Craftaphile

Paint a Dish Towel

2012-02-27T12:34:00.000-08:00

Guess who got a Silhouette Cameo for her birthday??! Dreams do come true...I did!! It arrived a few days ago and although my birthday is not for another week, I could see no sense in waiting to try it out.

First project on my list was a painted dish towel. I found a whisk that I liked in the online Silhouette store, sized it, and had it cut out of contact paper. I used the negative as a stencil and applied Tulip Fabric Paint like so:

The color is Lime Matte and you can find it JoAnn's. It dried in about 1/2 an hour and will be okay to wash after 72 hours.

Expect to see more Silhouette projects in the near future!

A Beach Bag

2012-02-16T12:48:00.000-08:00

Last week I made this beach bag for my sister to take on her vacation to Hawaii! What I would give for a white sandy beach and 80 degree weather right now! Definitely jealous :) After searching for the perfect beach bag pattern and not finding it, I looked to my own stash of bags for inspiration. I ended up choosing a tote bag from AE that I liked and began studying it's seams, trying to figure out how it was put together. When I couldn't quite grasp what the pattern would look like for the bottom, I decided to do a little seam ripping. It made much more sense after that! And I now understand the parts of a bag and the order in which to sew them. If there were only more hours in the day, I think I could design my own pattern!

Fabric Checkerboard : X's and O's Edition

2012-01-30T18:50:00.000-08:00

The inspiration for a Valentine version of this age old game came after I ordered some blank bottle caps from Pick Your Plum a few weeks ago. I purchased them thinking I would make something entirely different, but that didn't pan out. So I got to thinking and came up with the idea to use them as Checkers pieces. And my incredible husband suggested using fabric as the board!

Everything turned out just as I had imagined! I was going for a tattered look on the board, so the edges are raw and in some spots a little turned up.

To show when a piece has been kinged, another X or O can be placed on top of it (as in the O on the third row from the bottom).

A competitive game - hugs and kisses style, and a bottle of Sparkling Cider sound like the perfect take-a-longs to me, for a romantic afternoon in the park!

A Lovely Valentine's Wreath

2012-01-25T11:06:00.000-08:00

I don't normally do a lot of V-day decorating, but I thought I might get a little more into it this year. So to start off, here is a lovely little wreath. I used the same red berries it had on for Christmas, just bent them into hearts and then added a paper banner. $.25 update!!

To make the banner, I cut a little notch at the top of each pennant, folded it over twine and hot glued it down.

Then I just found a space in between those twisted twigs, slipped the twine in and tied a little knot to hold it. Twig wreaths are such great decor because they can so easily be changed with the seasons and holidays!

Birthday Gift Idea: Indoor Hop Scotch

2012-01-16T15:40:00.000-08:00

This idea is pure genius! Bubble wrap and Hop Scotch, together?! What little girl wouldn't go crazy over this? It's a perfect indoor activity for a cold winter's day. And thanks to giver'slog, I am sending this as a birthday present to my niece first thing tomorrow morning! I know she will LOVE it.

Want to make one too? Here's how I did it:

Gather Materials: Cardboard Box, Bubble Wrap, Yarn, Scissors, Hole Punch, and Sharpies

Step 1: Cut 10 12"X12" squares of bubble wrap and 2 slightly larger pieces of cardboard.

Step 2: Using permanent markers, write numbers on the flat side of bubble wrap.
Be sure to write them backwards!

So they look like this when right side up!

Step 3: Punch holes along each edge of both cardboard pieces

Step 4: Write the rules down on one of the pieces of cardboard. They can be found here.

Step 5: Tape a quarter to the other side.

Step 6: Sandwich the bubble wrap between the two pieces of cardboard and thread yarn
through the holes. I put a piece of tape around the end of the yarn for easy threading.

Step 7: Decorate the front however you want!
I'm going to mail this, so I addressed it and it's now ready to take to the post office!

Go ahead, make someone's day!

Refinished Table and Chairs

2011-12-31T10:20:00.000-08:00

It's finished! Aah. You may or may not remember that I started this project back in June. I posted about it in August after I got the first chair done. Yes, it took another 4 months to finish the other 3 chairs and the table! I really drug my feet on this one, but now it's done and there couldn't be a better way to end the year!

First I sanded everything down. If there is one lesson I learned through this whole process, it is to sand, sand, and then sand some more! I preserved the intricate table top design by staining it, then painted everything else. I really like the dual color scheme.

This was definitely not a beginner's project. Perhaps that is why it took me so long to finish - I am a novice when it comes to refinishing furniture. So I am proud of myself for pushing through and finally getting it done!

Needless to say, I LOVE how it turned out! But I will not be attempting any more big furniture makeovers for a very long time!

Handmade Gift Exchange: Pretty Accessories

2011-12-20T10:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I showed you what I sent my partner for The Handmade Gift Exchange. So today I will share what Mary Katherine sent me. First off, this ADORABLE hounds-tooth flower headband.

The perfect accessory for Baby J's winter outfit. I love it.

Second, this pretty tweed brooch. I was really impressed with the quality of this flower. I've made and bought lots of flowers and this one seems to be put together really well. The petals were sewn together and the pin on the back is secured with thread as well as glue. I know it is going to be super durable and am excited to wear it.

And lastly, a set of orange embossed thank you cards that I had been eyeing since I discovered her shop. Check them out here. Be sure to hop on over to MKMathews and take a look at all the pretty accessories she has for sale!

Thanks for the handmade gifts Mary Katherine!!

Handmade Gift Exchange: Embroidered Dish Towel

2011-12-19T10:52:00.000-08:00

Have you heard of The Handmade Gift Exchange that Linda from Craftaholics Anonymous put together? It is such a fun idea and I decided to join in the Holiday 2011 Edition. After signing up, you are paired with someone for a handmade gift exchange. Each person receives one other person's contact information and mailing address and then it is up to you to get to know that person and make something for them!

