Refashion tutorial - top to dress

ha ha! kind of love the name (*snicker*)

Excited to share another refashion tutorial today! I took this boho style top and turned it into a casual dress! 

Check out the before and after....

Here's what you need!

Supplies:

Baggy top (I think the trick to make this work was the waistband on the bottom of the top)

Knit material for skirt

Scissors

straight pins

sewing machine

pencil skirt

Step 1: Lay your top flat and cut off the sleeves. (I knew I was creating a more draped "tank" styled top and would need to layer something under it but I liked getting rid of the large sleeves).

Step 2: Fold your knit piece in half and lay flat. Using a pencil skirt or similar as a guide. Cut around the shape for your skirt.

Step 3: Turn the knit pieces over so they are right sides together. Pin and sew down the side seams.

Step 4: Turn your top inside out and place the top of the skirt (still inside out) around the bottom hem. Pin it around the entire bottom and sew it to attach the skirt to the top to make it a dress.

(after I finished it and tried it on I realized my top needed tapered in more. So be sure to cut and tailor to your liking)

This is a fun comfy, casual dress that can be worn all year!

 I will be linking up and sharing my tutorial at these linky parties!

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St. Patricks day decor - love style!

Feeling lucky? St. Patrick's day is another excuse to create something new, change up our decor and have a little fun! I don't do much with some of the Holidays - St. Patrick's day being one of them (wink) - BUT I did have a little fun with these pillows. 

So rather than splash a lot of shamrocks around....I saved it for the bedroom (snicker). You can have some fun too and put your spin on these pillows by following my tutorial here! 

enjoy! (and always - if you try my tutorial I'd love to see your results! Send me a link, post a pic on my FB wall etc!)

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Pleated Cuffs from Every Creative Endeavor

Hi! My name is Amanda and I am the creative mind behind Every Creative Endeavor. I am a stay at home mom who loves to create awesome DIY projects for my home and my kids. I love a fun can of spray paint, a beautiful piece of fabric, an awesome power tool or a yummy recipe! I am so excited to be here today sharing my “BLING” tutorial with all of you! I just love Megan and her awesome blog! Today we are going to talk about Pleats!!

I love pleats and cuffs so why not combine them together and make a pleated cuff??!!

First, lets grab some fabric and tear off a piece – mine are two inches wide. I tore each side so they would be frayed on both sides. I wanted them to look a little bit rougher.

Then I got to work folding down my fabric and making the pleats. Since I wanted mine a bit rougher I didn’t measure and just {eyed} it but if you want yours exact, just lay a ruler down next to your fabric to help you – then I sewed a straight line down each side – I backward stitched on each end on both sides.

Using my Snap tool that I bought at hobby lobby – I attached snaps to the ends. Make sure you measure first and fold your fabric over to the size that you need to fit around your wrist. If you need a tutorial to attach snaps – check it out here!

After you have your snaps in place you are finished with the cuff! But I thought that mine solid colors were pretty plain and wanted something to {pretty} them up a bit –

- so I headed to my scrapbooking supplies and found some really cute fabric flowers and used those. They are sticky on the backside so they stuck right to my fabric – but I added a little bit of fabric tac to make sure they stay -

I la la la love the fun little fabric flowers and the “umph” they add to the cuffs. I really love the orange, brown, green, yellow and blue one I added to the yellow – it is just so fun, happy and bright! But the green one is darling too – ohhh – it is so hard to decide!!

So run to your fabric stash and find the most fun fabric you have and whip up a bunch of these – you will love them!!

And – I made a few more but instead of using snaps – I used velcro and stitched the velcro onto each side and they work just as well so if you don’t have the snap tool or snaps – don’t be discouraged, just use velcro! I also think it would be cute to do a fun fabric and then add a darling button! There are so many cute possibilities!!

Have fun with your creative endeavors and I would love if you would stop by and visit me and see all the fun we are having over at my {blog!} I also have a really fun contest called Creative Bloggers Got Talent and I would love for you to join up – or come and vote for your favorite projects!

Thanks again for having me today and I hope you have a wonderful week!!

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Looking back...TOP 10 projects from 2011

Well this is sort of funny....Most of the top projects that had the most views according to google analytics from 2011 weren't even from THAT year! LOL....I have a sneaky suspicion that has something to do with Pinterest.

