Easy "Quilted" Bookmark

I was recently trying to come up with some cheap, easy gifts that almost anyone can use. These bookmarks are super easy and quick to make.There really is no quilting involved, you just add interest by using your machine to add lines all over the bookmark. Super simple!

All you need is scrap fabric, 3 in. of ribbon, and some contrasting thread. You'll want some cotton for the front of the bookmark, and some duck cloth or canvas for the backing.

Cut out a 2 in. x 5 in. piece of your front and back fabric. If you want to, add a little basic embroidery, like the initials of the recipient. Place wrong sides of the fabric together, and sew around 3 sides.

Flip right side out, and stitch up the top, placing the ribbon - folded in half - in the center. You can hand stitch the top - which yields MUCH better results - or machine stitch. If you hand stich use an invisible stitch for best results. Get a how-to here.

Finally, "quilting." You can do absolutely any design. I chose something basic and easy, criss-cross lines. Instead of trying to do straight lines and having them come out horribly, I just did crooked lines all over.

                                       

And you're done! I might just make one for myself...

Keep Crafting,

-K

FOOD BREAK!!!

I have to admit - I had a planning backfire. This is supposed to be week 4 on redoing your shirts, however, while traveling, I wasn't able to put the post together. My apologies. In the meantime, food is always good.

Within this blog lies 3 of my favorite ingredients, combined into one amazing food. This smoothie is great for breakfast, or even a snack.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 small ripe banana
• 1/4 cup Peanut Butter 
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 6 ice cubes

Directions:

1. Place ingredients in blender

2. Blend until smooth

3. Enjoy ;)

Keep sippin'

-K

Week 3 - Redo your shirts: Turn a tee into a razor back

You know those free shirts you get with the only purpose of painting shirts, until you have more painting shirts then rooms in your house? Yeah....I had my share of those, too. Well, you can easily turn them into some razor back tops. I find these work great as work-out shirts here in the South. It doesn't take long at all. All you need is an old tee, preferably one that's slightly big, and a pair of scissors.

First, cut off the neck edging.

Then, cut off the shirt sleeves.

Next, trim the shoulders to about 4 inches.

Take a scrap piece of fabric and pull gently from both sides. The fabric should curl up.

Finally, pull scrap piece around the back of the shirt, wrap around, and tie.

Simple as that!

Keep crafting-

-K

Week 2: -Redo your shirts: A little something

I love, love, love Kohl's, especially their sales. So when these babies went on sale for $3.99, STOCK UP!!
                                                      

They also had some nice crew-neck tees that I grabbed, but they were so basic and, well, blah. So, inspiration hit while looking for a button - I can do a button design! I decided on a heart just because it was simple.

 You'll want to gather up a good number of buttons, deciding on how big you want your design. You can keep them matchy, or mix it up.

Lay out you design on your shirt.

Tape down the buttons to keep them in place while you sew them.

Sew the buttons down, knotting tightly as you sew (you don't want them to fall off in the wash!). As you sew, cut the thread after each button. You could "chain sew" and not cut the thread, but it gathers the fabric. As you sew the buttons, peel back the tape. Once you're done, admire!

I really like the eclectic vintage look. The design's really simple, and it's an easy way to practice your button sewing.

Keep crafting,

K 

Linked to:

http://www.iheartnaptime.net/sundae-scoop-link-party-33/ 

Redo your Shirts- Week 1: T-shirt re-size

We ALL have those shirts that you love the design, but is WAY to big. Been there. My beloved Reese's shirt - the last one on the rack- is a men's large. I'm a woman's 6. Let's just leave it at that. So, once I pulled out the rest of my over-sized shirts (yes, there's more), I had a craft project on my hands.

This project's quite simple. You just need an over-sized shirt, a good-fitting shirt, pins, and your lovely sewing machine.

So, the first thing you want to do is place your good-fitting shirt on your over-sized shirt.

Next, follow along the outside of your shirt, pinning along.

Continue pinning along onto the sleeves.

Next, pin on the other side. Sew up on the outside of the pins. This is great if you have a serger. For the rest of us, use a tight zig-zag stitch, or your the knit stitch on your machine, if it has it.

Try on the shirt to check the fit, and if it's good, trim the excess.

                                          

And there you go! A shirt that will no longer sit in the bottom of your dresser.

A note on the title- This month, I'll have a project each week on redoing or restyling tee shirts.

One last thing - I'd like to welcome the newest member of the family - my new sewing machine.

She's basic, but gets the job done. The old machine I was using had a timing issue, so I broke out an old one from the early 70s that, according to my brother, sounded like a diesel motor that couldn't start. It was LOUD!!! This new one is oh so quiet, and I'm enjoying it oh so much.

Keep Crafting,
K

Embroidery Starter

A heads up to my readers - My main computer is down, and I can't upload pics to the one I'm using. You're gonna have to be patient for a little while. Sorry!
Also,  "Like on facebook" "pin it" and "pinterest" buttons are now located in my footer. The pinterest button allows you to follow me on pinterest. Pretty cool!

Anyway, while on spring break, I was browsing Pintrest for HOURS on end, and in an EXTREMELY crafty mood. However, there was no sewing machine anywhere that I could use. So, a trip to Joann's did the trick. I was able to find a simple starter embroidery project that included a frame. Cool beans! The stitches were simple,  and only took a few hours to do. You KNOW a project's easy when you can do it in a car (yes, that's where I finished it). You can find the kit here.

However, there was one issue. No embroidery hoop. Not a prob. Cut off the rim of a plastic cup, and secure fabric down with a rubber band or hair band.
Anyway, I' m hoping to do some more embroidery. Personalized gifts, a little something extra on shirts... Feel free to comment on any ideas!
Keep Crafting
-K

And Now for a Word From Our Sponsor...On the Importance of Ironing

So, to most crafters, ironing is a given. But to others, it's a hassle. Yes, I was one of those people who fell in the second category. Let's face it. It's a hassle to lug out the board, find an open outlet, wait for the iron to heat up, and then do about 10 seconds of ironing. But trust me - it's worth it. Here's a few pics from some headbands I was working on.

As you can see, the strips are poofy and wrinkly. Yes, it would be okay to sew them, but it wouldn't turn out NEARLY as well.

And here's your "after" pictures. Yes, the lighting's bad (sorry), but look a LOT better. Flat and smooth, making your craft look MUCH more professional. I'll take the outcome over hassle.

Keep Craftin',

-K