DIY Heart Pot Holder

Okay so it's been a while since my last post and even longer since my last DIY.  I suppose my craftiness has it's ups and downs as with everything else.  Lately I've been making googly-eyes at some new fabric but I've been reluctant to buy since I'm already hoarding quite a bit of fabric already.  So instead I'm trying to come up with some small projects to use up some the existing fabric...to make room for bigger, better fabrics :)

Anyway, I've been toying with the idea of making a pot holder for a while now, mostly because I don't have one already and I really dislike using the whole oven glove thing...seems like overkill to me...then again I'm sure I won't be thinking that the next time I burn my hand trying to get something out of the oven.  But until then...I made this little heart-shaped pot holder out of some leftover fabric and batting.

Materials:
-fabric (1-3 different types)
-batting (heat resistant recommended)

Start by making a heart-shape pattern for your oven mitt.  You will need to cut 2 hearts out of your batting and 4 out of your fabric (1 front, 1 back, 2 for the 'pockets').

Cut the 2 hearts that will form the pockets in half (sad I know).  With the right sides together, sew along the edge that you just cut.  Flip right side out and press.  You can add batting to these pieces if you want some extra projection, I didn't use any and I think mine work just fine and it reduces the bulk a little bit.

Next baste a piece of batting to the heart shape that will form the 'back' of the mitt, or the part that will be covered up by the pockets.  You can also baste the batting to the 'front' of the mitt, the part that will be touching whatever you're picking up, but I decided to get fancy and do some quilted hearts.  Be sure to follow the directions if you are using heat resistant batting.

Next position the 2 pocket pieces on top of the back of the mitt.  I was originally planning on lining them up exactly but I decided to leave a small space to make it easier to use. 

Now you should have completed the front and back pieces of your oven mitt.  With the right sides together, sew all around the edge leaving a small opening on the side.  Flip right side out and press.  Then slip stitch the opening close.  You can also add some top stitching if your mitt isn't too bulky. 

And that's it!   I've been using mine for a couple weeks now and it's been working out pretty good.  The only thing I dislike about it is the fact that the heat resistant batting always has a crinkling sound when I use it. 

I made the heart lobes a bit too long on my mitt so my fingers don't quite reach all the way to the end.  Which can be a bit annoying if you're trying to do anything that requires any sort of finger dexterity.  Also I would make the spacing a bit bigger between the pockets at the top of the heart.  It just makes it a little easier to use.  Sorry I don't have a picture to show the scale but it's about the size of my hand. 

DIY Stag Earrings

okay, another anthro knock off...i just couldn't resist this one because it's so similar to my antler necklace.   the photo on the left is my inspiration from anthropologie: crowned stag earrings for $198!!  you can find it here .  the photo on the right is my cheapo version made out of sculpey. 

supplies:
-2 fish hook earrings
-2 jump rings
-polymer clay
-(2) 1 inch pieces of wire
-pliers
-paint (optional)

it's really pretty simple, just shape the clay into the general shape of the antler.  then gradually start to the taper everything down so it doesn't look so chunky (unless you want it to look that way).  bake according to the clay you're using.  using your pliers, make a small loop on one end of each piece of wire.  insert the straight end of the wire into the end of the antler after you finish sculpting it.  attach the antlers to the fish hooks using the jump rings. 

i used some gloss white nail polish as a finish on mine but you could make them any color...

and that's it..seriously...you just made a knock off of $200 earrings for probably less than $5!?  crazy right?  i mean sure the anthro version is a lot more thin/delicate looking than mine and made out of mammoth ivory but still...i'd rather have my $5 version.

linking up here.

My entry into Make the Scene Monday #33  is sponsored by Appliances Online & Bosch Washing Machines.

DIY Carved Filigree Earrings

today's tutorial is a knock off of some anthro jewelry.  i love basically everything from anthropologie...but not so much the price tag.  

the photo on the left is my inspiration from anthropologie-carved filigree earrings for $68!!  you can find them here.  the photo on the right is my, less then $5, version!  

 supplies:
-8 jump rings
-2 fish hook earrings
-shrinky dink
-sharpie or colored pencils
-nail polish or paint

if you've never worked with shrinky dink before you can also read my other project here. 

start by sketching out the filigree design you want.  you can use colored pencils or sharpie to fill in your design.  i wanted a sort of scribbled look so i didn't completely fill it in.  then make 4 small teardrop shapes and 2 large tear drop shapes.  (i ended up rubbing off the sharpie scribbles on these parts and i made the large teardrops smooth on top like the smaller ones.)  cut out your designs and punch your holes. 

next, bake your shrinky dink as per instructions.  you can use paint or fingernail polish to paint the teardrop shapes.  and it's read to assemble.  i used 4 jump rings per earring, no the 7 pictured.  

and that's it!  pretty simple right?  and altogether i think they cost less than $5, versus $68!  of course if you're buying all these supplies new it will cost more but once you break it down based on what you use they're really cheap.  i wish i had made the teardrops a bit bigger and fatter but i really like the way they turned out!

linking up here

My entry into Make the Scene Monday #33  is sponsored by Appliances Online & Bosch Washing Machines.

