Tuesday, February 28

Lonely Sock Bag Tutorial

Do you have lonely sock?  Because, if you don't then I am guessing you are some celestial being who has discovered all the secrets of the universe.  Or... that you have a magic wand.  Well, this is a tutorial on how I decided to store those socks in-between loads and being lost!   Now the lonely socks shall have a place to play!
I started with 2 pieces of fabric and 1 piece of batting about 16X28.  
I then folded one of the fabric pieces with right sides showing inside the piece of batting.
Then I sewed up the 2 sides to create a pocket.  Above is a view inside!  I did the same with the other piece of fabric, just minus the batting on the outside.
This is a view of one corner of the bottom of the bag.  I flattened it out so that the side seam is flush with bottom seam of the bag.  This makes a triangle.  Then I measured about 2 inches in and sewed a straight line.  I did this on both corners.  Doing this will normally create a rectangular bottom to a purse.  The top of the bag would be even all around.  You would just have a rectangle shape bay.  Technically you can stop here.  But... I wanted the shape of the bag a little different!
I measured up about 3 inches on one side of the original bottom seam.  Then I sewed a new seam from that point back to the original spot to create a Scalene Triangle shape. (Look mom!  I learned something in High School!)
After trimming the excess off the first piece I used it to measure the bottom of the other bag piece.  My advice on this part... make sure that the short end is on the same side of the bag for each corner!
I then flipped my piece with the fabric I wanted outside so that fabric was... outside!  I then fitted in other piece inside!  
Now to tackle the top of the bag!  I happened to have some 2.5 inch strips of fabric for binding handy!    I placed it right sides touching at the top of the bag and started pinning it around the top of the bag.
When I got to where the fabrics meet I folded on out at a 90 degree angle and laid the other on top.
Then I drew a line with fabric pencil on the top piece along the inside of the folded triangle. 
Then I sewed the two together along that line!  After doing that I sewed the binding along the top of the bag with a straight stitch.
Then I flipped it over and folded it on the other side and pinned it.  I used a fancy stitch to tack it all down!
Right now it would have hung pretty much like this.  Of course, with my big pile of socks it will need a little bit more help to hang on!  And... a tiny way to dress up those unsightly hanger clips!
I used the leftover of the 2.5 inch binding strip.  I folded 2 pieces in fourths and used a fancy stitch to keep them that way.
I marked a little below the bottom of the clip.
I looped my pieces and stitched in place like so! 
Notice how the front of the bag slopes down and comes to a sort of point...   that is what the Scalene Triangle bottom did.  It made the front short in height than the back.  
I wanted it to slope so I could peek into the bag easier.  Hello Lonely Socks!  Don't worry... Now that I am done sewing... I will work on laundry!









Monday, February 27

My Mousepad Makeover

Why are free mouse pads always so unsightly?  Weird right?  Well, here is a solution to that problem!  
Here are my supplies!  Spray Glue, Scrap fabric of choice and Ugly Mouse Pad.  I suppose my mouse pad isn't really that hideous, but it still matches nothing in my house.
The next step was super hard to take pictures of.  I really just spray glue the crap out of the mouse pad and slapped the fabric down.  Then I used my fingers to smooth and shmush out all the wrinkles.
Then I used some super sharp scissors to trim the edges.
Honestly I could have stopped here.  If the fabric shrinks away from the edges just lift the fabric and respray.
This part I did more to see if I could than anything!  I put paper under the pad to remove the traction.
Then I used a fancy stitch on my sewing machine to tack down the edges!  Honestly... you don't have to do this.  I used an embroidery needle and knew I had sewn through thicker things before.   But it did add a nice touch to the edges!
Then tear away the paper and Done!  It adds a nice touch.  I probably should have cleaned up the paper from the edges a bit better.  It does look a  little shabby, but...  I had get the kids form school and... you all love me despite my shabbiness!  Right?



Saturday, February 25

Fun Sandwiches

It has been a while since I posted fun lunch!  This last Sunday I got to feeling extra crafty at lunch and made everyone some fun sandwiches!  Enjoy!
Lion Sandwich
Turkey Sandwich Cut
Carrot Mane and Eyes
Broccoli Floret Grass
Pirate Ship Sandwich
Turkey Sandwich Cut
Carrot Mast and Cut Carrot Portholes
Apple Chip Waves
Butterfly Sandwich
Banana Halved for Body
PBJ Triangles for Wings
Cut Carrot Eyes
Whole Carrot Wing Deco and Antennae

Friday, February 24

My New Chip Clip

I saw a post on Craftster where she used and old plastic hanger to make a Chip Clip.  I can't resist a goo recycle project, but...  I did add one thing to mine so I thought I would share.

I followed her tutorial pretty much the same.  Above is just a disposable plastic pants hanger.
I started using the knife to saw it, but found it actually went faster when I simple pushed hard.  I did this on both sides and and then snapped the clips off the rest of the way.  Problem with this for me was that it left a jagged edge.  Not something particularly sharp, but still... if BUGGED ME!  Call me crazy.
I a did was use a lighter to melt the edges.  I didn't do this one the counter like in the picture, but... I couldn't hold the clip, the lighter and my camera!
See!  All done. Thank you Craftster!

