DIY Project Parade

Posted on November 13, 2011 by Roeshel

I‘ve been working on some home improvement DIY and decorating projects but nothing to share in that department quite yet. I’m determined to stop procrastinating, get brave and jump right in this week. However last week, I saw these $448 shoes in the Anthropologie catalog…

LOVE! Well, minus the peep toe. I like gray but I’d prefer black. Did you know I love clothes, shoes and fashion almost as much as I love DIY? Most of my clothes are thrifted…I just love shopping those racks way more than at the mall. Budget. Budget. Budget.

Then I remembered I have these shoes…

Using a flower tutorial from Jones Design Company (love her flower tutorials – I even made some felt flower hair clips too)…anyway, I got to work making flouncy flowers….

Fabric was left over from a sheer curtain that I turned into a pillow cover that I cut up (resourceful)!

and now I have these. Not exactly like the Anthropologie shoes but from old to new and pretty for FREE! And I like them better than the Anthro ones.

Just in time for a real live date night because believe it or not, life is more than DIY (our last date was in April). We have to remind ourselves of that here. We try to make time to do something fun together (although we do find date night at the hardware store fun too but it’s nice to just forget about DIY and refresh once in a while). Last night, we went out for a delicious dinner at Rock Bottom followed by entertainment at the Improv and Sing Sing. Hiliarous!

And instead of looking like this…

I got a little sassy and wore a leopard scarf and movie star sunglasses instead of safety goggles…

and because my daughter says she thinks scarves look better with hair up or back, I wore a ponytail.

The rest of my outfit was toned down. Just black and cream, nothing fancy but all comfy, classic. Can’t get too wild with a leopard scarf. Plus walking around town is chilly in November so pants and sweater it is.

Button Tip – if you have a button that’s ready to fall off or the thread is starting to u
nravel, apply a coat of clear nail polish to keep it from unraveling more and popping off. (Thanks, mom!)

= SECURE

My ~~OLD~~ NEW Flouncy Ruffly Shoes:

(sneak peek of my dressing room – one of those projects I mentioned)

Here I am with my handsome date…(isn’t he cute?):

So, that’s my DIY project and my weekend. Let’s see what you’ve been up to!
(Anyone notice that my post is scheduled for Sunday, 11/13 at 5 a.m. but it’s showing up Sat. night? Strange!)

1. You must use the button above (ADD BUTTON HTML CODE FROM SIDE BAR TO YOUR POST) and link to this post to share the linky love.

2.Include your name or blog name and project title. Add your permalink (not your blog url, but your DIY project post url). Feel free to link a Past Post, just invite your readers in a current post with a quick note.

3.Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.

4.If you notice your link has disappeared -please add the link back to The DIY Show Off to your post today, a button or a quick note to your readers about the party and try again! I love when everyone participates and readers check out everyone’s links, but I think the return favor of linking back is the nice thing to do so everyone plays fair and enjoys all of the projects and links. Also – this blog party is for DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted.

5. If reading this in an email, pop over to http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com to see the inspiring DIY projects linked up!

6. If you have a Fall or Holiday link to share, feel free to link up to those parties going on! See side bar for the button and link.

7. NOW you can “like” the links! What a fun idea! Most liked links may be included in a post of DIY Project Parade highlights later in the week.

Pin It
Partying here:
Photobucket

Remodelaholic’s Anonymous

DIY Cat Window Perch and DIY Project Parade

Posted on November 6, 2011 by Roeshel

Looks like a great day to sit near a window and enjoy the warmth of the sun on your face.

Meet Lalka: Enjoying her new window seat with a view of the barn and her new catnip stuffed dangly toys…

Fun!

A quick trip to the hardware store for brackets and screws and we were able to get started. Lots to choose from. We chose the shortest gray ones for this project. Bri made a window seat too. Hers is from scratch, mine uses an old breakfast tray. Tutorials for both are shown below.

TRAY TURNED CAT WINDOW PERCH

Materials:

Old Tray

Pillow

Shelf Brackets

Screws

Optional: Line tray with scrapbook paper and secure with Decoupage. I used vintage wall paper. New pillow cover. I used an old pillow and leftover fabric scrap. I also used scrap fabric, stuffing, ribbon and cat nip to make some toys attached with an eye screw.

