Sew Many Ways...

Thoughts on Thursday...

2012-02-02T00:01:00.002-05:00

Our kids introduced us to a (new to me) tv show about a month ago..."The Big Bang Theory". A comedy about nerdy science guys. I love it, so funny.

What's your favorite tv show?

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Button Bracelet Tutorial

2012-01-31T00:01:00.001-05:00

Happy Tuesday! Today is an easy tutorial for a button bracelet. Get your button collection out. If you don't have one, find someone who does and go through it!!

I have a small button collection made up of things from my own projects, from my mother and my grandmother. They were both frugal and both loved yard sales...so I'm not sure where any of these buttons came from. If they had clothes that were no longer wearable, buttons were removed and saved in big glass jars. If they were at a flea market or yard sale and there were buttons...they would buy them.

and this is the result of all that button saving!

A family history on one bracelet...

Here's what you need...

I bought this charm bracelet at Walmart in the craft section for $2.00.

I also had these larger jump rings for the larger buttons. The little ones came with the bracelet, but didn't fit any of the buttons. You will need the larger rings for the width of the button from the holes to the outside. This package was about $2.50 for 60 and the size is 10mm.

You will also need buttons of course! You can buy new buttons in craft stores. Some actually come in group packages of the same color.

I used mostly pearlized buttons in different shades of cream.

First step...open up the large jump ring.

Slip the ring through any hole in the button.

Add to a loop of the bracelet and close the ring.

Plan out the larger base buttons to add them equally across the bracelet.

To make it look fuller without using a ton of rings, add 3 different sized buttons to one ring.

Depending on the thickness of the buttons, you might only fit 2.

Work your way down the bracelet.

This is so cute and you could be finished at this point.

or you can start adding different sizes, shapes and textures.

One pearl bead button and a small flat button.

I also found these clear crystal looking buttons. Can you see the thread still left on one of them? That shirt didn't have a chance. Lol

Look at this bunch someone tied up...so funny.

Added both on the same ring for a little bling!!

I love this picture of the pearl button towards the bottom of the picture. Can you see the shank of the button? It's verdigris. It must be brass or copper and old. I didn't want to clean...there's a story with that button.

Here's a Tool Time from someone out there...either my mom, my grandmother or someone who they bought the buttons from. My mom and grandmother are both looking down on me, so I can't ask, but I'll give credit to both!

They used bobby (hair) pins to hold the buttons.

Slide buttons onto the hair pin...and twist the bottom closed.

I love it!

I hope you had fun in my button box...

Hmmm...I'm thinking earrings too.

Have a great Tuesday,
~Karen~

Thrift Store Finds...

2012-01-30T00:01:00.002-05:00

I have a favorite consignment shop in town that I try to stop by every week. Funny how I always seem to find at least one thing I "don't" need, but have to buy because it was a deal. This weekend was no exception.

Here's my loot for $10.00! Two candle holders, drawer organizers, organizing case and a phone charging station.

Black wrought iron candle tray...50 cents.

All cleaned up and ready for Valentine's Day.

Charging station with the surge bar inside. I needed one for my phone and camera. $4.00

Quick clean with Clorox wipes and it's already set up the same day I brought it home.

This candle was going to see my usual black spray paint, but I might be a little adventurous with this green paint first. 50 cents...I'll show it off when it's done.

These are drawer organizers that you can keep adding to for any size. Clearance section...60 cents

My crazy sock drawer before...

Woo Hoo...the after

This was brand new still had the labels on it...this is for work! You know my organizing just isn't for home...Lol !! $4.50

Venture into your local thrift store or consignment shop...you never know what treasure are in there waiting for you!!

Have a great start to the week,
~Karen~

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 50

2012-01-29T00:17:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday every one!! Thank you so much for all the great links last week...they were amazing. Another BIG thank you to all the first timers who linked up too. It was easy, right? So, no excuses...you should be linking up every week.

I hope you've been busy creating...because I want to see what you've been up to.

If you want to add the button to your blog...Click HERE for a tutorial for adding a button

If you're NEW to Sew Darn Crafty, then grab a cup of something tasty, sit back and join in on the fun (starts Sunday and lasts all week long at Sew Many Ways).

WHAT IS SEW DARN CRAFTY...

"Sew" for anything to do with sewing,
"Darn" for anything to do with knitting. I always think of darning to do with knitting, but in my case "darn" is similar to the word I say when I mess up crafting!!
Let's not forget the word "crafty"...which is every thing we create
...the dot, dot, dot means you can share just about anything!!

WHAT IS A LINKING PARTY...

So now we all know what Sew Darn Crafty means, let's explain a linking party again. I subscribe to a linking service, which provides the ability to link thumbnail pictures on my blog. The picture is a link that other bloggers provide to share their projects.

Two things can happen at a linking party...looking and/or linking

you can be greatly inspired by wonderful projects, ideas or vacation pictures (looking) and/or
you can share what you've been up to (linking)

If you want to be inspired by all the great ideas...just click on a picture and it will take you to that post from a wonderful blogger willing to share her thoughts and ideas.

HOW AND WHAT TO LINK TO THE PARTY...

Sew Darn Crafty is all about YOU!! Show off your projects, share a tutorial, show us your vacation pictures, share a family favorite recipe...share anything. Not only does linking inspire us all, it also brings lots of new people to your blog for a visit. Click here for past parties and lots of inspiration

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not search through all your entire blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post.
link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects, vacations, parties etc...
visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
grab a Sew Darn Crafty button for your blog (on my right side bar) or just link to the party in your post.
the more we share, the more people will join and then there's more inspiration to look at!
linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
just click the "click here to enter" button and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week,

~Karen~

Chourico Dip Recipe...or Chorizo

2012-01-27T10:59:00.000-05:00

This is a yummy sausage dip recipe no matter how you spell it or pronounce it. My Portuguese background is going to spell it chourico.

If you don't have chorizo or chourico sausage in your area of the world, I'm sure any ground sausage would work great. Besides, it has sour cream and cream cheese in it and they would make shoe leather taste great!! lol

Chourico Dip

1 pound ground Chourico (or any sausage) cooked til crumbly and drained. Cool
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
8 ounces sour cream
one small onion, chopped finely
1 heaping Tablespoon ketchup
1 heaping Tablespoon mayonnaise

Cook sausage until crumbly. Drain, cool and set aside. If you can't find ground sausage, you can just take the meat out of the casing.
Whisk all other ingredients (except the meat) together. Add sausage to creamed mixture. Enjoy right away or refrigerate until ready. Great to make ahead for a party.

Enjoy,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

2012-01-26T06:39:00.000-05:00

Looking in your purse, pocketbook, tote bag, back pack, wallet etc...what is the most important thing in there that you wouldn't leave home without...besides money!

Mine...cell phone and lipstick!

Come on, let's hear from all of you.

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~

Blog Buddy...How To Start A Blog (Video)

2012-01-25T16:27:00.000-05:00

Starting this blog was the best thing I've ever done in my hobby life. I've met so many wonderful people and learned more than I could have ever imagine. Generous people all over the world willing to share their thoughts and ideas...amazing!

You can start a blog for a number of reasons...

share your thoughts and ideas
share your hobbies
keep family members who live far away up to date with your life
keep it as a journal
use it as a scrap book of your life
so much more...

I've had some email and facebook requests asking how to start a blog. If you've read any of my post, you know I can get kind of picture heavy. Explaining how to start a blog would end in the same way...a billion pictures. So I found this video from the Blogger Help section.

This video is a great way to learn how to join the world of blogging...step by step. You can replay it over and over again. If you have a smart phone, ipad or tablet you can play the video next to your computer while your creating your blog. That way the verbal instructions are right there as you go through the steps.

I hope this helps...if you do start a blog, let me know how it went and what your new blog is. I'd love to see it.

I do have one piece of advice...when you are setting up your account, there is a section under "Privacy" named..."show my email address". Please put a check in that box. It allows your email address to be attached to your blog comments. That way other bloggers can communicate back and forth with you. That's the whole idea behind blogging...making friends and communication.!

Have fun creating,
~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...A Plug Rug

2012-01-24T00:01:00.005-05:00

Ok, this may be a crazy Tool Time, but it really helps me out...so there must be some one else out there who feels the same way.

Here's my gripe...when you try to plug something in, every single time, the plug is upside down. I know, crazy, trivial, not the most important thing in the world, but it's the little things in life, right?

So hear me out. Lol !!

My phone charger is on the side of my bed. The last thing I do is check my email. It's dark and the only light is the shine from my phone. To charge it, I grab the plug and of course it doesn't fit in the phone...it's upside down.
vacuuming and the plug for that room is behind the table. Reaching, reaching and finally hit the plug, but oh you guessed it...upside down. Seriously?
reaching on the side or back of the computer to put in the usb plug...yep upside down
many many more in this trivial pet peeve, but here is my solution!!

A Velcro Plug Rug (good name huh?)...sounds like one of those "As Seen on TV" ads.

It's a "tactile" way of feeling that the plug should be in the up position. A little "rug" for your "plug" !!

I use it for my computer and iphone chargers, because they don't generate heat. Not sure how this would work on things with electrical plugs.

Although, the vacuum one is good for me because it's not plugged in permanently...only for short periods of time.

