Flip flops with loopy bows

I made this for my friend’s two-year old daughter! It was very easy and a lot of fun to make them. It’s a good project for those lazy afternoons – it took me around 2 hours!

What you need:

• Grosgrain ribbons (in as many colors as you want) – I used two colors
• Fray check (or some other way to seal the ends of the ribbons)
• piece of felt
• needle and thread
• industrial strength glue

I followed the tutorial here. The only changes I did was to use 2.25” pieces of ribbon because I figured I wanted the completed bow to be around 2” in diameter.

Since I was using only two colors (as opposed to the four colors in the tutorial), I cut 20 strips of 2.25” from each ribbon. So I used 45” of each ribbon.

I tried to glue the bow to the flip flop using hot glue but when I tested it after a few days it came off. So then I used E6000 and it seems to be working so far.

DIY: Dyeing a bedsheet

I decided that it was time our bedsheet had some coordination with the our duvet cover. However replacing a bedsheet does not come cheap. Especially if you’re looking at a king sized one. Also, if you’re existing bedsheets are in good enough condition then you don’t want to throw them. So I thought to myself – how I wish I could dye them. That thought was followed an internet search and I found a useful link.

Here’s a before/after comparison:

I knew the color that I wanted so I bought two bottles of RIT Scarlet Liquid Dye. The bedsheet and the pillows together weighed close to 2 lbs. So that would be 1 bottle of RIT (1/2 a bottle for each lb of fabric). Since I wanted a rich color, I figured I would go with 2 bottles.

Here’s a comparison with the color on the bottle and the actual color that it dyed to. I would say I got a more coral color than a Scarlet. Luckily coral works for me equally!

The instructions mentioned to use the washing machine for bug fabrics but I wasn’t too confident that everything would fly well and there would be no unforeseen consequences with that approach. So I went with the bucket/sink method.

I used a big Sterlite box and did this whole process within the confinements on my bathtub. The instructions say to cleanup afterwards using bleach. However I’m happy to report that I was able to cleanup my bathtub with baking soda. That might differ from one tub to another.

Wear clothing that is dark enough so that if a few drops of dye to splash on you, your clothes don’t get ruined. Or wear an apron, work clothes, you get the idea.

Steps to follow:

1. Wet the fabric.
2. Fill the box with hot water.
3. Add salt.
4. Mix in the dye.
5. Now put your bedsheet and pillows in.
6. Keep stirring for 30 minutes. The instructions say 30-60 minutes; but I was tired after 30 and wasn’t sure that I was seeing any difference so I stopped.
7. Rinse, rinse and rinse the bedsheet and pillows in water.
8. Did I mention rinse? Oh yes I rinsed them TEN times – yes you read that right! TEN!!!! If you’ve rinsed a king size sheet once then you know how I felt!!! No wonder on the instructions they don’t mention how long that might take!!!
9. I washed the bedsheet in the washer and then dried it in the dryer.

I’m very happy with the result! With just $6 (I used a coupon at Joann for the dye) and a little (?!?!) muscle work I now have completely new looking bedsheets. Plus I don’t have to dump my good old bedsheets!

Ribbon flowers

I’d made a ribbon flower following this tutorial and it had been lying around for a long time since I didn’t know what to do with it. Then I’d a light bulb moment and realized that I could use it to perk up my flip flops! So my flip flops went…

from mundane…

to oh-so-pretty!!

Don’t you love those?!?! The original flower I had was too big so I made two flowers out of it. In plain words, each flower is made from approximately 1.5 ft of 1.5” wide ribbon. I gathered it and then hot glued the base to a felt piece.

To take my ingenuity one step further, I put velcro on the base of the flower and the flip flop straps!

So let’s say I want to switch colors or the white flower looks dirty, it’s a piece of cake to change the flower!

From Ugly Betty to Bold and beautiful

I’d been waiting for this Starbucks Cocoa tin to get empty so that I could put it to some good use Every time I got some cocoa from it, I would think to myself – “oh what a beautiful candidate this is for altering!”. One day I was lucky enough and the last grains of cocoa were used up from that tin by some Samaritan (in all probabilities it was me) and then a jubilant me put it in the dishwasher to get it ready for the d-day!

