Ramona Flowers Star Purse Tutorial

Hey Constant Crafters!

Long time no type, Fellows of the Craft! My summer gig kind of took over my life and I am very glad to have had the forethought to take a break from the blog and focus on the work at hand. But I am just as jazzed to be back on the keys and back to my most "constructive" (I had to do it) hobby, crafting.

Let us start this winter with my favorite holiday, Halloween. This year the old ball and chain and I decided to be Scott and Ramona from Scott Pilgrim vs the World. I hemmed my thrifted green khaki dress, cut the wig, and made my purse from my own pattern. Add in my Mary Janes, steampunk goggles, finger-less gloves (not pictured); and for warmth: leg warmers and a hoodie. My sweet fella searched Etsy for a purse or a pattern and found a few but, cmon, I can create a round purse so... that leads up to our 

FIRST TUTORIAL OF THE SEASON!

Ramona Flowers Star Purse:

SA=Seam Allowance

You'll need:

• Yard of fabric (I used duck cloth, it is thick and treated for outdoor use), color of your choice (Ramon had several versions in the movie)
• Fat quarter of the Star's color (use a faux leather)
• Thick interfacing (may be iron or sew in, your choice)
• A dinner plate
• Zipper, at least the length of half the circumference of your dinner plate
• Thread in these two colors
• Sewing Machine
• Tape measure
• Iron

*For my star, instead of a fat quarter, I bought a black, fake leather purse with one large side big enough for my star; then I also had the use of all buckles and O-rings on purse. Possibly the zipper too if you're diligent and careful.

1. Use your dinner plate to cut two circles of fabric and interfacing (you may also cut two additional circles of fabric if you do not want to see your interfacing inside your purse). Use 1/2 at SA.
2. Using the entire length of the fabric, mark and cut your strap and width of the purse in strips.

1. Strap: This width can be made to your preference. I marked  3.5 inches wide strip; quarter inch SA and a 1.5 inch wide strap. Fold in a quarter inch on each side (ironing as you go), fold entire width in half, and top stitch on both sides.
• If you are using hardware from another purse, measure how wide the buckles and rings are so you know how wide to make your strap. Adjust measurements as needed.
2. Purse Width: Here I cut two 2.5 inch wide strips, including .5 inch  . You'll need two strips so you can sew your zipper in between them.
3. Sew purse width straps together, pressing SA open. Find center of width and follow instructions on package for an invisible zipper, making it about half the circumference of the purse.
4. For Star: Find a picture of a star on the interwebs, save and adjust size to fit circle, and trace or print a  pattern. Cut out star.
5. Iron or baste interfacing to fashion fabric circles. 
6. Top stitch star to one circle.
• This is where you would baste your second fashion fabric on the inside to hide interfacing.
7. Pick a star point as your top center and find the center of your zipper. Start at those points and pin fashion sides, sew purse width to one circle. Repeat on other circle.
8. Sew excess width closed at bottom. Turn right side out!
9. Decide how long you want your strap to be (take into consideration your buckles and rings, at this point you're on your own or comment for help). Close the ends (fold in and top stitch if you haven't already done so) Top stitch just below the zipper.

• You'll see on mine, I had O-rings. I cut a short length of strap to go around the ring and top stitched to purse and to strap.
10. Press the seams so they're not rolling and you're done! Make sure to avoid the star, as whatever plastics faux leather is made out of will melt on contact with your iron (I learned that lesson the hard way).

**For a more XP, you may also use a slightly smaller, contrasting color star top stitched on the bottom star and piping in your contrasting color around the circles.

BK

Take a Load Off!

Hey Loyal Crafters,

As I'm sure you've noticed, I haven't updated in a while. Directly after my very fun and competitive turn with So You Think You're Crafty I moved and have taken a new, more demanding job this summer, pushing me to the limits and this blog right off my plate. You can expect to see a bright, shiny new blog post in October, but until then I am going to have to take a small sabbatical while I'm learning more about my field and how to grow into it.

Thanks for all your support and get ready for a creative winter!

BK

SYTYC: Interview

Hey Lords and Ladies,

Since I'm out but not down from Season 11 of  So You Think You're Crafty, my interview with host Missy is up and ready for readers!

The head shot I sent to So You Think You're Crafty is a bit old. This is me with my new haircut, posing with Cincinnati Roller Girl Bombtrack! Check out her guns!

BK

SYTYC: Week 5

Hey Up-Cyclers!

Don't get confused but I ran out of time to post this So You Think You're Crafty submission when I actually made it. And it is my favorite project of my crafts in the competition! I've been wearing it since the second it was done! I AM STILL VOTED OFF. Stay tuned though, I've got some really interesting projects up my sleeves for the summer....

On So You Think You're Crafty, I made the Up-Cycled Skirt -to-Purse! I've had this skirt for a year now; donated by a friend who thought I'd be able to do something with it. I have been looking for a new sack purse to carry all my summer goodies and just couldn't find anything that was quite right. Plus I've been looking to down size all my craft stock for a move so this theme came at just the right time.

This skirt has a ruched top and three different patterns on the fabric (floral, striped and asian-y). I immediately cut off the ruching, made a quick pattern out of a magazine page for my bag, and cut the floral section lengthwise into strips for the strap (no pattern). I have been using this purse since I made it and have been getting compliments all over the place. I really like the way the horizontal strap accentuates my waist.

