Crafty DIYs

There is truly nothing simpler to sew then a pillowcase. This would make a GREAT beginner project. Just because it's easy, though, doesn't mean that  a girl couldn't use instructions! So here we go! Material needed: 1 yard fabric ($8/ fancy yard**- you could do better by shopping sales) Bias tape- don't NEED but we'll discuss below/ or scrap fabric Total cost: Roughly 10 dollars/pillowcase **Please note. These pillowcases were made for a present. So I had them custom-made through Spoonflower . I found jpeg's of where my parents had lived, and where they were moving too- uploaded the images and got custom fabric made. So my price was higher. To those willing to shell out the bucks, you can make some truly wonderful pillows with truly special fabric (at @$25/yard, so don't say I didn't warn you). So first, WASH your fabric so it shrinks to its final size, then IRON it before you start. Just trust me and don't skip this step, or you'll r...

 Happy Halloween!!!! So, after finding my little ones' wonderful, barely worn Tigger costume for $5 at a thrift sale, the rest of our family costumes had to match! But since we were not about to rake out the dough for adult Pooh and Eeyore costumes, it was time to figure out how to make our own. So off we go! Let's start with Eeyore... Materials: 4 pieces of felt- 2 blue, 2 purple/pink- $3 Fake fur stip- $1 Sweatshirt- $12 (Amazon, after thought this would have been cheaper from Walmart, but eh!) Fabric glue (had some lying around house)- probably $3 if you don't. Interfacing- need fat quarters worth- $1 Total =$17 Felt for ears and tale First, trace ears on felt THEN, put ear over the pink, trace again! Do it again (to make 2 ears) Then, trace and iron on the interfacing to the blue part of the ear to make the ears less flappy.  Sew ears together. REMEMBER- you want to see the stitches for the Eeyore costume Next,...

So I've been drooling over the play kitchens on Pinterest, on other crafty blogs, and, to be honest, pottery barn kids. But I don't have that kind of mullah.  I didn't want a plastic one, because Z is a climber. But wooden play kitchens are hard to find, so I kept my eyes out for a kitchen at the local thrift stores and garage sales... and then I found one! "The Before" Z already climbed into it... This kitchen was well loved. I'm guessing it was made in the 60's, by hand. Its bones were pretty good, but there were a lot of loose nails (scary!), the hinges were rusty. And my god! there were stickers and crayon marks everywhere.  The ugly yellow/beige color had to go as well. But I only paid $40 and a case of beer to the neighbor who hauled it home for us, so it was quite the steal. Project Plan Costs: Old kitchen ($40) Spray paint- 3 cans main color, 2 cans accent, 1 can oven = $16 Paint Marker (black)- $2.50 Handles (splurge!)- $...

So a few months ago, hubby and I went shopping for some Roman Shades. We had five windows needing shades/blinds.  We were blown away at the costs! At roughly 180-200/shade (low end), we could not afford it.  Especially when you can MAKE one! And choose your own, fun fabric. Time ? My first one took 4 hours, my second 2 hours (once I figured this all out). My goal is for my instructions to make it 3 hours for your first one! What you will need: 1 yard heavy/decor weight fabric (8-$20) 1 yard blackout fabric ($6) I bought a kit that has apparently been discontinued, but no worries! (that explains the heavy discount) What you need is: 10 yards Roman Shade Tape ($9) 15 yards drapery cord ($6) 4 L brackets - 1.50 4 screw eyes 1.50 18 screws- 2.00 1 Cord Clea t- 1.60 6-7 wooden dowels, depending on length. = .50 X 6= 3.00 Mounting board 1 X 2 X (width of window - 1/4"). (Mine = 1 X 2 X 42.75")= $1 In your stash (probably) matching thread fabric glue (tacky)...