Check out a couple of fun summer layouts by yours truly on the MemoryWorks blog today!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the MW blog hop last week...and for all your kind comments!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Welcome Blog Hoppers!
Today the MemoryWorks team is celebrating MemoryWorks newest, exclusive Simple Stories line - ele.ment.ary! Ironically it's Back To School night in our town tonight, so I guess I am now in the mood for some school products and projects!
Make sure you start the blog hop at http://www.memoryworksblog.blogspot.com/ for complete rules and the list of ALL the blogs to visit today...you must visit and comment on EACH of these blogs to be eligible for prizes today - good luck!
If you are unfamiliar with the Simple Stories system, take a look here. Simple Stories is a quick, easy and innovative way to get your photos scrapbooked without stress...and still have your scrapbooks look spectacular, regardless of your skill level!
The Simple Stories lines are also GREAT for traditional scrapbook pages as well...in fact, I combine the two strategies in my scrapbooks.
Here are a couple of cards made from ele.ment.ary elements:
(the following card is what I call a "lunchbox mini"...using the same basic design as the above card)
Here is a traditional, non-school-themed layout using the ele.ment.ary elements and paper:
The following layouts are pages that will go in my daughter's K-12 school album. I plan on purchasing an album, ele.ment.ary kit and divided page protectors for each of my children and pre-making their school albums. As the years go by, I can just slip in the appropriate pictures - the work will already be done! For once I'll have a set of albums that I'm not BEHIND on! :)
My plan is to have a "summary" page in the front of each album highlighting wallet-sized pictures from each grade K-12:
Then each grade will have a "title page" with a large school photo on the front:
Behind each of these, will be the divided page protectors - one set for each grade. All I have to do is slip important pictures in the slots, perhaps with a journaling card or two...and I'm done! Couldn't be easier! You can check out some of the layouts I created with the first Simple Stories system (Life Documented) in the divided page protectors HERE (scroll down a bit - they're towards the bottom of the post).
I hope after checking out all these blogs today, that you'll be inspired to check out the Simple Stories system for yourself! You won't be disappointed! If you're interested in more information about the Simple Stories line, or wish to purchase it yourself...those who already know me can order on my website or you can find your local MemoryWorks consultant HERE.
NEXT ON YOUR BLOG HOP LIST: Go visit Mary at http://thecareerscrapper.blogspot.com
Don't forget to leave comments at each blog you visit to qualify for prizes! Thanks for stopping by!
Make sure you start the blog hop at http://www.memoryworksblog.blogspot.com/ for complete rules and the list of ALL the blogs to visit today...you must visit and comment on EACH of these blogs to be eligible for prizes today - good luck!
If you are unfamiliar with the Simple Stories system, take a look here. Simple Stories is a quick, easy and innovative way to get your photos scrapbooked without stress...and still have your scrapbooks look spectacular, regardless of your skill level!
The Simple Stories lines are also GREAT for traditional scrapbook pages as well...in fact, I combine the two strategies in my scrapbooks.Here are a couple of cards made from ele.ment.ary elements:
(the following card is what I call a "lunchbox mini"...using the same basic design as the above card)
Here is a traditional, non-school-themed layout using the ele.ment.ary elements and paper:
The following layouts are pages that will go in my daughter's K-12 school album. I plan on purchasing an album, ele.ment.ary kit and divided page protectors for each of my children and pre-making their school albums. As the years go by, I can just slip in the appropriate pictures - the work will already be done! For once I'll have a set of albums that I'm not BEHIND on! :)My plan is to have a "summary" page in the front of each album highlighting wallet-sized pictures from each grade K-12:
Then each grade will have a "title page" with a large school photo on the front:
Behind each of these, will be the divided page protectors - one set for each grade. All I have to do is slip important pictures in the slots, perhaps with a journaling card or two...and I'm done! Couldn't be easier! You can check out some of the layouts I created with the first Simple Stories system (Life Documented) in the divided page protectors HERE (scroll down a bit - they're towards the bottom of the post).I hope after checking out all these blogs today, that you'll be inspired to check out the Simple Stories system for yourself! You won't be disappointed! If you're interested in more information about the Simple Stories line, or wish to purchase it yourself...those who already know me can order on my website or you can find your local MemoryWorks consultant HERE.
