fabric Archives - Scissors & Spatulas

Wednesdays Whip Up: Quick Drapes

Do you remember MONTHS ago when I bought this gorgeous fabric from Hobby Lobby? Think way back to March when I mentioned replacing my breakfast room window treatments?

Yes, March! I’ve had that fabric sitting in a pile since March! How ridiculous is that?

Well, I finally got my rear in gear and made some drapes! At this point I was so irritated with looking at that pile of fabric that I just picked it up, cut it into strips, and hemmed the edges. Seriously! Nothing fancy about these guys!
I literally folded the fabric in half lengthwise and cut. Then folded those two pieces in half widthwise and cut. No brainer!

I usually iron and pin the edges, but didn’t have the patience this time! I merely folded the edges and sewed.

I did measure and pin the top where the rod would go so that they were even. I originally planned to have some excess at the top to gather but then realized that I would have to stitch two lines to do this so I tossed that idea and decided just to sew one stick in each to create the loop (hole) for the rod.

This fabric was pretty thick so once I hung the drapes they didn’t want to stay put. They kept popping out of place and covering too much window.

So I took a needle and thread and sewed through the top to secure the gathering in place.

Handmade Burp Cloths for Baby Brighton

One of my best friends Mary Beth, who I’ve known for over twenty years, just had her first baby. Andrew Brighton (called Brighton) was born on Wednesday.

Isn’t he the sweetest?!

So I made her some custom burp cloths. The first set of burp cloths I’ve ever made! I found a set of three white burp cloths at Hobby Lobby for only $9.99. I searched through my stash of fabric and found this fun orange polka dot fabric and some coordinating colored fabric.

I used Heat’n Bond iron on adhesive on the backside of each of the fabrics. You basically lay it on the fabric and run a hot iron over it for about 20-30 seconds.

Once the adhesive is attached, you just peel away the paper layer. Don’t forget this step. I do frequently and then have to start all over.

I cut the letter “B” out of one of my fabric pieces using my Silhouette CAMEO.

Then attached it to the burp cloth by holding a hot iron on it for 30 seconds, constantly moving the iron.

Then I added some decorative strips as well.

I cut the strips with my Stampin Up Sizzix Tasteful Trims Die.

I also cut several other pieces using this die and arranged them on the other two burp cloths.

I was going to stop here but I started thinking about all the wear and tear these things go through. So I decided to add stitching across each piece.

And here is what they looked like when they were finished!

Kinda cute, huh? I was pretty impressed with myself for my first try!

I hope baby Brighton likes them!

Congratulations Mary Beth & John!

Wednesday’s Whip Up: Zebra Foot Stool

I recently changed some of the decor in my powder room. I found this really cute zebra picture at Hobby Lobby that kinda fit in with my existing decor, but added a little something new – animal print!

Our powder room is small and the stool we have in there is large and takes up a lot of space. But we have to have a stool for the boys to reach the sink. I’ve been in search of a new one but couldn’t find anything that would fit with the decor. Until I saw this…

I got this little zebra footstool off a local Facebook marketplace. {Do you guys have one of these? They are awesome! Like Craig’s List but a private group and more localized so it seems a little safter.} Anyway, the stool was only $5, in great shape and it was tiny. Not to mention it was zebra!
The problem was that it was black and white zebra and my bathroom was brown and beige zebra. No biggie! I knew Hobby Lobby had the perfect solution! Fabric!

I flipped the stool over and removed the screws.

Measured the fabric to fit.

I wrapped it {tightly} like a present and secured it with heavy duty staples.

Then I screwed it back into the base and flipped it over.

Viola!

A nice little foot stool that is a much better fit for our tiny powder room!

Embroidery Hoop Wall Art

My inspiration for this wall art was from Blissfully Smitten. I found this adorable nursery wall on Pinterest while searching for ideas to decorate my craft room. {Have I ever told you how much I looooove Pinterest?}

When I saw these I knew they would be the perfect decor for my craft room! Very shortly after pinning this idea I found an entire box of embroidery hoops at a garage sale for $2! {Even if you don’t come across a fantastic deal like this, the hoops are very inexpensive at the craft stores.}

Of course, me being me, I couldn’t leave them they way they were! I used very dark stain (espresso) on the hoops. This was a very messy process, I recommend wearing gloves!

After the stain was dry, I applied one heavy coat of paint {my favorite, Heavy Cream from Lowe’s}. Oh yeah, I have to give a shout out to Purdy for the fabulous brushes they sent me! Love these guys! Can you guess what I did next?

I distressed it with sandpaper, of course! I told you, I can’t leave anything alone! That part was a little time consuming {mainly because you have to wait for the stain and paint to dry}. The rest is easy!

