Grocery Bags

so this is me perusing the Internet looking for a little something that I could do for fun, and once again overestimating my skills and free time.  

Needless to say, Sew4Home is pretty generous in their whole mantra "Step-by-Step Tutorials Make Sewing Easy".  Two days later,....I completed my first "EZ" Grocery Bag.  You see, I think it's the "EZ" that threw me off.... kinda made me think of "easy"??  Apparently that was not the correct acronym.  yeah. not sure where they were going with that.  

The good news is that I have a seam ripper and was gifted with the opportunity for personal character development as my patience may have found its natural limits.  Also good news....this went from a 'gift' to becoming a valued heirloom.  'cause there is no way I'm giving this treasure away! :)

 I must confess that, as I had already cut out the pieces for a second bag, I did sew another one and it went much much smoother.  Actually only took me over an hour.  But the wound is still fresh, so I think this pattern is going to be 'shelved' for a while...

DIY Belt

So - can I just say that I am SO continually impressed and amazed by all the ideas and designs that the seriously talented women in Blogland are continually inventing and re-inventing!  Blows my mind every day!!  And I am SOO inspired and blessed to umm....  steal those ideas!  :)  


Lil Blue Boo has a fabulous tutorial for all the little scraps of ribbon you have lying around to repurpose into a belt...  I made my first one last week and I'm going to use it as a stocking stuffer for my little girl.  She's been asking for a belt for a while - I know, I know,... poor poor sad little underprivileged four year old doesn't even have a belt... :(  But I think it turned out super cute and it only cost me like three dollars for the cotton webbing and the D rings!  Cheap like borscht.  


Check it out....

Thanks Lil Blue Boo! :)

"Thankful" Tutorial...

So here's an easy peasy idea that literally can be started and completed before the kids get up from rest time! LOVIN' instant gratification projects!  I also had everything on hand so it cost me nothing, which I'm also a big fan of! :)  


I grabbed some scraps of 3/4" MDF that we had in the workshop (oh how I wish I could say the word "garage" there.....'cause that would mean that the dust would be less "in" my house - and more "beside" my house every time we use the miter saw.... :(... ) and cut it into random sizes and widths between 1 1/2 - 3 inches.

Then I opened up Word on my computer and typed in my letters, changing up the size and font for each one and printing them out on different colors of scrapbooking paper.

Cut out my letters to fit within each piece of MDF and inked the edges of the paper.
Used some acrylic craft paint for the sides and front edge of each block of MDF - using different colors to change it up a bit, and inked the edges of the blocks with my ink pad as well.

Mod-podged the paper to the front of each block and painted a layer over top the whole thing, making sure to cover the edges so they don't peel off.

Sadly - this endorsement is not sponsored by Mod-Podge

and That's the whole deal!! I added some ribbon around two of the letters for a little interest. Cute and easy!    

I actually did up a few sets at the same time, used some raffia to tie them up and shared some lovin' with a few friends! :)

But give it a try and let me know how they turn out! :) Have a great day!


Ralna

Kids *Bulletin Board ReDo

I am forever given the task of displaying precious artwork *MASS-produced by my four year old girl. :)  I try to limit it on the fridge as I have an unfortunate allergic reaction to clutter and yet want to keep an area at a height where my girl can still hang up her masterpieces with pride.  So, I tried to find a fun and cute way to have a space for each of my kids to have their own art display, allows the art to be easily changed out, isn't a boring brown bulletin board and that is forever awaiting their inspiration...
- so, saw this idea at a local scrapbooking store for collecting paperwork, and this is what I came up with....

Plain cork clipboard from Wal-Mart - $2.49 each

Definitely the trickiest part - measuring, sketching and notching out around the metal of the clipboard.

I put each of their names on one and tied some ribbon/string around the top for interest - hung them above their new desk and they are ready to host many a masterpiece! :)

Thanks for stopping by...


Ralna