Tutorial: DIY ColorBlocked Friendship Bracelet

Update: i am now selling these bracelets in my Etsy shop here

i'm not really sure why but i really like making friendship bracelets.  i almost never wear jewelry and i have a giant pile of them already, but if i ever feel the craftin' itch and i'm not sure what to make...i usually settle for a good ol' fashioned friendship bracelet.  

the first time i ever saw someone make a bracelet like this i was in paris and those guys can crank these babies out in seconds!  they're really simple to make, all you really need is embroidery floss.  i decided to use leather cord for the 'skeleton' of mine and a monkey's fist knot closure (you can use a button instead).  i'm not even going to try to explain the knot but the animated tutorial i used is here.  if you use the monkey's fist it will take about an extra foot of cord.  

once you have picked out your floss, cut them to roughly double the length of the bracelet (if you want a double wrap bracelet cut the floss 4 times your bracelet length).  then, with all the floss together as one cord, tie it around the 'skeleton' of the bracelet making sure the short ends point downward.  i'm not sure what to refer to the leather part as so i'm calling it the bracelet's skeleton...  

to start wrapping, separate the floss color of your choice.  pull all the other colors downward and start wrapping the chosen color around the other floss and 'skeleton'.  to change colors repeat the process.  separate the color you want to switch to, pull all the other floss downwards, and start wrapping.  you will see a slight break at the color change.

if you want to get fancy, you can add stripes!  just separate 2 colors and wrap as you would normally.  this is a little trickier because you have to make sure the floss doesn't get twisted and stays even.

and if you want to get really fancy, you can do this weird little double twist thingy.  separate 3 different colors of floss-2 contrasting and 1 background color.  start wrapping with the background color as usually but make sure the 2 contrasting colors stay unwrapped.  take the first contrasting color and start wrapping it on top of the background color with slight spaces in between.  take the second contrasting color and wrap it in the opposite direction.  and continue wrapping as normal.

when you get to the end, choose the color you want to end on and trim everything else down.  with the last color wrap over the ends of the other floss and tie off.  i used some liquid stitch on the ends of the floss just to make sure they stay.

and voila a new friendship bracelet!  once you get the hang of wrapping it goes pretty fast, it took me only about 30 minutes to make this double wrap color blocked bracelet.  of course, if you use any of those fancy techniques it might take you a bit longer.

happy crafting!

linking up with these craftalicious blogs!

My entry into the Share It Link Party at The Winthrop Chronicles is sponsored by Appliances Online and their best Range Cookers.

Tutorial: How to Carve Linoleum Blocks

i did a lot of carving in high school, mostly bas relief type stuff, but i really liked it.  i think it's where my passion for sculpture really started.  surprisingly though, i think i only did block printing once.  lately i've been really wanting to do something with a tribal print; but rather than using freezer paper and cutting out each individual piece, i decided to try block printing instead.  

supplies:

-pencil (for sketching designs)

-lino blocks

-lino cutting tool

-x-acto knife

i got my lino blocks (unmounted) and lino carving tool from dick blick.  if you buy the unmounted lino blocks it's cheaper but you also end up with a lot of blocks.  so if you're only making a few stamps i'd go with mounted.  i got a set of carving tools which is somewhat nifty because the different heads fit inside of the handle.  on the other hand, the blades are all pretty dull and some of the ends are pretty jagged.  basically it made me wish i had bought my own instead of leaving them in storage in oklahoma.  but it got the job done.  

first start by sketching out your design onto the block.

then use the xacto knife to trace your design with a deep, smooth cut.

then use a U-shaped gouge, my personal fav no one likes the V-shaped gouges...and carve towards your design.  you should be applying a slight downward/forward motion toward your design and you should automatically stop when you reach the your original cut with the xacto knife (unless you're applying too much pressure).

continue all the way around your design.

to clear out the rest of the area, make gouges away from your design.

and that's it!  as my high school teacher always said:  always carve away from yourself, never point the blade toward yourself or your hand.  otherwise you'll end up stabbing yourself...eventually...no matter what.

i think i'm going to use these to make some printed t-shirts and maybe some curtains.  i think they'd make some pretty snazzy curtains but i'm not entirely sure i want to commit myself to replacing my blinds just yet...

linking up with these blog-a-licious blogs!