If you don’t know how an embroidery hoop works, there are two rings {inner and outer}. The rings are attached with a screw. Simply remove the screw and separate the rings.

Place your fabric over the inner circle, face up, and place the outer ring over the top. Tug out any wrinkles that might be in the fabric. Replace the screw and fasten tightly.

I used two different fabrics in the embroidery hoops. I used the toile fabric that I used throughout my craft room for a few hoops and plain fabric that I found at the thrift store for only 50 cents for the yard for the other hoops.

I decided to try something new for the plain fabric. I didn’t really know what I was doing but what I did worked! And it was pretty simple! I printed images on fabric using my computer printer. Don’t worry, I’ll share that tutorial with you soon! I promise!

I just knew these would be the perfect accompaniment for my Mother’s Day piece. Do you remember that wood/chalkboard piece my fabulous, creative hubby made for Mother’s Day?

Together they make a perfect gallery over my sewing table! I’ll add a few more of the hoops, I think. Maybe using a different, very simple print fabric. I might even throw a monogram {M} in the mix.

So now you’ve seen another little corner of my craft room! I know I still haven’t shown you the full reveal, just bits and pieces. I’m pretty sure it’s because the room is always a disaster from all the projects I have going on! I promise, one of the se days, I’ll give you the reveal. Complete with before and after photos!

Stay tuned. . .

You’ll probably find this project linked up at the following parties:

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Join us Saturdays at tatertotsandjello.com for the weekend wrap up party!

http://www.scissorsandspatulas.com/2012/01/embroidery-hoop-wall-art.html

Seat Sacks for the Kids

Cleaning, organizing, cleaning and more organizing. That’s what I’ve been doing for the past week. I’ve got a huge pile in the garage to donate, and overflowing trash can and still so much stuff that I have no where to put it!

Last January, I organized my kiddos’ coloring table by creating these IKEA knock-off hanging buckets which was a great way to organize their crayons, markers and pencils. It’s also been a great space-saver since the table is small. However, the buckets didn’t solve the problem of coloring book and paper storage. Since the boys got new coloring books, activity books and stickers for Christmas, I needed a solution. I wanted everything to be right there, at the table where they could see and reach the books on their own.

I came up with these cute little seat sacks! Back when I taught kindergarten, several teachers used these on the backs of the students’ chais since kindergarteners use tables, not desks. They are perfect for holding books, paper and other table activities.

I really didn’t have a method to making these. I kinda just made it up as I went along. I started by measuring the fabric to fit the length and width of the chairs, also making sure it was wide enough to hold books.

I started with a long, rectangular piece of fabric for each chair. I basically hemmed the entire length of both sides as well as the top. I did not hem the bottom.

Instead, I measured the length needed for the pouch and folded the fabric up once, then folded the same length again. This not only created a more durable pocket, but it also “lined” the inside of the pocket so you don’t see the backside of the fabric.

I cut four strips of ribbon, 12-inches each. I folded the length of the ribbon in half and attached it to the top of the sack. I double-stitched the ribbon so that it could withstand the weight of the books.

And that was it!

I tied the ribbons around the chair backs.

These cute little seat sacks took me about 30 minutes! They solved my coloring book storage problem and they allow all the activities to be visible and accessible to the kids!

**These sacks will be available in Scissors & Spatulas’ Shop which is coming soon! Several colors and fabrics will be available. In the meantime, I can take orders via email! jen at scissorsandspatulas dot com.**

Are you ready to see if you won either of the $100 giveaways?

The winner of $100 from AMEX Serve is. . .

Michelle Alvin on December 26, 2011 at 8:48 pm said: I signed up for Serve!

What I’ve Been Up To (Christmas Crafts)

Hello friends! I just cannot believe that Christmas is just days away! It completely blows my mind! Where has December gone?

We had a handmade auction last week at Stamp Club. All proceeds went to the Ronald McDonald House. With just a handful of us we raised over one-hundred dollars! There were no limits or restrictions to the items we brought for the auction except that they had to be handmade. I just wanted to quickly share with you the items I made. I do not have the full tutorials, but I will do my best to explain how I created them.

This project started with the angel image. I found about 5 or 6 of them in a small baggie at the thrift store for fifty cents. I think someone just printed them off on cardstock to be honest, but I thought they were pretty. I tore the corners just a little bit and used sandpaper around the edges of the image to make it look more worn. Then I used my distress ink pad around the edges. This is the first time I’ve tried distressing paper with sandpaper and I was really pleased with the way it looked after I brushed it with the ink. The ink really soaked into the paper since it had been thinned from sanding.

Next I used my sewing machine to stitch the lace and burlap to the image. I also used two-way glue to adhere the image, but because burlap is so rough I thought sewing it would help keep it in tact. Plus, I like the look of stitching. I attached the burlap to the designer scrapbook paper with hot glue. After this, I was stumped. I didn’t really know what else to add. Then the song Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” popped into my head!

