DIY- Ribbon Board Re-Do

Hey Cats!

In 21 days, I will be moving back to the Promised Land, into a house with three other girls. And I am SO EXCITED. Since I'm transitioning from the dorm to a real house, I've changed things up a little bit, including the color scheme of my room. You may remember that I went with a beach theme in the dorm, light blues, greens, coral, etc. This time around, I've decided to go with light blue, gray, and dark purple. I've been able to keep a lot of my blue stuff, like my bedspread, pictures, lamps, and pillows. I've also decided to re-do a couple of things I already had. I didn't want to part with some of it, and I still needed some, so instead of spending lots of money on buying new things, I spent a little money on updating them! One of the things I had that I absolutely loved and did not want to get rid of was a memory board my aunt made for me. I love pictures, so I obviously can't do without one of these. The only problem was that it was lime green, which totally doesn't match my room anymore. So I got some new fabric & ribbon, and an hour or so later, I had an updated version of one of my dorm room faves!

This is what I started with. Isn't it cutie? Sadly, not with purple and blue.

Here's what you will need:
-1 memory board (Mine is made out of one of those posterboards with the foam and a thin layer of cotton quilt batting. If you have one you bought from somewhere, you could still try this, but it will probably be more difficult to take apart, but I have faith in you. Just don't injure yourself. OR if you want to make one, just get one of the posterboards mentioned above & some quilt batting!)
- Enough fabric to cover the front of the board. I used 1/2 of a yard, and have plenty left over to make pillows with!
-Ribbon. I just used one spool, but I probably should have used two.
-Brads, furniture tacks, or buttons. I used some really cute brads from the scrapbooking section in Hobby Lobby.

I hadn't bought the brads yet. Sorry. Also, that's my favorite nail polish.

Here's what you do:

1. First, remove all the buttons or tacks from the board. Mine were buttons, so it was fairly easy to just cut them off, but if yours has tacks, it might be a little harder.
2. Second, using a staple-puller, flat screwdriver (what I used), scissors, or your fingernails (which I wouldn't reccommend, then they'll look like crap), remove the ribbon. Make sure you don't accidentally remove the staples that are holding down the fabric, just the ribbon!

3. Next, measure and cut the fabric. I did this by laying the fabric print-side down on the floor and laying the board fabric-side down on top of it. Then I cut it, leaving enough fabric on each side to overlap & staple down on the back. Also, make sure you iron your fabric before you staple it, because wrinkles are ugly, and that it's pulled really tight, because it will also be ugly if it's loose.

Before I cut it, obviously. I used the existing fabric as a guide for how much fabric to overlap.

4. Now you're ready to staple! Make sure that the fabric is tight, and if it has a pattern that the pattern is straight. I folded the edge of mine twice and then stapled it. I used just a regular stapler, because I wasn't sure if heavy duty staples would have gone through the front. This part takes the longest, but it's not hard! Just make sure that every staple gets in there like it's supposed to, or else it won't hold together very well. Keep going all the way around! I would suggest using extra staples on the corners, since you'll probably have more fabric there.


This is the double fold, before I started stapling. Make sure it extends a little further than the original fabric.

Here's what the back looks like finished!

And here's the front!

5. Ribbon time! Take the end of your ribbon and staple it on the back of the board, diagonally through the center of the point on the corner.

It's not very pretty, but you get the idea.



6. Next, stretch the ribbon diagonally across the board, making sure it's tight and straight. Staple the end to the back side of the opposite corner from which you started.

Be sure to pull it really tight, or your pictures will fall out!

7. Do the same thing on the opposite corners.

I'm running out of things to say for photo captions...

8. Continue adding ribbon to make more small diamonds. I measured the distance from the middle to make sure I spaced them evenly.

I probably could have used more ribbon, but this will be fine, too!

9. Now it's time for the brads/buttons/whatever. Like I said, I used brads from the scrapbooking section, but if you want to use buttons or something more sturdy, that would probably be wise.

10. Poke a hole where you want the brad to go, usually in the middle of where the two ribbons cross. My brads didn't go all the way through all the layers, so I used a nail and my brute strength to push it through.

If you're using buttons, skip this step & just sew it on. Good luck with that.

