Handmade Wednesday: Scrapbooking with Fabric

I am a scrapbooking fool. You may not know this about me, but it is totally and entirely true. I have far too many books completed or ever on-going as well as an entire cabinet in my hallway filled (and I do mean filled) with supplies. Photographs make my heart flutter with excitement and I love putting the memories I create on pages to mull over on those days when life feels sad and overwhelming.

Now to the craft you came for! While I was looking for inspiration on turning my recent dull-drum pages into awakening breath, I came across something that I've seem before but never actually done: use fabric! I have not created these beauties yet myself, but I just thought I would pass them along to any of you other ladies (or gentlemen) who love scrappin' your memories and might need some creative encouragement to keep at it.

This page is from Elizabeth Kartchner from Dear Lizzy (who by the way is gorgeous!). As you can see she has a fabric strip stitched across the pager but the most wonderful bits of fabric on this page are the roses. Though you can purchase them at 2 Peas in a Bucket, I think I could make these little cuties myself.

1. Take your fabric and cut a thin strip and twist.
2. Roll your twisted fabric around in a spiral, making it look like the above picture.
3. Use a glue gun to attach it together, then plop a button or a gem on top to finish!

This one is from EMI Scrapbooking. I loved it because it is simple and easy but will give your page a much desired lift in life. Obviously, you would need a piece of fabric with an embroidered image or words as they have with this lovely flower, but if you embroider yourself them go for it! Then you will need thread and green fabric strips as well as buttons and paper or fabric flowers.

1. After attaching the pre-embroidered fabric on your page, move on to the flowers!
2. Take some white or ivory embroidery thread and work a simple straight stitch down a piece of thin green fabric.
3. Attach to your page.
4. Stitch (or glue on) your flowers and buttons to the page and walla! You're done.

This last one is too easy for words. But I'll try. Thank Studio Calico for showing us how three simple pieces of uncoordinated fabric can turn your plain jane page into a fun surprise!

1. Choose your fabric. Cut it to your desired length and width. Stitch it your page!
2. Now you can stitch using a machine, but the Studio Calico ladies look as though they've just put a quick stitch at either end of each fabric piece.

Have fun scrappin'!!

Handmade Wednesday: Fabric Bookmark

Well, the day has finally come. Perhaps you guessed it. The day when I actually came up with a craft and made it myself! And here I am sharing it with you. How fabulously creative of me. I have always been a rather crafty person but have lacked the time and financial resources to make my own wonderful concoctions. So, I hope though I have not -in the past- been making the crafts I share here, that you can find it in your heart to forgive me and follow me as I begin a new journey of creating pretty things to inspire my life and yours.

This weeks handmade beauty was actually inspired! I have been in the mood for reading over the past few months. This is a new and noteworthy time in my life since I have never ever ever been a reader. Obviously, I can read so let's get that right out of your minds -I am writing here!! But as a child reading was so monotonous and boring to me that I just could not stand the thought of having to pick up a book. Even if it was suppose to be good. This terrible -in my opinion- habit has carried over well into my adult years. But as of late, this strange and insatiable desire has cause me to find myself at many a book store and library, wondering just what I was doing there. Okay, okay, so I'll get to the craft already. But I just had to preface this craft with a bit of a story. I am just so excited about this!!! Can't you tell? Needless to say I am reading and realized I have no bookmarks! I hate folding corners of pages if the book does not belong to me and so I decided to make one. And here it is:

I started with the only vintage-ish fabric I had, flipped it to the wrong side giving it a more worn appearance and cut two pieces for front and back. Cutting them 7' x 3' will give you room for sewing as well as a little edge when you're done. I also recommend using a piece of cardboard or sturdy poster board in between your fabric sheets to help the bookmark maintain it's sturdiness. I cut that piece to 6' x 2'.

I wanted a piece of fabric down the center of the bookmark for writing a word or just a little depth and color change. All I had was some ivory ribbon so that had to do! As you may notice in the picture, I sewed the two pieces of floral fabric together on one side. You don't have to do this to start, I just did so that I could be sure of the exact location my ribbon would go (based on the threading).

Next, I wanted to add a bit of interest to this bookmark of mine by adding a little more ribbon off to one side. I will be adding more detail below but wanted to make sure this pretty green thing stayed in place, so I hand stitched a quick thread through to attach it.

