Anthropologie Knockoff: {DIY} Rainbow Yarn Tree

 Alright.  

My mantel this year has been driving me CRAZY.  I'm super grateful to the Officer for building me the adorable faux fireplace, but here's the deal:  when you live in Japan there is no "I'll run up to Target to pick up somethings for my mantel". or "I'll just run up to Michael's and grab the supplies for this cute little project".  I'm not trying to complain, just stating some of the reasons I had such difficulty with my mantel!!  

Anyway, I had seen this gorgeous Rainbow Rope Tree on Anthropologie - $48. 

I already had the supplies for this one, so my cost was $0.  But even if you had to buy some yarn it's a pretty cheap project!  

 

I got to work trimming my shrubs and digging up some yarn from my stash.

This is the first one I made....and while it lends a funky sort of vibe...it really just looks like my 4 year old wrapped it.

SO I studied the Anthro one a little bit more and began again.

You'll need:

1 branch

hot glue/craft glue

at least 6 different colors of yarn, that you can pair in twos

I used -navy and turquoise -red and raspberry -yellow and green

Then you simply start wrapping the branches!  This is seriously addicting and probably as close to meditation as I'll ever get.  When you finish one color, simply tie a little knot - you can come back later with some hot glue and tuck them in.

Once you have wrapped all the branches, it's time to do the trunk.  I used all 6 colors - enhancing the rainbow effect.

When you get close to a branch, you can tuck all but two of the colors along the backside of the trunk and only use the two that match the branch - this makes it look more like a continuous tree.  You know, like it magically grew with pretty yarn all over it.

Lastly just put a few dabs of glue on the ends - sticking them down - it's best to have a definite front and back so that these won't show.  So there you have it!  Enjoy your beautiful, textured tree!!

Oh, you want some more pics of the mantel?  

Here ya go:

the whole shebang:

(my Grandma made those needle-point stockings!  If you notice the Officer's is Will Ferrel as Elf, designed by the Officer himself)

Seriously, this tree is so easy and SO fun.  I'm wondering what else I can start wrapping with yarn (you can see I already did a cone tree...) So leave me a comment and let me know! 

What do you think?!?

xoxo

jessica

{DIY} Anthro Knock Off: Sweet Blossom Hairclip

With Valentine's Day right around the corner we needed a great big pink hair clip!

I headed to Anthropologie to see what I could find for inspiration, and I found this lovely hair clip, with the staggering price tag of $47.  

It's sooooo easy to make your own, and I had everything I needed so it cost me $0.

Here's the original:

 

Here's my knockoff:

I actually cut up an old silky scarf that had found it's way into Charlotte's dress up box.

It worked perfectly, and I think will become a little more frayed, like the original, as she wears it.

Here's what you'll need to make your own:

Step 1 - Snip Snip: 

Cut 3 strips of material 2" x 20", and heat up your hot glue gun.

  Step 2 - Zig and Zag:

Set your zig zag stitch so that it is longer (more space in between each stitch), and zig zag one edge of each strip.  This is basically to keep it from fraying too much, but allowing it to fray a little.

Step 3 - Gather it up:

Now set your regular stitch to as long as it will go (mine's at setting 5) and sew along the other side.  Gather this edge.  Now you have kind of an old school scrunchie thing.

Repeat this process with the other two strips of fabric.

Step 4 - Fun with your glue gun

Begin gluing these strips onto the felt circle. 

Just start at one edge and glue it back and forth to make it look like a flower.

I used the hair clip to kind of poke it down in the center so I wouldn't burn my finger.

When you have glued all three, it should look like this:

You may need to keep gluing pieces down here and there until you are happy with the way it looks.

Lastly glue the hair clip onto the back of the felt circle and let it dry.