Here’s what I did (using the optional steps mentioned above):

1. I sanded and scuffed up an old tray. I cut wallpaper to fit inside and secured to the bottom using Decoupage. Let dry.

2. Using left over fabric, I sewed an envelope pillow cover for an old pillow to use as a cushion.

Cut fabric. Allow an extra 1/2 inch on the top and bottom. Triple the side of the width of the pillow.

You’ll have a large rectangle. My pillow is approx. 12 x 18 inches. My fabric was cut to an approx. 13 x 54 inches.

The short sides of the fabric: One edge of my fabric is the selvage end. I sewed a hem on the other end.

One end is hemmed. One end is the selvage (or hem both ends if no selvage).

Hem side:

Fold fabric. Edges should be on top (back side up/out) and be near the middle. Anywhere in the middle works.

I want my selvage end to be inside, the hemmed side out. Make sure selvage is the top folded piece.

Pin and sew both long edges. Reinforce over hem/selvage part of seams.

Flip right side out and insert pillow.

3. I drilled a hole and used an eye screw for attaching catnip stuffed toys on ribbon (see toys below).

4. Measure and mark where the brackets will go. Pre-drill holes.

Our windows are not framed in this room and the tray is a perfect fit underneath the sash.

5. Attach bottom screws of shelf brackets.

6. Hold tray in place (my tray fit perfectly under the window) and mark where holes for short screws need to be inserted into the tray. Pre-drill holes.

7. Attach tray to shelf bracket with short screws.

8. Loop ribbon toys through eye screw.

9. Add pillow!

How it looks from underneath…

Lalka loves her new space…

She’s a big girl for 1 year old. Perfect for watching for birds and squirrels or snuggle in a ball in the sun.

Catnip Stuffed Toys

Here’s what we did:

1. Make toy patterns and trace onto scrap fabric. I made a fish, bird and mouse.

2. Double fabric with right sides together and cut out shapes.

3. Cut a piece of ribbon. Mine are between 2-3 ft. Grab ends to find center. Hold center and start rolling ribbon.

4. Pin ribbon roll between two sides (right sides facing each other) of fabric. Ends should be sticking out past fabric.

5. Sew around shape, leave an opening for stuffing. I reinforced (back and forth) over the ribbon to make it more durable for pulling/playing. Sew close to the edge but be sure to grab both pieces of fabric. Snip curves.

6. Turn right side out. Alternate stuffing and catnip

7. Hold open edge together, making sure edges are tucked in. Sew closed and continue sewing a border around the entire shape.

8. All done. I fed the top of the ribbon loop through the eye screw and secured animals to hang from cat tray/window seat.

EASY DIY CAT WINDOW PERCH

Bri made one for her cats too, we actually cut a board to fit the window sill…

Layout batting and fabric under board and cut to size, allowing fabric and batting to wrap on under side.

Wrap in batting, starting with stapling in the center of each side and working way to corners.

Cut away excess.

Repeat to cover in fabric.

Bri covered a piece of cardboard with wrapping paper and stapled it to cover raw edges.

Follow steps 3-8 above under TRAY to CAT WINDOW PERCH.

Bri’s cats love it!

~*~*~*~

Let’s see what you’ve been up to this past week!

1. You must use the button above (ADD BUTTON HTML CODE FROM SIDE BAR TO YOUR POST) and link to this post to share the linky love.

3.Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.

6. NOW you can “like” the links! What a fun idea! Most liked links may be included in a post of DIY Project Parade highlights later in the week

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

DIY Project Parade and Handmade Boutique Baby Collection

Posted on July 24, 2011 by Roeshel

This week, I finally finished this…

My Handmade “Boutique Baby” gift Collection…

Warning:

This is a long post with a couple of tutorials, links and LOTS of pictures!

I finally wrapped up (literally) my handmade baby gifts.