Luckily I had some old hymnals that I found at Goodwill a while back. I flipped through one and knew this would be perfect! I tore just below the first phrase, distressed it with the ink and attached it with double-sided adhesive.

I found a piece of scrap wood in the garage, hubby cut it to size, drilled holes in it, I inked it {of course} and I added some jute rope to make it hang. I love this piece!

Who is Angie? Angie is the Stampin’ Up! demonstrator that hosts the Stamp Club events.

I call this piece “Angie-inspired”because she made a Christmas card that I used as inspiration and I used the technique she used to make that Christmas pillow that I love.

For this piece, I adhered iron on pellon interfacing {basically iron-on adhesive for fabric} to the back of my fabric and used my Silhouette to cut the ornaments. Be sure to apply the interfacing before cutting! It makes the fabric nice and stiff for smooth cuts. Then I peeled the liner away and ironed the ornaments on to the black and white damask fabric. I then used fabric glue to attache the ribbons. Each ribbon is two separate pieces. One short piece for the vertical “hanging” ribbon and a longer piece for the bow. I find it is easier to tie the bow and then cut the ribbon so you know it is long enough.

The frame I found at the thrift store for a couple bucks. It had a really ugly tropical fish print in it but the frame was fabulously fat! I trashed the print and the glass and wrapped the fabric around the cardboard insert. I sprayed a very light coat of black satin paint on the wooden frame and then scuffed it up a little with sand paper. I replaced the insert wrapped with fabric and viola!

Don’t forget to stop by and enter the My Memories giveaway! The winner will receive the digital scrapbooking software for FREE!

Monogrammed Jingle Bell Shirt

Over the weekend the moms from our MOPS table got together for some laid back girl time. Of course there was a craft involved! Our group leader, Angie, came up with this adorable monogrammed t-shirt to make for the kids. Whether you are crafty or not, this one is SO easy, I promise!

Not to mention, adorable! Don’t you think?

You’ll start with the fabric of your choice and an iron-on adhesive. This Christmas polka dot fabric is from Hobby Lobby. Cut just enough adhesive to cover the area you need for your letter or letters. Lay the shiny side of the paper on the back of the fabric. Run over the paper with a hot iron until is is attached to the fabric.

Cut out the letter or letters needed. You can do this a number of different ways: by hand {you can print out a letter on paper and then use it as a stencil}, using an electronic cutting machine or a die cut tool. Angie used the Ellison Die Cut from her daughter’s school.

Peel away the backing of the adhesive and place your letter on the shirt where you’d like it.

Hold a hot iron on the letter for 8-10 seconds and then smooth over it a few times.

Your letter should now be attached to the shirt!

Now don’t get scared of this part. Yes, sewing is involved, but it’s really just an up and down sew and you can’t mess it up since it can’t even be seen.

You’ll sew on the jingle bells, one at a time, but close together. Just two stitches to attach each bell to the shirt.

Then thread the needle through all the bells and pull tightly to create a cluster. Do this a few times until the bells are secured.

That’s it!

If you are making girls’ shirts, you can also add a bow. Attach the ribbon with a few stitches in the center. After the ribbon is attached you can tie it in a bow. Use clear fingernail polish to keep the ends from fraying.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I’m participating in the Christmas Pajama-rama Contest at Blissful and Domestic!

Ruffled Christmas Trees

Can you believe that it’s December 1st? Christmas is right around the corner! I’ve finally finished decorating my house, and I promise I will post pics soon! I love decorating my house for Christmas! I transform just about every room into a winter wonderland! I even have an entire attic for Christmas decor only! But I can never have enough Christmas decorations, so soon I may have to clean out a closet or two to hold more stuff!

Example: A few months ago I found these cones at the thrift store. At first I walked on by, but I quickly took a few steps back and picked them up. Twenty-five cents each! What was I going to use them for? I dunno. I knew I could figure something out! And I did!

I ruffled some fabric scraps and grabbed a couple of mismatched wooden candlesticks. {Also from the thrift store. I have a stockpile of these because they are usually fifty cents to a dollar a piece.}

And this is what I made! ruffled Christmas trees!

How? Keep reading!

I primed both candlesticks and painted one green and one red. Both were paint colors I had on hand. {Yes, the green one is hanging from a tree branch. I spray paint a lot of things this way to get even coverage all the way around.}

Then I scratched it up. If you’ve ever been on my blog, you know that I love to paint and I love to remove paint! I’m a bit of a distressing addict! It gives pieces character!

Starting at the bottom, I took my ruffled fabric and wrapped it around and up the cones, securing it with hot glue.

