Arrow Baby Boots

Baby boots have been something on my list of things to make my new little baby girl.  However, while walking the aisles at Michael's the other day I saw they had some there for only $7 (and less if you use your coupon).  That saved me a lot of sewing time.  They were right next to all the I Love to Create products and I thought they'd be really fun to embellish.

So, I play off the recent trends of neon and arrows and turned them into these little arrow baby boots.

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DIY Muslin Hair Scarf

Recently I chopped off my hair (like over 12 inches), and I've been playing with some different hair accessories.  Do you know those muslin swaddle blankets that are all the rage right now?  They are really lightweight and have a bit of stretch to them.  Well, I thought that same fabric would make the perfect hair scarf.  Why?  Because it's super duper light weight (making it cool and not hot),  it doesn't shift around like a silky scarf, and it has enough stretch to make it comfy.

I made a couple versions.  The first was neon, since neon is everywhere right now and the second was more neutral.

Muslin (a.k.a. cotton gauze) can be purchased at your fabric store, but it doesn't usually come in a lot of colors and I couldn't find any prints.  Enter Tulip fabric markers.

But let's not put the cart before the horse.  Here are the sewing details.  I purchased 1/8 of a yard which was $.87.  I took it home and cut it to the size I wanted, leaving room for seam allowances.  I folded over the edge twice and sewed it.  This fabric tends to stretch so I set my tension lower to accommodate that.  

If it's a little wavy when you're down don't fret.  It'll be fine when you stretch it to tie it on.

For the next step, you can really just doodle and have fun.  I used Tulip Fabric Markers in neon.  They don't make the fabric stiff and they are easy to use.  I usually hold the fabric tightly with my left hand and draw with the other (though you can't see that below because I'm holding the camera in now hand).  I changed up the colors as I went.

For the more neutral scarf I used Tulip's Big Phat Fabric Markers.

I love using these like a stamp.  You can make "X's" or a checkerboard pattern or a brick pattern like I did here.  I kept a plate under me to make sure I didn't color my table.

I made the neon scarf shorter and wider to I could just knot it.

I made the neutral one thinner and longer, so I could tie it in a bow.

So, for 87 cents a piece and a little coloring fun you've got a new, fun look.

Easy Peasy Hairpins

Today's project is super, duper easy and fun.  We're going to make/embellish some hairpins.  

This is a great project to do with younger people as well because it's really easy.  (While my son won't be wearing one, he was really excited to help make them.)  The reason for this project is that I've been wanting to wearing my hair (not my makeup) like these pictures I found on Pinterest.

Then I saw these clips at Anthropologie and while I was tempted to get some, I figured making them would be inexpensive and easy.

So I purchased some hairpins and clips at Hobby Lobby and I also stopped at an antique shop and picked up some vintage earrings.  I invited my crafty friend over and we worked together.  It's a good project to do with a friend, because there are two hairpins to make from each earring set - one for each person.

After the supplies were assembled we broke out the secret weapon - Aleene's SUPER Gel Adhesive.  I love this glue.  It holds so well - even metal to metal.  What I like about it the most is that it has a little brush in it just like nail polish.  (Let's just say I've had some bad encounters with little tubes of super glue and there's still evidence on my kitchen table.)  This stuff is way easier to use because of the brush.

I used some wire cutters to snap off the back of the earrings.

We brushed on some adhesive and added the earrings.  

You only have to hold the pin to the earring for a minute or two until it's really on there and dry.

This clip was originally blank on top, but I happened to have little leaf beads that fit right in it, so I glued them on.

Buttons also work well for this project.  You just have to use ones that don't have a loop on the back.  I had my assistant select some for me.

I am excited to wear them now.  The redish-brown one looked so cute in my friend's blonde hair.

It's a great five minute project with fun results.

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Little Man Cuffs

Yesterday I made some belts for my little boys and I had some extra belt fabric left, so I decided it was time for a round of little man cuffs.  I made some a long time ago, but that was when I used an old belt.  At that time I didn't even know you could just buy the belt stuff.  (I found it at Hobby Lobby for $1.20 a yard.)  Anyhow, I had some left and so I decided to make cuffs in the same way I made yesterday's belts.  Here they are.