11. Take your hole-poking tool out and replace it with the brad. Secure it on the back by folding the prongs down.



It's a rose!



12. Repeat for each ribbon intersection! I used a different brad for each one, and it turned out super cutie!


So there it is! This was super easy and inexpensive, and I can't wait to put it up in my room and fill it with pictures! I have a few more DIY's coming soon, and hopefully I'll be able to do another recipe before I leave for school! Until next time! 



DIY- Tacky Tourist Tee Redo

Hey Cats!
 So, as you know, I recently went on a trip to New York, and I'm ready to pack my bags and go right now. I'm not one to buy souvenirs on trips, or at least souvenirs that have anything to do with where I am. I usually just go shopping and whenever I wear something, I'm like, "Oh, I remember when I bought this in D.C." and that brings back great memories. In my opinion, it's a waste of money to buy crap like a statue of the Empire State Building that I'll just sit somewhere and let collect dust. (Or I'll break it. That happens a lot.) It's much more practical to buy something you'll wear a lot, and it's still a great reminder of the fun time you had on your trip. At least that's how I justify it. (Also, I think coffee mugs are a nice practical souvenir. You always need those!). In addition to my rampant spending spree in Chinatown, (I literally threw nearly $100 at pushy Asian people in less than ten minutes. It was INTENSE) I bought one of the classic American tourist pieces. Yes, that's right. I bought an "I <3 NY tee. We all did, because we were going to pull an Ultimate Tourist Move and wear them all to the airport when we left. Also, I'm not going to lie, I've secretly wanted one all of my life. So I bought it. They're like, $3 at every single gift shop in the Big Apple, so it wasn't like I was squandering a chunk of money on a splatter-painted "I <3 DC" sweatshirt. (Yes, I did that one time. I don't want to talk about it. I wear it indoors and on snow days under a big jacket only). However, once I got home, I had to be real with myself. I was never going to wear that shirt again. So, not wanting to waste my $3, or one of my only true souvenirs, I decided to give it a little update. T-shirt DIY's are all over Pinterest, so I found one I liked, grabbed my scissors, and ended up with this little gem:

Since I didn't take pictures during the process, and because I don't want to write out all the instructions, I'll just direct you to the link I used.
http://blogilates.com/printables-2/diy-racerback-workout-shirt-tutorial
I followed the directions for the most part, except for the hi-low hem, because it was already kind of short. It's not perfect, but like I always say, it adds character and makes it unique. It's a great pool shirt and workout shirt, if you work out. I don't. But if I ever do, maybe I'll wear this. Anyways, it's a great option for making a tourist tee a little less tacky, or for an awkwardly-fitting shirt you don't want to throw away. Also, just a tip: One of the girls told us when we purchased the shirts not to dry it in the dryer, because the letters would melt off. I would heed this advice, because I washed mine & hung it to dry, and the letters are already wrinkly and kind of merrr looking. Anyways, I hope you'll try this with a tourist tee, or any other tee you may have lying around! I'm working on multiple crafts for my new house, and I'm excited to finish them and share them with you! Also, I have a special suprise project I'm working on, but I can't tell you about that for a while. I might not actually finish it.... But anyways, until next time!

DIY- Links and Leather Bracelet

Hey Cats!

I am so happy to have finally finished this project! I bought all the materials back home before I came back to school, and I finally got around to finishing it this afternoon! My original plan was to follow the exact directions from studs and pearls for the Lanyard Double Chain Bracelet (http://www.studs-and-pearls.com/2011/09/diy-lanyard-double-chain-bracelet.html), but sadly, I purchased the wrong kind of chain, so I tried, but my efforts failed. However, I might try to make it again, this time with the correct type of chain! Nevertheless, I like what I came up with, and it still has the same idea of the studs and pearls bracelet.

Here's what you'll need:

- Enough chain to go around your wrist twice (I bought mine the length that you see above, and didn't cut it, so if you're going to cut yours... I have no tips on how to help you. Godspeed.)

- Jump rings (I bought a package of like, 100 & used 5)

- Lobster clasps (you'll only need one, but I bought a 4-pack for future use, it's cheaper that way)

- Leather cord (You can buy the huge spool if you'd like, but that's about $15, and mine was around $4, and I still have plenty left over)

- Needlenose pliers (I think people who aren't from East Texas know these as jewelry pliers. I didn't have any, so I improvised...with a wrench. It was painful.)

