I Could Make That: Urban Outfitter Lace Collar

who doesn't love a peter pan collar? Now you can add one to anything you're wearing.

Make you own in, like, 7 minutes:

Start with 18" of lace.

Cut it in half exactly and trim the bottom edges round or diagonal on both pieces.

Use some matching string to tie a knot and attach the two bottom corners.

Use more string to attach long ties to the inside corners on the top edges on both lace pieces and tie on like a necklace. 

I could make that: Clare Vivier Foldover Clutch

My friend Liz put a bug in my ear about making a foldover clutch.  I went on a cyber hunt and found these Clare Vivier clutches. They range from $165-$200 each, and so begins my blog series "I could make that". Words we've all muttered at some point while shopping, am I right?

To you make your own you will need:

Two 12"x 16" panels of exterior fabric (faux leather)

Two 11.5" x 15.5" panels of lining fabric (Amy Butler cotton)

 Magnetic closure

12" zipper

Basic Sewing essentials

Difficulty level: Intermediate

1. Install the magnetic closure according to the package directions 3" down and 6" in from the top and 4" up and 6" in from the bottom of your first exterior panel (don't be intimidated by the hardware, these are really simple to install)

2. Place the zipper facing down on to the right side of the same exterior panel, leaving 1/2" from the left side edge. (top left) The long edge of the zipper tape should sit 1/4" down from the top edge of the exterior panel.  Use your zipper foot and and stitch 1/8" from the zipper teeth, starting a stopping 1/2" from the side edges of the exterior panel.  Backstitch at both ends.  

**Tip: When I install a zipper, I pin it in place, then open the zipper halfway. I sew until I am about 2 inches from the zipper pull. I Take my project off the machine, zip the zipper back up and finish sewing where I left off. This helps me avoid a collision with the zipper pull.  Of course, when I am starting from the end of the zipper, I start with it closed, sew half way, then open it to finish.**

3. Now take one of the lining panels and place it right sides together with the exterior panel sandwiching the zipper between the two. (top right)  Pin in place, and sew over the same seam that attached the zipper originally (bottom right). Be sure to stop and start in the same spots (1/2" from the side edges). Backstitch at both ends.

Flip the lining over so the wrong sides of the fabric are together and use an iron to press it flat on the lining fabric. Be sure not to touch the faux leather with the heat.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to attach the other two panels to the other side of the zipper. (shown above)

5. Separate the panels so the exterior panels are right sides together and the lining panels are also right sides together.  Pin them in place to begin sewing the panels.

**You can round the bottom corners, like I did in the photo above, by using a cup to trace the shape and then cut. Though, after making a few, I personally like the straight corners**

**leave your zipper half way open for this step**

6.Start by pushing the zipper seam allowance toward the exterior panels. Begin sewing at the starting point of the zipper seam and curve slightly out as you meet the side edges of the exterior panels and then sew 1/4" seam around the perimeter of the exterior panels and finish the way you began, with a slight curve up to the ending point of the zipper seam.  

(shown above)

7. Repeat with the the lining panels, but leave a 4 inch opening at the bottom of the lining panels to allow you to pull your clutch right side out.  

8. Pull your clutch right side out through the opening and press the lining with an iron so the raw edge of the opening turns in toward the wrong side of the fabric 1/4", then sew 1/8" away from the edge to close the opening.  Push the lining into the finished clutch and enjoy!!

American Apparel knock-off: Twist Scarf Tutorial

I've been seeing these scarfs at American Apparel and Modcloth lately. Why didn't I invent these? Really, I mean, all it is is a scarf with a little wire inside.  Voila! One accessory to give you countless looks. Genius. 

To make your own you will need:

  two 33"x 2.5" Strips of fabric  

one 32" piece of floral wire 

Sewing Machine, Thread, blah blah blah

1. Stack fabric strips Right Sides Together and use a rotary cutter to trim ends at a diagonal (or round them like I did).

2. Sew a quarter inch seam around each edge of the strips, leaving a 2" opening in the center of one of the long sides. 

3. Turn the scarf right side out through the opening and press. Press the raw edges of the opening under to hide it. 

4. Put a small piece of duct tape on each end of the floral wire (to prevent it from poking through the fabric) and insert through the opening.

5. Sew 1/8" away from the raw edge to close the opening. and go enjoy your new scarf!

Fabric: Anna Maria Horner's Shadow

Shirring Tutorial

 Q. What is Shirring? 

 A. a sewing technique that uses elastic thread to create rows of gathers in fabric.

How to do it:

1. Wind bobbin by hand with elastic thread. Keep the elastic taught as you wind.  Load your bobbin into your machine and thread the top with regular thread. Set stitch length to highest possible setting (longest stitch) and set tension to highest setting as well. While you sew the fabric will shirr because of the contracting elastic. 