I figured that the tall and thin structure of the tin would make a beautiful vase. If there’s a vase, there need to be flowers. I’m not one who can dutifully pick the flowers from the garden and replenish the vase everyday. So artificial it was, for me. Handmade? Or readymade? no handmade would be better. But ready made would look more natural. The tussle began and handmade won the war. Thus began the search for tutorials for handmade flowers. Lucky for me I’d been recently experimenting with some paper flowers and had hit upon just the right tut. Here it is. The only thing that I would like to add is that alternately opening the layers from opposite sides worked better for me than opening all on one side and then the other.

So here’s a peek at the tin that was

and what it is now

Doesn’t it look perfect for spring?!?!

I used a 12X12 scrapbook paper to cover the tin. It fell a little short – so I made two pieces of it. 6 X 12 each. Covered up the little slit on both sides with a black and white ribbon! Nobody would ever know that I did that because I was short of paper!! If you look closely at the photo you can see the ribbon on the right side. My apologies for the blurry photo – I didn’t realize it then.

The flowers are made from tissue paper. Since it’s spring I wanted a pastel theme. Don’t they look gorgeous?!?!?

This masterpiece now sits on our dining table. Not only did I save a tin from going to the landfill but also created a beautiful centerpiece at no cost!!

Bumble bee and lady bug bags

Bag: The bag is 4” H X 3” W X 1” D in size. To make the bag

1. I took a piece of yellow CS 8.5 X 5. Score along the longer side at 3", 4", 7" and 8".
2. Score the short side at 1". This will be the bottom of the box and make a 1" cut at the score marks above so that you can fold the flaps later to make the bottom.

Black stripes: A piece of black CS 3" X 0.5" and 1 piece 3" X 1.5".

Wings: Cut two scalloped hearts at 2" and two plain hearts at 1.75". Mat the plain hearts with the scalloped hearts.

Eyes: I used the smallest nestabilities oval to make the white portion of the eye and the bigger hole in crop-a-dile to make the black portion of the eye.

Antennae: I used a thin strip of black cardstock 1.5” long and a circle punched using crop-a-dile.

Glue all these parts to one of the 3"X4" faces of the yellow CS. Punch a hole each on the 1 X 3” sides of the box. Thread a ribbon through it – I took a ribbon 10” long and tied a knot on each side after threading the ribbon. Now assemble the box. Use double sided tape to glue the sides of the box and then the bottom.

Bag: This bag is 3”H X 2”W X 1”D in size. Take a piece of red CS 7” X 4”. Score the longer side at 2”, 3”, 5”, 6”. Score the shorter side at 1”. Follow the rest of the instructions as above.

Wings: Scalloped heart is cut at 1.75 inches and plain heart at 1.5”.

Eyes: Same as bumble bee.

LA

LA = Leave of Absence :). I’ve been on a long leave of absence – all related to our moving into out first house! First buying the house and then settling down – together they make a long winding process :). Now that we’re quite settled, I’m back in business. I have my very own table for crafting – can you believe that?!?! And the cherry topping are the Alex drawers from IKEA! We bought two of them and I thought I was planning for the future. Who was I kidding?!?! They’re already full! Well that takes care of not buying too much of stuff!

Though I’ve been missing from the blog world, I haven’t been completely out of crafting. A few months back I made these gift card holders for an acquaintance. There were 10 of them so I decided to make a little purse to put them in. Don’t they look cute?!?! She was very happy when she saw them!

Did I tell you that I incorporated DH’s help to do these? He’s so cute – he punched all the flowers for me. There are around 24 punched flowers and 10 of these cards which makes 240 punches. He did every one of them! A big thank you to him :-) Oh and we also broke my old punch in the process. So we had to buy a new one in haste. My old one was a McGill Daisy Stacking punch and though the punched flower was beautiful, the punch itself wasn’t great. The new one – a marvy uchida I think – is just the opposite. I like it’s buttery smooth punching more than the flower! Oh well what can you do…

The ribbon used on the bag is a recycled one – I lifted it from a packing we received some time back. The leaves are hand-drawn.