I think I got a little DIY-happy but I really wanted to create a handmade boutique baby collection. Everything was so easy and I just couldn’t stop. 😉 I shared the sweet banner I made a few weeks ago…

Counting Sheep Baby Banner Tutorial

as well as the Super Easy No Sew Tutu Tutorial
(This is the one I made for my niece’s 1st birthday when I took her pictures as her gift but I made one for the gift collection too.)

Here’s what else I tucked inside the gift box:

Baby Legwarmers Tutorial

Materials: A pair of ladies size socks (these ones are from Target – I had a hard time finding the right pink). Scissors and thread/sewing machine (or by hand).

1. Lay out each (ladies)sock and cut just above the heel. Set the “leg” part of the sock aside.

2. Cut the ‘heels’ and ‘toes’ of each off.

3. Fold the ‘foot’ part of the sock in half (underneath) so inside and out shows the right side of the fabric and makes a ‘cuff’.

4. Slide ‘leg’ part into ‘cuff’ all right sides out, lining up the raw edge.

5. Pin 3 layers together evenly, lining up the raw edge.

6. Sew as close to the edge as you can, making sure to capture 3 layers.

7. Trim if necessary and flip up cuff. Cute legwarmer from ladies socks!

Handmade Peony Headband Tutorial

Materials: Plain elastic headband, silk peony and rhinestone. Hot glue.

1. I used a wipes container to stretch headband.

2. Disassem
ble the silk peony. Use wire cutters if necessary.

3. Hot glue layers of the flower onto the elastic headband.

4. Add layers until as full as desired.

5. Hot glue rhinestone into center. Let dry.

Ta-da! Pretty BIG flower headband!

And using these beautiful fabrics (fabric.com) and baby flannel for the backing (reversible bibs, aprons and burp cloths from Joann Fabrics).

Premier Prints Trey Stripe Bella Pink/Cozy
DC-300

Premier Prints Royal Suzani Bella Pink/Cozy
UK-719

Premier Prints Twill Suzani Cozy/Bella Pink
UK-706

Premier Prints Madison Cozy/Bella Pink
DC-298

Premier Prints Dandelion White/Bella Pink
DC-323

Premier Prints Gisella Cozy/Bella Pink
DC-248

I sewed a few baby apron bibs, contoured burp cloths, a bib and some appliqued onesies.

Baby Apron Bibs
(Bapron Tutorial at Craftiness is not an Option)
Aren’t these sweet? Bib/Apron for baby!

Contoured Burp Cloths

(Tutorial at Cloud 9 Fabrics)

Bib

(Tutorial)
(shown middle)

Appliqued Onesies Tutorial

1. Iron interfacing to fabric.

2. Trace shape onto paper side and cut out.

3. Peel away paper and iron onto onesie.

4. Iron applique into place in center of onesie.

Note: I drew on eyes using these!!! Sharpie Fabric Stain Markers!

(another project non-baby related utilizing these coming up!)

5. Stitch into place.

Ta-da!

Or cut shapes from fabric pattern:

argyle onesie tutorial (live a little wilder)
I did my own version using the applique method above and the sewing machine:

Lots of “after” pictures. I’m just so proud that the entire collection is handmade and pretty cute. 🙂

What do you think? I think it makes me want a baby girl! I hope she likes it all and loves pink!

~*~**~*~

Okay. Okay. Now it’s your turn! What have you been doing this weekend?

If you’d like to link YOUR DIY project post to The DIY Show Off Project Parade:

1. You must use the button above (ADD BUTTON HTML CODE FROM SIDE BAR TO YOUR POST) and link to this post to share the linky love.

3.Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.

5. NOW you can “like” the links! Most liked link moves to the top of the list! What a fun idea! Most liked links may be included in a post of DIY Project Parade highlights later in the week! 🙂

Sharing at:

The More the Merrier

DIY Show Off ™ – DIY Decorating and Home Improvement Blog

DIYShowOff – Budget Friendly Do-It-Yourself Home Improvement and Decorating blog

Tag Archives: Crafts

DIY Project Parade

DIY Cat Window Perch and DIY Project Parade

DIY Project Parade and Handmade Boutique Baby Collection