Etsy Shop Update

I am offering free shipping today in the shop for Cyber Monday.

I also created a fan page on Facebook, so please click on this link and become a fan. I will update it with promotions and sales.

Thanks!!

Recycled Gift Idea- T-Shirt Scarf Tutorial

On Saturday when I should have been doing about a million other things, I decided to make scarves. Don't ask why. It was 70 degrees outside. Sometimes you just have to go with it.

I made one for my daughter first out of some knit fabric I had in my stash. I wanted something lightweight, easy, and very washable. I cut the flowers out of an old t-shirt and leggings of my daughters that were stained. I stitched around the whole in the middle of the flowers to attach them to the scarf.

I know the frowny face is just pitiful, huh?

Then I made my son a scarf using some fleece also from my stash. He even helped me cut the fringe. Sorry I forgot to take photos.

Then I decided I needed a scarf too. I wanted a lightweight one like Harper's, but couldn't find anything in my stash that I thought would work. So I went digging through my pile of old clothes that have been set aside for the perfect project. I found a t-shirt. It was a nice color and large enough for a scarf. So I decided I would make my scarf using this t-shirt. I even remembered to take photos so that I could share with you.

Here's the t-shirt.

Here's the t-shirt inside. Sorry the lighting wasn't very good.

Fold the t-shirt in half and make a cut 8 inches from the bottom hem. I decided to keep the bottom hem on, but you can always cut it off. Gumby also stopped by to help me with my scarf. He agrees that 8 inches is a good width.

Go ahead and make the cut. Sorry about that Gumby.

Trim the side seam. Now you have one long piece that is the length of the front and back of the t-shirt.

Cut another piece 8 inches from the bottom just like you did the first piece.

Cut with caution. Rotary cutters are sharp. Ouch.

Trim the side seam of the second piece. Now you have two pieces that are the exact same size.

Put the pieces right sides together and sew one short end together.


Like so.

Trim it up if you need to.

Now you have one very long scarf. When you stretch it out a little bit the knit fabric rolls at the edges. At least that is what mine did. I left the edges raw.

Now it's time to embellish if that tickles your fancy.

I cut several different sizes of circles from another t-shirt.

Ahhh.....pretty t-shirt circles......

I layered them together to form flowers and pinned them to the scarf.

I just stitched a line through the smallest circle to attach it to the scarf.

Ta-da. All done.

I am not sure how I like the flowers. I think I will probably go back and just have them on one side and add a couple more, but you get the idea. It would look great with no embellishment too.

I used the same method for the flowers on this headband and think it looks better with more flowers. I stitched the lines in different directions to make the flowers curl in different directions. Let me know if anyone else decides to make one. I would love to see it.

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving.

Is It Already Crafty Tuesday?

I am not showing one coffee cozy this week. Yippeee. Not because I didn't make any. Because I am tired of talking about them and I am sure you are tired of hearing about them. So there. Glad I got that off my chest.

This week I finished up the plush owl ornaments I had half done last week. I also made one of the other ornaments that I have been working on for weeks now. I have them all cut. I just need to find time to finish them. I should have these guys up in the shop by the end of the day.

My latest obsession has been these cardboard dolls. I have been brainstorming and brainstorming of a way to put it all together. I thought they would make great stocking stuffers and want to be able to customize the name on the front. I am not quite there yet but this is what I have so far.

On Saturday afternoon instead of working on all the other stuff I need to finish I decided to make scarves and a headband. I became possessed I swear and there was nothing stopping me.

Doesn't Harper look absolutely thrilled with her new scarf? The scarf is made from a knit material from my stash. I wanted to make something lightweight and comfy. The flowers are made from one of Harper's old shirts and a pair of leggings.

I also made myself a scarf from an old t-shirt. I have a tutorial that I will have up tomorrow. (Hopefully)

Then I made myself a headband out of an old t-shirt. After all you can never have too many headbands, right.

2 Kids + 1 Face Painting Kit = 1 Crazy Lookin' Mama

Please try not to look at my bedhead, ok?

Miller thinks he is a lion.

Did everyone have a good weekend?

Getting There

I finally finished listing the items I finished last week in the shop. If you get a second, have a look around. I would love to hear what you think. I am still working on wholesale orders but plan to spend some time this weekend finishing up some ornaments for next week.

Guess what? A year ago tomorrow I made my very first sale on Etsy. How cool is that? In honor of my year anniversary I am offering free shipping from today through Monday to my lovely blog friends. All you have to do is put SCS1 in the notes to the seller when you check out. Then I will reimburse you the shipping amount through paypal. I know it isn't much, but a little something to say thank you.

Sneak Peak

I have been one busy bee this week. I completed a wholesale order for 20 coffee cozies and one owl. I made 2 more owls, a couple of gadget pouches, an owl ornament, some pretty flowers, and some recycled tags to put up in the shop. Now I just need to find the time to edit the photos and actually list them. Hopefully I will be able to get some items up today.

I have 2 more wholesale orders to finish. The sleeves are all sewn and just need to be embellished. I have 4 half done owl ornaments and a whole pile of pieces to make more ornaments. Plus a whole stack of tags to photograph and stamp. Then there are the ideas in my head that I haven't had time to get to yet. I know it will all get done eventually. Sigh.

Happy Crafty Tuesday everyone.

Berry Bokeh

The weather was perfect this weekend. Highs in the 70's and not a cloud in the sky. We spent a good portion of it outside. It was the perfect mix of relaxation and productivity. If that is even possible.

There is something about these berries that drawn me in every year. Maybe it is the bold red color against the rest of the drab colors. Maybe it reminds me that the holidays are near. Whatever the reason, I can't seem to get enough of them.

Visit Tracey for more Best Shot Monday.

A Recycled Holiday- Magazine Bows

I am not going to claim that I came up with this idea all by myself. I had the idea to make bows using scrap paper or magazine pages. So I googled it and sure enough I found this video. She uses a brad to hold the bow together. Since I didn't have any brads and did not want to buy any, I searched a little further and found this tutorial. She uses staples and glue dots. She also cuts the strips to different lengths. Here's another one that uses a brad. If you scroll down there is also another tutorial that shows a different type of bow.

In an effort to use as few materials as possible and keep it simple, I tried several different ways and this is what I came up with. I ended up using one staple and a little bit of double sticky tape. It is a little tricky so you can staple more if you like. If you are really good you may be able to get away with just one staple.

What you will need:
scissors
magazine or scrap paper
stapler
double sided tape

I put several sheets together so that I could make several bows. Cut the paper into strips.

I ended up with 9 strips per sheet.

Take one strip and make a loop at one end. It took me few tries to figure out which way to loop it, but it didn't take long to get the hang of it.

Loop the other side so that you have a figure eight shape.

Grab another strip and place it on the bottom.

Loop both sides. This is where it gets tricky. You have to make sure you are holding all the pieces together so that you don't lose a loop.

Do it again.

Make the loops.

My front was looking a little bare so I started adding strips to the front.

Make your loops.

Keeping adding loops until you are happy with it.

I think that looks pretty good.

Now staple it in the middle. Don't worry if it gets smooshed a little. You can fluff it back out.

Take one of your strips and cut it into 3 pieces. You will have two left over for the other bows you will make. Trust me you will make more than one.

Make a loop. I taped mine together leaving a bit of the tape exposed so that I could just stick it to the inside of the bow.

Stick that loop in the middle. Stand back and admire your handiwork.

So pretty.

Now you don't have an excuse to buy bows this year.