Make Your Own Nail Stickers

My nails were doing ok until I had to go and change out almost every bulb on my Christmas tree this week.  Now they're a wreck and I can't be bothered to paint them again.  My solution....DIY Nail Stickers!

Here's what you need to make your own stickers:

-Blank stick on labels and a printer
-Cutting machine or pencil and scissors
-images


Steps:
1) First find your images online and print them onto your label sheet.  My labels are 3.33" X 4" (shipping labels) and I just did some Google searches using phrases like "Small Christmas Background" or "Small Sequin Background" etc.

2) Now find a nail template online like this one from LifewithFaith.org

3) If you don't have a cutting machine just cut out the shapes, trace onto your labels, and cut out.  If you do have a cutting machine you can use the trace and replicate features to let your machine to all the work for you.

Import your image and then find the Trace options:

Click on Select Trace Area and move your pointer to select one section of the nail images.

Now click on Trace Outer Edge.  Once you've done this you can move the original image out of the way and just use your traced image.  You will probably have to readjust to fit your finger size.

Don't forget to Replicate another set by mirroring the image first.

It took me a few tries to get an ok fit. I was a little disappointed at first when they wouldn't stick but then I took off my nail polish and tried again.

Much better!

Try coating with a layer of clear polish to really seal down the edges.

So much fun!  These won't last more than one party, but I find the expensive ones from major nail brands don't do much better either.

What images would you put on your nail designs?  Leave a comment below~

Beanie Scrapbuster

If your looking for a project that is quick, uses up scraps, is super easy, and practical, then look no further!  I have the perfect project for you!

Around here head gear is not an option.  If you don't want to freeze your ears off (OK, they won't actually fall off, they'll just feel like it), then you have to wear either ear muffs or a hat, better known as a toque.

I found THIS amazing and totally FREE pattern a few weeks ago from Heidi and Finn.  You can also find it on my FREE Sewing Patterns Pinterest Board.  (If you love to sew you really need to follow this board, it is full of awesome Free patterns.)

It's actually a kids pattern but the largest size fits my head perfectly.  I made one for my boss from a T-shirt with our company's logo on it and it fit him too (and he loved it).

This comes together so fast that I went on a sewing spree and started using up all my scraps to make as many as I could.  The 2 at the bottom are for my niece and nephew and the rest will be donated to a local daycare that's used mainly by mom's who need all the help they can get.  

If you follow me on Instagram you might remember that I was gifted an entire box of T-shirts from work. I figured refashioning them into kiddie hats was the best use for them.

I still have a few more cut out from my scraps left over from my Nordic Leggings too.

These will make great gifts at Christmas.  Head over to Heidi and Finn and start making your own batch of beanies to keep your ears nice and toasty warm this winter~

10 Minute Bolster Cushion

I've been very busy this week, doing what I'm not really sure, but busy nevertheless.  So you know what that means....time for a quickie craft!

If you want to update your cushions just for the holidays this is the fastest way to do it~

Here's what you need:

Materials:
-an old (and ugly) bolster cushion or a plain uncovered pillow form
-small fringed rug (from the dollar store)
-heavy duty upholstery thread, large needle, scissors

Steps:
1) Make sure that your little rug will wrap around your bolster, overlapping, and has some overhang at each end.  Simply wrap it around your cushion.

2) Scrunch up the end, there is no method to this, just scrunch it up so that you can't see the end of the cushion inside.  Then just hand stitch with heavy duty thread.  My thread doesn't even match and it still worked just fine~

Repeat on the other end.

Tah dah! You are done!  In the time it took you to read this tutorial you could be half-way finished.

I've actually been looking for a cute multi-coloured rug to use for this project for months, but this is the closest thing I've found so I went for it.  If you grow tired of the look or just happen to be in need of a little rug in the future you can easily snip the hand stitches and reuse both the cushion and the rug.

I'm off to start my Christmas crafting for the weekend!  Have you started yet?  Leave a comment below~

Simple Trick or Treat Bag

Do you have some little goblins that you have to take out Trick or Treating soon?  Here's a fast and easy project to help you gather their goodies~

Here's what you need to make your own Trick or Treat Bag:
-Non stretch fabric
-ruler
-standard sewing kit

This is so easy and I was just whipping these up as a little scrapbuster so I didn't decide to do a tutorial until I had already completed a few steps.  Also, you don't have to follow these measurements exactly.  I was just using up a scrap of fabric I found tucked away and was just trying to use it all up.

Steps:
1) In any case, I cut 2 pieces of the large rectangle shape and 2 of the long skinny one. (That's 17" right from the top to the very bottom of the big one, just ignore the cut outs at the bottom until the next step.)

2) Now you can cut out 2 little squares from each bottom corner of the large piece.  Mine are about 1 3/4" square.

3) First we'll make some handles.  If you don't have enough fabric or you want something really sturdy you can use webbing.

Simpy fold each long skinny rectangle, right sides together, and stitch along the the entire long edge.  Zig zag or serge and then turn and press the seam along the centre back.  I'm using some kind of nylon lining type of material so kept my iron quite low and used a pressing cloth to make sure I didn't melt it.

4) Set your handles aside and stitch the bottom and two sides of the main body of your bag. Finish your edges (!) and press to one side.

5) Now pinch the bottom corners, meeting your side seams with your bottom seam.  Pin and stitch across.  You should get some nice sharp boxy corners.  If you're using a heavier fabric you might need to trim across the corners.  Finish the edges and turn your bag body right side out.

6) Finish the top edge of your bag body, fold about 1" towards the inside and stitch down.

7) Now just attach your handles.  Measure in an equal amount from each side and mark.  Turn the bottom of you strap up about 1".  Pin to mark and stitch down in an "x" pattern.  You'll want to collect as much candy as possible and this will make sure that your straps won't fall off half way through your neighbourhood rounds.