NEXT ON YOUR BLOG HOP LIST: Go visit Mary at http://thecareerscrapper.blogspot.com
Don't forget to leave comments at each blog you visit to qualify for prizes! Thanks for stopping by!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Mini-Album...Maxi-Blog-Avoidance...
I know, I know...BAD BLOGGER! I HAVE been making stuff, just not posting things...for now, check out the MemoryWorks blog for a fun, very cheap project I put together this week, as well as a tool review. By way of disclaimer, I did not receive the tool for free, so you can trust that I really like it, haha!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Help save the planet AND look like a Super Mom, all with one easy project!
Anyone out there need a Super Mom project? You know...the type that::
a.)you can finish in one sitting (eliminating Project-Starter-Never-Finisher Guilt),
b.) Uses up project scraps or recycled materials so you can feel like a Stick-to-it-Budgeter,
c.) Helps throw a little something at the "Good intentions in my mind don't help the planet" guilt, and
d.) Can make you look like a snazzy, trendy, with-it green parent to all those who don't know it only took you 30 minutes to whip you the project?
Yeah? You're in? Well, here you go --
Washable sandwich and snack bags! (Homemade bread and non-homemade banana chips optional...but if you pack your cute bags with some sort of homemade item...you get double points in the "cool" department!)
Now I absolutely did NOT make this idea up. Lots of people make them. Lots of people sell them. Lots of people make and sell much cuter, much more finished-looking bags than mine. But my method is ridiculously fast and does the job - so I'm opting for that.
You can make these out of whatever you want - I used quilting fabric (from my slowly shrinking fat quarter stash) for the outsides (but wouldn't some fabric from old jeans or something be cool?) and some leftover ProCare fabric from my diaper-making stash. You absolutely don't have to use waterproof fabric like ProCare or PUL for your lining, but it is helpful if you have children like mine who love to add things to their lunches like honey sandwiches and washed but not dried carrot sticks. I will justify the use of this non-organic, probably non-biodegradable manmade plastic fabric by saying that if I didn't use it, I would end up doing a lot more backpack and diaperbag washing....
I used Ziploc bags (sandwich size and snack size) as a pattern - just cut them open, lay them flat and trace on your fabric. Once you get comfy with that, you can start making bags any size you want, based on what scraps you have.
For each bag you need a piece of outer fabric and a piece of liner fabric, cut to the same size. Make sure your piece are big enough to fold in half to become the bag! You also need a piece of velcro/hook-and-loop that is the same width as your fabric. I cut my 1 1/2" diaper velcro in half to make 3/4" wide velcro...but I could have gone even narrower with the same results.
FIRST...put your outer and liner fabrics, right sides together, and sew across the two ends (serger or sewing machine) that will become the top of the bag:
You will end up with a tube that looks like this:
Flip your tube inside-out (so right sides are now showing) and finger press the seam down. You can iron it if you're a perfectionist, but DON'T iron it if you're using PUL or ProCare. Direct heat on plastic...you get the idea. On the LINING side, sew your piece of the hook side of the velcro along one seam, flip to the other end and sew the loop side of the velcro along the other seam (LINING side). Sew all around the 4 sides of each piece of velcro, making sure that the velcro goes all the way to the end of the fabric.
I guess you could just put small pieces of velcro in the centers instead of all the way across, but I'd prefer my snack items to not leak crumbs everywhere, so I want that velcro sewn all the way across and into the seams!
