• Blog - Crafts - Creativity - Tutorials

    Recycled T-shirt bags

    February 22, 2013 - By 

    t-shirt

    First of all, I have to admit that this is not my original idea. I’ve seen many versions of this on Pinterest.    box pleat

    But after going through the kids clothes and coming up with 2+ garbage bags full to pass along to a friend, it inspired me to keep a couple school shirts for this project.

    This project couldn’t be an easier. I turned the shirt inside out then stitched the bottom closed.  Next was the box pleat to create a flat bottom. Basically you sew perpendicular to the bottom seam at each corner. You end up with a triangle of fabric that is not usable bag space. Gosh, I think I’m making that more complicated than it really is!! Here’s a link that shows the process if I just confused you.

    Anyway…then I turned the shirt back right side out and cut off the sleeves and made a scoop cut at the neckline. No pattern just start cutting. We all know what a plastic handle bag from the grocery or discount store looks like….that’s what you are going for in shape.

    All in all, not too shabby for a few minutes work. It saved a couple of shirts from the rag pile since  they’d likely never be worn again.

    Little J claimed the lime green one as soon as she returned home. It was her shirt to begin with so now it will continue to serve her in a different capacity.

  • Blog - Crafts

    Blessings

    December 27, 2012 - By 

    We had a wonderful Christmas! 
    Family over for both Christmas Eve and Day.
    Laughed lots, ate too much, made a mess opening gifts, played games and visited until my throat was scratchy.
    I had to  show you one of the centerpieces from our table. I saw this on Pinterest and loved it. So bright and early Christmas morning I stepped outside to trim some greens from the bushes. I’m sure any neighbors that spotted me though I was nuts. It was 0°F at the time.
    Greens in a mason jar…add water and fresh cranberries which are ever so kind to float. 
    Drop in a floating candle. Ta-da…
    Simple and festive.

     

  • Blog - Kitchen

    Pinterest FAIL!!!!

    September 17, 2012 - By 

    The boys were gone all day Sunday so Little J and I made plans to do lots of fun “girl stuff” that we like.
    We shopped a bit, visited my mom, went out to eat then came home to get to some crafting.

    We planned to make some salt dough and “better than salt dough” ornaments, tags, etc.  Little J loves to both cook and paint so I figured “two birds” right?!?

    As you can see we had a bit of an issue with the “better than salt dough” recipe.

    I saw the recipe on Pinterest under the most beautifully white and perfect ornaments. Yeah…what the recipe gave me was a goopy mess. I tried to salvage it by using metal cookie cutters as forms while they dried at 175°F in the oven.

    Lesson learned… people aren’t always careful about what they post.

    We did go on to make some salt dough ornaments that actually did turn out.
    As you can see they aren’t the pristine white I was going for but then again I use unbleached flour so what can I expect!