Friday, February 25, 2011

hoodie upcycle, part deux: coffee cozy

Hi there, Hoopdeedoodles!  (do I sound a little like Flanders from the Simpsons?)

Thanks for all of your kind comments regarding last week's project, where I cut up my beloved gray hoodie to make a cute makeup bag.  But there's still a lot of hoodie left, and I can't give it to Goodwill now..

So I decided to challenge myself to use up as much of it as possible!

This week, I made a super-cute coffee cozy!




Maybe it will actually protect my hand from those screamin' hot cappuccinos I prefer, unlike the cardboard sleeves.  Oh, and it's good for the environment and all that.

Using pinking shears, I simply cut off the sleeve just above the wrist.
Then I added a flower made of knit scraps - soft and stretchy.





Easy as pie.




and check me out, I was featured over at Humble Homemaking!

{ironic, to brag on myself about being featured as humble, dontcha think?}

Have a wonderful weekend!
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Friday, February 18, 2011

This just in: Boring hoodie transformed into cute makeup bag!


In spite of my compulsive Goodwill donations, I keep a box of old clothes to cut up for projects.  For some things, it's just wonderful to sew with fabric that is already perfectly broken in.  And sometimes an item is stained or un-donatable in some way, but a good source for scraps.

I loved this gray hoodie; I've probably had it for 10 years.  Haven't worn it in a long time, though; it just seems too short now.  (weight gain?  low rise jeans?  who knows.)  It needed a new life.


The beauty of refashioning zippered clothes is not having to sew in a zipper!  Wanna try it?  This is an easy project and won't take you long.


1.  With the zipper closed, cut the front out of the sweatshirt.  I only cut as far as the kangaroo pocket, but that's just me.  You can cut this to whatever size you like, as long as both sides are the same.  Using a pair of very small, sharp scissors, carefully cut between the teeth of the zipper.


2.  Use a safety pin at the bottom of the zipper to guard against accidentally opening it all the way.  You can hot glue the end of the zipper to make a new stop, or sew it shut.  I opted for glue.


3.  Cut two pieces of fusible fleece and two pieces of lining fabric the same size as your outer panels.  Fuse the fleece to the wrong sides of the outer panels.


4.  On your lining panel pieces, fold over the edge you will be attaching to the zipper and press.  I used a 3/8" seam allowance.


5.  Put the zipper foot on your machine.  Making sure your outer panels are out of the way, sew the folded edge of the lining panel to the underside of the zipper tape only.  Do this for both sides.


6.  Open the zipper 3/4 of the way (very important!)  With outer panels right sides together, sew around the edges.  Get as close as you can to the zipper without actually sewing over it.  Do the same with the lining panels, only use a 1/8" greater seam allowance, and leave several inches open on one side for turning. 

7.  Remove the safety pin.  Clip corners 45 degrees and trim seam allowances; turn right side out and press.  Stitch opening closed.


8.  Ta-da!  Your basic zip pouch.  Only...it's kinda boring.

 

9.  Aaahhh, that's better!  I added a fabric flower with button embellishment, and used a piece of the hoodie tie as a zipper pull.

 Now I can enjoy my comfy old hoodie in its new life as a makeup bag!

Materials list:
old zip hoodie
fusible fleece
cotton lining fabric
zipper foot
fabric scraps for flower
button
cording from hoodie tie
thread and stuff

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Join  us Saturdays at tatertotsandjello.com for the weekend wrap 
 up           party!
 
also linked up at: DIY Home Sweet Home Project
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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

ten completely random things about me

{inspired by my new blogger buddy, Skye}

1.  I have discovered that my children are twice as willing to eat anything if I call it "a snack"  or "snacky lunch" instead of a meal. 

2.  Yes, I'm allergic to soy, but I can sometimes eat small amounts of soybean oil in certain foods.  This is because soybean oil, properly processed, does not contain the soy protein, which is what you react to.  This does not mean that my allergy is not real.

3.  Ever had the rotavirus?  That's what happens to me if I eat soy.  Not pretend, people.

4.  I compulsively give to Goodwill.  I love Goodwill.  They teach people who want to work how to work.  They help people who aren't looking for a handout, just a hand up.

5.  Without Jesus Christ, I would be absolutely nothing.  He is my life.  He is my prince charming.  He is my hero.  He is the captain of my soul.