Next, line up your hook and loop ends and seal it shut:
Now, starting at the velcro end, just serge all your sides shut (or zig-zag if you don't have a serger...which you really should start looking for sales at WalMart for, because you can sew things very fast and furiously with a serger!). I sewed mine in a chain, so I didn't have to break to cut threads:
Cut all the excess thread off and get all the bags looking all trimmed and nice. The last thing to do is take each bag and sew a couple reinforcing stitches at the top (just above the velcro) so if your kids yank open the bags, they won't eventually rip open the seams. I broke 2 needles on this step before I switched to a denim needle...so I'd recommend that you switch to a denim needle to sew through all those layers:)
I made all these bags in an afternoon, which included stopping to feed children, put a baby down for a nap, do laundry, make a phone call, etc....but had I not been interrupted, once the pieces are all cut out, the sewing is very, very quick. If you only made ONE bag, it would literally take you 20 minutes - including threading sewing machines, cutting fabric, etc.
We are LOVING these bags so far, other than the fact that they are a little noisy to open in church...it helped to open the bag, then fold the velcro down so the baby couldn't keep shutting it and re-opening it (cuz that's fun!)...but I may need to figure out some sort of zipper/magnet/drawstring bag or something JUST for quiet places. Any ideas??
I figured that all 24 bags I made probably cost me the same as 2 boxes of ziplocs (if I had gone out and bought all the supplies...MUCH cheaper if you use leftover stuff or recycle other fabric)- but we can keep reusing them until they fall apart, and every time you pull one out, you can think, "Dang, I'm awesome! Look how cute this is!"
Now go sew...the planet wants you to :)
a.)you can finish in one sitting (eliminating Project-Starter-Never-Finisher Guilt),
b.) Uses up project scraps or recycled materials so you can feel like a Stick-to-it-Budgeter,
c.) Helps throw a little something at the "Good intentions in my mind don't help the planet" guilt, and
d.) Can make you look like a snazzy, trendy, with-it green parent to all those who don't know it only took you 30 minutes to whip you the project?
Yeah? You're in? Well, here you go --
Washable sandwich and snack bags! (Homemade bread and non-homemade banana chips optional...but if you pack your cute bags with some sort of homemade item...you get double points in the "cool" department!)Now I absolutely did NOT make this idea up. Lots of people make them. Lots of people sell them. Lots of people make and sell much cuter, much more finished-looking bags than mine. But my method is ridiculously fast and does the job - so I'm opting for that.
You can make these out of whatever you want - I used quilting fabric (from my slowly shrinking fat quarter stash) for the outsides (but wouldn't some fabric from old jeans or something be cool?) and some leftover ProCare fabric from my diaper-making stash. You absolutely don't have to use waterproof fabric like ProCare or PUL for your lining, but it is helpful if you have children like mine who love to add things to their lunches like honey sandwiches and washed but not dried carrot sticks. I will justify the use of this non-organic, probably non-biodegradable manmade plastic fabric by saying that if I didn't use it, I would end up doing a lot more backpack and diaperbag washing....
I used Ziploc bags (sandwich size and snack size) as a pattern - just cut them open, lay them flat and trace on your fabric. Once you get comfy with that, you can start making bags any size you want, based on what scraps you have.
For each bag you need a piece of outer fabric and a piece of liner fabric, cut to the same size. Make sure your piece are big enough to fold in half to become the bag! You also need a piece of velcro/hook-and-loop that is the same width as your fabric. I cut my 1 1/2" diaper velcro in half to make 3/4" wide velcro...but I could have gone even narrower with the same results.FIRST...put your outer and liner fabrics, right sides together, and sew across the two ends (serger or sewing machine) that will become the top of the bag:
You will end up with a tube that looks like this:
Flip your tube inside-out (so right sides are now showing) and finger press the seam down. You can iron it if you're a perfectionist, but DON'T iron it if you're using PUL or ProCare. Direct heat on plastic...you get the idea. On the LINING side, sew your piece of the hook side of the velcro along one seam, flip to the other end and sew the loop side of the velcro along the other seam (LINING side). Sew all around the 4 sides of each piece of velcro, making sure that the velcro goes all the way to the end of the fabric.