I know most plugs have the logo on it for the "up" position, but not helpful in the dim light.

I use Velcro with the sticky backing.

I cut the squares with the furry part into four pieces.

and just stick it on both ends.

Looks like a duck with a toupee...

Please tell me I'm not the only crazy out there that this will help.

Have a great Tuesday,
~Karen~

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 49

2012-01-22T08:19:00.000-05:00

Hello to another week of Sew Darn Crafty...wow does the time go by quickly. There were so many links to last week's party I just LOVED it. There were also a lot of first timers too. Thanks to new and old for joining in each week.

This week I'm going to draw out more first timers...those who really want to join in, but are afraid to take the leap. Come on...you can do it. It's easy and you really can't mess up. Even if you do, who cares...it's not like the computer will crash or anything!! LOL

When I first started linking to parties as a newbie, I was scared at every click. However, I realized the worst thing that could happen is...just have to start a new link over with a few clicks. No biggie.

My goal is to get you to come out from behind your computer and start linking your projects...if you can blog then you sure can link!!

Go Ahead...Click the button below that says "CLICK HERE TO ENTER". YOU CAN DO IT!!!

"Sew" for anything to do with sewing,
"Darn" for anything to do with knitting. I always think of darning to do with knitting, but in my case "darn" is similar to the word I say when I mess up crafting!!
Let's not forget the word "crafty"...which is every thing we create
...the dot, dot, dot means you can share just about anything!!

you can be greatly inspired by wonderful projects, ideas or vacation pictures (looking) and/or
you can share what you've been up to (linking)

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not search through all your entire blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post.
link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects, vacations, parties etc...
visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
grab a Sew Darn Crafty button for your blog (on my right side bar) or just link to the party in your post.
the more we share, the more people will join and then there's more inspiration to look at!
linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
just click the "click here to enter" button and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week,

~Karen~

Bow Tie Quilt Block Tutorial...A "Charm" ing Block

2012-01-21T20:51:00.001-05:00

The bow tie quilt block dates back to 1898. I found one quilt in the book "Vintage Quilts...Identification and Pricing" by Maggi McCormick Gordon that was dated 1900.

This block is very easy and can be made in period fabric or jazzed up with your favorite modern fabric.

I used 5 inch squares, so all your charm packs you have tuck away for a project will work great for this.

For each 9 1/2 inch block (9 inches finished size when sewn with other blocks) you will need...

3 - five inch colored squares
2 - five inch neutral squares or background fabric. I used white.

Take one of the 5 inch colored squares and

cut it in half, then half again. You will end up with 4 squares at 2 1/2 inches square.

You will only need 2 of the smaller squares for each block.

Place one smaller red square in the corner of the 5 inch white square as shown below in the picture...right sides together.

There are 2 ways to sew this section...and there is a bonus block with each method.

Pencil method...

take a ruler and draw a pencil line from corner to corner diagonally.

If you don't want the bonus block, you're done. Just need to sew on the pencil line.

For the bonus block, take a quilt ruler and place the 1/4 inch line on the pencil line...see it under my finger

now draw another pencil line. This will eventually be your cutting line.

The first line, from corner to corner is sewn...black thread so you can see.

The second stitch line for the bonus block is sewn 1/4 inch away from the second pencil line. I use a 1/4 inch presser foot.

I am pointing to the second pencil (cutting) line here. You need to sew 1/4 inch away from that.

My 1/4 inch presser foot is lined up with the line.

Two stitch lines sewn. The pencil line is your cutting line

"No Pencil" method...

You will sew from corner to corner, but use your machine lines as guide. Start at one corner and have the lower corner point follow the "zero" line on your machine.

If you don't have lines on your machine, you can "eye" this to the lower corner, because the square is small.

Done...

For the extra bonus block you need to sew 1/2 inch away from the first stitch line. I use my machine top as a guide. Mine has the 1/2 inch line to the left of zero, but no guide line all the way up to the needle.

So I use a rubber band as a removable guide.

Line it up at the 1/2 inch mark on the throat plate.

Now sew the second line. Guiding your first stitch with rubber band

Done...without a pencil line.

Pencil line method...

No pencil line method...

Cut on pencil line...

Guesstimate cutting up the middle on the "no pencil line".

See your 2 little bonus half square triangles?

Press all seams.

then open up and press to the red or colored fabric.

If you want to be super accurate, you can square up all the squares.

The little bonus half square triangle blocks are 1 1/2" when trimmed.

These would make an adorable doll quilt, pinwheel blocks, sashing squares, borders etc...

You can click HERE for another post I did on extra half square triangle blocks for more layouts

Now take one solid colored square and place on top of one white square...right sides together.

and one of the white squares on top of the red square...as shown below.

Pin to secure, then sew a 1/4 inch seam on the right side of the squares.

Press seams...

Then fold back and press to the dark fabric.

Line up rows in configuration below.

Fold top row over onto bottom row, right sides together.

Match seams.

Pin to secure.

Sew 1/4 inch seam.

Press seam...open up and iron flat.

Isn't she cute?

There are so many layouts for this block...not to mention if you reversed the color pattern. Meaning a small white square on a larger colored square.

If you go to your "search" area on your computer and type in bow tie blocks, bow tie block layout or bow tie quilts...there is so much inspiration.

Have fun with this block,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

2012-01-19T00:01:00.002-05:00

We all love crafting, sewing, quilting, scrap booking, knitting, embroidery, painting etc and we may dabble in a little bit of everything...however...

if you had to pick just one...what would your favorite be?

Ok, let me make it harder with a crazy story. You are going to be on a deserted island for one year and can only take one hobby (and all the things for that one hobby) with you...What would it be?

Oh, yeah...there will be electricity on this island. Let's not get too crazy with this story! (and my island will have potato chips too)

ONE hobby...ONE snack

Sorry, can't use your computer as your hobby. Lol !!

Mine are...quilting and Pringles chips

Let's hear from everyone to see what the most popular hobby is!!

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...File Your Fabric

2012-01-17T00:01:00.051-05:00

Happy Tuesday! You all know Tool Time ideas and supplies come from all sorts of places...hardware stores, automotive stores, paint stores, the recycle bin etc. Well, today it's from the office supply...actually the file cabinet in my sewing room, but you can find it in the office supply.

You know they say..."necessity is the mother of all inventions." My necessity is...I needed a new place to store my fabric, because it was getting too much sunlight. However, you know I don't like to spend money!!

Here's what I came up with in desperation to keep my fabric neat, ironed and out of the sun.

Isn't it so pretty?

This is where I keep my fabric now...right out there in the bright light. Click here for a link to the rest of my sewing room ideas

I loved this method too...easy access, fabric is pretty, I can see what I need or have. The only bad part is...if I want that bottom piece, things get a little wonky.

Not to mention that whole wall of windows on the right side of the room streaming in the fabric fading light!

Here's what I came up with.

I have this file cabinet next to my sewing table. On top is set up for a cup of tea when crafting.

Inside it stores all my greeting cards by holiday.

Not for long...this is just the start of my new fabric filing system!!!

The fabric hangs on a Pendaflex Hanging Folder...

easy to see
keeps it ironed and wrinkle free
file by color, designer etc
out of the sunlight!!

Buy the pendaflex folders by the box.

and get your fabric ready!!

Since it's a folder, there are 2 sides...

Open up the folder...

and cut it in half

This is a half yard cut of fabric folded in half, selvage edge on the bottom...

fold in half again...

Place on file folder...

and fold the fabric over. The selvage edge will be draping down next to the sides of the folder

Hang in your file cabinet

For longer yardage of fabric, do the same thing by folding it in half and then half again (fold goes to the selvage edge). Your yardage (1,2,3 yards) lays out left to right.

Now just wrap the fabric over the file folder.

If there is a lot of yardage, you may not want to cut the folder in half...having the 2 parts will add strength for the weight of the fabric.

All wrapped up and ready to hang.

Ahhh...so pretty and neat...and safe from the sun. Maybe I should move my tea station though

Now I just need to get my butt in gear and sew something...I think my hobby really is organizing my supplies and not doing anything with them!!! LOL

I also need to be on the hunt for yard sale or thrift store file cabinets!

EDIT...there have been a few comments about the acid in the paper of the folder or the color bleeding. I'm not sure about the color, but the Pendaflex file website has a big ACID FREE sign on the page about the Pendaflex files. Click here to visit their site.

If you are worried about the color of the file, they do sell manila or no color folders or you could just place a piece of tissue or acid free paper between the fabric and folder.

Have a great day and have fun playing with your fabric.
~Karen~

Shoepeg Salsa Recipe...

2012-01-16T00:01:00.006-05:00

Happy Monday everyone...I hope you had a great weekend. There was lots of football at our house. If there is any kind of gathering at our home...no matter the size...we always have this bean and corn salsa.

This recipe makes a big bowl, but this was all we had left the next day to snack on. Forgot to take a picture of the whole recipe.

Shoepeg Salsa

2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (17 ounce) can shoepeg corn, drained. Shoepeg corn is a small white corn.
1-2 avocados, chopped
1 red onion chopped very small
2 large tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
4 Tablespoons lime juice ( I used the bottled kind...tastes better to me)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate. Make ahead so juices begin to flow from veggies...although it does taste great from the start! Serve with tortilla chips.

