A Fun Ruffled Scarf from an Old T-Shirt

So as I mentioned in the previous post I have been absolutely dying to buy one of Lindsey's scarves over at the Pleated Poppy. But, now that we are adding up the initial costs of full day preschool for James and daycare for Ella, my start-up clothes allowance for my new job is shrinking. So, I looked at her scarf, searched around Blogland a bit, begged a t-shirt off of my husband and tah-dah!! I made this scarf in about five minutes.

SERIOUSLY. No joke.

Make it!

I found a great tutorial here.

XOXO


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Bean Bag Tutorial

I recently made bean bags for the first time for a little niece of mine that was turning one.

I thought they would be a fun gift for her, and pretty simple to whip up. I already had some sweet cupcake material on hand, and some white flannel with pink polka-dots from Ella's Baby Quilt.

First, I gathered all of my materials. (Enough material for four bean bags.)

• 4 squares of 6" x 6" fabric for the tops of the bags

• 4 squares of 6" x 6" fabric for the bottom

• 8 squares of 5" x 5" fabric (anything you have lying around and nothing fancy because it is for the inner bean bag pouch)

• beans (I found Navy beans on sale in my grocery store for $.78 a bag, I used two bags and a half a bag for each bean bag)

First sew the four inner pouches. I don't sew these right-sides-together and flip, there isn't any point as they won't be seen. I sewed the inner bags just so that there wouldn't be a choking hazard if for some reason the baby was able to break open an outer bag. SAFETY FIRST!

I sew all the way around the bag, leave a 2" hold for filling the bag with the beans; fill and sew closed.

Next I sew the outer pouches by sewing right sides together, 1/4" all the way around leaving a good sized gap to turn inside out and also to be able to stuff the inner bag inside the outer bag.

Turn them inside out and press seams flat.

Stuff the inner pouches inside the outer trying to line up corners.

Sew a seam 1/4" from the edge all the way around the bag, sewing shut the opening as you go. I sewed over the opening twice.

Repeat for the last three and you're done!


So cute!


And homemade, with love, and original!


Now go make some for that little cutie patootie in your family!

This post is a part of the following link parties:

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A Last Minute Bow-Making Tutorial

Last week my friend Yolanda posted a photo of a stunning present she had wrapped for Christmas on Face Book, and I just HAD to ask her to share a bow-making tutorial with us! (I will be wrapping into the wee hours of the morning, and I know I'm not the only one, so hopefully we can all put this tutorial to good use before Santa arrives!)


I went to high school with Yolanda, and now, years later, we have reconnected through Face Book. Yolanda lives in Dallas and is married with two beautiful children. Though not a blogger, Yolanda has been a supporter of my blog, and I am pleased to give her tutorial a home on Vintage Pollyanna.



Yolanda's Bow-Making Tutorial

Cut off 5 to six feet of ribbon, preferably a ribbon that has stiff edges/piping because it shapes better. Use 3 to 4 feet for smaller packages or bows.


Take one of the ends of ribbon and fold in about 6 to 7 inches.


Continuing folding ribbon end over end until you have no ribbon left.


Fold the folded portion in half.


You'll have a nice ribbon sandwich!


Snip the corners of the sandwich on the fold. Make sure to snip a big enough piece as this is what helps to shape and twist the ribbon into the bow.


Unfold the sandwich one time and it will look like this:


Cut off another piece of ribbon to tie around the folded ribbon at the notches. Cut as much for the tails as you would like hanging down from the bow. Tie this piece around the center of the unfolded sandwich where you snipped.


It's cute now, but just wait!


Start sliding out the folded pieces that are layered within one another. As you do you can twist them and shaped them to be puffy and pull them into the position you want.


The piping or wire helps to hold the shape you create.


Your bow is finished!


Now go wrap some presents!


Thanks Yolanda! This was fun--let's do it again sometime! And to all of you,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

xoxo

Allison

PS. this post is also seen in the Today's Creative Blog Get Your Craft On link party.

Holiday Fabric Rosette Pins Tutorial

I have just finished making twelve of these fabulous little Holiday Fabric Ruffle Pins as a gift for the teacher's at my son's pre-school. Here's the tutorial for you!


