided to make my own pencil case, keeping in mind everything I needed to fit inside. This is what I came up with:

Here's what you need:

• An outside fabric
• An interior fabric
• A button, velcro, etc. (optional)

Here's how you make it:

• Start by measuring how large you want the fabric to be.

• Cut both fabrics to the size you want,

• Turn the fabrics so that they are facing each other, and pin and sew the sides together, making sure to leave a small opening to turn the fabric inside-out. Once right-side-out, sew up the opening.

• Fold the bottom of the fabric up (inside-out), about halfway, and sew.

• Turn right-side-out. If you would like to, you can fasten your pencil case with a button or velcro.
• Finished! 

Movie Night Treat

Everyone knows that the best treat to eat while watching a movie is popcorn. But now it's time to get fancy..... Carmel corn. I know, it's mind blowing.

Carmel corn is actually very simple. I got this recipe from The Joy of Cooking which, for anyone who doesn't own it, is the greatest cookbook ever printed.

Here's what you need:

• 3/4 cup popped popcorn
• 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 6 tablespoons water

Here's how you make it:

• First, melt the butter in a saucepan.
• Add in the brown sugar and water, and stir over low heat.

• Once the sugar has dissolved, turn the heat up to medium, and keep stirring until the caramel comes to a boil. 

• Keep at a boil for only a few minutes, then drizzle the caramel onto the popcorn, mixing the popcorn so that it all is covered.

 Happy movie night!

Simple Striped Shirt

I know school is just around the corner, and there are lots of 'back to school sales,' but this year I'm trying to make everything I need for school at home. So as a first back-to-school item, I'm making myself a comfortable shirt. I found the tutorial for this shirt here

Here's what you need:

• Striped jersey knit fabric (about 2 yards, just to be safe)
• A shirt to use for measuring
• Thread of similar color to your fabric

Here's how you make it:

• Lay your fabric down, and lay your measuring shirt on top of it. Cut the fabric so it is slightly larger than the measuring shirt at the edges. You should have extra fabric to set aside.

•  Now, make sure that the outsides of the fabric are facing each other, (inside-out) and that the stripes are lined up, then pin the sides of the fabric.

•  Sew up the sides, making sure not to sew the sleeve openings and the bottom of the shirt.
• Next, take the extra fabric and make two long strips of fabric that are about four inches wide. The strips should each be a little smaller than the bottom of the shirt. (Sorry about the drawings.)

•  Fold each strip of fabric in half, then sew them together at each end.

• Turn the already-sewn shirt inside-out. Pin and sew the strips to the bottom of the shirt.
• Now all that's left is a few hems. Fold in the ends of the sleeves only an inch, then sew. Do the same to the other sleeve, and the collar.
• Turn your shirt back right ways, (if you haven't already,) and you're done!

 

Doily Lampshade

I was on Pinterest (one of my many obsessions) one day, just looking at the wonderful crafts people had posted, when I came across this stunning sight. It was a glowing light surrounded by beautiful lace! Immediately, I thought 'I have to make this!'

Here is a link to the website I found this project on: http://www.moredesignplease.com/moredesignplease/2011/3/4/diy-doily-lamp.html


Here is what you need:

• A large balloon
• A variety of doilies
• Wallpaper paste (the powder kind, it works better)

 Here's how you make it:

• Start by mixing the wallpaper paste together (as instructed on the box)
• Blow up the balloon to the size you want the lampshade to be,

• Then, using a paintbrush or your hands, coat the doilies in the paste, and lay them on the balloon, making sure the corners are slightly overlapping

•   Continue until the whole balloon, except for a small opening in the top, is covered, and let dry overnight, or until completely dry.

•   Once the doilies are dry, pop the balloon and take the popped balloon out, trying to keep the doily shell in the same form.

• You can insert a lightbulb through the opening in the top of the lampshade.
• Enjoy your new light fixture!   

Simple Dog Bed

My dog has needed a dog bed for quite a while now. We had gotten her a couple when she was a puppy, but for some strange reason, she grew! So now we decided it was time. We had to get her a new bed. But all dog beds big enough for her were REALLY expensive. So we took a trip to Joann Fabrics. We found the perfect fabrics for a dog bed at a great price (to my mother's delight). But we still needed the stuffing. A foam rectangle her size was even more costly then one of the dog beds sold at petsmart. It was terrible. We bought the fabric anyway, and hoped that we could find some pillows to stuff it with. Later, while we were at ikea we found cheap bed inserts, and thought to ourselves, "this would make great stuffing for our dog bed!" and it did!

  

This is how it turned out:

Here's what you need:

• A few yards of fabric (depending on the size of your dog, I used about 2 yards for a 35 pound dog)
• Thin bed insert
• Sewing machine

Here's how you make it:

• First, cut out two rectangles of the same size out of the fabric.
• Turn the outside fabrics to face each other (so that it is inside-out).
• Sew up three of the sides with the fabric still facing in, then turn it inside-out.
• Put the bed insert in the pillow, then fold in the corners of the side that was open, and sew the whole side.
• Tie the knots of the side you sewed, and enjoy! 

Upcycle Tanktop Dress

To start off the sewing tutorials, I decided to make a simple upcycle dress. I got the idea from a blog called How Joyful.

There are only three main steps to making this dress.

Here's what you need:
A simple colored ribbed tanktop
An old loose/blouse styled shirt (not see-through)
A thick elastic band (optional)

Here's how you make it:

1. Take the loose shirt. Cut the top/collar/sleeves off so the remaining fabric is the same color or design. Set aside for later.

• Next cut a strip off the bottom of the ribbed tanktop. Cut the piece of fabric on the seams to make two strips.

• Sew a seam along the fraying end of the fabric, the pull the bottom thread to create ruffles.

• Pin the ruffled fabric to the tanktop, creating a small design.
• Sew the small strips of fabric to the shirt.

     2.  Turn both the tanktop and the loose shirt inside out.

• Pin together the two shirts. The tanktop will be the top half, and the loose shirt will be the skirt.
• Sew together the two shirts, then turn it back again, so the right sides are facing out.

    3. (Optional) Pin the black elastic to the outside of the dress, over the seam.

• Then sew along the top and the bottom of the elastic.

                                                                 Enjoy your new dress!

Holiday Card Banner

I don't know about you, but all of our holiday cards end up in random drawers in the house. Here is a solution to that problem:

What you need:

• Long ribbon
• A hole puncher
• Holiday cards

How to make it:

• Punch two holes in the top of the card about 3 1/2 inches apart.
• String one end of the ribbon through the first hole from behind to the front. Then string the ribbon back through the second hole.
• Repeat with the rest of the cards, making sure to push each one far enough back, as to fit all of the cards on the ribbon.
• Once all the cards are on the ribbon, tie knots on either end of the ribbon, and start hanging!
• Show off you creative banner!