This is so yummy and healthy too. Only has one tablespoon of olive oil in the whole dish!!

Enjoy,
~Karen~

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 48

2012-01-15T09:07:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday everyone!! It's mid January...cold in some parts of the world, warmer in others, but no matter what the weather is outside, it still feels like a time of renewal. You feel rejuvenated to do so many things. I want to start new project and finish up old ones...story of my life.

If you've started new projects or finished up old ones...share them here at Sew Darn Crafty. It helps that feeling of accomplishment if you let others share in your excitement and I can't wait to see what you've been up to!!

"Sew" for anything to do with sewing,
"Darn" for anything to do with knitting. I always think of darning to do with knitting, but in my case "darn" is similar to the word I say when I mess up crafting!!
Let's not forget the word "crafty"...which is every thing we create
...the dot, dot, dot means you can share just about anything!!

you can be greatly inspired by wonderful projects, ideas or vacation pictures (looking) and/or
you can share what you've been up to (linking)

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not search through all your entire blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post.
link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects, vacations, parties etc...
visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
grab a Sew Darn Crafty button for your blog (on my right side bar) or just link to the party in your post.
the more we share, the more people will join and then there's more inspiration to look at!
linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
just click the "click here to enter" button and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week,

~Karen~

Bird Nesting Material Update...

2012-01-13T14:20:00.001-05:00

Remember the tutorial for this bird nesting material cage? (Click HERE to go to that post.)

Well, look what I found in the tree not far away from the cage...

I'm not saying all the fluffy stuff in that bird's nest is from my nesting cage, but...

my crafting heart hopes it is!!

Save some of your crafting, sewing, knitting scraps and make a nesting cage for your feathered friends.

Happy Friday,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

2012-01-12T00:01:00.001-05:00

Why doesn't peanut butter wash off the silverware in the dishwasher?

I think the peanut butter has some super power cape against the soap...I know it's oil, but come on, soap and scalding hot water? Why is it still there, caked on like it never went through that one hour cycle of power washing.

Forget about trying to get people (meaning my family) to wipe off the spoon before they plunk it in the washer.

I think I'm going to ban peanut butter in my house...LOL or put the crusty spoon at their place setting when I set the table for dinner!!

I know I'm lucky to have a dishwasher, but I do need it to work a little harder on the peanut butter.

How about you and your dishwasher? Does peanut butter bug you or am I the only "nut" case.

Maybe it's the soap door doesn't open, or spots on the glasses, or when the silverware slips in the big holes in the basket and they stop the rack from rolling, or when you break a glass "in" the dishwasher...maybe I should just hand wash my dishes LOL!!

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~

How To Decorate A Christmas Tree...

2012-01-11T12:51:00.000-05:00

What??? I know, it's January. However, I've had a ton of emails from the Christmas home tour asking how I decorate my Christmas trees. I didn't take any pictures of the process when I was putting UP all the trees, but I did take some last week when I was taking them DOWN...so I just reversed the process.

Here is the Santa Claus tree...click here for the original post on that

To start, I placed the hole tree in the storage container I keep all the supplies in.

The tree stem was too tall and bare looking for me, so hiding it in the container helps.

The tree stand fits perfectly.

Then I just wrapped the base with a piece of quilt batting to look like snow. You could use a white blanket or throw too.

Now here's the process of decorating...lights first. This is a pre-lit tree, but 6 of my other trees are un-lit.

Here are a few light tips...

start at the top
wrap the lights from the inside out to give the tree a little depth
I use five to six 100 light sets on a 6 foot tree

After lights comes the garlands or beads. I use three different garlands...red wooden beads, red berry garland and the peppermint candy garland I made. Click here for the peppermint candy tutorial.

I go by the 3 to 1 rule...I made this up, but it helps me when I'm buying clearance items and need to know how many I should buy.

3 feet of garland for every foot of tree

this is a 6 foot tree, so there are 18 feet of wooden beads and 16 feet of the berries (4 sections of 4 feet lengths). The candy garland was just tucked in there with 4 or 5 lengths and didn't go all the way around in some areas.

The berries I found in the floral section on clearance during the year. Adds dimension to the tree when they stick out from the branches.

Just layer the garlands between each other with a little draping.

See how the berries stick out.

Next comes all the ornaments.

Add different sizes and textures...about 40 balls Click here for Santa ornament tutorial

10 candy canes

20 longer plastic candy canes to add length...bought these a long time ago at Walmart. Love plastic!!

These word ornaments are great too. I use them for fillers after the balls go on for color in the bare spots. A box of them was about $2.00 regular price.

Here's where I start...at the top!

Balls on first. For some reason I always start at the top right and then zig zag my way down, right to left...right to left.
think triangles as you placing them...see the 3 red balls, they form a triangle

then use your other ornaments to fill in between.

Then I wanted even more fillers, but free ones!! I covered Styrofoam balls with cotton batting to make "snowballs"

Use them to fill in bare spots

Zig zag your way around with these too

Now for more dimension. I found these in the Christmas section of Walmart (where else) but floral sections at the craft store is a great place for things like this too. Don't always think Christmas.

Start at the top and do your "zig zag" thing. Put a few on and stand back...look to see where the next zig is going to be.

These are wires, so they just wrap on the branch very easily.

Now the topper...this can be anything related to your tree. I used a Santa hat and those large over sized candy canes that are yard ornaments.

You might have to wire bigger items on at the top.

Add a few fake wrapped presents for decoration at the bottom and you're done.

Here are some quick tips when packing it all away...remember this is the box from the bottom decoration.

I place all the balls on the bottom...they are shatter proof plastic

cover with a layer of recycled bubble wrap.

Bag up small items

Paper towel tube for garland

Liquor box divider for ornaments

All safe and sound...

You can get these liquor box dividers for free.

layer with soft things for protection

The berries are a pain in the hooty...they keep getting tangled. Layer each section with garbage bags.

When you pack your tree away, it NEVER fits in that rinky dink box again. I use a bungee cord to keep it together.

All set for another year...Now where is that cover?!?

Hope this helps a little. Maybe you can use a few of the tips when Christmas rolls around this year. This post will be in the archives, so when you need it in December, it will be here.

Take care,

~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Milk Crate Cover

2012-01-10T00:01:00.002-05:00

Milk Crate Cover for a title? I know boring. I wanted to write something clever changing "great" to crate..."Crate" Ideas or "Crate" Expectations, but just couldn't type them in the title box...who's searching for Crate Expectations in their search box?

Any who, here is a tutorial to turn those old ugly milk crates in your garage or basement into something you can actually use in your home.

This cutie...

is covering this dirty little crate that I stole from my husband. Shhh don't tell him, but his golf supplies are in a pile on the shelf in the garage.

This tutorial is a method type pattern, because all crates are different sizes. I used 1/4 inch seam allowance throughout.

First measure the bottom of the crate. Mine is 11 1/2 inches square. Add 1/2 inch for seam allowance...my final square is 12" x 12".

Measure the side from the inside of the crate, over the rim and...

Down the other side. Mine is a total of 21 inches...here I added 3/4 inch. 1/4 for one seam and 1/2 inch for hemming the bottom edge. Total for this measurement is 21 3/4 inch.

Now measure all the way around. Mine was 51 1/2 inches. Add 3/4 - 1 inch so you have a little room to fold fabric over the crate.

Any fabric works great, but Tool Time Tuesday has a touch of hardware store, so I used my drop cloth fabric I bought for $5.00. Remember this fabric from the purse I made with it? It looks like linen, but so much cheaper. Click here for the purse tutorial.

Here are your supplies...

rectangle of fabric...the long length is the distance around the crate and the height of the fabric is the measurement from the inside and over the side.
the square is your bottom measurement

Hem ONE long edge of the rectangle. I folded over 1/4 inch and fold over another 1/4 inch.

Sew down seam...

Fold over the rectangle, right sides together and sew the sides together on the right.

You now have a tube. Try in the crate to see if it fits before sewing the bottom in.

Put it in the crate, wrong side facing out and the hemmed edge on the top.

I match that seam to one of the corners of the crate...just for looks really.

Now fold over so hemmed edge is now at the outside bottom.

Your raw edge is on the inside.

Now to sew the bottom...First you need to find the FOUR corners.

Place tube with wrong side out, side seam on the right. Place a pin on the fold to the left where my finger is.

Now take that pin and the side seam and bring them to the middle.

close up of the first pin and the seam in the middle...

Place a pin in the left fold and...

the right fold...

Take your square from your bottom measurement...

To help you sew the corners easier, place a dot 1/4 inch down from the top and over from side. This will be your pivoting point when sewing the corners.

With RIGHT sides together, match your four pinned corners with the four corners of the square. Pin the corners first, then you will pin to ease in the extra tube fabric to the bottom square.

Here it is all pinned.

See how much fabric you have to ease in. This is where I don't care if it's perfect. It's on the inside on the bottom which will be covered with all the things you put in this crate.

Sew all the way around, pivoting at the corners. Just make sure you keep all the excess fabric away from your sewing foot as your making your way around.

Place inside the crate wrong side of fabric facing out.

Place it in and fold it over.

Done. See how I place the seam matched up with the corner. Kind of hides it there.

