FaveCrafts

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How to: Makeover a Onesie

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I was invited to a baby shower last weekend, and I had no idea what to get the mom-to-be. Since I write for a crafting blog (and I even have business cards to prove it!) I felt obligated to make something. Don’t get me wrong–no one expected me to whip up something fabulous and gravity defying, but as you crafty people can attest to, it just feels wrong to buy something that you could make. The baby  is going to be a boy (if doctors are to be believed), so that ruled out just about every sewing project I could think of. After consulting a few mothers, aunts, and other baby enthusiasts, I concluded that a new mom can never have enough onesies. Cue the light bulb over my head–I’d embellish a onesie for the little bundle of joy!

Here are some different ways of embellishing a onesie, and read on below to find out what I did!

So which one of these projects did I choose? Actually, none of them! When I saw this Tie Applique tutorial on Crap I’ve Made (which, by the way, is the best blog title ever, after FaveCrafts Blog), I knew I just had to make one. What’s more manly than a tie?

I started by downloading, printing, and cutting out the pattern she has on her site.

Then I traced the pattern onto a bit of stash fabric, cut that out, and pinned it to the front of the onesie. The tutorial suggests using fusible web like Wonder Under, but I literally made this the night before the shower, so I took some liberties.

I stitched around the perimeter of the tie pieces using a simple running stitch and some bright orange thread.

It was quick and easy, and I was done in about a half an hour!

How to: Make a Fleece Scarf

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As the weather continues to cool off, scarves and other winter gear continue to look more and more important! Make a fleece scarf for extra comfy-coziness this winter. Here’s how:

Step 1: Measure out and mark your scarf dimensions on piece of fleece. The size is up to you, depending on if you want a long, skinny scarf, a wrap scarf, or a short cowl. A good rule of thumb is to use a scarf you already own as a template and measure according to that.

Step 2: Make sure the length of your scarf is parallel with the stretch of your fabric, and then cut it out. You don’t need to finish the edges of your scarf if you’re working with fleece. Bonus!

Step 3: Embellish to your heart’s desire. You can cut fringe in the ends of your scarf for a traditional look (just cut strips about 6 inches long into the ends. Again, no need to worry about fraying). You can also sew on embellishments to personalize your scarf.

The All the Trimmings Scarf from Ruffles and Stuff is a great way to use up any leftover trimming remnants you have in your stash, and depending on what kind of trimming you use, it can look vintage, funky, trendy, or eclectic. All you have to do is measure whatever trimming you want to use and cut it the same length as your fleece piece. Then pin it down the length of the scarf and sew it down.  That is such an easy way to embellish a scarf, and I’m definitely putting this on my list of things to make this winter!

Another fun, trendy way to embellish a plain scarf is to sew on a few ruffles. The Winter Ruffle Scarf from Blue Cricket Design is a good example of this, with tiers of ruffles along the ends. You can also sew ruffles perpendicular to the grain of the fleece, or along the entire length of the scarf. When it comes to ruffles, anything goes!

Buttons, pom-poms, ric-rac, scrap fabric, ribbons, and other notions can also spice up a plain fleece scarf. Or you can play with different fleece color combinations to make a striped scarf to match your winter coat or mittens!

Making a fleece scarf is such a fun, easy winter project because the scarf is as easy as cutting out a rectangle of material, and you can embellish them to your heart’s desire.  Make a fleece scarf this winter to ensure that neither your neck nor your sewing machine ever gets cold.

How to: DIY Decorating

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When I moved home after college, my bedroom was a nightmare. The walls were painted in neon colors thanks to my outlandish teenage whims, and I still had a painting hanging up from when I was a baby (it involves teddy bears and balloons…). The blinds clashed with the paint (well, pretty much everything clashed with the paint, to be honest), my comforter was the same one I’d used since pre-school, and I had a T.V. from the dark ages  sitting on my dresser, complete with taped-on antennae. I’m still in the midst of fixing it up, but I thought I’d share with you some of the projects I’ve done and show you how easy it can be to transform a room on a budget. All you need is a little DIY know-how and some elbow grease.

  1. Painting: Always start with the paint. Why? Because it’s not only the cheapest way to update a room, but it also makes the largest impact. Don’t be afraid to take some risks with your paint. After all, you can always paint over your mistakes. I took the plunge and painted stripes on my walls using a chalk line and some painters tape.
    PaintPaint 2

    You can even get creative with the paint on your ceiling like this blogger did with stencils. For a completely comprehensive guide to painting a bedroom, Dana from Made has got you covered.

