tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60571380668745542522024-02-06T21:15:51.109-08:00Careless CraftCarelesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18397232338671220377noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057138066874554252.post-73542097053080363932010-09-02T16:25:00.000-07:002010-09-02T16:34:13.767-07:00Bedroom Before Pictures<div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZwL0W8-NpJElwaqZQwz_EAmkcs1O1zV9C37RctqDomN6l77rYAlJSOEypBktyj5mE48DKCR6hxFANeI-F-06OzcIaPvm4RWy7W0Mt7z3zHQcSzn4Jiu812z_BSg6xdabbhLgNw3x2Xk/s200/009.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512462940291351570" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is a poor shot of our bedroom "before."</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pink walls.</div><div style="text-align: center;">No bedframe...mattress and boxspring directly on the carpet.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mismatched furniture.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Giant room. </div><div style="text-align: center;">No artwork.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9n_Ay7zaY-2FAD60qDTz0FEHJNPRiCIGiSJC65bKOYPhAePwrNelchCBMtt2QWIe57BKPQxrTd4bfLbuj-u2iqxW05FLczhyphenhyphenEw4nWtkfmsZ8Owak873pQANJDPSZX_haqzxqNzyqX84s/s200/100_5040.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512462950990868818" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is the cedar chest before it's makeover.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Very sad state of affairs.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What to do?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Suggestions?<br /><br /></div>Carelesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18397232338671220377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057138066874554252.post-22748710016221192072010-08-31T17:19:00.000-07:002010-09-01T03:45:02.337-07:00Green Ziplocs<div style="text-align: center;">I HATE sending lunch food for my kids in plastic baggies. </div><div style="text-align: center;">In our family it seems like I could go through a box of </div><div style="text-align: center;">one hundred baggies in the coarse of a month...sometimes less.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> 2 Kids. 2 adults.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Each lunching and snacking outside the home5 days a week.</div><div style="text-align: center;">One baggie for a sandwich, another for a veggie, another for a cookie, ANOTHER for chips. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a world gone mad with baggies.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hopping on the green bandwagon, I finally made some re-useable baggies for our lunching needs. Being that I can't make just one, and things get dirty, I've made somewhere in the 20's. All different sizes and shapes. (Here is a great <a href="http://www.tacy.org/tutorials/SnackbagtutorialRevisedpdf.pdf">starter tutorial</a>.) While researching tutorials online I noted that most crafters out there were using age appropriate fabrics, tough for a an almost Middle schooler and almost High Schooler. No Thomas the Tank Engine and Tinkerbell fabric requests being made from our home. What to do?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5P3Dv-lX8XiSn30RTVkx89bYyq2L8OJlepqQNEDboMk3M9eM3bUygTYNMniBt9hnrH5ko8pX1EXXUT4ZSLBacv8rlDtlUSPxSIQCMNBXxL7Bl_HQidin6VXFEi33kh93m-3MPGH9h3k4/s200/100_5246.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511735944212116834" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Freezer paper stenciling. I love it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Start with some of this...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_SpD7jmNUxHDmSjMr0iKzHbGTmHAnZcYHxfQkYHcUBIkRBKlm4B-_vnmlYv9g-lgQRxiR2Y8QpLJ0QK3CiRPe2PXVK-IHftBOEGBK_ghwc5vy3vgyTCBpILZxN6CaLOHgor_u8YNtoE/s200/100_5253.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511889201614305186" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cut your fabric. I used pieces that were 6 inches wide and 12 inches tall.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Go online and Google search for what you are looking for in Google Images.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I used catch phrases like guitar silhouette, snowboarding silhouette, dog silhouette, etc.