Paper Heart Tree

Paper Crafts are Always Fun!!

This paper heart punched tree was really simple to make! It's definitely kid friendly! The hardest part is punching out all the hearts! I have a fetish for paper crafts so I had all the supplies at hand, no need to shop and a way to use some of my stash up is always a + !

I used card stock which is easiest to punch with paper punches. 

I punched out a bunch of hearts, and then a bunch more!!!

Start with a cone made out of paper, I placed it on an empty salt shaker I had hanging around. Starting at the bottom hot glue(I would use regular glue if making with kids) the hearts upside down on the cone spinning the cone as you go up. I thought geez, this is gonna take f-o-r-e-v-e-r but luckily the cone gets smaller in circumference as you go, so before you know it, U R DONE!!

And then you have a cute lil pop of color for your hutch!

I got my idea and directions here! Thank you Pinterest and Christina at igottacreate blog!!

Go make something full of love!

Nini~

Red, White and Blue I Love You!

I made this red, white and blue flag out of scraps to hang outside for the summer. Summer holidays are all about patriotism and I just love a good flag waving tradition!

 I wanted it to be rustic and tattered so I tore all the red and white strips from my scrap bag. A scrap using project is always good for me, I love the fact it was gonna be trash and I rescued it!

I am also a collector of yardsticks and rulers, so I made a sleeve to hang it just big enough for a piece of a yard stick.   You could use a dowel or even twine fed through the sleeve.  I had assistance from Mr. Nini for attaching it semi permanently to our porch railing.

 I attached the fabric strips by putting a wide hem in the blue fabric's opposite end and cut slits in it, fed them from the back, tied a big knot in the top on the front side to give it that rustic look I like so much!!

It's perfect to leave out all summer long and it can be thrown out when it's faded and worn. It took no more than an hour to make and cost nothing!

Happy Summer and Happy Independence Day!! Go make something!

Nini~

Things Are Getting A Little Shady Around Here!

According to the calendar, Spring is finally here!  But apparently Mother Nature didn't get the message and it snowed on March 25th!!  I really thought we'd be at the beach and in the sun in no time at all.  That Mother Nature is quite the jokester... but I think she was the only one laughing around here!!

I was feeling the spring renewal & rebirth fever so I gathered up everything Winter, and put it in the attic.  While I was up there I "shopped" my stash of tchotchkes and pulled down some nests, birds, eggs and colorful things that would cheer up our living space and our mood.

While "shopping" the attic I found a small lamp shade frame and pulled the dirty old fabric off.  It had a good sturdy frame and was the perfect size for a project I had in mind. I gathered lots of cheery bright ribbons I have collected and hoarded for years and made this fun lil lamp shade! I love it.  It makes me smile every time I see it!

I hope it makes you smile too!

Go make something!

Nini~

Been Dying to Snow Dye!

Helen, my cohort in crime and all things fun, keeps me on my toes and learning! So when I got the signal for snow dyeing I answered with an enthusiastic Yes!! We've had lots of snow around our parts this winter. We did all our dyeing in her kitchen which I thought was a dangerous idea with her kitchen being mostly white! I kept thinking she's the expert, I'm just following her lead...and will be REALLY careful not to spill anything! Oh geez, I sure hope I DON'T spill anything!!! It didn't take me long to forget all that when she pulled out all the pretty dyes and we started mixing them with water...I was so caught up in all the colors and potential projects I never gave the pristine white kitchen another thought!! It was all covered with clear plastic tarps and bags, all but the floor so all the color was pretty contained.

Procion dyes, powder added to water.

So following Helen's lead I started picking fabrics and dyes and just did what she did...we had so much fun drizzling the dye over the mounds of snow and fabric. We did a few different techniques to dye, we poured dye directly on the fabric in a tub, used the snow to cover the fabric suspended by a screen and frame above the tub and then drizzled dye on the snow and then we painted Lumiere paints by Jacquard onto silk scarves and pieces of fabric with foam brushes.

That is snow on top of a mound of fabric with dye drizzled all over it, the white fabric has a white leaf printed all over it.

Helen painted fabric she can use for a sunset sky background. This is the Lumiere paints painted on wet  cotton fabric, we sprayed water over the fabric as she painted. We should have heat set this in a dryer or with an iron, but we didn't, we soaked it in synthrapol and rinsed....most of the color out! Read directions before you begin, this is a public service announcement!!!

This is a piece we both painted we're going to cut it up and use them  as a challenge project.

I used old fabrics that I didn't like anymore, they aren't too much improved, but I believe I can use them for an upcoming project. I also used plain white fabric and made them more interesting. Our colors were really washed out and lighter than they should have been...I hope to develop much deeper  richer colors next time. Below are the results.

The middle fabric was supposed to be black, the top right fabric has glitter, lower right was a tan color with red hearts, the bottom left was plain white, and the two top left fabrics were printed fabrics with a light background. I like all but the black, I'll dye that one again next time.

