DCC Blog Hop - Handmade Flowers!

April's theme is

~ Handmade Flowers ~

and as an additional challenge,

handmade flowers using items found

in or around the house.

 

Four growing children means I have

a plethora of outgrown clothing

at any given time.  I thought this challenge

would be the perfect time to use

that pair of old jeans I'd set aside!

 Supplies Needed:

old jeans ~ scissors ~ needle and thread

paintbrush ~ permanent marker ~

~ assorted buttons ~

~ green tulle ~ flower stencil or cookie cutter ~

~ DecoArt SoSoft Fabric Paint ~

~ DecoArt Glamour Dust

Ultra Fine Glitter Paint in Ice Crystal ~

~ Swarovski Crystals ~ E6000 ~

 First, cut along the seams on one leg

of the jeans.

 Use a flower stencil or cookie cutter to

outline flower shapes onto

your piece of denim fabric.

Cut out the flower shapes.

Choose several colors of

DecoArt SoSoft fabric paint.

Apply two coats of fabric paint

to each flower cut out.

 Apply glitter topcoat and

allow pieces to dry thoroughly.

Next, gather the fabric in the center

of the flower cut out

and stitch a button on to secure the fold.

Attach three buttons to the center

of each flower cut out.

~ Repeat for other cut outs! ~

Attach flowers to jacket or vest

for a little added pizazz! 

Hide your stitches behind the buttons.

Cut a length of tulle into a square.

Fold in half diagonally into a triangle,

then continue to fold and gather into a leaf shape.

Tuck tulle "leaves" behind the flowers

and secure with needle and thread.

Additionally, I used a single stitch

here and there to tack down

the flowers so they wouldn't curl.

 Attach Swarovski crystals to the

center threads of each button

with E6000 adhesive.

I added Swarovski crystals to the

center of each of the metal buttons

on the denim vest, just

for kicks.  And because the game was on

and I needed some busy work to do.

I enjoyed this challenge ~

I love that I was able to create something

fun and simple with items

I already had around the house!

Cost?  Zero!! :)

~ Peace and Happy "Recycling" ~

Sofa Pillow Make-Over

I bought these throw pillows when we moved into

this house four years ago.

They've come unstitched, and I've mended them.

Repeatedly.

They were looking p r e t t y sad when I

decided to make them over.

My pillows are constantly being folded, fluffed, tossed,

stuffed, and wadded up by at least six

(and sometimes more) people every day.

They prop feet, they prop elbows, they prop shoulders,

they're used as weapons, they're squished under tushies,

they're carried from room to room.

I wanted new covers that would

be rugged.  I wanted them to hold up to the beatings

and not burst at the seams with the slightest pressure.

I decided to use a canvas dropcloth.

After all, these drop cloths are used for years and years,

they're painted on, stepped on, dragged around,

folded up, shuffled around ... they must be tough.

Right??

Materials List:
Canvas Drop Cloth
Scissors
Sewing Machine
or Needle and Thread
Marker
Fabric Paint
Masking Tape
Paint Roller or Brush

So I washed and dried the dropcloth

with my favorite laundry soap and softener.

So they'd start out nice and fresh.

Then I measured my old pillows and cut

squares about 2" wider and longer than the pillows.

I ripped the seam running down the center
of the drop cloth so I'd have smooth fabric.

(I could have purchased a smaller drop cloth,

and maybe there wouldn't have been a seam,

but I purchased this nice big one instead).

I used a permanent marker to outline a square onto

each fabric piece, so I could sew nice straight seams.

I may not have cut perfectly straight edges, is what I'm saying.

I wanted to paint a quick and easy design on

the fabric.  I thought stripes would be fun.  

I used fabric paint and

masking tape with two different widths.

I taped off a striped design down the center of each

fabric square, and used a roller to apply paint.

I couldn't decide if I wanted a monogram on the

pillows, or another design element,

or just the stripes.  I decided to stencil a flourish

onto two of the pillow fronts.

Eh.  This didn't excite me.

But I forged on ... I can always make new ones.

With the right sides together, I pinned a painted

fabric square to an unpainted fabric square.

I sewed a straight stitch around the edges

of the fabric, leaving the center of one side

open for stuffing.

You know that saying, measure twice, cut once?

I probably didn't follow that ...

... which is why I outlined the square with

a permanent marker.  Then I just followed along

the black lines with my sewing machine.

I'm a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants

kind of girl.  Especially when it comes to sewing.

I sort of have a brand new experience

every time I drag out my sewing machine.

I have to re-learn how to use it.

It's that short term memory thing I've got.

That's my story, anyway.

Hey!  It worked!  I probably had to rip out a 

few seams and restitch them.  I'm not admitting anything.

I turned the pillow cover inside out.

I'm sure there were several ways I could have

gone about stuffing my new pillows.

Here's what I did: I folded each pillow into

thirds and crammed it into my pillow cover.

then I stuck my whole arm inside to make sure

that the pillows went all the way down in the corners.

Then I folded the open seam inward,

pinned it, and sewed it closed.

 Badda. Bing.

I may have had to rip the seams out

and restitch them a couple of times.  I'm sure that

wouldn't have happened if I'd just used a 

needle and thread to close the seams.

But stitching, ripping, and re-stitching seemed

faster, somehow.  Heh heh.

There!

Times four.

My eight-year-old said I should make new pillow

covers and use really soft, fuzzy fabric.

Ha!  Like soft, fuzzy fabric will hold up to what

they put these pillows through!

Not happenin.

I told him he can use these pillows when he's

on the sofa, and he can use his soft, comfy pillow

when he's in his bed.

Here's the BEFORE pic again,

so you don't have to scroll to the top to see

how much better they look now.

BEFORE

AFTER

* Peace and Pillow Fights *

Painted Denim

My daughter wanted a denim jacket.

When I saw one on sale, I bought it.

And then I wanted to paint it.

 Sometimes that happens.

First, I washed and dried the jacket.

I wanted to give the buttons

a little bling:

 

 I used E6000 to attach

my stones to the center of each button.

Then I made a sketch of my idea.

Then I made a second sketch.

And a third.

 My daughter loves hearts,

but really dislikes peace symbols,

so I knew I wanted a heart.

Then I wanted some swirls ...

 

but I wasn't crazy about any

of my sketches.

I decided I would just paint without

using an actual pattern.

Sometimes that happens.

Not often.

Just sometimes.

 

My canvas.

 

I mixed my base color with

DecoArt Fabric Painting Medium.

 

I started with my favorite brush,

and right in the center of the back shoulder

panel, I started my heart.

I painted over and over the heart

until it was the size I wanted

and I had good opaque coverage.

Then I used a paper towel to blot

the excess paint and give the heart some

texture.  This also made the paint

dry a little faster.

I mixed Shimmery Silver paint

with the fabric painting medium, and

used a liner brush to add my swirls.

I mixed some Starlite glitter

with the fabric painting medium, and

went over the largest parts of

the heart to give it some shimmer.

Then I went over the design with my

permanent black marking pen.

And added some more bling:

The most important thing is,

she LOVES it!!! 

Peace and Painted Denim