Wednesday, February 22

My Glittery Shoes And Belt

I have been obsessed with the idea of decorating shoe for forever.  Honestly, if I could pick my dream job it would be Shoe Designer!  But for now I am fine with finishing getting the hubby through school and raising the kiddos.  Craftiness of the side is fine with me!  Anyways..
Re-crafting shoes is way fun for me.  Each shoes creates is own challenge.  If I had cable I would totally be watching that new show  Project Accessory.  I'll bet it just as awesome as Project Runway!  (Which my parents DVR and save for when I come to visit.)  Anyways... on to the shoes and this time... A BELT!

I started with the belt because it was going to be more of a pain to paint!  He he he!  I bought this at the thrift store for $.25.   I knew I could think of some way to redecorate it! 
 I started by putting some regular craft paint in a cup and mixing it with some Mod Podge.  I was out of fabric medium...
I just painted over the whole thing on one side.  Grommets and all!  
Did you notice in the last picture that the belt was denim?  The grain in the fabric gave it a cool leathery look after being painted.  I almost left it, but I already have a real black leather belt!  Anyways, I set that aside to dry while I  got the next step ready...
The glitter!  I like glitter.  Glitter is my friend.  It is just fun!  I poured about a 1/4 cup of Glossy Mod Podge into a measuring cup and then dumped in a GOOD amount of glitter!
Here is what it looked like stirred up.
For the belt I really glopped more than painted the glitter goop on.  I covered the loopy near the buckle, but left underneath plain.  More because I new it wouldn't show and it would have been a pain to paint then because  it was a good design choice.  I did attempt to work around the grommets this time, which meant the shoes had plenty of time to dry while I worked on this!
Here is the belt drying!
Here is the belt dry!  And.. the back to show you what it used to look like.
And here it is worn by me!  Easy way to jazz up a simple denim skirt!

Now... for those shoes... These I got at Old Navy when they had one of their 50% off Clearnance sales.  They were 5 bucks.  They normally aren't my type of shoe silloette.  I like them skinny and higher!  But...  I was shopping for pregnancy clothes and these were good for pregnant feet!  But... I haven't worn them since the pregnancy 2 years ago!  
  I wasn't picky about brush direction I just went for it!  Above is a shoe with one coat and a shoe with no coats of glitter!  Notice the belt drying in the back ground?  I worked back and forth on these depending on which was dry... the belt or the shoes!
Here is the first coat dry!  They look pretty awesome already!  But.. they definitely need at least another coat.
Here is coat 2 almost dry.
Here are the shoes done!  Wow... in the post that seems fast, but...  It took ALL FREAKING DAY!  LOL  I did super fun house work in-between and... got locked out of the house after getting the kids from school.  We waited an hour outside for the hubs to get home.  It just gave the shoes PLENTY of time to dry in-between coats!














Sunday, February 19

Crayon Crate Cover

This is the story of how I covered a crate that my Clementines came in.  Once upon a time there was a beautiful mommy of 3 whose children loved Clementines.  She let them take the out of the fridge when they asked her potiletly.  There are a health snack and they could open them without help.  How could she say now!  When all the Clementines were gone (in about 1 day) she noticed an empty wooden crate in the fridge.  While her husband made many pennies slaving away for the US Air Force, she just could take it upon herself to waste the useful crate by trashing it!  But... it was pretty rough and had staples and... sadly, she didn't have any sand paper!  Being resourceful she decided to help the lonely container by creating a colorful covering and finding new tenants to live inside it!  And thus... the Crayon Crate Tutorial was born.

Ok... did you get all that?  We are gunna cover this bad boy!
First you are gunna need 2 fat quarters of fabric and 2 pieces of batting the same size (or whatever size with drap nicely over whatever you are covering.)
As you can see the middle is a strange shape.  So... I placed my crate in the center over my inside fabric and one piece of batting.
I used some fancy measuring tools to make a pattern for the corner. I just cut right along each inside part of the book right up to the crate.
The I cut away two lines at a 90 degree angle to the box.  This took out some funny triangle shapes from the fabric.
From the top it is going to look like this.
It's hard to tell in the picture, but I pinned the batting to the fabric so that it would slip while I sewed it.
To start sewing I flipped the fabric like this....
To this...  I am gunna sew that part on the right where the right sides of fabric are touching.  I am going to do that on all the triangles.
Then I sorta do the same thing for the outside, but I don't need the odd strips for the inside.
For them I sewed of the edges again.  It loose like this when done!
Next I made 2 handles by cuttings strips of fabric.  One of the inside and outside each with 1 batting each.   I cut these strips in half for 2 handles.
 I layered them batting, then fabric right side up and then 1 fabric right side down.  To sew a tube I just sewed up each side.   The one on the left is inside out.  The one on the right is flipped right side out!
Then I flipped my outside piece the correct way and pinned the handles to the outside like this.  Then I stitched them down.
Then I took the inside and outside pieces and placed them inside each other with right sides toughing.  I sewed around the edge, but...  notice the gap in the front...  This is where I will attempt to get the crate inside after I flip it the right way!
Whew... that was a pain cause... my whole wasn't big enough...
Last I adjusted the inside piece so it was down inside and hand stitched the opening closed!
Tada!  How long do you think those crayons are going to stay all perfectly lined up?