FABRIC TRAYS...

Every spring, at the end of the school year, I always try to make something for my kids teachers.  I never seem to have them done in time for Teacher Appreciation Week, but always in time for a little Good-Bye gift.

This past school year, I made these little fabric trays, by following the tutorial here.

So Fun!  So Easy!  So Cute!

RAG GARLAND

WOW, I haven't been on here in a Long, Long, Long time!!  Sorry everyone.  But in my defense, a LOT has been going on in my life since the last time I posted.  

Since then (November), we had the holidays of course, then at the end of January, we decided to unexpectantly move!  I know, crazy right?  So literally three weeks later we moved.  

The house we moved to is a rental, and it hadn't been lived in in a while, so there were a lot of kinks to get worked out... the biggest one being, I wasn't able to do laundry for THREE weeks.  UGH is right!!  Then, literally the day after it was all fixed and I was able to complete ALL our laundry, a Huge winter storm hit, and we were without power for (wait for it) EIGHT DAYS!!!!

After that saga, we have, ever so slowly, finally been able to get settled.  And now after almost three months, it's starting to feel like home.  

Which means, I can get back to my normal crafting and blogging routine... YAY!!!

Now, despite all that craziness I just mentioned above, I did do a little bit of crafting, which I would now like to share with you.  Right after I took down our Christmas decorations, I put out the Valentine decorations (not knowing of course, we would be moved before that holiday even occured).  

Once I had everything out, I thought our fireplace mantle needed a little somethin, somethin!  So, I got out all my fabric scraps - picked through them all searching for everything in pinks and reds, and whipped up this little Cutie!

Using my rotary cutter, I cut strips 1" x 6".  There is probably 15 different patterns that I used, which I randomly tied to a piece of jute.  That's it!  Real Simple!!

I can't wait to hang it next year, here in our new house.

LAPTOP POUCH

At the end of this month, my children and I are traveling (via airplane) to New Mexico to visit my parents.  In order to entertain my boys while on the plane, I plan to show them a movie on my laptop.  Now I know, I could just take a portable DVD player (which would be smaller). But on this trip, I plan on taking LOTS of pictures, so I will need my laptop in order to edit them... because, with my Editing Addiction, there is just no way I could wait until I got back home to edit.

So... I don't want to have to carry my huge computer bag (along with a camera bag, a carry-on, two small children, their backpacks, and an umbrella stroller).  I decided I would make a little protective pouch for the laptop, that I can just slide into my carry-on.  

I knew I probably didn't have enough of one single fabric to construct the entire thing (at least not one that I Loved), but I knew I had TONS of scraps that I Loved, left over from all the purses I made last year for my (now defunct) Etsy shop and my booth at our local Farmer's Market.

After going through all my scraps, and doing a little math, I determined that I needed (44) 3.25" X 4.5" rectangles to construct what I had in mind.  This is what I came up with...

a 9.75" X 14.25" X 1.25" pouch with a fold over flap.  The entire thing is padded with interfacing, and the inside is lined with soft white felt.

I started going through my fabric stash yesterday morning, while doing some laundry, with no intention on working on a project that day.  But as I started pulling the fabrics I loved, figuring out how to construct it, and realizing I already had everything I needed, I just couldn't stop myself.  Before I knew it (by dinnertime), it was done.

So Cute, So Fun, So Colorful, So Funtional, and best of all... SO FREE!!

MODGE-PODGE SHOES

Check out my Cool new Shoes...

They started like this. Got them for $2 on Clearance from Walmart, last October for my Smurfette Costume - knowing I would use them eventually to do this project.

Well, Eventually finally came, and using a Fat Fabric Quarter and some Modge Podge, and after following this Tutorial, they turned into this...

I added the little decorative fabric rosettes for texture and interest.

I think they're really Cute and perfect for Spring.

HOWEVER, they are NOT comfortable :( I did not pay ENOUGH attention to the heel area on the left shoe, when I was wrapping the fabric over the edge and gluing to the inside. There is a build up of fabric, which rubs when I walk and REALLY hurts. So if you are going to try this easy little project, definitely take the time to make sure the curve at the heel is nice and smooth :)

FEATURED... ONE YEAR LATER

Remember this....

