Re-Usable Chalk Board Gift Tags

Here is a quick and affordable way to put a unique spin on your gift wrapping! Not only are they cute to look at, but because they are chalkboard they can be re-used!

What you'll need:

1) A roll of chalkboard paper (available at most dollar stores!)

2) Cardstock

3) Scissors

4) Ribbon

5) Hole Punch

Step One

Stick Chalkboard Paper to card stock

Step Two

Draw your label shape

Step Three

Cut Out

Step Four

Punch hole in tag

Step Five

Attach Ribbon and attach to gift!

Kids hats from old sweater tutorial!

Last week we took part in the Birth Matters Workshop Series at Go Green Baby and I promised to post tutorials for the lovely ladies and babies that took part in the evening. We made two types of hat, a regular toque and a cute animal ears hat and we had a great time showing just a few things you can do with an old sweater!

{REGULAR TOQUE}

1} Cut out pattern on one side seam of sweater

2} Turn so outsides of sweater are on the inside
and machine or hand sew side seam of hat
(I used my machine for this part but you could use a hand sewn overstitch)

3} Sew each top portion of "crown" to the piece beside it

so you end up with four sewn seams on the top inside of the hat

4 } Turn right side out and enjoy!



{ANIMAL EARS HAT}

1} turn sweater inside out and place pattern along folded edge
making sure bottom is along bottom of sweater
(if you don't have a pattern you can trace a regular hat
and add the animal ears)


2} cut out and machine or hand sew all around the cut edges of the hat


3) turn right side out and embellish!


Add bows, pompoms or leave plain!

Spooky Frames

A really easy and cheap vintage-y way to creep your house up this Halloween!!

You will need:

a printer, scissors, glue or tape, black bristol board, and white chalk or pencil crayon

First I Googled vintage photos. You can find some neato free images at The Graphics Fairy, it's a pretty good resource.  We'll use this on from her site as an example.

(source)

I resized it to fill the page, but you can make it any size you want.  Trace the out line of your picture onto your bristol board making sure to leave a size-able amout aroung the edges for your frame and cut out.

Cut around the inside of your frame making sure to leave at least a 1/4"-1/2" extra around the inside of the frame so it covers the edge of your picture.  You can also make the frame oval, just make sure all the edges of your picture are covered.

Glue or tape your picture to the back of your frame.  At this point feel free to use your chalk or pencil crayon decorate you frame to look old and spooky.  You could also cut scrolling egdes and add other details. All Finished!!

I think I spent pennies on this....all I really had to buy was brisol board :)  They look pretty creepy all over Jessi's house!

How to make a Granny Square Pincushion

I recently received a ton of yarn and fabric from a family friend (thank you Myrna!) and in one of the boxes of goodies was this cute little granny square! It is so much neater and prettier than mine usually are so I figured I should put it to good use...but as what??

 
I have been adoring lacey and doily pincushions lately and I realized that this square could make a pretty little pincushion. I have included a granny square pincushion in a past Friday Favourites and there is also a great little granny square tutorial here!

Here is how I made mine!

You will need:

- 1 granny square - felt - stuffing - needle and thread

1. Cut 2 squares of felt slightly larger than your granny square.

I made mine 4 inches by 4 inches.

2. Sew three sides together.

3. Flip square out so seems are on the inside.

Stuff felt square and sew last seem together so you
end up with a stuffed felt square.

4. Sew granny square to top of felt square.

And you are done!

So this is how the pincushion turned out and I am really enjoying it so far. It was a quick little project and I think that they might just make cute gifts (Christmas or anytime) for my crafty friends and family!

Easy Men's Shirt Restyle

I have seen lots of men's shirt makeovers lately and decided to try my own! I am so excited about how it turned out because I love the sweet summer feel to it and think it would also be great in a girly colour with ruffly accents! The best part was using the button down details that were already there and that it is a comfy, worn-in cotton. Since I am tall (5'9ish) I knew that I probably wouldn't have enough length for a dress like I had seen in other restylings, so I ended up doing a top. It is basically two rectangles of fabric with an elastic casing at the top and two straps. Here is how I did it!

Supplies:

1 mens button up shirt, size large

1" wide elastic

You will also need to measure your bust and down your side (measure from your armpit to how long you want the shirt to be - mine was 16").

This is the shirt I started with.

1 - Take off the pocket. Carefully. With a seam ripper.

2 - Cut off top half of the shirt at armpit. You will only need the bottom half of the shirt from here on in.

3 - Cut off sides seams of shirt, it will probably be much larger than you need it. I cut 2" off each side so it was 20" across the front.

4 - Sew side seams. Make sure you have right sides facing together :)

5 - Sew casing at top for elastic. I folded the edge down 1.25" to fit 1" elastic.

6 - Run elastic through casing, sew elastic together and sew casing closed. My elastic measured 25" long.

7 - Mark where you would like the straps to go. I did this by putting the top on and pinning where my bra straps where.

8 - Use 1 of the pieces you cut off the sides earlier to make the straps.

9 - Cut off the curved end off the side strip.

10 - Cut this piece down the center so you have 2 strips, about1 " wide and 15" long.

11 - Sew strap seams and turn out with a loop turner.

12 - Sew straps to top where you marked it with pins earlier.

13 -Wear and love!

PS.
This is my first ever tutorial so I hope that you can follow everything! Please let me know if there is anything that is unclear or if you have any suggestions or questions! Thanks :)

Crocheted Hair Elastics

Saw this tutorial over on Craftzine and thought I'd give it a try.  I was never very big on scrunchies, but I think these are kinda cute :)  Super easy, and it's giving me a chance to try out lots of different crochet techniques!!

-Cassie

Zakka Bag

I have been meaning to make the Zakka Pouch from Black Dog Designs for years now and finally found the perfect fabric for it.  I made a couple of minor adjustments (turned the handle into a shoulder strap and made it giant).  Took it to SNB last week to show it off :)  Totally need to make another...maybe an itty bitty one.

Giddy Up and DIY

There is a whole western trend that's going to be huge for 2010, which is lovely and coincides with Jessi's plaid post. Scooter will be happy as his wardrobe is 90% plaid and jeans...I think it's really cute!

(source) (source)

(source) (source)

(source) (source)

(source)

Thought I'd give a shot at a little DIY and made a Fringed Jersey Bandana from an old T-Shirt.

Project after the break!