Clip your sweetie's hair back and give her a kiss!

have a great day!

xoxo

jessica

Holiday Projects and Recipes

Well hey there.  I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while, there really is so much involved in moving to Japan...and being pregnant - and then I got a cold.  So I haven't made anything crafty , but I thought I would put a few of my links up from last year (I think around this time last year I only had about 150 followers ;)  So here's the list if you weren't around back then - and if you were, thanks for reading Sew Homegrown.  It may be slow here in the next month or so (which is a bummer because it's prime crafting season!) but I promise things will pick up once we're settled.  We're still not exactly sure when we're leaving for Japan, but we think it's around the first week of December.  So that kind of gives you a timeline.  Hope you're all doing well and having fun this very festive time of year!
xoxo
jessica

My absolute favorite holiday side dish.

These chocolate peppermint cupcakes are easy 

and delicious and the perfect size to pop in your mouth!

This is a simple tutorial for making this colorful rice bag.

This Anthro knockoff has been one of my most popular posts, 

but in case you haven't seen it here's the link!

The Details...

Currently I'm working on the soft furnishings for Charlotte's bedroom - so far I've made the curtains (a tutorial on that tomorrow) and I have cut out the quilt.  

With the scraps, I decided to make this little pillow for the green chair in her room.  

It was inspired by this Anthropologie one.

  

You know, it's the details in a room that make it special and make it look finished.

Well, so that's what I've been up to...I'm trying to really work on the home furnishings while I'm here at my mom's - amidst the mile high stack of military paper work... :)

xoxo

jessica

{DIY} Anthro Pinwheel Pushpins

These little guys are so cute and quick to whip up, they should be at the top of your gift-making list. 

 Plus they use up scraps!  and you don't need a sewing machine.
Anyone can make these!!!

Here's my version:

cost - $.24 (yes a quarter!)

Here's Anthro's version:

cost - $15

The secret to making these the cutest pushpins you've ever seen, is the size. 

Finished they are only 3/4" across (which you cannot tell by that Anthro pic). 
Teeny tiny and oh-so-adorable.

Here are the supplies you will need:

various scraps of fabric

needle/thread

scissors

small beads (I used little seed beads)

a pack of pushpins

a 1.5" circle template

Step 1:  Cut 8 (or as many as you want) circles, 1.5" in diameter, out of different colors of fabric.

Step 2:  Make them into yo-yos: Thread the needle and tie a knot in the end.   With the wrong side of the fabric facing you, fold the edge over toward you about 1/8" and push your needle through. 

Use a running stitch to gather the edge of the circle - folding the raw edge in as you go.

Push the pin through the center of the circle, then pull the thread tight to gather the yo-yo completely.

Step 3:  Slip 3 small beads onto the needle and thread, and secure them in the center.

Tie a knot in the thread and cut it. 

Repeat with each pushpin until you have the desired amount!

It's a perfect gift for someone with a new job or even a great stocking stuffer!

Happy crafting,

xoxo

jessica



{DIY} Anthropologie-inspired Headband

Okay, sincerest apologies for flaking out on you for the last week.  I didn't really mean for that to happen, but I was in the process of getting our family completely out of TN and down to FL.  We will be here for the next 2 months before we move to Japan.  BUT I did manage to whip up this little headband last night and I wanted to share it with you. 

 I haven't done anything Anthropologie in a while

- and I was craving something in their style. 

Here's Mine:

Here's Anthros:

I made mine out of cotton, but theirs is made using a rayon fabric and I think it would be great to make another one using that. 

Here's what you'll need:

1/2 yard of cotton or rayon

(I used Anna Maria Horner's LouLouThi)

iron/pins

scissors/thread/sewing machine

a 6" piece of 3/4" elastic

Step 1:  Cut 1 strip (the one you want to make the knot in) 6"x26".

Cut another strip 6"x22".

Step 2:  Fold each strip in half, length-wise and sew right sides together along the long edge.

Open that seam and press it flat.

(I changed fabrics half way through...sorry for the confusion)

Step 2:  Turn that tube right sides out and repeat with the other strip of fabric.

Now you should have 2 strips, one 4" longer than the other.

Step 3:  Tie a knot in the middle of the longer strip.  Pin it on top of the shorter strip.

I kind of pinned it so it would look like it was flowing, rather than just flat.

Step 4:  Sew this piece onto the bottom piece - you just need a few little stitches to keep it in place.  Turn the raw edges under and sew them down.