I was partnered up with Mary Katherine who blogs at Mathews Family Happenings about crafting, decorating/renovating her home, and her wonderful crazy life. This woman has some awesome talent! She is not only a wife and mom, but a singer, music teacher, theater director, and actress too. Plus she blogs! She has got to have some serious time management skills!!

It was fun to "meet" a new blogger and challenging to figure out what to make her. I read through her blog and stalked her on Pinterest as well as looked for ideas among her Etsy favorites. I finally decided to try my hand at embroidery and made her this dish towel. Isn't it cute!?

I printed off the free pattern from Wild Olive and followed her simple directions. This cupcake requires only 2 different stitches, so it is a perfect beginner's project. Since I had never embroidered before I followed these thorough instructions for making the backstich and these for the french knots.

I also sent each of her kiddos a package of Reindeer Noses. I'll be back later with pictures of what she sent me!

Using Sticker Negatives as Stencils

2011-12-13T16:50:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas in Hawaiian

Sorry for the lull in posts lately. I've been on Maui for the last week soaking up the sun and relaxing!! But I'm back now and have been busy unpacking and tidying up. The babe has been running a fever and has been very sleepy so I even managed to get some crafting in. I ran a coconut giveaway last week on my other blog: A Real-Life Housewife and decided to paint a little message on it before sending it off. Instead of digging out my Cricut to cut stencils, I grabbed some stickers and used the negatives.

This is a great method if you don't have a cutting machine!

It worked great! I was debating about drawing a rainbow next to the message but realized my painting skills are not that great and decided to keep things simple. I hope the winner likes it!

Hop on over to A Real-Life Housewife to learn some useful household tips as well as to get to know me a little better. You might just be inspired to clean your shower head or shine your glassware!

Free Printable Treat Bag Toppers for Reindeer Noses

2011-11-30T21:13:00.001-08:00

Are these the cutest Christmas treats you've ever seen or what? I got the idea from Zoe at A Personal Touch. She used real scrap booking supplies, but I cheated and designed them in My Memories Suite. I found the cute little reindeer clip art here and used embellishments and monograms from the software to create the rest. I am just loving this digital scrap booking stuff! It has come in handy for all sorts of things. I think I may make a Christmas themed header for the blog with it next! They just came out with Version 3 so I've been playing around with it and there are definitely some improvements! They even fixed one of the things I complained about in my review! There is now an easier way to find your store purchases. And I really love that they made custom sizing available. You can set your paper size to just about anything you want.

If you would like to try it out for yourself, use code STMMMS54717 for $10 off, making it only $29.97!! Plus this will give you $10.00 of in-store credit to buy some supplies! This would make a great Christmas gift!

I filled each bag with 8 Whoppers and 1 Sweet's Christmas Fruit Sour (can be purchased at Walmart). Click here to access the free downloadable tags (via freepdfhosting.com)! I recommend printing them on some nice paper like Premium Presentation Matte. Once they are printed, simply cut them out on the dotted lines and fold in half. Staple to your treat bags and you have a fun and cute little gift or favor.

Buy Handmade This Season + a HUGE Giveaway

2011-11-30T07:39:00.001-08:00

Today I would like to introduce you to a new favorite blog of mine:

This blog showcases Etsy shops and is always giving away something. It is easy to enter their giveaways and it is a great way to discover other handmade vendors. Right now they have a HUGE holiday giveaway in conjunction with their Holiday Gift Guide. Over $600 worth of handmade goodies!! Entering is as easy as becoming a follower of their blog (don't see why anyone would not want to do this!) and leaving a comment. So head on over to a little etsy love for some great handmade gift ideas as well as a chance to enter this awesome giveaway!!

An Unconventional Christmas Tree

2011-11-21T14:17:00.001-08:00

200 + book pages rolled and glued to a heavy cardboard cone then attached to a wooden dowel.

And a 3D star for the topper. If you missed the tutorial, click here.

Although the rolling and gluing were very time consuming, the hardest part of this tree proved to be the base. My original idea of sticking the dowel in a piece of styrofoam and covering it with burlap, completely flopped. It was top heavy. So, I thought about it and experimented with different things and finally decided on some scrap wood I had laying around. And guess what? There was already a hole which was the perfect size for the dowel!! How lucky is that? I spray painted it Rust-Oleum Metallic, sanded it down a little and my tree is now finished! What do you think, good use of an old book?

Create Thank You Cards with My Memories Suite

2011-11-12T09:53:00.000-08:00

Think to thank this holiday season with a simple card.

I designed these thoughtful gestures using My Memories Suite. This digital scrapbooking software is not only great for documenting life's most memorable moments, but you can also make a lot of other things too-like calendars, slide shows, and cards to name a few!

To make these cards, I used the following two Designer Packs, which I got for free because I liked the My Memories FB page (get a $5.00 credit just for liking them!)

After downloading the embellishments to my computer, I opened up the software and came up with this design. I saved it as a JPEG and inserted into Microsoft Office where I decreased the size and arranged it so that when printed it could be folded into a card.

Turned out cute, don't ya think?! I thought the printing quality was excellent and will be designing up some more.

Use the code on my sidebar for an awesome discount! ($10.00 off purchase of software + $10.00 credit to store)

How to Make a 3d Paper Star

2011-11-10T10:34:00.001-08:00

I was in need of a star to top a rolled paper Christmas tree I am working on, so to be all matchy matchy, I made it out of paper. Book pages to be specific! Are you excited to see it? Well, it should be finished soon - just working on a few little details. And boy will I be glad when it is done! My fingers can't take any more rolling. Luckily this star only involves folding, giving them a break!

All you need are a couple of paper stars and some glue. I used Mod Podge.