</div><div style="text-align: center;">When choosing my designs I chose things that had little or no white </div><div style="text-align: center;">within the design just to make it easier on myself.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>file:///Users/Cara/Desktop/Weimaraner.jpg</div><div><br /></div><div> </div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Print out your Google finds in a word document after you've sized them.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was going for small designs, so a word document worked well.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tear off some freezer paper and using an exacto knife cut around your image.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlA1rZsI2B850G_TGxai3ct8AP9aQvT8oxLoSh1KkRAVH04hyD-vZ2UP7M9kem7id1a2enikJdW28xnMIz8nQlaWH3m6eg-9zKy5H8tcnEXR_9y7di2EyhaFS4CkJlN495ggdFktPCRA4/s200/100_5238.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511891281748267138" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You wil end up with an outline that you can easily iron down on your fabric. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I folded my fabric in half to simulate how it would be sewn when the baggie was done.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LY_EGOulS0XrxEazMZisCAYwOm9w6FRMoBVGs5mVJf_mc_uhlXJHeVQFxYFdqNBNniPsivZMhir-ZlvnJ__wYIVbjoWux3Frn50CCz6A5t65oAokDCevQlVLXG95Pq7ic3q60Kq27Jk/s200/100_5241.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511891977842520866" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Next I took some fabric paint, available at any craft store or fabric store. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Look in their acrylic paint section. If you cannot find fabric paint specifically,</div><div style="text-align: center;">buy a bottle of fabric binder that will turn any acrylic paint bottle</div><div style="text-align: center;">into paint appropriate for fabrics. Please use fabric paint! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Your laundry with thank you later! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Using a sponge (I used one that I had cut up from the kitchen)</div><div style="text-align: center;">dab the paint onto the fabric. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Careful to unfold your fabric...the paint will seep through!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSL2vn2BJ7HhOCXry1XK6R1r0I7GXXWInq6KZqEYQD9Q2Ru4LgQiMNmUmk_lhTW7bxm-LDrDDxcjXLm7k2AHTfS31X1SfesrYUbdRGQljVjV3UBGFdacI-MAu-n3aNa25Xj3saccgJNM/s200/100_5245.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511891984122450866" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I peel my freezer paper off immediately and let dry before sewing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOGDaMUlXhX3ShEBUpFCSJbu26JfERg9VMdPrQuq_W70m49oRXT_EI1gOAcYLXQTfd9OwnR2WBnNjtc2-HGsh2X_Myvwl6W7S7ypDTipcSCyAGx0_tWSaI0pz4TlG57m-MG8U5MqHxcE/s200/100_5251.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511893918088369010" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Carelesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18397232338671220377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057138066874554252.post-7997914569938967562010-08-19T18:41:00.000-07:002010-08-19T18:57:39.110-07:00Beachy Project<div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfo7EMgvjwcAdngpGltPb-L_8CvQwMOll0jlhl3oqdGy7XkfBCnnK27kyOabsCbjd5hDBQHinHhBKedeQLNOkB-oWdR-rSj6pZaVYr1cp_jsAydrAbHIx3RS0UxHZEugpI9tH_gsrxoo/s200/000_0056.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507301665496870642" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">We are all about the beach.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">And when we are on the beach, the entire family</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">is on the look out for interesting shells</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">and beach finds.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Our beach finds have been sitting in on our guest bath</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">countertop in matching jars, labeled with the beach</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">name and date we found the shells.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Very nerdy. Very scientific.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Upon our return from our latest destination, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">our bathroom still had bare walls and </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I was out of jars to put our latest stash in.