Wicker-Basket liners

For those of you who want to RE-cover those wicker baskets... this post is for YOU!
My daughter has outgrown her crib! So we bought her a twin a few weeks ago. So along with a new bed.. comes, of corse new bedding. For me, this was exciting. Because not only do I get to re-decorate her room (YYAAAAAAAYYYY!!!), but I get to make stuff like curtains, re-paint picture frames, etc. The old wicker basket liners were nasty, as you can see from the picture. Stains, tears, you name it.

So while walking the aisles at Joanns, I found this:

Super cute huh? Super girly and bright. I just LOVE it!


Materials:
1 1/4 yard fabric
matching thread
fabric scissors
iron
the old wicker basket liner
seam ripper
1/4 inch elastic (measure the whole distance around the top edge of your wicker basket. this is the amount of elastic you will need)

*all seam allowances will be the same as it was before taking it apart. I used 1/4 inch and it worked great*

So I experimented a little. I got my seam ripper out and went to town on it.

I took the whole thing apart so that I could use the pieces as a pattern. Once you have your liner taken apart, iron the pieces:

Next pin your *pattern* piece to the right side of your new fabric:

Cut it out. Repeat until all 4 sides are done.

Then measure the lower side of your piece (see picture below). Cut a square with that measurement. For example. If the edge measures 12 inches, cut out a 12x12 square.

Lay 2 pieces down, right sides together, matching up all edges. Sew down the short side:

Press seams:

Repeat until all pieces are connected. It should look like this:

See how the top edge is larger than the lower edge? Ok now take your square and sew it, one side at a time, to the lower edge. (make sure right sides are together!). Now it should look like this:

Ok now its time to finish our edges. Fold edge over 1/4 inch, ironing firmly as you go. When finished, fold over again but this time do 1/2 inch.

Sew at lower edge of your fold, leaving a small (1 1/2 inch or so) opening so that you can insert your elastic.

Take your string of elastic and wrap it around your basket about an inch below the top. Cut. Slip safety pin through end of elastic and feed it through the opening (make sure as you feed it that you dont lose the other end). Once its pulled through, sew ends of elastic together. Sew opening closed. Youre done!!

Hope you have as much fun with this as I did!

DIY Painted Bulletin Board (Thanks Hobby Lobby)

Hobby Lobby. To me, it is like heaven. I feel this way about very things. The Library, BYU-Hawaii, and a particular fabric store I mentioned months ago in my personal blog. As I was strolling through (read: walking as fast as possible with a wriggly, unhappy toddler), I glanced down and saw something wonderful. It was a cork board with a painted embellishment on it. And I knew I was in love. The price, however I was not too fond of and lets be real, I live in an apt. Where am I going to have a cork board?!

But, I did know of one place that was already primed and ready to go: My daughters art/book/diaper amour. See? 

The top ( I know, it is sideways here) is cork and the bottom is a chalkboard (spray on chalkboard paint). So I gathered a few tools and set to work

1. Stencil 2. Foam paint brush 3. Stencil paint (i thought about using spray paint but this was going to be done inside

I just taped the stencil up and painted away

Final result. I like it. I actually like it a lot. Oh, the possibilities are endless

Decorative Pillows

I spent days drawing sketches with all my different ideas for pillows for my living room. I knew I wanted them to be different, and I knew that I wanted teal and brown to go with the valance that I made last year, as well as the flower bouquet I have above my fireplace. After hours at the fabric store (wont do that again with an 18 month old!) I found a nice lined brown that was THE perfect shade. I had left over fabric from my valance to go with it. After figuring out what design I wanted to use, I got to work. Here is the finished project:

LOVE IT!

Now before you think "wow, those are possibly the ugliest pillows I have EVER seen", you have to see them in my living room:

much prettier huh? Yes, I thought so! :).

So here is how you do it!
You will need:
*16" pillow forms. Dont pay full price for these if you can help it. They often go on sale at hancocks and joanns. I got mine for 3 bucks each!
*3/4 yard "home decor" fabric for each pillow (you will need more than that if you pick a fabric with a directional pattern.
*thread that matches your colors just in case your seem is visible (it shouldnt be if you use the smallest length)

The best way to go about picking your fabric is to go with what matches. If you love the pattern, and it goes well with your living space.. then your pillows will be gorgeous!

First things first: cut your pieces. Fabric for the backing will be a square 17.5 inches. The front half is tricky. Each of the 4 triangles shound be 17.5 inches on the long side (2 of each color). Each short side should be 12 3/8 inches long. From the tip of the triangle to the middle of the long side should be 8.75 inches. Are you still with me? This is confusing I know.. it is much easier than it sounds. If you have a rotary mat and cutter, this is much easier! Also... if you use a directional fabric, make sure you cut the pieces going the same direction.

Take one of each color of your triangles. Line them up, right sides together, sew along one short side. Do the same with the other two triangles. These are the 3 pieces you should now have:


Line up the 2 large triangles, right sides together. Stitch the long side. Here is what it should look like now:


Open it up and press seams outward:


Flip it over, it should look like this:


Take this piece and line it with the large square piece of backing, right sides together. Stitch 3 of the 4 sides, leaving an opening big enough to fit the pillow.


Flip right side out and insert pillow form:


Slip-stitch the opening closed: If you dont know how to do a slip-stitch.. take a look at this video. Here is the finished edge:


VOILA!!! gorgeous pillows. These didnt take very long, and I saved SO much money making them, rather than buying them. Have fun!!

Chalkboard pillow 101

Not that I am a pro... or even an amateur for that matter but this really was a super SIMPLE pillow and it is a pillow that keeps giving ad giving. That's right folks, its a CHALKBOARD PILLOW!

All you need is a few things and a box of chalk. I got my chalkboard cloth here from Ebay. I picked out some orange-y/brown fabric and used an old pillow I got for $5 at Walmart.

Now, just cut to length your fabric and your chalk cloth. I did a simple square that was about 3" shorter than the front of the pillow. I also added some ruffles to one side. Now I wish I would had added ruffles to all 4 sides.

Just measure, pin, sew, stuff and whola! You are done and now are the proud owner of your very own chalkboard pillow. I was thinking this is a really great gift to give for weddings, showers, birthday, or just to say You are my friend.