*Don't stress out if the thread doesn't contract immediately. once you've finished, just hit the threads with some steam from your iron without actually touching them and they'll gather right up*

2. Stop at the edge, within the seam allowance, of your first row of stitching. Keeping the needle in the down position, lift the presser foot, and turn your fabric 90 degress toward the next row shirring. Lower the presser foot and sew a few stitches. Once you reach the beginning point for your next row, leave the needle down, and lift your presser foot once more. Rotate the fabric to the starting point of your next row and put the presser foot down. Sew. You'll probably have to stretch the fabric flat with each new row, because it's likely to shrink up with the first. 

Your rows should look something like this

3. Once you've finished all your rows, Secure your shirring by replacing the bobbin with regular thread  (return the length and tension setting back to normal),  and stitching a line over the shirring perpendicular with in the seam allowance. 

Now go try it! 

Patterns that call for shirring

A Dozen Days for Dad

 Steve is pretty awesome at being a fun Dad and in the best way possible. He never forces his kids to do things they don't dare to do. They completely trust, not to mention adore him. So for Father's day I thought we could continue on the Fun with Dad theme. After being shown an album a friend made for her husband with a years worth of date nights in it, I tweaked it a bit and came up with this "A dozen days of fun" album. 

 The cover even sports a crayon marking to capture the true essence of being a parent.  hehehe

 Each page is made up of a large and small envelope. The large to hold a paper stating the date and what fun activity we'll do that day and the small to store gift cards, tickets, cash or whatever we may need to make the activity happen! 

Some dates were for the whole family, and some were for just Steve and one other family member.  Instead of having them go year round, We just planned 12 summer days to enjoy (because our attention spans aren't quite that great). Needless to say he really liked it. He even said "This thing is pretty cool" which is praise from him in it's highest form. :)  What's more... you can fill the envelopes with pictures and keepsakes from each activity when you're done.

Photo Blocks

I've been making photo blocks like crazy lately, they have a similar look to canvas, but they're made with blocks of wood, a photo (must be lustre or matte finish) and matte texture coating.  (If you are a Utah native, they sell both the block and the coating at Wood Connection)

Here's how to make your own:

Take a block of wood (you may need to cut your own) the exact size of your picture and paint the sides and back whatever color you'd like to match your picture. Use a spray adhesive on the back of your photo and glue it to the front of the painted block.

If your photo is slightly bigger than your block, you can turn over the block with the picture attached, so the back is facing up and use an exacto knife to trim the edges so you've got a perfect fit.

Apply a plastic spoonful of texture coating to the center of your photo (less if the photo is smaller than an 8x10). 

Use a small roller to spread the coating on the photo only (you don't need any on the wood).

Once your photo is dry it should have a matte textured appearance similar to a canvas print, but at less than half the cost!

Paper Crown

In just three short weeks my baby girl will be the big 2.  Im not worried about the terrible twos at all, but only because I'm pretty sure in the last 3 months we've been fully engulfed in them. I mean, we're talking about a baby that's so independent she insists on changing her own diaper!!  She beats up every kid who looks at her wrong (or looks at her at all) and has a complete breakdown if I tell her "no" about anything at all. 

 And while she definitely tries my patience, she also stole my heart the day she was born and I've never gotten it back. To my delight, she is the biggest Momma's girl around. Alfie has always preferred his Dad to me, so it's kind of nice to have a #1 fan and a partner in crime, even. She loves all the girly things I make for her and will pose happily for pictures. Just last night I asked her to look at me (so I could clean her new earrings) and without turning her head she belted "Cheese!". She definitely keeps us laughing... when we're not screaming into our pillows, ha ha. In all seriousness, I look at this precious girl and see such a strong, amazing person inside a tiny body, I can't wait for her to continue to grow so I can see the incredible woman she turns out to be.  

I couldn't very well let her have a Birthday with out making her a crown, could I? I figure she probably won't want to wear it at her party, so I took a few snap shots of her in it ahead of time. I've made crowns in the past, and had a few people ask me how to do it, so here's a quick tutorial for you:

1. on a 12x12 scrap book paper mark in from each side 4"on the top  and mark in from each side 2" on the bottom.

2. line up the bottom left marking with the top left marking and cut with a paper cutter.

3. Repeat with the right markings

4. Staple the papers together width wise on the 4" side and trim.

 Make one large paper medallion and 2 small ones and glue to your crown as shown below:

(not sure how to make a paper medallion? click here for a good tutorial)

and lastly, embellish your paper crown with beads, stickers, ribbon, tickets, glitter, pearls or anything you like.  When it's ready to be worn, measure the size of the persons head, then trim and staple the crown in the back to fit. enjoy.

  

Pin Wheel Banner

I see pinwheels everywhere, but still haven't gotten sick of them. With summer approaching it seems like a cheery little touch to my decor.  I've placed these little twirlers sporadically through out my house, but after what seemed like a pinwheel making frenzy, I still had quite a few left over, so I'd made a small banner with them.  

To make things easy on my self, I stitched the corner of each with my sewing machine, similar to my polaroid banner.

If you still haven't joined in the pinwheel craze.  Here's a quick tutorial:

1. On a square of scrapbook paper cut from each corner toward the center (but not all the way).

2. lift the right side of each cut and bend it in toward the center.

3. Hot glue each bent corner to the center and add an embellishment (you can use anything from buttons and stickers to small paper circles).