And here's that detail I promised you! I have a ton of silk flower arrangements that I never use and so I stole one itsy bitsy baby flower from one of them and took any plastic remnants off so that it would lie flat. Of course it was a tad tired looking and I have half a drawer full of buttons, so I thought one would be a nice touch. If you don't like the button idea, scrounge around your home for things you can use. Seriously! That junk drawer can be a crafters treasure trove.

This is just a photo of my sewing on the ol' machine. I threw it in here for fun and to see what my Finepix S1000 is capable of. Not much, unfortunately. I love photography and would die for a better camera! This one will have to do....

Lastly, you will probably want to add some sort of tab to your bookmark to help you open your book and see where you are. But it's not completely necessary. This is your bookmark and your craft. Be creative with it!

And walla! I wanted to do so much more, but with limited resources at home and a wallet that I've had to hide from myself in order to be able to pay the bills, this is what came out.

And right along side is the newest book I have been unraveling, Captivating. It is a book about women and who God created us to be. The Eldredge couple has written this book for anyone of any age and gender, for both sexes need to understand each other. I am only a few chapters in, but loving every page of it. I plan on passing it along to my husband Movie Star when I'm done. Then I'll pick up Wild at Heart (it' their book on men...) I am also considering blogging my way through this book because so many feelings and discoveries have been coming up. Would you all like that? Let me know.

Friday's Fab Etsy Finds: Neckwear

There are some days when you feel like standing out. You want to wear something with a little extra oomph. If your closet is leaving you less than inspired, neckwear could just be the missing element in your wardrobe. Neckwear is a fairly foreign concept to most women. Now I'm not talking a tiny little gold chain or rayon scarf. I am talking bold, unique statement pieces that can only be found in a marketplace like Etsy. Whether you are looking to set the next fashion trend or break out of your shell of shyness, these fabulous Etsy finds can help you achieve your fashion goals.

This dramatic neck ruffle is made from a rare and intricate soft French lac and tied together with two rows of cognac orange velvet ribbons. It would be perfect for adding a romantic flair to your work attire. Just pair the ruffle with a plain black or beige pant or skirt suit and a white button down shirt, leaving the top few buttons open.

This elegant neck shawl is crocheted from soft, white acrylic ruffle yarn with silver thread. It would be a great pairing with a low cut evening gown or satin cami.

Here is a floral bib made of ribbon flowers and yarn. I especially like this one because it has more of a casual feel. I would wear it with a white or lightly patterned crewneck or V-neck tee.

This necklace boutonniere displays a delicate arrangement of ivory and beige chiffon flowers with a maroon button center and is offset by the chunky gold-plated chain. This is a versatile piece that can dress up a refined outfit or bring a little funk to a casual one.

Handmade Wednesday's: Dryer Fragrance Sachets

While I am always looking for great crafts, I came upon a gem: CraftBits. They were loaded with really great ideas and this was one of them. So if you are ever tired of buying new dryer sheets all the time and being wasteful, try making your own dryer sachet. When you place it into the dryer the fragrance will come wafting through and penetrate through all your clothes. It's so easy!

What You'll Need:

• Cotton Fabric (your choice)
• Sheet wadding
• Lavender seeds
• Fragrance oil or Essential oil (your choice)- consider Lavender and Lemon

Here's How to Make it:

• Start by cutting out what size pads you want , approx. 5cm X 5cm is suitable.
• Cut your fabric into the size you require allowing for stitching.
• Sew 3 sides of your fabric closed and slip in the sheet wadding through the last opening.
• You will need to either begin hand sewing or machine sewing this end closed.
• Just before you complete the closure Sprinkle some lavender oil into the Project or sprinkle your drops of oil onto the wadding prior to placing it inside.
• And when the fragrance decreases add some more drops of oil !
• You can use essential or fragrant oils for these mat's, Fragrant oil is much cheaper and can be bought from good craft supply stores.

Here's another way:

• Instead of putting wadding in, load it the bag with lavender seeds
• Now, if you are not crafty or just don't have time to make these, you can find them on Etsy too!