Also secure the knot with a few stitches.

Step 5: Cut a 5" square.

Sew it into a tube like you did with the strips at the beginning.  Turn it right sides out.

Step 6:  Slide the elastic inside this tube.  Then put the elastic and little tube inside the larger - tucking in the raw edges of the larger.  Stitch across.

Step 7:  Now try it on your head, and pull the elastic until it meets the other end of the headband and feels comfortable on your head.  Keep your finger where the stretched elastic and free end of the headband meet.  Take it off your head and put a mark on the elastic where your finger is.  Scrunch up the little tube until the raw end matches up with the mark on the elastic.  Slide the elastic and little tube into the open end of the headband and sew across.

Enjoy your new headband!

happy wednesday

xoxo

jessica

*CTSB* - {DIY}Anthropologie-inspired Bracelet - Beverly from Flamingo Toes

Hello Sew Homegrown Readers! I am so happy to be here today!
This Cure for the Summertime Blues series is a blast and I have so many great projects added my to-do lists!

My name is Beverly and I blog over at Flamingo Toes.

I love doing home decor, sewing and jewelry projects - but my favorite things to make are knockoffs!

It's so fun to be able to recreate something that is fun at a fraction of the price in the store!

So when it came time to decide on what I wanted to make for Jessica's series - I went "shopping" at my favorite place to knockoff - Anthropologie!

I fell in love with their new Weights and Measures Bracelet and had to recreate it!

Here is my version . . .

And here is Anthro's!

 

Isn't it great?? I love the combo of the pearls with the chains!

Here's what you'll need to make your very own.

• small amount of fabric (I used linen because I wanted something a little heavier than the chiffon they used)

• pearls (mine were 5mm and I used about 56. You'll need more or less if use a different size of pearls)

• small chain - at least 84" (the smaller the chain, the easier the bracelet will be to tie)

• needle and matching thread

Begin by cutting out the fabric for the bracelet.

You'll need one long piece 2" x 14" and 2 smaller pieces 1 1/2" x 5".

About 3" from each end of the longer piece, trim the ends so they come to a point.

Find the centers of the long piece and one of the shorter pieces. Line them up with the shorter piece on the back of the longer piece.
Tuck the ends under and pin them. This will stabilize the area that you sew the pearls to.

On the front of this section, draw out with a disappearing ink marker the lines that you are going to sew your pearls on. Stay 1/2" away from the edge, this will be part of the hem.

Begin sewing down your strands of pearls. Add the pearls for each row to your thread and sew them down.

Sew down the strand between each pearl also. This will help the strand lay flat.

Continue to fill up the center section with rows of pearls.

 

Working on the back side of the bracelet, turn the raw edges over in tiny folds to create a hem.

 

Continue working your way around the bracelet until both sides are hemmed.

Now we're going to work on the chain. Cut the short pieces for the sides next. You'll need 24 - 2" pieces.

Lay out a longer piece of chain (at least 18") to begin sewing down the long side of the bracelet. Start sewing the chain to the bracelet 2" from the end of the chain.

As you sew this long piece down, you're going to add in the short pieces. There are 6 short pieces of chain on each end of the bracelet, on both sides.

Hopefully that made sense. ;)
Evenly space out these shorter pieces and sew them on as you go, working your way down the side of the bracelet.

When you get to the other end of the bracelet, cut the chain so there is a 2" piece that extends past the end of the fabric.

Repeat for the other side of the bracelet.

And that finishes off your super cute new knockoff!!

 

To wear, just knot the ends loosely!

Isn't it fun? I really like how it turned out. I hope you do too. :)

I'd love for you to come check out Flamingo Toes sometime!

You can see some of my other Jewelry knockoff's here.

And on Sundays I host a fun Link Party where you can show off all your fabulous projects!

Thanks so much for including me in the series Jessica - it was a blast!

Wow - I just love it don't you?!  It reminds me of something a mermaid might create from treasures she found on the ocean floor - I am definitely making this one!!  Hope everyone had a lovely weekend - coming up tomorrow is Tristin from Two Girls Being Crafty- see you then!

xoxo

jessica