Card Wallet

I have all these cards in my purse, over and above my debit and credit cards, which I keep with my checkbook.

So these include store reward cards (cards you use instead of having coupons), library card, AAA card, and the like; you get the picture.

Previously I had these in one of those photo holders. You know the kind, thin, plastic, that comes with a wallet. Anyhoo, it has been worn out for a while now from putting the cards in and out. I mean seriously worn out as in most of the pockets were ripped and my cards and pics would fall out when I was trying to get one of the cards out.

So, enough was enough, when I realized I had lost one of my store cards and had to get it replaced.  I got the inspiration and tutorial from Pinterest of course. 

Here’s the pin on my “Things I'd Like To Make Or Just Find Interesting” board if you’re interested: http://pinterest.com/pin/83105555593591545/ While you’re there, why don’t you become a follower? I’ll always follow back at least one of your boards that interest me.

You can find the tutorial for this card wallet  at Nancy's Couture. I didn’t do another tutorial, because I think she did a wonderful job of it, so she gets the credit.

So, here’s my version

                                           

I didn’t add the snap, because this is always in my purse, so I didn’t feel I needed one. As you can see, I don’t have enough cards to fill it, so I finished it out with pics of my grandkids.

On a side note, I used a couple of my Christmas and Birthday presents to do this project.  These were both from Gary. The first is my new self healing cutting mat, which you can see in the background of the above pics. It is 24”X36”! I have a little dinky one that just wasn’t big enough for a lot of the projects I do and I have a larger cardboard sewing mat that you just can’t do any cutting on except with a scissors.

This is the kind of mat I got.  As you can see it is black on the other side. You can buy it at Amazon.

 

The second gift I used is a 12”X8” carpenter square. I’ve been wanting a smaller square for some time, but whenever I would go shopping I would forget to either put it on the list or simply forget about it. Outta sight, outta mind as it were. As you can see it is not very expensive at Amazon; although he got  it at  the local True Value hardware store.

So that’s what I did this afternoon. It only took a couple of hours, including writing on the blog about it. In fact the writing probably takes longer, since I write, read, reread, rewrite and so on, until I get it just the way I want.

Have a great evening!

Baby Shower Gifts

I attended a baby shower a couple of weeks ago. The mom-to-be likes frogs, so I tailored my homemade gifts to go with that theme.

Hooter Hider

I pretty much followed the tutorial here, except I used a metal fastener and I always double seam, to make sure the seams are not going to rip apart easily.

Frog Hat and Booties

For the booties, I used my standby Best Crochet Slippers pattern, but adjusted the pattern to make them smaller, by using a smaller hook, only one strand of yarn, and less rows.

For the hat, I followed the pattern here, except I did the eyes a little different and I used 1/4” ribbon instead of yarn for the contrasting edge.

Burp Cloths

This is the tutorial I followed, roughly. Mine had a more rounded shape on the ends.  To achieve this, I used a dinner plate to trace a pattern of 2 circles, then joined the circles with an inside arc. I used bar towels for the absorbent backside.

Ribbon Tab Toy

Here’s what I did:
1) I basically just traced a circle with a dinner plate onto 2 fabrics, 1 cotton and the other fleece and cut them out.
2) Cut various lengths  of ribbons ranging 2-4”.
3) Fold the ribbon strips in half and pin them between the the 2 circles of fabric right sides together, ribbons in toward the middle. 
4) Sew around the edge of the circle with a 14” seam, leaving about a 3-4” opening for turning, (leave out 1 ribbon until after it is turned and stuffed). I always double seam, to make sure the seam is sturdy. Turn it right side out.
5) Wrap a large bell , or several small bells, with poly batting. Put about 1/3 of the batting in through the opening, then put in the wrapped bells and finish stuffing with poly batting.
6) Slip stitch the opening closed along with the last ribbon.

Pacifier Leash

Follow the tutorial here 

Closet Dividers

For these, I made a template out of cardboard, traced them, and cut the shapes out of foam board. I covered them with contact paper and used acrylic craft paint to color around the edges. I cut out the letters on my Silhouette, applied them, and Bob’s your uncle. Easy Peasy!

Froggy Bank

I made this bank from a recycled coffee container. It was decaf, since that’s the kind that comes in green.

Here’s what I did:

1) Removed the label with Acetone. They do not make paper labels anymore, but paint them on, so it is a little more difficult to get a label free surface.

2) Clean the container up real well. I place newspapers inside to get rid of the coffee smell. Most of it was gone the next day

3) I cut out the frog and phrases on my Silhouette, but you could easily draw these on with a permanent marker.

4) Cut a slot in the top. I made a frog face (with no mouth) on my Silhouette and placed it so the slot is the mouth and the ears stand up on the edge. I left the backing off on the vinyl behind the ears so they would not stick to the container.

The irony of this is that the container came from the mom-to-be in question!  In fact she asked me what I was doing with it. I told  her I couldn’t tell her and she left it at that.

Gift Bag

All these goodies went into the gift bag I decorated with a frog.

 Have A Hoppin’ Good Day!

Linking To: 
Someday Crafts
Night Owl Crafting
Beyond The Picket Fence

Fireflies and Jellybeans
Paisley Passions

The CSI Project
The Thrifty Groove
My Re-purposed Life
Remodelaholic
The Creative Crate

Technorati Tags: Sewing,DIY,Crafts,Silhouette

TODDLER RAG SLIPPERS

This is where I got the inspiration for these Rag Slippers: The Pink Slipper Project
This link, Official Pink Slipper Project Pattern, will take you right to the pattern.
The pattern was for an adult slipper, but I modified to fit a toddler and added an elastic band around the back.

First thing I did was trace the toddler's foot, so I could adjust the size of the pattern, which I did in my photo editing program. For a toddler, these slippers can use up scraps of material, but since they were having a Butterfly theme for her birthday party, I bought 1/2 yard of butterfly  print flannel. I Still have about 3/4 of it left, since I used leftover pink fleece for part of the slippers, so I'll add it to my stash and make something else someday.

I printed out the pattern and pinned it to the fabric and cut it out.

For the patterned fabric I cut each piece out individually, so I could have at least 1 whole butterfly on the slipper.

I made straps for the back by cutting  a 9"x2" rectangle out of the main fabric, folding the 2  long ends to the center and then in half. I pressed this and sewed close to the open end to form a casing.

If you need, you can click on the images to make them larger.

I threaded 1/2the length of the casing + 1" elastic through the casing with a safety pin and sewed it in place on both ends.

Pin the strap between the outer fabric and lining fabric, along the straight edge of the top, about 1" in from the sides, right sides together. Sew a 1/2" seam along the straight edge and double seam it.

 Turn the piece right side out and press.

Now layer your pieces for each slipper as follows:

                                                 #1 Sole

#2 Padding (I cut this 1/2" smaller all around, 

so the edge wouldn't be so bulky)

                                                 #3 Main fabric bottom

                                                 #4 Top (which is already sewed together)

Pin the layers together and sew  1/2" from the edge around the entire slipper.

I started at the top and when I got back to the beginning, just kept on going around a second time. It may not look the nicest, but it will be less likely to tear at the seam.

Clip the edge almost to the seam, about every 3/4" to 1". This not only gives it the "rag" look, but also helps the slipper to lay flat and not curl up at the corners.

Apply fabric paint to bottoms for a slip-resistant sole.

I just made her name. Be generous with the paint, so it is puffy.

Embellish as desired. I made a small bow and used Tacky Glue to adhere it.

Have a Fantastic Day and Stay 

"In The Pink"!

Linking to:

Polly Want A Crafter