This is Halloween!

I love fall and especially Halloween!  This year I took it upon myself to make even more throw pillow covers so that each one is covered for this crazy holiday.

I jumped on the crafting boat and made the all time favorite...chevron.  Painted, just like all of the tutorials told me.  Hope you like them!

We are all SuperStars!

I am really getting into this patterned jeans trend lately.  But sometimes I would rather have something handmade than pay an arm and a leg for something that will be out of style in 8 months.  With that being said, it is the perfect time to make a pair of star jeans that I have been drooling over from Current Elliott for months now.  I had an old pair of grey skinny jeans that I thought would be perfect for this project.  The best part, my girls both cheer all-star competitive cheer for the Pittsburgh Superstars and competition season is coming.  You bet I will be sporting these jeans as part of my cheer gear!

I am not a model...so don't laugh at me!  And I'm representing the team!:)

Here are the steps I took.

Mix Martha Stewart Any Surface paint with fabric medium.

Stamp a random piece of denim or fabric

to get the pressure right for the stamp.

Begin stamping your pattern on the jeans.

You may need to allow dry time between 

stamps and front and back of the legs.

When through and after dry for about 24 hrs., run the iron over your jeans to set the paint.

Wash them with no fabric softner and the color should set into the denim and make them look like you bought them that way!

Viola!

ReUse, ReDo, ReFashion

Here's a big tee that I cut, bleached, and painted.  Love this style!

Cut and dry...used a paint brush to splatter on the heart shape bleach.  Take note!  Bleach spreads!  Threw it in the washer with no fabric softner on warm wash cold rinse.  Dried it, then painted the heart with fabric paint.  Easy Peasy.  Don't forget to heat set that paint.

Old Jeans...New Look

I am on a roll lately with clothing refashions.  So the next few posts will be on that topic.  Sometimes I get it right, sometimes it's a complete fail.  This one came out pretty good.

 In the process of losing some weight, mostly inches, I have been getting rid of clothes left and right.  I was very hesitant to get rid of these particular jeans as they are Joe's Jeans, which can be quite pricey.  So instead, I decided to wear them as a boyfriend jean.  With some heavy distressing.

I used bleach, a bleach pen and the paint brush to get the fading.  I wanted a very distressed look.  Like I had been working in them.  I used a razor to make holes, slashes, and roughed up areas.  

I sewed in various places to give the look of repair.

Pardon the pics, I am not a model, but they look way better on than lying on the floor.  

From Obsession to Faux Milk Glass

OK, so I have a serious coffee obsession.   And what's worse, I love Starbucks!  However, I must live in the only town in the US without one.  Blah!  Fortunately, I make my way to a nearby community a few times a week so that I am able to feed my obsession.  But, when I can't get there, I grab a Frappuccino to go at the local convenience store.  It's my one indulgence!

One day I decided to save a few bottles instead of recycling them.  And this was my plan.  I would make milk glass.  I have seen many tutorials on how to do it...from Pinterest of course.  But, here is my very own.

Enjoy!!!!

Supplies:

Bottles or jars
Latex paint
newspaper or plastic bag (to cover your space)
disposable cups
LOTS of PATIENCE

1.  Gather a few bottles of any size or shape.  I used Frappuccino bottles because they are reminiscent of old milk bottles.  Wash and let dry.  If you can't get the label off or the sticky stuff underneith, use a Magic Eraser...it works wonders.

2.  I started by dipping a cup into my paint and pouring into the bottle.  I rotate the bottle to cover the whole inside.  If the paint doesn't cover, add a little more.

3.  Once your whole jar is covered on the inside, drain out over paint can, and place in cup to let drain fully.  Don't worry about getting paint on the outside of the jar, it comes off the glass very easily.

4.  I forgot to take a picture but, I used a wire rack placed over my work surface, in this case a bag.  I put the bottles on it upside down to let them dry overnight.  It may take 48 hours to dry completely.  Be patient.  If you stick anything inside the bottles before they dry, it may scratch your pure white surface.  I know this from experience.

5.  Display as you would like!

It's not easy being GREEN!

Aaahhh, one more wreath for the month!  This one is a coffee filter wreath.  A little time consuming.  Quite beautiful when it's dones.  Here is one before the embellishments.