Add a pretty bow...

or maybe sew a band of contrasting fabric to the bottom to match your decor.

Perfect for this open cubby in the hutch. You can hide lots of junk in there.

a nice black ribbon looks good too.

This may seem like a complicated project, but I made this Monday morning before I went to work in less the 1 hour and that included making up the pattern as I was went along. Only had to rip one seam out...ggrrr.

These crates would be great for so many things...keeps things together, nice and neat and it's pretty too

magazines
toys
sewing projects
scrap booking supplies for one particular project you're working on
reading materials by the side of your chair or bed
kids shoes by the back door
cute emergency kit for the trunk of your car
sports equipment
food pantry
linen closet supplies

The list is endless for crates...now they're even better if the have a pretty little cover on.

Have fun with this one. If we all get together, we'll make all those ugly crates...Crate (great) to look at!!

~Karen~

After Christmas Sale...

2012-01-09T09:09:00.000-05:00

You know I LOVE a deal and Christmas sales are the absolute best for me. If you are really looking for something specific and want the deal, you need to go December 26th. This year, I knew I really didn't NEED anything so I waited.

I did pop into Walmart that first week for the 50% off sale and picked up a little ribbon, but wanted to wait for the 75% off week. My goal is to get all of the 9 trees I decorate to be pre-lit. So far, I only have 3. It's not mandatory, but would be nice. So the "deal" is the way to go. It may take me a few years to accomplish this goal, but it's worth the wait.

Here's the new addition to the family...the only pre lit tree left in the 75% section

I've never had a white tree, but I am so excited about this one...6.5 feet, perfect size for me.

White tree with little colored lights. I am always a white light girl, but I have a theme tree idea in mind.

and for $9.75 who could pass it up!! I just bought this Friday, so try your local stores, there may be some left.

Then I saw these colorful ornaments...perfect for that special tree I have brewing in my head.

45 ornaments for $3.75...run to Walmart NOW!! (they didn't pay me to say that either, Lol)

Here is my inspiration tree. This picture is from Trendy Tree...love this site!!

I want my theme tree to be a candy, treats and yummies tree...

I also purchased these gold ornaments for Kelsie's tree and the blue ones for Courtney's.

35 ornaments for $3.75...different shapes and textures with the glitter!!

These candle lights are right up my alley too. I have real candle clips, but couldn't resist $2.50 a box.

Each little candle clips onto the branch and lights up like a real candle.

Sales can be dangerous, but I really restrained myself. I went for a pre-lit tree and ornaments only if they were super cheap.

For the candy themed tree, I will be making most of the decorations for that. I will be doing posts each month when I make something. That way it serves two purposes...

I can get the decoration done ahead of time...not in December when things are crazy and
you can make them with me and we can both have a candy tree in December

Hope you found or will find some Christmas bargains. If not, follow me along the way, you know I'll make the candy tree "on the cheap".

Take care,
~Karen~

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 47

2012-01-08T00:27:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone and happy Sunday...the start of this week's Sew Darn Crafty Party. There is so much inspiration out there in blog land and linking parties are great to find ideas all in one place.

A great BIG thank you to all who link up each week and to everyone who stops in for a peek all week long. If you are new to this weekly party, scroll down for a few tips on how to join in on the fun.

"Sew" for anything to do with sewing,
"Darn" for anything to do with knitting. I always think of darning to do with knitting, but in my case "darn" is similar to the word I say when I mess up crafting!!
Let's not forget the word "crafty"...which is every thing we create
...the dot, dot, dot means you can share just about anything!!

you can be greatly inspired by wonderful projects, ideas or vacation pictures (looking) and/or
you can share what you've been up to (linking)

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not search through all your entire blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post.
link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects, vacations, parties etc...
visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
grab a Sew Darn Crafty button for your blog (on my right side bar) or just link to the party in your post.
the more we share, the more people will join and then there's more inspiration to look at!
linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
just click the "click here to enter" button and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week,

~Karen~

Purge Your Magazines...

2012-01-06T14:18:00.000-05:00

For me, the end of 2011 meant putting away Christmas things and organizing too. However, that creates a domino effect. I pull things out to clean and then organizing snow balls...right down to the pile of magazines.

I receive subscriptions to different magazines for birthday and Christmas gifts and I keep all 12 months of the year piled neatly to refer back to. Guests can also thumb through the many issues if they don't have that magazine at home.

At the end of the year, I go through all the magazines and tear out all the pages I love or need for future inspiration.

To store them, I take clear plastic protector sheets from the office supply store.

The sheets work great in a 3 ring binder.

Just slip each page into a protector.

Now you can refer to your inspiration book at any time.

Categorize each notebook or section for Christmas, Kitchens, Sewing, Crafts, Recipes etc...

This notebook is the "Flintstone" version of my Pinterest account. Pinterest is a "virtual" inspiration notebook. When you see something you like on the Internet, you "pin" it into your own personal inspiration file.

Click HERE if you'd like to see my Pinterest account. You can also click the red "P" on my side bar. I add new things to that everyday. It is quite addicting. If you've joined Pinterest, follow me and then I can follow you...inspiration shared every where!!

If you tackle one little organizing project at a time, your house will be neat and clean in no time.

Have a great day,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

2012-01-05T06:45:00.001-05:00

Ok, this is one of those "Thoughts on Thursdays where I have to say..."don't do this at home ladies"

but...

How many of you know just how far you can drive after your gas light comes on...(just need to get to that one last store) LOL

Come on fess up...I won't tell your husband, significant other or your father. Just don't tell my father though, because he would give me THAT speech...that even at 47 years old I cringe!

I know I'm not the only one!

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~

Why We Pick A Blog Name...

2012-01-04T09:30:00.001-05:00

Do you ever wonder how someone chooses a blog name? I'm thinking most of the time people select a blog name because it has some personal significance to them. We all reach for something that touches inside...a special family name, special place, where we live, a family member, family history, our special hobby or interest, a pet's name etc.

Choosing a blog name may not be the most important thing, but it sure does bring visitors to your blog. That's the first thing they read that peeks their curiosity about what inside your blogging world. Does the title of your blog really matter...the content is what keeps people coming back for a visit. However, they did need to make that first click to come in for a looksee.

Sew Many Ways...why did I name it that?

Sew... sewing is my most favorite hobby. Although, I hang my head in shame, I haven't sewn or quilted in a while...blogging has taken over. That is my New Year's resolution though...to get back to my sewing machine.

Many...many interests, many hobbies, many blessing

Ways...this where my blog name becomes extra special for me! Way is my last name

Sew Many Ways to sew, create, make friends, blog, have fun, cook, thrift, recycle, craft, decorate etc

Ok...now it's YOUR turn to share.

What's the significance of your blog name? Share with us the reason for your blog title...helps to get to know you better.

Have a great day,
~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Fabric Heart Bookmark

2012-01-03T00:01:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone and happy Tuesday. It's Tool Time!! Today's tool is your sewing machine. This is a quick and easy heart shaped bookmark perfect for anyone or anytime, but with Valentine's Day coming next month...it's extra perfect!

This tutorial really is easy, but it's picture "heavy"...you know me with my pictures! Lol...I just think it so much easier to explain each step in a picture. If I got my act together and started doing video tutorials, this would take 5 minutes vs 40 pictures!!

Here is the finished heart bookmark...I made up this pattern, so with lots of trial an errors...I hope you like it!

The heart hugs the page and keeps your place...

with this little pocket on the back.

and it's thin enough for the book too.

Here's what you'll need...the heart pattern I found fits in a 4 inch square. Your heart may be a different size so adjust accordingly.

heart pattern
2 pieces of scrap fabric 4 inches square
1 square at 3 inches (I'll explain later why it's 3 inches)

The most important thing about your heart patter is the point. It MUST be at a 90 degree angle to fit at the corner of the book.

I found a free heart pattern online somewhere and then placed it on the corner of a piece of card stock to get the 90 degree corner. Just adjust the shape to get the correct point and look.

My heart fits a 4 inch square.

Here's where the 3 inch block comes in.

Measure the distance from the point of the heart to just where the rounded part starts. Yours may be different, so make your square the size of your side.

CUTTING...

Place your 2 larger (4 inch) squares together with one wrong side facing up.

Place the point of the heart in the corner of your square and trace the heart

Cut on the line.

to get 2 hearts...

Now take one of the hearts and measure about 1 inch up from the point.

Draw a line horizontally across and cut on the line

So far you should have one full heart, one heart with tip cut off and a 3 inch square.

Are you still with me? Lol

Take the 3 inch square and fold into a triangle on the diagonal.

Press

ASSEMBLY...

Take the full heart right side up and place the folded triangle on top matching the points

Now take your trimmed heart and place it on top of the other 2, right sides together...matching the rounded top.

Here's a peek inside before I continue...

Please pin, pin, pin.

Now sew with a quarter inch seam allowance.

Here's a few tips for sewing curves...

keep your stitch length tiny so it takes the curves better
keep needle DOWN when you have to stop and pivot.
when you feel like it's not taking the circular shape, stop (needle down) and lift presser foot to take the turn better. Sometimes the foot drags the fabric and lifting up the foots release that

Tip for the "V" section of the 2 rounded parts...draw a pencil dot a 1/4 down from the "V" shape. That's where you will stop, needle down, and pivot back up to the next curve. You may have to go one stitch passed the pencil to be sure.