6.  I used to be a professional flutist.  I loved teaching and performing, but I gave them up willingly when I had my kids.  I thought I would miss it more, but I don't.

7.  I am blessed beyond words to be part of my church's worship team.  The greatest feeling in the whole world is to stand in front of thousands of people with a microphone and really loud speakers and monitors in your ears, but hear the congregation rise with a mighty voice above it all, singing praise to God!!  I'll never get over it.  {just got chills}

8.  I miss my dad more than I can even say.

9.  I have had a blast returning to sewing in the last two years!!  Some of my favorite memories as a child were sewing with my mom and my greatma.  I can't wait to teach my own daughters how to sew. 

10.  My husband is a saint.  He actually VALUES my creative messes and my obsessive behavior.  Definitely a keeper!!
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Saturday, February 12, 2011

5 minute gift card holder tutorial. no lie.

ever buy one of those gift cards that doesn't come with a cute envelope?

and it's really a pretty nice gift but you feel kinda lame just sticking it in the card, like you didn't try at all?

and you've only got a few minutes until the mailman swings by and you HAVE to get it out today?

(this is a purely fictional scenario, of course.)

problem solved.  Fire up your iron, thread the machine, and this should only take you 5 minutes.


1.  grab a scrap of cute fabric.  Fold it over; center your gift card as a guide, leaving  1/2" around 3 sides and an inch at the top.  Cut!


2.  Open it up flat.  Turn under and press your top seam; sew with 3/8" seam allowance.


3.  Fold with right sides together; sew  with 3/8" seam allowance along both raw edges.  Clip the corner 45 degrees.


4.  Turn right side out; press.  Slip in the gift card (I left mine peeking out for the picture, but it should fit all the way in the pocket.)  That's it!  Nice and flat and easy to mail. 

Now run for the mailbox!

{please excuse the less than professional pictures.  5 minutes, y'all.}

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Thursday, February 10, 2011

yay, a winner!

Hi everyone!  We have a winner, comment #9:

James-Linda said...

MAYBE A BLANKET, OR LINENS FROM CSN !

THANKS FOR SHARING!

Well, thanks yourself!  Hope this helps you get some of those linens you've been wanting!  Be sure to check your email for your reward code.

Thanks to you all for entering!  I appreciate all of the new readers!  More readers means more giveaways to come in the future...keep your eyes peeled.  It's fun to give stuff away! 

In the meantime, if you are a Facebookie, come over and "like" me on my FB page.  I'm there a lot and  would love to chill with some crafty people!

Oh, and I've got a simple tutorial in the works for this weekend.

For now though, I'm gonna watch a movie with my sweetie, and maybe sneak some of the kids' Valentine's candy.

Don't tell.


{image: random.org}
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Friday, February 4, 2011

time for a giveaway!!

Hooray, it's time from another giveaway from CSN Stores! CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find anything you need, whether it be swingsets, fitness equipment, or even cute cookware! 
Speaking of swingsets, I've been dreaming of spring, looking outside at our awesome playscape, which is currently covered with snow (yes, even in Austin, TX). 


We have the Gorilla Big Skye I.  My kids LOVE it!  My hubby and father-in-law put it together themselves, a big job to be sure, but it turned out great.

All year long, my kids and their friends spend hours here.


It enables me to craft, cook, or talk with my mommy friends in peace.

It has been a pirate ship, rocket ship, secret clubhouse, and who knows what else.

Sigh.  I love it so much.

Anyways, I can't fund your entire backyard remodel, but I'm giving away a $25 gift certificate, redeemable at any CSN site! 

I won't tell your kids if you decide to spend it on yourself. 

There are lots of chances to win!  Here's how:


1.  Leave me a comment!

2.  Follow my blog (Google connect or RSS), Facebook, Twitter, or tell me if you already are.

3.  Take a peek at my etsy shop and tell me something you like or want to see there.

4.  Take a peek at the CSN stores sites and tell me what you would spend your $25 on!

5.  Spread the word about this giveaway, and let me know how.

Remember to leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry - so you get all your chances to win. And be sure to include an email address in your comment or Blogger profile, so I don't have to track you down.





Contest closes Wednesday, Feb. 9, at 11:59pm CST.



P.S.  The snow has already melted, and the kids seem to be melting down as well.  Time to go PLAY OUTSIDE!!


{images copyright hoopdeedoo}



I am not being compensated by CSN for this giveaway.  This is to bless my readers!
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