Search This Blog

Featured Post

Christmas Crafts: Diy Elf on a Shelf with Outfit Tutorial

This post may contain affiliate links, please check out my disclosures page for more info.  Thanks! For my first project for Christmas, her...

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Foamy Flip-Flops


Here’s a fun little project, doll sandals made from foam food trays and felt.  I made a pair for a Ken doll, a Barbie doll, two Monster High dolls, and an American Girl doll (not pictured).  I just cut out pieces from the foam in the shape of the foot and then sewed on a strip of felt.  The felt is cut at an angle on the ends for a better fit.  The fun part was tracing the feet to get the right shape for the soles, although I did accidentally break one of the “soles” in half.  I found that gently squeezing the foam pieces made them more pliable and less likely to break.  Anyway, they are so much fun to make that I’m thinking of letting my niece make some too. 
Here’s the updated list:
  • Gift
  • Pencil case
  • T-shirt recon
  • Pink dress
  • Shorts
  • Patterns
  • Shoes
  • Striped skirt
  • Mazes
Nine down and out.   Right on schedule too. 
Read More »

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

And Another One

PolaroidI found some green and white fabric with pinstripes at a small thrift store about a month ago.  I immediately thought it would make a great skirt, though for some reason it reminded me of The Music Man.  Weird since I’ve never seen that movie. 
Anyway, I decided to make a high-waisted skirt with the fabric.  I discovered by accident that they actually are sort of flattering on me.  The skirt has a side zipper and the waist has some shirring on the back to make it more comfortable.  I attached the ruffle in a slightly different way than I usually do, and although it took longer to do than usual it came out pretty good. 
Here’s the updated list:
  • Gift
  • Pencil case
  • T-shirt recon
  • Pink dress
  • Shorts
  • Patterns
  • Shoes
  • Striped skirt
  • Mazes
Eight down, just one more to go.  The last one will be up by tomorrow.
Read More »

Friday, May 25, 2012

Shorts and a Simple Start

Just a couple of simple projects for today.
DSCI1879 (1024x914)
Last year I made some shorts (see Super Five) mainly because it was hot and I needed some more of them.  The same goes for this year, so I whipped up some more.  I used some knit fabric I got at SAS, 2 yards at $1.99/yard.  I used the same pattern as last year too.  Since the pattern only needs like 1/2 a yard and I find cutting fabric relaxing, I ended up make four pairs of super comfy shorts.  Maybe this should be like a tradition.  Warm weather = homemade shorts.
Polaroid
Now, my niece is learning how to sew by hand.  To encourage her I gave her one of my 18 inch dolls (see Give Me a Doll with Hair).  I thought it would be fun for her to sew clothes for it.  To help her out a bit I decided to whip up a few simple sewing patterns for her to use.  Now she can make a dress, a pair of shorts, a small bag, and a strange armless doll-sized doll.  I couldn’t resist whipping out the stamps to decorate the envelope for them.  It has the word “patterns” stamped repeatedly all over it.  Now she’s all set.
Here’s the updated list:
  • Gift
  • Pencil case
  • T-shirt recon
  • Pink dress
  • Shorts
  • Patterns
  • Shoes
  • Striped skirt
  • Mazes
Seven down, just two more to go.  Whoo hoo!
Read More »

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Now Launching

Okay, so when I was still in high school I use to draw mazes all the time.  I wasn’t too bad at it.  I eventually stopped for some reason and didn’t really think about it much at all.  So, one morning I woke up from a dream about them.  In the dream I was blogging about my mazes.  I thought what a great idea.
simply mazes screenshot (800x379)
Now, fast forward to today, here is my new blog, Simply Mazes.  I guess it’s kind of like my blog’s sister in a way.  Anyway, I will be posting all my cute little mazes there from now on, so feel free to have a look every now and again.  And I should point out that the header for it is a maze too.  Have fun with it.
Here’s the updated list:
  • Gift
  • Pencil case
  • T-shirt recon
  • Pink dress
  • Shorts
  • Patterns
  • Shoes
  • Striped skirt
  • Mazes
Five down, just more four to go.  The next two should be up by Friday.
Read More »

Monday, May 21, 2012

A Pink Idea

DSCI1875 (583x1024)
I let my niece take the photo for today’s project.  She is still learning how to use cameras.  She technically inspired the project.  I was wearing one of my other dresses one day,  a blue one, and for some reason she thought I had one just like it in pink.  At the time I thought that sounded really cute, so here it is.  There are of course a few differences.  The lace is whiter and there is more of it, the skirt is gathered instead of a-line, and the bodice fits much better than the blue dress.  It took me less than 24 hours to make it too.  Not too shabby.
Here’s the updated list:
  • Gift
  • Pencil case
  • T-shirt recon
  • Pink dress
  • Shorts
  • Patterns
  • Shoes
  • Striped skirt
  • Mazes
Four down, five to go.  The next one should be up by either Wednesday or Thursday.
Read More »

Saturday, May 19, 2012

T-shirt and Lettuce?