Like the pictures show, start with one star and fold it in half at each point. This will give you 5 creases. Then fold the star in between the points in the opposite direction you folded the points. Do this to both stars and then glue them together. Use them for tree toppers, ornaments, shelf decor, or whatever your heart desires.

Printable Birthday Calendar

2011-11-08T12:29:00.000-08:00

Keeping track of birthdays can be difficult, especially when you come from a sizable family and then marry into an even more sizable family. Between my parents, my siblings and their kids, there are 21 of us. Combine that with 35 people on my husbands side and I have 56 birthdays to remember. Plus 3 Grandparents and a handful of friends. So I started searching for a system that would aid my memory, and I pleasantly stumbled upon this free printable Birthday Calendar at Lemon Squeezy. I really like that everyone's birthdays are displayed on one page. With a single glance I can see who's birthday is this month and how many cards I will need to get for next month. It will make planning ahead a cinch and hopefully I won't miss any more birthdays!

Click here to print yourself one!

A Holiday Wreath

2011-11-03T13:38:00.000-07:00

I've started my holiday decorating with a simple wreath for my front door.

Every time I go to the craft store I longingly gaze at all the pretty wreaths. Then I stroll on, because I can't get myself to spend $20+ dollars on one. When I saw how inexpensive this unfinished twig wreath was (something like $3.00 or $4.00) I decided to try making one from scratch. I found some berries for a buck a piece and a couple of star ornaments for not much more.

Put them all together and my door is dressed for the upcoming months.

My Memories Suite Review & Giveaway

2011-11-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

The digital age has revolutionized so many things, and scrapbooking is definitely among them. Say goodbye to stacks of paper, rolls of ribbon and pairs of scissors and welcome My Memories Suite into your life. It will save you time and money. Plus, it's totally fun! Check out my Reviews Blog to learn more and enter to win this digital scrapbooking software! CLICK HERE.

A Treat Bag for My Ladybug

2011-10-31T12:15:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween everybody!! We have been celebrating all weekend. Festivities began for us on Friday with a Halloween celebration at Aaron's office. Kids were invited to trick or treat the cubicles and about an hour before it began I realized I didn't have anything for this cute ladybug to gather treats in. So I rummaged through my supplies and found some felt that matched her costume perfectly and I whipped up a simple treat bag.

I sewed 2 rectangles together for the bag and then attached a handle on each side with a few stitches. The letters were traced, cut out, then adhered to the bag by needle felting. Felt is a fun material to work with and one I want to explore. Get inspired too by checking out my Felt Pinterest Board!

Apple Bites

2011-10-26T11:38:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but at our house we are already on a sugar high and it's not even Halloween yet. I bought one of those BIG bags of mini candy bars, like the $10.00 ones, and we have been snacking on them all week. So when I saw these at Disney Family Fun, I thought, "What a healthy, fun snack!" and I made some.

All you need is an apple, a paring knife, and some almond slivers.

Slice the apple into fourths.

Cut a wedge out of the skin side, slit holes in the flesh and stick "teeth" in! If you're not serving them right away, moisten with orange juice to keep them from browning.

A Monogrammed Book Band

2011-10-25T12:17:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned a couple of months ago, I joined a book club! We met for the first time a few weeks ago and discussed Saving Cee Cee Honeycut by Beth Hoffman. It was so much fun to get out of the house and meet up with a bunch of women who also love to read! We enjoyed stimulating conversation and laughed a lot as we recounted the story of Cee Cee living through the death of her crazy mom and then getting rescued by her generous Aunt Tootie and all her female friends. While it wasn't my favorite book (not even close!), I did come to appreciate it more and even like it a little bit more as we talked about it.

So what does all this have to do with a book band for my polka dot notebook? Well, as I read books I like to slap a sticky note on passages and quotes that I really like. After I finish a book, I flip back through the book and type them up. Problem was that they weren't organized. Scattered in different folders and what not, they weren't accessible. So I decided I would transfer them to a notebook and record new ones as I read.

That way, they are all in one place. And I can go back and read through them with a flip of the page. I have quite enjoyed writing them all down and it has made me want to reread some of the books.

So here's the how to and used what?

I dug through my stash of fold over elastic and found a piece that matched, wrapped it around my book and cut it an inch smaller than that, sewed it together and hot glued a chip board letter over the seam. All in one breath. That quickly.

I like it because it is thin and it won't fall off! I can keep it securely attached while I am jotting down notes. And if I want to slip a piece of paper in between the cover and first page, it won't fall out.

And I decided to write it all in cursive. For fun. I almost always write in manuscript, so this is a nice change. Plus there is something really lovely about flowing, connected letters and it reminds me of my mom.

Dancing Skeletons + Free Halloween Printables

2011-10-18T08:54:00.000-07:00

I am in love.

Isn't this font clever? I have had so much fun playing with it,

making fun Halloween printables.

And the collection wouldn't be complete without some Speciman Art:

This has got to be one of my favorite fonts ever. Fittingly named Tango Macabre, you can download it for free here.

I have made the alphabet and eye exam posters available to print as PDF's for the next 30 days (via freepdfhosting.com). Click here and here.

Enjoy!

A Symbol of Hope

2011-10-13T16:02:00.000-07:00

A couple of Christmas's ago we gave some money to a young couple to help with medical expenses associated with the treatment of the wife's breast cancer. It went into remission not long after. Last night I learned that it is back and the cancer has spread. I personally don't know this woman, but my heart breaks for her. She is young-in her 20's. She is a mom to 2 little ones. I can't even begin to imagine what she must be going through.

Since October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I thought I would help spread the word. I have been following The Project Queen for the past few weeks as she has posted something pink as well as a breast cancer fact every single day. Did you know that on average, 112 women die from breast cancer every day?! EVERY DAY! That is an alarming number! Early detection is key to fighting and beating this malicious disease. If you are a woman, (no matter your age) check your breasts regularly! And if you are 40 or over, it is recommended that you get a mammogram every 1-2 years. The most common signs of breast cancer are: a lump in the breast; abnormal thickening of the breast; or a change in the shape or color of the breast. Check them often, ladies!