I guess you could just put small pieces of velcro in the centers instead of all the way across, but I'd prefer my snack items to not leak crumbs everywhere, so I want that velcro sewn all the way across and into the seams!Next, line up your hook and loop ends and seal it shut:
Now, starting at the velcro end, just serge all your sides shut (or zig-zag if you don't have a serger...which you really should start looking for sales at WalMart for, because you can sew things very fast and furiously with a serger!). I sewed mine in a chain, so I didn't have to break to cut threads:
Cut all the excess thread off and get all the bags looking all trimmed and nice. The last thing to do is take each bag and sew a couple reinforcing stitches at the top (just above the velcro) so if your kids yank open the bags, they won't eventually rip open the seams. I broke 2 needles on this step before I switched to a denim needle...so I'd recommend that you switch to a denim needle to sew through all those layers:)
I made all these bags in an afternoon, which included stopping to feed children, put a baby down for a nap, do laundry, make a phone call, etc....but had I not been interrupted, once the pieces are all cut out, the sewing is very, very quick. If you only made ONE bag, it would literally take you 20 minutes - including threading sewing machines, cutting fabric, etc.
We are LOVING these bags so far, other than the fact that they are a little noisy to open in church...it helped to open the bag, then fold the velcro down so the baby couldn't keep shutting it and re-opening it (cuz that's fun!)...but I may need to figure out some sort of zipper/magnet/drawstring bag or something JUST for quiet places. Any ideas??I figured that all 24 bags I made probably cost me the same as 2 boxes of ziplocs (if I had gone out and bought all the supplies...MUCH cheaper if you use leftover stuff or recycle other fabric)- but we can keep reusing them until they fall apart, and every time you pull one out, you can think, "Dang, I'm awesome! Look how cute this is!"
Now go sew...the planet wants you to :)
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Make a Valentine's Day Garland...so easy a 4 year old boy can make it!
Yesterday my son and I decided that our house was woefully undecorated for Valentine's Day. I have my table runner (see last post) and a few heart-shaped decorations...and that's it. SO...we pulled my box of February MemoryWorks Express kit...land made this:
I kid you not, this took us 30 minutes! Easy as pie, and you probably have the supplies you need to make your own version at home!All you need:
*6 chipboard squares - mine were from a Fancy Pants chipboard book set (12x12 Biggest Board Book It set) - but you could even cut yours from a cardboard box if you want. They are each about 3 1/2" square, with rounded corners
*6 pieces of matching patterned paper - also 3 1/2" square each. I used the Crate Paper "Mia" collection - so pretty!
*Chipboard letters (or large letter stickers or someting) to spell out "LOVE". I used My Mind's Eye embossed chipboard
*Some fun things to embellish - diecuts, stickers, buttons, etc. I used some Crate Paper "Mia" glitter die-cuts, flowers from Prima and Petaloo and buttons by Creative Imaginations.
*You also need some ribbon...I used pink and blue sheer ribbon that I had leftover from other projects...you just need something that coordinates - and long enough pieces to tie all the letter square together AND hang it from your location of choice :)
*A crop-a-dile or other tool that will hole-punch through chipboard.
Let's get started! Seriously...my 4 year old did most of the steps - so he will be my tutorial model today!
1. Glue your paper to each square...Use a brayer or other smoothing device to get it down good and tight:
2.) After the glue is dry, sand the edges of each piece:
3.) Use an ink pad to ink each embossed letter:
4.) Here's the part where you get to go crazy - arrange the squares and letters how you like them, glue down the letters...and then embellish like crazy! You can refer back to my picture at the top, or do your own thing!5.) When everything is ready to go, punch holes through the sides of each square (punch towards the top or your squares will flip over when you hang them) and tie them together with pieces of ribbon. I also tied buttons together on each end before tying on my "hanging ribbons", as shown:
Here's another hanging shot...I apologize for the dark photo - its nearly impossible to get a good picture straight at a bright window!
