Birthing Me: November 2012

Hey folks! I'm blogging over at Sugar Bee Crafts today at 3 p.m. so be sure to check out my recipe for mouth-watering Butternut Squash Pot Pie. Thanks to my friend Katie at Off The Hook Crochet for her help with the photos for that post.

Now, as promised here's my headband holder tutorial.

I love crafts of the trash-to-treasure variety. It feels good to make something purdy from something otherwise destined for the recycling bin. This is one of my favorite projects so far and it's the perfect time of year to make it. This requires a HUGE oatmeal container.

See that? 42 oz of Oatmeal! That could take a long time to go through, but a few batches of yummy oatmeal cookies this holiday season and you'll finish it in no time.

Peel the label off so it won't show through your fabric.

I chose to cover mine in burlap, but you could use almost any fabric, paper, or wallpaper. If you use burlap find the somewhat finished end. That will be the top of your container. I trimmed the burlap so it was easier to work with.

Once your glue gun is hot put a bead along the top of the container just under the lip where the lid goes.

Work your way around the container until all the fabric is attached along the top.

I decided to use spray adhesive to attach the rest of the of the fabric so I moved the project outside. Working in small segments spray the adhesive and smooth the burlap as you go.

Trim the excess off the bottom and using spray adhesive tuck the ends.

Am I the only one who can't use spray adhesive without being covered in the stuff by the time I finish?

I decided to finish the bottom by adding a circle of paper using regular glue. This step is totally optional as you'll never actually see it.

Put the lid back on and glue a fabric flower, crocheted flower or other topper. Put your headbands on. There you have it!

You can store hair bows, hair ties or other accessories inside the container. Who doesn't love hidden storage? If you make this let me know. I'd love to see pictures! What are you upcycling these days?

I'm linking to: Frugalicious Friday, Romantic Home, Fabulous Friday, Flaunt it Friday, The Shabby Nest, Shabby Art Boutique, The Humble Brag

When I saw a tutorial for a rainbow travel pillow over on Prudent Baby I knew it would make a perfect hair bow holder. Last week I finally got around to making it for my sweet girl for Christmas. To make this bow holder you'll need:

Ribbon in the colors of the rainbow. 2 in each color - 1 at 5/8" and one smaller
3/8 yd White fabric. I used a plush, cuddly fabric that reminded me of clouds, but you could use almost anything. You'll have lots left over. Probably enough to make 2 more clouds.
Buttons in the colors of the rainbow (I chose a sweet flower shape, but any reasonably sized shape will work.
Beads in the colors of the rainbow
Stuffing
Cloud pattern or draw your own

Measure (or add) the width of your ribbons to be sure they'll fit on your cloud.

Cut your ribbon to the desired length. I started with about 17 inches so that I had plenty of room to trim them evenly at the end. Place the thin ribbon on top of the wider one and center. Also cut a piece of yellow ribbon for your handle to your desired length.

For each color, glue the thinner ribbon to the wider one on only one end with just a small dab of fabric glue.

Prudent Baby has another step which uses heat n bond to keep the ribbons in place while sewing and I think it's a great idea. I wish I had reread her tutorial prior to making this.

Download my cloud pattern here or make your own . If you download my pattern you'll find the shape differs slightly from the one I made because I decided the bottom should be a bit more straight and the top should be slightly less curved since the ribbon handle pulls upward just a little while hanging. You could also use the one from Prudent Baby, which is super cute, and just shrink it a bit.

Trace it onto your white fabric using a vanishing fabric marker making sure your fabric is doubled so you'll end up with two pieces and cut.

If you squint you just might be able to see the cloud outline.

Place one cloud piece right side up on the table. Then arrange the ribbons how you like on top of the cloud piece but backwards so that the ends that will hang down point towards the inside of the cloud. If this is confusing you can again refer to the Prudent Baby tutorial (she's a pro and her tutorials are so easy to follow - I'm still learning). Lay the handle in place on top of the cloud piece with the ends touching the edge of the cloud fabric and the handle portion facing the middle of the cloud (it should look like a u). Lay the other cloud piece on top with the right side down.

Here you see the ribbons pinned inside the cloud pieces.

Sew using a 1/2" seam allowance making sure to leave a few inches open on one side to turn it right-side out. I stuffed it enough to hold it's shape, but not so full that it is puffy, which might make it lay funny against the wall. Then sew the hole closed. Close the turn hole with a hidden stitch for a seamless looks. Check out this tutorial here if you need help with this step. I trimmed the ribbons so they were even and touched them with fray check. You could also use a lighter (briefly and carefully) or pinking shears to prevent the ribbon from fraying. Choose where you want your buttons. You could line them up straight across the ribbons in neat rows or stagger them like I did. Sew the buttons on to the top of the smaller ribbon so that you're sewing the two layers of ribbon together. I then strung a few beads in coordinating colors and sewed them through the bottom of the ribbons.

Hang your bow holder, clip your bows to the skinnier ribbon and you're done! I absolutely love it. And I think it looks great in her room. If you know my little girl, you know she's a bit lacking in the hair department so this bow holder may be wishful thinking for now, but when her hair does come in I'll be ready!

Remember, I am new to this tutorial thing and only an average sewer. If you find an error, an overlooked step, or an easier way to do something please let me know. Part of the reason I am blogging is to learn and grow. Now go make a Rain-Bow Holder for the special girl in your life and stay tuned for a simple headband holder tutorial coming up after Thanksgiving.

Tell me, how do you keep all your little girl's accessories in order?