Close up of the printed fabrics I like how the print is a resist.

I will definitely try this in my craft room, I already ordered some supplies from Dharma Trading Co. mostly painting supplies. I will share our silk scarves in another post because mine is so washed out you can't see much color. I have a wax resist applicator I am going to try on it and then paint it with Lumiere paint and HEAT set it this time! Stay tuned for that post!

Thank you Helen for teaching me more fun things!

I have been reading up on procion dyes and I found a tip that is supposed to make the colors more vibrant. It says to use urea granules in the water you add the dye. They call it chemical water. So I bought some urea granules and hope to get to try it soon. It's March 17th and we just go 8 more inches of snow in South Jersey!!! Snow reason not to dye!!!

Go make something!!

Nini~

Free Style Messenger Bag

I have made a few bags or pouches in my sewing years...not enough to feel confident in making one without a pattern right by my side and following all the measurements and directions step by step....until today. Today I had a vision of a messenger type bag that was kinda boho kinda rustic all at the same time...something not like anyone else's bag that came from my own ideas. I wanted something bright and scrappy,  I went to my stash pulled out a few things, ironed them, and decided they weren't working...put them back and picked something else...ironed that and then the ideas started coming and I couldn't stop them!! I took my time, made it piece by piece...planning although out of order, planning how the strap should look, what accents and embellishments it  needed...I was having so much fun as the ideas came to me...I had to unsew here and there, but nothing major, things just came to me as I sewed.

All done!

The black trim on the front is an old t-shirt I cut in strips and ruffled it...the vintage button is from my button collection and the fabric is linen, the flowers were already stitched on it, I just echoed the stitching with free motion quilting for a decorative effect.

Old t-shirt ruffles and the selvage left for a fun flap.

I never used D rings before...I like the look!

 

I kept the selvage on the handle for some fun and to tie it in with the flap.

I ditched the scrappy idea when I found the linen fabric and the ideas started flowing. For the stabilizer I used Soft and Stable it was easy to work with and I like how bag keeps it's shape. I am going to make some more fun bags...I sure hope my muse is up for some more fun!!

Happy sewing!
Nini~

New & Exciting from Old & Boring!

I love the idea of making my own fabric to use in projects. When I say making my own fabric, I mean altering the surface of an old piece of fabric, not weaving fabric.  Any old fabric you don't like anymore can be made new again with some random stitches and scraps of fabric. The only problem is it slows down your productivity. I don't usually have a problem with slow productivity, but after signing up for a holiday craft show in November I have been thinking about it. I made some graffiti fabric for use in a project for the craft show, it was fun to do and I calculated the time into my schedule so it was all good. I love the final product, so I'm going to do it again!!!  Next time I might add paint  or fabric dyes to the mix!

I cut snips of my scraps and laid them out on my base fabric that was loaded on my start rite quilt frame so it was a nice flat surface to work on and it stayed right where I laid it.

I laid them out all over the fabric in no particular rhyme or reason...I just kept a constant color theme.

I laid tulle over one of the fabrics to keep all the edges down as I stitched over them.

This piece I stitched over with no tulle.  I used a  stylus to push down edges and corners as I was stitching like a mad woman.

This is the finished product...vintage buttons and graffiti fabric: these are a few of my favorite things!!

I'm linking to Small Blog Meet on Lily's Quilts! Thanks Lynne!

Have you ever made your own fabric to use in a project? I'd love to know what you did!

Happy crafting!

Nini~

Making the most of all the fleas!

Have you noticed how many Flea Markets and Thrift Shops have popped up in the last few years? I guess the recycle experts finally convinced us not to throw everything away! It only took about 25+ years....some of us are slow learners, it's okay. Being dismayed at how much a stinking little piece of wool costs, a yard of fabric or any craft supply these days, I'm always looking for a good deal! I have my hand in LOTS of crafty projects!

When I have a few minutes between my commitments and find myself in the area of a flea market, thrift shop or garage sale I hunt for 100% wool sweaters, suit jackets, skirts, and scarves, along with genuine leather belts and 100% silk ties. I get more for my money there and everything I make is original and one of a kind! Last week I visited my favorite thrift shop and it was 50% off everything day!!! Woo hoooo, jackpot!!! Look at what I got for $20.00!!! Not too shabby eh?

I believe there is enough wool here to make tons of wool penny projects, a purse or a seasonal candle mat or two!

100% wool, silk or leather! 

100% Italian silk, dahling, so elegant!

The leather belts make great purse straps.

 Don't you think the ties will make a beautiful little clutch purse? 

I believe this sweater will become a beautiful pair of wool mittens...or maybe two pair of wool mittens! Won't the leafy vine make a pretty accent or cuff?

I'm so happy to get a good deal on my supplies, and it is great inspiration to get busy!! Check back to see what I whip up with my thrifty bargains!

Nini~