Grocery bag holder

If you want your holder all one color - 1 piece of fabric, 20 x 25 inches. If you want strips like pictured here, you'll need 6 pieces of fabric, 20" x 5 ".
2 pieces of narrow elastic (1/2", 1/4" wide or smaller). 11 " and 6 1/2 ".
1 piece of ribbon - 14 inches long.
Thread

If you're using strips, sew all of them together along their long sides (a little larger seems than your elastic). Iron all of the seams open.

Then, make a casing for your elastic at each end. Turn over the fabric about 1/4" and then fold it over again a little larger than the size of your elastic. Sew really close to the fold so that your elastic can still fit. Do this to both ends.

Now, thread your elastic through each end and sew each end of the elastic securely to the opening of each end of the casing. Keep in mind, the larger piece of elastic is for the top of your holder (so you can shove many bags in) and the smaller piece of elastic is for the bottom (so that you only pull one bag out at a time).

Next, turn the holder right side out and pin the ribbon (I turned the end under once) into place, about 3/4 of an inch from the top. Sew the ribbon into place several times, making it secure.

Lastly, sew the 2 long sides together, with right sides together and sew other side of ribbon to other side of bag.

Stuff it and Hang it!

Blankets

This is an adult blanket size 72x60 with about a 1 1/2 in ruffled trim (satin). Both sides of the blanket are minky fabric.

First I start off and attach the satin to one of the fabrics on the right side; upside down along the edge and ruffled it as I sewed (raw edges together). First make sure you measure your length of the trim to be double the length of the fabric and pin along the edge so you ruffle evenly.

The corners sew the trim inside out together and flip! very easy.

Once it is sewn along the entire piece of fabric, then you put both fabric pieces right side together and sew 3 sides with the trim inside. Then, flip right side out and turn in the side without the trim and sew along the edge..almost done!

Last, you want to go along the edge and sew at the bottom of the trim to keep it all flat and together. For a blanket this size, you will need to quilt it, so I just hand sewed about every 4 or so inches around the entire blanket to keep it all together and flat. Now you're done!

(I sell these for $150)

Fun Homemade Crayons

These crayons are a blast to make and kids go crazy for them! Use old crayon nubs or soak any crayons with paper wrappers in water for a while to make them easier to peel. I use approximately 6 crayons per muffin tin hole. It is best to heat the wax at about 250 degrees in your oven for 8-10 minutes. Check them at 8 minutes. You will want the colors to just to have melted and still be able to see swirls. If you let them cook to long they ruin.

PS - I have an old rusty half dozen muffin tin that I use for this project so I don't have to worry about cleaning the wax ring that gets left behind from these beauties.

Skirts and Banners

Happy Birthday
Happy Halloween
Tinker bell Tutu

Rosetta Tutu

Black Witch pettiskirt

Halloween is here and I love to dress up! The black pettiskirt is my witch skirt :) I'm going to post final pics when the time comes. The green tutu is for Tinkerbell and the maroon is for Rosetta

The banner says: Happy Halloween..easy to make:

*1/4yd makes 2 triangles..so depending on what you are spelling and how many different fabrics you want to use: I used 7 different fabrics.

*about 4 yards of binding, twill tape, or ribbon

*about 1 yard 2 sided fusible facing (whatever thickness you desire..or you can just use heat n bond)

*about 1/2 yard material for cutting out letters: I traced chipboard letters onto fabric (you can print out your font and cut it out of chipboard)

*1/2 yard wonder under, heat n bond, fabric glue for letters

..sew along the edge of the triangle once the interfacing is ironed in and then sew on the binding: overlap each triangle corner just a little.

The triangles are 8in wide on top and 10 in long down the middle (fold your fabric in half, then cut out the triangle) The interfacing should be just smaller than the fabric.

Onsie Fun

This is a 2 day project; dye the first day, decorate the second day!

Supplies:
Onsies or shirt
Dye
Large bowl or sink
Salt
Felt or fabric
Scissors
Liquid Stitch or Sewing Machine

I just followed the instruction on the dye package. I used velvet black, flamingo pink and purple. After I dyed them I washed them to make sure the didn't bleed after I applied my applique. I just let them air dry.

Next I cut all my applique's. Place a piece of wax paper inside the shirt. Then using the liquid stitch glue on your felt or fabric. Place something heavy on-top of the design to apply pressure. Let dry for 24 hours. I have never used liquid stitch so I am not sure how well it will hold up. If you are worried about it just sew it on instead.

Note: I like the uneven color created by dying the shirts. If you don't you may have to dye your onesies twice or leave them in longer.

For the ruffled onesie I used this tutorial:
http://kari-youcanmakeit.blogspot.com/2009/05/ruffle-butt-onesie-tutorial.html

A different kind of Tie Dye

You will need:

90% alcohol (put in a spray bottle)

color permanent markers

white t-shirt

(you can even apply to different things, like canvas bags)

cardboard

This type of tie-dye is a little different. First, you choose a design. Next, put some cardboard inside the shirt. Draw your design using dots (for example, instead of drawing with lines, I drew dots in a heart shape). You can even just do dots all over the shirt and create a traditional tie dye look. Then, you put 90% alcohol in a spray bottle and saturate the design area, leaving the shirt flat, until dry. This way it can distribute evenly.

Chair Cover

I found this chenille fabric online for super cheap! it's durable and great to cover up my white micro fiber chairs. I designed this simple cover so that I can remove it anytime and wash it. I can just velcro on the straps on the back of the chair.
I used a thin material for making the pattern. I traced on top of the material over the chair and cut out the pattern, then the fabric. then I measured the sides of the chairs to know the length I wanted and the width of the chair. The concept wasn't difficult, although putting all of them together is going to be a little time consuming. In the end, it will be nice to put the booster chairs on top and not have to worry about the ruining the chairs.
I'm sure these covers in the stores cost much more than it did for me to make them :)