Who would have ever thought that a simple, no cost project that I did a year ago, would have such staying power.

A great website called AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com is Featuring it for the upcoming Holiday, this year. Please be sure to go check it out, along with all the other Great Ideas!!

EASTER WREATH

Well, I raided my fabric scraps again, and made this Rag Wreath for Easter.

Just like my St. Pat's wreath, I used a wire hanger, only this time I shaped it into a square...

and cut the fabric to 1" x 7" strips.

I thought it looked more interesting hanging on the diagonal.

Happy Easter!!!

I'm linking up here... be sure to go there to see all the other awesome projects.

Tatertots & Jello

a href="http://www.bystephanielynn.com/search/label/Link%20Parties" target="_blank">

This project was Featured here...

ST. PATTY'S RAG WREATH

So this past Saturday, I was ITCHING to do something crafty. I was actually having crafting withdrawls... I hadn't made something in such a LONG TIME. However, I didn't feel like going out to buy any supplies I might need to make something, so I had to work with what I had.

I've been wanting to make a rag wreath since last fall, when I really starting following all of these crafty blogs. So I got out my fabric scrap bin, and was amazed at how much green fabric I had left over from all the purses I made last summer - Green is my favorite color, but I didn't realize I had used so much of it when making all those purses. Since St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner - Green was the perfect color.

I used a wire hanger that I shaped into a circle for the wreath form. It ended up being about a 12" diameter.

I think there are about 15 different patterns - only one being a solid.

I love the combination of all the different shades - from kelly to olive to chartruese, and everything in between.

I Love it and think it looks really good on my newly painted front door.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

2012 Update: A little tutorial - like stated above, I used a wire hanger for the form. I snipped off the hook part of the hanger and then using pliers, I straightened it the best I could and then shaped it into a 12" diameter circle. I then held the ends together with duct tape.

The fabric strips are 1" x 6", which I cut with a rotary tool. Then I tied them all to the wire. There are probably 150 strips. I have no idea how much fabric I used because it was all scrap.

I'm Linking up here...

This project was Featured here...

CHRISTMAS PURSE - A MODIFIED REBECCA

Last week, when Sourkraut (I'm assuming that's not your real name?) over at Langes Fadchen, Faules Madchen posted that Bev at Flamingo Toes was offering the opportunity to download one of her purse patterns for free, I jumped on it right away. I also follow Flamingo Toes, but I had missed this particular post. Anyway, since I have my own little purse shop on Etsy, I wanted to try to make Bev's cute Rebecca Shoulder Bag. Be sure to go to the link above to see the original.

I had just finished some custom purses for an Etsy client, and I had a bunch of this fabulous green fabric left over (thank you Laura). Then I remembered, that a friend of mine had given me a bunch of fabric, in which there was this really cool red and white faces pattern (thank you Heidi). Hmmm... red, white and green? I could make a way funky Christmas purse.

So I had the fabric, but I didn't have a zipper or strap rings, and I wasn't going to be at a fabric store anytime soon. The Rebecca would have to be modified. After my success at making my Princess Leia gown without a pattern, my confidence for this modification was high.

Here is my version of Rebecca...

Since there was to be no zipper, I had to come up with another closure method. I copied the ruffle detail from the front, and added it to the back - with extended length, to create a flap. I figured, since I will only be carrying this bag one month out of the year, a zipper for ensuring secured purse contents, would not be missed.

Since I had no strap rings, a big modification would have to be done to secure the strap. I cut the strap to the same length as the pattern indicated, but I pleated the sides of the purse to make their width match the width of the strap. My overall strap length is shorter than the original, but it works great.

The inside of the bag is constructed as the pattern indicated. Love the detailing on the pockets.

Since I also did not have any type of snap closure, I just used velcro to hold the flap in place. I then made a rolled fabric flower out of some coordinating Christmas fabric I had, to dress the flap up a bit.

So what do you think? If I were to make this again, I would definitely add some interfacing throughout to make it a little sturdier. I'm sure the zipper would help with that, but honestly, I'm not a fan of sewing in zippers.

Bev and Sourkraut, thanks for the inspiration

I'm linking up here... be sure to go there to check out all the other incredible projects.

This project was Featured here...