New DIY Project Preview

I've been busy!  The house is covered in glitter now thanks to this week's DIY project spree.  And no, glittering the house was not my DIY.  (But there's a thought...)

Here are three projects you'll see here on the blog over the next few weeks.  Each will have step by step instructions and suggestions for how you might make changes/improvements to your liking.  Be sure to check back!

Big Top Love Chipboard Mini Banner

Crafty Yarn Wrapped Wreath

Glittered and Upgraded Figurine

Our school district is dealing with a strike right now (sigh.  Keep fingers crossed they sort it out soon!) My kids are home with me, which means I work at about a 50% capacity.  But I will do my best to get at least one of these suckers edited and posted for your crafty enjoyment before week's end!  Do you have a preference???

Prim and Proper Pear and Apple Stuffies DIY

The kids are back in school and I've finally had a moment to breathe and tie up some loose ends, take my first nap in five years, etc.  It also means I had time for a quickie DIY!

Fall is coming.  I can smell it in the air.  While part of me is mourning the loss of a too short summer (the rest of the country had incredible heat - we had incredibly disappointing gray and cold) part of me is itching to start drinking chai and knitwear.

In walking through the neighborhood, I've seen lots of apple and pear trees ripening.  The trees look so rustic.  It inspired me to make these "prim" (short for primitive) little apple and pear pillows.  A quick and easy sewing project using very little material, leaves you with a satisfying way to spruce up for the changing season.

Prim & Proper Pear and Apple Stuffies

You need:

Template drawn on 8.5x11 paper
Scissors and/or rotary cutter and mat
Fabric of choice for front and back of apple/pear
Felt scrap
Matching embroidery thread & needle
Sewing machine and matching thread
Stuffing of choice - use cotton batting, synthetic stuffing, etc.

Draw out the template for apple and pear and cut out.  Don't worry about being too neat or perfect here - the beauty of "prims" is they're supposed to look a bit rustic, so go easy on yourself!  Be gestural with your shape rather than super realistic.  Lay fabric out right sides together and pin template on top.  Cut around template with rotary cutter on rotary mat or with scissors.  Cut out a felt scrap approximately 1 inch x 2 inches (or whatever size looks good to you) for the stem.

Remove template and pin fabric pieces right side together again.  Sew around outside edge leaving 1/4 inch seam allowance, and 2 inch opening at top (where the stem will go.)  Turn and press.  Stuff with stuffing until it reaches desired fullness.

Place felt scrap inside opening and pin closed.  Use embroidery thread to sew opening closed with a cross X stitch (don't worry about making it too neat - remember it's "primitive"!)  You're done!

Variations...

Enlarge template on a copy machine to make a larger pillow

Stuff with corn kernels or beans and use as a door stopper

Embellish with cross stitch embroidery all around the finished seams

Use apple template to make a pumpkin.  Add embroidery detail by using running stitches up the front.

Have fun with this and happy almost Fall!

Something for the Men Folk - Easy Feather and Raw Silk Boutonniere Tutorial

Hello!  It's so nice to see you again!  I'm back to the land of the living, finally.  After a harrowing bout of illness over the past four days, I'm back in the saddle again.  And to celebrate, I bring you a tutorial!

(It's also to distract you from the fact that I haven't yet posted any actual pictures from the photo shoot a week ago.  Coming soon, I promise!)

Sometimes I get asked to make boutonnieres and corsages for weddings, which I love to do.  For the photo shoot we did last weekend, I made up a few of these cute little feather boutonnieres that took me about 5 minutes total.  I thought these would make a super easy DIY project that's elegant and a great way to save a few bucks at your own wedding!  And NO glue!!!  Yay!

Feather & Raw Silk Boutonniere for the Men Folk

What you need:

Feather picks
Find these at JoAnn's or your local craft store in packs of two.  There's all different kinds of feathers, colors, sizes.  Or if you're feeling extra crafty, grab your favorite feathers, strip away about a half an inch at the bottom, and bind together with florist tape to make your own pick!
A strip of raw silk 
About an inch wide, 8-12 inches long.  Make a snip at the selvage edge and tear away!  Remove any long strands that get in your way along ripped edges.
Scissors
Clean fingers
A pat on the back (for when you're done - you did a great job and saved all that money!)
Start with the feather pick.  If there is a little plastic loop at the bottom, go ahead and remove it.  If you have too many feathers or it's too long, pull out or snip and shape the feathers to the size you desire.

Then take the strip of silk and wrap tightly around the bottom of the pick a few times to hide the florist tape.  Tie in a simple knot, not too tight, not too loose.

Or make a bow if that's your thing, (or hot glue in the back to hide the ends for a simpler look.)  Trim the ends of the knot to the desired length

 And fray the ends a bit with your finger tips.  Voila!

A very handsome boutonniere that will last forever.  Very manly, but not too manly.  You could even embellish the groom's boutonniere by adding a little flower or a bit of greenery, or distinguish it by using a different shade of fabric.  I love raw silk because it comes in every color of the rainbow, and has such a shimmery, lush appeal to it.

This project would probably cost about $5 for a quarter to half yard of raw silk, and about $1-$4 per feather pick, depending on what kind you get, so if you made 6 of these for the groom's party, you could potentially get away with making these for right around $12-$15!  More money saved for honeymoon mai tai's.  ;)

Need some craft ideas for Christmas?

Via Sadie Lou Who at Craftily Ever After, I just found a veritable "crafting smorgasbord" over at Inspire Co!  Go there straight away and take a look at the FREE (*shock* *disbelief* *gratitude*) Inspired Ideas Magazine.

An adorable Sadie Lou Who Vintage Inspired Doll similar to the project you'll find in Inspired Ideas!

Sadie Lou's Vintage Inspired Doll project is included (and completely adorable) along with tons of other unique and fun vintage-y projects and ideas.

Yay!  I'm so excited!!!  Who wants to do EVERY PROJECT IN HERE with me?!?!