Pillow Case Re-do

I think its a girl thing where we feel it an inherent obligation to change up our living environment on a regular basis. Luckily I don't paint rooms often - like once or twice every three years. But I do like to buy home dec like weekly. I change things up on my walls and on my shelves quite regularly. My husband is always amazed at how quick my moods or likes change. Anyway, he doesn't usually object other then perhaps wondering (to himself) out loud how much something cost?? What he doesn't know won't hurt him right?

So recently I learned to make pocket pillow cases. It seemed a bit complicated when I was watching someone elses tutorial - so I decided to share how I make pocket pillow covers the easy way -

Here is a photo of my previous pillow covers. Cool geometric design but wasn't feeling the red and blues anymore...

 

Here is a shot of the back of the pillow - hopefully you can see the pocket???

 

Here are my new pillow covers. LOVE these calming colors and the design on the fabric.

 

The pocket is much more visible on this photo.

 

Here's the HOW ---

 

measure the pillow - mine was 19 inches - odd I know

for the front of the pillow I cut out a 20 inch square (depending on your seam allowance)

for the back of the pillow I cut out one 11 inch piece (squarish) and one 9 inch piece

these pieces will overlap and create the pocket

on the back pieces I added a small hem to avoid the fraying -

you can see the fold on the left

 

once the hems are done I place the fabric right sides facing and just stitch down

ALL four sides

 

 

 

(pin the pieces just to keep things together while sewing)

 

I used a 1/4 inch seam allowance - because I wanted a tight fit around my pillows.

 

And here are my NEW pillow covers.

These colors are much more pleasing to the eye, don't you agree?

This literally took me about 45 minutes to cut & sew up these awesome covers.

Try it you'll find that once you get the basic idea down - you'll be making covers for all the pillows in your house and its so much cheaper then buying new pillows so often.

 

 

 

I am linking this up to some fun parties - please see my tab up on top to find the links.

 

Happy Sewing

Back to school

I am over joyed  that this Monday my last child will be starting school. Is that bad? My 2 little ones started school August 6th and 20 days little my junior higher is starting. I am looking forward to some hours alone and the quiet. Oh the peace and quiet - is what I am most excited about. Sorry if you don't agree...so in honor of the actual start of MY back to school year - here are some cards I made to wish my kids a fantastic year.

I love that all I used was some scraps of paper and some letter stickers along with some opened SCHOOL chipboard stickers I had left over. NO stamping involved...but cute cards none the less, right?

 

I think this card (above) could work for an older student maybe even in college...ya think?

 

I think this one could work for a middle school aged kid (my girl is starting 8th grade)

 

and well this was made with my 1st & 6th grader in mind. However, it's not really cutesy but gets the message across, right?

 

Well, as you can see I am a little excited. Don't hate me because I am truthful please!

I am linking this up to the following challenges this week:

 

AUD SENTIMENTS- anything but a bday card w/sentiment

CUTE CARD THURSDAY - back to school

DELIGHTFUL CHALLENGE - back to school/primary colors

DL ART THURSDAY CHALLENGE - back to school

PAPER CRAFTING JOURNEY- anything goes

SUGAR BOWL - anything goes

 

Here's wishing you a great weekend of crafting!

 

xox

 

Belated Birthday "Button"

At the beginning of the month (august 2nd to be exact) I celebrated my 43rd birthday. wah wah wah....{loser button noise}I know I'm old....

Turning 30 was HARD 43 not so hard and I had a great day with my family. Anyway, I'm heading way off topic.

I made this fun birthday Rosette...

 

Super cute right? Best part is you truly could make these with a bunch of scraps...

all you need is 2 circles cut from chipboard - scrapbook paper and bits of ribbon and I used a cupcake sticker for the center.

 

 

 

folded ribbon and dangley ribbon make for a super sweet frill.

 

finishing it off is simple - a little bit of felt please :) and you could either add a pin to wear this baby or you can do what I did and add a mini clothespin so that you can add it to a gift bag or even clip it on to your shirt and using the clothespin makes it re-usable and more versatile to place on various items.

