Thursday, April 29, 2010

I need more cowbell!

I was inspired by the cowbell SNL skit, as well as my husbands usage of his cowbell app during the Winter Olympics to create this T-shirt for him. Jessica, from Running with Scissors, has done many projects using the freezer paper method, and has a great tutorial on how to do it. It might be a little confusing your first time, but after that, it's a cinch. I've used freezer paper only once for another project, so I had some on hand, but you can find it at fabric or quilt shops.
I chose a font on Word, enlarged it, then printed it out. I made the cowbell myself drawing it freehand. Then I traced my pattern onto the paper side of the freezer paper and cut it out using an exacto knife.
Once cut, I positioned it on the T-shirt and ironed it on. Freezer paper is awesome.
Then I painted. I used two coats, letting it dry a couple hours in between. The freezer paper creates the perfect seal to keep the paint just where you want it, then peels off easily once you're finished.
Here it is finished. When my husband saw it, he asked me where I bought it from (ha!). He was surprised I had made it myself. Freezer paper and fabric paint are inexpensive and the possibilities really are endless, you can create any design you want and then paint it onto any fabric surface you like - tees, onesies, backpacks, hand towels, etc. Use the link above to see Jessica's full tutorial to make your own.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Infant Car Seat Cover

One of my best friends is having her first baby in the next month or so. I am so excited for her and her husband and I knew I had to think of a great gift. Of course it had to be hand made, right? It took me awhile to think of something, but I did. It is hard to tell what this is without actually having a car seat to model it on, but it is an infant car seat cover. They did not have these when I had babies, 'cause believe me, I would have been all over it.
There are two straps that velcro onto the car seat handle so that your baby will be completely covered from sunlight when they are sleeping, prying, germy hands, and the paparazzi.
I found a few tutorials online, but it seemed like the people who made them were just 'winging' it. I found some really great ones on Etsy, but either they were $40 or I didn't like the fabric. I knew I had to take the matter into my own hands. I ended up buying a pattern from EveryDayChic for just $6. I'd seen some on Etsy that had this cool option of having snaps in the front if you wanted to vent the cover or leave it open just a little for you to peek on your babe - but there were no patterns for that. If I wanted those snaps, I was going to have to wing it (crap).
I managed though. Apparently I am a pro at winging it. I had to also make binding to cover my seam and hand sew on the snaps and buttons to cover the snaps. It was a lot of extra work, but in the end it was worth it. I used random buttons from my stash and it turned out so cute.
My friend is so fun and loves bright, bold prints, I knew this bold, pinky, yellowy, orangey print would be sweet and girly enough for a baby without being pastel and cutesy. I love the orange lining on the inside. Hopefully baby Lucy will like it too. I would definitely recommend the cover pattern to anyone else looking to make one either for themselves or a friend. It took me two days to complete, though without my additions, I think I could have finished it in one morning.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Natalie....

Here are a few different strawberry shortcakes I created last spring. The ones above are all stitched together and the cake part is in the form of a cupcake. The one below, everything is separate so you can build it yourself.
I've been trying to think of a new shortcake style though. I didn't love the whole strawberry sticking up in the top photo, nor am I in love with my strawberry slices. Any suggestions?

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Basketful of Berries

Utah's spring has been full of rain and snow. Boo. We finally started to have a few nice days last week, but now we're back to rain. I can not wait for nice weather so I can start to plant some flowers and reap the benefits of my sister's hard work in her garden :). I especially can't wait for peas and STRAWBERRIES.
Here is my newest creation for my shop, a basketful of strawberries. There are two shades of red, 3 large berries, and 3 small berries, as well as a little basket to carry them in. These will have to keep me happy until it really warms up around here.

Friday, April 16, 2010

What to do with an unfinished wood frame

I discovered unfinished wood frames a couple years ago. If you're looking for some decorating ideas for your kiddos room they are a very inexpensive option. There are different sized frames and are usually only a couple of dollars.

While at the scrapbook store a while back I found these little cards. I had absolutely no use for them, but I was drawn in by the color - I loved the color in these, and I loved the little sayings on them. Most scrapbook stores have an abundance of this type of thing - sets of paper, doodads, little carstock sayings all in coordinating prints and colors.
Eventually I thought of framing them, I thought they would be perfect in a baby's or little kid's room.
I found a set of 4 - 4x6 wooden frames at Joann for $7.99 (though I used my 40% coupon, if you pay full price for anything at Joann, you're doing something wrong), then picked out some acrylic paint to match.

My painting method for these was pretty simple. I used 3 or 4 coats and then sanded the edges down. I used a clear matte sealant spray to finish and protect them. You can find this spray at craft stores as well, just make sure to use it outdoors.

I used cream cardstock for the backing and very lightly inked the edges of the sayings with brown ink. Like really lightly - I used my finger to dab the ink and then lightly rubbed the edges. Then I used scrapbook adhesive to glue them on. That's it.
This is another project I did a few years ago, so the pictures are dated and the frames are a bit scratched up (my boys have a talent for knocking things off walls), but I used the same wooden frames as above.
I have this hanging in the room my boys share. The big letters are from Joann and are cardboard (I can't remember the price, maybe $3 or $4 each?). It would be cute to do a whole wall of the big letters with your child's entire name, with coordinating picture frames, but I just went with their initials since it would have been pricey with their names having 8 letters each.

These frames are fun to play with since you can do so much with them (and they are so inexpensive). You can pick out printed paper and cut it to fit the frame and then modpodge it on there. Or add some 3-d elements like silk flowers or even buttons. Whatever you like, you can even get your little one's involved to paint and they can be given as gifts for grandmas for Mother's day coming up.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Another Cookie Cut-Out Set

I really hate those blogs that go forever and ever without new posts. Like my own. I even have some crafty ideas to post, but I am so lazy. And have had sick kids. And been sick myself. So here's something to look at until I get my crafty rear in gear.
A new sugar cookie cut-out set. This time I tried to do something more gender neutral so I went with these cute gingerbread boy and girl cookie cutters.
It is the same concept as before with shapes cut out of the 'dough.'
There are 3 girls and 3 boys, all with their own frosting that has buttons and a simple embroidered face.
I just wish it were easier to find good cookie cutters that are not metal (yes, these ones are metal, but they have a coating on them so they are not sharp like the plain metal ones) and also not the cheapy plastic ones. I love the Wilton plastic ones I used for the last cookie cut-out project, but the shapes are very limited and hard to find.