From Sack to Sweet - shirt refashion

Want to know why my kids are so smiley???

Because mommy just made them new shirts and they are so excited!

Just kidding.

They couldn't care less. 

I told them that if they smiled I'd take them out to lunch.

A mom's gotta' to what a mom's gotta' do.

Even though they are not excited about clothing refashions it doesn't mean mom isn't!

I got this fabric gift bag from a friend a while ago.  It was what inspired me to make reusable gift bags like the one I did HERE.  I always loved the fabric and it was too hard for me to give it away.  So.... I did the only thing I know how, and I refashioned it into a cute new top for the Magster.

See?  Not interested in taking pictures at all. 

Why would she be, when there are bugs to look at?

"Ugh.  Mom!  Enough already!"

Anyone else have a 4 year old teenager?

How it was done:

The insides had French seams so I left those alone.  I cut off the bottom of the bag to give it a straight edge.  This gave me a nice little tube of fabric.

 I then cut a curve for the sleeves.  I was just guessing at this point and I made the sleeve scoop a little too severe.  I ended up cutting off about an inch from the top.  Using a shirt or tank top to guide you may help make sure proportions are right the first time around.

I then folded down the top of the shirt and sewed a casing for the ribbon to go. 

For the bottom, I attached a red ruffle from some scraps in my bin.

This was a great repurposing project for me but you certainly could do this with just regular fabric and ribbon.  It's just a shorter version of a pillowcase dress with a ruffle on the bottom.

Go check out your stash and repurpose something today!  It's a lot of fun!

Tribal Triangles - Potato Stamping Tutorial

I'll never understand why people say to never play with your food.  It's one our earliest creative outlets.  But I guess the last thing mom wants is the meal she just slaved over to become a work of art.  While mashed potato sculptures {anyone remember the movie UHF??} might not be welcome at the dinner table, you can use those potatoes in crafting! 

I had another neon tote on hand and decided that some tribal triangles were in order.  {I already did gold chevrons here.}  The only problem was that I didn't have a triangle stamp.  No worries, I just reached into my cupboard and pulled out a potato and made my own.

Supplies:

- colorful tote bag {similar totes can be found here}

-  craft paint

- potato

-  knife

- masking tape

TUTORIAL

Step 1:  Cut potato in half.  {My potato was fairly old and was feeling a little rubbery.  I used this one because it was on it's way out and I didn't want to waste a nice one.  However, I don't think it matters if your potato is old or new.}

Step 2:  Cut shape in potato.

Step 3:  Trim off the scraps from the sides.

You should have a nice little stamp now.

Step 4:  Tape off the lines you want your stamp to go in between.  This will serve as a guide to help you stamp in straight rows.

Step 5:  Did potato in paint.  I wanted my triangles to be a little worn so I rubbed the stamp on some cardboard to remove excess paint.  If you want your triangles to be more solid then just dip and stamp.

Step 6:  Using your tape as guides, stamp away!  I alternated the direction of the triangles in each row.

Step 7:  Let dry and remove tape.

And enjoy your new neon tribal triangle tote!

Gold Chevron Tote {tutorial}

Do you have one of those friends that you love to death but you never get to see them because you're both so busy?  Mine is Sabrina.  It just seems like the stars never align for us.  But this past Friday they did align and we spent the whole day crafting, and eating, and laughing and crying.  Love her.

Well, Sabrina has this habit of spoiling me and my children and one of the many things she brought were some fun neon canvas totes.  After a sewing fail, I got burned out and decided to switch to paint.  And that my dears is the story of how the Gold Chevron Tote was born. 

Now you may remember I tried painting a similar-ish type thing with my old door mat.  I didn't measure a dang thing and though it turned out okay, I vowed to measure things the next time so the pattern wasn't so off.

You can read about the herringbone mat HERE.

I vowed to change but I had to be true to myself and let's face it, I AM LAZY.  I'm also not a perfectionist.  So instead of getting out a ruler I devised this method -

First I put regular width masking tape town the middle and in a cross section.  I used these as my guides.  I then added chevrons with the wide masking tape.  At this point I then removed the regular masking tape by peeling it away and then cutting it where the two tapes overlapped.

 
I then filled in the spaces that were left with more wide masking tape.  This is where I should have pulled out my ruler because some of them weren't spaced out exactly perfect but "Meh.  What ya gonna' do now?"  It's a good thing I'm not a perfectionist.  Sorry to all my readers who are perfectionists, I know you're cringing in horror right now.

I then dabbed on some gold craft paint {similar to this here}and called it a day.  The whole project took maybe 5-10 minutes to complete and I now have a new great little tote that I have been carrying around all weekend.  You know me, if it's fashionable and functional I'm a happy girl!