 

I'll be posting a tutorial soon for making more of these. Come back soon.

 

I am linking up to the following parties - please see my tab up above for links

 

market yourself Monday

craft-o-maniac

thatswhatchesaid.net

give me the goods Mondays

take a look Tuesdays

show me what you got Tuesdays

the DIY dreamer

made with love Monday

sew cute Tuesday

 

have a crafty Wednesday

xo

tina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feeling Blue

Funny title to my post because in no way do I feel BLUE...I am feeling quite splendid today. My title refers to a make-over I just finished. I found this cool vintage side table (I think that is what it is) its very 50'ish looking, but I wasn't feeling the brown wood look. So began my newest furniture make-over.

Here's the table before I got my hands on it....

 

 

 

Not a bad looking piece right? So I sanded and sanded some more

 

 

had to get the handles off and try and remove the indentions from the handles...wanted a fresh base

 

then I thought I would paint it cream and add some color to it - so I grabbed my handy spray paint and got started

 

worked on the top and then was scheming about what other color or design I would add to the piece to make it look cool and fresh...

 

Don't laugh. I really liked the coral and aqua look and thought I would throw in the gold but shoot if it didn't come out funky...I was bummed so I re-sanded....and then decided to a MOSTLY one color - color scheme.

 

 

Hence the FEELING BLUE - see doesn't this look MAGICAL??? I am so in LOVE.

 

I added gold paint to the handles and the front feet (which you cant see) of the dresser/table and my sweet husband made the vase for me because I needed a prop - again with the gold spray paint.

 

Up close shot of the vase....and in case you are just smitten with the pear - I made it ---it's made of clay. Pretty? I dig it. So here on this blog you'll see the GOOD & the BAD and even the UGLY :)

 

 

I am linking this up to the following parties this week (please see the links in my tab above)

 

 MARKET YOURSELF MONDAY

CRAFT-O-MANIAC

MONDAY FUNDAY

GIVE ME THE GOODS MONDAYS

 

NIFTY THRIFTY SUNDAY

THINK PINK SUNDAYS

 

TAKE A LOOK TUESDAYS

SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT TUESDAYS

 

HAPPY CRAFTING

XO

TINA

 

 

 

 



Back to School

Just as quick as SUMMER arrived swoosh SCHOOL is back in session today. I have a brand new first grader and a 6th grader...both very big steps. One is just starting their elementary education and the other is finishing up & preparing for junior high. SCARY....

My little girl is so young (in her heart and brain) and personally I would like to keep it like that but I know this year she will learn some things - some I don't want her to learn and some things SHE shouldn't learn-just yet.

My little guy, we don't call him TORNADO for nothing. I hope he can stay calm and listen while he learns. He is charming and sweet but boy can he talk. I am anxious to see how his first day goes.

Since yesterday was our LAST official day of summer around here I decided to make some BACK-2-SCHOOL cupcakes...but then I got a little creative and used one frosting to create 3 different 
cupcakes...check it out.

Here are the ingredients...chocolate cupcakes (boxed) white icing, red food coloring, pretzels & some green sour patch kids...

ice your cupcakes with the red icing add the STEM (pretzel) then cut the sour patch kids into leaf shapes (triangle) and add to the side of the stem - then leave it as is or perhaps print out a cute little phrase on  your printer and stick it to a toothpick and insert into the cupcakes...

Cute right? then again if you want your cupcake to appear a bit more "HEALTHY" (isn't that an oxy moron statement) - then why not try adding some fruit and because the icing is red - it just looks good when you use some yummy red fruit like RASPBERRY'S

Or why not try a delicious CHERRY...yummers.

I love playing around with different toppings...the possibilities are endless really. I hope you had a special first day planned for your little ones or are prepping for one --- have a crafty week

I am linking this up to the following parties:

MONDAY FUN DAY LINK UP

MARKET YOURSELF MONDAY

GIVE ME THE GOODS MONDAY

CRAFT O MANIAC

MADE WITH LOVE MONDAY

CRAFTASTIC MONDAY

MAKE IT PRETTY MONDAY 

& the links up in the top of my blog

XO

TINA