Craft #9: Fabric Flower Headbands

When I first got hooked on craft blogs last year, it was because I was trying to find tutorials on how to make fabric flowers.  I had recently purchased some hair ties with fabric rosettes on them, and realized that I could probably recreate them… so I did!  I wanted to expand my collection to some headbands, but the flowers themselves are adaptable to many projects… I’ve seen them on canvas, picture frames, shirts… you can really add them to anything.

You’ll need:

• Fabric cut in 3/4-1 inch wide strips (varying the length changes the size of the rosette, I usually make mine 8-12″)
• Hot glue gun
• Small piece of felt
• Headband

Start by hot-gluing your fabric in half (hotdog style!) on one end.

Applying hot glue to the outside, curl the fabric in on itself and twist the end into a ball.

This part takes some practice.  Twist the fabric as you wrap it around itself, hot gluing it in place.

Hot glue to secure the end and trim any remaining fabric.

Let’s try another!  Hot glue that end…

Twist it around…

I use lots of hot glue as I add layers.  Don’t burn yourself!

Once you’ve assemble all the flowers you desire, measure a piece of complementary felt.  This goes on the underside of the flowers once they’re on the headband.

Liberally applying glue, attach your flowers to the headband.  I used one of those stretchy headbands.

Glue the felt onto the underside and trim edges.

You’re done!  Don’t put it on until the hot glue dries though.

I made another one using a hard plastic headband, which works just as well.

Take that, 52 crafts!

Craft #8: Foxfield Races Hat

The Foxfield Races in Charlottesville are all about classy hats.  Apparently there are horses there too?!  Anyway, naturally I decided to create my own hat to wear at the races.

Here’s what you need:

• A floppy hat (I got mine at a Family Dollar… what a steal!)
• Wide ribbon
• Flowers
• Hot glue

Hot glue the ribbon to the base of the hat so that it sits on the brim.  Make sure you apply the glue evenly so that it isn’t bumpy.

Wrap the ribbon all the way around.

Cut your flowers at the base.

Attach the flowers on the seam where the ribbon ends, in whatever fashion you desire.  I went with a cluster.

Model your finished product in the bathroom.

Model your finished product at Foxfield, or the horse race of your choice.

Gaaah-leeeee check out those hats!

Whew, I got another craft out o’ the way.

oops

So, I did what I told myself I wouldn’t do… I slipped up and accidentally didn’t update in three months.  To be honest, I got busy!  I am still busy… and that’s not going to stop any time soon.  Sooo… 52 crafts probably won’t happen in one year, but they’ll happen eventually.

Here’s what I’ve been doing:

Went to a horse race and froze in April.

Painted Beta Bridge with fourth year friends

Saw the world’s longest fire truck parade at the Apple Blossom Festival

Ate true Carolina BBQ at Po’ Pigs on Edisto Island

And graduated!

Now don’t get too excited about my re-entrance to the blogosphere, I don’t want you to be too disappointed if I don’t update for another three months.   However, I hope to update soon about several crafts I’ve done over the past few months!

 

Craft #7: Decorated Toms

Toms are wonderful: they’re comfy, trendy, and buying them supports a great cause.  I heard Blake Mycoskie, the founder of Toms, speak at UVA a few years ago and really wanted to buy a pair after that.  I finally did last April, and wore them religiously throughout the spring and during my summer in India.

Unfortunately due to all their love and use, my grey Toms became a little frayed around the edges and developed a pinky-toe sized hole on one side… sad day.  So I decided to patch them up, to make them crafty and also functional again.

I don’t have a step by step picture tutorial to go along with this, but here is what I did… first, I cut out the shape of my patch, along with a matching sized piece of fusible interfacing, which I ironed onto the patch.  The interfacing makes the patch thicker and more durable.  Then I just hand stitched the patch on!  It was a lot more difficult than I thought… Toms are made out of pretty thick material.  Use a thimble!

I was originally going to add something to the other shoe, but this one patch was sort of difficult so I decided to wait a bit.  We’ll see what I add in the future

I am a bit behind, but only 45 more to go!

True Love in a Mug

I am about to tell you about something that will change your life.

It’s called a 30 second mug brownie.  And it is divinely amazing.

It’s so simple, you’re going to want to make one with every meal…

First, combine a tablespoon each of flour, cocoa powder, and brown sugar in a mug.

 

Next add a tablespoon each of vegetable oil and water, and mix it together.