That's it!  Just throw on that Elsa costume that all the girls are wearing and head out from some treats!

I sent my bags to my niece and nephew along with a couple of little easy to  make pillow treat boxes.

Check out my Sharp Corners Ahead project and use the boxy corner method to make a cushion.

Are you dressing up this year?  Did you make your own costume?  Leave a comment below! (I've made some adjustments to my comment settings, help me out by testing it to see if it's any better, thanks)

Yoga Socks

This project is definitely in the quickie crafts category, taking less than 10 minutes to make~

These little foot covers are meant to keep your joints warm and cozy but still give you room to grip your yoga mat while stretching out into all your crazy yoga poses.

Here's what you need to make your own Yoga Socks in no time flat.

Materials:
-stretchy material like T-knit or fleece
-measuring tape
-scissors
-standard sewing kit
-optional: if your fabric isn't stretchy enough just add some elastic to this list

Steps:
1) You'll need to take a couple of quick and easy measurements before you get started.  First of all, measure from the bottoms of your toes up to where you want your socks to end on your leg.

2) Now measure around your leg where you want your socks to end.

3) Using these two measurements cut 2 pieces of fabric into a square as shown below.

4) With right sides together, fold the fabric into two long rectangles.

 5) Using a 1/2" seam allowance sew the long cut edge so that you make two long tubes.

6) Turn right side out.  Slip the tube onto your foot and mark approximately where your heel hits the seam allowance (place the seam allowance along the bottom of your foot and back of your leg).

Take the tube off and the cut across half of your tube so that you have a slit in the back.

That's it!  You're done!

Now, when I have more time and I redo this project I will most likely finish my cut edges with a seam and maybe cut my rectangles so that they curve in a bit at the ends so they fit a little more snugly.

Also, if you find that your socks are slouching down on you, just make a small casing at the top of the top and thread in some elastic to keep them in place.

Are you a yoga master?  To be honest I'm more of a pilates girl myself but I know these will still come in handy while I'm doing my hundreds.

Namaste everyone~

PS....don't forget to enter the giveaway going on RIGHT NOW!  (Closing October 21, 2014)

Lace Headband (for Small Heads)

I'm in the mood for a super quick and easy project today.

If you have a small head then you know the trials and tribulations I put up with when trying to wear a headband.  The hard style just don't fit right and usually end up giving me a headache, and the soft style (like I made here for my niece) usually go flying off the back of my head.  So, I've come up with a fast and easy way to get around all this.

Here's what you need if you have a small head too!

Materials:
-lace or other trim
-bobby pins
-measuring tape, scissors, needle and thread or a sewing machine

Steps:
1) Measure your head from about an inch above your ear to the same spot on the other side of your head.

Do you know how hard it is
to take a picture of yourself like this?

2) Add about an inch to your measurement and cut your lace (or other trim) that length, then turn over the ends 1/2" and sew down.

My serger just happened to have black thread on it so I quickly finished the ends.  This is not totally necessary and there's no way I would've bothered if I had pink thread on my machine~

3) With your ends sewn down, simply slip your bobby pins into the little pockets at each end.

Now you can slip your headband onto your head where you want it and pin it in place easily!

I'm growing out my blonde hair...dark roots!

If you don't like bobby pins you can try butterfly style snap barrettes.

That's it, beyond easy, and you don't really even need a sewing machine.  You could hand-stitch it if you really had to.  You could really go to town and glue some flowers or other 'accoutrements' to your lace if you want to get fancy.

How about you?  Do you have a hard time with head gear?  Leave a comment below~

Flashback Friday: Cute Crayons

If all has gone according to plan I should be back from Australia by now, but I'm pretty sure I'll still be getting over jet lag and might not have done much crafting so I'm playing it safe it doing one last Flashback Friday post for you.

This one isn't all that old but it's so pretty I  decided it deserved a second look (plus it's super easy to make!)
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I was going to take a little break from blogging today, but as most of  you know, blogland doesn't sleep (or take holidays) so I figured I'd share this fun little Mod Podge craft I made up for part of my niece's Easter gift.

Here's what you need to make your own:

Materials:
-crayons
-pretty paper
-Mod Podge (optional: Sparkle Mod Podge)
-cutting mat, ruler, sponge brush, craft knife

Steps:
1) Measure the paper on the crayons to figure out how big to cut out your own papers.

Mine measured 17mm X 32mm

2) Cut out some pretty papers to match your crayons.

3) Use your sponge brush to paint Mod Podge onto the back of your paper.

4) Wrap the paper around your crayon.

Leave the original paper on
to help with adhesion.

 You can call it a day right there if you want, but you know how much I love my SPARKLE Mod Podge

If you want to add some sparkle too, just use your brush to gently paint on the Sparkle Mod Podge to the outside of your paper.  Be careful not to get it onto your crayons.

Now again, you can be done right there.  But if you want to make these crayons extra, extra special, take apart the box they came in, trace the shape onto some pretty paper, and cut it out.

Glue the paper onto the outside of the box and put it back together again.

My niece loves to colour anyway, but I hope she'll really love it with her very own personalized crayon pack.

This project was featured here:
 

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My niece is a little older now so I think I'm going to make her a new set of these using pencil crayons.  I'm almost certain I have a set of unused pencils in my stash somewhere.

I hope you've enjoyed the trip back through old projects over the past month.  If you want to find more projects that I you might've missed the first time around, just go up to the top of the page and click on the Tutorials or Show and Tell tabs for hundreds of more ideas!

I'll be back next week with the low down on my trip and a new project.  Have a crafty week everyone!