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">What to do?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">1. Buy a stack of $4.00 shadow box frames from my local Michael's store.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">2. Have my kids type out our beach name and date information</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">on a piece of cardstock, centering the lettering on the page.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">3. Measure the frame opening and cut the cardstock </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">down to the frame opening less a half inch.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">4. Arrange the shells on the cardstock artfully.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">5. Hot glue the shells down one at a time to retain arrangement.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">6. Using pretty straight pins, pin the paper to the </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">fabric of the shadowbox.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">7. Repeat.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">8. Hang.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsY5Gz-pRuOkHexKZ14FK2QFB_ASeJ7xgcHodM8USPgs7Kyw5_cfFzz_6Ba7NQs4BntRCMrBhsPaT4RHFyKcbqeo61W0VHHjZBEJqhoqihXeD1-LEQLAYXekx_k4qjkPTO9LDL0Lqp8CQ/s200/000_0057.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507301675054047314" /></span></div>Carelesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18397232338671220377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057138066874554252.post-25273608453982654082010-08-17T18:25:00.001-07:002010-08-18T04:27:41.168-07:00Jeans Recycling Part Duex<div style="text-align: center;"> <img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbThOQUqVNYU87I4zTVAp3sx0dbuMXi75O-_l75uNMoWo_PVVe5G-NNEX-38TTVwoOtZiztyNw8UrQn6ii3wYwQdyucI3vdFF2AIcwQXUiVuJHCSEIi4aRQv0MIus6JHbZHKCowsDrNmo/s200/100_5141.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506556004140691922" /> </div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Chloe the dog has a tired old dog bed.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Chloe the dog loves her alpha. </div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Chloe would like nothing more than to have a new </div><div style="text-align: center;">bed made from two pair of her alpha's tired old jeans.</div><div style="text-align: center;">. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhTu2-u0HNPbMXKD1Io-ywIty3LPDsX9R09vVVAJ2vO8bxO6nh5U6yve4Twl6_aYXXJkRDv2HP0h5G6yFLiaV3Y9Oq0-qi7Kjrp26Ly68m3LAOYB2imC3I9qhBCWMoWOmW-ja7yd_dSI/s200/100_5144.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506556007590055650" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Chloe is a little dog. </div><div style="text-align: center;">She is 11 pounds after a big meal.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">The "pillow" portion of her bed measures only 16" across.</div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbcLnXuSUM5umQNAIpJJYjwDX9mPBb3jnQnW-G78iI3kKlXLBNkSVP1-7fiEAtQRmQZ_PF9wQvhZrstzfatDgQlVUwOEgqjg33-OAo3eJsO9K8mSDFSao7MA6uFBGEFlRTfQrvfFOVXg/s200/100_5145.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506556015680379506" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">I dug through my kitchen cupboards and found a Christmas </div><div style="text-align: center;">platter roughly 16" across I could use for a circle template. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> I laid the platter on my jean leg and traced 3 circles. </div><div style="text-align: center;">One for the base of my dog bed, and two for the pillow. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> I used three jean legs opened on one seam.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjP5Eqz_sKzxex51RY13i7BTEAiD4525ODsV0HotZaxbLDGkk21qpyFlqNXW6heqEupkU02xJ8cIzyHKWl4cb1E5NNZGAcFjMsppyUqDcsjH1aUgUwUEX5CdvLeJGNVN0QeB_nhuqpsak/s200/100_5146.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506556020129147746" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">For the pillow, with right sides together, I sewed around the outside of the two pillow circles, leaving a 4 inch opening for turning. I turned the circles right side out. Since I had no ready made stuffing I used some old t-shirts from the donation pile for stuffing. After stuffing, I sewed the opening closed with a top stitch all the way around the circle.