Book Page Flower Tutorial...

Hi everyone! A couple weeks ago I shared a tutorial on how to make a wreath made from book pages (I used an old, falling apart dictionary).  Click here for the instructions. I finally hung it up where I wanted it for the holidays on a chalkboard frame with a big Merry Christmas bow. ( I bought that ribbon at TJMaxx last year)

I also wanted to make a whole tree made with book page ornaments and handmade things to go with the wreath. Here's my attempt at a book page flower and I love them!!

Here it is nestled in the tree!!

Pop in to see the full tutorial...

Double Use for Phone Charging Station...Sewing Box!!

Some of life's ordinary things can have double duty and make our day a little easier or at least pretty! I found a phone charging box in a thrift store a long time ago. It sits between 2 couches where everyone watches tv. We all have phone chargers in our bedrooms, but that time when you are watching television and your phone is low, I have these plugs available for iPhones and iPads.

I sit right next to this box, in the corner of the couch and do my hand sewing or little projects...charging my phone if needed.

I realized I wasn't using the drawer in the front...until now!! Now it holds all my hand sewing supplies for my mini hexies.

Then I had a better idea for the whole box. Pop in to see...

How to Turn a Potholder into a Sewing Kit...

Hi everyone! I came across a set of cute little potholders and, "thinking outside the box", I immediately thought of a sewing kit. Depending on the potholder you find, there will be little to no sewing to make a kit for yourself.

Here is the before potholders...

They are called Claw Mitts.

The smaller type of potholder that your thumb goes in one side and your four fingers in the other side.

So let me show you how easy it is to make a sewing kit for yourself!!

This particular potholder already came with the left hand pocket sewn into individual slots. You can add that to yours with 2 lines of sewing if it doesn't come with it.

This is the finished folded kit.

and all opened up, filled and ready to go!!!

The individual pockets hold a seam ripper (my best friend lately), small scissors and a leather thimble.

You can always add your favorite tools and thread.

The right pocket holds my English Paper Piecing projects (hand sewn hexagons). The fabric of the pocket is for pins, needles and safety pins.

 The potholder comes with a loop so you can hang it up. I'm using the loop for a thread dispenser.

I used a hinged key ring and looped a bobbin of thread on it. I also use a tiny hair elastic to cover the bobbin when I'm traveling with it, so the thread doesn't unwind.

I came up with a super easy closure. I used a jewelry jump ring, piece of tape measure and some velcro.

Sew the jump ring to the right side of the potholder.

Cut your tape measure or piece of ribbon.

You can sew the ribbon to the left side. I hot glued the plastic tape measure on.

This is where you'll attach it.

I cut little adhesive dots of velcro to fit the width of the tape measure.

Then just stuck it on each end.

Loop it through the ring and fold it over to the front.

All closed up and a little snippet of a ruler for you to use too!!

Potholder for a Sewing Kit vs Potholder for Cooking...hmmm. Sewing, but if there is a sheet of hot cookies coming out of the oven? Oh, wait these potholders came in a set of 2.

Sewing hexies and eating hot chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven. Perfection!

If you've ever wanted to sew hexagons with the English Paper Piecing method, I did a post 6 years ago if you'd like to take a look. There are other post on my side bar too!! Click HERE for the original post.

Thanks for stopping by,
~Karen~

Travel Mug Idea...and It's My Own Mug!!

This post might be one of those where you're thinking...

1. wow, why didn't I think of that or 
2. hmmm, who cares...this girl is nuts. Lol

For me, however, it's the little things in life. 

I drink tea All. Day. Long. The tea kettle is always steaming. Don't get me wrong, I love coffee too, but if I drink too much it makes me nauseous. I'm good for 2-3 cups of joe a day mostly at work...but I digress. 

I drink tea so much that even if I am going out somewhere, I bring a cup of hot tea with me in the car. This mugs is my favorite, because it's the only one that fits in my cup holder, but boy does it get messy with splashing.

Therein lies the problem...I hate the plastic travel mugs that would prevent that splashing. I've tried them all, but even my favorite Star Wars travel mug doesn't cut for me. They all make the drink taste like plastic. I wanted to get a stainless steel lined travel mug, but they are way too expensive.

I finally found a solution!!!

Recycled Men's Shirt to Super Cute Apron...

Hi Everyone! I've been cleaning out closets over the last couple months and most all of the clothes have gone to charity. There were some things that just need to go to the trash, but I saved them and "upcycled" them to useful things for around the house.

My husband's shirts were some of the things that I saved. They are worn out and sad, but perfect for aprons. I've seen these on Pinterest and wanted to give them a try.

Here's the before...

