Give Me the Bird

Last night I was looking in my hall closet (I don't even remember why) and saw a random board from an old abandoned project and some cork I bought a few weeks ago. As my eyes went from one to the other, I had the sudden urge to put them together and make myself a cork board. So I did.

First I painted the edges of my board a pretty blue (I mixed North Sea blue with some white to get the color I wanted). It took 2 coats.

(This is not what the blue actually looks like... but you get the idea)

Then I grabbed some brown craft paper, drew a bird and cut it out.

I used some spray adhesive on the back of the paper to stick it to my cork.

(I decided to flip my image)

Then I grabbed my stencil foam brush and dabbed on my white paint.

I should have let the paint dry a little first before I peeled off my paper, but I didn't. Fortunately the paint didn't smudge much.

Once everything was dry, I pulled out my rotary board and ruler and an exacto knife (NOT my rotary cutter, I didn't want to ruin it by cutting cork) and carefully (and slowly) cut my cork to my desired size.

Then I used my glue gun and glued on my cork (I hear wood glue would also work well for this part). I worked from one side to the other so the glue wouldn't cool before I was able to attach the cork.

And ta-da! Here is my adorable new cork board.

To finish it off, you can always add some cute button push pins like I did.

Also linking to:Making the World Cuter, C.R.A.F.T., and Keeping It Simple

Hair Pretties

Lookie what I made!? Aren't they pretty?

For the first rosette I used a purple (I promise it looks purple in real life) satiny fabric and a sparkly tulle. I just wrapped them together and hot glued to my hearts content. I also covered a black button with the tulle (a couple of times because I didn't want the button to show through) and glued it on. I also added a sparkly tulle tail. So cute. Then I glued some felt and a hair clip on the back.

I heart it.

For the white rosette, I used a soft cotton and added 3 lace folds to the underside (my 8-year old sister-in-law thought it looked like toilet paper without it) and added a button on top.

So simple and pretty! Yay for cute hair accessories (too bad they aren't for me...)!

Button Push Pins

My cubicle at work is, I'll admit, a little boring. As I was pondering my predicament the other day, I decided I needed to remedy this by adding a crafty touch or two.

I had a bunch of these at home:

So I turned them into these:

Button push pins! It is the small touches that make a big difference and I absolutely adore them! They help me remember that while I don't have as much time to craft right now that I am still a crafter at heart.

Coin Purse Tutorial!!

Lately (and partly due to the influence of my adorable sister-in-law) I've been obsessed with coin purses. They are cute. Like really, really cute. A while back I saw a tutorial for this gorgeous glitter coin/clutch purse refashion, but my husband is anti-glitter (like really anti-glitter) so I had to rethink my options.

On a trip to the thrift store I decided to pick up some coin purses and go to town trying to make them cute. Well, here is my first attempt (and it took me a looooong time to finish this cutie - not because it was hard but because I wanted to make sure it was what I really wanted).

First, I detached the fabric from my frame and made a pattern (just on regular paper... I simply traced around the frame and then drew my chosen shape for the rest of it).

Then, I used that pattern and cut fabric for the outside layer (an adorable gray with polka dots) and for the inside (a sturdy cream corduroy). I also cut some iron-on interfacing at a later stage, realizing it would probably be a good idea to have the added stability.

Next, I decided I wanted a ribbon embellishment. So I grabbed some double-sided fusible interfacing (the no-sew kind because I felt lazy) and attached my ribbon to both sides of the outer fabric.

Then I took a shorter piece of ribbon, folded it in half and hand-stitched it (just in the center) to one-side.

Then hand-stitched a button on top of that.

This was the point when I realized I should add some interfacing, so I attached it to the back (wrong side) of just the outer fabric.

With right sides together, pin the outer pieces to each other. Repeat with the lining. Mark where to sew and sew pieces together.

Clip the curves (just in the seam allowances) and turn right side out.  Fit the lining inside the outer fabric.