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYRtA3uCcY64E5VN1KCO4do5oXKf5n6t0UcROyV79Ya4n-AazIHCqVBEA6DhDRYSqwVHxKP2quPcIK1KadDQMYewvRw4CSK5LngSc1GLej3S6uLYi9Ytb5bGSnDniT-488pCtMmuf00w/s200/100_5152.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506557196842002354" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I wanted the outside of the dog bed to look like the waistband of a pair of jeans. I wanted the dog bed to look like a pair of jeans thrown on the floor. In order to make the jeans have a large enough waistband, I pieced the jeans together to create a large rectangle measuring the circumference of the pillow. In order to piece the jeans, laid my rotary cutter and ruler ten inches below the waistband on each of two pair. Using one waistband as my main piece, I cut pieces out of the second pair and added them to the main waistband to "expand" the waist to measure the circumference. When adding pieces, I layered the new pieces over the main piece and sewed them on without bothering to sew rights sides together.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I figure when the bed is washed the raw edges will fray nicely.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJsJxaWQeGzmBGzaIHRHc8sEX0e9GcDP4h4WgiAz-HveJ5P1S5Mc28UBCqyNhMlswOlZL65TgoXV_BqIO-3gt1lQCHKgfD6jSMJrsqiPy74iRJl7gS01At53dEuzZZq9e9Hj-rrMVIjQ/s200/100_5148.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506557187763465938" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">When sewing the rectangular piece for the outside of the dog bed </div><div style="text-align: center;">I sewed exclusively on the pre-existing orange stitching, except</div><div style="text-align: center;">when adding the extra width for the circumference.</div><div style="text-align: center;">When sewing the extra width, I used a grey thread that disappeared</div><div style="text-align: center;">when sewing over the denim.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSPYaIUAVo0sbYZDXF8wEqF3GRmXbEg0tAtN1LpKYeUZ1VXejofWWUZZ-WUS7sPgRX9c8P417lzo0wpw6gqhCmC_BnpEVemjMqzl9BPU7JXPxc747GorU1Jbr1x902EfEdRdNqFtbvV8/s200/100_5147.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506556027254627938" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For some color, I added a pair of my husbands boxers to the fly of the jeans!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bft7bDvdn6ZIb4QVaVAUwNBuY1XERHfuyuOVNbtZPwNto9yfd5XfN1t3lzp5eDHd1NhM4uPmo0nSvL04TZchPIO49DE6lqBIUmtENO_m1YZlLcEmqy7DqJ1CJcWbkBviItkr1qPqkqI/s200/100_5160.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506557602621040242" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I created a matching rectangular strip from the remaining jean leg and sewed the two rectangles together with right sides matching. Once together, I sewed the outside to the remaining center circle, again leaving the raw edges to fray.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgWEyHIgnafGgQOYBW-boYvNqVjZ-k8Ld0OoG_beB7qdjQEkOQ6q2hz6WR3jSbDonLSjClFHJBFMgqODKlVHik5IoH7vWf9lOiRLYgmdr3Z1BYiE_E_NS3tsGiLxITbW3CEY-6wpBgc8/s200/100_5161.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506557208555512082" /> <img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHygHw535L8CdTfIpJbPSOBr9YmRwDMOhy2-APcEMz__aJ9nFx8oo3lnMH_y4LwbtNpR_oQ6RtC5NnRdcS2B_mwxQod7bo_gTWZ7i-dS0jYgGkTgEGOw_pcbunGF5zqlzqDp4ej76WqY/s200/100_5163.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506557224768122530" /> </div><div><div style="text-align: center;"> Voila! A new dog bed for Chloe that is cool enough for any room!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Carelesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18397232338671220377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057138066874554252.post-38014704206833310212010-08-17T17:47:00.000-07:002010-08-17T18:24:40.405-07:00Recycling JeansLast weekend we (my husband and I) went jeans shopping. For him. To be honest, husband, has not purchased a new pair of jeans in a LONG time. His old jeans were from Costco. It's not that I don't love Costco, but we haven't lived in Costco-range for hmmm...12 years. <div><br /></div><div>The shopping proved to be quite difficult, but the resulting purge provided me with a nice supply of recycled jeans to craft. To find something worthy of the sacred jeans, I did some net research on jean recycling and didn't find anything I liked. One morning, I picked up my kids bath mat and realized that the backing was disintegrating. I decided to use some of my new stash for a bath mat.