{DIY} No-Sew "Ribbons and Bows" Holiday Shirt

So there's no better time to make holiday shirts for your kids, than the day of the party right?  Perhaps I'm the ultimate procrastinator, or perhaps I like to live life one day at a time, but I woke up this morning realizing the girls didn't have any cute party shirts to wear to Daddy's Work Christmas party....at 2:30...hmmmmm.... I always love the idea of embellishing t-shirts, but a really hate sewing anything onto jersey knit.  Even with stabilizer, I feel like it bunches up and starts to looks really funky.  BUT I didn't want to use glue either...so I fished around in my supplies and came up with some magical Stitch Witchery.  If you have any aversion to sewing, this product can be a lifesaver!  So here's my no-sew tutorial for the

Ribbons and Bows Holiday Shirt

Here's what you'll need:

Stitch Witchery
Iron

Various Ribbons

Scissorrs

A plain T-shirt or onesie (or both!)

Step 1:  Begin by tying your bows.  I used 3 on the shirt, and 2 on the onesie.  

Here's the best way to tie perfect little bows:

-Make two loops with about 2" of ribbon between them

-Cross one loop over the other

-Pull it through and tight

-Adjust the length and size of your bow

Step 2: Lay out the ribbon on your shirt.  Cut some pieces of Stitch Witchery to the length of your long ribbons. 

I then cut my S.W. (Stitch Witchery) in half, lengthwise because it was thicker than my ribbon.  You can of course buy S. W. that is the right size for your ribbon, but that would've made things way too easy ;)
Step 3:  Simply follow the directions on the S. W. box - fusing the ribbon to the shirt using the heat of the iron.  Tuck under the ends 1/4" before you press it down, so you won't have any raw edges showing. 

Then add a small piece of S.W. to at the bottom of the ribbon and cover it with a bow. 

Press again to fuse the bow to the shirt.  Continue this process until all of your ribbon is on the shirt.  Put a dab of Fraycheck or clear nail polish on the ends of your bows so they won't unravel.
(turn the shirt inside out when you wash it)
Enjoy your holiday season sporting these sweet little T's!!

Happy Crafting!!
xoxo
jessica

{DIY} Felt Trees

I was browsing the Garnet Hill website when I came across these little lovely trees.

Sadly, they are no longer available on the website, so I headed out to Michaels.
 It turns out they're really inexpensive and easy to make.

  
If you didn't use hot glue, they would be a great craft for kids too! 
Here are the supplies:

 my total cost: $3.61

(I already had hot glue at home)

Step 1:  Make the paper cones.  At first I wanted to use styrofoam cones, but they're kind of expensive so I decided to make paper ones.  Roll the paper so it forms a cone and put a dot of glue at the bottom to hold it in place.

Step 2:  Cut off the excess along the edge, then glue the edge closed.

Step 3:  Make the bottom edge even so that it will stand straight.

Cute little trees!

Step 4:   Fold the felt in half width-wise, like a hamburger bun.  Cut from the edge to the fold in an arc, be sure the top of the arc is at the fold.  Cut them about 2 1/2" wide - I was able to get three strips out of one piece of felt.

Step 5:  Keeping them folded, and following the arc, cut a scalloped edge along one side.

Each strip should look like this once you open it.

Step 6: Starting at the bottom of the tree, hot glue the strips to the cone.

If you like, you can cut out a felt star for the top.

And there you go! 
Whimsical felt trees for your mantle or a shelf! 
Happy crafting!
xoxo
jessica

*CTSB*{DIY} Anthopologie-inspired Door Hanging

Wooo hoooo!  It's time to kick those summertime blues!

It's hot - the kids are a little antsy...so let's stay in the AC and get crafty!

We rearranged the "Summertime Blues" schedule a little 

so I'll be kicking things off today with this Anthro-knock off!

I made mine as door-hanging(I actually made two!) 15" square, theirs is a mirror 12" square.

mine $3:

theirs $168:

My sister and her husband are moving into a new condo on her birthday 

- so what better gift than something to brighten up their new door?  

I guarantee seeing this on your door will make coming home that much sweeter.  

Ready?  Here's what you'll need:

Scrapbook paper (or cut up magazines/greeting cards/etc.)

wooden frame (either purchased or made)

glue

foam brush

craft gloss glaze

xacto knife/scissors

ruler

Step 1: Cut out the squares.  The dimension of your squares will depend on the size of your frame.  My hubby built mine at 15"x15" - each side 2 1/2" wide.  So I cut 24 squares 2 1/2"x 2 1/2".