And Here's what you do! :

1. First, cut a piece of leather cord, about 55-60 inches. I cut mine 60 inches when I was attempting to make the first bracelet, and so I just kept it. But I cut off around 5-7 inches when I was done, so it was a little long.

2. Locate the center link of the chain. This can be easily done by folding the chain in half, matching the two ends up, & see which link is the middle. Thread the leather cord through the center link, making sure both tails of the cord are even.

Also, to make sure you don't lose the center link (this will matter more once you start threading the cord on both sides), tie a small piece of ribbon around the center link. Or you could go ahead and put a jump ring on.

3. Begin threading the leather cord through each link of the chain. Make sure you don't pull too tight or the chain will get all caddywompus, and we can't have that, now can we?? But seriously, make sure the chain stays somewhat flat, and be careful not to twist the leather. 

4. Continue threading the leather through the chain until you reach the end of that half of the bracelet. This is what you should have:

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the other side of the chain.
6. Once you finish threading the cord, you'll need to tie off the leather. Before you cut it, bring the end of the cord back through the last link of chain, towards you. You should then have a loop of leather cord at the top of the link. Bring the end of the cord up through that loop, away from you. After you pull tight, you should have a small knot.Just cut the excess cord off and it should be sturdy! (I understand that these instructions are a little difficult to understand, but I have full confidence that if you've gotten this far, you must have some level of intelligence and will be able to figure something out. Use your problem-solving skills.)
7. On the center link (the one you tied the ribbon to), attach two jump rings. The easiest way to do this is to open just one, using the pliers. Or you can pry it open with your fingers like I did, but my broken fingernails and still-hurting fingers strongly urge against it. Next, slip the ring onto the center link, but don't close it yet! Take a second closed ring and slip it onto the open ring. Then, again using the pliers, squeeze the first ring closed, making sure it is closed tightly so it doesn't break.

8. Next, on the end with the two leather knots, attach a jump ring to both of the end links on each side, and then connect them to each other

9. Then, open a new jump ring and slip it onto one of the two jump rings attaching the loose ends. Place a lobster clasp on the open ring, and then close it with the pliers, making sure it's closed tightly!

And you're done! Here's what it looks like!

I'm super excited to wear this! I hope you will try this, and give it your own little spin! You could use different colored leather cord or chain, or you could use lanyard or even strips of fabric. I chose the black and gold just because it's versatile and classic, but I will probably make another one that's a little more trendy! I don't really know what my next project will be, and I'll probably just post a blog post without a craft next, because school/life is about to start getting a little cray. So if you don't hear from me, I was most likely taken captive by Psych 107 and Comm 243, so please come find me. Until next time!

Pinterest Project- Star Blanket

Hey Cats!

So, as you all know, next August I will be moving into a house with my 5 besties. I know it's kinda far away, but that gives me plenty of time to craft! My froomie Amy & I already have big plans for the place. We'll be covered in handmade items by the time we actually move in! Anyways, over Christmas break, I made an afghan for the house. We haven't decided on colors or anything yet, but it has pretty much every single color in it, so it should match whatever! If not, we can just hide it in a closet & take it out when we get cold! I found this pattern on Pinterest, so instead of giving you instructions, I'll just include the link! This blanket was perfect, because I was able to use lots of leftover yarn that I already had, so I only had to buy 4 skeins, which is pretty good for a blanket! Also, it says to change yarn every few rows, but I decided to just keep going until I ran out of yarn, or thought that I couldn't make it another round. It would also be cool to do the whole thing in the same variegated yarn, or even in one solid color. Use your imagination! Anyways, here is the link! http://www.purplekittyyarns.com/crochet-afghan-patterns/7-point-star-throw
And here's what mine looks like!

Also, to finish it, I just did the round of slip stitches, I didn't do the thing with the tapestry needle....mainly because I didn't know how :). I hope you will try this & make it your own! It's one of the easier blankets I've made, & I like it because it's different!
On a different note, I will be leaving to go back to school tomorrow morning! I'm so excited to start my second semester, and to see all my friends! That being said, I probably won't be blogging as much anymore..mehhh. BUT! I have purchased the materials for my next DIY, and so I'll probably put that up soon! And I promise I will have plenty of crafts over the summer! I might post occasionally, but it might not be crafts....we shall see! Until next time!

