{Create} Fabric Hairbow

As much as I craft you would think I could make a decent ribbon hairbow.  But the thing is - I really stink at making ribbon hairbows.  I just can't seem to get it right - even when I follow really great tutorials.  So instead, I dug through my fabric stash and created this little bow.

I love it.  

It's so simple to make.  

It will be the perfect accessory to your girl's summer wardrobe(or yours!).  

Just follow the easy instructions below!!!

You'll need:

 a small square of fabric - about 6"x6"

a hair clip

some trim or ribbon for the center

a glue gun

a sewing machine/thread/scissors/etc.

STEP 1:

Cut a 4"x2" rectangle out of card stock for a pattern.  You don't have to do this, but I like to so that I can position it anywhere on the fabric.  Cut out two rectangles.

STEP 2:

Pin the rectangles right sides together.  Place marks 1" apart along one of the long sides.  

Preferably in the center.  This will be your opening for turning.

STEP 3:

Use a 1/4" seam allowance and stitch around the rectangle, leaving the 1" opening.  Clip the corners.

STEP 4:

Turn it right sides out and topstitch the opening closed.  Press well.

STEP 5:

Now, scrunch up the center of the bow.  Just fiddle with it until you like the way it looks, then top stitch right over the folds to hold it in place.  

 STEP 6:

Select your trim and wrap it around the center of the bow - gluing it or hand sewing it in the back.  Lastly, glue the clip to the back of the bow and enjoy!!

Happy Sewing!

jessica

DIY *Star* Bow

Need a last minute bow for the fourth?

You can whip these up in no time!

Supplies for 2 bows:

1 yard of ribbon

2 strips of red/white/blue fabric 2"x10"

2 ponytail holders

sewing machine/thread or hot glue gun

Step 1:  Cut the ribbon to 18".  Starting at one edge, fold it like a remembrance ribbon.

I use the clip to hold it in place as I fold it
- but if you are using hot glue, you could glue it in the center as you go.

Then fold it again, 

and 3 more times after that - creating a star shape.

Step 2:  Make a small fabric rosette out of the 2"x10" strip.

Step 3:  Slide the star, with the rosette in the center, under the foot of your sewing machine (or hot glue it in place).  Carefully sew it in place - don't go too fast or you will break a needle.

Step 4:  Turn the star over and put the ponytail holder in the center back of the star.  Set your machine's zig zag stitch to a short length and width, so that it will tack it in place (or hot glue it in place).

There you go!

The most adorable patriot I've ever seen.

xoxo

jessica

Silhouette for Bows + Giveaway!!

I have three gorgeous, amazing, wonderful, creative, funny, and intelligent little girls. I love them beyond all reason and would move mountains for them. That being said, for all you mamas of precious, handsome, rascally little boys. . . bless your hearts. You are so lucky!

We have so much HAIR!!! And since we are diva, princess, stylin' little girls, we must have ribbons, bows, barrettes, clips, elastics, headbands, and any other hair accessory to hold it away from our face or to make the hair look MORE beautiful.

UGH! I have tried and tried to clean up and organize, however three little girls spending 5 minutes each looking for just the right hair accessory leaves a HUGE mess. I just really don't like clutter because it is frustrating and inefficient (oh. . . but don't talk to Jessica about my fabric trunk. . . yeah. . . we won't discuss inefficiency or clutter in that regard, no, definately not). Soooooooo. . . . I have been thinking of a way to hang up and display the pretty little bow collection we have going on and I came up with this idea and it is really very simple (really, I mean it)!!! Read on, see what you think and find out my surprise at the end (hee hee, its a good one).

So this is what you need:
8x10 piece of felt (25 cents at Hobby Lobby)
Frame minus the glass (I found 11x14 was a perfect size)
fat quarter of fabric (simple pattern is best)
Ribbon (at least two kinds, a yard each)
glue (I used hot glue)
pins
sharp scissors
child's silhouette

So here we go, first you need put your little girl's hair up into a ponytail or bun. It is necessary for this to work. Now to make a silhouette of your child. You can do that by following this tutorial and printing your silhouette on 8 1/2x11 white paper, or these instructions. I followed the second set of instructions and simply traced my girls' silhouettes on to white copy paper. I felt I had more control over my size this way, however this may not work with a small toddler. They tend to get squirmy.
The size of my silhouette fit inside a piece of 8 1/2x11 copy paper turned portrait position. Cut out your silhouette carrefully, getting all the features.

Place your silhouette on your piece of felt, landscape position. This position allowed me to get all of my silhouette's features. Place the nose as close to the edge as you can without touching it. Pin your silhouette to your felt well. Cut your silhouette carefully. I found it was easier to move the felt rather than move the scissors. This gives you a more seamless edge. Unpin the paper silhouette from the felt.

If you need to use your scraps to complete your silhouette's pony tail, as I did, pin your scraps to the silhouette and cut them out as well. The piecing won't show when they are glued down together. Set your silhouette aside.

