Upcycled Pencil Case with duck tape ruffles
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If you have read my bio, you know that I LOVE to create things. Even as a child, I was always making things and starting new projects. So, today, I thought I would share some tutorials that you can do with the children in your life. Of course, all of these projects should be done with adult supervision. Please share some of your favorite websites for kid crafts in the comments!
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For Christmas, I gave my child some fake food to go with a little shopping cart she had adored at the store. Along with the plastic fruit and veggies came some small cardboard food boxes. I knew the second I saw these that it would be a matter of days for these little cartons to hit the trash because they would quickly get squished and torn up. To prevent this inevitable fate, I reinforced the boxes with cardboard and laminated them with packing tape. Truth be told, this is an activity to do while watching a show or something because it is a little time consuming. Materials: Fake Food Boxes Cardboard Craft Knife or Scissors Glue Gun/Glue Sticks Packing Tape (optional) Directions: 1.Use your fake food box to determine the width of your cardboard fillers, then cut strips of cardboard at that width, then, cut rectangles from the strip at the same length as the box. 2. Once you have enough rectangles to fill the box, use the glue gun to stick the pieces together. 3. Put the stack of glued cardboard inside the box then put some glue on the end of the cardboard stack and close the box, gluing the end shut. Repeat for the other end. To further the lasting ability of these boxes, you can laminate the exteriors by wrapping them with a layer of packing tape. You might also like:One of my most favorite things to knit or crochet is a pixie bonnet. The simplicity of the little hat is so enticing and just begs for personalization with cables or lace. All you do is knit/crochet up a rectangle, fold it in half and sew along the cast on edge. I wrote this particular pattern with a beginner in mind and kept it simple. This is a great one for learning because you practice stockinette, moss/seed, ribbing and there is a buttonhole involved, which are great techniques for a beginner project! Perfect for beginners, this pattern is quick and easy to make. Essentially you are creating a large stockinette swatch that is punctuated by rows of moss/seed stitch to break up the monotony. Finish off with a few ribbing rows, then sew up the cast on edge to create a lovely pixie bonnet. It is written using US standards and worked flat. The finished product (after being folded and sewn) is approximately 6 ¾” high and 6 ½” wide. I wrote this for a toddler size, but you could make it bigger or smaller by adjusting your needles and/or yarn or if you want to use it for a smaller child, leave off the extension strap and button one corner to the other. Print the Pattern. Gauge: 1” = 5 stitches x 6 rows in stockinette stitch Size: Toddler Materials: 90 – 100 yards (80 – 90 meters) worsted weight yarn Size 6 (4.25mm) knitting needles Yarn Needle Abbreviations: K = Knit P = Purl SL = Slip Stitch ST = Stitch Button Hole {refer to pictures} = SL1{A}, bring yarn to the front {B}, SL1 {C}, *slip first sl st over second sl st {D}**, SL1, repeat * to **, SL1, repeat * to **, 3 sts should be bound off {E}, SL first st on right needle back to left needle {F}, turn work. Bring yarn to wrong side of work {G}, *P into the first st on the left needle without dropping the stitch {H}, slip stitch from right needle to left needle {I}, repeat from * until 4 stitches have been created {J} (one more than was bound off), turn work. The front side should be facing you {K}, SL first st from left needle to the right needle {L}, pass the second stitch on the right needle over the slipped stitch {M} (getting rid of the extra stitch), SL 1 st from right needle to left needle {N} and K that stitch {O}. Pattern: Using long tail cast on, with a 30” – 35” tail, CO 60 sts Row 1: K to end Row 2: K2, P to last 2 sts, K2 Rows 3 – 10: Repeat rows 1 & 2 Row 11: K2, (P1, K1) to last 2 sts, K2 Row 12: K2, (K1, P1) to last 2 sts, K2 Rows 13 & 14: Repeat rows 11 & 12 Rows 15 – 28: Repeat rows 1 – 14 Rows 29 – 38: Repeat rows 1 – 10 Row 39: K2, (P2, K2) to last 2 sts, K2 Row 40: K2, (K2, P2) to last 2 sts, K2 Row 41: K2, button hole, (P2, K2) to last 2 sts, K2 Row 42: K2, (K2, P2) to last 2 sts, K2 Bind off. Weave in ends. Use tail to sew up the back of the bonnet, then position and attach button. Extension Strap Pattern: CO 28 sts Rows 1& 2: (K2, P2) to the end Row 3: K2, button hole, (P2, K2) to last 2 sts, P2 Row 4: (K2, P2) to the end Bind off. Weave in ends. You might also like: This is one of those clever ideas that I wish I came up with. I stumbled across this little pop up card