This was so easy to make..and turned out so cute, that I think we'll be making a "lucky" one for t. Patty's day...an egg one for Easter...4th of July....oh yes, we will be making many garlands, haha!Have fun! Let me know if you try it - I'd love to see some pics!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
I've totally been making stuff!
Do you ever get in a crafting funk? Like you just can't figure out what to make...none of your projects are getting finished? And then when you're done with something...you hate it? But then...you suddenly get inspired, motivated or in some other way - get OUT OF THE FUNK! And creativity resumes! Hurray!
I've been enjoying the past few weeks of out-of-the-funk, madly making all kinds of things!
I finally pulled out some Moda squares and a jelly roll and made my Valentine's Day/St. Patrick's Day reversible table runner that I planned over a year ago:
I made some fun projects with the MemoryWorks January Express Kit:
I made a couple scrapbook layouts, for example:
I finally finished my 3-frame set...it has been sitting in my scrapbooking hutch taking up MUCHO space since October when I made the first one...yikes!
Now its hanging on the wall in our hallway - I have to smile every time I walk past - not because its so darn cute - but because I FINISHED IT! HAHA!
And, I got to spend all my free time for a week (which I think totaled about 13 minutes per day...I must have skipped a trip to the bathroom or something to get that much time at once!) working on the Simple Stories line from MemoryWorks. Since I'm on their creative team, I got an advanced set and got to play!
In true Sandy-fashion, I was only able to complete January-July of my full-year-overview album, because of course I only had pictures printed up for 7 months of the year! And my printer is broken! And now I'm on a budget so I couldn't just order me another 5 months on snapfish! Oh well...it just wouldn't be me if the entire project actually got finished all at once...that would just be weird!
Here is what I did so far - the fun thing about this system is that there are divided page protectors, so you just stick things in the pockets - easy, and used little adhesive...which for some reason I keep running out of lately...hmph... Here's a couple of the pages:
So....coming up.....I am still working on my faux-roman-curtains. I will do a tutorial and show you how to alter your mini-blinds without permanently disabling them. I have a few other things up my sleeve, but please let me know if you have any ideas for a tutorial that you'd like to see.
Have a GREAT day...and go do something crafty!
I've been enjoying the past few weeks of out-of-the-funk, madly making all kinds of things!
I finally pulled out some Moda squares and a jelly roll and made my Valentine's Day/St. Patrick's Day reversible table runner that I planned over a year ago:
I made some fun projects with the MemoryWorks January Express Kit:
I made a couple scrapbook layouts, for example:
I finally finished my 3-frame set...it has been sitting in my scrapbooking hutch taking up MUCHO space since October when I made the first one...yikes!
Now its hanging on the wall in our hallway - I have to smile every time I walk past - not because its so darn cute - but because I FINISHED IT! HAHA!And, I got to spend all my free time for a week (which I think totaled about 13 minutes per day...I must have skipped a trip to the bathroom or something to get that much time at once!) working on the Simple Stories line from MemoryWorks. Since I'm on their creative team, I got an advanced set and got to play!
In true Sandy-fashion, I was only able to complete January-July of my full-year-overview album, because of course I only had pictures printed up for 7 months of the year! And my printer is broken! And now I'm on a budget so I couldn't just order me another 5 months on snapfish! Oh well...it just wouldn't be me if the entire project actually got finished all at once...that would just be weird!
Here is what I did so far - the fun thing about this system is that there are divided page protectors, so you just stick things in the pockets - easy, and used little adhesive...which for some reason I keep running out of lately...hmph... Here's a couple of the pages:
So....coming up.....I am still working on my faux-roman-curtains. I will do a tutorial and show you how to alter your mini-blinds without permanently disabling them. I have a few other things up my sleeve, but please let me know if you have any ideas for a tutorial that you'd like to see.
Have a GREAT day...and go do something crafty!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Check this out!
