DIY: Envelope Pillowcase

Once again, I found myself with an excess of fabric from class.  I screen printed this fabric last Fall and wanted to make something simple to show it off.  The pillowcases were extremely easy to make and I love how they turned out!  I can now enjoy my one of a kind fabric in my living room instead of storing it in a box.

Enjoy!

Supplies:

2-16 inch pillows

Fabric

1/4 inch double fold bias tape

Sewing machine and thread

1. Cut 1 17×17 inch square, 1 17×8.5 in rectangle and 1 17×12 inch rectangle.

2. On smallest rectangle, pin down 1/4 inch bias tape to one of the wide sides.

3. Stitch down bias tape.

4. On medium size rectangle, fold over 1/4 inch twice to create hem. Sew Down.

5. Lay square piece right side up.  Place piece with piping right side down, lining up 3 raw edges.  Pin and stitch the two pieces together at 1/2 inch.

6. Lay hemmed piece right side down on top, again lining up 3 raw edges.  Pin and stitch together.

7. Clip all corners.

8. Flip pillowcase right side out and fit over 16 inch pillow!

Loving Lately

I’m home in the Twin Cities for spring break and so excited! I love relaxing with my pups, eating delicious food and hopefully getting some projects in.  Here are some things I’m loving right now.

Finished textile project that gave me thoughts of Spring during this long Winter.

Some new products I can’t wait to try that didn’t break the bank.

Homemade Paella courtesy of my dad.

A new blazer by Robbi & Nikki that has me channeling Gwen Stefani.

Design: Regional Florals

I thought it would be fun to share some of my recent work.  These are florals I painted of prominent flowers in different regions of the United States.  These will eventually be turned into repeating patterns and digitally printed onto fabric.

 

Loving Lately

It’s been one of those weeks where nothing seems to go right.  School always gets busy before Spring Break and I think I was starting to feel a little overwhelmed.  Luckily, it’s finally the weekend and I’ve taken some time to find the little things that make me happy.

Tags with lace ties that I used for a school project.

Nivea products saving my skin from this winter.

Scrap fabric decorations to brighten up a dull wall.

A loose binder ring that helps me organize a plethora of cards.

DIY: Zipper Pouch

I came across a tutorial awhile ago on how to make a lined zipper pouch and have seriously been using it ever sense.  I’ve made a big leather clutch, a keyboard case and many other pouches all from this one tutorial.  I wanted to share a project I did which was originally a way for me to use up some fabric I designed and screen printed last year.  I had about 9-yards of this rose print fabric and was sick of it laying around but thought that some of the ladies in my life might appreciate something made from it.  I finished 5, 9-inch pouches just in time for Valentine’s day and plan to continue making more.  I lined them with Babyville fabric (which is intended for making diapers) so they are semi-water resistant and can be used for cosmetics and then easily wiped out.

For a full tutorial, visit Bored and Crafty

Enjoy!

DIY: Legwarmers

Winter weather can inspire some great DIYs.  I’ve been wanting to make legwarmers for awhile now and figured out a simple way to do so.  This sweater was in my donate or remake pile and it finally found new life!  Check out my step-be-step to make the sleeves of an old sweater into legwarmers.

1. Rip out the seam between the sleeve and the sweater.

2. Using a razor blade and pulling the layers apart can make the process faster.

3. Measure up leg from from ankle to determine where you want the top of your leg warmer.  Mine was 14 inches.

4. Add 2 inches to previous measurement and mark distance up from wrist on sweater sleeve.

5. Draw a line across sleeve and cut.

6. Fold cut edge over 1 inch, iron, and fold over again to create hem.  Pin down.

7. Set sewing machine to a zig-zag or stretch stitch.

8.  Stitch hem down close to edge.

Enjoy!

Inspiration: The Grammy’s

I love award season because it means tons of fabulous gowns all in one place.  This year’s Grammy’s did not disappoint and there was one trend that I think could easily become a fun DIY.

The use of sheer accents on dresses is a good way to show skin while still technically being covered or to spice up a monochromatic garment.  Each dress below is a single color, but the use of sheer fabric in strategic places gives unbelievable depth to all of them.  I would love to try this trend on a simple t-shirt or outdated top.

Do you have any ideas for adding sheer elements into your wardrobe?

Loving Lately

I’ve made it a goal for this new year to try to appreciate the little things in life.  For me, the easiest way is to figure out what I’m loving right in a moment.  A lot of them are dorky, cute or random but I think they’ll give you an insight into my life and what makes me happy.  Enjoy!

Two little jars I’m planning to use for an upcoming Valentine’s Day creation.

An old tea canister finding new use as thread storage.

OPI polishes in pretty colors to get me through this long winter.

Infusing vodka with fresh fruit for a little present.

DIY: Paper Heart Garland

With Valentine’s day right around the corner, I wanted some fun and simple decorations to spice up a plain wall in my bedroom.  This project was super easy and would work well for multiple occasions.  I used colored paper in pastels that I thought would compliment my dark grey wall and that could be left up even once Valentine’s Day is over.  It was the perfect project to cover a large amount of wall with supplies I already had on hand!  Enjoy!

1. Supplies: Multiple colors of card stock, cookie cutter, scissors, thread and sewing machine

2. Trace the cookie cutter on the backside of the card stock.  Cut out shapes on about three sheets at once.

3.  Cut enough hearts for your desired length.  I cut out 98 small hearts for two garlands.

4. Organize hearts in desired order of color.  You could do a repeating pattern like I did or just put them together randomly.

5. Sew hearts together one after the other.  Remember to increase your stitch length to avoid ripping the paper.

6. Hang on wall with push pins and enjoy your creation!

DIY: Restoring Old Candles

Hello! I know there has been a huge delay in posts, with finals, winter break and everything else the blog got put on the back burner.  I’m trying to start but up again and have a simple and easy DIY for you!

This has been my favorite candle for a while and as I was enjoying it a few days ago, it burnt out.  There was still plenty of wax left but the wicks were gone.  I could have easily thrown it out a moved on to another but I thought I’d try to restore it instead! Luckily, this worked amazingly well and now my candle looks like new.

Enjoy!

Supplies:

Old Candle

Candle votives

Pot with water

1. Fill a pot large enough to fit your candle with a few inches of water.  Place candle in water and allow to simmer.  The wax will begin to melt down pretty quickly and remove the old wicks when you can.

2. Continue to melt the wax.

3. Remove from heat and place votive candles (with metal bottom removed!) into wax evenly distributed.  I used a silicon tongs to hold onto the wick and slowly place it into the wax.

4. Light your finished candle and enjoy:)!