Here is the after…

Just a few minutes of sewing and you're done. Come on in and see!!

Recycled Sweatshirt Apron…One Minute of Sewing!

Hi everyone! This week, I posted a tutorial for making a scarf made from my daughter's sweatshirts that I've collected from school, dance and college. If you want to see that post, you can click HERE.

When I was cutting out the fronts of the sweatshirts for the designs, I left the pouch pockets intact. You know I love anything that's already sewn and one step away from being up cycled to something else.

Well, here's the new sweatshirt apron!!

You only have to sew 2 lines of stitching and that's it. If you don't sew, you could use an iron on seam or even hot glue it in place! Come in to see how easy…

Recycle Your Sweatshirts into a Warm and Snuggly Scarf…

I finally did it! I finally brought out all the boxes of Courtney and Kelsie's old t-shirts and sweatshirts that I have been saving for years. I tackled the sweatshirt pile first, because there were way more t-shirts to go through. I'll save those for another day.

The sweatshirts are mostly from middle school through college and not that many from college, because they are still wearing those!  At first, I thought I was going to make each of them a blanket out of the sweatshirts, but then I realized I didn't have enough squares with designs on them. I could have alternated with a blank square cut from the plain back, but I wanted all designs.

I did have enough to make a scarf for each of them though.  As time goes by and more sweatshirts are thrown in the "saving box",  I can always make them a blanket in the future.

Here's the scarf I made…

With Kelsie working in Disney World and Courtney in her own apartment, I lost my models to show you what this would look like on someone. Coat hanger it is. I miss my girls : (

This project was so easy and required only straight stitches, so it's great for anyone just learning to sew.

Summer Cookout Tip…Coffee Filter Hot Dog Holder

Hi everyone…quick and simple tip today. I was going through all my supplies in my craft room the other day and came across a couple packages of coffee filters I bought for the wreath project. Click HERE if you want to see the wreath tutorial.

I was trying to think of other ideas to use up the packages of filters and "what" we were having for dinner that night gave me the answer. We were cooking hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill.

Perfect holder for your hot dog…

These filters would be great for a large party, cookout or picnic when people are standing around and munching on food. They don't need a plate, but the coffee filter will keep things neat with no drips. It already has a bowl shape to keep things contained.

The filters are already made to handle moisture, so they'll stand up well if you're serving a large crowd and need to put out a lot of hot dogs on serving trays. Much better than a flimsy napkin.

I package of 200 filters are around a $1.50, so they're cheap too!! Much cheaper than the hot dog trays you find in the party stores.

I'm thinking these would be great for town or school sporting events where they sell hot dogs at concessions stands. It's like a plate and napkin in one.

Hope you like this tip!!

Thanks for stopping by,
~Karen~

DIY Tic Tac Toe Tree Stump...

Remember the tree stump fire pit I made a few weeks ago? Well, I added a little game table to the area.

Here's the fire pit area where a I sewed little comfy pillows for each seat. Click HERE for the tutorial of that.

Here's the game table you can make with things from the yard.

Perfect for campsites and backyard parties.

Just use pine cones, rocks, leaves or flower petals for game pieces.

You can draw the lines on with a marker or use long twigs.

I tacked on ribbon to form the cross sections.

Looks like 3 pine cones in a row…Winner!!

Have fun with your friends and family this summer.

~Karen~

Don't Pass Up Store Close-Out Sales...

There was a store closing in our town that sold party supplies and hardware. My husband and I stopped by just to take a quick look at what they had left. When stores are closing down, they need to sell everything even the fixtures…racks, stands and the furniture they use for displays etc.

Even if you don't need anything that the store is selling (like the party supplies), you may find something that you can use for organizing or storage from the fixture section.

Here is a rack that held signs at the store. It was only $10, so I couldn't pass it up.

Turn Tree Stumps Into Fire Pit Seating...

We had a few trees cut down on our side property line this past week. The tree service took away all the trimmings from the pine trees, but my husband wanted to keep the wood from the only oak tree that was cut. After the wood is seasoned, he will use it in our wood store in the winter.

Here is some of the wood the tree service cut into chunks. My husband sees fire wood…

I see stump seating around a fire pit!!

I made little pillows for reach one too.

Come on in and I'll show an easy way to make the pillows.

Recycled Keurig K-cups and Holder...

We've had our Keurig coffee machine for years now and love it. It's fast, easy and you can always find a sale on the k-cups. Today, I wanted to share another idea for using or recycling the k-cups. I did an Easter post on them a few years ago. You can click HERE to see that.

Here are some ideas for not only the k-cups, but one for the carousel holder as well.

Come on in and see…