Tutorial: Iphone Wallet

remember my travel kit organizer thing here?  well, i was messing with mine a couple days ago when i realized it's almost the exact same size as my iphone.  and since i usually hate carrying around purses because i never have anything to put in there, i decided to make a little iphone wallet.  

you can basically follow the same tutorial with some minor changes.  first, instead of the pieces being 6" tall i made them 6 1/2".  this is basically to make sure that it's long enough for an iphone with a thin case.  

next, instead of putting the zipper compartment on the inside, i put it on the outside.  now you can use it for change, headphones, lip balm or whatever else.

for the interior, instead of using the 3 pieces like before, use one solid piece of your main fabric.  then make one giant center pocket for the phone (basically the same as before but don't sew the separate pockets).  and make pockets for your cards.  conveniently i still had extra pockets for hair bands and bobby pins.  

and now you have a cute little iphone wallet.  or just plain wallet if you prefer to use the bigger pocket for cash.  it's a pretty versatile pattern really.

the original travel organizers are for sale in my shop here and i will be posting these iphone wallets once i get a couple made.

linking up here!

Tutorial: Upcycle-Rope Shoebox

okay so like 6 months ago i saved on my old shoebox from the trash with plans on dressing it up and turning it into something awesome.  well i ended up just covering it with drop cloth fabric and then kind of forgetting about it.  at the time i couldn't really decide on how i wanted to embellish it so i just filled it with junk and put it work.  

well, i saw this Upcycled Kleenex Box from Southern Flair Crafts in the GYCO party a couple weeks ago and i knew that was how i wanted to finish my box.  it's so similar to my rope containers i don't know why i didn't think of it before!  

in the tute from Southern Flair Crafts, she covers the box with rope first then makes the liner.  but since i already covered mine with drop cloth fabric i jumped right into the business of rope covering.  

i started by glueing the end of the rope down one side of the box.  this way the end of the rope isn't exposed on the top of the box and you can't really tell that there's a bump there after you wrap the rope over it.

and just keep wrapping and glueing your rope around the box.

and since my box was already covered/lined with fabric i didn't have to worry about making a liner.  i think it's actually a bit easier, especially if you don't like to sew you can just hot glue the fabric to your box.  and here's my box back in place hiding all of my boyfriend's essential toiletries.  if you're interested in that little magazine bowl you can find the tutorial here.  he got saved from the trash too:)

happy up-cycling!!  

linking up here!

Tutorial: Custom Laptop Sleeve (with photos this time!)

hello, i hope everyone had a good weekend!  

today i'm reposting my tutorial on making a custom laptop sleeve, but this time i'm including photos for those of you who are visually inclined.  i know i am!  

 Supplies:
-main fabric
-lining
-batting or fleece for padding
-4" strip of velcro

for the back:  first start with the length and width of your laptop.  add seam allowances on every side, and a flap (mine is 5") on one side.  for a 13" macbook, i used 10" x 18".  you will need to cut one piece main fabric, one lining, and one batting in these measurements.

for the front:  again start with the length and width of your laptop.  add seam allowances on all sides.  on the right side, left side, and bottom, add the depth of your computer.  one side should only have the seam allowance added!  for a 13" macbook, i used 12" x 15".  you will need to cut one piece main fabric, one lining, and one batting in these measurements.

next, baste the main fabric to the corresponding batting.  read more about basting here.  i will refer to the main fabric and batting basted together only as the main fabric from now on.  take the front pieces of main fabric and lining, right sides together, and sew across the top.  this should be the edge that only had the seam allowance added.  flip right side out and press.  you can add some topstitching here if you'd like.  center and attach your velcro about 1 1/2 inches down depending on your flap size and laptop dimensions.

next box the corners of both front pieces.  read more about boxing corners here.

now lay the front piece on top of the back piece of lining, right sides up for both.  pin and sew in place.

now it should actually start looking like a laptop sleeve instead of just a pile of fabric.  at this point you can check to make sure your laptop fits correctly before moving on.  or just admire your work.

next lay back piece of main fabric on top of everything else, i folded it in the middle so you can see.  pin and sew in place leaving a small opening on the top of the flap.  

to close the flap topstitch all the way around.  center and attach your velcro about 1 inch from the edge, depending on your flap.

and now you have a cool new padded laptop sleeve!  these are pretty simple to make, measuring and cutting is really the most time consuming part.

if you're not particularly inclined to sew your own i have these for sale in my Etsy shop here.

linking up these blogtastic bloggers.  happy crafting!