In lieu of this special month, I made a little something. And it's pink:

In hopes that women everywhere will make breast exams a part of their preventative healthcare.

And that someday a cure will be found!

The Hope Scarf is such a simple design. The most beginner of beginning sewers can pull it off easily. I encourage you to make one and spread the word!

Materials:

-1/2 Yd Pink Jersey Knit Fabric

-Scissors

-Thread

-Sewing Machine

Step 1: Cut It

Cut your fabric in half lengthwise.

Step 2: Sew the 2 Pieces Together

With right sides together, pin 2 of the short ends to each other. Sew with 5/8" seam allowance.

Step 3: Adjust the Length

Try it on. Adjust the length to your liking with a few snips. I cut about 12 inches off mine. No need for finishing the raw edges because they won't fray!

If you don't sew, no sweat! You can still "make" one. Simply go the fabric store and get a 1/2 yard of jersey knit fabric and drape it stylishly around your neck. Same thing, but a little chunkier and just as cute!

Hugs to all you women out there fighting breast cancer. My hope and prayers are with you!

*update:

The Hope Scarf could be YOURS! I have whipped up another one and will be participating in One Artsy Momma's "Un-giveaway for the Cure", which is basically a silent auction. The scarf will be given to the commentor who bids the highest amount. All proceeds will go directly to The Susan G. Komen Foundation. Come back Wed, Oct. 19 for your chance at The Hope Scarf!

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A BID

Candy Corn Bunting {With Real Candy Corn!}

2011-10-10T10:31:00.000-07:00

Pour yourself a bowl of delicious candy corns,

and get stringing...

for an edible Halloween bunting.

*Not guaranteed to last.

To make this bunting, I took a push pin and made a hole near the top of several candies. I then threaded a needle with regular thread and strung them on. (May cause a stomach ache if you are anything like me and you eat more than you string!)

Halloween Decor: Mummies

2011-10-06T11:41:00.000-07:00

Why is the mummy so tense?

Because he's all wound up!

Why were ancient Egyptian children confused?

Because their daddies were mummies!

To make some mummies of your own, gather the materials listed below and follow the 4 simple steps.

Materials:

-styrofoam balls (any size)

-1/4 yd muslin

-eyelets/brads

-tea bag

-spray bottle

-22 guage floral wire

-glue

Step 1: Prepare the Tea
Boil one cup of water in a small saucepan. Turn off heat and place tea bag in the water. Leave to cool. You will use this later to spray the mummy.

Step 2: Insert Eyes and Legs

Take a styrofoam ball and insert 2 eyelets or brads between the middle and top of the ball. For extra hold, dab them in a little glue before inserting. For the legs, cut 2 pieces of wire (however long you want the legs to be) and bend one end of each wire into an oval. Stick them into the bottom of the ball.

Step 3: Wrap It
Cut 3/8" wide strips of muslin and begin wrapping the ball until it is covered, going around the eyes and legs. Use glue to adhere the ends of the strips onto the ball.

Step 4: Spray the Mummy
Remove the tea bag and pour the tea into a spray bottle. Spray the mummy lightly and let dry 10-15 minutes. It will look spotty at first, just spray it again once it is dry. Repeat until desired color is achieved.

Have fun getting into the Halloween spirit by decorating with these cute and easy mummies!

I'm linking up to:

I'm a COLOURlover: Halloween Inspired Color Palettes

2011-10-03T10:36:00.000-07:00

I'm pulling out the Halloween decorations today and will be making some new ones to add to them this week. I've created several color palettes to get my wheels turning.

I know there will be lots of orange. And how about some white and gray?

Of course there will be little splashes of green and purple.

Mix them all together and you have Halloween. What colors will you be using this spooky season?

Want to make your own color palettes? Check out COLOURlovers. You won't be disappointed.

Birthday Party: One Year Old in a Flash

2011-09-29T20:58:00.000-07:00

What an exciting year it has been! I never dreamed parenting would be so fulfilling, trying, or fun. It has changed my life in so many positive ways. I am so grateful for the chance to be a mom to this beautiful, healthy baby. She is so loved.

We celebrated Jayna's birth and this past year with a picture themed party. I have Stacy at Elle Belle Creative to thank for the awesome idea.

We invited friends and family to come for fun, photos, and food. I knew I would ~~want~~ need to get someone (let's be honest, I am no photographer!) to come take pictures so I hired Christal Anderson and she did a great job. I was able to really enjoy the party and not worry about snapping photos. And they turned out way better than any I would have taken so it was totally worth the money. She arrived early and we got some of just the three of us and then she manned the "photo booth" as well as took candid shots throughout the party.

The trunk Jayna is sitting on is her time capsule. We suggested that in the place of a gift, people bring a newspaper clipping, predictions about the future, letters, or photos to put in a time capsule that she will open on her 18th birthday. I love this idea and am going to do it for all of our future kiddos. I already have a suitcase I want to use for Calvin (yes I have already named our unborn, unconceived son). I saw it at the thrift store and thought it would be perfect. Am I crazy? It was a good deal and I love it. Anyways, Jayna got lots of fun stuff in her capsule: lots of letters, including a 5 pager from her Great Grandma whom she is named after, a cd of popular music from the past year, a movie and a book, and some other stuff! I don't want to spoil it for her in case someday she reads this, but you get the gist.

The photo booth was fun for both young and old alike. I simply hung up a gray twin size flat sheet for the backdrop and made a few photo props. You can find a tutorial for my giant bow ties here.

The chub-a-wub loved her giant cupcake as you can tell by how much she ate!

There was a cupcake bar for the rest of us with frosting, nuts, sprinkles, and gummy bears.

