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    A second look: recycled t-shirt bags

    Since we have entered April, which happens to be Earth Month…or at very least the month that we honor Earth day…I thought it fitting to “recycle” one of my upcycling posts for Second on the 2nd.

    Take a look….

    2/22/2013 Recycled T-shirt Bags

    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.

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    Won’t you join me for

  • Art - Blog - Crafts - Creativity

    Tuesday: books edition

    Welcome to another edition of T stands for Tuesday. The only post I seem to do lately.

    new H mug

    One of the teachers I work with surprised me with this H mug last week, It’s so pretty and holds a copious amount of hot beverage.

    new H mug

    I was admiring the new to me ledger. It will provide me with lots of great background papers and junk journal pages. So cool!

    new supplies

    Speaking of supplies. I picked up some goodies at Michael’s on clearance. Super excited about my new supplies.

    book stack

    I have made one crafty item lately…this book stack home decor item. Makes me laugh every time I look at it!

    What are you doing today?
  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    Retro feel journal page

    I was playing around in the craft room since I had actually cleaned up a bit…always happens that way. Can’t leave a clean space. I saw a strip of scrapbook paper that completely matched the yellow piece of mop-up paper next to it. I knew it was meant to be.

    I folded the copy paper in half and used a glue stick to adhere the page together for a bit more substance. I’m in the beginning stages of creating a new journal and this size is perfect…more on that in a later post.

    I layered the chocolate and mint scrapbook paper with book page then added a faded piece of last years garden bunting fabric…which incidentally was black background with red cherries with green stem and leaves.

    Next I knew I had to use some of the lace trim I scored while out at garage sales yesterday morning. I got a ton of fun stuff…

    Like all of this for less than $2 at one sale! Tons more stuff but likely not of interest here on my blog so I won’t bore you. Anyway…the lace was $0.10 per roll. Do you have any idea how much is on those rolls?!?! I’ll never run out.

    Back to the journal page…

    By this time my page had a very retro color scheme. A quick search through my scraps revealed a sewing pattern with the perfect colors. Don’t you just love her fist…like she’s shaking it at those darn kids. My words came from her expression. I happened to have some ransom letter rub-ons again with the perfect colors to highlight her emotions.

    Last but not least I used black pen to draw around the words and border the page.  I think I killed two pens before finally getting one to work properly. Paint or gesso and pens are not a good combination. I really need to remember that.

    This page is yet another for my theme of Words to live by over on Art Journal Journey.

    Art Journal Journey