This could easily be taylored to the season!  In fact, my BFF Monica thought that it might be cool to use different seasonal pics to stick in for various seasons!  Great idea Mon!!!!

Here is the St. Patrick's Day version.  I think it came out super cute!  Just one thing.  I can't hang it on my front door.  It is so full and puffy that it will not fit in between the door and storm door.  Oh well!  Maybe someone else would like it!

I Heart Faces Photo Challenge!

This photo was submitted to the I Heart Faces photo challenge – www.iheartfaces.com

Go Green!

I love St. Patrick's Day!

And even though I don't frequent the Irish pubs much anymore on this most mischievious of holidays, I still love to dress green and decorate a little green.  Side note...I am not a single bit Irish!  But just for a day, I like to pretend.

I have had a few requests for wreaths and I have been on a kick with paper and fabric wreaths.  So I whipped up a couple and this is how they turned out.  Enjoy!!!!  BTW...anyone can make these!  Shoot me a line if you need any pointers.

Perfect

I am not going to say that this is an original.  Yep...big copy cat craft!  However, thought mine were pretty cute...and were perfect for what I needed them for.  I needed a place to put both of my daughter's barrett bows and cheer bows.  So basicallly, an area to snap the bows onto and one to hang them from.  This did the trick.

Bought a couple of inexpensive frames.  Used double sided tape to attach the scrapbook paper onto the glass (just in case I wanted to change it one day).  The same with the ribbon.  Screwed 4 hooks into the bottom of the frame and viola!  Done!

Hopping on the Band Wagon

There are a ton of tutorials out there for camera strap covers, and a ton more people actually selling these gems.  My thought...if you can sew, even just a little, you can whip one of these puppies right up!  And that's what I did!

Sew easy (haha)!

Maybe I'll post a tutorial on how I did it!

Oh, the throw!

Spruce up any decor for the holiday with a sassy little throw pillow.  These are just pillow covers...I enjoy changing them to match the season.  And yes, I made them!:)

Ain't Love Grand!!!

Here is a Valentine's wreath I made for a friend.  It pains me to get rid of it!  I may have to make one for myself..teehee!  Hope you ♥ it too!!!

A Little Somethin Somethin!

I haven't posted in FOREVER!  And, I haven't crafted in FOREVER!  The two obviously go hand in hand.  To start 2012 off on the right foot, I decided to make a couple of scarves.  I love yarn.  It is the coolest string ever!  So many different colors and textures.  However, I do not knit.  I could probably learn, but it just seems very intimidating to me.  I choose an easier variety of yarn weaving, I guess you could call it.
I have been stalking scarves a heck of a lot.  Although, it is a struggle to remember to put them on as a fashion accessory.  And that is exactly what I decided to make.  There have been so many tutorials on knit scarves/necklaces.  So I thought I would do a little different version using yarn.

This is super easy!  Here are the step by step instructions.

You will need:

1-2 balls of yarn (your color choice...the thicker the better)
(Here I used 1 ball of yarn)
scissors
thread

I did not measure my yarn specifically.  I wrapped it around my neck 2 times until I got the exact shape and length.  Then I cut several pieces of equal length to the first.  I am not sure how many I cut, but that makes this so personal.  It's as many pieces as you want.  I wanted mine to be as big and chunky as possible using this particular yarn.  If your yarn is fatter, you may not need as many strands to achieve the look.

Overlap the two cut ends just enough to be able to secure them, making one infinity circle.  I used thread and tied it around a couple of times and knotted it.  Note, if you pull on either side, it will probably slide out.  The next step will stop that from happening.  Trim as close to the thread as you can get.

Use a piece of thread as long as the scarf for the next part.  Tie that piece of yarn around the one bunch.  Start slightly up from where the 2 ends are tied together.  Make sure you knot it. 

Trim the one end and begin wrapping that piece around the bunch.  Keep the wrapped pieces close together so that you cannot see any yarn underneith.  Don't squeeze tight.  Make it nice and even.  Wrap the whole way over the thread tied ends and past it about equal to the distance from the beginning where the wrapping starts.  

After you've completed the wrapping, tie your end.  You can slip it under the last couple of wrapped pieces and then tie to one of the pieces in the bunch.  You will probably need to trim off the end.  Tuck it under and into the bunch and wrapped pieces.

You are done!  Wrap it around twice for the best look.