Match up the openings and baste stitch (your machines longest straight stitch) to keep them together (not all four layers... just thought I should clarify in case anyone is confused).

At this point I took a monthish long break because I was unsure of how to attach my purse to the frame and then I moved and didn't have time. I'm still not sure if I did it the best possible way but here is what I came up with...

Using a toothpick I dabbed some E-6000 glue (a thickish layer) into the frame (I did one side at a time).

I pushed my fabric into the frame (starting at the center and working my way to the sides). My fabric was pretty thick and stiff so it was easy to work with. If yours is flimsy try using a piece of flat plastic cut to shape to help you get it in. Then, I used some hemp and pushed it into the gap. I used the flat part of a can opener  in a multi-tool and pushed the hemp in as far as it would go.

Then I used some pliers to squish the metal together (with fabric between to prevent scratching of the metal).

Repeat on the other side. Remove excess glue from the frame (I used my fingernail...) and let dry completely.

I am so happy with how it turned out!!

Linking up with:
Tatertots and Jello Weekend Wrap Up
Metamorphosis Monday
The DIY Show Off
Making the World Cuter
Keeping it Simple: Motivate Me Monday  
It's So Very Creative

Fashion Show at Lunch

Remember how I started a new job? Well, for the past few weeks I have been carrying around my lunch in a very unattractive grocery sack. And feeling lame all-the-while. So, I finally came around to whipping me up something cute to carry my lunch around in. Here is what I originally came up with:

Huge huh? I don't know what I was thinking. And I couldn't bring myself to carry around a monster lunch sack. So I cut it in half and now have this:

Muuuuuch better! I love, love, love it! The fabric. The ruffle. The bright, happy yellow lining (which I don't have a picture of...).

I'm so glad I don't have to use a grocery sack anymore!

Linking up with Today's Creative Blog, My Frugal Family: Talented Tuesday, and Creative Itch

Queen of Hearts Garland Tutorial

Last year around Valentines Day I cut out and embellished a few felt hearts, not exactly knowing what I wanted to do with them. And then they sat. In a bag. Forgotten. Until now.

I finally took the time to make something out of these cuties. And I'll show you how to make it, too.

Supplies:

• felt
• embroidery floss
• ribbon (both to embellish with and to hang garland from)
  
• buttons
• safety pin

First, cut out a heart template from card-stock or thin cardboard.

Now cut out double the # of hearts you want on your garland. For the first half (the tops), embellish. Use whatever you have. I used felt, ribbon, buttons, and embroidery floss.

For the second half (the bottoms), cut 2 parallel lines on the upper portion of the heart. Only cut long enough for your width of ribbon to fit through. Like so:

Now attach the hearts together with embroidery floss (meaning a top and a bottom). 

Put your safety pin on the end of your length of ribbon and weave through the back slits, tying knots around the openings (so the hearts don't slide around).

Now hang up your garland (preferably not on a brick wall with packing tape... I do what I have to for lighting) and enjoy!

Here are some close-ups of my favorite hearts:

 

Sweaters to Cardigans

Now that Christmas is over I can share a gift I did for my cute sister. Fortunately she isn't picky and luckily she doesn't have expensive tastes and all she wanted from me was to refashion a few of her sweaters. Pretty sweet deal if you ask me. She provided the most expensive part so this was a gift of love and hardly any money was involved.

Both were sweaters she wanted turned into cardigans (just cut up the center and add some bias tape). This one I added some vintage lace along the front and buttons on the sleeves.

I love the addition of the buttons. It really ties in the lace. So cute.

For the other sweater my sister wanted something along the lines of this sweater she found at Anthro (no longer available on their site):

Here is what I came up with. Navy bias tape with some navy roses sewn onto the collar. I promise, in real life the blues are more similar in color than they appear here.

I'm happy with the results and (hopefully) my sister is, too!

Linking up with Just Something I Whipped Up with The Girl Creative, Christmas Show & Tell with Tip Junkie, and .:Sumo's Sweet Stuff:. Market Yourself Monday.