Saturday, April 28, 2012

SYTYC: Week Three

Hey Crafters,

Week Three of So You Think You're Crafty was Knock Off Week and I made the Flouncy Skirt! Truth be told, this lil lady was part of a larger dress with a jersey back panel (something I saw in Macy's) but it just wasn't working. Crafting is not just about being creative but flexible as well so I cut my losses and turned the bottom into my Flouncy Skirt.

 The yellow skirt above is my version of the cute springy, flouncy skirts I've been seeing everywhere! Basically its a skirt with some flare and pleats at the top. I used the skirt at the right as a bit of inspiration. I used the shirt like buttons on the front in the construction of my garment. I quilted the band around the top and left some excess for the attached bow. Plus this is a two-fer craft; both Knock Off and Up Cycle! The fabric is from a dress destined for the dumpster.

BK


Tuesday, April 24, 2012

SYTYC: Week Two


Calling all Disney Nerds!

Last week's So You Think You're Crafty theme was Thrift Store and I made the kitschy Disney Jewelry.


You know how people say we spend a third of our life sleeping? I feel like I spend a third of my time in thrift stores. I buy almost all of my clothes there and it makes me feel pretty good about my carbon footprint (it balances out my long showers). 

This week's challenge was a doozy since I alter almost all of the clothes I buy on the cheap. Not wanting to rest on my laurels, I decided to stretch my muscles and make some fun, kitschy jewelry; enter the toy section!

The round Mickey head cut outs are game pieces from a Disney Trivial Pursuit-like game and Slinky Dog and Mickey are toys. Add a fake pearl necklace from the thrift store, some ribbons I had, and findings I grabbed at the hard wear store down the street. TA DA! Disney Magic ala two necklaces, a choker, and a brooch.

Don't forget to vote for me in Week Three. Think about keeping me "number one"!

BK



Sunday, April 22, 2012

Earth Day

Conscience Crafters,

I am really big into up-cycling. Using something I have or buying materials from thrift stores to make another item I'll actually use is really important to me. And its certainly a part of what the message Earth Day is working to get out; REUSE, Reduce, and Recycle being one of many ways you can make an impact.

A pre-school teacher, Rockstarcharmer, posted this Earth Day project on Craftster. She had her class take the papers off of old crayon bits and melted them into new crayons, not a new craft, but this batch are really neat-o mini Earths.



BK

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

SYTYC: Week One

Hey Dollar Store Crafters!

Week One of So You Think You're Crafty was the Dollar Store Challenge and I made the Purse/Diaper bag.

Man-o-man! I do love a good Dollar Store run. I picked up many an item during my shopping trip hoping being surround by all these neat items would strike my match. In the end, two super soft Hanes tee shirts and the plastic baby safety pin decorations lit the fire.


I made a diaper bag out of the two shirts, pink and navy. The pink tee was the lining and shows a bit at the top with a few cut out strips, on the bottle pocket, and the rosettes (which is a removable brooch!). I squared up the bottom of the bag of stand up ability. The strap is made of two braids, zig zag stitched together for strength with the cute pink and blue plastic safety pins strung on it. Its also totally machine washable in case something leaks or the bag gets a little baby throw up on it.

Update: I made some pleats in the middle of the purse band for a bit more flare post-challenge.

Don't forget to vote in Week Two, BK

Friday, April 13, 2012

Pin Cushions

Hey Quilters!

My fella's mother is in town with friends to attend the International Quilt Festival-Cincinnati. Unfortunately I will not be able to meet up with them, but I sent these pin cushions with John as a welcome to Porkopolis!

I had some scraps of springy upholstery fabrics so these fake tomatoes are sturdy. A friend of mine from Madison, WI turned me onto this simple cushion pattern; the square! Just take two squares, right sides together, one laid like a square and one like a diamond; sewing corners to the middle of long sides. It makes the zigzag and fullness you see here. I am a big fan of this simple pattern because of the way it uses fabric in a sculptural way, forcing a round shape from two squares. I left the ladies versions empty of stuffing but with two buttons inside so they could fill, close, and adorn their own.

BK

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

SYTYC: Voting for Week 1

Hey Crafty Competitors!

Season 11/Week 1 is up an running at So You Think You're Crafty, the weekly competition elimination blog. Now we competitors have to keep our submissions a secret till voting is over. I will then post my submission here every Monday like this. Go and vote (on the right side of the page)! There is some stiff competition this first round, theme Dollar Store.






BK

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Skirt: Redefined

Hey Up-cyclers!

I am an official competitor in the So You Think You're Crafty contest! Thank you for all your support in the preliminary rounds where I entered this beauty! And come back on Monday to see the first round of competition.


I found this basic lavender wool skirt at a thrift store and saw miles of potential. It went all the way to my mid calf so taking this baby up about a foot was first on my list. I seam ripped the entire thing (front and back of fashion and lining fabric, waist band, zipper), shortened and altered the shape, and put it back together with a significantly cool detail. I sewed the fashion fabric to the shiny lining and cut strips so you could see the lining underneath. 

Now I've got a great seasonal pastel, fitted skirt for spring! 



I wore this skirt out over the weekend and several people complimented me on the fit, color, and the strip work. One friend asking if I could make him a custom pair of shorts in this style!

BK





Monday, April 2, 2012

Whimsey Box Part 2

Hey To-Be-Continued lovers!

My personal computer has been down for a bit so thank you for patiently waiting on the conclusion of the Whimsey Box To Be Continued post!

As soon as my Whimsey Box arrived early last week, I took off toward the craft table tearing open the packaging, leaving behind a trail of ripped envelope and questions from my fella. In the picture above, I've places a large spool of thread next to the box to give you idea of the size (about 1.5 VHS tapes). Inside the box is the collectible art card (artist Faun Donald) with details on the back of what you'd find inside the box and all my goodies wrapped up in tissue paper and a length of ribbon; cute. Let me tell you, waiting long enough to take a photo before opening that ribbon was toooough!




Inside March's Whimsey Box were two Sharpies (from their new neon collection; I got light blue thin tip and a yellow regular tip), about two yards of eyelet trim from Simplicity Trim, one Elmer's All Purpose Glue Stick, a few small round magnets, and 12 sheets of scrapbooking paper. I immediately thought that scrapbooking paper would be great for origami and when I checked the TheWhimseyBoxBlog for tips and tutorials for my box, they'd already beaten me to the punch, by making rabbits for the holiday (one of my favorite origami animals to make BTW; give it a try!).


I think I am going to use the trim for either a ruffle on a thrifted tank for summer or  maybe to edge a pillow case. I am sure you'll be seeing a few of these items pop up on BK's Craft Blog and I'll be sure to nod to it when I do!

BK