Happy Easter Egg Banner

It started with a bag of paper mache eggs I got on clearance last year for 50 cents a bag.  I thought I would use them to make birds . . . something I've had on my mind to do.  But, as a crafter, you all know those feelings, the inspiration hasn't come yet to get started with that project.

Since the easter season is upon us, I've joined so many in making yet another simple and easy banner.

Starting with the paper mache eggs, I sponged painted just the front with an easter shade of light purple.

And then got carried away with what I was doing and forgot to take pictures of what I did next.

I printed off the words HAPPY EASTER, cut them out and mod podged the letters onto the eggs. 

Then I knotted strips of twine, added tacky glue and attached with straight pins through the tops of the eggs.

At first I thought I would hang the eggs from a branch (horizontal) of a tree that had spring blossoms.  But then I realized that I didn't have a branch long enough to line up all the eggs and one very important discovery . . .

Do you know how hard it is to get the letters to hang straight in front if tied to a branch? 

Luckily, I had a springy flower painting my mother-in-law had done so I turned it sideways and attached the twine attached eggs. I was able to line up the letters with the support of the canvas.

 Spring sure is bursting out all over  . . . and Easter is almost here!

Take a little time to enjoy

and

Happy Crafting!

Gail

Linking To:



http://www.interiorfrugalista.com/2014/03/diy-sunday-showcase-and-features_29.html



No Sew Loopy Ribbon Flower Burlap TableRunner

It's springtime and I'm getting ready for the wonderful time ahead.  Warmer weather and welcome changes.  Looking for something a bit different I was inspired by seeing a group of colorful ribbon at a local craft store. 

 "Spring flowers" I thought. And in my favorite colors!  I knew I had to whip something up, something simple and inexpensive.  Something decorative, shouting out:  It's Spring!  What, you say would that be?   A tablerunner, that's what.  It's the ultimate expression of the season for décor and entertaining!  You can make one for each:  Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.  And you can put a tablerunner together in no time. 

For me, burlap is the ultimate, cheap, go to fabric. And ribbons are so colorful, and plentiful!   Combining the two makes for an awesome showing.  And what a wow factor change!

Here's how I put the burlap and ribbons together:

Since one side of my burlap fabric was already fringed, a quick option would be to make the entire runner fringed all around instead of folding over seams.  Once you've decided on the length and width (including fringe) based on the table or buffet you want to cover, simply pull a thread out of the burlap to get a straight line.  The first time I did this I realized the width I decided on was too wide for my buffet.  Since I had already started the fringe, it was easy to just cut the fringe off evenly and start a new line for the fringe shown in the picture. Pulling the threads away to form the fringe was so easy to do.

Next, I cut out three round burlap disks (1 3/4" in diameter,using the bottom of the glue container as a pattern) and ironed on heat n bond for stability to glue the ribbon to.  Burlap is an open weave and the glue would easily flow to the back of the burlap and I wanted to prevent this.   

I cut 3 1/2 inch strips of ribbon for the first row.  I had additional ribbon in a color that I loved and used it first in the 3, 6. 9. and 12 positions, gluing (hot glue) each strip together to form loops.  I tried to follow the color layout of the purchased ribbon after gluing the initial four ribbons.

 

For the second row, I cut the ribbon into 2 1/2 inch strips and glued them down like the others. 

 

Once that row was complete, I cut out another burlap disk like the first and glued it to the center to cover the ribbon edges and for a neater look.

 

It's beginning to look like a pretty loopy flower, doesn't it?

For the flower stems I measured where I wanted the flowers placed on the runner overhang and then cut out strips of green ribbon. I put a little hot glue on the bottom end of the ribbon next to the fringe just to get started.  Once in place, I glue down the entire ribbon using fabric glue and following the burlap thread for a straight placement. I used fabric glue for a smooth look which I don't think I would have gotten with hot glue on ribbon.  *Remember to place a protector (I used parchment paper) under the burlap for any glue that might seep through.

I love the look of the ribbon flowers on top as well as hanging down.

And finally, repeat the same process for the other end of the runner.

I used two packs of the muti color ribbon @ $1.99 each from AC Moore. The burlap was 3.97 a yard at Jo-Ann and with a 50% off coupon . . . the entire runner was done for less than ten dollars, including all other supplies. 

I do hope you like this Loopy Ribbon Flower TableRunner and are inspired to make one!

Remember, you can make this in any color palette . . .

one that you love!

Take a little time to enjoy

and

Happy Crafting!

Bunny Rabbits Burlap Canvas Craft

Make this cute Easter burlap canvas art featuring burlap carrots, raffia carrot tops and  fleece bunny rabbits with bushy pom pom tails.  These little bunny rabbit silhouettes are just too cute sitting and looking at the bountiful carrots.


Here's what you need to get started:

• Burlap canvas (20x16)
• Orange burlap
• Fusible heat n bond
• Raffia (green or paint)
• White fleece or felt
• Pom poms  (3)
• Carrot template
• Bunny template

To start, you can either draw free hand a carrot and rabbit or locate templates online similar to the ones pictured.  I made slight variations to the ones I found by googling rabbit templates.

You will need to make seven carrots and three rabbits.  For the carrots, I fused heat n bond to two pieces of burlap and cut out 7 carrots, slightly varying the shape, but keeping the same height and width.