 

Supplies: DCWV cardstock, stacking daisy punch, dew drops look-alike, white gel pen.

Create Your Own Friday #15 – Alter something!

My mom had been looking for a frame with 3 slots for ages (so that she could create a family frame) and every time I saw such a a frame I would think to myself “oh no, I would make a prettier frame for her”. I even told her that I would get her one and it got postponed, it got postponed and it got more postponed…finally I decided to put it on my to-do list and here I am :) Doesn’t it look pretty?!?!

I stamped using black pigment ink and then heat set it. Initially I intended to use my new memento black pad but it didn’t give me a good solid image – maybe it’s good for outline clear stamps and not solid ones. So then I tried my stazon black pad but it seems to be next only to the Sahara dessert when it comes to dryness! Finally I overcame my fear and decided to use my pigment black pad – of course it was too wet for the photo mat which is probably a coated paper. So I heat set it. There’s no guarantee that it wouldn’t smudge – I dare not try it; but then nobody does need to touch the print, it’ll always be behind the glass. I was at a loss of how to add a splash of colors and the prima flowers seemed to fit the bill. And of course, I HAD to use the new rhinestone stickers I got in the dollar bin at Michaels :) I couldn’t believe it that that was for a dollar – they’re beautiful!

 

Supplies: CTMH decorative dainties, prima flowers, rhinestones, Anna Griffin black ink.

Create Your Own Friday #9 – Tutorial for the Buggy

A number of you asked me for a tutorial for the buggy that I made some time back. I’m sorry I couldn’t get to it sooner than this -  you know how life goes! Anyway so I’ve done my best to capture all details but feel free to ask me questions if I’ve left out anything.

We need:

Cardstock of your choice – I’ve found that it is easier to make this with a less heavy cardstock. My first try was with a 90 lb CS and it was difficult to fold it. In this tutorial I used DCWV CS which as we all know is not that thick and that made it easier to make this.

Circle Nestabilities (or any other circle cutting tool of your choice or use this template)

Glue, scissors

1. I used the Large Circle nestabilities die. Take the largest circle in that and cut 2 circles from your cardstock. Take the second smallest circle and cut 4 circles.
2. I’ve shown the cut circles on my cutting mat if you want to get an idea of the size of the circles. Now take the bigger circle and cut quarter of a circle from it. Also flatten the base by cutting off a portion of the base as shown below.
3. Cut a strip of cardstock 2.75 inches X 9 inches. Score it 0.5 inch on each side of the shorter side as shown below. The half inch borders will used to stick it to the circle and the 1.75 inch will be the width of the buggy.
4. Cut fringes on the half inch borders.
5. Apply glue to one of the fringes.
6. Now is the most difficult part of the this tutorial. Glue the strip to one of the bigger circles. Start from one end and keep curving the strip of paper to align with the boundary of the circle.
7. Finish off the buggy. There might be extra strip left over, cut it off.
8. Stick the wheels. You may want to use lightly glue them and see if their positions are correct and your buggy is balanced. If yes, then you can glue it well.
9. In the original buggy that I made, I hid the ugly insides by lining it with cardstock. You can use the same template as above to cut out the lining and stick it inside.

If you make one, then do leave me a link here and I would love to see it :)!

Create Your Own Friday #6 – Buggy!

Call it a buggy or baby carriage or anything else – it’s as sweet with any other name! :) I simply love how it turned out. It’s prettier than I imagined it to be – isn’t it?!?!? Ok time to give the due credit, I got the idea from here. Initially I thought I was inspired from it but after I finished it and looked at my inspiration again – I realized that I’d almost CASE’d it! CASE’d or not – it is cute!

