Recycled Tee Camera Strap Cover

I have been needing a camera strap cover for a very long time now. I had elaborate plans to make one that had various pockets. I like the look of the patchwork ones that I have seen in various places, but was concerned that they would not be very comfortable. I decided to use an old t-shirt so that it would nice and soft around my neck. I also decided against pockets this go around to keep it nice and simple.

What you will need:

t-shirt or knit fabric

batting or flannel

sewing machine

Cut 2 pieces that are 4" x 11.5". If your t-shirt is big enough, you can cut 1 piece that is 4" x 23".

Then with right sides together sew the 2 pieces together along the short end. I used the hem of the shirt so that I would not have to hem the bottom.

Cut a piece of batting the same size as the t-shirt piece.

Sew straight lines the length of the fabric to attach the batting to the knit fabric.

Fold the piece in half with right sides together. Sew the length of the strap forming a tube.

Turn the tube right side out. Then feed your strap through the cover. Ta-da.

Now you have a comfy, stylish, and eco-friendly camera strap cover.

If you make one, please make sure to add it to my flickr group.

Peek-A-Boo

Since I can't have a post without photos and I had no new photos to share, I dug through the archives for this one. Look at how little Miller is in this photo?

I just thought I would pop in and share a few of my favorite crafty links that I have stumbled upon lately. Just in case you didn't already have enough on your to do list.

Newspaper Gift Bag-How About Orange

Newspaper Gift Bags- Craftster

Lunch Box Love Notes- Eighteen 25

Faux Leather Hair Accessories- Make It And Love It

PilliPilli Handmade Etsy Shop (For inspiration)

Aflutter Heandband Tutorial- Sew Mama Sew

Custom Pet Tee- The Long Thread

See you tomorrow for Crafty Tuesday.

Plantable Paper

I did a little bit of sewing this week, but I am going to hold it until next week. Instead I thought it would be appropriate to share a craft in honor of Earth Day. Last year we were at Disney World for Earth Day so I did not get to plan anything. The year before we did coffee ground fossils here is a photo of what ours looked like. This was pretty fun. I am thinking about doing them again since the kids are a little older.

This year I thought we would make some plantable paper to give to the kids teachers and maybe save some for Mother's Day gifts. I saw the idea over at Alpha Mom and knew that my kids would love this project. I took a bunch of pictures so I could show you my process. I changed a couple of things around, but the process is pretty much the same.

Harper had SO much fun doing this project. After a couple of times, she could do it without my help. She probably spent 2-3 hours working on the paper. I didn't count how many that we made, but we made a ton. Plus we still have about half of the soggy paper left.

After we were done, Harper turned to me and said, "Mom how do you know how to do all this cool stuff?" I told her that I saw the directions on the internet. She said, "When I am a mom I am going to do this with my kids." This conversation made all the prep and mess well worth it.

I created a flickr set with my step by step instructions.

Plantable Paper Tutorial

If you missed it, I posted my Birthday Crown Tutorial yesterday.

Happy Crafty Tuesday everyone.

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.

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.

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.

Tutorial: Cereal Box Shipping Envelope

When I am shipping items, I reuse boxes and shipping envelopes that I have received in the mail. Every now and then I have to buy one or make one. The last time I made a shipping envelope from a cereal box I took photos so that I could share them with you.

1. Deconstruct your cereal box so that it is flat. I cut off the small end that was on the right side of the front of the cereal box, but you can also leave it attached and just tape it down.

2. Tape down the flaps on the top and bottom of the front of the cereal box.

3. Cut a small slit on the top and bottom flap of the back of the box. Then cut that section out. The photo does not illustrate it well, but that whole blue section in the photo below will be cut out. This makes the outside flap. It will be the last thing you tape down to seal the envelope.

4. Tape the top and bottom flaps down like you did on the other side of the box. Also, tape down the middle flaps.

5. Fold over the flap that you just created at the end to form a crease, but do not tape this down.

7. Fold the cereal box in half.

8. Tape the sides together to form your envelope. Then stuff your goodies inside.

9. Fold over the creased edge and tape shut.

10. Viola. Now you have a nice recycled package. Attach your shipping label and put it in the mail.

If you have something that you want to ship that is not flat, you can just keep the cereal box in tact. Place your items inside and tape it shut. Doesn't get easier than that.