If you're looking to find canvas bags I've found a bunch on Amazon in neon and plain.  On Amazon they sell them as singles or in packs.  I'm thinking I may just buy a pack of colorful bright canvas totes and make myself some cute grocery bags.  You need to look stylish while grocery shopping, right? 

Thanks Sabrina for the fun new tote!

Neon & Navy Pool Bags

 Here is my project for SoYou Think You're Crafty's last weeks Summer Bounty theme.  I love these bags especially since they have been so useful at the pool.  I had some tough competition though and was nearly eliminated!  Let's hope that never happens again!  This weeks theme is Ombre.  So head on over and vote for your favorite.  Hope it's mine!

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Neon.  Navy.  Stripes.  Chevron.

The only thing hotter this summer is the weather!

Oh wait for it... all these pool bags only cost $2.  Now that's a HOT deal!

I picked up a navy striped canvas shower curtain from the thrift store for $2 and got to work on making essential pool bags for summer.  The result was 4 bags and a tag to keep all of our pool gear in check. All edges are surged for a finished look and hot pink thread accents the bags throughout.  With accents of neon green and shabby chic hot pink chevrons, simple bags become fun and fabulous!

Duffle:  A repurposed hot pink zipper closes the pleated bag.  On a strap are decorative chevron stitches in hot pink and 3 large chevrons line the front.

Tag:  A simple fabric tag tied with jute, hangs with a clear vinyl cover to keep our pool card within easy reach as we check in.

Clutch:  This clutch is closed using the elastic that comes when you buy a new pair of kids shoes and a bright green large button.

Large Duffle:  A large round bottomed bag.  Using the existing grommets from the shower curtain I strung through some neon green ribbon to use as the bag closure.  The bag also has a shoulder strap for easy carrying which is accented with hot pink chevron stitches all the way down.

Wet Suit Bag:  This bag is made with a piece of table cloth vinyl and uses a thinner version of the neon green ribbon as its drawstring enclosure.

While at the pool taking photos these fun bags had many admirers and offers to purchase the bags but no sale.  These babies are all mine and I know they're going to get lots of use this summer!  

It's nice when useful and fashionable meet!

  

Now...  who wants to go swimming?!?!

Car Play Mat & Storage Bag

I said I needed to show you more boy stuff so here's a fun one!

I wanted to show you something that had it all - Sewing, scraps, BOYS {and Girls!}, play, Imagination, DETAILS,  repurposed, STORAGE, cute fabric, Bright Colors... you get the point.  I hope I didn't disappoint!

Introducing.... The Car Play Mat & Storage Bag!

Each piece was drawn and cut by hand and appliqued onto the mat.  With a park, zoo, speedway, beach, neighborhood and church there is a whole town full of imaginative adventure waiting to happen.  Each piece of fabric was chosen to look authentic, waves for the ocean, brick for the zoo wall, florals for the bushes and trees, cobblestones and sand, even the stained glass windows on the church, etc.  Let's just say, I have a lot of random scraps around the house!

The kids love to play with the mat but the fact that the mat is easily cinched into a bag to store all those little cars is what gets momma REALLY excited!  We can easily carry the bag with us to appointments and activities to keep us entertained during those long waits.  And when we are done, one tug of the cord and "bloop!" all cleaned up.

I think everyone needs a Car Play Mat & Storage Bag.  I hope you agree!

Paper Bag Cowboy Costumes

If you're looking for Halloween costume ideas and you're as cheap and lazy as I am then here is the costume for you!

Introducing -

Paper Bag Cowboy Costumes

Me and Johnny boy rockin' it pre-kids {I'm 6 mo. pregnant here}

Would you like to know how much these costumes cost? 

$0 dollars

How long did it take me to make both costumes?

less than 30 minutes

I really feel like Halloween costumes should be free or almost free, repurposed from something else  or they need to serve a year round purpose.  I've never seen any point in expensive, elaborate costumes that you'll never touch again.  That's what wedding dresses are for.

These paper bag costumes are something I've done several times and they always are a hit {I've probably done this costume 3 or 4 times}.  People think they are hilarious and I've usually made them last minute.  One time a little girl even came up to my husband and said, "Hi Woody.  Hi other girl."  Ha ha! They are super simple.  These would also make for great play clothes for the kiddies anytime.  This is also an easy way to make an Indian costume.

For the vest:

1. Lay paper bag flat and draw a design of a vest and cut it out.  If you're making one for an adult use as much of the bag as you can.
2. Crumple up the vest and then uncrumple it and smooth it out.  If you take the time {unlike us} to do this a few times you can really get it to look like leather.
3. Turn the paper bag inside out {so the store logo is on the inside} and decorate however you want.  You can draw on detail, cow print, sheriff badges, etc.

