Camera Strap Revamped

I decided I wanted one of those cute camera straps but didn't want to pay $15-30 for one. So with left over fabric from a previous project (Even originally the fabric was only $1.50) I made my own at no cost!!!

Materials Needed:

Camera strap

Fabric (You'll probably use about a 1/4 yard)

Sewing Machine (Hopefully you already have yours threaded, otherwise you'll need that too)

Pen or sharpie

First lay your camera strap on the fabric to prepare tracing it for cutting. Make sure that your fabric is good sides in, like seen below.

Then trace around your camera strap, I traced directly up to it- knowing I would cut extra for seems.




Here, starting to cut to pattern I just made, I gave myself enough allowance for seems.




I am very lazy when I sew, so I didn't pin anything, I just went for it holding down the seams. Feel free to pin yours if your not comfortable doing this. *Be sure not to sew shut the ends but sew the seams in to have a nice clean edge.




After your finished sewing, turn the cover inside out, I find it easiest to pin a safety pin on the end and feed it through with my finger.



Then put it on your original strap, it will be snug at first and a little difficult getting on- for me I wanted a nice sleek look so I used a stretchy cotton fabric that I just had to push a little harder to get it completely on, but so worth it now that it fits just right! And of course since you traced your original strap you don't have to worry about it being the wrong size like when ordering one.

Rice Heat Therapy Bag

I received one of these last year as a gift and use mine all the time, so I thought I would make some this year as gifts.

From my experience I learned that its best not to use essential oils because over time and after many used it actually starts to stink.

So I just got some fabric, cut them in rectangles and sewed them leaving the either short end open, filling about half full with long grain rice (not instant!) the sewed the top shut.



Then using my cricut I made cute little tags for each one.
Reading:
Heat Therapy Bag
Microwave flat 2-3 minutes
Apply to Aches and Pains
To avoid drying place a small bowl of water in microwave during heating every other use
Store in a dry place.





Original inspiration from:
http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=280

Window Treatments I can't wait to try out!

From my one of my favorite blogs, Frugal Home Ideas :For the instructions and tutorials see the blog @ http://frugalhomeideas.blogspot.com/

Spray Painting Blinds, who woulda thunk!

No Sew Roman Shades, easy as pie!

No Sew Curtains! Don't they look lovely! I love the look of designer curtains just not the pricetag.

Three great ideas at amazing pricetags, just a little bit of labor love and whalah! I can't wait to make my kitchen blinds into roman shades and then add some designer curtains to dress them up. Not sure where or if I will spraypaint any of my blinds but love the idea.

*Disclaimer, these are not my ideas nor do I take credit for them, just had to share Frugal Home Ideas great projects! Check out the blog you'll love it as much as I do!

Freezer Paper Stencils with Cricut

The first one I tried is just an initial for a personalized tote which I previously dyed brown and sewed on the beaded trim.

Supplies you'll need:

Reynold's Freezer Paper (or any other brand you can find)

Cricut machine with Cartridge of your choice for stencil

Acrylic Paint-color of your choice

Iron

Maybe Patience :D

1st I cut out an initial with the Cricut with Medium Speed, depth, and pressure. Cut with the waxy side up and also use the flip feature.

Iron on the freezer paper in place. Be sure to get the edges really secure.

Then I painted the K bright pink with acrilic paint.

Wait to remove freezer paper until the paint is fully dry, approx. 1 hr. You could use a blow dryer to speed up the process. Allow 20-30 minutes in between coats if you need multiple coats.

Finally run iron over entire painted surface on High for about 20-30 seconds to seal.

Next I made a shirt for my neice who is a dancer.

I used the same settings Medium for speed, depth and pressure. With 3'' letters Plantain schoolbook. With this one I had to save the inside of the letters to make sure they looked right. Follow all the same steps as above.

Here is a close up of the letters, as my second coat I used some glitter.

Here they are both together! I am pretty impressed with how they turned out for being my first try!

Check back later for more freezer paper crafts! They make great personalized gifts, or if you want to just spruce up your clothes.

Free Earrings!!!!!