SO - my I searched through the list and found projects from the year that had the most views. Here's the most popular - do you agree or disagree...??

Sweater Pillows

Rolled book pages Wreath

Holiday Neighbor Gifts 

Boys Applique Tie

DIY Maxi Skirt

Chevron Swing Top

Craf-TEE Tote

Burlap Rosette Bracelet

Angry Birds

Stenciled Pencil Skirt

2011 was a fun year of creativity! Looking forward to another great year to come!

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I'll be linking up here!

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Snuggley Christmas Characters - tutorial

This is a fun Holiday gift for friends (of all ages) and family too! Give the gift of warmth with the smile of a fun character on it's face. Pop these little characters into the microwave to heat them up and you can't help but snuggle them tight to warm up on a cold day (just another fun twist on this tutorial here).

Supplies: 

fabric (at least a fat quarter)

red, black, white and flesh colored felt (for santa)

green, white, black and flesh colored felt (elf)

print out the pattern pieces

scissors

sewing machine

regular rice or wheat ( 3 1/2 - 4 cups)

sewing machine

straight pins

sharpie marker (optional)

small black beads or buttons (optional) + needle and thread

Step 1: Cut out 2 pieces for the body from your fabric and the necessary pieces from felt for the Santa or the Elf as directed on the pattern sheets. 

Step 2: Lay out 1 of the fabric pieces right side up and begin to layer the pieces for the face.

A)Place the face piece 1 1/4" down from the top edge.

B) Overlap the hat brim 1/4" onto the face. 

C) Santa- place the beard onto the face tucking it just slightly under the hat brim.

D) Santa - Tuck the belt just under his beard and place the buckle in the middle. 

Elf - Place the belt with the buckle in the middle just under his chin. 

Pin these pieces into place and sew. 

Step 3: Adding the face. Santa - Place the red nose about halfway over the beard and the face. Sew into place. Eyes - place 2 seed beads or small buttons and hand sew on or simply use a black sharpie marker to dot some eyes on.

Elf - place the nose in the middle of the face. Sew into place. Eyes - place 2 seed beads or small buttons and hand sew on or simply use a black sharpie marker to dot some eyes on. Mouth - Stitch a smile or use your sharpie. 

Step 4: Arms - Take 2 arm piece and place them on top of each other. Slip 1 hand piece in between the 2 layers at one of the ends. Sew the 2 layers together catching and securing the hand piece in the process. Repeat with the other arm and hand pieces. 

Step 5: Hat - Take the 2 hat pieces and place them on top of each other. Slip the ball in between the 2 layers on the end of the hat and sew the 2 layers together securing the ball in place in the process. 

Step 6: Assembly - Santa - Place the arms across santas belly and then place the 2 piece of fabric on top of right side down. Pin and sew the sides together leaving the top open.

Elf - Place the arms across the belly. Place the ears on backwards at the edges of the face. Then place the 2 piece of fabric on top of right side down. Pin and sew the sides together leaving the top open.

Step 7: Turn it right side out. Fill the sack with 3 1/2 - 4 cups of rice. 

Step 8: Fold down the top edge about 1/4". Slip the hat in between the layers and pin. Then sew the top closed. 

These are great for car travel, keeping your toes warm at night, aches and pains and more!

I will be linking up here

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Snowman T-shirt tutorial

Tis the Season! Here's a fun way to spice up a plain white tee for the winter season!

I made these snowman tee's for my kids years ago. They are quick, simple and adorable!

Supplies: 

White t-shirt

scrap of orange fabric (for carrot nose)

Fabric Adhesive

Scissors

8 black buttons (mine were mismatched)

thread and hand sewing needle

Step 1: Cut out a carrot pattern to trace. (A carrot is really just a tall, skinny triangle with a rounded bottom).

Step 2: Place your orange fabric right side down and apply the fabric adhesive per the package instructions. Trace your carrot pattern and then cut out.

Step 3: Place the carrot on the tshirt and arrange the buttons for the eyes and mouth. Remove the backing on the carrot and iron into place. 

Step 4: Sew the carrot securely into place with a zig zag, statin or straight stitch. Then using your hand needle sew on the buttons for the eyes and mouth and you are done!

These can easily be made into a girl snowman by adding a hair bow or even eyelashes.

If you try them out - let me know!
I will be linking up here all week! 

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