And for favors each of the kids received a baby box camera. I bought the PDF for these from Etsy seller Mel Stringer. They were a bit time consuming to put together, but fun once finished!

This babe is ready to take on the world! She is such a sweet and silly girl. We can't wait to see what the future brings!

I'm linking up to the Birthday Challenge at the CSI Project!

Beginner Needle Felting: Felted Acorns

2011-09-26T14:58:00.000-07:00

This morning I tried needle felting for the first time and made this lovely acorn! If you are not familiar with needle felting it is the process of pushing layers of wool together with a spiky long needle that is ultra sharp, resulting in the layers sticking together. You don't need many materials and it is very simple, but you do need to be super careful as to not poke yourself!

To get started, gather these items:

- wool roving

I bought mine at JoAnn's which didn't have a large selection of colors, but something to start out with. If you don't mind waiting a few days for it to ship and want more variety, search Etsy. If you aren't sure what wool roving is or want to know more about it, this link will be helpful: explanation of wool fibers.

- a felting needle

The link above also provides info on different needles.

- a piece of thick foam or a pillow

This is for your work surface. I used a pillow and it worked just great!

- acorn caps

If you don't have an oak tree nearby, just purchase some caps. I paid a whopping $2.00 for 50 at Snorkelbuzz.

- a glue gun

Once you've got your supplies, get poking! Pull a small piece of roving apart, roll it into a ball and start poking. Poke and poke some more until you like how it looks and it is the shape you want. For a good visual, watch this video tutorial for felted acorns. Once you get it to the size and shape you want, hot glue it to an acorn cap and it is ready to be used for anything you can imagine up. I am thinking a garland or wreath or even just in a bowl as some autumn eye candy. Only time will tell, I've got 49 more caps to fill!

AND THE WINNER IS...

2011-09-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

Rita! Random.org picked #4. Congratulations to you! I will be contacting you with further details!

Q: What is your favorite TV show of all time and what episode?

A: Psych!!! Hands down my favorite show of all time :)

Q: What is something on your bucket list?

A: Travel over seas

Q: Have any pets?

A: Yes, one cat, Pepper. She's been my cat since the 8th grade!

Q: Are you a beach, country, or city person?

A: I love the country but I definitely miss living near the beach. And in no way would I consider myself a city person.

She has an etsy shop where she sells beautiful bags:

and blogs at:

Go check her out!

THANKS to all who entered! For those who didn't win, use code SHIPPING1 for free shipping now through
Oct. 1. It was fun "meeting" you and I now have shows I need to watch, new blogs to follow, and more
items on my wish list!

Connections and a GIVEAWAY!

2011-09-21T17:17:00.000-07:00

It's been a few months since Craftaphile was born and I just want to give a little shout out to you, my readers! One of the reasons I started this blog was to connect with fellow crafters, so I hope you are up for a few Q & A's today! A few of you I know personally and some I have connected with through blogging, but there are many of you I don't know. And I want to. Let's be blog friends-k! So here's to getting to know me better:

Q: What is your favorite TV show of all time and what episode?

A: Survivor, all the way! P.S. it's on tonight!! I loved Rudy in the immunity challenge during Survivor Borneo. "I dunno." Pretty sure I laughed so hard I cried. You can watch it here, but you may not think it's funny if you haven't seen the season and gotten to know him. I highly suggest adding it to your Netflix queue.

Q: What is something on your bucket list?

A: Give birth naturally.

Q: Have any pets?

A: Yes, one. Hermey the hermit crab. And he's creepy.

Q: What is your biggest fear?

A: Dying young. I want to live till I'm a hundred.

Q: Are you a beach, country, or city person?

A: Definitely country. I grew up in a teeny tiny town and now live in a pretty small city. Maybe it's just what I'm used to but I love it. Although, the beach and the city are nice to visit :)

Now I want to hear from you! Answer one of the Q's or 2 or 3 or all of them! If you have a blog or etsy shop, leave a link. I would love to check them out. And as a thank you for stopping by, I have a special prize for one of you!

A SET OF 4 CORK COASTERS

(Other colors available in my shop or by request)

A MEASURING EQUIVALENTS MAGNET SET

(Other colors also available)

So basically, your choice of something from my shop! To enter, just leave a comment (1 per person) below before I announce the winner on Saturday morning (Sept. 24). *You must be a follower to win.

Looking forward to getting to know you!

Sweater Upcycle

2011-09-15T16:50:00.000-07:00

Source

This cardigan has been hanging neglected and unloved in my closet for the past nine months. I ordered it online from American Eagle and when I got it, it was just a little bit too big. Instead of going through the hoopla of sending it back I thought it would probably shrink if I washed it in hot water and then it would fit just right. So I washed it, but to my dismay it didn't shrink. And into the closet it went. To stay.

Until I saw this tutorial from Cheri for an upcycled scarflette!! But I didn't want to use just part of my cardigan. If I was going to cut the entire back off, I thought I might as well make something out of the front and sleeves! So I scoured the web for inspiration and here is what came of it:

A Scarflette Part of cardigan used: the back

The fountain of my inspiration, this scarflette is the perfect Fall accessory. A little added warmth to those breezy autumn afternoons is just what I need! Check out the tutorial. Followed it to a T. Super easy!

A Button Ring Part of Cardigan Used: small piece of a sleeve

I was pleasantly surprised to find a package of 8 or so rings at JoAnn's the other day for just a couple bucks! After covering a button I glued (using E600) it onto one of the rings and voila!

A Headband Part of cardigan used: a sleeve

When it comes to headbands for me, I like to keep it simple. Flowers make me feel like a little girl, no offense to those who sport the daisies. Maybe because I am always putting flowery headbands on my baby. So, all I did was took a long, inch wide strip of the cardigan, folded it in half and sewed down the length of it. Then I turned it inside out and slipped an old headband into it, finishing it by pulling it snug and sewing a straight line across both ends and trimming off the excess.