while perusing through my Google+ communities, which, by the way, is a perfect place to get amazing ideas and advice. Anyway, the genius behind this post is Helen Bird from Spoonful. The tutorial is really great too, so I will just refer you there. Below is my rendition. Hope you can come up with a reason to make this cute little token of gratitude! You might also like:Last week, I posted a lovely little A-Frame Play Tent that was decorated with a fabric fan garland. I found the tutorial for this adorable string of fans at Blooms and Bugs. I really loved the outcome, however there are a few things that I would probably do different if I were to make it again. I think it looks better when hung vertically (pictured below) as opposed to horizontally (shown in the tutorial). If you want a horizontal garland, here are a few suggestions:
You might also like: I grew up building forts using blankets, stools, chairs or whatever looked useful, so when I saw how simple and inexpensive it is to build an A-frame play tent I knew it had to happen. I ended up making one for my daughter and my niece. Seriously, it cost less than $10 total and took all of an afternoon to make. The best tutorial I found for this creation came from Twirl for a Rainy Day Tent. I contemplated redoing the tutorial with the few tweaks I made, but I have had a few too many projects on my plate in preparation for Christmas. So, instead, I am providing you with a link to the tutorial I used and a list of my little tips. Tips: * Watch out for bowing and large blemishes when picking up your furring strips * If you aren't down with buying thrift store sheets and/or you don't want to do any sewing, look for curtain panels instead of a flat sheet * When drilling your holes, do two of the furring strips at once so that the holes line up and mark them, then paint the ends of the pairs different colors * I sanded my furring strips because they are pretty rough just from the store By the way, I will be posting about the fabric fan garland next week. You might also like: Here is the other half of the Asymmetrical Ruffle Christmas Stocking for a little girl that had this mini quiet book attached to the front. As I had mentioned before, this stocking was donated to Helping Kids with Cancer. This little book is a spin off from the Dress Up Page that I made as part of the Quiet Book I did about a year ago. That page was easily my favorite page to make. The little dresses are so fun to "design" it is hard to stop! I hope you enjoy the tutorial! Materials Needed: 2 rectangles at 5" x 6" of fabric (Inside panels) 1 rectangle at 9" x 6" of fabric (Outside)2 rectangles at 4.5" x 6" of a reinforcement material, such as a sturdy outdoor fabric or canvas Velcro Sewing machine/thread/pins/scissors Pattern (UNCHECK the fit to page box) Felt for the girl and back of the dresses (you can get felt sheets for $0.37 at JoAnn's)Steam a Seam Embroidery floss and needle (face and crown) 1/4" double fold bias tape or fabric to make your ownScraps of fabric for the dresses and castle Ribbon and/or lace for embellishment Inside Directions: 1. Pre-wash all fabrics before cutting. 2. Place the 2 inside panels face down on the table. Place and pin a rectangle of reinforcement material on top of each panel, lining up the top and sides. Baste stitch around the edges. 3. Cut two 5" strips of the soft side of the Velcro. Place an pin one strip about 1" from the top of one of your inside panels. Place and pin the second strip about 3/4" below the first. Straight stitch along the top and bottom of each strip. 4. Pin the two inside panels right sides together and sew along the inside at a 1/2" seam. Iron open the seam , then top stitch on each panel. 5. Cut the girl from the felt as well as from the steam a seam, then center and iron in place. With a straight stitch and starting at the bottom of the legs in the middle, sew straight about 3" or so to create the legs. Satin stitch around the body, except for the head. Cut the under dress and hair from both the fabric and the steam a seam. Iron in place, then satin stitch around the edges with a matching thread. Cut a piece of the soft side of the Velcro to fit on the chest of the girl, then pin and sew in place. 6. Trace the face and crown onto tissue paper and use that as a guide to embroider the face and crown. Outside Directions: 1. Cut your castle, roofs and flag from the fabric and steam a seam, then iron in place on the front of the book. Satin stitch around the edges, extending the back side of the flag down to the roof to create a flag pole. 2. If you are attaching this book to the Ruffle Stocking from Tuesday, cut a 1" square piece of the reinforcement fabric and place it on the wrong side of the exterior fabric where you would like the eye to go (I just held mine in place instead of pinning) then sew the eye portion of the large eye and hook in place. 