DIY- Nautical Wastebasket

Hey Cats!

It's been SO LONG since I've posted! I've been super busy with camps and getting ready for college, so I haven't really had time to blog, much less craft! This is something for my dorm room, and I feel like it's kinda cheating, because I painted it with my friends at the beginning of summer. But I'm going to share anyways! As I may have told you, my room is a beach theme. I wanted to incorporate the theme without making it look like a tacky beach house, which has been slightly difficult. I thought that the little rope detailing on this trashcan gave it just the right touch of nautical-ness. You can definitely change this up to match whatever room you're wanting to put it in. I've actually painted one for my room at home, and my sister painted one for our bathroom. It's a great way to add a pop to a room, and it's a good small project when you're feeling slightly crafty. Anyways, here's what you'll need:

- 1 wooden trashcan (I've always gotten them at Hobby Lobby)
- Acrylic paint of your choice (navy & white for stripes)
- Masking tape (for making stripes)
- Hot glue gun
- 1 piece of clean rope that will go around the top of your trashcan

Here's what you do!
1) Paint your trashcan in whatever color or pattern you'd like. For my stripes, I painted the entire trashcan white (I'd recommend using multiple coats). Then, I placed masking tape in straight lines, leaving stripes in between the tape that were the width of the tape. Make sure you press down the edges of the tape so the paint doesn't seep through. Paint the spaces in between the tape and remove the tape when it's dry! I also recommend painting the inside and bottom of the trashcan for a more polished look.
2) Next, cut your rope to a length that will go all the way around the top of the trashcan, giving yourself no more than an inch extra.
3) Tape the ends of the rope so it doesn't fray.

4) Glue one end of the rope to a corner of the trashcan, making sure it lines up directly. You should use a thin line of glue and will probably have to hold it down a while for it to stay.

5) Continue gluing the rope onto the trashcan in small sections.
6) When you reach a corner, chances are (unless you use super skinny rope) you will have to cut the corner in order to turn. Just glue the rope all the way to the corner and then just skip the pointed part of the corner. This is a little hard to explain, so just look at the picture :)

7) Continue gluing the rope until you reach your starting point. You might have a little rope left over, but don't cut it off!

8) Take the extra rope and glue it on top of the other rope, as if you were going to wrap it around again. This time will require LOTS  of glue, and you'll probably need to hold it down for a few minutes to make sure it sticks.

I know this looks a little messy, but just put this part against the wall :)

And you're done! Here's what it looks like!

I'm super excited about this, and I can't wait to see it in my dorm room in 6 DAYS!!! OMG. That being said, since I'm going to college and might have actual social events to attend, I'm not really sure how often I'll be crafting. I won't give it up of course, but it might not be such a giant part of my vida anymore. :( BUT I'm taking all my stuff with me! I have a tub to put it in and everything! So, until next time, whenever that may be!

DIY- Big Fat Headbands

Hey Cats!
This DIY might just be my favorite so far! I love headbands, and I've been wanting some wide ones for quite some time, so this was the perfect project! I used a leftover piece of thin, woven fabric for one, and the bottom band of a sweatshirt for the other. I can't take much credit for the idea for the sweatshirt headband, because I got the idea from the blog Studs and Pearls (http://www.studs-and-pearls.com/2011/02/diy-leftovers-sweashirt-necklace.html). Yes, I did make the sweatshirt blazer, but no, I will not show you, as it turned out looking like something the bag lady would wear (it was my first DIY). As for the woven fabric, I really like the tribal trend, and I thought it would make a great fat headband! I haven't worn either one of them yet, but I forsee them becoming my new bff's once school starts!
Here's what you'll need:
- 1 leftover band from the bottom of a sweatshirt, OR some other semi-stretchy fabric
- 1 piece of thin fabric, long enough to go around your head. (If you don't have any lying around, I would suggest looking for fabric trim rather than regular fabric, because you don't want any ends that can fray)
- 1 piece of wide elastic ( about 1 inch long)
- Sewing maching ( You can do it by hand, but it will probably hold up better if you use a machine)
- Matching thread

Here's what you do!
1) First, we'll make the tribal headband. Trim the fabric so it is about an inch short of fitting around your head. also trimming any frayed edges off.

