DIY
I love having strands of Christmas lights in my room all year round. They give my room a warm golden glow that takes the attention away from the chaotic mess on my floor. But I also wanted to add a little floral flair to my lights, so I came up with this simple 3step mini-project below... *Notes and tips: 1) The strand of lights I bought is actually a little bit daintier and more delicate-looking than the standard Christmas lights. I just had a red garland lying around so I used what I had, but I think you could make some really gorgeous light garlands if you used flowers of different sizes, textures, or colours (flowers made out of tulle or chiffon would be amazing!). -laura :)
Build An Olivia’s Doll Crib
PDF version A doll crib designed for 18" dolls. Features a bottom drawer. Handmade from this plan >> Dimensions Dimensions: It’s not a little piece. Materials and Tools Shopping List: 1 – 1×12, 8 feet long 1 – 1×6, 6 feet long 2 – 1×2, 8 feet long wood filler, glue, and finishing supplies 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws or 2″ trim screws 2″ wood screws (can use the 2″ trim screws) sand paper Tools: measuring tape square pencil safety glasses hearing protection drill jigsaw sander Cut List Cut List: 2 – 1×12 @ 20″ (Round tops as shown in step 2) 1 – 1×12 @ 21″ (Crib Bottom) 1 – 1×12 @ 20 3/4″ (Drawer Bottom) 2 – 1×6 @ 20 3/4″ (Drawer Front and Back) 2 – 1×6 @ 10″ (Sides of Drawer) 4 – 1×2 @ 21″ (Tops and Bottoms of Crib Rails) 10 – 1×2 @ 7 3/4″ (Crib Rails) Step 1 Rails Mark all of the 1x2s @ 21″ long as shown above. Step 2 Box The most difficult part of this entire project was cutting the tops of the ends the same rounded curve. Step 3 Assembly Now simply attach the rails to the ends and bottom. Step 4 Drawer Step 5
Build A Wood Dress Up Storage Rack
PDF version Creating a dress up center for your little princess (or prince) is easy with these straight forward plans. Features a large open base area perfect for accessories and a hanging bar for outfits. Handmade from this plan >> Dimensions Dimensions: 36" x 36" x 12" Materials and Tools Shopping List: 1 – 10 foot 1×12 board 1 – 6 foot 1×10 board 36″ long 1″ diameter dowel 2″ screws wood glue wood filler 120 grit sandpaper primer wood conditioner paint paint brush Tools: measuring tape square pencil safety glasses hearing protection drill circular saw jigsaw sander level countersink drill bit Cut List Cut List: 2 – 1×12 @ 36″ (Sides, round top corners 3″ down with a jigsaw) 1 – 1×12 @ 34 1/2″ (Bottom) 2 – 1×10 @ 34 1/2″ (Sides of Storage Box) 1 – 1″ diameter dowel @ 34 1/2″ (Closet rod) Step 1 Storage Box Predrill holes along the long edges of the bottom with a countersink bit. Step 2 Sides Cut the arch shape from the sides as shown above. Step 3 Closet Rod Step 4 Step 5 Isn't it adorable?
The Easiest Cheat for Binding a Quilt
This Fall has been filled with quilt making projects and outings for us. We started off with the super easy and adorable cheater quilt, made quilt binding, and took a trip to the Quilt Market. Today we have a quilt project brought to you by Rae from Made by Rae. Rae is always sewing up new projects like the cutest baby tights, the dapper dillingers, and the prettiest chevron purse. She is here to show all of you the Cheater Quilt Bind-Off. Intrigued? Step 1: After quilting the layers of your quilt together, trim the batting along the outside of the quilt right to the edge of the quilt top. Step 2: Trim backing (the yellow plaid fabric in my photos) to ONE INCH all the way around the quilt. Step 3: Starting near a corner and working clockwise around the quilt, fold the backing in half so that its raw edge is lined up with the edge of the quilt top (it will now be 1/2″ wide). Step 4: Fold backing one more time along the edge of the quilt top so that it overlaps the quilt top by 1/2″.
15 tips on how to make your first quilt
Guess what I did? I made a quilt. My first quilt. And I didn't die. And because I didn't die, I thought I would pass on my new wisdom to you, so that you too can make your first quilt without dying. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. I realize this probably wasn't the "how-to" you expected...but I hope it helps! Notes: The pattern is Buttonholes by Wendi Gratz.
Inspired by Yulia Brodskaya
I can't get over how amazing these are. I wouldn't be surprised if Yulia invented quilling. She is a 28 year old artist from Moscow who creates beautiful designs from vertical pieces of thin paper and her website is full of inspiration in color, line, shadow and technique. You don't have to be a fellow quiller to wish you were like this great lady. Even though her pieces would be amazing if they were drawn, it was the fact that they are 3d that caught my attention. I imagine one of her expert pieces would take hours, which I do not have... When my husband and I were engaged, I bought wooden letters to spell out 'save the date' and covered them with different patterned paper. (I couldn't resist showing our cute picture) The letters were already covered (I know, I didn't post a diy... I picked out 4 colors of paper that went with the colors in the pattern and had them cut into 1/2" strips. In hindsight, I would choose a letter that had a meaning. I only have an h.
Build Wood Bunk Beds For AG & 18" Doll
Today was my daughter's friend's birthday. The Birthday Girl has been talking quite a bit about getting her first American Girl doll, so Grace and I thought we'd make her a bunk bed. Not entirely sure why I waited until Wednesday afternoon to start cutting boards. Good thing this bed only took me an hour or so to put together. Well, I DO know why. Because if I'd built it last week, it wouldn't really be new by the time we gifted it. And can you blame them? And I won't put the photos up (my apologies to the sweet Birthday Girl), but I actually caught THREE of them standing on the top bunk. That darn orange crayon! And I know that American Girl dolls now come in different complexions and hair styles to match their owners . . . But I do not recall "Beach Hair" (we'll be sweet) as an option. There's room for two. The top bunk is just the right height for playing. It won't break the bank to build. And most importantly, make this bed because the girls love it!
make a sleeping bag for a stuffed animal
*This post originally appeared at U-create.com* My son has a monkey named Jim from Build-a-Bear Workshop, and he wants Jim to have every single accessory that store carries. Since that’s obviously out of the question, I decided to make Jim a sleeping bag complete with a built in pillow that he can snuggle into at night. The sleeping bag rolls up into elastic loops that fit on his shoulders during the day. (While I was at it I made Jim a new pair of PJs to match the sleeping bag – click here for the tutorial and a free pattern download.) The sleeping bag is very easy–all you have to do is sew a few straight lines. Gather your supplies: 1/2 yard of fleece (Joann’s has fleece half off just about every other week) 12 inches of sew on velcro 1 yard of 1/2 inch elastic a few handfuls of polyfil (or any stuffing-type material) sewing machine and thread (just about any color will work as the thread doesn’t show much on fleece) Lay out your fleece on a flat surface. Set piece A aside for now.