3. Cut a rectangle of fabric at 3" x 2". Fold in half so that the 2" sides meet. Sew along one side with a 1/4" seam allowance, then sew again from the same side with a 1 1/2" seam allowance. Clip the remaining fabric and turn right side out. Connect your Velcro and cut a piece to fit the tab just made. Attach the prickly side to the tab and the soft side to the back side of the book in the middle about 1/4" from the edge. Then, place and pin the tab with the Velcro facing up on the front of the book and baste in place. 4. Place the outside of the book face down on the table, place the inside face up on top, pin and baste around the edges. For the binding, please refer to the detailed instructions of how I bound the pages in my quiet book. For the dresses, please refer to the Dress Up Page from the quiet book for detailed instructions. You might also like:Last week, I posted about Blazing Needles and the incredible donation they made to fill stockings that I had created. These stockings are being donated to Helping Kids With Cancer in an effort to bring some Christmas cheer to children fighting cancer and their families. I also made and filled another stocking to be donated (I just can't help myself!). Best part is that I am providing you with quick tutorial of how I made this lovely item. There are two parts to it, the stocking itself, which I will show today, and a mini quiet book closet with Velcro dress up clothes, which I will show on Thursday. Stocking Materials: 12" of a sturdy fabric or 24" of a lighter fabric (44"wide) 9" of fabric (for the flap and the loop to hang it) (44" wide) 5 rectangles of fabric measuring 14" x 6" (for the ruffles) Sewing Machine/Pins/Thread/Scissors Iron/Ironing Board Stocking Pattern Directions: 1. Pre-wash all fabric. Print the pattern, making sure that the box labeled "fit to page" is NOT checked. Piece together and tape the main stocking before cutting out. 2. Fold your main fabric in half and cut 2 stocking patterns, repeat if you are using a lighter weight fabric. Fold your flap fabric in half and cut 4 flaps (the last page of the pattern). 3. Pin 2 of your flaps right sides together. Sew along the rounded edge using a 1/2" seam allowance. Unfold and iron the seam to one side. Sew along the seam, attaching it to the side you just ironed it to. (This causes the fabric to fold to one side making a cleaner finish). Repeat this step, but iron the seam to the other side and sew it to the other side. Make a few clips along the seam so that it lays flat when you fold it right side out. (You should have a visible seam on only one side of each flap which will be the wrong side). 4. Lay down one of your stockings with the wrong side up. Place one of the flaps with the right side down on top. Line up the top edges and pin. Sew together using a straight stitch, then zig zag along the edge. Repeat the same process with the remaining stocking and flap. 5. Open up the flap and iron the seam toward the stocking. Top stitch along the top of the stocking, being careful to catch the seam as you sew. 6. Cut a 2 1/2" x 4" rectangle of fabric for your loop. Fold the rectangle so that the 4" sides meet and sew along this same edge using a 1/4" seam allowance. Turn the loop right side out and iron. Fold in the loop in half so the short ends meet. with the flap unfolded, place and pin the loop on the wrong side of the back stocking about 1 1/2" from the top and 1" from the side. Sew with a straight stitch and a zig zag stitch. (Please refer to the Origami Stocking for further pictorial representation) 1. To do the ruffles, fold each of your 5 rectangles in half, wrong sides together, and iron. Next, do a "dry fitting" as in place the rectangles about where you would like them to go on the stocking. This is especially necessary if you are using directional fabric or putting tulle on one side. Mark the side of the ruffle that will be angling up toward the flap with a pin. 2. Using a basting stitch, sew about 1/4" from the top of each rectangle, rounding off the corner that will be angling up toward the flap at about 1" - 2" from the end. The rounding off doesn't have to be exact as you will be bunching it anyway, but if you are really nervous about it, use a cup or a bowl to draw a round line on the ruffle before you begin sewing. 3. Pull one of the strings on each ruffle to bunch it and tie off the ends when it is bunched enough, then cut off the excess fabric from the rounded corner. 4. Do another "dry fitting" by placing all of your ruffles on the front stocking, then pin the bottom most ruffle in place and sew using a zig zag stitch to prevent unraveling. Repeat until all of the ruffles are attached; placing the topmost ruffle right under the flap. 5. If you are planning on adding the mini quiet book, then place the hook end of a large eye and hook under the bottom most ruffle and mark with a fabric pen, then hand sew to the front. 