Dress Extension

Is it just me, or are dresses getting shorter? These "barely dresses" are barely cutting it, especially at my height. But when I found this dress at Goodwill for $3.50, I couldn't pass it up. It was a little short, but when I found some knit fabric that matched, a dress extension was the plan.

Supplies:

• dress 
• coordinating fabric (try to match fabric type to fabric type. Knit to knit, cotton to cotton, etc.)

First, if needed, seam rip. My dress was a bubble style. The inside panel was sewn to the outside panel, so I had to seam rip the entire bottom.

If seam ripping isn't needed, spread out the bottom of your dress as much as possible, and measure the width on one side. 

Decide how much length you want added to your dress. If you're using cotton fabric, double the length. This makes it easier on you since you won't  have to hem (just wait - this will make sense a little later). If you're using knit, you can double the length, or just leave it be. Knit doesn't fray, so you don't have to worry about hemming.

Take your measurement of how wide the dress is, and double it to find out how long you need your extension panel piece to be. Once you get that number, cut your coordinating fabric. A rotary cutter works great for this. Try to cut enough fabric to match the pattern of the coordinating fabric when you sew the sides together.

If you're using cotton, press your fabric on half, width-wise, wrong sides together.

Start pinning your fabric at the seam line on the dress, right sides together, with raw edges being pinned to the dress.

                                  

Continue pinning, keeping the fabric straight and taught, until you have about 3 inches left, and sew the panel together.

Pin the remaining 3 inches, and sew panel to dress.

                                 

That's it! You now have a dress that's actually long enough, and completely customized by you. My dress rung up at under $5, since the dress was from Goodwill, and the fabric was under $3 a yard on clearance (don't you just LOVE that?).

Shout out to a friend who helped me with the final shots!

Keep Crafting,

-K

Linked:

Here

Not Just a Housewife

Trendy Treehouse

Ladybug Blessings

Cow Appreciation Day

For all you who don't know, Cow Appreciation Day was yesterday at Chick-fil-a. Dress up as a cow, get a free meal. Doesn't get any better than that. As an added bonus, we even had awful puns floating around my house all day yesterday. After dressing up for 3 years now, we finally caved in and spray painted shirts (I figured this would make an interesting tutorial).

Step 1: Spray

Step 2: Wear

Best when done with friends

We had to get a 2XL pack to fit my dad, so I just wore leggings underneath (hey, the shirt was actually long enough to be a dress). I was "a model for over the moon shampoo" to quote a friend. We enjoyed our free meals and created some more bad puns. I'm suppressed we didn't get kicked out, we were so loud. I guess that's what happens when you dress up in crazy costumes with friends.

Keep Crafting,

-K

                                  

DIY Lanyard

Since I'll need a lanyard for my ID next year, I started looking. I fell in love with these from Vera Bradley, but refused to pay $12.

Upon more thought, I realized, Hey! these don't look to hard to make! I even have some fabric that's really close to the lanyard pictured here.

So, with that in mind, here's your supplies:

• scrap fabric (I used duck cloth because it's durable. I wouldn't recommend knit at all. You can use cotton, but a thicker fabric is best.
• lanyard clip ( I clipped mine off a key chain I wasn't using - talk about thrifty crafting! - but most craft stores carry them, I imagine they'd only be $3 or so).

That's seriously it! These things cost so little since you're using scarp fabric, mine came in for practically free! Beats $12 any day.

Anyway, the first thing you want to do is cut a 37 in. by 2 in. piece of fabric. A rotary mat and cutter works wonders for this. Don't worry if your lines are jagged, they'll be hidden.

Next, break out the ironing board. Iron your fabric in half to get a nice crease line.

Unfold your fabric, and press one end into the center. Do this on both sides.

Now fold the piece in half as to hide the raw edges. Press (don't worry - this is the last of the ironing).

Pin along the non-folded side. Now, hop over to your sewing machine. Sew straight up your pinned side. Have as little seam allowance as possible.

After that, straight stitch the ends, and then sew them together. Loop your fabric through your lanyard hook, and sew.

And that is that! It really doesn't take that long at all!

If you're looking for something to put on the end of the lanyard, check out this tutorial. It's an ID case, another Vera Bradley knock off. It's up next on my sewing list.

Don't know if you noticed my nails or not - it's one of my favorite colors, Cream Pink by Sinful Colors. It's only $2, and really high quality

.                             

Keep Crafting

-K

Money Jars

While hanging out with a friend of mine one day, she started talking about these neat savings jars she made. Intersted, I asked her to show me. They were so stinking cute!!! Upon closer look, they also looked super easy. I asked her how she made them and after the run-around, she came up with the idea of a blog post. So, I did.

Most of the supplies are available around your house.

• small mason jar
• duct tape (colored is best)
• scrap fabric
• permanent marker
• scissors

First, take the duct tape and wrap it around the jar, making sure to keep the tape straight and to create minimal air bubbles.

                           

Next, remove lid and take 2 strips of fabric, placing them with a slight gap between.

Place lid back on. It's easier to do if you hold the fabric taught to the sides. Trim fabric to desired length.

                                                     

Finally, label the jar. These can be great tools to teach your kids money management. Make three for spending, saving, and giving.

And volia! you're done (didn't I tell you they were cute)!

Keep Crafting,

-K

Linked to:

http://tatertotsandjello.com/2012/06/weekend-wrap-up-party-and-win-the-full-boho-line-from-styled-by-tori-spelling.html

http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/2012/06/show-and-tell-saturday-062312.html

http://www.craft-o-maniac.com/2012/06/craftomaniac-monday-link-party_24.html

http://thetrendytreehouse.blogspot.com/2012/06/create-and-share-features-too_26.html

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