T-Shirt Applique

I am so excited about learning how to sew appliques.  I have now done several t-shirts.  Here are a couple that I have created.  My latest is a Christmas t-shirt for my little girl.  I can't wait to try it on her when she wakes up from her nap!

This first one is a cross with two different fabrics.  The bottom one is obviously a tad bit larger.  I did not use the iron on paper for this because I really wanted the fabric to be able to fray.  I sewed an outline around the two pieces at the same time.  I think the more I wash/dry this shirt, the more it will have the rugged, frayed look that I want.

For the Christmas applique, I did use Heat N Bond. I also used a straight stitch on this applique. I printed my M from Pages (Mac software-equivalent to Word.)  Remember to print your letters/images in reverse. I free handed the Christmas tree. You might recognize the fabric from my Christmas apron.

So, what do you think? Check out other DIY projects at A Soft Place to Land and Today's Creative Blog.

Picture Frame

I bought this picture frame at Goodwill for less than $1. (Yes, I did go to Goodwill.  I heard about people finding great things to refurbish.  I found a couple of items that I have worked on.  I'll show more later.)

It had a blue bow at the top that I ripped off before I took a pic.  I had to scrape off the hot glue that held the bow onto the frame. Next, I sprayed it with an off-white paint.

I painted 2 of these decorative wooden pieces that I found at Hobby Lobby for less than $1.  I mixed gold and brown for this color.

Boo hoo!  When I went to bring the frame inside, I dropped the glass!  Oh, well.  I guess I didn't really need it anyway!  Next, I glued the wooden decorative pieces on with Gorilla Glue.  Voila! I am not sure if I will use this to hold a picture or an initial stenciled on some burlap.  We'll see!

Check out other trash to treasure reinventions at REINVENTED.

Christmas Apron

YAY! I have wanted a Christmas apron since I saw an adorable one at the Junior League of Mobile's Christmas Jubilee last year. This year, I made one for myself! I love it! I can't wait to bake cookies in it. I LOVE CHRISTMAS TIME!

No, I did not bake these cookies, BUT I would love for mine to look like this. :)

My Christmas wish list:

• I wish the radio stations would start playing Christmas music on November 1st.
• I wish it wasn't crazy for me to put up Christmas decorations already...cuz I am gonna do it really soon!
• I wish my husband had the whole month of December off to spend it with Madison and me. We could do all kinds of fun Christmas stuff together.
• I wish all of my family lived near. I want to get together every weekend to sit by the fire watching Christmas movies and drink hot chocolate while the kids play. :(

Check out other DIY projects at: A Soft Place to Land and at Today's Creative Blog

Cazra

Flower for My Hair

Do you remember the flower I made for the picture frame? Well, I decided to make one for my hair. We were invited to a Halloween party and I wanted something snazzy for my hair. So, I whipped up another flower in like 5 minutes with some leftover fabric. I just hand tacked a pony-tail holder in between the bottom two petals. Don't ya love it? (Ignore the straggly hair.)

Travel Tissue Case

Looking for a "happy" to give your coworkers or relatives? Need some stocking stuffers? The travel tissue case is so cute and easy to make. They are great to stick in your purse, a diaper bag, locker or desk.

All you need is coffee (well, it was first thing in the morning), fabric, scissors, and thread. I am working on an order for 20 cases. I used my rotary cutter and mat to speed up the cutting process.

I had three selections of fabric, which I ordered from Heather Bailey. Each piece was 1/2 yard (1/2 yard of 44" fabric will make 7 cases). First, I cut the fabric into 6 inch strips. This means my strips were 18" x 6". I took the strips and cut 3 pieces that were 3 3/4" x 6" and 1 piece that was 4 3/8" x 6 inch.

Actually, I took a short cut. One set of the 3 3/4" x 6" pieces were cut on the fold. That means when it was open, it was 7 1/2" x 6". I did this because it saved a cut, and those two pieces are staying together anyway as the bottom of the case.

Next, I ironed the pieces. Take one of your 3 3/4" x 6" pieces and fold it in half as shown below. We teachers like to call that the hotdog fold. Do the same thing with the 4 3/8" x 6" piece of fabric. I ironed the last piece to make sure the fabric was smooth.

Lay one of the 3 3/4" x 6" pieces wrong side up on your table. Lay another 3 3/4" x 6" piece on top of it-wrong sides together. (Or-if you took my shortcut, lay the 7 1/2" x 6" piece on your workspace folded with wrong sides together so that it looks like one 3 3/4" x 6" piece facing you.) Take the 3 3/4" x 6" piece that you ironed in half and lay it on top of those two pieces. Then, lay the larger piece that you ironed in half on top. Make sure that the folds are facing the center of the case and line up the corners. The two top pieces will overlap in the center. Pin these together.

Sew around the edges and clip the corners.

Turn the case right side out and pull out the corners. Iron. Insert the tissue pack. VOILA!

Let me know if you try this out! I enjoy getting your messages! Let me know if you have any further questions.

Check out other DIY projects at A Soft Place to Land.