Tag Archives: diy

Decorative Throw Pillows

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My husband finally relented and let me add some yellow into our already gray and black bedroom. It may be overdone, but I think a yellow, gray, and black bedroom looks great. To celebrate, and to actually add some of the color, I started off by making some throw pillows for our bed.

I had 2 square pillows and 1 rectangular pillow already, I just needed to make covers for them. Instead of cutting out several pieces and adding a zipper or button, I went with the envelope style pillow cover. An envelope style pillow cover is probably the easiest pillow cover and you only need to cut one piece of fabric!

I could attempt to draw you out a tutorial, but so many already exist. You can find some HERE or HERE or search for yourself. All you need is a piece of fabric a little longer than 2x your pillow and slightly wider. You could use your sewing machine, but if don’t have one, you could try the iron on hemming tape or maybe attempt the hemming glue as well.

I made two yellow pillow covers and one black one, and then decorated them with flower accents

It's a good idea to iron the fabric before you sew...

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Burp Cloths DIY Instructions and Variations

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Last night I got the sewing bug and decided to make some more burp cloths for our little guy that should be here in just a few weeks. There are lots of different ways to make burp cloths, but it mostly boils down to two different variations:

Enhanced cloth diaper (to be used as burp cloth), where fabric is sewn onto the middle of the diaper, like HERE and HERE.

and for lack of a better description, a more “from scratch” or layered burp cloth. These burp cloths are usually shaped to fit around your shoulder, or in a rectangle, and utilizes different fabrics on one side and more absorbent fabric on the other side (or double sided flannel).

I made some of the second variety.

I love using Homemade by Jill’s basic template to get started. I like the curve because it allows the cloth to be up against your neck and over your should comfortably. I too, like to use flannel as my go-to pretty burp cloth fabric; I like how soft it is.

Decorative fabric to use for burp cloths:

  • Flannel (my favorite)
  • Fleece
  • Quilting or non-stretch cotton

Absorbent layer/side:

  • Another layer of flannel
  • Cloth diapers (prefolds or the 1-ply, thin layer kind, using 2 layers)
  • Terry cloth/recycled towel

Different variations:

  • Flannel on both sides
  • Flannel on both sides with a thin layer of cloth diaper or batting in the center
  • Flannel on one side, cloth diaper on the other
  • Flannel on one side, terry/towel on the other
  • Fleece on one side, terry/towel, or cloth diaper on the other side
  • Cotton fabric on one side, terry/towel, or cloth diaper on the other side

Directions:

Prewash all fabric and print out template

Cut out a layer of decorative fabric using template

Cut out the absorbent layer or side, or cheat like I do, and lay the decorative fabric wrong side up against it, and sew around the edges, leaving a spot open to turn right-side out.

Trim the edges and turn right-side out.

Tuck open edge inside and stitch around the whole burp cloth

And you are done!

Fleece and flannel burp rags

Nursery Glider Redo, AKA the Weekend Project from Hell

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I bought a glider rocking chair and ottoman off of Craigslist the other day for $60. It was in pretty good condition, but I wanted to make it more colorful and match my imaginary, soon-to-be nursery.

After reading a ton of blog posts about refinishing and painting furniture, I felt super confident that this would be easy enough to do.

One of these days our house will finally close and then we can finally move in and get things ready for baby, but until then, I am left with crafting in the spare bedroom and on our small balcony. Hopefully Friday we can sign the final papers!

Here are the before and after pics (excuse the mess, we are packing up awaiting the move):

Glider chair before and after (before I put the arm cushions back on)

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Home Projects to Try!

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I’ve been spending too much time on the internet for no good reason. Unless boredom and not being very motivated is a good reason.

Anyways.

We are edging closer and closer to owning our new home and I am excited about the crafting and decorating projects! I found some great tutorials for a few things on my to-do list.

 

How to Paint Upholstered Furniture

I have a chair that I need to try this on. I’ve scoured the interwebs and these are the 2 tutorials that I thought would work the best and were the best cost-wise

Click the picture to take you to detailed instructions!

Here is another great blog that tried a slightly different technique:

A painted print!

How to Paint a Table to Look Like New

I am trading my brother tables just so I can personalize it by painting and reupholstering. This tutorial was very straight-forward and easy to follow.

These two projects are definitely on my list of things to do, regardless of our place of living. I have lots of other things on my list if we get the house.

I can wait to start on gardening projects, too!

Coasting along and some link love

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Seems like I haven’t been too productive these last couple of weeks. I pick up the house, I babysit my Godchild (who just turned 1!), make dinner (nothing new or exciting) and chill with the husband.

My pregnancy at this stage is super easy; feeling pretty normal except my stomach is growing and I still can’t stomach steak or bacon. Our little guy is moving around lots lately, which is always neat (except when he kicks in certain places that shouldn’t be kicked!).

