Cartwheels In My Mind

diy ruffle scarf

 
You know we all do it.  We wait until the last minute and end up having to go out and buy a gift because we waited too long to make the handmade gift we really wanted to give to that special friend or family member. 

Yep. Been there. Done that. 

But I'm here to tell ya, this is a simple and oh-so-fabulous gift that you can make in just a short time that is as good - oh wait, even BETTER - than any store bought purchase.  It's lovely, comfy and HANDMADE!!!!  Oh and did I mention inexpensive?!  You could seriously make a ton of these for just a few dollars. 

All it takes is a t-shirt - used or new, thrifted or straight from your closet - scissors, and some thread. 

"Whoohooo!!  Bring it on, " you say?!

I hear ya!

Let me tell ya though.  I rarely make anything - projects, recipes, etc. - and follow certain directions.  I just kind of jump in and go with it.  So that's how my instructions will be posted.  They may not be total perfection but they'll get the job done.

First things first.  Grab a t-shirt.  One that's too small, too big, in your giveaway pile or one you've picked up at the thrift store.  But choose one in a great color you'd love to wear around your neck.

Now you'll cut a few strips off the bottom of the t-shirt.  I cut two 6" strips out of the bottom of this shirt so I ended up with two loops of t-shirt.  Then I cut one side of each loop to make two long strips of t-shirt fabric.  Now you'll sew the two strips together at the ends to make one super long strip of fabric.

Once I had my strip ready to go, I folded the strip into thirds to get an idea of where I wanted to sew the stitching.  Then I placed a piece of masking tape on the sewing machine as my guide to help me keep my stitching straight.  Because see...this was the first time I've sewn since my 7th grade Home Ec. Class. Wow!!  I needed every little bit of help I could get.  I sewed two seams down the fabric, using a basting stitch.  I'm sure there are a million and one different ways to do this easier but this is what worked for me.  I set the stitch length long and the tension low.  I think maybe if I'd had it on a higher tension, it would've gathered and ruffled more on its own.  But this is my story and I'm sticking to it.
 

Once I had my basting stitch finished on each 1/3 section, I pulled the thread gently to gather and create the ruffles.  This was probably the most time consuming part of the project but easy, nonetheless.
 

When I had it gathered just the way I liked it, I went back over the seams with a straight stitch to hold the ruffles in place. And TA-DA... 
 

Seriously, if I can do this, YOU TOTALLY CAN!!!!!

Now I'm going to dig through every giveaway bag of shirts and dig around in my closet for some more fun fabrics to repurpose!  Can you image doing this with an old sweater?!  Whoohoo!!  Next project, HERE I COME!

Happy gifting!

 
Frames from Kitschy Digitals.

25 Days Of Christmas :: Bring a little JOY!

We all could use a little more JOY and a lot more sparkle in our lives, eh?  Today I have a simple and easy-to-do project to share that will really bring some smiles - because it's so easy and so stylin'!

Don't you love the shimmery Christmas banners and ornaments you see in the local craft shops?  You can easily make one of your own.  Here's what you'll need to get started:

 
SUPPLIES:
One cardboard box.
Scissors.
Letter template (I created my own on my computer!)
Elmer's glue.
Scissors.
Glitter in the color of your choice. (I used Martha Stewart glitter in white gold.)
String, twine or ribbon to string your letters.

Once I had my letters all cut out of my template, I just traced them onto sections of the cardboard box and cut away!  Next, I punched holes in the tops of each letter before I applied the glue & glitter.  I just used a tack to make the small holes.  Then, I used basic Elmer's glue to cover each letter and spread the glue around with a toothpick.  Then I sprinkled the glitter to cover each letter and let them set to dry.  Stringing on the letters was pretty simple with my raffia string from Ikea and there ya go.  A simple, easy and lovely sparkly addition to your holiday decor!

 
 

Just think of all the garlands, ornaments or packaging toppers you could make with just a little cardboard, glue & glitter!  Have at it and have fun!

 
 

One Stamp Set.....4 Variations

 
 

I love getting new crafting supplies!  I just can't wait to get them into my scrapbook room, tear open the package, and start playing!!  Recently I got a new stamp set called Aviary from Stampin Up and found an hour in my crazy, busy day to make 4 different cards using the stamps. (I apologize that the color is a little "off" in these photos.  That's what I get for taking pictures at night instead of using natural light.)

 

 
 

 
Source:  all stamps from Stampin' Up

Happy Creating !!

Instant Reusable Gift Wrap

If you're looking for creative gift-wrapping ideas, you already know this: when it comes to gift-giving, the outside is oftentimes just as important as the inside. No matter what the occassion, a uniquely (or cleverly) wrapped gift makes a statement that you're offering more than just an object...you're showing you really care by taking the time to make it extra special. Pssst! Creative gift-wrap doesn't have to take a whole lot of time. All you need is some basics and you'll be able to transform dozens of plain presents into amazing presentation!

Cookies are an obvious inexpensive gift. It's the giving that makes them unique and an easy way to wrap them is to fill a Mason jar with the popable morsels and decorate.

A simple circle of fabric in a colorful print such as floral, or plaid for a holiday theme, is really all you need. Place the upside down jar onto the fabric and trace your circle two to three inches larger all around to allow for overlapping the neck of the jar and a little hanging beneath the band for decoration. For a puffy top, put a small handful of cotton batting on top of the metal lid and under the fabric round. Add ribbon, lace, or in my case, a silly band, along with a decorative label noting the contents and/or a personal note and TA-DA!

It's cute, original, and the Mason Jar can be reused. It doesn't all have to be about cookies though! Give your friends and family an unexpected housewarming gift, such as a basic tool kit, or how 'bout a "craft in a jar"! Candy, nuts, snack mix, flowers, bath beads and more...nearly any medium will work!  Happy wrapping!

Photo Wall

I loved this photo wall idea the first time I saw it on Paislee Press.  Since then I've seen Ashley Ann's version and fell in love all over again.

We have a large piece of wall in between our two bedroom windows that was just crying out for something.  Maybe this was it.

I started by picking my favorite photos from the last two years.  It took awhile.  I gave them all a little color adjustment with Pioneer Woman's Seventies action and then resized them all to 4x4. This way I could simply order them as a 4x6 and just trim off the extra sides.

Once that was done I brought them all upstairs to the bedroom and lay them out on the bed.  I measured the wall and decided how many I wanted in each row and started adjusting them. Mostly I watched that I didn't repeat a child too many times in one space and that the darker photos were spread out amongst the lighter ones.

With my level in tow I started with the middle picture and fun-tacked it to the wall.  After that it was a piece of cake.

It took a little while to get used to, but I love it!  Love it!  I get a little flutter in my stomach when I catch a glimpse of it as I walk past the room. 

And the best thing is that I get to go to bed and wake up to my favorite faces!

Personalized Birthday Thank You's.

My niece turned 7 this year and she had her first big slumber party. An American Girl Doll themed sleepover. And a doll party just wouldn't be a doll party without a chain of paper dolls dressed in pj's (scraps of patterned paper). I got the idea/template from Martha Stewart.

My girlfriend (who so graciously helped me with the festivities) had the brilliant idea to adhere the Instax pics I took of each girl with Kaylee (and their dolls) to the paper doll decos. Since the party took place in the summer and some of us were leaving on vacation and wouln't be seeing everyone till school started, I decided to write a lil' thank you on the back and have Kaylee pass them out as the girls left. One less thing I didn't want to have to worry about.

Happy Creating!