5 days of favorite projects {day 4}

Little known fact about me:

I DON’T OWN A HOT GLUE GUN.

I know. Crazy. How I’ve made it through my life as a project-doer without one is beyond me.

But for today’s installment of

I needed one. So I took the kids on a little walk a couple of streets over to my fellow crafty friend’s house and borrowed hers {thanks Dee}.

I originally did this project without a hot glue gun, but I will say that it sure makes things easier. I should really go buy my own. The Nester {one of my faves} uses hers all the time {window mistreatments, adhering a beadboard backsplash} and I’m pretty convinced that it is a worthwhile tool.  I’m sure you’re all agreeing …

And so, let me introduce today’s project.

I have to say that this one is not an original project. Last year I was searching for something unique to make for my sister for her birthday and came across this tutorial.  Since we’ve already established that I love book pages, this one was right up my alley.  I loved it so much, I kept it for myself and bought my sister a shirt instead. Sorry, sissy.

I have mine hanging in my kitchen window so that I can enjoy it often:

It is the project I received the most requests for instructions on, so here I am to deliver.

Let me start by saying two things:

1. This is a very photo heavy tutorial. Hope you don’t mind.

2. This takes a LONG time to make {well, not as long as the painted wallpaper, but about 2 hours or so, which is long when you’ve got little boys wandering around the house bored out of their minds and you are doing everything you can to just finish the project already.

You are warned.

Shall we get started?

Here is what you’ll need:

:: styrofoam wreath form {mine is 10”}

:: book {I’ve found that thin pages {as used in my first wreath} work better than thicker pages {as used here} – think text weight paper vs. cardstock}

:: glue gun & glue sticks

STEP ONE: tear out the pages

STEP TWO: bend the page

Bend & roll into a shape similar to shown above.

I like the ripped out edge to show {it gives it that pretty ruffly look}.

STEP THREE: attach the back layer to the wreath form

STEP FOUR: glue down the layers

Or you could go this route and add glue to the middle of the folds before you attach to the wreath.

Keep going all the way around the wreath until you get this:

Flip it over to continue.

STEP FIVE: attach the next layer

bend

crease

figure out how long you want the paper to be {so that it is about equal with the layer behind}

crease

glue & attach.

Add a line of glue and glue down the extra paper.

Here’s what you’ll have:

STEP SIX: fold up and attach bottom layer

STEP SEVEN: attach the next layer

bend

figure out length

glue & attach

and you’ll have this:

STEP EIGHT: attach the next layer

and you’ll have this:

STEP NINE: attach the next layer

This time, the page will be attached to the inside perimeter of the wreath and the extra end of the page will be folded & glued under.

almost there!

STEP TEN: fill in the holes

Where there are spaces, add in another page. Use the same folding/bending technique, cut off the end

give it a little fold, add some glue

and press into hole.

Keep adding more until your wreath is full & fluffy.

STEP ELEVEN: add a ribbon to hang

You’ll need:

:: scissors

:: ribbon

:: pins

bend the ribbon into a loop & cut

attach to the back of the wreath using the straight pins

And it is done!

I . love . it

Here are some other gorgeous options:

{via}

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{via}

I have a feeling there will be a lot of books destroyed to create these beauties …

………………………………….

Come back tomorrow for our final project of the week.

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5 days of favorite projects {day 3}

So, I hate to disappoint you regular readers, but there is no What I Wore post today. Believe me, you wouldn’t want to see anything I wore this past week anyway.  And it was sort of nice to have a break from awkwardly posing in front of a flimsy mirror while trying to decide if I smile or squint or put my hand on my hip or what.  One of my friends at church this weekend said her husband walked in and saw her looking at my WIW post and thought it was really dumb that I take photos of my outfits. I totally agree, Anthony, it is dumb. But it forces me to get dressed everyday so that I look presentable for all my ladies here and that makes it worth it.   Plus you all say nice things to me and sometimes a girl likes a compliment.

****edited***

Did that sound rude? I didn’t mean for it to. And my friend at church and I were joking about it so I was not offended. I think I didn’t say that right.

ANYWAY…

How about we skip right to day three of the

Today I thought I’d show you how to make a fabulous

Here is what you’ll need:

:: fabric {I used a cotton curtain panel from IKEA}

:: pillow form

:: scissors

:: pins

:: tape measure

:: sewing machine & thread

STEP ONE: cut out the pillow front & back

My pillow form was 12 x 16, so I cut two pieces of fabric to be 13 x 17 {giving me a 1/2” seam allowance on all sides}

STEP TWO: cut strips for the ruffles

There is no need to be exact here. Just eyeball the strips to be approximately 1 3/4” wide. Your length will depend on the height of your pillow – I cut five strips at 57” so that I could cut them in half once ruffled to give me a total of 10 ruffles.  If you make the length about two times the height of your pillow, you should be fine.