A Keychain Chapstick Sleeve Part of cardigan used: end of a sleeve

No how-to or tutorial for this baby. Would you be interested in one? It's another super simple project that you could probably figure out just by looking at. Of all my new accessories, I think I am most excited about this one. I am always misplacing my chapstick or digging through my purse trying to find it. Not anymore!

A Sweater Purse Parts of cardigan used: both sides of the front and the buttoned collar

And last but not least, the purse. Complete with a pocket in the front and conveniently-an adjustable strap. I didn't follow a tutorial or anything on this one. My inspiration came as I made the other accessories. I haven't sewn too many things without a pattern or following a tutorial, so this was particularly satisfying! Although it is a simple purse, it stimulated my desire to design and create.

And there you have my reincarnated cardigan, ready to live again.

Printing On Burlap: Laundry Sign

2011-08-29T15:48:00.000-07:00

Have you tried printing on fabric yet? So fun and easy! I love how this burlap laundry sign turned out. All I did was sprayed some adhesive onto a sheet of printer paper, stuck a piece of burlap to it, trimmed it and sent it through the printer. And I used this free printable. Stuck it in a frame without the glass and voila, inexpensive cute decor!

The Stache Party: Burp Cloths

2011-08-27T11:14:00.000-07:00

Stephanie over at My Li'l Pumpkin Patch is hosting her first Stache Party. For all the details, check out her blog. Basically you just create something from your stash of crafting supplies or finish an unfinished project and she posts a picture and a link to your blog! What a great idea!

Today I reduced my stash of flannel and cloth diapers by making a couple of burp cloths.

Jaime at Sew She Sews has a burp cloth tutorial that I love to use. These are super easy and make a great gift. I love their size and thickness. I just wish I would have discovered her tutorial before I had Jayna, she was such a spitter. At least I will have them for the next baby!

In Over My Head!?

2011-08-23T09:22:00.000-07:00

It really doesn't look that bad, does it??

I have seriously considered leaving it like this. That's how much I dislike the whole process of refinishing furniture. It's just so much WORK!! If the end result wasn't so worth it (at least it better be so worth it) I would never have started. I began this project back in June after my husband gave me a sander for Mother's Day and haven't seemed to muster up the motivation to continue. But summer is fading fast and soon enough it will be too cold outside to work on it, so finish it I must.

The main reason I am doing this is so that it will match the rest of the kitchen. I don't know what we were thinking when we purchased this set. We found it on Craigslist and bought it used from a little old man about 40 miles away. We paid too much and it doesn't even match. I guess I wasn't design conscious back then.

There are some things that I really love about it though. The top is my favorite. I love how the grains match up to create a totally awesome design.

I also love that it has a glass top to preserve its beauty. Such a great idea. I can craft on it and not worry about ruining it! Or Jayna can knock over her cup of milk, no sweat. So because I love the top so much I am hoping to do a little something like Elizabeth's farm table over at Blue Clear Sky:

I'll stain just the top of the table the same color as my cabinets and then paint the rest black.

One chair down, 3 more to go plus a table!

A Birthday Bib

2011-08-10T15:43:00.000-07:00

Jayna will most definitely need this for the cake smash!

This was my first-ever attempt at making a bib. I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted it to look like other than the 1. The ruffle just sort of came to me as I got going. I simply traced one of her bibs onto my fabric and went from there. If I had more time I would make another one and take into account seam allowances. This one fits but is just a wee bit smaller than I would like. It will work though!

Giant Bow Ties as Photo Booth Props

2011-08-08T14:03:00.000-07:00

Today I started making props for the party's photo booth. First on the list were giant bow ties! I got the inspiration from Grey Luster Girl.

One for Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear.

These are seriously SO easy!! It's almost a no-sew project and you can put one together in 20 minutes or less.

Materials:
- a fabric quarter
- piece of steam-a-seam
- fold over elastic (14" per tie)
- velcro

The How-To:

A fabric quarter was just the right amount of fabric for the biggest bow, so you will have some fabric left over if you make the mama or baby ties. I'm going to give you the dimensions for the baby bow tie and you can adjust them by 2 inches for the mama or 4 inches for the papa.

Step 1: Iron your fabric quarter and cut a rectangle 10 1/2" X 9" and a square 3 1/2" X 3 1/2".

Step 2: Cut a 3 3/4" X 9" piece of Steam-A-Seam

Step 3: Take your large rectangle of fabric and iron the edges of the shorter sides over, toward the middle. Then iron the edge of one of the longer sides toward the middle.

Step 4: Place your Steam-A-Seam in the middle of your fabric rectangle.

Step 5: Fold over the unfolded edge first and then the folded edge so your rectangle has a finished look. Place a damp washcloth on the fabric and press your hot iron on top for 15 seconds. Do this to the entire rectangle. This will result in the fabric stiffening.

Step 6: Sew along the short edges of the rectangle.

You are done with the main portion of your tie. Now we will make the band that goes in the middle of the tie. Grab the small fabric square you already cut.

Step 7: Fold over the edges of 2 opposite sides. Then fold in half, hamburger style, with right sides together. Sew along the edge.

Step 8: Turn inside out. Take the main portion of the bow tie and fold accordion style. Slip the band onto the middle and you are just about done!

Final Step: Cut a piece of fold-over elastic to measure 14". Sew a small piece of Velcro to each end and slip through the back side of your bow tie.

I linked up to:
http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/2011/08/craftomaniac-monday-link-p-ar-ty-my.html

Header Design

2011-08-03T12:17:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you've heard about Dana's header design contest over at Made, but if for some reason you haven't- check it out right away! Hop on over to the flickr group and be inspired to join the contest or recreate one for your own blog. Here is my entry:

She is celebrating 3 years of blogging so I thought it would be appropriate to include a time line in the design. Happy Blogging!