 

I used the largest nestabilities circle (large) die to make the frame. I stamped the wheel with versamark using PTI Guidelines two stamp set and then clear embossed. The center is accentuated with liquid pearls.

Supplies: DCWV PP, Wasau CS, PTI Guidelines two, grosgrain ribbon, clear EP, liquid pearls, scallop scissors, nestabilities.

A wall decor – Reduce, reuse and recycle

Have you had a moment where you were totally awed by what you made? For me such moments are rare and today I had one such moment :). I’d some idea before I jumped into making this wall decor but when I looked at the final result, I said to myself “WOW!” :-D.

Inspiration struck me when I looked at all the old “laddu gopal” (it’s the name given to Krishna’s idol  when he was a baby/toddler”) dresses. Every year when we celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna, we change the clothes of our deity. All these years I’d been collecting the old dresses because they were so beautiful! I always thought that I could use them to make something and finally I did :). So what does a laddu gopal dress look like – here’s a photo:

[Photo courtesy: The Krishna.com store]

I removed the top portion from the dress so that I’d a circle with a hole; dressed up the hole, pasted it onto round coasters for a good backing and that’s it!! So here’s my latest on “Reduce, reuse and recycle”.

Embellies storage in a shoebox - Recycle at its best!

Ok, I HAD to give myself a pat on my back when I designed this storage solution for my ribbons and various embellishments.
I took a shoebox and decided to divide it vertically into two "floors". The bottom one consists of same-height boxes which can each have different embellies. The top "floor" has compartments for ribbon. In the middle it has a handle so that you can pick it up and look at the things at the bottom. If you want you can pick out any of the individual boxes at the bottom.
I'm so proud of it . It fulfills my need for storing my ribbons and also organizes all my embellies! AND it is zero cost - all I used was a shoebox, some cardstock and some PP!

The divider in the center can be used to pull out the "tray" to access things at the bottom.

I'm back!!

Yes I've been MIA; first a vacation and then a move. We moved to the Pacific north-west!

I'd made a couple of things in this duration but never got a chance to show them off :).

These are the acetate boxes to hold chakli (a south indian savoury, an absolutely delicious snack!) , which is also home-made. I gave these to my family and they all loved it!

This was for my aunt's 25th anniversary. My mom wanted to send something which had "25th anniversary" written on it and since everything in the market seemed to exorbitantly priced I'd the idea to make this. I printed a poem on silver CS and inserted it on the right side of the photo frame. The stickers are glued on top of the glass and not inside.

 

I was always so afraid whether I would be able to do justice to this peacock image that I would never pick it up until now when my DH said it would be nice to use this image. I'm glad that it turned out well!

I'll soon start my blurfing to see your beautiful creations which I've been devoid of for so long!

Small gift bag

Now and then I search the SCS gallery to find something interesting to work on and on my latest scourge I came across this beautiful yet simple bag. You can find the instructions here. You can make the bag in probably 2-3 minutes; it's that easy! I stamped the front and the back with the flower from CTMH Decorative Dainties.

Here's how it looks when you open it up:

...and finally a sideways view:

I cut some splits at the top with a knife to thread the ribbon, that makes it easier to close the bag.

• Stamp: from image swap, CTMH Decorative Dainties
• CS: DCWV
• Prismacolor pencils, OMS, Stickles stardust, grosgrain ribbon

An anniversary photo book

This was a project that took considerable time but I was very satisfied with the end result. It was as if my imagination had materialized so there's no satisfaction like that.

This is a book that I made, the left panels are left blank for photos. It is also the project that used the stamp set Anna sent me.

 

• Stamp: Decorative Dainties by CTMH, Flourished Words by Flourishes, Amore number and lowercase by CTMH
• CS: DCWV
• Rhinestones, Pigment inks, white gel pen

A diversion

This is a diversion from my paper crafts to the world of beading! I read this idea on a thread @ SCS and was so fascinated by it that I HAD to try it. True to my imagination, it was very pleasing! If you're wondering what it is - it's a book thong (a type of bookmark). You can find the instructions here.