I measured my boys' wrists (not super tight) and added an inch.  I zigzag-stitched both ends to eliminate fraying and then sewed on a little velcro to each end.  One square of velcro goes on the top side and one goes on the bottom side to they will attach when you loop the cuff.  (In the last set of cuffs I used snaps, but velcro makes is really easy for little guys to get them on and off.)

Then I cut some freezer paper stencils.  For an in depth tutorial on freezer paper stenciling you can find my video tutorial HERE.  I ironed on the stencil.

I didn't have the colors I wanted to use in regular fabric paint, so I tried something different than normal.  I used the 3D fabric paint.  I've never used it with a stencil before.  I squirted it out as I moved the nozzle back and forth quickly (as if I were coloring something in with a marker).  I removed the stencil really carefully while it was still wet.  You'd think it wouldn't work, but the paint is pretty thick so it doesn't bleed after you remove the stencil.  It worked well and it gives the images a fun 3-D look.

And this batch of cuffs went to my cute nephews.

For the Pacman cuff I added the dots and eyes without stencils.  I just squeezed out a little paint, which formed a circle.  I used a Sharpie to color the black dot in the eye.

I liked the Pacman theme so much I made another belt for my son.  (You can find that tutorial HERE.)  I love seeing it on his tiny waist.

And there you have it - inexpensive, personalized, and fun.  Thanks for reading.

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Beaded Clutch

I have been really excited to try "Beads in a Bottle" ever since I heard about and it I've been scheming some ideas of how to use it.  Today I'm going to show you this beaded clutch I made.

I have this fabric that I've been saving because I love it so much.  Today I whipped it out and sewed a quick clutch out of it.

Then I embellished the flap of the clutch with the Beads in a Bottle Paint.  It comes in a tube and you squeeze it out, forming little dots that end up looking like you stitched on beads.  I took some scratch paper and practiced a little bit before doing it on the purse.  The instructions are easy.  When you first pull upward it looks more like a raindrop (pointed at the top) but then it settles down and dries like a sphere.  It's really fun stuff and it comes in lots of colors.

You can use it to create designs on plain fabric, but I thought it would be fun to add it to a patterned fabric like this.  I only embellished the flap of the clutch because I thought it looked more authentic that way.

Here's a closeup of what it ends up looking like.

Perfect for a girl's night out.

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iLoveToCreate Teen Crafts: Volleyball Spirit Socks

Volleyball Spirit Socks
Avalon Potter for ILovetoCreate Teen Crafts
"Teen crafted, mom approved."

For my project this week I decided to create some knee high volleyball socks! I have recently been preparing for a volleyball tournament and when you play volleyball your uniform usually includes knee high socks. Instead of buying a pair of fancy socks, I decided to decorate them myself! It is fun and easy and is even better once you try them on. You can adapt this project to any sport or if you're not sporty, just for fun!

Materials
White knee socks
1” grey grosgrain ribbon
Pink Felt
Aleene’s Fabric Fusion fabric glue
Tulip dimensional fabric paint-slick black
Tracing pen
1” circumference circle template
Tube or rectangular form large enough to secure socks and hold their form


1. Place sock on form.

2. Take your pen and mark where you will put your volleyballs and bow on socks.



3. Take your circle cutout and trace it eight times with your pen on the felt.



4. Cut out the circles and use the fabric paint to make a volleyball design on each felt cutout.

5. Let those dry and start on your two bows.

6. Find out how big you want the bow loops to be and cut a piece of ribbon to the desired length. Glue down the two ends in the middle.



7. Add a little bit of glue in the center of the bow where the ends meet. Cut a small piece of ribbon just long enough to go around the bow, fold in the ends.

8. After all of the volleyballs and bows have dried place the first four volleyballs and bow out on your sock.

9. Use Aleene’s fabric glue to glue the volleyballs and bow on the sock. Cover the whole backside of the volleyball in glue and only the center of the bow. You can tack the bow and volleyballs down with thread if you like.

10. Use the dimensional fabric paint to create dashes moving diagonally between the volleyballs on the front of the sock.

11. Let it dry on the tube. Repeat for second sock.

12. Enjoy!