Urban Original and Seventeen Magazine are giving away earrings to females ages 13-29 starting at 12:01 EST on Tuesday, November 24. Fill out this form from here (http://www.urbanog.com/seventeen/ ) and use the promotional code earrings to claim your free pair. While supplies last and they don’t indicate how many pairs they are giving away.

Often the websites for these types of promos load REALLY slowly at the start of their giveaway, so be prepared for that. I had to share this great deal!!! It also doesn't even ask for your age (if your out of the age range).

Your turn: Did you get a free pair?

Creative Gift for Coffee Lovers:Part I

I found these great recipes to give to co-workers for christmas gifts.

Instant coffee recipes with the easy just add water instruction. Add to pretty bag plus ribbon and nifty tag equals super cute affordable gift. I plan on them looking something like below. I want to make them more christmas themed and nice tags or stickers for the instructions.

I will give you some recipes for now and check back later for the pictures (making them tomorrow!)

[To prepare the following recipes: mix in food processor or blender until you have a fine powder.

For all recipes use 1 to 2 spoonfuls to one mug of hot water. ]

Bavarian Mint

2/3 Cup instant coffee

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. dried mint leaves, finely crushed

2/3 Cup nondairy creamer

Cafe' L'Orange

2/3 cup instand coffee

1 Cup sugar

1 tsp. dried crushed orange peel

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Cafe' Mocha

2/3 cup instant coffee

3 TBS unsweetened cocoa

1 1/3 Cups sugar

1 Cup nondairy creamer

1/4 cup nonfat dry milk

Toffee Coffee

1 cup instant coffee

1 cup nondairy creamer

1 cup brown sugar

Cafe' Vienna

1 cup instant coffee

1 1/3 cups nonfat dry milk

1 tsp. cinnamon

Swiss Mocha

1 cup instant coffee

1 cup sugar

2 cups nonfat dry milk

4 tsp. cocoa powder

Cafe' Orange Cappuccino

1 cup instant coffee

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 cups nonfat dry milk

1 tsp. dry orange peel

Don't forget to check back to see the finished product!

Pretty Staircase

From PrettyOrganizedPalace the idea of painting stairs! Brilliant, currently we have 1970's blue carpet on our stairs, we planned on replacing the carpet, but now.... I may end up painting them!

Look at these inspirational pictures: (The first & second ones are my favs and inspiration)

Sunday Thrift Store goodies

My thrift store finds of the day; a metal wall art $4.99 (still had the price tag from homegoods of $19.99)



Now after a little bronze spray paint:

and a plain white lamp, $2.99


Getting ready to paint, I wanted the hardware to remain white.



Also after a little bronze spray paint, and a lamp shade ($13.97 from wal-mart)



Here is without the light on, no glare.

Now all together:


Pretty happy with my sunday thrift store finds. A nice way to help vamp up the Living room for less than $20. Later this week I will show you a nice before and after.

Another ABC frame

After making the first one, I had a request to make another for a friend. I love the way it turned out and after using Michael's coupons the total cost was $5.22 (minus the spray paint- I had it from a previous project) Not bad for a custom coordinating frame. I am super excited to give this to her.

And here is a close up.

What do you think?!

ABC Nursery Decor

Thought this was the cutest idea for any nursery, just tweaking the colors for gender or nursery decor variance.

I started out with a blank frame from Michael's for $3.99 (I believe), some spray paint from a previous project and some Alphabet letters also from Michael's $2.99. Shown below

After a little textured ivory spray paint...

Then I just placed the Alphabet stickers on the painted frame as shown below...

I then thought it would be more fun the adjust the letters around as shown...

I plan on making different ones with different color schemes for some friends.

Decorative Hemp Balls

I love the look of the decorative balls in either a bowl or basket as a focal point, just not willing to pay $14.99 for 3 at Target or as high as $9.99 a piece at Pier One. So why not make my own!?

The look:

So I started with a roll of twine/hemp from the dollar store, and then bought some styrofoam balls at Michaels for $3.99 for 6 balls.

Then I just started wrapping the Twine around each styrofoam ball, Try to wrap randomly to avoid criss-cross patterns

And tied the ends together and I now have my own decorative hemp balls for a fraction of the price. I did buy 2 different colors for variation. Now I have to find a bowl or decorative piece to put them in.

Next up will be different types of decorative balls. We'll see what I come up with.