I added an additional piece of fabric to the bottom of the cone and

I attached the candlestick with hot glue.

To finish off the top, I added a big fat striped ribbon.

And here they are! Two ruffled Christmas trees for under $2! Remember, the cones were twenty-five cents each and the candlesticks were fifty cents each. The fabric was leftover scraps and the paint I had in my garage. Even if you didn’t have all the materials it would probably cost less than $10!

So what are you waiting for? Go make some Christmas trees! You can never have too much holiday decor!

Ruffled Burlap Lampshades (the project from hell)

Do you remember these lamps?

They were thrift store purchases a few months ago. I loved the shape of the base and I loved the shape of the shade. I knew I had to hav them, although I had no idea where I would put them or how I would transform them, but I had to have them!

So I bought them and they sat in my garage for a couple months. Then, one day, it hit me! I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them. So I started searching Pinterest looking for some examples of what I had in mind. Three hours later, I made a decision. If you’ve been on Pinterest, you know what I’m talking about.

So here is what I decided. I would spray paint the brass bases to match the other metals in the room {aged copper meets oil-rubbed bronze}. If you are painting brass, be sure to use primer first! Then, I would cover the shade with ruffled burlap. I cut the burlap into strips and was ready to go.

Who the {bleep} knew that ruffling burlap would be so difficult?!!

After reading several tutorials for how to ruffle fabric, I decided to go with the easiest. I turned my machine setting to the longest and loosest stitch settings.

From what I read, these settings were supposed to ruffle the fabric for me. I went to town with my sewing machine and burlap, sewing a straight line down the center, eager to see some ruffles!

Humph? Not exactly what I had expected. So, I tried to pull one of the threads {an idea I had read from a different ruffling tute}, but it broke. What the heck?!

Okay, I’ll try this other method I saw.

As I sewed I folded pleats in the fabric. This was a pain and I was so scared that my finger would get poked.

And it still didn’t turn out the way I wanted it. I tried to pull the thread again, but again, it broke. By now I was getting frustrated. When I get an idea and can’t execute it I get upset. Pissed off, actually. But that anger provokes determination.

Finally, in all that frustration, I had an ah-ha moment.

I had some extra strong thread that I had bought to use for my dining room drapes. Maybe it could withstand the tugging. So I started over, sewing straight up the middle with the stronger thread, the machine set as shown above.

When I had sewn the entire length, I gave one string a tug.

Hallelujah! It worked!

I pulled the one string hard but carefully until the strip was ruffled just the way I wanted it.

Lesson learned: When ruffling heavy fabric like burlap, be sure to use strong thread!

Originally I thought I would cover the entire shade with the strips of ruffled burlap like this one from Dear Lillie. . .

but I changed my mind after I glued the top and bottom pieces on the shade. I decided I liked it just like that {and I was really tired of ruffling}.

I put one on a side table. . .

and the other on my sewing table. Let there be light! Up until now, I’ve been working only during the day because I had no lights in the room!

Speaking of lighting, check out this lamp I found on clearance for my work table/desk area!

Isn’t it so very Pottery Barnish? I’ve been searching for a desk lamp for months. I knew exactly what I wanted {it was from PB but much too expensive for me}. This one I found at Homegoods on clearance because it had a couple of bolts missing on the neck. Hubby secured the screws and it’s good as new! And it was only $25 people!

Are you noticing that my craft room is coming together? I think I’m just about ready to show you the entire room. I have everything organized and put away. The only reason I’m holding out on the reveal is because I have not finished the curtains and many of the walls are still bare. Soon, I promise!

Burlap-Covered Magazine Boxes (an IKEA find)

{A few of you may have noticed that this post accidentally went up yesterday before I had finished writing it. Oooops!}

Several weeks ago I featured some fabulous burlap-covered magazine boxes by Lucy’s Lampshade.

In fact, they were they same boxes that I had just bought from IKEA and coincidentally, I had planned on covering them in burlap to match the burlap boxes I bought. However, I was torn over how to label the boxes, the boxes at IKEA had such cute metal frame labels. When I saw Lucy’s boxes and found out I could buy these frames at Hobby Lobby, I knew exactly what I was going to do! Copy her, of course!

So here are the materials. Cardboard magazine boxes from IKEA. They come in a pack of five for just $1.99, I think. One yard of burlap and metal frames {found in the scrapbooking section}.

Covering the boxes was easy. I really just measured and cut and hot-glued. They didn’t turn out nearly as pretty and neat as the purchase burlap boxes! {You can see these boxes in the photo of the shelves below.}

The labels were simple to attach, I just poked a hole and inserted the brads that came with the frame labels.

And that was it!

Very inexpensive, but cute and matching, burlap magazine boxes.

And another little peek at my new craft room!

Partying here this week: