Category Archives: Crafts

Tutorial: No-Knit Cable Bangle

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Is it just me, or have you seen a lot of knitted bangles around blog-land? Even cJane has a lovely collection, and who doesn’t love cJane’s fashion sense? But what if you don’t knit? Well, if you have an old sweater, this tutorial is your answer.

Supplies: 1 old sweater (preferrably with a cable pattern) * scissors * sewing machine *fabric glue (optional)

1. Measure your wrist. Decide how wide you want your bangle and how loose you want it to hang (keep in mind that knit yarn stretches. Cut fabric based on these measurements. I cut mine 8″ x 4″.

2. Fold length-wise with right sides together. Sew along long edge. Turn right-side-out. You will end up with a tubular piece that looks like this:

3. Fold one end in on itself about 1/2″ to 1″. Insert other end into folded end. Should look like this:

4. Sew (or glue) shut.

5. Voila!

(Please forgive the changing pink color in each picture. I was quickly losing daylight. And uh … pay no mind to my alien arm in that last picture. Taking a self portrait of  your wrist is harder than it seems.)

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Tutorial: Beaded Bow-tie Bracelet

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I LOVE this bracelet! I love the feminity of the bow-tie closure and the contrast of the silver spacer against the black fabric. And the beads! Well. I love ‘em. You could easily turn this into a necklace or make multiples in different colors and tie them all together for a chunkier, funkier look. Have fun! And let me know how yours turns out.

Supplies: wooden craft beads * spacer beads * ribbon * fabric (needs to be a thin, lightweight fabric) * measuring tape * scissors * needle and thread

1. Measure your wrist.

2. Measure the circumference of your bead.

3. Cut fabric 2″ longer than your wrist length and 1″ wider than the bead’s circumeference.

4. Fold fabric in half lengthwise and sew a 1/4″ seam along the long edge.

5. Turn right-side-out. Then turn raw edge of one end inside. Cut 2 10″ pieces of ribbon and insert one about a 1/2″ into the turned in edge. Using needle and thread, stitch closed using a running stich, synching as you sew. Be sure to catch the ribbon in your stiches.

6. Insert bead through open end. Next, slide spacer over fabric.

7. Follow this bead/spacer pattern until you reach the end of the tube and have about 1/2″ of fabric left (you should end with a bead).

8. Turn the fabric in, insert the end of the other ribbon (1/2″) and sew closed in the same manner as the other end.

9. And then … you’re done!

Tips and Variations:

  • Make sure that you measure your beads properly and don’t over-sew the seam. I made that mistake the first time and my wooden beads wouldn’t fit inside. Luckily the marbles from the toy bin did. :)
  • Instead of using spacers like the ones I did, you could also use jump rings, embroidery floss or even lace or ribbon (if using floss or lace, you’d just tie a knot in between each bead).
  • Use a solid fabric, but cover/double up with lace for an extra romantic and vintage feel.

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If I Had a Love [Part 2]: A Collection of Valentine’s Day Ideas

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[Part 1]: Garlands

[Part 3]: Dressing the Table

[Part 4]: Music

If I had a love, I’d make a bloomin’ tree for the dinner table.

Here’s how you can too …

Supplies:

White spray paint * Glitter * A ribbon * Tissue Paper * 1 12×12 piece of decorative paper * Tall cylindrical glass vase * Tall branches * miniature birds from craft store * hot glue gun * scissors

1. Spray paint your branches white

2. And then sprinkle with glitter while paint is still wet. I used a turquoise blue glitter.

3. While your branches are drying, cut squares from tissue paper. I cut 8 4×4″ squares and 8 2×2″ squares out of 2 different colors (yield 36).

4. Take one square and squeeze the center, so the corners are all pointing the same direction. Then twist so the finished product looks like a flower bud.

5. Place decorative paper inside vase and cut to vase’s height.

6. Add a ribbon.

7. Place branches in the vase.

8. Plug in your hot glue gun and gather your “buds.” I made white and pink flowers so I can reuse this centerpiece come Easter, but you could really do any color to match your scheme.

9. Glue buds to branches.

10. Ta-da!

11. And finally, don’t forget to add your love birds.

Aren’t they so sweet?

Tips:

a) I taped the scrapbook paper in place inside the vase so it wouldn’t move or slide.

b) I also poured sand into the vase after I had the branches where I wanted them so that they would stay put. The sand also makes the whole arrangement more sturdy.

c) Check out your local thrift store for many of the needed supplies. I picked up my vase ($1) and ribbon ($0.50) while thrifting.

d) Use what you have on hand. I cut the branches from a bush in my backyard, glitter from my craft box, old tissue paper from our used wrapping paper bin, and if I hadn’t wanted to use spray paint, I could’ve easily used the white acrylic craft paint I have in my paint drawer. In total, I bet this centerpiece cost me no more than $10.

Up Next: Dressing the Table

If I Had a Love [Part 1]: A Collection of Valentine’s Day Ideas

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[Part 2]: Table Centerpiece

[Part 3]: Dressing the Table

[Part 4]: Music

If I had a love, I would make garlands by the mile and string them from every corner of my ceiling.

(inspired by)

*To make the heart garland, just follow the tutorial I posted for the felt garlands last month. But use paper instead of felt. Go here for a tutorial on the pom-pom garland, and here for the lollie garland. Have fun!

Up next: The Table Centerpiece