</div><div><br /></div><div>First, I started by ripping my jean legs into 1 inch strips.</div><div><br /><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-9IzGqzcsshZRvCUqWpzZ_lrMrbIgUj6KcCNnlgMrtYd4-XOHOPRjFreCuuwcATUdyxxveXGiVDVG7tOp_Po8AayyVir4NcpNBWkNcebTNXqgr4b8CgNioFEEtqI3dNSA-2SgrgLeGE/s200/100_5064.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506550336439167474" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Next, I took a piece of room darkening shade material (from my stash) the size of my intendedrug. I laid a strip of jeans on the material and sewed down the center.</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQJtfRFTI7MT4mPK4WQGLb9hZOUrbLj_2GubsJVraFrVrMBf6jAHxZyJs_OP8nR_aurkheq-jNa-x77-Tq8X2ufA4llB1HY1JCab3vbGndwS6LgTVr4LGyJLuk4032sYqPg0ihBUXyUI/s200/100_5049.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506550306986340370" /></div></div><div> Once I finished the first strip I folded it to the right and laid another strip down next to the first and sewed down the middle.</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUX9kwSZnOB-7_T0g1Xsu_EDYEPbuAApSd0fE0aVQBkRvxgXfkDOHCxWphuWBWWroIDJrlnnc7EeDZQR58UOgUgClUYeXMlh8-Zu4fSxgheZQXpLQJMLvSjtGxhMllJ3Yshetl5mjgnU/s200/100_5054.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506550315572063650" /></div><div>Pieces were added one after the other. On end the pieces looked U shaped because each piece was sewn down the middle.<img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnRjdOYB8aalZhB5l0gi_rargLKBANX6JBh-hSAl23q95w0SrHIH_4aVLogM2SQBqDmOqbXV3ZyocsKmjDttiaM3kUIGLQ3jTW6yrPlN6_8AYE-AQO2eNkNc4JZYIYrdQDnz3zW-B92s/s200/100_5059.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506550319746969234" /></div><div><br /></div><div>After building the pieces up I took my rotary cutter and cut off the uneven ends, squaring offthe edges. Next, I washed the rug, hoping the denim would unravel and fray. The first wash was a pain, picking all the strings off the rug when it emerged, but with each wash the rug gets cuter and cuter. I was even thinking of bleaching the rug, for a traditional white color, but decided that the blues were a a better fit with my shower curtain.<img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJ2QSmGVU1ve8d-3T_ExfuDGSl5mdFyMDJfZXFbHTgwFEPc48ipRJzlUVYjWoJ9XGwpvt92v694cbyItrjTVUCEzWaQlOZaFCp2t6z-1XvYthaHX1GRO60NDa7mXUaD9ZK_-lDSuwVi8/s200/100_5083.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506554158685245682" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1Q0NEdXASm2URhaAGROuz1GZk_yP9EVDBSUmCxHpQau9wOIYk9XOet7W7kdKlhN0brD8AKaX4KccLjczYvTupdeV8k4TrLBVbgE9nciVFSlodfuOLjUgs9u_QKRfr9yXRK0_5lrkCb0/s200/100_5088.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506554163225954370" /></div>Carelesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18397232338671220377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057138066874554252.post-14560566899471514282010-08-17T16:49:00.000-07:002010-08-17T17:47:25.379-07:00I Stink at Posting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMISCWGEfTj-GEHJpF4qZcQB4-0aidsBu-PzIG4gCbPrfrGOKkqtkx8MZWWOB9P9pEYOnaAtukBf3dZJfUpcrlBANkHuWOM8JNvnNjk5YycqJ1Fj6-KRU8AGCSbetsJIpwUjakPODH3w/s1600/100_5091.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMISCWGEfTj-GEHJpF4qZcQB4-0aidsBu-PzIG4gCbPrfrGOKkqtkx8MZWWOB9P9pEYOnaAtukBf3dZJfUpcrlBANkHuWOM8JNvnNjk5YycqJ1Fj6-KRU8AGCSbetsJIpwUjakPODH3w/s200/100_5091.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506532990149420994" /></a><br />It is true. I am a lousy post'er. To my credit, I have a new computer and just needed to figure things out AND...Ihave been really busy crafting.<br /><br />So...let me get-a-posting.<br /><br />CHAIR. Before.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Naugahyde. Gotta love it. We bought this chair 2 or 3 years ago at the Duke Surplus store for...wait for it...$20.00. The lines are nice, the wood is solid and nice, but the naugahyde is a littlemuch though. To match my newly painted bedroom I wanted to update the chair a bit.</div><div><br /></div><div>First, I took it apart.<img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1D4kF2eDlylEahhDUPQuL1PplZmn1oGvHAwhpUzzBG4S9ecY3ZBWJc-u8xLESc3GxrF95SooATFJBnADfqf5gzLaxrOF2uczcg8Rpez27fmYWTfC_GGvzLzDbnUv0REjb2wFT65aYpw/s200/100_5092.