DIY Fabric Art

I found this fabric a while ago and I LOVE the colors. I have been trying to decide just what to do with it. I knew I wanted something for our living room, but I wasn't sure what, until this idea came to me. 

All you need:
         A frame
         Fabric strips
         Sewing machine or your could use hot glue or fabric glue
       
The first thing I did was paint and distress my frame, it was boring old black, so I painted it red, distressed it and then finished with a glossy clear coat.

Then I cut a piece of cardstock that was same size as my frame and I cut strips the width of the cardstock. My fabric was already in strips because it was part of a jelly roll pack, but I did cut some of the strips thinner. Then lay out the strips so you can get the look you like.

Then start sewing (or glue) the fabric strips to the cardstock. Layer the next strip and sew and so on until the cardstock is covered.

Slip it into your frame and you are done! This could totally be done with just scraps and what it in your stash. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

T-shirt Makeover….

I found this T-shirt at K-mart for 50 cents, I loved the color, but it was too big, but I thought I could do something with it. This is what I came up with.
The first thing I did was fold it in half and press with the iron, then I unfolded it and cut the front along that line.
Then I took fabric from a jelly roll that I had on hand, measured the length of the cut front + seam allowance and cut 4 pieces that length. With right sides together, sew two together the long way, and then the other two together the long way and press open.
Press over a little bit (I did about a 1/2 inch) toward the wrong side of these then fold wrong sides together and press the long way. This helps everything lay better in the next steps.
I wanted to have another little accent piece so I measured another length of fabric, then pressed it in half to make the orange stripe.

Now you make a sandwich using all the pieces. First, the first the large accent piece, then the edge of the shirt you cut, then the small accent piece, and finally the other half of the large accent piece. Then pin everything together and sew along the edge of the large accent piece. I sewed 2 lines because I like how that looks, but you can do whatever you would like.
Then repeat with the other half of your shirt.

I wanted buttons the entire way down, it is just a preference. You could do 2 buttons like a cardigan or use snaps or just leave it open if you want, but I really REALLY like using my button hole foot on my sewing machine and I like sewing on buttons on my machine, it is so fast and fun. (I need to get our more, I know.)

I measured where I wanted button holes, then used my sewing machine to sew them.
Then I marked and sewed on my buttons, trimmed the threads and all done. I like how it turned out, it fits nicely now that I took a little out and the button flaps overlap. Keep an eye out for clearance shirts…. I bet this could be used on a sweater too…. I let you know if I try it, have a great day!

To Do List

I am a list person. I like to check things off lists, but mostly I like to look back and see all things I got accomplished or what didn’t get done because I decided to play Rescue Heroes with my boys.
Unfortunately, most of my lists ended up on the back of envelopes, scrap paper or whatever else was handy. Here is an idea for a reusable/dry-erase To Do List that is cute enough to leave out all the time and maybe I will get more things done on the list because it is so cute!

The first thing is I got this downloadable printable from somewhere and I have been searching and searching trying to find where is came from and I can’t find it again, so if you find it or know who made it let me know so I can link them and give them credit. There are TONS of printable To-Do lists out there or you could make your own.
The frame had been lying around for years, it was just plain wood and I didn’t really like it, but I knew I would find something to do with it (do you have things like that?)  So first thing I painted it glossy red, probably 3 or 4 coats, once dry I took sand paper to it. (I know the picture is blurry, but I wanted to show the distressing, I think our camera is about to die, it keeps acting weird)

Then I just slipped the To-Do List behind the glass and put the whole thing back together. I already have dry-erase markers handy for use on our calendar, from here, so I am ready to start checking things off my list!