Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Back To School Craft

Marker Monster
Back To School Craft

The kids will love it if you make this adorable roll-up for their markers!
Go to the iLoveToCreate website to get all the details.
Have FUN with it!




Friday, August 19, 2011

Puffy Paint to the Rescue!

Our photographer Jasen Master emailed me today, and I just HAD to share it with all of you!
Here's what he wrote:
"A quick email to let you know that I did something so incredible with Puffy Paint yesterday. As you both know I'm a cyclist. I rely heavily on my prescription sunglasses while riding my bike and two days ago the rubber nose bridge in them became unusable due to sweat, etc. I couldn't order a new one and sit around without my sunglasses so the most amazing idea came to me… PUFFY PAINT!"

"We had an old sample bottle here in the studio so I strategically and carefully placed a couple of thick rows around the nose piece. I let it dry during the day and what would ya know… IT WORKED SO SO SO well! A new nose piece for my sunglasses using Tulip Puffy Paint!"  Jasen

Jasen we LOVE, love, LoVe this brilliant idea, and we now pronounce you as our
Man Crafter of the DAY!

Monday, August 15, 2011

Tie Dye Tablecloth Tutorial

This tie dye tutorial started out as a simple table skirt to go around a table that we are getting ready to take to an event for iLoveToCreate. But, as you probably have heard me say many times.... if it's worth doing, it's worth doing abundantly! A long time ago... longer than I want to admit... I sold Home Interiors which was founded by Mary Crowley, and this was one of the things she use to say to all of us decorators, and it stuck with me to this day. I love doing things over the top.


So, here's a pic of how it turned out. 





I love it so much that I want to wrap myself up in it!

 
Step 1: Measure
My first step was to do the measurements of the table and jot it down.
Then I got busy and started cutting and sewing.
I used white 100% cotton muslin, so it would dye beautifully.
  •  
  •  
Step 2: Sew
It's BIG!  According to my measurements, to wrap all the way around the table, it's 4 feet (front of table) plus 4 feet (back of table) plus 2 feet (one end of table) plus another 2 feet (other end of table) for a grand length of 144 inches long. 

So, 4 yards long x 32 inches wide for the base, after hemming all the edges.  I put a 3-inch hem in the bottom so that it would drape nicely. 

Next came the ruffles.  I wanted 3 ruffles, overlapping each other 2 inches.  So, I cut them 12 inches wide.  For just enough fullness, I made them 1.5 times longer than the length of the skirt, so each one is 12 x 216 inches.  I didn't actually cut anything; I ripped it since the muslin is a straight grain.  Perfect!
I hemmed the ends and bottom of each ruffle, then sewed a long stitch at the top of each one for gathers, pinned them onto the base skirt, pulled the threads to gather the top of each ruffle, and sewed them on.

Step 3: Dye
Now I was ready for the dye....the FUN part!

The fabric needed to be wet to absorb the dye, so I tossed it in the washer for a quick rinse and spin.
I already had squirt bottles from other dye kits, so I chose the new Tulip® One-Step Dye™ Refills that have 3 packs of dye in jelly-like packages that I simply dropped in the bottles and added water.  Be sure to shake them up until the jelly packs dissolve completely. 
 I used one bottle with 2 dye packs for each line of dye.  As you can see, I did 4 lines of dye across the skirt.  With that much fabric, I knew it needed lots of dye.
 
Step 4: Wrap & Wait 4 hours
I wrapped the whole thing in a painter's drop cloth that I already had, and left it for 4 hours outside in the Fresno sun.  I admit, I kept peeking at it to see how pretty it was.  



Step 5: Rinse & Dry
The last step was to rinse it out in the washer and dry it.

And of course, it needed the wrinkles out, so hubby Scott hung it on c-stands which made it uber-easy to steam.

Now, I'm all ready to make cool things on my decked-out table.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

DIY Shower Curtain with Grommets!

 
Step 1: Went to IKEA and bought this fabulous fabric that reminds me of merimekko patterns.  
Picked up these rubber grommets at JoAnn Fabrics.
  
Step 2: Ran home to sew, and then I hemmed all 4 sides.  
I made sure the top hem was deep enough to accommodate the grommets.
  
Step 3: I marked the spots for the grommets.  (Had to do a little math.)
Step 4: Cutting the holes and popping in the grommets was fun and easy.
I used the guest room to lay my big cutting mat on, and had plenty of room for my project.
Step 5: I hung my DIY Shower Curtain with Grommets!

I love it in my 50's bathroom with the rosey pink tub and sink.
What do you think?

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Pompom Leopard Stilettos!

I'm totally gaga over these leopard print stilettos with pompoms!
And the chartreuse heels with pompoms on the open toes...
I'm dying right now.
Found them at Ban.Do and now I can't stop dreaming about them.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Aleene's Tacky Glue Queen, Tiffany and Heidi on the iLoveToCreate home page!

Aleene and Tiffany and Heidi from Aleene's Creative Living, are on the iLoveToCreate home page all this month!... It is so cool to see the queen of Aleene's Tacky Glue right there on our website.
For me, it brings back a lot of memories from when I was filming for Hobby Lobby as their spokesperson, and then to become one of the Hosts on the show back in the day.

I'll be posting some old photos later on as a little memory book to share with everyone.

Ladies, you're looking amazing, and you're still crafting.
What's not to love!!