The thread does have signs of curling; that's because I bought a hemp and found it to be too thick so I unwound it into 3 individual threads.

Supplies: Acrylic beads, spacer beads, hemp, charm

Composition book and Back to School something challenge

Looking at all the altered notebooks that the talented stampers were making, I was very tempted to make one. This would also be my entry into the Back to School Something challenge. Since I was one of those who didn't know what a "composition" book was (I'd seen it but didn't know that's what it was called); I decided to post a picture of it.

Here's the altered one:

I made it for my neighbor's son as he's very fond of any thing that I make :); I quite like it after it was done.

• Image: from image swap
• PP: from dollar store
• White gel pen, prismacolor pencils, Nestabilities, Rub-ons, decorative scissors.

Fridge magnet - an altered coaster

Some time back, M's was carrying these round coasters 8 for $1 and I couldn't resist that deal. Am I glad that I did :-v

I finished this by giving it a coat of Hard Coat Satin Mod Podge. I wasn't sure if I could Mod Podge over the prismacolor pencils and pigment ink so tried it over a scratch paper and when it worked I crossed my fingers and applied MP all over the coaster in order to water-proof it.

• Stamp: from image swap, Flourished Words by Flourishes
• Prismacolor pencils, stickels stardust, Nestabilities, Round coaster, Black Cat Eye's pigment ink

Lovely little boxes

When I was a child I'd made these origami boxes and my mother would adorn them on her dresser. Now that I think of it, I'm amazed that how much of that junk I used to make and she would treasure it like priceless pieces. She would in fact ask me to make more :). Anyway, 20 years later I'm still making the same boxes just that they seem much more useful and beautiful :). I wanted to distribute prasad (sweets) among my friends and so I used these boxes for that purpose. You can find the instructions by Nichole Heady.

 

I wanted to make all of the same color but was out of ms CS! I must say that though nestabilities are very expensive but they're so useful!

• CS: DCWV
• Rubons (Courtesy: Allison), nestabilities.

Surprise card!

There are couple of tutorials to make this card. I followed the one @ SCS by Beate. You can see a video tutorial of it here by Dawn. I was kind of sure that when I'll make it the slider will not work properly because that what happens to me most of the time but I was so happy at the end that the slider was working like a charm!! There's a hint of glitter on the image and the PP strips. Since I didn't have a circle punch, I used my nesties to cut the half-moon at the top so that one can pull the slider. Simply love 'em!

• Stamp: image from image swap @ SCS, Flourished Words from Flourishes
• CS and PP: DCWV
• Prismacolor pencils, OMS, stickles.

Mother's day gift - a stationery set

Here's what going to my Mom this MD! When I saw this wood purse at Michaels I immediately wanted to do something with it; it looked so cute. Then I was looking around and found some videos by ChicnScratch on Youtube for post-it holders and notepad covers. So I thought that I could combine all the ideas into one project.

Initially I painted the whole purse but I didn't like the final look so then I covered it with this beautiful paper from DCWV. It's not apparent in the photo but the paper has some glitter here and there which looks very beautiful! After covering with the paper, I then did 2-3 coats of Mod Podge (Satin, Hardcoat). It's water-resistant and it dries up to give a nice satin finish.

The video on post-it holder was for square coasters but I could only find these round ones at M's and I liked them. Covered them with DP and sanded the sides to get an even border. When I used to see people mention about sanding, I never realized the difference it would make; but when I did it myself I could see that it makes it so even!

The notepad has a magnet at the back so that it can put on the fridge. I used notepads similar to this. Covered them with DP. Another thing that I didn't know about was that you can easily cut a magnetic strip with your regular scissors. When I bought it I wasn't sure and asked the people at M's and they weren't sure either but it cuts very smoothly! I used ProMag Magnetic Strip Tape.

Both the things fit into the purse, for clarity purposes I photographed them outside the purse.

• Paper: DCWV Pocket full of posies with glitter
• Mod Podge, Tacky glue
• Turquoise acrylic paint
• Round coaster, post-its, notepad, magnetic strip