Pj pants can be more.

Since my love for the ARC stores (or thrift stores) has been made pretty clear at this point it shouldn't be a surprised that I found something there that I liked. I ran across a pair of pj pants that I really liked, but sadly they didn't fit like I thought. The pattern and colors were what I really liked and so I wanted to keep those pants. I cut them along the seams and across just below the crotch.

I rolled the seams over and sewed them to keep the edges from fraying. I then sewed those edges together and made it into a bag. The material is a little thin, but that's not really my concern. I don't plan on using it for anything that would rip it or poke through it.

It was an easy project and a good use of the pants. The remaining material will get used for other projects. It was entirely worth the $3.99 I paid for them.

Don't ever think that just because something doesn't fit it should be 'dead' to you. Try being creative and think with an open mind.

Personal Storage Touch

Since I have started helping my mother get thing a little more organized and under control, I have started to find (time and again) things of my own I could keep more organized.

I find it more personal to make my own cards. This normally entrails that I have a lot of supplies (such as stamps, inks, blank cards). I found these plain photo storage boxes at Hobby Lobby that I thought I could dress up to make them fit better in my craft area.

I took the covers off and painted them a light blue color to go with the overall color theme of my room. Once I had completely painted the covers I set them aside to dry.

I had one box that would hold all my stamps and another that would keep all my inks and paints. It only seemed appropriate to decorate the stamp box in a decorative stamp. For the box that would hold my inks and paints I went with a more vintage, old English look for the main box sides, front and back.

Once I finished doing those stamping, I took the lid that was dry and picked a slight eastern looking stamp and positioned it several times on the lid. Then I stamped the sides of the lid with the same stamp, but in different positions in order to see different parts of the detail on the side of the lid.

This is the completed version of my storage box for ink pads and paints that I use.

The stamp I picked for the box that would hold my stamps looks much like a letter. I used that all over the main box, but not on the lid. I also used a stamp that looks like postage stamps and paid markers. I used that in certain sides of the main box and positioned between another stamp on the lid. I used a new stamp I found that is two pens together with wings. I used that only on the lid of the box.

They feel more like.... me now. I like that. They are practical, but also creative and personal. I don't like having random, boring, lifeless items around me, especially if I can make them SOOO much more.

Button up your bag

This particular design was actually something I wanted to do on a pillow (and still will), but I thought it would look really cool on a bag. I wanted a stronger bag to hold all my knitting needles. The canvas material was perfect, but so boring and we all know boring is just lazy. Crafty people do not tolerate boring... and why should we?!

 

Supplies:

- Canvas bag
- Buttons (be best if they were different sizes, colors, and button holes)
- Marking pencil
- Thread
- Needle
- Camera (is helpful)

You will need to have a completed bag for this project. If you need directions on how to make a simple bag check out my directions for this bag.

Lay the finished bag out on a flat surface.

Open the bag of buttons and random lay out the buttons in a tight bunch at one corner and start to stagger the buttons as you move down the bag towards the other corner.

This is where having a camera close at hand is helpful. It helps you remember what it looked like.

Take the marking pencil, start at the lightest arrangement corner, and use the sharpened tip to mark the button holes so you have a template for placement.

The marking pencil will need to stay sharp as possible in order to fit in the button holes. I had buttons with two holes, 4 holes, and large holes so it was easier to tell which button was going where. If you don't have different ones the picture you took will help you sew on the buttons.

I started sewing the buttons on at the bottom. I rolled the top of the bag down so that it was easier to thread the needle in and out. It take some time to sew all the buttons on depending on the sizes and amount you used. Took me about 2 hrs to sew them all on... mostly because I had to get up and stretch out my back.

When you are done it comes out pretty cool. (and hopefully matches your original layout)

This plain dull bag is now an interesting and colorful creation. Personal touches are always better I think. I used this bag to hold all my knitting needles, as I have way beyond several.

I hope you will give this unique design a try and let me know how it came out!

Felt Flower Ball

I found this picture on The Idea Room for felt flower balls. She found it from Design*Sponge.

Its very easy to make and can be made into other things besides a ball. Design*Sponge made a wreath with this idea, so don't feel confined to one set form.

Supplies needed:

Felt- about 16 (Hobby Lobby sells them 4 for a $1, so its about $4 in total)

Pins

Ribbon (about 8 to 12 inches)

Styrofoam ball (sizes can vary, but the larger the size the more felt you need)

Scissors (small or large depends on how much pain you want to be in)

Circle for cut out

Marking pencil (or pen)

Items I used:

I got the pencil for it, but turns out felt sucks to write on, so I used a pen to make it easier to see.

You can use a cup, or canning top. If you use black you could use a canning top and stamp it on a white Ink Stamp to leave trace cut outs. Just have to be careful to make sure no white is left once you cut it out. Same thing for me with a dark pen on the blue felt.

First take any wrapping off styrofoam ball. Keep the ball away from the felt, as the styrofoam has a way of shedding.

Second I found it easiest to fold my felt in half  horizontally and then in half again vertically. Tracing now will give you 4 circles and less work. I used a larger scissors to cut them out as it was thicker.

*Tip* Will cause pain in the hand if you use a small scissors for this part)

Once you have cut out the once traced circle you can unfold the felt. If you trace a circle in between the two cut outs on the left and right upper corners you will be able to get another 4 circles, and therefore not wasting too much of the felt.

*Tip* I cut squares out of the extra felt to use for backing on pins I create. Waste not want not. No point in throwing away good felt.

I would say do as many as you feel your hand can take. I did a about 16 at a time to rest my hand.

Take a circle and fold it in half. Then fold it in half again. This will be what is pinned to the ball.

 

Once you have folded it over twice, place a pin through the tip at the bottom and place into the ball.

Continue to do this until the entire ball is covered. Do feel that you have to cram them together. Leave a little open space, so that they felt petal (folded piecing being pinned down) can spread out a little. Just be sure to not have any of the styrofoam showing through.

Once completely covered pick a location you want to pin the ribbon from which it will hang. Then cut a section of ribbon. Mine was about 12 inches long. You can pick longer or shorter depending on how you want to hang it.

Now take on end of the ribbon and pin it to the ball. I used two on each end to make it more secure. Do this to the other end of the ribbon.
*Tip* Try going at an angle to create a more secure pinning.
*Tip* Pin as close to the over end as to not push aside the felt petals.

You now have a finished Felt Flower Ball.

Give it a shot! Let me know how it goes. I would love to see them. Don't be afraid to be creative with them. I will be doing another one in two color combos and one with glitter felt.