Knotted Fabric Strip Banner

2011-08-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

I've been seeing these types of banners all over the place! I love them, so I made one for the big party!

If you would like to make one too, you will need the following materials:

1 yard of fabric (divide that by however many different colors you want)
3 yards of thick string
scissors

Then just follow these steps:

A fun banner, perfect for lots of occasions.

1st Birthday Party - Invitations

2011-07-27T08:36:00.000-07:00

I say it every 26th. "I can't believe she's another month old!" As of yesterday Jayna is one month shy of turning a year old! And we just pushed her birthday party 2 weeks earlier so it is crunch time! I've got the invitations all printed and pretty much ready to go besides postage so they will be in the mail today! I am having so much fun planning this party! Thanks to Pinterest, I came across the perfect theme: One Year Old in a Flash. Stacy at Elle Belle Creative threw her daughter an awesome party that I am borrowing LOTS of ideas from. I saw her invitations and I tried to create something similar, but with my own style. It didn't really work out. My creative juices just weren't flowing so they turned out pretty much the same and I love them!

Since I don't have any fancy software, I turned to my trusty Microsoft PowerPoint to create them. I got the camera and filmstrip from an online scrapbook store, here. And I downloaded a couple of the fonts for free from dafont.com. It was a little tricky getting those pictures to fit in the filmstrip though. Lots of trial and error, glad that's over with.

This is the insert I included with the invitations. I love the idea of a time capsule and am really excited to see what people bring! I also thought it was a nice alternative to bringing a gift.

A couple of notes on printing:

Save your document as a PDF to get a clear printout when using Microsoft PowerPoint.
I copied and pasted so that there were 2 5X7 invitations on 1 8X10 sheet, and 5 3X5 inserts on 1 8X10 sheet. This will save you $$ when you print them.
Before printing all of them I tested on different types of paper. They looked the same hot off the printer, so I ended up ordering the gloss. When I got home I liked the matte finish better.

Stay tuned for more party details! The next few weeks will be jam-packed!!

Lamp Revamp

2011-07-20T14:17:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to give this lampshade a makeover ever since I bought it. Since July's Create With Me project is just that, I decided to finally give it a little tlc. And I didn't even wait until the last day of the month! The Before and After:

The Ribbon/Trim aisle is quickly becoming a favorite section of mine. I found this lacey, flowery stuff at Joann's.

And couldn't resist.

With some:

and

I got to work!

I found it easiest to apply the fabri-tac to the lampshade rather than the back of the ribbon. Simply squeeze some on and press your ribbon to your shade. I started at the bottom, wrapping and gluing and then cutting each layer so it was not one continuous piece of ribbon, but rather 9 individual pieces. You can't even tell where I began and finished with each layer! This was such an easy and fast project that added some pretty little detail to Baby J's nursery.

There is still plenty of time for you to join in the fun, so grab a lampshade and get crafty!

Chevron Cork Coasters

2011-07-17T23:43:00.000-07:00

Introducing my latest creation...

RED.

CHEVRON.

COASTERS ! ! !

Are these hot or what!?

I needed a coaster, just a single coaster. That tissue thrown underneath my cup just wasn't cutting it anymore. After I delivered Baby J, I became addicted to ice water. Nursing makes you so thirsty. I especially like to keep a glass on my nightstand, but quickly realized I would need something to protect it from getting drenched by my sweating beverage. So I made a coaster, and it was cool. I thought to myself, someone else might like one of these too. So I made some more! And that is how the lipstick red chevron coasters came about. Save yourself the time and tedious effort of tracing a pattern onto contact paper, cutting it out, adhering it to the coaster and then painting it by PURCHASING some already made! Or if you're feeling froggy, make your own-I won't be offended (cuz that's probably what I'd do).

Picnic Basket Tutorial

2011-07-07T16:58:00.000-07:00

Summer time is sunshine, kite flying, sunburns, laziness, ice cream, bbqs, bike riding, hiking, family, and picnics!

I love laying in the park on a warm summer day after eating a crisp sandwich just soaking it all in. Summer is the best. And so are picnics.

To make a nifty picnic basket like the one above you will need: a basket, a piece of corrugated cardboard, spray adhesive, fabric, purse handles, a glue gun, and a sewing machine.

I started by tracing the top of my basket onto a piece of corrugated cardboard. Be sure you trace it so that the lines on the cardboard are going in the direction you want your lid to fold. Cut it out.

Fold the lid so there is about 1 1/2 inches in the middle. Unfold it. Fold it. Unfold it. This will give it it's form.

Then cover with fabric however you wish! I used 1/2" strips of fabric glued with spray adhesive.

Now for the handles! I purchased a set of braided microfiber purse handles at JoAnne's for around $3.00. I attached them by sewing a small piece of fabric near the edge of the canvas lining.

Then inserted the rings of the handles and sewed the other end.

Lastly, I hot glued the lid on to the basket at the 1 1/2" middle.

And there you have it.

I linked up to the Parties and Picnics Challenge at:

Create With Me Project and a Thrift Find

2011-06-29T16:10:00.000-07:00

Isn't this pillow so fun?! I love it. When I saw that UCreate's "Create With Me Project" were throw pillows and one of them was the Shag Pillow by V and Co I knew I had to get in on the action. The tutorial was put together nicely and the pillow was fairly easy to construct, just a little tedious. I made it for this rocking chair I found at the secondhand store for only $3.00!! There were actually 2 of them and I bought them both! Thank you Isaiah and Alyza! I gave new life to the green one by sanding it down and painting it a cream color. I had no idea it would be so much work, but am pleased with the results!

I started sanding down the purple one when I noticed a field of purple flowers down the street that I thought would be perfect for a photo shoot.

Then I decided I sort of like the purple so I haven't finished sanding it. Best thrift find I've had in a while!