I have been a bad blogger...again...and have more projects to post - mainly scrapbook stuff - but wanted to put in a little plug for an awesome new product line that's coming out next month from MemoryWorks. I got to see the entire line a couple months ago and couldn't say anything....but now I can blab! It's going to be awesome!!
Simple Stories
Basically, its a system for scrapbooking quickly, efficiently...and still making it look good! There is paper, journaling cards, title blocks, etc...that all can be made into actual pages, or can be slipped into photo pockets. YOu literally could put an entire album together in minutes, using nothing but a paper cutter and a pen! OR, if you just can't let things be...that would be me...you can jazz it up, embellish it, whatever - make it your own!
I can't WAIT to get my hands on this - and as soon as I do, I'll get a review posted up here!
Simple Stories
Basically, its a system for scrapbooking quickly, efficiently...and still making it look good! There is paper, journaling cards, title blocks, etc...that all can be made into actual pages, or can be slipped into photo pockets. YOu literally could put an entire album together in minutes, using nothing but a paper cutter and a pen! OR, if you just can't let things be...that would be me...you can jazz it up, embellish it, whatever - make it your own!
I can't WAIT to get my hands on this - and as soon as I do, I'll get a review posted up here!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Quick and Easy Bulletin Board
I posted a simple but fun bulletin board idea over at the MemoryWorks blog today - check it out:
Message Board, Jr.
Oh, and if you go down a few entries to last Friday's, you'll find a more grown-up and very cool version of a message board by my friend Lacey!
Message Board, Jr.
Oh, and if you go down a few entries to last Friday's, you'll find a more grown-up and very cool version of a message board by my friend Lacey!
Little Guy Tool-Belt
Here's a fun one for the little fix-it guy (or girl) in your life!
All you need is ONE fat quarter and a package of that hem facing tape stuff (or really fat bias tape...or a ribbon...or whatever else would make an apron tie!):
All you do is fold your fat quarter in half, right sides together. Sew three sides, turn rightside out, press and top stitch.
Now fold up the bottom edge a little more than 3/4 of the way up to form a pocket. Top stitch around edges of pocket and top to bottom in a couple places to divide the pocket.
Take your bias tape, hem facing or whatever you're using...fold it in half (if necessary) and pin to the top of the apron. Top stitch all the way around it to form waistband and ties.
Use smaller pieces of your leftover belt/apron tie fabric to make little loops to hang tools on.
Load 'em up!
All you need is ONE fat quarter and a package of that hem facing tape stuff (or really fat bias tape...or a ribbon...or whatever else would make an apron tie!):
All you do is fold your fat quarter in half, right sides together. Sew three sides, turn rightside out, press and top stitch.Now fold up the bottom edge a little more than 3/4 of the way up to form a pocket. Top stitch around edges of pocket and top to bottom in a couple places to divide the pocket.
Take your bias tape, hem facing or whatever you're using...fold it in half (if necessary) and pin to the top of the apron. Top stitch all the way around it to form waistband and ties.
Use smaller pieces of your leftover belt/apron tie fabric to make little loops to hang tools on.
Load 'em up!
Repurposed Weird Baby Jeans + Moda Charm Pack = Quick, Cute, TOTALLY Do-able!
Everybody ready for a tutorial?? This is one of my favorite projects of the summer! It turned out really cute, was incredibly cheap (we're talking like $2-3 for the entire outfit, folks!), is fast to make...and is VERY "operator error"-friendly!
Here we go:
Cute, huh?!
This is what you need to decorate your baby in such chic cuteness:
*A onesie or T-shirt (you probably have one at home you can use...so that would be FREE, my friends!)
