DIY :: Vintage Sheet Sketch Journal

I wanted to throw together a super quick journal with blank pages (much like this journal, but with blank pages) that could be used for throwing in a purse, taking along, and using for sketches. I decided to use a vintage sheet (and a vintage button), lined with white fabric for a cover, a button and tie closure, and blank recycled paper pages. This seriously took me about a half hour start to finish (including cutting and pressing the fabric). So it's super quick (read: done during naptime :)). *I am having some camera lens issues right now, some of the images are not the best - my apologies ;)

 Supplies:
+ 9"x12" piece of vintage sheet fabric (or any fabric)
+ 9"x12" piece of white fabric
+ large button
+ 7" piece of decorative ribbon
+ 10 sheets blank recycled computer paper
+ needle and thread
+ sewing machine, scissors (for trimming)
+ butterfly document clips (to hold pages in place while sewing, not pictured)

Begin by sewing the button to the vintage sheet. This way the thread won't show through on the inside cover. Next, pin the sheet to the white fabric, and pin the piece of decorative ribbon opposite and lined up with the button (see picture).

I simply sewed the two pieces together with about a 1/2" seam allowance. I started where the ribbon was pinned to reinforce it.

Sew all around the perimeter and then you have a nice looking little journal shell.

Using the document clips, clip the paper in place, centered on all sides of the fabric shell (sorry for the weird blurry picture!)

I measured in 5.5" and made a couple marks so I would know where to sew down the middle.

Sew down the middle and backstitch on both ends. Trim the extra threads off.

Voila! A quick and easy vintage sheet sketch journal :)

DIY :: Easter Egg Decorating Roundup

Excited for Easter this weekend and what it means to me as a Christ-follower! We are excited to celebrate the meaning of Easter and also excited to do some fun activities like dyeing eggs, having an Easter egg hunt, getting together with some of our church family as well as some of my hubby's family :) 

Dyeing or decorating Easter eggs this weekend? Here is a fun round-up of a bunch of different techniques for decorating real or fake eggs. Enjoy! :)

1. Origami Flower Easter Eggs by Better Homes and Gardens
2. Glitter Easter Eggs by Sew and the City
3. Paper Napkin Decoupage Eggs by Martha Stewart
4. Natural Dyes for Easter Eggs via Apartment Therapy
5. Washi Tape Eggs by Better Homes and Gardens
6. Rubber Band Easter Eggs by Chocolate Shavings
7. Decoupage Eggs by ByWilma
8. Decorated Eggs by A Daily Something

DIY :: Paper Flower Wheels

Several weeks ago, a few pictures from a baby shower popped up in my newsfeed on facebook. I noticed these paper flower wheel (paper fans? paper wheels? paper pinwheels? paper flowers?) things the host used as decorations - SO cute (I've also seen them in super tiny format as a scrapbook embellishment).

I decided to try making a few and, after failing miserably the first couple tries, I got it ;) These cuties are so fun and you can use them as decorations for a party, or maybe hang a couple from the ceiling to create a gorgeous (and ever-changing!) collage.

Supplies: 

+ paper (at least 8.5"x11" - I also used 12"x12")

+ scoring tool (or dull side of a table knife) and metal ruler

+ rolling adhesive

+ glue dots

+ buttons (I always thread my buttons to make them look sewn on, much more of a finished look)

To start, I cut 2 strips from an 8.5"x11" sheet of vintage graph paper. The strips were 3"x11". I then scored both of them (with my handy-dandy ladybug score thing-a-ma-jig and metal ruler) every half inch. If you don't have a scoring blade, you could use the dull side of a table knife. 

I folded up the strips accordion style. I then adhered the two strips by overlapping the two short ends half an inch (1/2") and using rolling adhesive. So I had one long 21.5" strip (two 11" strips, overlapped 1/2" to attach together).

Next, I adhered together the other two short ends 1/2" (same method as the other side), to make a circle.

This next part was (very) tricky for me. I had to gently work the edges of one side together (like trying to make it into a cone), while the other side of edges stays put and becomes the outer edges of the wheel. This part takes a minute to do (at least it did for me ;)). The picture below makes it look a lot easier than it was ;)

Next, I stuck a glue dot down in the middle - this held all of the edges together and helped keep them from coming out of the wheel shape. I attached another glue dot to the top and then placed a (already sewn) button on top. This gives it a finished look (and covers up the middle).

Voila! A super cute, super fun decoration that you can make from found papers, scrapbooking papers or vintage papers. And they don't take long to make :)

Spring and Easter DIY Roundup

I love Spring. I love all of the beautiful freshness. The beautiful colors. New life. I love celebrating Easter - and what it means to me as a follower of Jesus Christ :) I love simple and cute spring DIY projects. So for today, a roundup of some fun little DIY projects to celebrate this beautiful season- these are sure to make you smile :) Enjoy :)

1. Easter Egg Hunt Bags by The Purl Bee

2. No Sew Easter Egg Candy Pouches by Rebecca Cooper

3. Grocery Bag Easter Basket by Ellinee

4. Paint Chip Easter Egg Garland by Modern Parents, Messy Kids

5. Upcycled Easter Egg Bunting by Anne Weil of flax & twine, via Poppytalk

6. Yarn Eggs by Simply Modern Mom, via ModPodge Rocks

7. Easter Egg Banner by Creations by Kara

8. Spring Baby Grass Wreath by Patti of PS It's in the Details, via The Creative Place

9. Jute Wrapped Eggs by My Blessed Life

10. Vintage Paper Bunting Flags by The Sweetest Occasion

11. Painted Mason Jar Vase by Decor Chick

DIY :: Paper Bunting Greeting Card

I have seen a lot of cute bunting ideas floating around all over the www and decided to do a quick project making and using bunting. I had a bunch of old paper scraps and decided to make a little greeting card :)

I printed "hello, friend" on a blank greeting card to get started. You could also handwrite any sort of message. 

 

I cut out some triangular pennant-looking shapes from a rainbow of old paper scraps.

I then measured and placed two sets of dots to know where to punch my holes to string the bunting string through (you could also eyeball it :)).

 And then punched the holes with a 1/16" paper punch- you could also use a pushpin to punch the holes.

 I strung some baker's twine through and tied them on the interior of the card.

 And then arranged the flags how I wanted them to be placed.

And adhered them with permanent rolling adhesive. I butted them up against and a tad over the baker's twine to hold the baker's twine in place.

 Voila! A simple and quick bunting greeting card :)

St. Patrick's Day Printable

St. Patrick's Day is almost here - 10 days :) I think it's a fun little holiday to celebrate - especially because my hubby is of Irish descent :) Every holiday, my sweet grandmama would give us a little bag of chocolate coins, the kind wrapped in gold foil. It was always a highlight for my sisters and I to each receive a bag.

So I decided to make a printable bag topper for those cute little bags of gold coins. Right click to save the below file, print on cardstock and trim to 2.5"x 2.5". Fold down the middle and staple to a bag of gold coins (you can usually find these at any grocery store or dollar store). Voila! A cute and fun little gift for St. Patrick's Day :)

As with all printables I share here, these are for personal use only. Thanks :)

DIY :: Scrap Paper Rounds Card

I am always punching paper rounds from bits and pieces of paper that are leftover from projects. I decided to throw some on a card, adhere them, stitch a border around it and call it done.  A fun card that can be used for anything (this one is a simple "Hello!" card), and uses up random bits of scrap paper :)

Super easy to make, all you need is:

+ scrap paper

+ paper punches (I used a 1.5" round, 1" round, and 1" scalloped round)

+ white cardstock card and matching envelope

+ rolling adhesive

+ sewing machine and thread

+ scissors (or ruler, rotary cutter and cutting mat)

I started by laying out the paper rounds in a general way of how I wanted them to be - I ended up taking a few away, moving others around, but it was a good starting point. I adhered them with permanent rolling adhesive.

Next, I stitched a border around the card, twice. No straight lines or anything, just fun and quick stitches around the perimeter.

This is what the card looked like at this point:

I flipped the card over and trimmed off the access paper rounds, then folded it and trimmed off the access at the fold.

I used a black pen, wrote "Hello!" and voila! a fun and easy to make greeting card :)

P.S. I will be closing comments and announcing the winners of the saturdayAMvintage Scrap Paper Packs later today :) Go here to enter :)