Next, I painted raffia green.  After drying, I wrapped the raffia together with cellophane tape to form the carrot tops

I hot glued the carrot top bases to the burlap canvas and then glued the carrots on top.

I then cut out the fleece rabbits and fused heat n bold to the backs (forgot to take pictures of this) and then glued the rabbits on top of the carrots and then the pom poms onto the rabbits.

Don't you just love looking at these pom pom bunny tails?

 The bunnies look like they are ready to pounce on the carrots!

Too cute! 
And the burlap canvas can be framed to compliment your décor.

I'm sure this can stay up all summer long since bunnies tend to visit during that time especially if you have a garden.

 

Take a little time to enjoy

and

Happy Crafting!

Gail

Linking To:

DIY Statement Necklace to Wear on St Paddy's Day

I love all (most) things trendy and statement necklaces are no exception.  What better way to rock such a huge, fun necklace than on St Paddy's Day.

If you don't have anything green to wear - and you know if you don't, you'll get pinched - then make this gorgeous, bold, statement necklace and have everyone be green with envy when they see this beauty.

Here, rhinestones are glued to felt that's then cut out twice and glued together with ribbon ties between making this a darling wearable craft.

So grab your rhinestones, felt, ribbon, E6000 glue, tacky glue, and scissors while checking out the following descriptive photos and you could be making this necklace in less than an hour.

Lay out your stones on the felt in different ways to come up with a design you like.  I combined different shades of green, from light to dark, to create this pattern.

I switched the stones around and came up with this.

I removed the light green stones and rearranged the rest to create this design:

I liked this look best and glued the stones on the felt using E6000. Once the glue dried I glued on another piece of felt to the first one for additional backing strength using tacky glue. It probably would have been easier to glue the felt together first before adding the stones, but I didn't realize how flimsy the felt was at first.

After drying, I cut out the felt backing around the shape of the stones, leaving an opening between the two felt pieces on either end for the ribbon ties.

Ribbon ties were then glued between the two pieces of felt that was left open on either side.  

Statement necklaces add excitement to any outfit.  From a sleek form fitting black dress to a basic plain t-shirt and jeans.

What better way to add that much needed green to your wardrobe for St. Paddy's Day then with this bold statement necklace?

Take a little time to enjoy

and

Happy St. Patrick's Day

No Sew Zippered Leather Clutch & Necklace DIY

Have you ever watched Home and Family on the Hallmark channel?  It's very informative and sometimes offers the best DIY and craft segments.  A couple of months ago, Jessie Jane, who has a blog called Lilyshop, and a regular on Home and Family,  showed how to make the cutest little no sew zippered leather  clutches  with just a piece of leather, a zipper and hot glue. I knew I would be trying this out one day, putting my own twist on the how-to.  

 Materials I used:  Faux leather (pleather)  9 1/2"x24"
                           Fabric glue (Fabri-Tac)
                           Zipper - 9 inch


I found the best deals at the JoAnn's near me.  The store is going through a much needed remodel and had a lot of clearance items an additional 80 percent off.  I got carried away finding all sort of goodies.  I picked up several funky looking 9 inch zippers for 20 cents apiece.  I also found almost a yard of faux leather for $2.50 . . .  enough to make several clutches.  

I am not a fan of using hot glue on fabric or on items I want a permanent bond.  I've found some hot glued items can be pulled apart quite easily and the hot glue breaks down eventually.

To start, I wanted a fold over clutch so I cut out a piece of fabric 24 inches long by 9 1/2 inches wide.

I laid out the closed zipper and placed the fabric opening edge on top exactly where the two pieces would be glued together. Next, I put fabric glue on the edge of the pleather and then added some to the length of the zipper and pressed the two together.  I then put weights on the area and allowed the glue to dry for a few hours.

After the first end dried,  I  glued down the other end the same as the first.

After drying, I cut off the ends of the zipper and applied glue to each side of the clutch, one at a time, allowing each side to dry separately, and adding weights on top.  *Sorry, I didn't take pictures of that but I used an old weight belt that belonged to my hubby.

This is the finished look of the clutch.  Since this material had a light color backing which you can see on the edges, I rubbed brown liquid shoe polish over the edges to give it a natural "leather" look.  In hindsight I should have done this before gluing everything together. 

     Since I had so much fabric left  I decided to make a "cut-out" statement necklace . . . something I have been wanting to do for quite a while.                  

 For the pattern, I folded a 6 inch square paper into a 8 petal flower and drew teardrop shapes all over which I cut out.

I removed the top two petals to get the shape I wanted . . .

 

and ran the pattern through my Xylon for an adhesive backing.

 

I laid the adhesive back pattern on the wrong side of the pleather fabric and cut out the design using an xacto knife.

 

I made holes on either side with a puncher and attached an old chain necklace I had.

 

The teardrop shapes that I cut out were glued in a flower pattern to the front flap of the clutch.

 

 

I also thought the necklace needed a little something to dress it up a bit so using E6000 I glued on a few metal beads.

 

 

 I think adding the beads makes the necklace pop!

The clutch and statement necklace were so easy to make and I'm loving how they look . . . so stylish!

Take a little time to enjoy

and

Happy Crafting!

Gail

http://myfashionforwardblog.com/things-pretty-51/