Colorful Bubble Magnets

2011-06-21T10:01:00.000-07:00

Magnets are a great way to add a splash of color to your kitchen. These fun bubble magnets are not only colorful, but they have measuring equivalents printed on them. How useful! Sometimes when I'm cooking, a recipe will call for 4 teaspoons or 1 pint. And I can't quite remember what the equivalents are. Now that I have these handy, just a glance at my magnet board and problem solved. I save myself a little time!

The yellow ones are my favorite! So bright and cheery.

Sets available in 5 different colors (red not pictured) for $13.00 at On a Whim.

Pretty Envelopes

2011-06-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

These pretty mailers are an inexpensive alternative to the boring white plain envelopes I couldn't find last week. I had made my dad a card and after unsuccessfully searching high and low for an envelope, I resorted to crafting my own. Then while at the local craft store I saw that 12X12 scrapbook paper was on sale- 5/$1.00 and spent a few hours making a stockpile. If you've never made an envelope before, it is super easy. Carefully undo one of those boring plain ones, trace it onto patterned paper, cut it out, fold it up, and glue it together! I made different sizes by adjusting the scale when copying the pattern.
Linked up to:
http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/
http://todayscreativeblog.net/

Father's Day Gift Idea: Motivational Poster

2011-06-14T11:20:00.000-07:00

Do you ever catch yourself smiling or laughing at the mere thought of something? Abby Kyhl captured this moment at our newborn session and it is one of my favorites. I wonder what she's thinking about? Since Father's Day is coming up I thought I would make a motivational poster for this sweet baby's incredible daddy. New office decor?! I think so. You can make one too by simply using Microsoft Power Point.

The How-To:
- Open up Microsoft Power Point. Click on Design ==> Page Setup. Change the width and height to whatever size you would like. I made mine 8"X10".
- Still under the Design tab, click on Background Styles (far right) and change to black.
- Insert a picture. You can add a white border by clicking on the picture and then Format. Choose from one of the thumbnails.
- Think of a word that describes the photo and a caption to go underneath. Type it in the text boxes that are already there and save it as a PDF (if you save it as a JPG it will print out fuzzy??). I recommend having it printed at a copy store. Walmart doesn't print PDFs so I printed my at Staples.

If you make one, let me know. I would love to see it!

I linked to http://todayscreativeblog.net/
http://funkypolkadotgiraffe.blogspot.com/2011/06/too-cute-tuesday-linky-par-tay-35.html

J is for Jayna--Scrappy Monogram

2011-06-01T21:18:00.000-07:00

Yay for fabric scraps. I love using them up! Grab some and cut them into long strips about 1/4 of an inch wide.

Purchase an inexpensive monogram at your local craft store as well as some Mod Podge if you don't have any.

And start wrapping! I applied a little Mod Podge on the end of the scrap, pressed it down, and wrapped away. My scraps weren't very long so I used a bunch of short ones.

And Voila! I think I may add some embellishments. Like maybe some twine wrapped around the top right side with a fabric flower or something. What do you think? Does it need a little something more?

Picture Frame Memo Board

2011-05-25T16:10:00.000-07:00

Before:

After:

I used to think it was embarrassing to shop at second hand stores, now it's a hobby! Funny how your perspective changes over time. As I was walking out with this treasure (which was a little more than I would have liked to pay) a fellow shopper commented that it was "beautiful, just beautiful". I smiled and laughed inside.
Do you ever finish a project and decide you don't really like how it ended up, so you tear it apart and redo it? Then you find you don't really like that any better? This was one of those. Luckily after about the fourth try, I achieved satisfaction. This is what I embellished my mini clothes pins for.

The How To:
After I knocked out the embroidery, I spray painted the frame. Then I took 3 white shirt hangers, clipped off the hooks and straightened them. I cut thin strips of scrap fabric and wrapped the hangers, adhering the ends with mod podge. I then hot glued them to the frame.

Pastel Mini Clothespins

2011-05-17T13:21:00.000-07:00

I am using mini clothespins for a project I am working on (which will be posted soon!) and wanted to add some color to them, but didn't really want to paint them so I used scrapbook paper instead. So simple and fast! By the way, I heart all things mini.

First I cut my paper into strips a little smaller than the sections I adhered them to. Using my paint brush I applied a coat of Mod Podge to the clothespin and pressed the strip of paper to it. Then I applied another coat of Mod Podge. And that's all!

Bunny Ears & A DIY Card

2011-04-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

I am loving bunnies this Easter! I got the cute hat idea Here. Yep I used the same fabric as the Warhol Dress! There might just be enough left to make ME something :)

I have been playing around with graphic designing this past week. I wish I could go back to school and study it...maybe someday. I have a friend who is a graphic designer who I've had create several things for me, but that costs money-and we all know how cheap the hubs is ;) So in an effort to live more frugally I decided to play around and see what I could create. While doing so I happened upon a fun blog called Good Look CookBook which features design recipes. This is where I got the "Some bunny Loves You" and the bunny icon idea. I found a free background at scrapblog.com and put it all together in Power Point. And voila! A free personalized card! Easy Peasy.

Can't get enough of those pretty blue eyes!

Comfy & Casual

2011-04-11T13:22:00.000-07:00

Wish we had a beach nearby that we could visit in this cute summer dress! Instead we are trying not to go crazy while we play inside and wait for the snow to melt.

I have discovered lots of cute clothing tutorials lately and when I spotted this pink knit at JoAnne's I knew just what I'd make: The Warhol Dress by Dana at Made. She offers a FREE pattern and a great tutorial. This was my first time sewing with knits and it was sort of challenging! At first, I sewed the yoke on with cream colored thread and it did NOT look good. My crooked stitches screamed homemade, so the perfectionist in me pulled out the good 'ol seam ripper. Sigh. And I redid it, this time handstitching the yoke with a hidden stitch. It looks much more professional and although it was more time consuming I am really happy with the result. Thanks for the great tutorial Dana!