  2. Embellish a lampshade: I used to look at lampshades as a necessary evil; they don’t do much except take up space. Now, however, I look at them as blank canvases upon which you can leave your mark. FaveCrafts has tons of lampshade refashioning projects to get you started.  I used this project to make my lampshade, and I’m thrilled with the results. It was really easy to do, too!
    LampshadeLampshade 2
  3. Make Wall Art: Decorating your walls is as simple as grouping some framed photographs together. Check out some fun project ideas for wall decor on FaveCrafts, especially this free eBook, Great Decor in a Flash. I used a decoupage project that involved wooden plaques, paint, scrapbook paper, and Mod Podge.
    Mod PodgeWall Art
  4. Change up your bedding: Duvet covers are basically the best invention since, well, duvets. They cost much less than buying a whole new duvet and you can change them out at every whim. Or if you’re up for a challenge you can make your own! Pillows are one of the easiest things to make, especially if you’re new to sewing. I’m planning on making these two pillows from blogger Vanessa Christenson:
    Ruffle Pillow 1Ruffle Pillow 2
  5. Refashion your Furniture: I’m planning on delving into the world of furniture painting, and this tutorial has been very helpful. Of course I couldn’t neglect to mention decoupage as an option, since I’m clearly obsessed with it. If you want to turn a piece of furniture into your room’s focal point, check out these projects:
    Decoupage DresserIndia Inspired Bedside Dresser
  6. Whip up some window treatments: Right now I’m up to my elbows in ruffles as I attempt to sew my own curtains (I’ve got to cover up those clashing blinds!). I got the idea from this shower curtain project, and I actually used some tips from this T-shirt refashioning tutorial.

CurtainsCurtains 2

What DIY Decorating projects have you done for your home? Check out FaveCrafts if you’re looking for more decorating ideas!

How to: Use a Die Cut Machine

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Die cut machines can lead to many great projects, and the best thing is, they’re really easy to use.  Recently my maid of honor used her die cut machine  to make adorable bird-themed cards for my bridal shower (thank you again, Kristin!)  It took her a while to assemble them (sorry again), but everyone who RSVP’d loved them!

Even if you’re not an avid card maker, there’s plenty of fun to be had with die cut machines. Embellish a lampshade for your bedroom, fashion a fabric flower headband or make a hang-up decoration to add some life to the living room.

There are nearly endless possibilities, but here are a few ideas to get you started:

Scrapbooking
When I think of die cut machines, scrapbooking is one of the first things that comes to my mind.  If you’ve ever put together a scrapbook, you know how much time and effort it takes to create just one page.  When I made my first scrapbook for my boyfriend, I cut out every piece by hand.  Had I owned a die cut machine, I’m sure I would have saved a few days worth of time – and my pieces wouldn’t have been so crooked.  Die cut machines have tons of different shapes and letter cut outs.  To start your scrapbook page, all you have to do is decide the theme of the page and find the font and shapes from the die cut machine that you want to use.  Paper and color choice is up to you, but the perfectly cut shapes and letters make every page look professional and clean – even if you’re a beginner.

Here’s some lovely scrapbook pages from FaveCrafts for inspiration:

Beach Day Scrapbook Layout

Cheer Scrapbook Page

Cardmaking
For any holiday, party or event, there’s a die cut shape that will help you build a professional looking card.  Really all you need to make a basic card is a die cut machine, card stock and some glue.  For a more festive card, glue buttons or ribbon bows on top of the die cuts.  Feeling fancy?  Throw in some glitter, too!  Making your own cards really lets you have complete creative control.

Have a late summer graduation party to go to? Bring this card along:

Who is the Graduate? Card

Home Decor/Center Pieces
Die cut machines are also great for making lasting works of art for your home.  Have pieces of die cuts left over from another project?  Take your favorites and arrange them in a frame that matches your house.  This project framed seven owl die cuts in different colors to create a cute wall hanging.  In addition to wall hangings, you can also create great centerpieces using die cuts.  Make  ten or more fabric flowers using die cuts and place them in your favorite vase.  With no need for water or worrying about wilting, fabric flowers make a beautiful decoration that will last as long as you want!

Embellish Everything!
Since many die cut machines are strong enough to cut tougher materials like fabric and leather, you can use their shapes to spruce up almost anything.  Just finished sewing a beautiful blouse, but feel like something’s missing?  Take some flower die cuts and sew them together to create a ruffle effect.  Layer different colored die cuts and sew them onto a plain apron to give it more pizazz.  From a wedding dress to a lamp shade, it’s easy to give every day items a little more spunk!

