Scripture Covers & Tote

I made covers for my scriptures - and a tote bag as well. I dont' have a tutorial - didn't take pictures along the way and don't really have a solid technique yet. I made both a little differently - still trying to find a good method. If you want to make one, just measure the book, add a little for the seam allowances and then add about 6 inches to the width so it covers over to the inside to make the flap. My problem is with the velcro closure - that makes it tricky trying to get a good technique. If I didn't do a closure, it would be very simple to make - but of course, I don't want to do anything the easy way :) By the time I figure out how I want to make it, I'll have a few sets - enough to match different outfits for church!

Next, I needed a tote bag, but didn't have an extra placemat, and the kids were taking naps, so I couldn't run to the store. But then I thought . . . "I have a ton of fabric and can measure one of my kitchen placemats to get the dimensions and make one from scratch." Since it wasn't a placemat with finished edges, I had to make a lining. So I basically made one of my placemat totes from this post. And then I paired it with this post's technique on making a bag with a lining.

The outside is black courderouy (hard to tell from the picture) and the lining is just extra cotton scraps I had left over from another project.

oliver + s Ruffled Halter

I found a free pattern for this Ruffled Halter by oliver + s It was very time consuming to do - first off the pattern prints out on 24 sheets of paper and you have to tape them all together perfectly . . . after that, everything else seemed like a breeze.

But I spent one day assembling the pattern, another cutting out the pieces in the fabric, and a 3rd sewing it all together. I think it would have been way too much to try and get it all done in one day. The instructions were easy for me to follow and I didn't even have to unpick anything and start over! I love it in the red gingham, but I think next I'll try it out of a different pattern.

Here is the back with the elastic and the tie at the neck. The instructions/photos never show a picture of the back, so I thought it would be helpful for anyone who wants to make it to see the front and back. (there are no ruffles on the back - just on the front)

Decorated Stars

I bought this star chain last year on clearance and just finally got around to finishing it. At least it's in time for the 4th of July. The star chain came in a rusted brown finish (they're metal). But I don't decorate with browns, so it didn't match my decor. I painted it a creamy white and mod podged scrapbook paper to each separate point. It took me forever to get 2 templates (one for each size star). I had to make several of them before I got it right. I left space between each paper and the edges so that the paint would show through.

Once I got the top coat on it, I added ribbon to the ends to secure it to the mantle.

Captain America Muscle Tee

When I saw this idea from Cheri, I knew I had to make one. Only problem was, I couldn't find a plain t-shirt anywhere. Target only sells them with pockets on the front - why would they do that?

And Wal-Mart was only selling muscle tees, so I went for that look.
I tried her method of using plastic wrap to apply the paint - I don't know how she did it so good, cause it was an awful mess for me. I got red paint on the side (even though I had a wide buffer of freezer paper surrounding the paint area) and I couldn't get the same "vintage" look that she did, so I just opted for one single coat - making it look a bit worn. And my red paint seeped through a bit around the edges, but I think that adds to the "worn" look.

And since I got red paint on the side seam, I decided to print out letters on my cricut to cover it up. I actually liked it better with the words down the side.

Snappy Top

I found a free pattern for this Snappy Top at Prudent Baby. It is sized for 12-18 months, but somehow it fits my 7 month old. She's not huge either - she only weighs 15 pounds - about the 25th percentile . . . so hopefully this will fit her for a long while then. I used yellow eyelet fabric, and since that was a bit see-through, I lined it with a white linen - which meant I had to tweak the instructions a bit. And I had to cut 2 of each the front and back of the shirt.

Instead of sewing bias tape around the arm holes, I just attached the lining to the shirt at the arm holes and turned it right side out and pressed it. So the side seams are sewn on each piece separately and the lining is only connected to the shirt at the arm holes and the neck.

My only issue with the instructions was it didn't say how far to put the neck of the body up and inside the collar piece. So I put it all the way in and tried it on her and that was squeezing her arms like sausage links - so I unpicked it and then lined it up along the open edge instead.

Other than that, the pattern and instructions were very easy to follow. This shirt went together really fast. And I love how it turned out. I'm already digging through my fabric stash to see what else to use and make more of these. You can even add to the length and make it a dress - so that will probably be my next one.

Oh, and thanks Mom for the green snaps! I'm borrowing her snap setter and snap stash - which technically means I'm using a few of them since she has some awesome colors.

Tie and Bow Tie Cloth Napkins

When I saw this idea at Our Daily Obsessions, I knew I wanted to make it for my father-in-law for Father's Day. I tried to find plain white dinner napkins at a couple stores but had no luck, so I decided to make the napkin too.

Afer I made the tie napkin, I thought it might be fun to make a bow tie one as well. The bow tie napkin is smaller - finished size 17"x17" and the tie napkin is finished 21"x21". I just traced a tie to get the shape and length. But I freehanded a bowtie.

I google'd how to make the napkins so it would have a polished and "non-homemade" look to it. I used a combo of a couple different links to get the clean corners. I didn't write down the links I used, but just google "how to make a dinner napkin" and you'll have a few choices. Here's a close up of the corner from the back side of the napkin.

Father's Day: Candy Bottles

For some reason, I had a hard time trying to come up with an idea for my husband for Father's Day . . . the kids are too young to do some of the cute kid-involved ideas for now. Then on Saturday, I remembered this idea on Sister's Stuff. And I was able to get help from my 2 year-old in filling the bottles with the candy.

I made my husband and his dad drink all the cream soda and took back the bottles . . . and neither of them wondered why I needed all 6 bottles empty that instant. I would have asked why.

4th of July Dress

So . . . Dana MADE me do it . . . Using her pattern and instructions, I made a dress for my daughter out of her Warhol Dress.

I turned this men's shirt into a 6-12 month dress for my daughter. I fits her perfectly except the shoulder strap (the one that doesn't tie) is too loose, so I need to shorten that. Otherwise, the length and shape is perfect. It looks adorable on her.

I applique'd stars on the dress with wonder under. After the white neck line was added, it needed something else to help tie the white all together. I also used red thread to top stitch around the stars.

I also did three rows of topstitching with red thread on the neck tie as well.

Wet Bag

I found this idea to make a wet bag. It can be used to put a wet swimsuit in to bring home or when we are potty training and have an accident out of the house. I can put the wet items in this bag and then not get my diaper bag wet.
I made mine a square - finished size 9"x9" instead of the 9"x12" in the tutorial. I didn't have the waterproof fabric that she mentions, but I did have some of the clear plasticy vinyl. That was tricky to sew with, but using tissue paper between the machine and the vinyl helped.

My fabric seemed too plain and needed something else. I used freezer paper stenciling by cutting out the letters with my cricut and used fabric paint to put the words on the front. I also applique'd the yellow circle on the front with wonder under.

4th of July Wreath

I've been in a wreath mood lately and was trying so hard to find a patriotic wreath online but couldn't find anything but a couple of the tied rag kind - and that's not my taste. So I thought of this idea.

Felt stars and a navy ribbon.

I bought a styrofoam wreath at the dollar store and some red felt at Jo-Ann's and started cutting stars . . .

Unfortunately, these 2 stacks didn't even cover half of it. My hands were so tired from tracing and cutting stars so this wreath actually took me about 5 days to do. I took some quilting pins and pushed them through the center of the star and then attached them to the wreath. You can't really tell they are stars when it's all done, but I like the spikes.

Then I attached the navy ribbon and cut out some white stars from craft foam and glued them on the ribbon.

I love it - and it's been a while since I did a craft without inspiration from someone else's ideas . . .

I'm linked up to . . .