Always needle down before you turn.

Sew ALL THE WAY AROUND without stopping....back stitch at the end to secure. There will be NO opening. The secret is that trimmed off point...that's the turning opening

Make little snips in the curved sections to release the tension especially in the "V".

FIRST TURNING...

Open up that trimmed area and turn the heart inside out.

It should look like this at first.

I used a chop stick to poke out the edges.

Now flip the heart over.

SECOND TURNING...

Take that little pocket and turn it down towards the bottom point and over to the other side.

Now this little pocket is on the other side and you are DONE!!! WOO HOO... no opening to whip stitch closed.

Iron flat.

That little pocket on the back is where the page slides into to keep your place in the book.

ok...I have to say...I just LOVE this. Nothing like tooting my own horn.

I might even read more with this little heart bookmark.

I hope you love this too. Perfect gifts for just about everyone...

teacher gifts
classmate Valentine's
friends
family
easy gift to mail...just put in a card with a little extra postage
quilting/sewing friends for their quilting books
mail to your kids in college to let them know you love them...and that they should be reading! lol
great for cook books too
buy a book for a gift and tuck it in as an extra treat

Hope you have fun making these,
~Karen~

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 46

2012-01-01T09:32:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!!! I hope you had a happy and healthy 2011 and I wish you and your loved ones the same and much more for 2012.

Let's start the new year with a fabulous linking party. What have you been up to lately...fun projects, great tutorials, quick tips? I hope you can share your blogging fun here on Sew Darn Crafty.

"Sew" for anything to do with sewing,
"Darn" for anything to do with knitting. I always think of darning to do with knitting, but in my case "darn" usually is similar to the word I say when I mess up crafting!!
Let's not forget the word "crafty"...that can mean just about anything we do to create.

you can be greatly inspired by wonderful projects, ideas or vacation pictures (looking) and/or
you can share what you've been up to (linking)

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not search through all your entire blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post.
link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects, vacations, parties etc...
visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
grab a Sew Darn Crafty button for your blog (on my right side bar) or just link to the party in your post.
the more we share, the more people will join and then there's more inspiration to look at!
linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
just click the "click here to enter" button and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week,

~Karen~

Painting Brick...

2011-12-31T12:19:00.000-05:00

I know...painting brick! Very scary to take that first stroke of the brush, but boy am I glad I did! Our family room was added to the house before we purchased our home. The lower level of the wall is a brick foundation, then the wall is set back a little to form a ledge. A lot for the eye to settle on. I lived with the two tone wall because I was afraid to paint the brick...no more though.

This "before" picture is last year...Christmas 2010. See the two colors...tan walls, beige brick and then tan radiators.

Here's the "after". This picture is this year...Christmas 2011. I didn't take this picture for this painting post, but you can see the difference in the walls behind the tree...much calmer for the eyes. The color flows evenly.

This is a close up of the before.

First step PRIMER. This was the AHHHHH!! moment when there was no turning back.

Roll on the primer with a thicker roller so it gets into all the grooves.

When I painted with the tan paint, I did use a brush for the mortar areas to make sure it covered well.

Here's the after...much better all one color!

Kind of makes that ledge wall disappear a little. Well, not really disappear, but it helps!

If you've been contemplating painting brick...just to let you know...I'm so glad I did it!!

Happy Painting,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

2011-12-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

I started decorating for Christmas the Friday after Thanksgiving. I'm starting to get the urge to take things down. However, I've never put any decorations away before New Years.

Next week I have Wednesday and Friday off...by then the house will have that "blank" look which is what I need after all the "things" are put away.

How about you???

when do you take your holiday decorations and/or your tree down
do you get the itch to un-decorate
do you need the "blank" house look too

Have a great Thursday,
~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Recycled Office Chair

2011-12-27T00:17:00.001-05:00

Happy Tuesday everyone. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas weekend with your loved ones. We made lots of special memories with family and friends again this year!! Love this time of year.

The end of the year also brings on the feeling of organization...well for me organization is any time of year, but more so after the holidays.

A few months ago my husband needed a new office chair. Our cat considered the top back of the chair her scratching post, so the chair had seen better days. My husband took the chair apart to put it in the garbage for pick up...however, my family and friends know to ask before anything goes in the trash!!

You guessed it...I saved everything put the scratched up cushions and the arms of the chair!!

The project today uses the wheels from the base.

If you purchased these stem casters separately, they can be pricey. I've seen them for over $30.00 for a set.

I had a wooden box that I kept under my desk to organize paper, but needed a easier way to pull the shelf in and out.

Found a drill bit to match the size of the stem on the casters and drilled four holes on the bottom of the shelf.

Push the casters in...

and tapped into place with a hammer.

until it's flush with the wood.

Now it's so much easier to roll the whole shelf in and out when I need it.

I'm not even sure where the box came from...in the past I added the metal brackets to hold a shelf.

Perfect place to use my old stand by drawer system. I recycle old Propel water bottle boxes that I cover with fabric.

I measure the height of the box and cut a strip that fits around the whole box. I simply hot glue the edges. You can also use regular glue or Mod Podge.

All nice and neat.

NOT...neat below, but not on top!

All those boxes are now my tool box...a girlie tool box

Each box has screw drivers in one, pliers in another, then wire, clamps, drill bits etc...

I've shown this handle idea before, but just wanted to share it again. They are pipe clamps. Those little thingies that hold a pipe up on the wall or ceiling.

Here's the clamp...cheap too. I think $2.75 for a bag of 10.

Center it on the box...

and use a nut to screw it on the back to hold it in place.

The base of the chair is now missing it's wheels, but I think I have a plan for it...I'm thinking the base for a small table. The bonus is that the chair base has that lever that moves the chair up and down. Hmmm...I need to find a neat reclaimed piece of wood for this table.

The old meets new coffee table may be coming in the future.

If anyone received a new office chair for Christmas, don't throw the old one out yet.

Remember...think before you throw.

Have a great day,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

2011-12-22T06:41:00.000-05:00

I'm still wrapping...haven't had that AHHHHHH moment yet!

How about you? How's your Christmas list of "Things To Do" going?

Relax and have a cup of tea...if it doesn't get done...it doesn't get done!!

Have a great day,
~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Easy Frosted Glass Projects

2011-12-20T00:01:00.000-05:00

Happy Tuesday!! I've seen lots of frosted glass projects on the Internet, but they all use the acid etch cream. You know me...I need something quick and easy and of course from the hardware store.

Here's a quick look at two projects I made before I left for work Monday morning.

This is the magical spray I used to make them.

I found this in the paint section in Walmart and Home Depot.

semi transparent for privacy and decoration...the back of the can has full directions, but it's so easy.

clean surface with soap and water...dry
add stencils or stickers if using for decor
spray a few thin wet coats a minute or 2 apart
let dry 10 minutes
done, dry in 10 minutes!!!
stinks a little when wet, so spray in the garage or outside

use any glass...

use sticker stencils to create the look where the sticker is going to be clear and the object will be frosted. Use a hollow stencil where that will be frosted and the object stays clear glass. You need to block out the rest of the object with something if you just want the stencil to be frosted

I centered the stickers on the glass of an old frame

and used office dots to stick to a glass dish.

really press down the edges, so the spray won't go underneath the paper stickers.

10-15 minutes later the frosted appearance shows up.

peel away the stickers.

The top corners of this frame had some residue on there because I didn't wash it first. The frosting didn't fully take there, but still looks like a decoration.

difficult to capture the clear and frosted parts in a picture.

but super cute in person.

add a bow to the frame and it's a quick gift.

add a votive candle and the glow is very pretty through the frosted and clear circles.

here are a few suggestions and tips...

glass squares sprayed with a single monogram letter for coasters
personalized vase
use old jars and frost the names for sugar, flour, coffee and tea for a canister set
frost a big jar for pet treats
frost decorations on mirrors, windows, outside of shower stalls etc
can't be used on things that will be heated over 200 degrees
can't be used on things with constant water contact, but can be hand washed
you can remove it from glass with acetone or lacquer thinner

Have fun with this...it's so easy and fun to create and experiment. I have no connections with this product...just passing on something new I've found.

Have a great Tuesday,
~Karen~

No Reply...No Email Address...Can't Respond Back

2011-12-19T08:52:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone...hope you had a wonderful weekend.

I thinks it that time again where I do my little shout out to all the wonderful bloggers and commenters who are "No Reply". I've noticed hundreds lately on my blog.

What is No Reply you ask? Well, if someone leaves a comment on any blog that comment goes to the email inbox of the recipient. When the blogger tries to respond back to the comment, the return email address says "No Reply" which equals "no email address, which equals "no reply back" :(

You may think your blog profile is set to show your email address, but it just takes 2 seconds to double check. I get so sad when I know people are blogging all over the world and there isn't an email address attached to their account to enjoy the communication back and forth between bloggers.

Go on...just check...for me!!

Go to your dashboard (I know sad me still has the old one, but shhh don't tell, I don't like the new one)

Click EDIT PROFILE

Under the first section called Privacy, make sure there is a check in the box that says...SHOW MY EMAIL ADDRESS.

Most important part...scroll down to the bottom and click the SAVE button!!