Here’s some great projects for inspiration.

Die Cut Wedding Dress

Puppy Embellished Baby Clothing

Bird Branch and Lamp Shade

Before you go out and buy your die cut machine, remember that they’re not all the same.  Do some research before you make your purchase to determine which machine and accessories are best for you.  Happy crafting!

New Pattern Monday: Crafting Fun in the Sun

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This week was H-O-T at the FaveCrafts offices! With summer in full swing, I don’t know what I’d rather do–head to the beach with a good book or hole up in the air conditioning with my trusty crochet hook. Here are some new projects on FaveCrafts this week that you can make indoors and wear out in the sun. Get ’em while the weather’s still hot!

Shellz Necklace and Earrings: Wear this necklace to the beach and you’ll match the seashells you see on the seashore.

Shellz Necklace and Earrings

Embellished Flip Flops: Never leave the house with boring footwear again, at least not when you’re heading for the sand!

Embellished Flip Flops

Summer Wrap: This lightweight wrap will show potential suitors that you like fashion, crocheting, and long walks on the beach…

Summer Wrap

What’s your favorite craft to do in the summer?

How to: Make 4th of July Fashion

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Red, white, and blue is a great color combination. Unfortunately, like many holiday color schemes, there are only certain days that you’re allowed to wear these colors together. So take advantage of the upcoming 4th of July holiday by allowing yourself to match the flag—just don’t use all of these ideas at once unless you want to be mistaken for Uncle Sam.

Embellished Headbands

Flower Ribbon Headband

Photos by Terri O & Still Dottie

One of the easiest DIY projects to make is an embellished headband. There are numerous ways to embellish a headband, from gluing feathers and fabric flowers to adding ribbons and beading. Most embellished headband tutorials can be done with only three materials:

  1. Glue gun
  2. Headband
  3. Whatever you want to embellish with

Try this project idea for a flower and ribbon headband, or this one that uses feathers—you can personalize them in red, white, and blue for 4th of July. The possibilities are endless!

DIY Bib Necklaces
Another subtle way to show your patriotism on the 4th is with a festive, homemade bib necklace. Just as with headbands, bib necklaces are easily customizable for any holiday and can be embellished with just about anything—flowers, ribbons, beads, buttons…I could go on forever! Decorating headbands and bib necklaces in red, white, and blue is a stylish way to incorporate your 4th of July crafts into your wardrobe.

Ruffle Tops
For those who want to wear their patriotism on their sleeve (or any other part of their shirt), why not customize a ruffle shirt project for the 4th of July? Ruffles are also very stylish right now, and they are one of the easiest things to sew. To make a 4th of July ruffled shirt, all you need is a plain T-shirt or tank top and some festive fabric. Any type of fabric will do, as long as it’s red, white, and blue! You can even cut up a second T-shirt to use for fabric.

First cut your fabric into three long strips, about 2.5” wide. Make two of the strips about 18” long and one about 24”. That way you will have one long ruffle that runs down the middle of your shirt, flanked by two shorter ruffles.

Turn your strips into ruffles by sewing a straight line down the middle of each strip using your sewing machine’s largest stitch. Leave a few inches of thread hanging off the ends of your strips. Next, pull one thread and watch your strips bunch up into ruffles.

Making Ruffles

Photo by Dana Willard

Once you’ve got all three ruffles done, it’s time to sew them onto your shirt. First sew the longest ruffle down the very middle of the shirt (make sure to take the machine off its largest stitch or else your ruffles won’t be very secure!). Then sew each shorter ruffle down on either side of the middle ruffle, making sure they are still both the same length.

When you make and wear these 4th of July crafts, you’ll be just as vibrant as the fireworks, only much, much trendier.

Make Your Own Wedding Dress

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I love the idea of making your own wedding dress and resisting the rule which says your dress has to be ridiculously expensive. I once saw an idea in which the bride-to-be embroidered scenes that were important to her and her fiance at the bottom of her wedding dress. By putting your own touch on the dress, you give the wedding a less stiffly formal feel and a bit more personality. The wedding is about you and your sig other after all!

If your sewing skills are not the best, you can go half-way. Buy a plainer white dress and embellish with fancy accents, like this project for a Die-Cut Wedding Dress.

http://www.favecrafts.com/Wedding-Crafts/Die-Cut-Wedding-Dress

For more ideas, check out Homemade Wedding: The Dress.

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