Can you tell I was having issues with my camera? Not the most flattering camera work I've ever done but, everyone has battery issues/off weeks. I'm pretty sure my pictures for Week 6: Sunshine on So You Think You're Crafty make up for it.

BK

SYTYC: Week 6

Hey all you Summer Sandies!

The theme of  So You Think You're Crafty's Week 6 was Sunshine! What better way to enjoy a sunny day but to have a picnic! I made a picnic blanket backed with a Twister board! The Twister board keeps your blanket from getting damp should the ground not be it's driest AND you can flip it over to play the fun group game. There is a sewn pocket between the comforter and plastic that holds the Twister spinner and a Frisbee (which was, by far, the best thrift buy of the project at .09 cents!)!

 

On So You Think You're Crafty, I was asked if my Twister board was actually attached or just laying on top. Even though I thought "Where is the craft in just laying the plastic on top?!" I can see why she would ask. I had tacked it down at the corners and a few places in the middle to give it stability but also the flexibility it might need as people start twisting around on it.

Since I sent in my post for Week 6 I have learned a few tweaks need to be made to the project. The plastic of the Twister board is too thin to stay sewn to the comforter and started to rip off. I am going to try sewing the plastic to another, sturdier fabric and then sewing that to the comforter along the S curve already sew into the comforter and tacking the corners.

BK

SYTYC: Out But Not Down

Hey Everyone!

Weeks have come and gone and I have a spot of bad news; I was the loser on last week's So You Think You're Crafty. My Twisted Picnic Blanket (shown by my lovely model, Boyfriend John) just didn't make the cut but it is something I've had on the craft docket for a year now so I was glad to take a stab at it. By the end of the week I am going to blog about my process for the Twisted Picnic Blanket because I learned quite a few improvements that I can make to it post-SYTYC submission.

Don't cry for me, Argentina. I'm glad to have gone this far in the competition! But I am also very glad to get out when I am because I am moving to Wisconsin this week for my summer job! You can imagine how glad I was to see that I didn't have to make a craft last week and this week as I packed up all my craft supplies.

Missy the host at So You Think You're Crafty has done a really wonderful job at giving craft bloggers all over the internet a chance to gather and chat with bloggers with the same interests ad drive. All thanks to Missy!

BK

Retro "Kitsch"en

Hey all you Retro Babes!

Spoonflower has some really great looking entries in their Retro-Kitchen Fabric Contest (open until May 17th). Spoonflower imposed a limited pallet. Very cool work, artists!

by rocket_and_bear

If you'd like to see my votes, check out my Pinterest board Spoonflower, under Retro-Kitchen Contest Entry.

BK

SYTYC: Week Four

I made the Kanzashi for So You Think You're Crafty's Week Four: Scraps!


Kanzashi is the Japanese art of folding fabric usually for hair ornaments. These flowers are made of several 1, 2, and 3 inch squares of fabric folded into petal shaped and glued together into brooches. Because of the small size of the squares, it is a great way to use the scraps that are left over from cutting out patterns. I chose the fabric scraps and buttons from my stash. (The green squares are an example of what each petal looks like before folding. I jumped head first into this project so I missed my chance to take pictures of these)

Don't forget to vote on Week Five's Up-Cycle! We're halfway to to gold!

BK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ladies Craft Night!

Hey Group Crafters,

Liza, BK, and Carrie modeling the fruits of our crafting

This week, I got together with a few of my friends and started a Ladies Craft Night (I hope to be the first of many). It was an impromptu evening with little but temporary tattoos and snacks planned. I figured I always have something on the burner if they brought their own craft gear but the evening ended with us making Springy flower barrettes. I used the Fabric Roses I made in the fall out of scrap fabric and found a few strips for the ladies (who doesn't have some extra fabric laying around!?). Add hot glue, ribbon, and metal snap clips; and we had our first successful craft night craft!

BK

S.Y.T.Y.C. Auditions

Hello Crafters!

I am auditioning to be a contender on So You Think You're Crafty. It is a weekly elimination competition for crafty bloggers and I'm hoping you'll all go out and support me on this journey. You can vote on who you like best every week of the competition! I can't say which entry I am but go out and vote your heart! However, I am going to post a few pics of my favorite crafts auditioning.

BK

Whimsey Box

Hey Crafthoarders!

I hoard bits and pieces; scraps of fabric and trim, wayward buttons, patches, anything I seam ripped off and thought "This could be useful." I have to go through my ever growing stash and ween pieces out, asking "How long has this been in here?" and "Can you use this in the next month?" I think most everyone from sew-er to scrapbooker can relate to that feeling.

However, I am still intrigued by the Whimsey Box. Its basically a monthly box of odds and ends from different companies like Spoonflower and Lion Brand Yarn looking to drum up a little business. The site promises the 4 to 5 samples, a reusable box (which reviews say is very nice), and project ideas and collectible art cards for $15.

What can I say?! I've got a problem. Part of the Whimsey Box's purpose is to inspire creativity and break you out of the patterns you've been working in. I think I am ready to purchase my first Whimsey box. This post is a To Be Continued...

BK

PS My Whimsey Box should arrive late March.

Nail Patterns

Hey Crafters!

I just had my mind blown by a super simple way to get cute patterns on your painted nails. Chloe's Nails uses scrap booking scissors to cut a piece of scotch tape length wise to apply to a nail and paint over. This is so easy and so smart! It is just another "Why didn't I think of that?!" moment.

I have also used the negative sticky paper around small stickers to use as temporary templates on my nails. Not to mention lacquering clear over the stickers themselves.

BK