Or cut a little higher and make a skirt, like I did:
Lay out your outfit so you know what you're doing and what fabric you want next to what:
Cut your charm squares in half - put one stack aside, you only need half of the halves. I can't really tell you how many total squares you'll need, because your cut-up pants might be a different size than mine...I think I used 10 or so - you need enough to go around the base of your skirt about 1 1/2 times (you'll be gathering):
Sew all the charm square halves in a long strip like so:
Cut down the center, lengthwise, of the strip with a rotary cutter:
Sew the ends of the strips together to make a circle:
Two things to do here -- 1.) serge all around along the bottom edge of your circle (or zigzag or whatever you want to do to finish it) and 2.) machine baste around the top edge:
Pull the machine-basting-thread to gather into a ruffle:
Adjust the basting so that the ruffle fits the bottom of your skirt and is fairly evenly gathered. Pin to the INSIDE of the skirt, sticking out as shown:
Sew 1/4" or so along the bottom edge of the skirt to attach the ruffle. Leave the edge of the denim part "raw" as shown:
Remember those awkward pant legs you lopped off? Cut a few strips from them and attach a few around the waistband for some funky belt loops (leave edges raw):
Here's what we have now:
Now, go throw it in the washing machine, get it good and wet -and then throw it in the dryer. All those raw edges will get nice and frayed! Then find a long, cute ribbon to thread through the belt loops for a belt.
I tried to cut the hole before doing the stitching. This was not a great idea, it was not fun, and it turned out weird. Still cute, but weird. I should really have clarified the directions before I tried it :)
When you're all done, you'll have yourself one sweet little outfit...AND you can be all impressed with yourself for "recycling"!
Here we go:
Cute, huh?!This is what you need to decorate your baby in such chic cuteness:
*A onesie or T-shirt (you probably have one at home you can use...so that would be FREE, my friends!)*An awkward pair of thrift-store pants. This particular pair has unusually short legs compared to the size of the waist...and denim sweatpant capris are never flattering, right?! (Awkward thrift-store pants: FREE to me, but if you went out and bought them...like $1-2, right?)
*10 squares from a Moda charm-pack (5" squares if you're cutting your own). I used "Objects of Desire".
*Sewing machine, serger is helpful, thread, rotary cutter, scissors, embroidery floss/needle
First, lop off the pant legs. You can make them shorts:
Or cut a little higher and make a skirt, like I did:
Lay out your outfit so you know what you're doing and what fabric you want next to what:
Cut your charm squares in half - put one stack aside, you only need half of the halves. I can't really tell you how many total squares you'll need, because your cut-up pants might be a different size than mine...I think I used 10 or so - you need enough to go around the base of your skirt about 1 1/2 times (you'll be gathering):
Sew all the charm square halves in a long strip like so:
Cut down the center, lengthwise, of the strip with a rotary cutter:
Sew the ends of the strips together to make a circle:
Two things to do here -- 1.) serge all around along the bottom edge of your circle (or zigzag or whatever you want to do to finish it) and 2.) machine baste around the top edge:
Pull the machine-basting-thread to gather into a ruffle:
Adjust the basting so that the ruffle fits the bottom of your skirt and is fairly evenly gathered. Pin to the INSIDE of the skirt, sticking out as shown:
Sew 1/4" or so along the bottom edge of the skirt to attach the ruffle. Leave the edge of the denim part "raw" as shown:
Remember those awkward pant legs you lopped off? Cut a few strips from them and attach a few around the waistband for some funky belt loops (leave edges raw):
Here's what we have now:
Now, go throw it in the washing machine, get it good and wet -and then throw it in the dryer. All those raw edges will get nice and frayed! Then find a long, cute ribbon to thread through the belt loops for a belt.
If you want to make a matching shirt (and I stole this idea from my friend JILL, who stole it from our friend TRISH)...stick a charm square under the top layer of the shirt and using embroidery floss and a needle, stitch a shape over the top of it. Then use some sharp scissors and cut out the T-shirt area inside the shape to let the charm square show through.
Do NOT do this, which I did:
I tried to cut the hole before doing the stitching. This was not a great idea, it was not fun, and it turned out weird. Still cute, but weird. I should really have clarified the directions before I tried it :)When you're all done, you'll have yourself one sweet little outfit...AND you can be all impressed with yourself for "recycling"!
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