Microwave for 30 seconds… feel free to let out excited yelps and jump around in anticipation.

And there you have it, a 30 second brownie made from common ingredients in a mug.  What more could you want in a dessert?!

All the thanks and glory goes to my friend Liz on this one, who shared this amazing recipe with me!

Craft #6: Button Bracelet

I finally got around to digging through the goldmine of my grandmother’s button collection which she gave to me over winter break.  She suggested this craft, which was something she’d seen for sale at a craft show.

You’ll need buttons… big ones and small ones.  I went with a purple, blue, teal, white, and grey theme.  Decide which ones you want to layer and what order you’d like them on your bracelet.

Cut a piece of thin elastic to a little bit longer than the size of your wrist.  You’ll want to snug so that it doesn’t slide around your arm, but not too tight so that it’s stretched out.

Lastly you’ll need a few small beads to go on top of the buttons.  Try not to spill yours all over the floor like I did…

Start by sewing the larger bottom button in place.  For each base button, I sewed it on two or three times before adding the next button.

Add the second button to the top and sew it on a few times as well.  Next, sew your bead onto the top (make sure it fits through the needle first… I had to switch needles on the first button because I didn’t think of that first )

Voila!

Continue to sew buttons on, making sure that they touch when the elastic is lying flat.

Leave space on either end and sew the two ends together before adding the last button on top of the overlapping portion

I am most definitely going to wear this to work… the elementary school girls will love it.  Craft #6, check… 46 more to go.

This past week was my first full week of work, and I really loved it.  I spend the morning and early afternoon in the office, doing work to get ready for the spring break service project that Abundant Life hosts, and then in the afternoons I help with the tutoring program at a local elementary school.  It’s been fun to get to know my coworkers as well as the kids at tutoring, and I’m looking forward to spending more time with them over the next six months.

Craft #5: Glitter Accent Purse

Oh my, guess who has been busy making a glitter accent purse?!

I found this idea on Stars for Streetlights, a crafty blog that I love!  You can find her version here.

Here’s what you need:

Thanks to my Nana for the awesome leather purse.  I’ve had it for a while now and used it occasionally, but I’ll definitely be using it a lot more now that it is glitter-ified.

Start by taping off the area of the purse you want to apply the glitter to.

Mix the glitter and Mod Podge in a 1:1-ish ratio.

It looks like Lady Gaga in there!

Paint your glitter on thickly.  You can do a few layers too, but make sure none of the purse is showing through!

I did two thick layers.  After you’re done applying the glitter-Mod Podge concoction, let it dry for a day or two so it really hardens well.

Ta-da!  Your purse is glitter-tastic.  The glitter will stay on really well with all that Mod Podge too, don’t worry

Now you’re ready for a night out… or, you know… just a normal day…

BAM, craft #5 down.  Only 47 to go.

I would also like to officially announce that I have a job!  Woohoo.  I am working for Charlottesville Abundant Life through Americorps until August when I start the Trinity Fellows Program.  Now I am singing the “Amie has a future, Amie has a future!” song

Love Letters

On Valentine’s Day, I put some hearts on a thread…

… for my LOVEly housemates.

Valentine’s Day

Happy L-O-V-E day!  Here are some gifts from me to you:

[via]

Oh, and Fleet Foxes-esque love song covers!

I hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

Craft #4: Decoupage, y’all

A few days ago, I made craft #4, a decoupage collage journal.

Here’s what you’ll need:

I did not do a terrific job of documenting this project, but it is quite simple.  First, cut out the items you would like to use in the collage.  I used pictures from catalogs and magazines, but you can use anything.

I decided to cover my journal with brown paper first (an old paper bag, hooray for recycling!) , which I glued onto the cover and wrapped around and glued to the inside.

I covered the spine separately so that it would fold better.

Next, arrange your pictures and glue them down.

I got most of these from the Anthropologie catalog, thus the random hipster objects and OWLS

Getch’yo Mod Podge ready!

Paint on a coat or two of Mod Podge.  Wait for it to dry between coats.  This step takes a lot of trust… it looks awful, but it will dry clear! (hopefully…)

Ta-da!  A decoupage journal.  It may be a little wrinkly, but that adds character and it will harden and smooth out over time.

Oooowl hello there.

Thanks for your patience with my sporadic posts!  I’ve been hanging out with my new beau (my new iPhone ) and finding a spectacular job, which I will update you on soon!