For the chaps:

1. Cut out 2 pieces 1 for each chap.
2. Crumple up the chaps just like in #2 for the vest {above}.
3. Use scissors to cut fringe along the outside of each chap.
4. Punch holes in the top of the chaps and string yarn through the holes.  Tie around waist.

For the belt buckle:

1. Cut out an oval from cardboard.
2. Cut out your initial from cardboard and attach to oval.
3. Cover the whole thing in tinfoil.
4. Attach to the yarn on the chaps with duct tape.

I've also made guns before by cutting out a gun shape from cardboard while leaving room for a barrel.  For the barrel I use part of a toilet paper roll and attach it with tape.  Then I covered the whole thing in tin foil.  If I have time I'll also make a tiny cowboy hat from the scraps that I keep on my head with a yarn tie.  I wish I had a picture to show you.  Oh well.

So get creative and have fun!  That's what Halloween is all about!

Art Bags for Kids

I've seen this activity done a few different ways.  I'm not sure what to call it so I guess I'll call them art bags for lack of a better name.  I guess it's sort of like a homemade Magna Doodle.

Mags really enjoyed drawing and making designs, erasing them and making more designs.  It's a great boredom buster and you can make one with supplies you have around the house.

It's hard to see her drawings because the table is the same color as the art bag but it's there.  I promise.

Supplies:

• Gallon size Ziploc bag
• tape
• 1/4 c. pudding  **avoid chocolate flavor - read story below
• about 1 Tb. glitter
• Q-tips

Directions:

1.  Place pudding in bag along with glitter.
2. Mash bag to mix the pudding and glitter thoroughly.
3. Remove all air from bag and seal it up.  Use tape for additional seal {especially if your kids are younger and are tempted to open it and eat the pudding like Miss Maggie was}.
4. Use q-tips as writing utensil.
5. You can store in fridge when not using it.  It should last a long time especially since you won't be eating it.

Yay!  Easy as that!

Okay so I have to tell you a story.  This is a warning actually so if you ignore my warning and this happens to you I get to point and laugh at you and say "I told you so". 

Several years ago my friend Laura saw in a family magazine an idea to do finger painting with pudding.  That way the kids can paint but it's also safe to eat.  Well Laura wanted to do this with her daughter Emmeline who was maybe 2 at the time so she pulled out the chocolate pudding she had in her cupboard and they painted.  It was great!  They had so much fun!  Later Emmeline took a nap after a while Laura went in to check on her and creative little Emmeline discovered that there were "finger paints" in her diaper!  There were poop murals everywhere!!!!  She said the activity was fun but the chocolate pudding color apparently sent some mixed signals to the kiddo.  I sure hope Laura can laugh about it now.

Flash forward to last week when we made our art bags.  All I had was chocolate pudding in our cupboard.  I was reminded of Laura's story, giggled in my head and used the chocolate pudding anyway.  I told myself that this would never happen to us because "Maggie is older than Emmeline was"  "Maggie is potty trained" "Maggie has never been interested in poop" "We're not finger painting exactly.  It's in a bag."  "She would never do that" etc. You can see, I had lots of reasons to carry on with the chocolate pudding.  I made the bag and ran upstairs to grab a q-tip, not more than a minute later Maggie is standing next to me showing me her dirty hands.  She says, "Uh oh.  Dirty."  I realize that I should have sealed the bag better and she must have opened it up.  Upon closer inspection I discover that it was poop!!!  She had an accident in her pull-up and decided to check it out.  Luckily she realized her mistake right away and there were no murals, but still -  Yuck!

I couldn't believe it.  I was warned.  Why didn't I listen?

Laura, this is where you get to point and laugh at me and say, "I told you so."

So the moral of the story is do this activity.  It's a lot of fun. 

But whatever you do don't use chocolate.

Bag, Bag, What's in the Handmade Bag??

So, a few weeks ago we got to attend a wedding of an adorably wonderful couple, Drew and Rachel.

I made them a wedding gift and then realized about an hour before we were supposed to leave, that I didn't have a way to wrap it.  It was just too big and nothing says tacky like Batman Christmas paper and gift bags that say "It's a Boy!".  I was in trouble.

Solution - make your own bag.

 This bag is made from white satin that I had gotten somehow for free and had plenty of.  I created a bag with French Seams and Boxed Corners.  For the tie, I used a piece of ribbon from my stash and sewed it to a small section near the top of the bag to secure it from slipping off.  It was super easy to make and reusable.  Now they can use it to re gift at the next wedding they go to.

 Want to know what's inside???  Well, you'll have to wait until tomorrow's post (no snitching if you know).



Here's a clue with the card I made -

Yeah.  I totally went there.  I was laughing about my "punny card" and my husband just shook his head at me in shame.  I know he was secretly laughing inside but was just too proud to admit it.  He he, pear....  sigh....


Don't forget to come back tomorrow to see the gift and a tutorial on how to make your own!