6. Pin the front and back stockings right sides together, tucking the ruffles a bit as you go. Starting about 1/2" from the top of the stocking and with the flap unfolded, sew the stocking together using a 1/2" seam allowance. End about 1/2" from the top on the opposite side. Cut off any excess fabric from the ruffles and make small clips about 1/2" apart in the seam allowance at the rounded portions of the stocking, taking care not to cut through the seam. 7. Turn the stocking right side out and sew along the flap sides with a 1/2" seam allowance. Fold the flap down and you have a lovely ruffled stocking! You might also like: Lets get real, the holiday season is upon us and Christmas isn't really that far away. If you have high hopes for a handmade Christmas, now is the time to get started on those one of a kind gifts. The great news is that there are a LOT of gift ideas out there that really don't take much time. Today, I am going to highlight some from this very website to get you jump-started. This first group is for all of the knitters out there. 1. T-Shirt Yarn Star Bracelet - The great thing about this gift is that you don't even have to make a trip to the craft store, just make your own tarn from your closet! 2. Fancy Spats - Liana - Use some left over yarn from your stash for this adorable fashion statement. 3. Baby Bear Hat - Made with chunky yarn and few embellishments, this darling hat is incredibly quick and easy to make. 4. Tractor Hat - This is a great hat for the boys in your life. Plus, it is a great base for an earflap hat, just swap out the chart. Now to some lovely crochet projects. 1. Fancy Spats - Cathedral - These little shoe collars are the perfect gift for that person with a unique style. 2. T-Shirt Yarn Cluster Bracelet - If you are low on cash, then this is the item to give to your friends. Not only is it adorable, but you can make it from t-shirts in your closet. 3. Ruffle Wreath - Perhaps you would like to add to your decor stash or maybe you just aren't sure what to buy for someone on your list. This gorgeous wreath is easy to make and fairly inexpensive too. (You can make the flowers from old sweaters!) 4. Broomstick Lace Headband - Really, does it get any easier?! Make these as stocking stuffers and use up some of your left over yarn or even make some tarn to create this headband with. Ok Sewers, here are some ideas for you. 1. Poinsettia Stocking - So, the stocking itself is pretty cool, but you could use the same technique for a pillow, which would also be adorable. 2. DIY Library Bag - This bag is so easy and doesn't take much material. It would make a great gift for friends and family. You could make it on a smaller scale and fill it with homemade soaps and scrubs. 3. Custom Stuffie - Here is an outline for how to make your own custom little stuffed animal for the little cutie in your life. 4. Men's Dress Shirt to Baby Dress - This would be awesome out of a great red or green plaid shirt! Here are some random crafts that don't necessarily fall under a specific category. 1. Pallet Growth Chart - This would be a great gift for someone with growing children or grand children 2. DIY Bath Crayons - Can we say stocking stuffers? 3. Olliblocks - So fun, so quick, so easy. 4. Nativity Puppets - Switch up the telling of Jesus' birth with some simple felt puppets If you are not so much into making things, but want the look of handmade, check out my Etsy Shop. You might also like: About a year or two ago, I happened upon the #CrocodileStitch and fell in love. My immediate thought was that it looked an awful lot like feathers. I knew that I needed to make an owl hat at some point. Well, last month, when I was thinking about what Halloween costume to make for my daughter, I thought back to the croc stitch and decided to use that as a base for the costume. I wish I could have brought the pattern to all of you sooner, but I wanted to make sure and get it tested first. I considered waiting until next year, but, well, I got too excited! So, here you go, a lovely little crochet costume! This pattern includes a hat, capelet and spats. I would consider this pattern intermediate as there are front and back post stitches as well as the use of the crocodile stitch. The hat is worked from the top down with the wings, eyes, beak and ears sewn on after. The capelet and spats are worked from the bottom up. Gauge: 2” = 7 stitches x 7 rows (in pattern stitch, FPDC, SC portion) Sizes: Baby (12 – 18 months), Toddler (2 – 3 years), Child (4 – 10 years) Materials: 500 - 550 yards (80 – 90 meters) Worsted Weight Yarn I (5.5 mm) Hook Yarn Needle 3 half inch (1.3 cm) buttons Only $5.50 for a .pdf download You might also like |
Hey there! I'm Kristin, aka Kit. Here is just a peek into my crafting mind. I hope you find something to spur your creativity!
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