Friday's Fab Etsy Finds: Knitted Accessories

Brrrrrr!  The cold weather is upon us and I don't know about you, but I need knitted accessories.  During this time of year I love to throw a scarf around my neck adding just a bit of flare.  Or a hat on my head to keep me warm and cozy.  Even a pretty knitted sweater will do, but I never thought of throwing something knitted around my coffee cup!  Heading to the ever fabulous Etsy, I discovered some knitted wonders that make want to jump in the snow just so I have a reason to shop.

I'll start with the knitted coffee cup sleeve I just mentioned.  When I saw this, I almost died!  I love coffee and now I can have warm - but not scorched - hands and be fashionable while holding it.  Just amazing.  And for only $12 this is the perfect Christmas gift or stocking stuffer.

Of course, I am a hat girl.  They just look good on me and so I'm always in search of new a classic trends.  When I discovered a knitted flapper hat I thought, "I can be warm and trendy?  Yay!"  Though this is a bit expensive for my taste at $38, I believe having a warm and pretty head is well worth it.

Didn't you know that knitted bracelets are all the rage this season?  Well they are.  And this particular company is having an amazing deal right now.  You get three of these little beauties for only $20.  I'm ready to be head to toe full of knit!

And speaking of toes, crochet slippers can seriously be yours if you know anything about knitting.  Spend just $5 and you can make slippers for yourself and everyone in your family!  I am crazy about this idea.

Handmade Wednesday's: The Mouse Pad

Last week I told you about the book Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule and gave you instructions for the Rag Bag. So, keeping with this woman's fabulous sewing projects, I give you another that I think we can all use: The Mouse Pad! Most everyone these days has a computer, whether a desk top or lap top, and the mouse can be used for both! In fact, I know many people who have lap tops, yet prefer to use a mouse for easier maneuvering around this essential piece of technology.

Unfortunately, if you are trying to make your home pretty, soft and homey, a computer sort of ruins it. They are clunky, have sharp lines and just their being in a room can make you feel as though you have a ton of things to do. Perhaps the computer is a huge part of your job - like mine - and you spend hours upon hours staring into it. Don't you want something with a little softness to ease your cluttered mind? Make yourself a pretty mouse pad and just may feel instantly better!

The Mouse Pad

Soule believes that you should use what you've already got in your home and I could not agree more! So, grab any type of fabric for this project: quilting, cotton, linen, duck, and even cotton upholstery-weight fabrics are perfect. You will want to use a contrasting fabric along the bottom edge of the pad, so choose a favorite piece that you will really enjoy!

Materials

Approximately 1/4 yard total, as follows:

Fabric 1: (1) 9" x 9" piece of fabric for the back

Fabric 2: (1) 9" x 6 1/2" piece of fabric for the front

Fabric 3: (1) 9" x 3 1/2" piece of contrasting fabric for the front strip

Heavyweight fusible interfacing: (2) 9" x 9"

How to make it:

1. Gather all materials and cut all fabrics to the measurements above.
2. Lay the two front fabric pieces right sides together, matching up their 9" edges. Stitch. Press the seam open.
3. Following the manufacturer's instructions, adhere the interfacing to the wrong side of the front piece that you just created. Then adhere a second piece to the wrong side of the back fabric piece.
4. Square up these two pieces, wrong sides together and trim away excess. Use a tight zigzag stitch around all four sides close to the edge. Trim as needed, being careful to avoid cutting the stitches.

Finished size will be 9" x 9". Enjoy surfing the web in peace!

Handmade Wednesday's: The Rag Bag

Growing up in a rather crafty family with a mother who had the capability to make everything we ever needed, has given me a very imaginative mind. I absolutely love creating new things, especially when they are repurposed out of old. There is nothing better than realizing you just made something yourself that serves a purpose in your home and you saved another object from being thrown away, never to be seen again. I recently discovered the Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule and fell in love with some of her crafts. And these are not just random pull-the-kids-together crafts, these are fun things that you can create to make your life more natural, green and all around more inviting.

Today is all about the Bag Rag. It's handy to hold stained clothing, old towels and stray socks that have become your new cleaning rags. Most of us have begun solely using paper towels, but let's remember that by using cloth instead of paper we can help our environment and get the house much cleaner (cloth cleaning rags are much more absorbent, versatile and effective). And this bag will be a great place to house your rags as they wait to be put to use! So, if you're handy with a sewing machine, take this project on! Soule recommends using material that you have already, such as cotton tablecloths or any cotton, canvas or linen fabrics.

