Plastic Caddy to Pretty Headband Holder

This post may contain affiliate links, please check out my disclosures page for more info.  Thanks!

For the first project on my new craft list, I decided to fix a storage problem in a pretty way.

I have made a ton of cute headbands overs the years to go with pretty outfits.  The problem with having all these nice hair things is storing them so they don’t get tangled up in a heap like this, or damaged.

The solution is this, a simple plastic caddy.

I got this one for free from a friend, but I found similar ones here at DollarTree.  They are useful to store all kinds of things neatly and within reach.

However, for hair accessory storage I wanted something prettier. 

So, that’s what I did, I made the caddy prettier, to turn it into the perfect headband holder.

First I whipped out my embellishments.  The container on the right is where I keep all my lace and ribbons, and the one on the left is full of smaller bits of ribbon, flowers, bows and other random small stuff.

Lately, I gotten into sorting and organizing all my craft supplies, mostly using plastic shoebox size containers and cute baskets.

I picked out some wide lace, and started carefully gluing it around the caddy with a glue gun.

When I got it completely around the caddy, I folded the edge of the lace before gluing it down.

Then I did the same thing with some pretty ruffled eyelet lace.  I glued it along the edge of the container.  I had to be extra careful here, because it’s easier to get burn gluing there.

To finish it off, I made two large-ish bows from some leftover ribbon and glued them to the sides of the caddy.  This ribbon was left over from this pretty pink dress I made for Easter a while ago.

And now it is done, and ready for use.

See, doesn’t that look much better?  And it actually took about 15 minutes to do.  Maybe I should make more.

Here’s the updated list:

• 3 piece outfit
• Holder
• First aid cases
• Umbrella
• Tea set
• Tote

One down, five more to go.  The next two should be up soon, look forward to them!

Give it a try:

• Colorful Plastic Craft Caddies with Handles
• ArtMinds® Fashion Mini Glue Gun
• Bulk Plastic Storage Boxes with Lids
• Bulk Large Rectangular Slotted Plastic Storage Baskets

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Up to Forty-Four

As promised, here is my new list.

Craft Project List #44

• 3 piece outfit
• Holder
• First aid cases
• Umbrella
• Tea set
• Tote

Six projects, and I intend to have them all done by September.  Wish me luck.

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Crafting for Dolls: Straw Hats to Half Bonnets

This post may contain affiliate links, please check out my disclosures page for more info.  Thanks!

Later than planned, but here is the last project on my craft list.  Finally.

Some time ago, I found a package of small bonnet style straw hats at Bookman’s.  They were only 50 cents!

I bought them thinking I could make pretty bonnets for my ball jointed dolls, until I tried them on them.  They were too small, even for my smallest dolls!

What do you do with too small doll straw hats?

You make half bonnets.

Years ago, I came across a tutorial for taking a child size straw hat and turning it into a half bonnet.  Surprisingly I still remembered it, so I thought “why not try that for a doll?”

So I made three ball jointed doll sized half bonnets.  They came out so cute!

They are trimmed on the outside with flowers and bows with ribbons for tying.

On the inside, I added ruffled lace to frame the doll’s face.  And it’s a great way to use up lace scraps.

See, doesn’t it look so pretty on Yuna?

Not that they don’t also look lovely on Hikaru here, I mostly intended to make the bonnets for her anyway.

If you are interested in making some of these half bonnets for your dolls, I whipped up a quick tutorial on my doll blog.

Here’s the updated list:

• Dress makeover
• Doll undies
• Cameo and Hearts
• Blouse makeover
• Phone case
• Outfit
• Mother’s Day
• Costume fix
• Jammies
• Bonnet

Ten down and out.  Finally finished this list! 

So now to start up on the next one.  I will have it posted by Sunday.  Look forward to it!

Give it a try:

• Straw Hat - Round Top - Natural - 8 inches
• 6" Round Top Straw Hat | Hobby Lobby | 28771
• Wrights Double Fold Bias Tape- 1/4'' x 4yds | Jo-Ann
• Victoria Lynn™ Ribbon Roses Bunch, Red

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Sleepwear Makeovers: Pants to Cute Pajama Set and a Bonus

I said a couple days later, but here’s the next craft project a couple weeks later. :(

Anyway, I found this cute pair of pink pajama pants at a thrift store for only $1, score!

They have this cute Mickey and Minnie mouse print.

The problem was that not only were they too big, but I found them too warm to wear here in Arizona.  I prefer to wear shorts for sleeping.

That’s an easy thing to do, and it would leave fabric leftover, for what?  Then I thought, why not make a cute top?  Why not make a set of pajamas?

So let’s turn old pajama pants into a cute new pajama set. 

First, I cut the legs of the pants to make shorts.  I cut them about an inch longer than I wanted, so I could hem them later.

Then I pinned and stitched the inseam and took it in about 1.5 inches.  This was both to make the too big shorts fit me better, and to deal with a little hole I noticed in the crotch area.  Problems solved.

Then all I had to do was re-hem the shorts with a zig-zag stitch.

New pajama shorts completed!

Now for the top.  This is a drawstring tank top made a lot like the doll tank tops from my video tutorial.  Check it out if you have a little trouble with this.

First I took the cut off legs and cut down the side to open them up.  Layer them together right sides together, and you have fabric for the top. 

I wanted the top to fit loosely, but depending on how wide your fabric is (and how wide you are), you may want to trim it a little before sewing.

I used the already hemmed part of the fabric for the top of the tank top, it will be used as a casing for the ribbon. 

I first cut the top corners off in a curve shape, (use a tank top that fits as a cutting guide if needed).

Then I pinned and stitched the sides of the tank top.

Then the bottom was ready for hemming.

All that was left to do was thread ribbons through the “casings” and tie to form the straps.  I added a ribbon bow to the front just for fun.

And now the drawstring tank top is done…

…And the pajama set is ready to wear.

Now here’s the bonus.  A cute night gown makeover. 

I got this cute night gown at a thrift store ages ago.

I loved the cute pattern, it has kitties, bunnies and cows, because cows are adorable, right?

The problem is that I never wear it.  Not only is it too big, but I think it would work better as a top than a gown.  Easy to fix.

I just cut it where I wanted it, plus an inch for the hem.

I pinned and stitch along the sides to take it in, because things are always too big for me.

Then a quick hemming job to finish.

But, we’re not done yet.  Let’s make shorts!

I took that piece I cut off and cut down the middle to form to folded pieces.  I will use the already hemmed bottom for the hem of my shorts.

I used a pair of shorts I already had as a guide to cut the curve.  I left a couple of inches at the top for the waist.

Unfold the pieces and layer them right sides together.

It’s hard to tell in this photo, but the curved part should be deeper on one side.  That will be the back seam, and it needs to be deeper to accommodate your back side.

Anyway, I just pinned and stitch the back seam and then the front seam.

Then I turned the shorts around and pinned the inseam before sewing it securely.

Time for the waist.  I just double fold and sew to form a casing for the elastic.

Then I thread the elastic through with a safety pin and stitched the ends together.

And the shorts are finished…

And the second pajama set is complete and ready to wear.

Here’s the updated list:

• Dress makeover
• Doll undies
• Cameo and Hearts
• Blouse makeover
• Phone case
• Outfit
• Mother’s Day
• Costume fix
• Jammies
• Bonnet

Nine down, just one more to go.  The next one will be up in a couple of days.  I hope.

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