Sew cute greeting card

This card was actually a last minute creation.  I needed a card for my Father-in-law for his birthday, so I headed to my craft room to see what I could come up with in 10 minutes.

 I really like how it turned out and I like the idea that it doubles as a cute picture to hang up somewhere.  I'm not a big fan of traditional cards that you spend $4.99 on just to get tossed in the trash.

All you need to make your own adorable greeting card is: scrap pieces of stock card, a cute picture, letter stamps, stamp pad, glue stick, and a sewing machine.

Start with one main card and cut out pieces to be sewn to the card.  Sew the pieces on and stamp a message.

When I was done with my design I glued another card to the back to hide the stitches and to add stability.  I was thinking it would be fun to add magnets to the back so the gift card becomes a cute magnet too!

Empty Paper towel roll = yarn covered bracelet

So I got to the end of the roll of paper towels and wondered how I could transform 

this sad tube of cardboard into something spectacular.  

And that's just what I got.  I couldn't believe how beautiful 

and polished this cuff looked when finished.  

Make your own cuff to match your style with this tutorial...

Materials: Yarn, leather hole puncher, scissors, embroidery needle and an empty paper towel roll.

Fold the tube in half the same as for the upcycled hearts.

Bend the tube around and overlap the ends.  Now measure it on your wrist for the right fit (make sure it fits over your hand to get it on and off, but not too big either)

Once you measured the right size, trim one end or overlap it more until it's the size you want.

Punch a hole where the two ends overlap.

Punch an additional hole next to the first one.

Cut a long piece of thread (4-6 ft) and thread it through the needle.

Insert the needle from the inside of the tube through the hole.

Insert the needle down through the other hole so that you end up inside the tube again.

Now tie a not with the two ends.

Trim the short end to about 1/2 inch.

Now bunch up the long end of yarn and begin wrapping it around the tube.

Make sure to cover up the 1/2 inch tail as you go. 

Also be careful to cover the overlap of the tube well to hide it.

It will look a little bulky here but that's ok.

You can choose to wrap with more than one layer if you like

for a chunkier look.

I wrapped with one layer, then when I changed yarn I overlapped the two.

To change yarn, cut a long piece of a different color yarn

and either tie a knot of carefully overlap to secure the tail in place.

Mine has stripes because I kept a long tail of the first color when starting

the second color and wrapped with two strands side by side for 10-20 wraps.

And the end, thread the remaining tail through several

strands and then back through the same strands, 

skipping the last strand you went through.

So in this case the last one my needle went through was the brown one

shown above so when I went  back I inserted the needle into

the silver strand above it.

Mine turned out a little big but still beautiful.

Crochet it up! Hair Ties and Headbands

                         
                        Scrunchies are back!!!

Ok maybe they're not making a comeback yet but it was still fun to give my old hair ties and headbands a quick makeover.  Here's the tutorial...

Materials: hair tie (the thicker the easier), crochet hook (3.5-5mm), yarn and scissors.  Oh and a big embroidery/crochet needle which I apparently forgot to put in the picture.

Tie a slip knot around the hair tie

Hold the two strands of yarn between your fingers.  

The loose end strand will be incorporated into the stitches

 so you won't have to tuck it in later.

Insert crochet hook under the hair tie and catch the two strands

Pull the yarn back through the hair tie and up to

 form a loop next to the slip knot

Yarn over 

Pull through the loop you made

Now you have ond stitch on the hair tie

Start a new stitch by inserting the hook back through the hair tie

Now continue to complete a stitch just like the first stitch

Continue to stitch around the entire hair tie, making sure to pack the stitches in

but not so tight that you're stretching the hair tie.

Find the first stitch and insert hook, pull through the loop 

already on the hook to form a slip stitch.  

Cut the yarn and feed the end through the 

loop and pull tight to finish off.

Thread the yarn through the embroidery needle

Insert needle inside of 4 or more stitches

Skip over the last stitch the yarn was pulled through (this will tether the yarn) 

and then feed the needle back through the rest of the stitches. 

Pull until yarn is secure and cut excess.  

And now you have a simple but fun hair tie.  I noticed they actually 

stay in my hair really well and I love them to go around buns.

Use the same technique to embellish a plain stretchy headband and add a flower!

Banner of love

This is was an attempt at another Valentine's Day Craft, not my favorite (should've held back on the bright red) but the paraphrased scripture on the hearts is a much needed reminder of how to truly love the way Jesus calls us to.

I had made these little paper mache hearts with recycled cereal box cardboard, crayons, printed out scripture and modge podge.  But I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do with them.

I tried taping them to twigs and sticking them into a potted plant which was actually really cute.  Then I came up with this idea with the branches because I wanted to hang them up.

To make the hearts, cut out a cardboard heart from the cereal box and make a template.  Trace it to make as many hearts as you wish.  Cut them out carefully.  Cut out words or letters from a magazine or that you printed out.

Draw designs on the hearts with a crayon.  Modge podge two hearts together (for added strength), stick the words on the front and then modge podge over the whole heart and allow to dry. Punch holes or glue/tape sticks to the back and create your own banner or plant of love!

Now I have a banner of love on my front door so that every time I walk in to the house I will see... love is patient, kind, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Just maybe I will remember that when my son dumps a whole bag of fishy crackers on the ground or my husband forgets to take out the trash after I've asked him 10 times, haha.