Tag : sewing

149 posts

We all know how to recycle and I’m sure most do it daily. Newspapers, cardboard, glass and plastic are all readily recyclable in most cities, at least across the USA.

This is wonderful! But I’ve been really focused on upcycling lately.  Finding a new use for something that would ordinarily be tossed out.  Wine corks, bottle caps, worn out clothing, stained linens, broken plates…you get the idea.treesI showed a sneak peek of these a while ago. I made a wine cork tree last year but this time I decided to change things a bit. I used a Champagne cork cut in half for the trunk.  I think they turned out really cute.

sewing

I’ve also been using some scraps from previous projects such as the denim remaining after completing a quilt or two.  As well as the remainder of the dress shirts that I made wine bottle gift bags from.

cards

In addition I’ve been making a bunch more cards. I’ll show more of these last two projects at a later date. The cards have much less upcycling in it’s truest sense but I am still attempting to include elements that might otherwise be considered unusable such as tiny scraps of fabric and yarn. As well as photo trimmings. I have a cigar box full of photo trimmings…they have such vibrant colors that it’s a shame to toss them out.

It doesn’t have to be Earth Day to be a little “green”. Do a little more every day to be kind to our planet. Last time I checked…it’s the only one we have. :)

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I absolutely love kraft paper but don’t use it very often.

Today I made my kraft series of cards.

Well…I’m not sure you can call them a series but every card had kraft paper as the base.

Truth be told…it’s a grocery bag.

I had forgotten to bring my reusable bags to the store this week, so I had an abundance of paper bags.

I found a pretty way to recycle them.

Or maybe that would be upcycling.

I did a lot of sewing on my card bases this time. Much in part to my sewing machine nagging me to use her…well, more like screaming at me… wondering why it’s sitting out if it’s not being used.

After adhering the sewn base to the folded card stock, I go on to add additional embellishment.

Sometimes a sentiment.

Sometimes random bits that speak to me.

Collage cards are my favorite to make if you hadn’t noticed.

Making 25 of the same thing is so hard and mind numbing for me. Partially because that involves measuring and partially because I’d need to purchase enough material to make 25 identical cards.  That takes forethought, pre-planning and again, that pesky measuring business.

I like to mix things up. That’s why I own Fiestaware! I never set a table with all the same color at a place setting. The salad dish may not match the plate on my table. Quirky, I know.

Quirky maybe a way to describe my card making process. Or perhaps some would say, random.

Either way…making cards one at a time is the way I prefer.

 

 

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.

No, I haven’t changed my allegiance…
I’m still a Vikings fan.  
Little J had a birthday party to go to today for a neighborhood friend. 
The Packer fans on the block.
It seemed fitting that her American Girl doll would be a Green Bay fan as well. 
The gifts should have been opened by now so I think it’s safe to post this. 
If not…hey, what are you doing browsing the internet while the party is going on?!?!
Put that smart phone away.

 

Just a few things I whipped up the other day. 

 

 

In my previous post I mentioned a quilt…my first quilt…that was made nearly 13 yrs ago. Long, long before I started blogging…probably even before blogs were a thing.
 
I made this quilt during little boy nap-times.
The front is warm tones and the back cool blues.
It’s a perfect throw blanket on cold winter nights.
In fact, there is sometimes a fight over who gets to use this quilt when we are all watching TV because it’s the best one to snuggle under.

 

I’ve been brainstorming some more ideas to use up the things I already have on hand and make some Christmas gifts in the process. 
I had a small stash of flannels from a ragtime quilt I made when my oldest was a baby. He’s almost 13 now. I should show that quilt sometime. It was my very first one.

Anywho… with the weather turning colder, flannel just seems right. Something to warm the hands or toes in boots.
Maybe a something cozy for your cuppa joe.  We’ll see.

 

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