That's it...2 seconds and now you're open to the wonderful world of blogging.

If you don't want your regular email address to show, create a new email address just for blogging!!

Hope this helps to open up new conversations between bloggers and the commenters. Communication is the most important thing.

Have a great day,
~Karen~

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Theme Week 45 Last Minute Gift Ideas

2011-12-18T10:13:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday...the last weekend before Christmas. I know we all try to get our handmade gifts done long before this, but it never ceases to amazes me how much I proCRAFTinate this time of year!! LOL...

Today's linking party may help some of us out. Link any project that you have from your blog, no matter how old, that we might use for a last minute holiday gift idea.

Could be anything from...

sewing
crafting
baking
wrapping ideas

"Sew" for anything to do with sewing,
"Darn" for anything to do with knitting. I always think of darning to do with knitting, but in my case "darn" usually is similar to the word I say when I mess up crafting!!
Let's not forget the word "crafty"...that can mean just about anything we do to create.

you can be greatly inspired by wonderful projects, ideas or vacation pictures (looking) and/or
you can share what you've been up to (linking)

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not search through all your entire blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post.
link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects, vacations, parties etc...
visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
grab a Sew Darn Crafty button for your blog (on my right side bar) or just link to the party in your post.
the more we share, the more people will join and then there's more inspiration to look at!
linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
just click the "click here to enter" button and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week,

~Karen~

Christmas Home Tour 2011...Front Door To The Back

2011-12-14T18:11:00.002-05:00

Welcome to my Christmas home tour for 2011. Grab a cup of hot chocolate or iced tea for my southern hemisphere friends and enjoy the pictures...oh by the way, there are over 130 of them. Sorry, couldn't help it!!

Before I begin, I want to share with you that 99% of all the things you see in these pictures were either hand made, bought in thrift stores, hand me downs or purchased during after Christmas sales. The only thing we paid full price for is the 12 foot Christmas tree in our family room. All the parts of the old 12 foot tree, that had seen better days, are used as greenery throughout the whole house. I have been collecting Christmas decorations for over 25 years and save just about everything. I re-use things each year in different ways, so it seems new in a new way.

Let's begin the tour at the front door...here's my snowman wreath I made last year from 3 artificial wreaths. Click HERE to go back to the original post for the tutorial.

2 old hats attached together for a larger look.

an icicle ornament painted orange for the nose and suspended with fishing line in the center of the wreath.

sticks for arms with little mittens added.

Another idea for front porch decor is my childhood sled with greenery and a big bow.

The entry way greets you with the true reason for the season.

In the kitchen, the baking center has lots of artificial berries that I keep collecting at every clearance sale. You can never go wrong with berries. They work any where.

This little wreath is made from the plastic gasket ring from a glass candle top and the greenery is from the old tree. Click HERE for that project.

More old tree wreaths to label my canister jars. Click HERE for that.

A berry wreath hung from a kitchen cupboard.

Use a 3M hook on one side of the 2 doors.

so that you can still open the doors.

Just a little aside for the cupboard. They had stain glass panels that didn't match and I can't change.

Quick solution is to cover cardboard with fabric and Velcro onto the glass.

Staircase always has the same green garland.

I bought these artificial sugared fruit years ago to add to the finial at the bottom. I made these bows a long time ago and neatly pack them away to re-use each year.

One tip to keep things looking new, especially delicate things like these fruits...don't keep them in the attic. The change in temperatures cracks the plastics and the sugared coating. Everything else I keep in the attic.

These fruits came with an ornament hanger on them already, so I just hooked them onto the evergreen. You could always just wire them on if you had to.

The family room is my quiet neutral zone...greens, burlap white lights and just the colors from all the ornaments on the tree.

The rest of the house is screaming with color, I need one quiet room. lol !!

This is the 12 foot tree just brimming with all our family ornaments. All the ones the girls made in school when they were little, the gifts we received, the ornaments we buy each year for the girls etc...

This cutie I just received from Tina and her daughter Julia this weekend at my ladies dessert party. Thanks Tina...I love it. You can visit Tina at her blog Seaside Stitches by clicking HERE!! ps...she's having a give away.

The tree skirt is just a piece of cheap burlap. Burlap is about $2.00 a yard in some fabric store and is so versatile.

Two branches from the old Christmas tree are wired together to create a swag for each window. Then each is wried to a small nail in the window sill. The bow is made from burlap strapping that you weave for a chair's seat support.

Add a wreath to a picture you already have hanging up to give the wreath more umph !! I used a 3M hook on the glass.

Old garland is wrapped around wire that I shaped like letters. You can spell anything!!

The holiday entertaining has begun, so I put together a wine and beverage area. The bottom of that hutch is from my niece, but I added the top hutch from something else and painted it black to match.

Place all your wine glasses in there and serve the wine on the buffet.

For the party I had this weekend, I punched out card stock circles for each glass.

Each guest writes their name on the circle and it fits on the stem. That way everyone can keep track of their drink.

This big galvanized bucket holds my fabric in my sewing room, but for parties it chills beer and wine!! Bottle openers and a jar to collect the corks!

I love this area...wish a drank beer or wine, but I just can't acquire a taste for it.

This is my mom's old pot wrack from her kitchen. Place plate chargers on each shelf and it's great to serve appetizers or will hold more glasses.

This bureau has made the rounds within my family, but I think this is it's last stop. Painted black, restained the top darker and now it serves as a buffet for parties.

wired a wreath to the front.

Punch bowls were for punch and egg nog, but were placed inside wreaths for a little greenery around the bowls.

I took down the mantel on this fireplace, so it's a big wreath this year. A new mantel is in the works (in my head) so it's a good project for this winter.

I wired 3 old ornaments together and then twisted each bunch on the wreath. Added my ever popular berries and a "Believe" sign.

My Santa tree! Click HERE to revisit that post with instructions for the Santa ornament.

The hutch in my dining room holds my Dickens Village that I started 25 years ago.

The bottom of the hutch is an old tool box filled with old tree greens to hide the wires from the village!

Scraps of thin cotton batting left over from quilts I made is used under the houses. Just cut a scalloped edge for a more decorative look.

I am a wire nut...never like to show them. Each shelf has 4-5 houses wired together and then plugged into their own extension cord. Each extension cord is then brought down to the bottom shelf.

I drilled a hole in the corner of the last shelf and then the cords are plugged into a serge bar.

Cover the cords with the batting and you'll never see it.

This is the Dr Seuss tree in the den.

Lime green flower balls that I bought in the floral section in Walmart add to the topper.

The red glitter sprays add dimension to the tree sticking out like that. They were in the clearance section last year at Walmart for 25 cents.

Clearance section for the rest of the ornaments on this tree too. The trick is to get there the day after Christmas to get the best stuff!

These large glass candies were only 10 cents I think.

The base is Courtney's storage box from here college supplies. Added some cotton batting to look like snow. I put the tree in the box, because the trunk of this tree was a tall metal stick and looked to thin for me. I hid it in the storage container!

Glass ball in a vase is super easy!

Found this in a thrift store off season for 25 cents and the sign too. You could make this easily by wiring jingle bells together in the shape of a candy cane.

Can't forget the dog and the cat! Fish and bone stockings.

or the guest bathroom. Just a little bow on the soap is all you need.

Here's the tree in my husband's office. I decorate it like the tree he had as a boy...big colored lights, tinsel, silver garland and big colored ornaments.

Our bathroom just has a few touches.

Here is another project that I did. Took a mirror off an old bureau from the 90's and painted it black. Mounted to this vanity and now it really add to the piece.

I filled canisters from the kitchen with all white things for a winter look...soap, make-up sponges and Q-tips.

This wreath was round, but I wanted it oval so I squeezed it into shape!

another 3M hook, so I don't make nail holes every where.

Our bedroom is simple with just our original tree when we were married...it's over 24 years old and still holding on...I just can't throw it out.

It's filled with my mom's collection of German ornaments that she just loved.

I've had these candle clips for years and really want to find more.

They clip onto a branch...

and they hold a candle for the look like they had in the olden days with candles for lights on the tree.

Here is the tree skirt I made for $2.50 out of a fleece blanket. Click HERE for that project.

Charlie Brown's sad little tree was a gift from my mother-in-law and I just love it to pieces...so cute!!

Top of the stairs has a spot for a tree.

Kelsie's old quilt and teddy bear for a tree skirt.

and the bow is a ribbon that I saved from a gift a long time ago.

More branches from our old tree.

Kelsie's newly painted bedroom. She hasn't seen it yet, because she's still at school. Big difference from purple to tan!

Metal signs wired for decorations.

off white bisque ornaments and the rest are all homemade by Kelsie from old Christmas cards or from paper towel tubes. Click HERE for that project.

I learned to make these ornaments from my grandmother, but you can find the tutorial any where on the web. Not sure of the name though.

These curly things are in the Christmas section of Walmart. They add great dimension to the tree.

Add ornaments in the smallest places...like hanging from a lamp.

The feather bed at the end is just a Christmas decoration.

Wrapped it in snowflake fabric.

Courtney's room is the next to be painted. She wants gray, but the hot pink will have to do for a little while longer.

Her tree is always silver...

but this year I wired a big silver "C" that was hanging on her wall.