Now, remove the glass and cardboard from your frame. You do not need the glass, so put that in the recycling bin.

Spread your fabric our flat. You may need to iron it so there are no wrinkles or creases in the fabric. Take the cardboard from the frame and place your cardboard on top of the fabric and trim your fabric about an inch and a half out from the cardboard's edge.

Glue one long edge of the fabric to the back of the cardboard, then gently stretch the fabric across the front and glue the other long edge to the opposing side of the cardboard. Now glue the two short edges of the fabric to the short edges of the cardboard.

Flip your fabric covered cardboard over and place your silhouette on the fabric. Arrange it so that it is a little above center. Now glue your silhouette down on to the fabric. Place glue along all of the edges and press firmly to get a good bond. If you had to use scraps to complete your silhouette, join the edges of the scrap piece to the silhouette piece first. Allow that to set, before you glue the other edges. This will insure an invisible joint between both pieces of fabric.

Now to get creative. Use one piece of ribbon to make a bow. You can tie a bow or make a bunch of loops. I just made loops and sort of squished the center together. Once you have a bow you are happy with, glue it down at the base of the ponytail on your silhouette. Now take your second piece of ribbon and fold it in half and glue it down on top of your bow and let the tails hang past the cardboard's edge. You can add a third piece of ribbon to make more tails if you wish.

It is starting to look really cute, right? So, take your silhouette and insert it into the frame and secure it. Make sure your ribbon's tails hang out of the frame. You are finished!

Hang up your bow holder and put your little girl's bows all over it! My girls adore their faces and the fact that they can see ALL of their bows at a glance.

Do you like it? Really like it? Do you think you will make one?



Would you make one, say. . . if I GAVE you the supplies? So here is my first give-away. Included is a 11x14 frame (sans glass), 8x10 piece of felt, fabric, and two spools of ribbon, each approx. 1 yard.
Leave the best comment on this post and it could all be yours!
I will announce the winner next Tuesday. Happy Tuesday to you!!!

Heaps of love,

Shannon

  

DIY Anthropologie-inspired Hairbows

These hairbows are easy, sweet, and a great way to use up fabric scraps!

I saw this bow on Anthro:

It's cute, but it is 7" wide and 5" tall.  Pretty big bow.  I wanted to make a few last minute bows to slip into Charlotte's Easter Basket - somehow our bows are always disappearing.  I altered the bows to be about 2" wide and 1 1/2" inches tall.  I made two of each color so she can have one on each side.  If you want to make some for your little one's Easter Basket here's what you'll need:

Fabric scraps (at least 3"x2 1/2")

Sewing machine/thread/scissors

Hair clip

Wire (I used the kind for jewelry making)

Hot glue

Paint chips (optional)

Step 1:  Cut out your fabric scraps 3"x 2 1/2".  Cut two rectangles out for one bow.  Since I made 8 bows, I cut out 16 rectangles.

Step 2:  Lay the fabric right sides together and stitch around 3 sides, leaving one end open (like sewing a tiny pillowcase).

Step 3:  Flip it right sides out and turn the raw edges inside.  Press.  Topstitch the opening closed.

Step 4:  Now twist the rectangle once so that it makes a bow shape.  Wrap the wire around the middle a few times so that it will hold it's shape.

Step 5:  Hot glue the bow to a hairclip. 

Let it dry and that's it!

Step 6:  I had a few paint chips lying around so I made some slits in the cards with an exacto knife

and clipped the bows onto them.

Perfect way to slip them into her little Easter Basket!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

jessica

*New* on the Etsy shop!

Okay - confession - I am a MOODY crafter.  Somedays I like to knit, some I sew, some I glue, some I cut paper..so for me to settle down into a long-term relationship with one particular craft is just plain difficult - therefore, I have decided to just sell all kinds of lovely fun things on my Etsy shop, I'll let you know what I add 'cause it's sure to be different every time :)

Thanks for shopping and reading!
jessica

Hairbows and a giveaway!

So, I decided that Charlotte needed a few additions to her hair bow/clip selection.  

Yesterday, I made this large flower bow

two brown bows with pink buttons, and the two little red/white polka dotted clips.  

Then, I organized all of her bows and put them on this bulletin board!  

Much cuter than the jumbled up mess they were yesterday. 

 I also have my first give away today!!!  

Here's the deal:  If you become a follower of my blog sometime within the next week,

you will be entered for a chance to win these 3 skeins of yarn 

and this pair of lovely bamboo knitting needles (size 10). 

I am still on my quest to conquer knitting - 

and I have a friend coming over later this weekto teach me to knit European style - 

I'll teach you what I learn.  

This way, you can do it with me!  If you are already a follower YAY!!! thank you so much.  You can also enter to win by leaving a comment sometime this week ( I didn't want to exclude you - you have  been so loyal :) .  Becoming a follower takes like 2 minutes so come on and join!  Have a great day!

jessica