Finished another project, and this one is one of my favorite kinds of crafts.  T-shirt crafts!
DSCI1867 (1024x828)
I got this pretty t-shirt for about 25 cents at a small thrift store.  Almost too cute to do anything with it, except that it was too big for me but only slightly so.  Plus who can resist turning something good into something great.  So here’s the before…
DSCI1874 (1024x891)
…and after.  I had some beading lace I got from SAS that was waiting for just the right project, so I sewed it on for an empire waist-like look and threaded in some light green ribbon.  I then cut the edge of the sleeves at an angle and zig-zag stitched along the edge, stretching the fabric as I went along.  This gives it a cute lettuce edge effect.  I learned the technique from one of two craft books, I can’t remember which one.  It was either Sew Subversive or a For Dummies book about clothing deconstruction, I can’t remember the title of that one.  Oh well, at least it came it handy.
Here’s the updated list:
  • Gift
  • Pencil case
  • T-shirt recon
  • Pink dress
  • Shorts
  • Patterns
  • Shoes
  • Striped skirt
  • Mazes
Three down, six to go.  The next one may be up tomorrow, I just need to bribe someone to hold the camera.
Read More »

Thursday, May 17, 2012

To Mothers and Good Literature

It’s a little late, but Happy Mother’s Day.  Maybe not that late, my sister still has people saying it to her.
Polaroid
Anyway, as usual I made a little something for my own mom this year.  And as usual I didn’t have the guts to give it to her directly.  So she received this discreet little pouch as delivered by my niece.
Polaroid
Inside were a couple of my lovely button broaches (see Button Broach: A Tutorial) and a pretty handkerchief.  I made the handkerchief in a slightly different way than usual.  It’s hard to describe, but I think I will definitely be making more like this in the future.
Polaroid
Next, I found myself in need of a case to hold pens and pencils and such, one that would essentially be squish-proof.  The solution?  A hardcover book.
Polaroid
I took an old hardcover book I had lying around and carefully removed the innards.  Don’t worry, the pages are still completely intact.  I stuck them in the dust jacket to read later since the story sounds interesting.  It’s kind of like turning a hardcover book into a paperback.
Polaroid
All I had to do was make the pockets and lining then glue them inside the cover.  Then I made the strap to keep it closed.  It closes with Velcro, I tried to use snaps but it didn’t turn out right.  Of course I glued on a large button just for show.  It was a lot of fun to make.  I thought about making another one, a larger one this time.  The problem is I can’t find a book with a large sized cover that I can remove without causing too much harm to it.  I’m not one of those people that can completely destroy an interesting book in the name of crafting.  Sigh.
Here’s the updated list:
  • Gift
  • Pencil case
  • T-shirt recon
  • Pink dress
  • Shorts
  • Patterns
  • Shoes
  • Striped skirt
  • Mazes
Two down, seven to go.  The next one should be up by Saturday.
Read More »

Friday, May 11, 2012

Up to Twenty-Seven

pink fan vintage image graphicsfairy005bIt’s understandably a little late this month due to final exams, but here’s my latest project list.  The last one on the list obviously has to do with the question I asked yesterday.  Please do your best to reply to it if you haven’t ready done so.
Project List #27
  • Gift
  • Pencil case
  • T-shirt recon
  • Pink dress
  • Shorts
  • Patterns
  • Shoes
  • Striped skirt
  • Mazes
Well, I better get cracking.  The first one needs to be done by Sunday, weather I like it or not. 
Read More »

Thursday, May 10, 2012

A Quickie Question

Okay I’m back.  I just finished all my final exams yesterday and even enjoyed a celebratory nap afterward.  So, what’s next?  I have a quick and slightly odd question to ask. 

What would you name a blog about hand drawn mazes?

The reason I ask this shall be revealed at another time, sorry.  Hopefully it will be worth the wait. Winking smile

Read More »