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506534924227449618" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYcvZObvDb-pI5gtQsGyrZDw1rCTuXMRlKnCPLT0M3glfnA19tW4cklGHCw7HQMJZW-RlxkzE5TyVFHsyc3XMqA6SUFG225KmSi2eBIQHLWo_T8qWgeP15GMhwVwv3F8QMqOacrQ08VA/s200/100_5097.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506534926975062882" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Next I measured and cut the main square piece and measured and cut the rectangle that wrapsaround the seat, making sure that I had plenty of width on the rectangle for the stapling to come. Then, I purchased some white piping and started sewing, sandwiching the piping between the two pieces of fabric.<img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLyuLH9iUjMM7KPsJVQZujFPfDaFp7q3rnWDf84F_ts0e0wiKasQOFJEnQBeJL-dd2Gvij28B3dA7c8gu2A6xtj3wmtCRo36uROtpay_XJr3kWbPfLNiWBS0ZnxeYjRvK41dwaghxFsY/s200/100_5101.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506536515596148578" />This is what Iended up with...<img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhyphenhyphenocjDnxFAdrkQW07LYEXH_u136w0wbMLg7kH39Vt6eho0sF0hoqf-nWgK-8jh-ej8377Ogn_9Hi1cVtdVMdnVjrWqhLLgp_4Sikdbi2uHx-cDEG_jeIh4FDPWtjgrOPXa0ta4Yc878/s200/100_5102.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506538166873056834" /> I put the fabric over the old foam frame...<img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKP6TsX3OGo19zkoIlli53-nzlrr21XAE3EhfX-wmgHQXmGE_ouanqYeaDJswoZyUi4X2hdFidG9hPELxNEeO0sv_K3DdbTGXZgB7Uy0csBx0G9UVHCFKLJfNzZNCSxGB3uDI4WWUD8TU/s200/100_5104.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506539081863717570" /> and start stapling. Stapling the fabric over the frame is an art. My artist approach is to staple on one side, pulltaught and staple on the other side. Icontinue all around the frame, leaving the corners until the end. The corners are simple folding and stapling. Once the fabric is stapled on, the second row of piping is stapled over the fabric and tucked in. <img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXBkglVN8HYZFcD0vsQXClpavpwWN1lQhjUEzVV1BNRicwL2HJEtmj4BRwNC3488FDK3A_rFFO5sj0qzqq0DxLH-YleD-PBrPgzKUATexEb54xGV5-8DnHa-qzh_iQvKEn3ZWoC-S-3Q/s200/100_5106.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506541016449554290" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9zgk-hVsrDcfA6YagXfRxM51zwAT4UhWpnB3w-8tla3-6BnQDIz_TjwiPZBYKZWA8lKUIYkcahXpvYewq8HPX6noeAUZnAy_qfo4Jb8H7bMoa7TSzqcMtZc8rDJIKa14r6MYC7MV1iM/s200/100_5107.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506541021923024850" /></div><div><br /></div><div>I repeated the same directions for the top piece, <img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rHOiPxWo3D_dmrm8XjoYXyxtGAwztI8gHWYfBe_wYB971OGwyUpTdMypxl2FdfJ7QyjW9Bvg0UYB1bd7bEk-2vDDWeQFK_MubT7bVjU_FCXF2erCE59UPBYTIxuYYEp7gU04Ux3m0As/s200/100_5111.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506542878354252658" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0bPYLfBEfiApjf2CAFAyhkEzcPcWKUky8V_4uSy5fnvvQf6AcsG-2LTZ9oZFadnlaXVj8gHC6m-tqCKxoh-cyFNwxtXGCqOTAb5P5F_n_lB8DU2KRiwccCr_bloQ_XCyCbPQOMgzdAE/s200/100_5112.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506542885840514354" />and here is the finished product!<img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkto3RkN18KF4mZZl9QQHzzJ8BpckIras_jGDSNZa84mWI5nGbqagZglv9w-7qZJF6Li0pLGUNNiGBdfFV84VDtPzU0Dv9cjOKr3RMa5d3dnShcAg99NH0EhXnvA_5z9uQD-dqNoohrk/s200/100_5115.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506542893126954802" /></div><div><br /></div>Carelesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18397232338671220377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057138066874554252.post-68887771818521553512010-06-22T06:14:00.000-07:002010-06-22T06:17:45.952-07:00Paper CutSo right now I am dabbling in paper cutting. I have my trusty exacto knife, some paper and a self healing mat. While doing a bit of net research on templates and gathering ideas on subjects, I came across this A*M*A*Z*I*N*G paper cutting. It is A. huge. B. all one piece. And C? Stunning. It is a single sheet of paper cut into a portrait and TIED onto a canvas. Jump to the <a href="http://www.craftstylish.com/item/8173/portrait-in-paper-its-not-what-you-think">link</a> and see!Carelesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18397232338671220377noreply@blogger.com0