What I’m Working On Wednesday

I’ve got several projects to keep me busy over the next couple of weeks.  Here are some sneak peeks!

A little tulle and a onesie:

Supplies for new candle embellishments and an Easter project:

A fun knock-off Easter project:

And some new ribbon for some frames:   

I’ll be a busy girl, stay tuned for the results!

Happy Mardi Gras

Happy Mardi Gras! Today culminates weeks of partying in New Orleans and all over the gulf states.  We had a great time at a couple parades last weekend and I’m sad to see all my Mardi Gras decorations go back into storage.

I celebrated Mardi Gras here on the blog a few weeks ago; if you missed it, be sure and check out the following posts:

Mardi Gras History and Fun Facts

Favorite Mardi Gras Memories

Mardi Gras Craft Ideas

Mardi Gras Wreaths

Mardi Gras Decor, Part One

Mardi Gras Decor, Part Two

Time to pull out the Easter eggs and bunnies!

Repost: DIY Day, Shadowbox Memories

In honor of Mardi Gras (Tuesday), I’m reposting a project I featured last fall. Enjoy!

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Today’s DIY project is one I did several years ago.  While unpacking from our move, I got inspired to display some of those mementoes that had previously been packed away.

Mardi Gras has always been an important part of Louisiana culture, and it’s always fun for me to look back on photos and trinkets to remember the fun times I’ve had at Mardi Gras.  I created this shadow box to display some of the vintage doubloons and glass beads that my mother saved from the parades she went to in the sixties and seventies. 

Today the majority of the beads and trinkets thrown in parades are plastic ones from China, so this was a good way to preserve a piece of history.

Some of these beautiful glass beads that they used to throw could still be worn with today’s fashions!

I hung the shadow box in the hallway along with a Mardi Gras photo collage and fleur de lis mirror.   Using a shadow box is a great way to display small treasures that would have otherwise been lost in a drawer or box.  I did the same thing with some of my husband’s military coins:

All that’s needed to do this kind of project is, of course, a shadow box (I usually purchase mine at Michael’s when they are on sale or I have a coupon), some hook & loop tape (velcro) and/or straight pins, and the items you want to display.  Simply arrange the items on the provided background mount and add velcro to the backs or use straight pins to secure them.  On both of the shadow boxes I used, the background already had a fabric that the “hook” side of the velcro could adhere to.

A quick and simple project that will make you smile and reminisce every time you walk by!

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Posting to the following parties:

 

 

 

 

Embellished T-shirts

I’ve seen so many cute t-shirt re-fashions out there, and I can’t wait to try out a few on the t-shirts I picked up at Target the other day. Here’s a few ideas on how to embellish them.

Turn a t-shirt into a dress, by Made By Lex (aka My Mama Made It):

Another version at Happy Together:

Freezer Paper Stencil by Two Ellie:

Another version at Samster Mommy:

I love the idea of embellishing the t-shirt with a fabric flower.  There are a lot of different versions of this out there.  Here’s one from Made By Lex (My Mama Made It):

A felt version from Tidy Mom:

Heather Bailey’s fabric flowers: Time to get busy! Have a great weekend!

Target Thrifty Finds PSA

Heads up, if you have a Target nearby, you may want to get there ASAP!  The “bulk” section (which replaced all the Christmas merchandise) is now on clearance and there are some great deals to be found.  I scored a whole bunch of kids and baby long sleeve t-shirts for $1.50 each, half off the original $3.00 price!  I bought pink, lavender, and white, and they also had two different color stripes.  It’s hard to tell, but the collar has a cute little detail and the shoulders are gathered.

At that price, I thought I would stock up and embellish them somehow, perhaps with a ruffle collar or fabric flower.  If my embroidery machine would ever co0perate for more than 15 minutes at a time, maybe I’ll get some of them embroidered with a cute design!

Do you think these with the chest pocket are for boys or are they unisex?

They had adult sizes for $1.50 also, and hooded sweatshirt jackets for $4.20 each.

The brightly colored tees at the bottom were $1.50 also (kids and adults sizes) and short-sleeved.  Perfect for play or yard clothes for the summer.

Don’t you just love those orange tags?!

I also scored a box of 25 bubble mailers for under $4.00.  They had a variety of school/office supplies for 30% off.

Many of the bulk/large size items (including food) were 15% or 30% off.  They even had some nice Callaway and Ashworth golf shirts for men marked 50%, making them $12.50.  I’m sure they will take even further reductions soon to make way for the patio furniture, so keep an eye out.  I just couldn’t pass up those t-shirts, even though I didn’t buy any for me!  Perhaps tomorrow I’ll share some cute ideas on how to embellish them.

Check out more thrifty finds here:

Your Beading Mission…..

I’m thrilled to have a guest blogger today! I’d like to introduce Gwen, from Murphy Grace Home.  Gwen and I found each others’ blogs a while back and have been “friends” ever since! She’s a thrifty, crafty gal trying to corral her rambunctious black lab, Murphy.  Be sure and visit Gwen at her blog and on Twitter when you get a chance! For starters, check out some of the great things she did with these burlap coffee sacks:

When it came time to do my monthly Artbeads “Blogging for Beaders” post, I instantly thought of Gwen because she has just picked up her old jewelry-making hobby again.  She even makes some of her own beads! I thought she could give us all some pointers based on her experience. So…….heeeeeere’s Gwen!

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Have you always wanted to try making your own jewelry, but thought that it might be hard or that you needed too many tools and other stuff? Think again.

You can really do it with just one of these:

Yes, there are specialized tools that can make it easier, but you can start with a simple pair of needle nose pliers.

One other thing that doesn’t cost a lot and helps so much is a beading tray/board. (They have them at Michael’s and probably Hobby Lobby, use a coupon).

It allows me to lay out all my design ideas before actually stringing them. You just line up the beads in the slots and see what you think.

Okay, enough with the tools, you want to make something, right? How about starting with most of the design choices and ingredients already decided for you?

This Hearts Afire necklace was made with a simple kit from Artbeads.com. Their kits have every piece you need, minus the pliers. All of the beads, closures, directions, shiny stuff, it is all in there for you. They have such a fabulous selection of kits to get you started, rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and more.

Or, you can design your own like I did here,

I call this Cotton Candy Love and again, it was just a matter of laying out my idea and then stringing it. (made with 10mm Cat’s Eye beads, a sterling silver Heart Outline Frame, and a Swarovski 10mm Heart).

So what are you waiting for? Check out the great tutorials and ideas at Artbeads.com and take the plunge!

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Thanks so much, Gwen! It’s so great to know you can make a custom piece of jewelry without a lot of fancy tools and without being intimidated.  So head on over to Artbeads.com and get started! Also, check out their fabulous sweepstakes going on now:

I’ll be sharing this post with some parties over the next week, be sure and visit!

       

 

*Disclosure: The products used in this project  were kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. Neither I nor Gwen have received any compensation from Artbeads.com. The post above represents my/our honest personal opinion(s).