Silk polka dot cowl

Happy Valentine's Day to those of you in relationships! My Valentine's day wasn't so fun (I had a presentation and three hours of homework to do, in addition to being single), except for the part at the end where one of my friends had her baby today! That was exciting. :)

Also, I made a cowl based on this one from Maybe Matilda. I saw the post, read it, looked at the pictures, and decided "Yes. Yes, right now."

It really is a 15-minute project, plus I used the last of that scrap of fabric to make it!

iPad Keyboard Sleeve

I use my iPad all the time, and I am unashamed. Despite (or maybe because of) the touch-screen, note-taking has been difficult until now, because I finally caved and bought one of those iPad keyboards that work via Bluetooth. So! I browsed the Internet for awhile but didn't really find any homemade sleeves that rocked my world/that I had all the materials for already, and ended up making my own.

Time: 1 hour

Cost: $0! - used scrap fabric and unused materials from other crafts

Materials:

1+ fabrics (how many you use determines size per fabric)

Cotton batting

Thin fusible (stiffness optional- I wanted a little movement but not much)

Sewing machine, thread

Optional- decorative accents like buttons

First, measure the keyboard (or Kindle, or iPad, or whatever device it is). The sleeve is only sewn up one side, so make sure that when folded in half the item fits with 1" seam allowance on both ends and the long open side.

Layer the outside fabric right side down, then the fusible, then the batting, and then the inside fabric right side up. Make sure all of the pieces are the same size.

Round the bottom corners so that when folded in half, the end makes a semicircle shape. (Crafter's note: make sure edges are even on the inside and outside so that it isn't lopsided when you sew them together.

Sew the opening first, and then sew the sides so the bag is inside out (you'll pull it right side out later). (* see two steps down for how to add the tongue and strap if you'd rather do that now instead of after sewing the bag shut*)

Trim the extra fusible and cotton down close to the seam if there is extra (but not too close!), then flip the bag right side out and make sure the keyboard/iPad/Kindle/etc fits inside. It should be cozy but not too tight or loose. This is the moment where you fix sizing mistakes!

*Next, take some fabric and make a tongue (fold inside out, sew three sides, pull right side out through the open side) and a moustache (same process). Sew the tongue on the inside of the back (you decide which are the front and back sides). Sew the short sides of the tongue on the front near the top, leaving it open on the long sides. Be careful not to sew through both sides of the sleeve. This step can also be done before sewing the sleeve shut, as mentioned above*

Now add any extra details you may want to, and enjoy your safe, stylin' technology!

I'm Batman!

I was looking for easy glue crafts to do to pass some time a few days ago, and was inspired by ComicSalvage's Etsy shop to make a necklace... this is what I came up with:

Disclaimer: I don't own DC or Batman. The comic image came off Google so I can't credit the source. I took this photo.

It really was easy to make-

1. Google the image (eat that, SOPA!), measure the size of the backing and size image to fit. In this case, my backing was the flat side of a big rhinestone that was about 2" by 1.2".

2. Print image, and glue on the backing- The goal is to have the image be flat on the surface for the Dimensional Magic to set on, so whatever glue you're most comfortable with that won't make the paper wrinkle is best. I used tacky glue spread thinly. Wait to dry.

3. If you have any paper hanging over the edges of the rhinestone, trim it off. I did this this with an Exacto knife and a cutting board.

4. Spread a decent amount of Mod Podge Dimensional Magic over the image, making sure it goes all the way to the edges- but not quite over the sides of- the image. Make sure there aren't any bubbles, and then set flat to dry. This is the longest step; I let mine set overnight just to be sure.

5. Once the Mod Podge is dry, glue a hook onto the back of the rhinestone. When that's dry, thread a chain through and BAM! awesome new necklace for under $1!

Bonus point: I don't buy chains, I take them off other necklaces and trade them around depending on the jewelry. This is a good option if you don't like buying chains, like me.

Sharpie art

I like to draw with Sharpies. Sometimes this is a bad thing, such as when I draw on something and then spend the rest of the time regretting it, and sometimes it turns out awesome. In this case, it turned out awesome.

My brother has a music studio set up and I was keeping him company while he moved things around. He let me draw on one of his broken drums, so in the music spirit I Sharpie'd him up a little drumset. Do you ever draw with Sharpies? What sort of things do you like to draw?

My Crafty Grandmother

Artistic inclinations run in my family. I take strongly after my grandmother on my dad's side. She does a crazy amount of crafting of all sorts- sewing, painting, applique, anything, and there is always something getting a mural or a refurb at her house. It was nice to visit her this winter (first time in five years) and catch up.

She found this old desk and seat and painted it before I was born, and put some of her old readers on it.

Look through the clutter at the Santas painted on things- her work as well.

Part of her craft table.

The sewing table, and dozens of spools!

Merry Christmas

"Merry Christmas!" says the bear in the 10-minute-insta-sweater I made it, my only finished craft project lately.

Hope everyones' holidays are going well. Mine did! Small Christmas, but a good one- I got a macro lens for my camera (macro lenses tend to be really expensive so it was exciting for me to get one).

I took this photo from 8 yards away with my macro lens! This catapult was my present for my brother- he loved it!

Tomorrow I'm heading out with family to visit my grandparents, who I haven't seen (not counting graduations) since I was about 15 years old. It's a 15 hour drive each way, and since I get crazy car sick at the least provocation, I'm taking along a pound-sized ball of yarn for my latest crochet project- it involves 30 8"x8" squares in different stitches that get sewn together into a moderately sized afghan throw. At this point I only have one square done, so there's room for a lot of work during the drive!

Hoping everyone traveling gets where they're going safely, and I'll be back in a few weeks with updates!

Pre-Christmas Stress

There aren't words for how bad I am at wrapping presents (except maybe 'I'm bad at wrapping presents'). My mom taught me the proper way to wrap presents when I was a kid, and I took that knowledge and skill and threw it all out, deciding in my strange child head that my way was better. A couple decades later I still suck at it to the point it's a running family joke.

This year I'm finally trying something new- boxes! My friendly local Joann's had these printed boxes on sale, and the peppermint ribbon was half off (!) too. I can't wrap presents, but I can put things in boxes and tie ribbons around them really well!

All of this is completely negated by my use of Post-It Notes as labels.

I have been crocheting as well. Some of those boxes in the photo contain crocheted gifts as well as storebought ones, but until the people receive them I'm not going to post anything more about it.

And below, these are the first few flowers in a flower-heavy project I'm starting with some yarn I found in my bin.

My yarn bin is like free shopping because I'm a compulsive yarn buyer and have a really short-term memory.

After my finals are over I can get moving on crafts for real. So close!