Lots of silver, but in different textures makes the difference...glitter, quilted, matte finish and shiny.

and tree number 9 is in my sewing room...click HERE for a link to that post with instruction for little spool ornaments.

Now out the back door. You know the old saying..."Back door guests are welcomed best!"

I used this area for a hot chocolate bar during the dessert party. Even Annie wanted to be part of the fun.

Fire pit to cut the chill in the air...

blankets to keep you warm...

and the hot chocolate bar!

Make your hot chocolate ahead of time and keep it in a crock pot on low to keep it hot. Have a selection of goodies to add and you're all set. I had chocolate bars, chocolate kisses, marshmallows, graham crackers to dip and whipped cream for the topping.

An old tree with pine cones, birds and nests to add to the outdoor theme.

From the front door to the back door and from my family to yours...I hope you have a magical Christmas!!

~Karen~
ps...I know some of you will ask...this takes me 2 weeks straight. I start the Friday after Thanksgiving and go to bed very late each night!! lol It would be less time, but I had to fit going to work in there.

Tool Time Tuesday...Sewing Christmas Tree

2011-12-13T00:05:00.002-05:00

My mom had this tree in her kitchen at Christmas time for years and now it's in my sewing room for the holidays. It's a "half" tree...the kind that is flat on the back to hang on the wall. Well, I don't have one square inch of wall space left in my sewing room, so I hung it from a wreath hanger on the door.

Thrifty me didn't want to buy small ornaments for it, so what do I have hanging around my sewing room that's colorful...THREAD!!!

For this quick project, you will also need some buttons and thin wire and colorful spools of thread.

Take a piece of wire about 12 inches long and fold it in half.

thread the 2 ends of the wire through 2 of the button holes.

push until button reaches the folded end.

Now insert the 2 ends of the wire into the bottom of the spool of thread.

pull until the button is on the bottom.

Take the 2 ends of the wire...

separate, then twist the ends to create a loop.

All set to hang on the tree...should have added a pretty ribbon, but wasn't thinking!

Add one of the many tape measures we all have hanging around as a garland, my moms knitting needles and those cheapo plastic scissors that come in sewing kits.

I had the scissors from another project years ago. I needed parts of the sewing kit, but not the scissors. I knew they would come in handy some day.

This is why I save useless crap!

The tree is old so the trunk was missing...hmmm what's brown around here. Ahh, yarn that I'll never use, because I can't knit a stitch! See, it's not even called a stitch...it's a purl.

Take the wrapper off and its the perfect trunk. Although, I think I like the wrapper on!

Hard to get a good picture with the bright sunlight behind the tree from the door. It needs a little something more for a filler, but for now it's good to go.

I'm sure we can all find something in our craft supplies or sewing things to decorate our little spaces. If there isn't room for a tree, how about adding the thread to a wreath!!!

Hope you can add a little Christmas cheer to your hobby space.

Happy Tuesday,
~Karen~

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 44 Christmas/Holiday Cookie Party

2011-12-12T10:53:00.000-05:00

So sorry I'm late...yikes! This weekend was so crazy, but so much fun. I had a ladies Christmas dessert party for 50 people and completely forgot to do this post.

This week's theme for Sew Darn Crafty is Cookie recipes or anything to do with cookies...baking, recipes, decorating, wrapping, storing. Anything goes!!

In December, the linking parties here at Sew Many Ways will have Christmas / Holiday Themes. See the list below or on the upper right side bar.

Here are the weeks and the theme for the weeks to come...so start putting all your great posts together!

If you want to add the button to your blog...Click HERE for a tutorial for adding a button

If you're NEW to Sew Darn Crafty, then grab a cup of something tasty, sit back and join in on the fun (starts Sunday and lasts all week long at Sew Many Ways).

WHAT IS SEW DARN CRAFTY...

"Sew" for anything to do with sewing,
"Darn" for anything to do with knitting. I always think of darning to do with knitting, but in my case "darn" usually is similar to the word I say when I mess up crafting!!
Let's not forget the word "crafty"...that can mean just about anything we do to create.

you can be greatly inspired by wonderful projects, ideas or vacation pictures (looking) and/or
you can share what you've been up to (linking)

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not search through all your entire blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post.
link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects, vacations, parties etc...
visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
grab a Sew Darn Crafty button for your blog (on my right side bar) or just link to the party in your post.
the more we share, the more people will join and then there's more inspiration to look at!
linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
just click the "click here to enter" button and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week,

~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

2011-12-08T09:25:00.000-05:00

Christmas traditions...they make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Everyone has traditions for the holidays, whether it's just one or many...they make this time of year extra special

We're the family that has many...

Christmas eve mass
wake up and read the note that Santa left for the girls. Still do this...and they're in college
always open the stockings first
cinnamon buns for breakfast
Kelsie always has green wrapping paper...Courtney always has red. That way there were never any names written on the packages from Santa (wink wink)
look for the hidden pickle on the tree (click here for history of the pickle lol )

There are lots more and each one means so much.

What are some of your Christmas or holiday traditions?

Thanks for sharing,
~Karen~

Santa Claus Tree...

2011-12-07T10:25:00.000-05:00

Here are the pictures of the Santa Claus tree I promised you. I'll have a full post of all the Christmas decorations once I finish! I have a big Christmas party for all the ladies in my neighborhood, family and friends this weekend, so it will be done in the next few days. The best way to get things done is to have a party...lights a fire under your tuckus!!

Santa Tree...

from the top...Santa's hat and some jumbo candy canes

to the bottom...his big belly for the base.

and every where in between!!

Here are the little Santa ornaments I made this week. Click HERE for that tutorial.

Most all of the ornaments on this tree are ones I bought during after Christmas clearance sales over the years.

Except for the Mickey Mouse ornaments. They were our souvenirs from our trip to Disney last Christmas.

I love the look and dimension those little springy stems give the tree. Very whimsical!!

To add to the white fur trim of Santa's suit, I covered Styrofoam balls with white quilt batting to make them look like snowballs.

I have several strings of different garlands to add to the depth of the tree. One is red wooden beads, one is a garland of red berries and the last is the peppermint candy garland I made last week. Click HERE for that tutorial.

Don't forget to pick up any of those "word" ornaments you see around. Walmart has them for $2.97 for a box of 12. I bought the word "joy", but I already had "ho ho ho" and lots of "merry".

Having the same color ornaments is great to add to the theme, but maybe have different textures and patterns.

Polka dot glitter.

swirls...

and all over glitter. You could easy make all of these yourself with just red balls, glue and glitter.

The box I used for the base is the Rubbermaid box I store the ornaments in for this tree. (Here's a side tip...I use red boxes for Christmas, brown for fall, orange for Halloween and blue for Easter. Helps to find things in the attic faster)

Last year for the base, I used a big galvanized tub. The metal "trunk" of this tree is very long and looks un-natural, so I always like to disguise it some how.

I just plunk the tree in there, packed it with newspaper and covered it with a big piece of quilt batting.

For Santa's belt buckle, I just used a disposable aluminum foil pan. Draw the pattern...

and cut it out.

Use your finger to rub out the creases.

For the belt, I used my mom's black wool scarf. It was too picky to wear around my neck, so this is the best way to remember it was hers. I know she looking down on me with that "mom look", because I hot glued a perfectly good scarf, but it was just sitting in a drawer not being used!!

Wrapped a few fake gifts in some Ho Ho Ho paper. Black ribbon and a white bow match the Santa theme.

and here it is a night time all lit up!

Hope you can use some of these ideas for your tree. Remember to always look around the house and see what you can use before you go out and buy something!!

Have a great day,
~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Santa Ornament

2011-12-06T00:01:00.001-05:00

Whether you are young or old, we all love Santa Claus. This year I wanted to have a Santa themed tree, but really didn't have anything that looked like Santa and didn't want to spent any money. I did have different ornaments that were red or candy cane color and I just made that new peppermint candy garland last week. Click HERE for that tutorial.

Here is my Santa solution...Tool Time style!!

Here are the items that I used.

old red ornaments
black electrical tape
silver tape used to seal up duct work
jumbo chenille stem...or you could use cotton balls or quilt batting

Jumbo chenille was $2.99 at Michael's Craft Store. I made 11 ornaments with this package of 6.5 feet.

This is the foil duct work tape. I stole this roll from my husband's workbench...he'll never get it back now. Lol !!!

Just cut a rectangle. Fold it in half, snip the center square out and then unfold again.

To make Santa's belt, I cut the electrical tape in half length wise

Wrap it around the "belly" of the ornament.

Cut your chenille stem and form a donut. I hot glued the ends to secure and then glued it to the top of the ornament

Now peel the backing off the silver buckle.

and place over the black belt.

The donut hole of the white fur still exposes the ornament hook.

and here it is in all it's Christmas glory!!

I finished the whole Santa tree and I will share that tomorrow. Amazing what you can make with things from around your house when you don't want to spend any money!!

Hope you can add the spirit of Santa to your tree. These would also make great gifts for teachers and friends or add them to packages as a little extra gift.!!

Have a great Tuesday,
~Karen~

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 43 Christmas/Holiday Decorating

2011-12-04T08:25:00.000-05:00

Happy December everyone!! This month brings on a lot of different feelings for a lot of people. Christmas is just around the corner and adding a little holiday cheer into your world will help get that spirit fired up inside of you.

