Crafts

Sewing Projects: A Doll Dress

May 18, 2012 By Camille Leave a Comment

After I posted my Pinterest inspired doll craze, I finally got out my sewing machine and set to work! I knew that a dress would be easy so I started there. I wanted a pattern without sleeves because putting in sleeves is just something I did not want to tackle (I've done it once and my mom had to finish them for me I got so frustrated!). I started with a pillow-case styled dress I found for free on Liberty Jane. And then, being the expert seamstress I am, I changed the pattern. First, instead of making my own trim for around the arm holes, I used purchased double wide bias tape. I actually tried to make my own and even sewed it, but missed the dress completely! Then I realized that what I made looked like bias tape so I pulled out some I had on hand and it worked really well. Bias tape is expensive, though, so making this yourself would probably be a cheaper option. I'm just not quite there yet! The second change I made was with the ties. I didn't see … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: doll clothes, Sewing

Pinterest: Doll Accessories to Sew and Craft

May 16, 2012 By Camille 2 Comments

My daughter is turning 6 in July. She's been eyeing the 18" dolls at Target since January so when they went on sale a few weeks ago, I picked one up (for around $15!). The rest of the necessities I'm planning to make myself. As usual I headed to Pinterest for inspiration! Doll Dress (I have this cut out and ready to sew!) Source: libertyjanepatterns.com via Camille on Pinterest Shelf Doll Bed Source: makeit-loveit.com via Camille on Pinterest Doll shoes pattern Source: snsdolls.com via Camille on Pinterest Winter Fleece Outfit (I just bought a fleece remnant for this) Source: strictly-homemade.blogspot.com via Camille on Pinterest Swimsuit Source: libertyjanepatterns.com via Camille on Pinterest Knit Hat and Sweater Source: craftsy.com via Camille on Pinterest … [Read more...]

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Learning To Sew: On-line Classes

May 15, 2012 By Camille Leave a Comment

I am a novice sewer so I'm always looking for sources to help me improve my sewing skills. Right now there are two fabulous completely free "learn to sew" classes on-line that I'm really enjoying. The first on-line sewing class is "Sewing School" at my friend April's blog, Wildflowers and Whimsy. April is covering all the facets of sewing from machines to fabrics to techniques. At the end of the "school" she's going to be hosting a few "sew alongs" test out our new skills (using brand-new patterns she's just publishing). All of her posts are print friendly, too, so you can print everything out and read as you sew if you need to! The second on-line sewing class, Sewing Machine 911, is through Craftsy. In Sewing Machine 911, you learn all about the typical ills most machines suffer from, and how to easily remedy those pesky problems. Gain confidence in troubleshooting your own machine issues with tips and tricks. In this class, discuss … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: learn to sew, On-line sewing classes, Sewing

Planning for Summer: Craft Time

May 13, 2012 By Camille Leave a Comment

As I mentioned yesterday, I am spending some time trying to plan activities for the kids over the summer. I think we have everyone signed up for camps already and now I'm on to things to do at home hunkered down in the air conditioning when it's 110 degrees outside. All of my kids (ages 3-12) love to do crafts and I really like craft kits that are self-contained. I have a couple of kits that we're testing out to share with you, but I also ran across this Creative Girls Craft Club. Their introductory offer is $3.98 for two kits ($1.99 each) plus $4.95 shipping. That makes each kit just under $5/each. Not too bad for a half-hour of peace. You can continue with the club and they'll send you two kits every 6 weeks at regular club price or cancel at anytime. I've done these introductory offers before (with a horse fan club) and had no problems cancelling when we were ready. There is also a beading club for making jewelry and a card maker club, in case you need more to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: craft clubs, crafting, Kids crafts, summer crafts

May the 4th Be With You {Pinterest Version}

May 4, 2012 By Camille 2 Comments

So today is one of our favorite DATES on the calendar -- May 4th. We are huge Star Wars fans so you know, it's just fun. Or we're just weird, which is probably the case. In honor of May FOURTH, I though I'd share some of my favorite Star Wars pins from Pinterest. I have a Stars Wars board (that needs some love!) if you want to follow along! How about a little Star Wars dinner to start! Source: kitchenfunwithmy3sons.blogspot.com via Camille on Pinterest Source: thinkgeek.com via Camille on Pinterest Some printable fun. I actually printed these out but we never got around to making them. Source: andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.com via Camille on Pinterest These lightsaber popsicle cozies are perfect for summer! Source: aunnajames.blogspot.com via Camille on Pinterest We used this for homeschool this year and my kids still play with the packet! Source: homeschoolcreations.com via Camille on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: May the Fourth, Pinterest, Star Wars crafts, Star Wars ideas, Star Wars Pins