STEP THREE: ruffle the strips

with your machine set to the longest stitch {check your sewing machine manual if you aren’t sure how to do it}

sew down the middle of the strip, making sure to leave a long thread at the beginning {and not backstitching to start}

then pull the bobbin thread {or which ever one seems easiest to pull} and ruffle the fabric.

Continue with all of the strips until you have a delightful pile of ruffles.

STEP FOUR: pin the ruffles to the pillow front

Starting in the center, pin a ruffle down the front.

Since I made my strips long enough for two lengths, I cut it once it was pinned to create a second ruffle.

Continue to pin the ruffles as close together {or apart} as you like. Just be sure to leave room on either side for your seam allowance.

STEP FIVE: stitch on the ruffles

With your machine set to a regular size stitch, begin with the center ruffle and sew down from the top {using a backstitch to secure}.

Use the stitching down the center of the ruffle as your guide, backstitching to finish each row. Continue until all rows of ruffles have been stitched down.

STEP SIX: trim the excess

here is what your pillow front will look like:

STEP SEVEN: sew the front & back together

With right sides together, stitch around the perimeter of the pillow {make sure to leave a wide opening in the side to insert your pillow form}.

Backstitch to secure the opening.

STEP EIGHT: trim the extra fabric

and cut a diagonal at the corners

STEP NINE: turn the pillow inside out

STEP TEN: insert the pillow form & hand stitch shut

Of course, if you wanted to do it the right way, you could add a zipper.  My mom {the expert seamstress} is probably appalled that I didn’t put one in, but stitching it closed is easier. Plus, since I didn’t ‘finish’ the edges of the ruffles, they will fray like crazy if you put them in the washer & dryer, so no need to make the pillow cover removable.

BEAUTIFUL!

Obviously, you can vary the fabric & ruffle number & width to create a totally unique pillow.

{velvet}

{three wide ruffles}

{very frayed blue organic cotton canvas}

The same method of ruffling was used to make the curtains in the nursery

as well as my sweet ruffle headbands

Another option: add a double layer to a personalized tote bag

So many possibilities with a simple little ruffle.

Have you enjoyed our week of tutorials so far?

I hope so!

Tomorrow’s project is another ruffle-y one – only this time not made with fabric.

Hmmm … what could it be?

Come on back for day to find out.

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5 days of favorite projects {day 1}

I love a good project. In fact I feel a little lost when I’m not working on something. This week, I’ll be putting together a tutorial each day on some of my favorite projects, which {I think} are also some of yours.

Let me start by saying I probably didn’t come up with any of these on my own. I’m not that creative.  I love looking around me for inspiration and then figuring out how to make things on my own and with my own twist.  I also don’t like to spend much on projects, so all 5 days will be very inexpensive and will hopefully utilize things you may already have. Okay, now that that’s out of the way …

It was only natural for me to begin with my current favorite project – one that you’ve seen in my shop, on the baby {over and over and over again}, as favors at my sister’s baby shower, in many of my what I wore posts and in this family picture:

Can you guess?

Yep. These fun {and simple}

Here’s what you’ll need:

:: polyester satin

:: scissors

:: candle & lighter

:: ruler {not really necessary}

:: needle & thread

:: beads or other center embellishment

STEP ONE: cut squares

first square {3 x 3}

second square {2 x 2}

third square {1.5 x 1.5}

don’t feel locked into these sizes … make them as large or petite as you like.

STEP TWO: round the corners

They do not need to be perfect circles {in fact, I like them a little off}. You can also skip this step and do the flowers as squares. Both ways are beautiful.

STEP THREE: melt the edges

Using a candle, gently {and carefully!} hold the edge of each circle over the flame {not touching the flame} until the fabric begins to melt & curl.

If the edge is burnt and you don’t like the dark parts,

simply cut it off and melt again.

If your material ignites {as I have found some do} it’s probably just best to start over with a different material.  I haven’t figured out why some polyester satins melt and others burn … I’ve found that the thicker satins used for lining work well.

STEP FOUR: stack them up

STEP FIVE: stitch them together

Using a need & thread, start from the bottom and make a stitch.

STEP SIX: add the beads

STEP SEVEN: tie a knot and snip the thread

Done!

You can add lots of layers for a fluffier flower

or cut out a felt leaf

and attach {stitch or glue, your choice}

add one to your bag

or to embellish a pair of shoes

pin one on a sweater or jacket

attach to a hair clip

or magnet

sew on a pin

make a headband

or add it to a hat

I hope I’ve inspired you to make some flowers!

please come back tomorrow for day of the tutorial series …

{linked to http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/}

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