Starting in December the linking parties here at Sew Many Ways will have Christmas / Holiday Themes. See the list below or on the upper right side bar.

If you've started decorating already, share some of your ideas all week long here at Sew Darn Crafty's Christmas Decor Linking Party

Here are the weeks and the theme for the weeks to come...so start putting all your great posts together!

If you want to add the button to your blog...Click HERE for a tutorial for adding a button

If you're NEW to Sew Darn Crafty, then grab a cup of something tasty, sit back and join in on the fun (starts Sunday and lasts all week long at Sew Many Ways).

WHAT IS SEW DARN CRAFTY...

"Sew" for anything to do with sewing,
"Darn" for anything to do with knitting. I always think of darning to do with knitting, but in my case "darn" usually is similar to the word I say when I mess up crafting!!
Let's not forget the word "crafty"...that can mean just about anything we do to create.

you can be greatly inspired by wonderful projects, ideas or vacation pictures (looking) and/or
you can share what you've been up to (linking)

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not search through all your entire blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post.
link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects, vacations, parties etc...
visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
grab a Sew Darn Crafty button for your blog (on my right side bar) or just link to the party in your post.
the more we share, the more people will join and then there's more inspiration to look at!
linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
just click the "click here to enter" button and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week,

~Karen~

Mini Christmas Wreath Chalk Boards For Canisters

2011-12-02T11:26:00.000-05:00

Here is a simple and easy way to add a little Christmas touch to your kitchen...a mini chalk board wreath to add to your flour and sugar canisters.

I added it in my kitchen, but you can add this idea for just about anything. Even add a photo for an ornament.

I've mentioned in the past that I've saved old artificial trees that had seen better days. I cut off all the branches and use them to decorate around the house. Click HERE for another wreath idea

I used the little mini branches for this idea. These branches are about 7-8 inches long. You'll also need black paper, ribbon and chalk.

Twist 2 branches to form the wreath.

Cut out circles from black card stock or construction paper. The black paper looks like a chalk board.

Add your ribbon first, then hot glue the circle to the back of the wreath.

Chalk board wreath all set for the Flour canister.

I changed my baking center around a little. Click HERE to go to that post to show how I put the center together.

Sugar, Flour, Confectioner's Sugar and Splenda...

Little touches of Christmas in the smallest of places...nothing better!

Have a great day,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

2011-12-01T06:36:00.000-05:00

"Nothing is impossible...

The word itself says, I'm possible"

~Audrey Hepburn~

Have a great Thursday,
~Karen~

Peppermint Candy Garland...

2011-11-30T10:38:00.000-05:00

Easy peasy peppermint candy garland...

I had this bag of peppermint candy from last Christmas. I placed it in a big vase as a centerpiece. This year I'm thinking garland.

Just take 2 pieces and a dab of hot glue and pinch them together on the ends of the wrapper.

I use low temp hot glue so I can pinch it together without burning myself.

Keep adding to the length you desire. I am making several shorter lengths for easier handling.

Here it is in the almost finished tree. I'll show the whole tree later this week.

Have fun making your peppermint garland. They also have the candy in green and white, so it would be cute to alternate.

Take care,
~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Personalized Cool Whip Container Upcycle

2011-11-29T00:01:00.001-05:00

Another Tuesday for Tool Time is here and I can't help but think of something for Christmas. I have saved a Cool Whip container for a long time, knowing there was the perfect craft some where in there. It's the cover that intrigued me!

Here's what I came up with. The perfect little container you can "whip" together to send cookies or holiday treats to that special someone.

A Cool Whip container has the design printed on the container part and a paper insert in the lid with recipes on the back.

To cover up the print, just paint it with craft paint.

The lid has that lip that keeps the paper label in place.

Just pop out the label and save it for tracing.

You can personalize your container in 2 ways...

print your own label on the computer and then just trace the original label over it, then cut it out or...
use Microsoft Word to make your own circle to print in

Here's the finished label done either way.

To do it with Microsoft Word...first measure your label across the middle

Open up Word...

Click "INSERT" then click "SHAPES"...

You will Click on the picture of an oval...I know we want circle, but oval is the beginning shape for Word.

Now move your cursor and drag to begin the shape...

Once you click on the shape, blue dots will appear around it. In the upper right corner, there will be a size selection chart.

this picture shows that I selected 5.2 inches x 5.2 inches, but that was a little small. My final circle was 5.4" x 5.4".

In the same screen, to the far left is a little box with the letter A in it. Click on that for putting text in the circle.

Go back to the "HOME" button to choose fonts and font size.

Type in the center or...

Scroll down and leave a space at the top for when you add a bow...

Print out and cut along the line of the circle.

Pop it into the lid and the lip will hold it in place!!

For something a little different..."INSERT" another circle inside the first circle. Mine is a 3.2" x 3.2" inside the 5.4" circle.

I cut a piece of scrap book paper to fit my printer.

and I printed the circle on the plain back side of the decorative paper.

Cut out the circles to make a donut.

pick a fun picture to place inside. (my girls are not going to be happy with this photo selection, but I think it's cute. They were fooling around posing because I was pestering them for another picture)

trim to fit and secure with tape on the back.

Fill with treats and it's a double gift with the picture included.

Maybe you still have some Cool Whip containers around from Thanksgiving. I love real cream on my pies, but Cool Whip is so good mixed with pudding!

Have a great day,
~Karen~

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 42

2011-11-27T00:01:00.013-05:00

Hello Everyone!! I have definitely been blogless since Tuesday. Here in the states, Thursday was Thanksgiving. The girls were home from college, friends and family visiting from out of state and we had Thanksgiving here at our home. Wonderful week, but crazy busy.

I'm sure you've been busy too, but hopefully you had time for some fun projects, crafts or recipes. So let's start off this week with another wonderful Sew Darn Crafty Party. Can't wait to see what you've been up to.

Starting in December the linking parties will have Christmas / Holiday Themes. See the list below or on the upper right side bar.

Here are the weeks and the theme for the weeks to come...so start putting all your great posts together!

If you want to add the button to your blog...Click HERE for a tutorial for adding a button

If you're NEW to Sew Darn Crafty, then grab a cup of something tasty, sit back and join in on the fun (starts Sunday and lasts all week long at Sew Many Ways).

WHAT IS SEW DARN CRAFTY...

"Sew" for anything to do with sewing,
"Darn" for anything to do with knitting. I always think of darning to do with knitting, but in my case "darn" usually is similar to the word I say when I mess up crafting!!
Let's not forget the word "crafty"...that can mean just about anything we do to create.

you can be greatly inspired by wonderful projects, ideas or vacation pictures (looking) and/or
you can share what you've been up to (linking)

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not search through all your entire blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post.
link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects, vacations, parties etc...
visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
grab a Sew Darn Crafty button for your blog (on my right side bar) or just link to the party in your post.
the more we share, the more people will join and then there's more inspiration to look at!
linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
just click the "click here to enter" button and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week,

~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Toilet Paper Roll Gift Box or Advent Calendar

2011-11-22T00:50:00.001-05:00

I know...long title, but I wanted to get it all in!!

This is a great recycling project to use up all the cardboard tubes from rolls of toilet paper, paper towels or the tubes from gift wrap paper!! Those are long, so you can cut a lot out of one tube...so start saving!

You will need

decorative paper or fabric
glue or hot glue
cardboard tube...toilet paper, paper towel or gift wrap paper cut into pieces
ribbon

Just an FYI...those little scrapbook paper sampler books are the perfect size for this.

However, who can resist a good red and white polka dot!!

Cut a piece of paper or fabric wide and long enough to fit your tube.

Glue or hot glue the long seam and the round outer edge.

Go all the way around and seal the end piece.

Done!

Now, here is the first fold. Make sure the seam of the paper is centered and is under your thumb. Squeeze to crease.

I hot glued this because it dries fast. Hold til sealed. If you use regular glue...clamp it until dry.

All sealed shut.

At this point, it will look like an open tube of toothpaste.

For the second squeeze, make sure the first crease is in the opposite direction of the second. Meaning, one should be running north to south and the second runs east to west. Does that make sense?

Here it is in this picture. The first crease is on the table...north to south. The one I am pinching is east to west.

After that second pinch, you can add your little trinkets or gift...great for

candy
mini toys
money
jewelry
gift certificates
coupons you write out for free babysitting, dinner, chores etc

Just hot glue to seal and add a little bow and gift tag. This is a good picture of how the seams are running in the opposite direction.

If you don't want to hot glue the last seam shut so it's easy to get into and reusable, punch two holes on the top edge...run your ribbon through there and tie.

That hole on the left looks a little sketchy, lol...don't try punching a hole through dried hot glue!!

Here is the box used for gift giving.

If you want to make 25 of these in the same paper or all different papers, you can add numbers and make an advent calendar out of them.

Just number them 1-25 with a marker or scrap booking stickers.

I have one of these little decorative hangers...I think it's to display a special ornament.

Just hang each day's advent packet from this.

Or you can string them together like a banner and your children or grand children can take one down each day.

This is a great project for any age...young or old. It's quick, easy and practically free! Have fun making them.

Have a great Tuesday,
~Karen~