Step 2:  Decide on the placement of your squares, then glue them to the frame (I just used white Elmer's glue).

Step 3:  Brush the gloss on top of the "tiles" and let it dry.

Step 4:  If you would like a little bunting - make 4 triangles out of paper - I cut the letters H O M E and then sewed the triangles to a ribbon.

Ta- da!

Simple and stylish door-hanging - now go! go! go! Don't let those summertime blues get you!  And if you have older kids - they could make one of these for their room too!
Up next tomorrow - Jo Anna from A Pretty Life in the Suburbs with a Home Decor project!

Happy Monday!

xoxo

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

{DIY} Jellybean Bunting

This is a kid's craft, home decor, recycling project all rolled into one.  Doesn't get much better than that.  I was going to save this for Monday - but I thought you might be decorating your house some this weekend and I wanted to share.

So here's your Monday post, two days early.

Supplies:
3x5 index cards
old magazines
white glue
water
paint brushes
hot glue
string/ribbon

Step 1:  Tear up old magazine pages into little bits - and arrange them by color.  I used an old Anthropologie catalog and an old Country Living.  Now grab your kids (or your friends or your hubby) and sit down at the table.  Pour some glue into a paper bowl and dilute it with water.

Step 2:  Give everyone a 3x5 card and have them paint the glue mixture onto it - place the paper pieces on - then put some more glue on top of the pieces.  This is not hard, my two year old did it with ease and had a blast.  When you're done it should look something like this:

Let them dry for a while.  You may have to lay a book on top so they will dry flat.

Step 3:  Draw a bean template (also could be an egg) 1"wide x 2" long.  On the back of your index card, trace the bean shape - I was able to get about 4 beans per card.  Cut out the beans.

mmmmm... I feel more festive already. 

Step 4:  Heat up your glue gun.  Cut a very long piece of ribbon.  Sandwich the ribbon in between two beans and hot glue the beans together.  Move about 3" down the ribbon and repeat this process.  Continue until all the beans are on the ribbon.

Now hang them in a little spot that needs some spring cheer!

Mine was the finishing touch to my mantle:

Happy decorating!

xo

jessica

Pretty Flower Easter Eggs - Pottery Barn Style

While shopping with Beverly, from Flamingo Toes, last week, I found some easter eggs at Pottery Barn covered in little hydrangea blossoms. (sadly I could not find a picture online of the inspiration eggs, so you'll just have to take my word for it)  I love hydrangeas, in fact they are my favorite flower. 
We had them at our wedding in our bouquets, on the cake, and on the tables.

 

My great-grandmother used to grow huge bushes of hydrangeas, and my mom and dad have one of the plants transplanted from her old home. So, I'm really happy that they seem to be "in" right now.  I'm not really sure the silk flowers I used are actually hydrangeas, but they looked close enough and were only $1 for a bunch of 3 at Michaels.  The eggs at Pottery Barn were $6.00 each, making the cost for 6 eggs, $36.00.  I spent $10.39 on the supplies to make my own.  Here's how you can make some for your home!

Supplies:

6 paper mache eggs (I got mine at Michaels for $2.50 

- I thought they would withstand the hot glue better than plastic ones)

ribbon

silk hydrangea flowers ( I bought 2 bunches of each color, $1 a bunch)

hot glue/glue gun

scissors

Step 1:  Heat up your glue gun and snip all of the blossoms off the stems.

Separate them by color,

then by size.

Step 2:  Cut 6 pieces of ribbon about 6" long.  Put a dab of hot glue on the top of an egg.  Gently press one end of the ribbon in the glue.  Loop the ribbon around and glue it to the secured end.  Now you have a pretty little loop to hang your eggs.  

Step 3:  Begin gluing the blooms on.  Start with the large blooms.  Just experiment with the gluing method - I got better as I went along.  You might have to put a dab of glue in the center of the flower first - stick it on - then add some glue to the petals.  They don't have to lay flat - in fact it's better if they don't - but you don't want them sticking out in every direction either.

Step 4:  Once you have a nice coverage from the large blooms, begin filling in the spaces with the medium and small sized blooms.  Just keep going until you can't see any of the original egg.  

Then you're finished!  Hang in a lovely spot or on some branches in a vase.

Happy gluing and have a great weekend,

jessica