My Newest Craft Obsession: Craftsy

May 2, 2012 By Camille 3 Comments

Let me apologize in advance for the time you are about lose due to this post! Have you discovered Craftsy yet? I actually signed up for their daily deals a long time ago, but have been pretty much ignoring them. My mom, however, has been really enjoying the website so I decided I'd take a look around. I thought Craftsy was just that daily deal but it's so much more! I found these adorable knitted Christmas ornaments and just fell in love. Some of the patterns are free and others are for sale. They have Facebook pages for pretty much ANY craft under the sun. They also offer on-line classes, workshops and project ideas for anything imaginable. They also offer daily deals of craft supplies! I honestly only pay attention to the yarn deals but I've also seen fat quarters, needles, and other odds and ends in the emails. And if you quilt, Craftsy has a free "Block of the Month Club".... This site is pretty much a crafters dream and I can't believe it took me … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: craft deals, crochet, Knitting, quilting, Sewing

Upcycled Home Decor

March 8, 2012 By Camille 3 Comments

I've had the itch to add some feminine touches to our home decor. Now, I have zero talent when it comes to home decor. It's the one area of creativity that I really wish I had more talent (and money!) for. I think having small children around for the past 8 years has also inhibited my creative home decoration ideas. Mostly we've just tried to keep things intact! But I'm pretty pleased with this little "feminine touch" I came up. I found the Longaberger basket at Savers (similar to Goodwill) months ago... for $.99! In fact, they had two so I snatched them up even though I had no idea what I was going to do with them. Those baskets had to be around $30-$50 each brand new! I may not know what to do with it, but I know a good quality basket! I bought the daisy's on sale at Michaels and the ribbon on sale at Hobby Lobby. Total, this probably cost me about $7 and I absolutely love it! I'm having trouble getting the flowers to stay where I want them (I think I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: Baksets, Crafts, Fake Flowers, Home Decor, Upcycle

Fat Quarter Skirt

February 6, 2012 By Camille 3 Comments

My sewing escapades continue. Last week I decided to attempt this Fat Quarter Skirt Tutorial, which I found on Pinterest, of course! I didn't really do anything differently; I followed her directions. I forgot to change my thread to a purple, as you can see in the hem line. Ooops! If you are looking for a fairly easy beginning sewing project, this is it! I had some issues with the hem, but only because it was my first time doing it. I'm also pretty sure that my seam allowances are not consistent and that the elastic "casing" is all screwy, but it still worked. I was aiming for completion, not perfection. I did not wash the material or even it out before I sewed just because there wasn't much there to start with. I just sewed. Hopefully it doesn't shrink terribly! Hemmed at 2", this skirt does fit my very tall 5 year old (she wears a size 7 dress), but it is just a wee bit short for my very conservative preferences. I think you could hem it at 1" to make it a tad longer. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crafts, Sewing Tagged With: Crafts, Fat Quarters, Sewing, Skirt

Off My Needles: Nativity Animals

January 30, 2012 By Camille 9 Comments

Five years ago I joined a Nativity Knit Along. The idea was to knit one nativity piece each month for a year and at the end of the year, I'd have a completed knit nativity. But life got in the way and the pieces I managed to knit were stored away in the knitting bins of death. When I sorted through the knitting bins of death a few weeks ago, I resurrected the nativity and decided to at least finish what I'd already started, add a Mary, Joseph and a sweet baby Jesus and call it a nativity. The knitting part of the nativity takes no time at all. The stuffing-sewing-embroidery part of this nativity takes forever. I literally spent hours stuffing, sewing and detailing the donkey! But he's cute, eh?! The pattern is by Alan Dart published by Sirdar as The Nativity Collection. Most of they yarn I'm using is Cascade 220 with some Berroco Chincilla thrown in for the sheep. This is not a small nativity. The donkey and sheep are about 10" tall! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crafts, Knitting Tagged With: Crafts, Knitting

Off My Needles: Felted Clogs

January 23, 2012 By Camille Leave a Comment

A few weeks ago my dad arrived at our house with a shelving unit for our garage. After filling it full and realize we needed one a few more shelves, we headed to the hardware store... where we also found a 5 gallon bucket of mis-tinted paint for $20. So for about the price of a sushi dinner, we spent a weekend painting and organizing our garage and it is GORGEOUS! As part of the organizing venture, I commandeered an entire shelving unit to use for extra kitchen gadgets and my crafting gear. Part of that crafting gear includes a couple bins of yarn, which I decided to sort through and organize as long as I was in the mood. I found a lot of interesting items in those bins like some nice yarn I'd forgotten about! I also found several knitting projects that are just a few rows short of being finished. I'm not sure what I was thinking not finishing them. Amongst the rubble I discovered a pair of felted clogs I started about 3-4 years ago for my husband's Christmas gift … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crafts, Knitting Tagged With: Clogs, Crafts, Knitting