I wanted to give them something handmade, quirky, and fun. One day last week I was looking at my all-time favorite accessory, this fabulous Ruffle Pin from Flannery over at Three Sisterz.

You might remember my post about the night that she and I made rosettes from fabric and zippers. You can also find the tutorial for the actual ruffle making process there. I'm not sure how hers turned out so much curlier than mine--but mine are pretty cute, right?

Sp basically, I cut about an 18" by 2" strip of fabric. I then set my tension to the highest number and my stitch length to 4. Then I folded the strip in half and sewed down the strip vertically, about 1/4" away from the folded side. This creates a long ruffle. Next, I cut out a square piece of felt, placed one end of the strip in the middle, and then start sewing the ruffle down, turning the square as I go. You really have to feel the process out. This is what it looks like from the back (after I trim down the felt.)


Next, I cut a circle of felt to cover the back, which is a little messy. I will also give me a clean surface to which I can hot glue my pin.


A little glue,


Press it to the back of the rosette, and let it dry.


Here is a view of my assembly line:


Next, I apply a few dots of fray check around the rosette. I actually like a few threads coming off of it, I think it makes it look a little shabby.


Here are the pins that I use, I got them from Michael's.


They come with a sticky strip and foam backing. I peel off both (please ignore my markered up finger tips!)


I turn all of the rosettes over, and put strips of hot glue on the backs of two of them at a time.


Next I position the pin, and press lightly.


Here they all are, ready to go!


This morning I asked James to make a card for his teachers to go with the pins.
It says "I love PSA" which is Pre-School of the Arts. I drew the outline of the tree, but he did all the rest!


He wrote the message inside, all by himself!


All done and ready to go!


Merry Christmas to the teachers at PSA--thanks for all that you do!

This post is a part of the following parties:






Look at Me, I'm So Crafty at It's Fun to Craft
Favorite Things Friday
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Frugal Friday at the Shabby Nest
Talent Tuesday at Vintage Wanna Bee

Fabric Rosette Necklace on A Silver Chain Tutorial

I have been seeing fabric rosette necklaces all over the Web, but they are usually pretty big pieces with three or more rosettes. I wanted something really clean and simple with just one rosette.

I have made vintage button necklaces in the past, and so I had some hardware, but when I was in Target yesterday I checked out the clearance jewelry section and found this necklace for $4.99.

It is cute, and there was a time when I used to wear a lot of hammered silver, but instead I got to thinking that the circle would give some nice structure and a little bit of weight to a fabric rosette necklace!

Here is the rosette I used--I made a few from muslin scraps and I liked the way they came out. I went to You Tube and looked at a few videos and then combined methods.


What works for me is tearing 2" scraps about 15" to 20" long out of fabric (I really like using muslin.) Tearing creates more natural fraying and looks great. Then I take one end of the strip and using hot glue I fold each side to the middle, and then I fold the strip in half and start rolling and gluing the center of the rosette. Next I twist and turn the rosette gluing as I go along. Trust me--go to You Tube and look for fabric flower tutorials.

I ran some hot glue around the outside of the circle and pressed the rosette onto it. Then I ran hot glue around the backside of it,


And I added a denim circle to cover up the mess. Lastly I added a little hot glue around the outside and sort of pulled the rosette toward the back to make the muslin meet the denim. (Truthfully it's not pretty--but hey, its for me and it doesn't have to be perfect--just sweet!)


And here it is:


Do I look pleased with myself, or what?


I was wearing my new favorite tee shirt yesterday--a charcoal boatneck, and I think it looked great. Stay tuned for another post about the pin and the headband that I made with the remaining rosettes!

This post is a part of the following link parties:

Marketplace Monday at Finding Fabulous

Sew Cute Tuesday at the Creative Itch

Lucky Linky Tuesday at Lucky Star Lane

Hoo's Got Talent at Night Owl Crafting

Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts

We Did It Wednesday at Sew Much Ado

Show Off Your Stuff at Fireflies & Jellybeans

Let's Sew at Whimsy Couture

Get Your Craft on Thursday with Life as Lori

Frugal Friday at the Shabby Nest

Frugalicious Friday at the Shabby Nest