2) Fold one end of the fabric over about 1/4th of an inch. Using a zig-zag stitch, sew down the center of the fold.

3) Fold the fabric over again, this time making it a little thicker. Using the zig-zag stitch, sew down the middle, going back and forth a few times.

4) Repeat steps 2 and 3 on the other end of the fabric, making sure the folds are on the same side of the fabric.
5) Wrap the fabric around your head again, measuring the gap between the two ends. Cut the elastic to the length of the gap.
6) Using the zig-zag stitch again, sew the elastic onto the fabric, making sure it is centered. I would suggest going back and forth a few times to make sure it's secure.

7) Repeat step 6 to sew the other end of the elastic to the other end of the fabric. Make sure it isn't twisted before you sew!
And you're done! Here's what it looks like:

*DISCLAIMER*I would like to apologize for these next two photos. I understand I look like a tween taking mirror pics, but no one else was at home and I wanted to go ahead and finish this. Sorry. Just know that I don't regularly do this. Also, I got my hair cut and it's shorter than I wanted, so I look like I'm about to go for a run, which is not what I wanted. I might wait until my hair is a little longer to wear these...

Now for the black one!
1) Wrap the fabric around your head to measure. This time, it should fit all the way around your head and overlap a little.
2) Using the zig-zag stitch on your sewing maching, sew the ends together, making sure it isn't twisted. Sew it a few times to make sure it's sturdy.

And you're done! I contemplated adding buttons, but I decided plain black would be more versatile...and also, I didn't really feel like sewing them on. But if you want to add buttons, or rhinestones or anything, go for it! Here's what it looks like!

*The above disclaimer applies to these next 3 photos*

See how easy that was? I plan to do this a few more times, and I want to experiment with different materials. These are very versatile and can be added to basically any outfit. Well, any casual outfit that matches. I'm not really one for an eclectic mix of clothing. I like my solid J-Crew tees and shorts. Which these might look cute with, actually... Anyways, I have no idea what my next DIY project will be, so it might be a while. Let's hope I figure it out soon! Until next time!

DIY- Re-Upholstered Earrings

Hey Cats!
I was perusing my jewelry box the other day looking for something to remake for a DIY. I found these red earrings that I probably never would wear again, and decided to give them a makeover! I contemplated paint, ribbon, and buttons, but I settled on covering them in fabric. It reminded me of recovering a piece of furniture to make it fit better in a room- in the same way, I've recovered these earrings to better fit my wardrobe! I have had this fabric forever, and I don't really remember why I had it in the first place... anyways, it finally came in handy!
Here's what you'll need!
-1 pair of old round earrings,OR earring posts and buttons you can cover in fabric.
- Leftover fabric (You don't need much of this, just a few scrap pieces will do)
- Hot glue gun
- Scissors

Here's what you do!
1) Remove the backs from the earrings, being careful not to bend the posts. I pryed mine off with my fingernails, and it was actually kind of difficult.

2) Cut two small squares of your fabric. A good way to measure is to lay the circle on top of the fabric to see how much you'll need.

3) Turn the fabric over, with the side that you want to show on the bottom and the reverse side facing you. Turn the circle over as well, with the flat side facing you.

4) Take one corner of the square and glue it onto the button, making sure the fabric is pulled tight AND that the button stays in place.

5) Next, take the next corner and glue it in the center of the button.

6) You will notice a small point of fabric in between the two folds you just made. Glue this down too. You will have to hold it down with your fingers, and probably burn yourself with hot glue. I did. Multiple times. But it's worth it :)

7) Continue to glue down the corners and tiny points until the fabric wraps smoothly around the button. Try not to make it too lumpy on the back, because you will have to glue the post on.

8) Glue the post on, making sure it is centered and level. You should hold it down for a few seconds to make sure it sticks. 

9) Repeat steps 3-8 for the other earring, unless you just want one for some reason...

And you're done! Here's what they look like on!

I'm super excited about these & can't wait to wear them! I hope you try this, it's not as hard as you think! Also, I have another DIY coming soon, and I can't wait to share that one either! Until next time!