crafts

Jazzed Up Camera Strap

Andrea — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:04:50 -0600

I ran across this Camera Strap Slipcover Tutorial last week, and was excited to give it a try. Even though I am VERY challenged in any sewing-machine related crafts, I decided this looked simple enough for even me to try.

I did a "rough draft" try with some scrap fabric and my own sewing machine. It didn't fit and looked awful. But...I also didn't measure or iron the fabric, so what did I expect?

Then today, I snagged some scrap fabric from my sister-in-law (who has a treasure chest of fabrics to choose from) and borrowed her snazzy sewing machine and expertise while I tried to make a "final draft" version to actually use.

Well...make that 2nd draft. I had to tear out all the seams after I realized that I didn't put the fabrics' "right sides" together like you're supposed to. But that was a good extra round of practice for me, because once I finally got it all sewn together right, it slipped onto my camera strap and looks pretty good.

I did omit the last step of top-stitching around the whole thing because it didn't look like I'd have enough space left to slide the strap inside with two more seams. But I'm happy with the end result anyhow.

It only took me 2 hours (said with a roll of the eyes, because this should really be a 30 minute project MAX). But I didn't cry, and I didn't throw away the end-product, so I guess that makes it a successful project in my book!

Princess Magnet Board

Andrea — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:39:41 -0600

This afternoon I put together a little magnet board toy for Ayla. It's basically a build-a-scene magnet board. It has a 12 x 12 background scene and several 3-D chipboard magnets made from chipboard stickers and rubons on cardboard (these are made by Imaginisce). The 12 x 12 scene can be slid into the large photo corners (which are adhered directly to the magnet board). This way, the scene stays put, but can be changed out for other scenes (which I have yet to make).

This project is actually a test-run to see if she likes it and uses it (because it's all made from paper and chipboard, I doubt it will hold up well). If she does, I'll make several scenes and buy her several sets of magnets in different themes. And I'll try and make them from more durable stuff...laminated papers, mod-podged chipboard, or even plastic magnets.

So far, she was pretty excited about it. Ben hung it up in her playroom downstairs after she woke up from her nap today and she shuffled the magnets all around...

Feeling Like Fall

Andrea — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:55:21 -0500

Well, no, it doesn't really FEEL like fall (still SO hot here in Alabama), but at least it's starting to look that way. I spent this afternoon making pumpkin-chocolate chip cookies (recipe courtesy of Heidi Swapp):

and these centerpieces/door prizes for my MOPS meeting tomorrow night:

Found the photo stands at Pier 1 and gussied them up. Our theme this month is "photo booth", so I thought a photo strip of pumpkins was appropriate until people are able to fill the slots with their own photos.

Hands-On Photo Cube Puzzle

Andrea — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:23:14 -0500

Remember this? Here's the finished product, and the article telling how to make it:

Each side of the cubes makes up one of six 9" x 9" layouts. Here are all the layouts:

Heritage Shelf

Andrea — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:28:52 -0500

I was recently inspired by a very cool project by Ali Edwards (found here), so when I came across this little shelf at Goodwill for only $2, I thought I'd try my own version. I'll admit, Ali's is MUCH cooler, but this was a good first try for me.

I removed the wallpaper, painted the outside red, the shelves black, and backed it with kraft paper. I also sanded the edges to allow the white paint to show through along the edges. Gave it a more worn look.

Then, I ordered several 5 x 7 black and white pictures to put into each of the cubes. I had a hard time choosing what to put in there, and finally decided not everything has to be symetrical and even!

I think I may need to replace the upper right photograph, because I didn't crop it quite right...

A Little More Cardboard Luv...

Andrea — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:42:59 -0500

The other night, my nephew Tucker asked me "Aunt Dee?" (that's what they call me) "How come you never make us stuff?"

Ouch. Talk about a knife in the heart! I asked him what he meant and he referred to this and this and wanted to know why I didn't make them anything that they could take to their house.

I should probably have reminded him of the tunnels we made just last week, but I think he meant something he could take home..so I asked him what he wanted me to make.

His response....a garage for his hot wheels cars. So, I promised him a garage and that we would build something today when they came over (which turned out to be a spaceship).

Here's the garage...made from my favorite cardboard box source...a box of LUVS diapers.

I would have liked to paint it, but we didn't have any spray paint on hand, so it's graffitied up with LUVS graphics. But I did give the flooring a layer of cardstock and even made them a handicap parking space. Hope it provides hours of entertainment! Until it falls apart. :)

And here's today's spaceship creation:

I tell you what...there's nothing better than a dedicated playroom where stuff can be moved and destroyed and rebuilt over and over again. This same landing spot has also been home to a campout, tornadoes, rodeos, outer space, and more down-to-earth pretend games like "house" and "baby".

Saved My Shorts

Andrea — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:23:27 -0500

I have a favorite pair of khaki shorts. But they have bleach stains on them. I wore them anyway. Then, the bleach stains started turning into holes. I wore them anyway. But then the holes got bigger and I had to figure out some sort of rescue mission for them.

Here's my solution. Unfortunately, I failed to take before pictures....

I used Fancy Pants chipboard paisley shapes to trace a design on the shorts, cut out the design, pinned a piece of fabric to the inside, did a quick baste stitch around the design to keep it in place and then went back and hand stitched a brown border with a backstitch (I think that's the right term). It took a while to hand stitch them all, but I like the end result.

Now I gotta figure out what I'll do when the bleach stains on the other leg turn into holes...there in a less "normal" spot to put a design. Hmm...

ps...Ayla was my helper for the top photo. She pressed the shutter button to start the self timer, so the camera would focus correctly. She's a tiny pro.

Paper Lily

Andrea — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:59:55 -0500

Today's project: A Paper Lily

I wish it was for a happy occasion, but it's for a paper flower bouquet for a friend and former Scrapjazz Blue Crew member, Shelley. Her step-daughter (17) was killed in a car accident earlier this week and we're all hurting with their family.

Scrap Etc. (the local scrapbook store where she's also a designer) is sending our love and support with a paper flower bouquet.

Instructions for creating this style of origami flower can be found here.

Handmade Necklaces and Gift Boxes

Andrea — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:53:29 -0500

Thanks for all your input on gift ideas for our favorite nursery workers at the Rec. I decided to make them each a necklace, so I journeyed into the jewelry making supply aisle at Hobby Lobby.

This is what I came up with--very simple and easy since I'm a novice jewelry designer, but I tried to pick glass pendants that represented each of their "styles". The red necklace is for Jen and the tan necklace is for Margaret.

Either they really loved them, or they're really good at pretending they love something. They were both wearing their new neckaces when I came back to pick Ayla up from the nursery and kept going on an on about them.

Honestly though, the packaging was my favorite part:

I found a gift box template that I adapted slightly after printing it onto 12 x 12 paper to make these little gift boxes. (I recently acquired a large format printer HP Deskjet 1220C that I was thrilled to try out!) I used double-sided Scenic Route paper, initial chipboard letters, a little bit of ribbon and miniature thank you cards. It was pretty easy, and turned out really cute, if I do say so myself! Ayla helped stuff the boxes with tissues before we put the necklaces inside.

Sneak Peek!

Andrea — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:07:43 -0500

Blogging has been light this week for a few reasons:

Our internet connection has been splotchy at best...
We've done very little all week worth posting about...
I've been in creative mode, working on a fun new project for an article...

Here's a sneak peek:

More pictures and the full project instructions will be published on Scrapjazz.com in late August.