Here's what you'll need:

Fabric 1: (1) 12" x 28" for the bag

Fabric 2: (6) 4" x 10" scraps for the balls

Embroidery floss: (6) 30" long

Embroidery floss: (6) 6" long

Embroidery needle

Double-fold extra-wide bias tape for straps: (2) 18" long

Double-fold extra-wide bias tape for the drawstring: (1) 30" long

Buttonhole foot for sewing machine

Pinking shears

Here's how to do it:

1. Gather all materials and cut all fabrics to the measurements given.
2. Begin by making the fabric balls. Taking one piece at a time, wrap the raw edge under itself and begin to roll the fabric. Tuck the ends as you go along, forming the fabric into a rounded and tight ball shape.
3. Then using the 30" length embroidery floss in a color of your choosing, wrap the fabric ball tightly to keep it's round shape. Wind until you have a 4" length of the embroidery floss left, and then tie a knot to the other end of the strand. Cut away the excess floss. Repeat this step for all six balls, and set them aside.
4. Fold the bag fabric piece in half lengthwise, with right sides together, so that it measures 12" x 14". With the fold at the bottom, sew a seam down both 14" sides. Trim both seams close to the stitching without cutting into the stitches.
5. Turn the bag right side out. Along the bottom fold, measure and mark six evenly spaced points with a pencil. The marks will be approximately 1 1/2" apart.
6. Attach the fabric balls. Thread a needle with 6" of embroidery floss. Coming from the inside of the bag, pull the needle out just slightly to one side of one pencil mark along the bottom seam, leaving at least a 2" tail inside the bag. With the needle, pick up a few strands of the embroidery floss and a bit of fabric on one of the fabric balls. Place the needle just to the other side of the marked pencil spot of the bag, and pull the needle to the inside of the bag. Remove the needle from the floss. From the inside, pull both ends of the strand tightly to bring the ball to the edge of the fabric fold. Tie the ends securely with a double overhand knot. Cut the excess floss. Repeat this step for all six fabric balls.
7. Hem the Bag top. At the top of the bag (still right-side out) fold the raw edge toward the inside 1/4". Press. Edgestitch.
8. Make the buttonholes. Choose one side of the bag to be the front. Place the buttonholes by measuring approximately 5 1/2" in from each side and 3" down from the top; mark this spot lightly with a dot in pencil. Using this dot as the top point for the two vertical buttonholes, measure 1/2" lower than the dots and mark a straight line, 1/2" long, moving from the top measurement toward the bottom of the bag. This line is your buttonhole guide.
9. Create two buttonholes using your machine's buttonhole foot and instructions. Cut each buttonhole open with sharp scissors or a razor.
10. Make the drawstring casing by folding 2" of the top edge toward the inside of the bag. Press. Edgestitch. This will cover the back of your buttonholes, creating a casing. Complete the casing for the drawstring by stitching around the entire top of the bag, 1" down from the top folded edge. This line of stitching should be at the top of the buttonholes.
11. Make the straps by stitching an 18" length of bias tape close to the edge to close the binding. (TIP: to prevent the bias binding from slipping into the plate of the sewing machine as you begin to sew, hold the thread from your bobbin and spoon taut as you begin stitching. Use these threads to guide and gently pull the binding until the seem gets started.) Trim each edge with pinking shears. Repeat this process for the second strap.
12. Along the casing stitching on the inside of the bag, measure out 2 1/2' from both sides of each vertical seam. Pin both ends of one strap to the front of the bag; pin both ends of the other strap to the back of the bag. The ends of the strap should just touch the casing stitching. Stitch the straps in place with a zigzag stitch.
13. Now let's finish her up! Make the drawstring by stitching the 30" length of bias tape close the edge to close the binding. Trim each end with pinking shears. Secure one end of the drawstring to a large safety pin and place it inside one of the buttonholes. Using the safety pin to guide the drawstring through the casing, work the drawstring around the bag and out through the second buttonhole. Work slowly and carefully when you get each side seam to get the the drawstring past the seam fabric. Adjust and center the drawstring, tying it in a decorative bow. Remove the safety pin.