We have started looking into purchasing our first home. We just started viewing potential properties this last Saturday. It’s interesting to see other people’s style and preference. House hunting also reaffirms that fact that I don’t really care to spend a lot of money. Our rental lease is up at the end of April and I am due mid-May, so it will all be very interesting to see how the last months of my pregnancy look like. I am generally a pretty laid back person but I wonder if I will be feeling rushed and overwhelmed; hopefully not.

Sunday we start our Bradley birthing classes, in the evening, much to the chagrin of my SF 49er football fan husband. He keeps asking me if the class will happen during the Super Bowl as well.

I have library books I need to read and three quilts that need to be completed; all of which are in different stages of completion.

Since I’ve been pretty boring, here are some great sites I have been frequenting lately:

Better After blog - an easy to read site filled with Before and After shots of homes, rooms, and furniture - most that the average Jane can replicate

 

The Gawkerverse – Craftgawker, foodgawker, etc.  Easy to view pictures and projects and lots of great blogs.

Also enjoying the blog and Facebook updates of Whole New Mom and Prudent Baby

My Favorite Photo Album + Coupon!

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When I got married, pictures were important but I had a limited budget. I opted for a photographer that I liked and that included a disc of images instead of a print package. I printed the ones I wanted and searched for a place to create a photo album. I finally settled on Blurb, and I am glad I did! I think I paid a 20th of what my photographer was offering!

My Blurb wedding album

By doing my own wedding album, I also was able to include where Marc proposed, our engagement pictures, and our honeymoon pictures! The album is 52 pages long with lots of color and lots of pictures. I chose a hardback book with a picture on the cover and the back. Blurb by far was most affordable and had the most options.

Don’t tell, but this is one of my planned Christmas presents for the new grandparents for Christmas after our little guy arrives. I think I will do his 1 year photo album from Blurb as well (you can also make cookbooks!).

Need another reason to make a photo album? Blurb is offering 15% off their new Facebook Photo Albums! How much easier could that get? Click HERE and use the code 15OFFBLURB to start one today!

15% off Blurb Books Offer: Make Your Own Blurb Book and Save 15% | Code: 15OFFBLURB | Dates: 1/1/12-3/31/12 | Promo code details: Offer valid through March 31st 2012 (11:59 p.m. your local time). A 15% discount is applied toward your product total. Maximum discount is USD $200.00. CAD/AUD $250, EUR 160 or GBP 140.00. This offer is good for one-time use, and cannot be combined with other promotional codes, gift cards, or used for adjustments on previous orders.

Washable Fleece Dusting Mitt

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Today I was in productive clean mode (yes, the Christmas tree and the decorations came down!). While I hate cleaning them, I noticed our blinds were a little too dusty to leave alone and they can be such a pain to clean too! I then remembered something I had seen online; fleece dusters. I was thinking of this:

From Dollar Store Crafts

However, in the midst of my cleaning storm, I did not consult the interwebs and developed my own dusting friend with the inspiration of the above photo; a washable fleece dusting mitt!

Two scraps of fleece, sewn on 3 sides, then cut in strips - super easy!

If the picture isn’t explanation enough, here are the instructions:

  1. Take two pieces of fleece, bigger than your hand
  2. Sew on 3 sides (leaving the bottom open) enough room to fit your hand inside
  3. Cut the sides (do not cut into the seams) into strips, rounding the corners if you would like
  4. Get to dusting!

This mitt worked fabulous for picking up dust off those pesky blinds! You can wear it on any side – the smooth or the strip side. Plus, with the fleece on your hand instead of another tool, you have much more control around those small corners and edges. Then when you are done, throw it in the wash! I won’t post the after pictures because the amount of dust I picked up was a bit scary!

*UPDATE:

I found an even better use than using your mitt for cleaning blinds: Cleaning a ceiling fan!

I coaxed my husband the other day to finally dust the darn thing and since my mitt was dirty, I whipped up another one in about 2 minutes. He sprayed one side with cleaner, and kept the other side dry (double duty) and it worked great! The dust clumps didn’t fall off and fly everywhere which is what happened the last time we cleaned our fan.

Best 2 minute, minimal sewing, super cheap, craft cleaning product I have made so far!

10 Days Until Christmas: Festive Centerpieces

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TEN DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS. Holy Moly. My list of things to do seems longer now than it did a week ago!

Our Christmas decorations have been up for a couple of weeks now, but I’m still missing a centerpiece for the table (I’m also hosting Christmas Breakfast at my house). Here are some easy centerpieces that still look elegant and festive.

Supplies you may need:

  • Jars
  • Vases of varying sizes
  • Candles
  • Ornaments
  • Cranberries
  • Flowers
  • Pine cones
  • Pine branches/sprigs
  • Ribbon (anyone else LOVE ribbon?)

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