Mass Effect Felt Wall Plaque DIY (Flashback)

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No, your memory is not failing you, nor is it that funny taste that may have been in your drink.  Although, if that actually happened, you may want to look into it.  You may have seen this post before.  In an attempt to make everything easier to navigate for everyone, I am working on transferring all of the old beauty and craft posts from the recipe blog to their appropriate homes on the newer wings.  Please bear with all the boring re-caps!

<3

-WW

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This is, obviously, a continuance of the mad-craft-a-thon I endeavored in while the Wookie was is still glued to his new game.  In the spirit of his new game and how much he has been enjoying it, I decided to make a few of these:

Cute, eh?  Also SUPER-DUPER fast and easy.  If you make more than one, I'd suggest saving your first cut-out negative as a template, it makes the second one go faster.  I made two, one for the Wookie, and one for our awesome zombie-drawing friend he's been spending hours playing the online co-op with.

You may have noticed at this point, that I only do very simple patterns.  This is due to the fact that a) I can't draw so I have to keep things kindergarten-level easy, and b) I don't have a printer either, so that limits me quite a bit.

Anywho, I looked up logos from Mass Effect 3 and saw this one and was delighted to find something easy enough that my drawing-impaired ass could actually pull off.  As an added bonus, this just happened to be the Wookie's favorite logo in the game, so YAY, go me.  Or rather, go video game designers who make logos easy enough for me to cut out.  Whatever.

Moving right along...

First, pick your background color and clamp it into an embroidery hoop.  This is just one of the small plastic ones with the rubbery-stretchy-top-part-thingy.  God, I'm so descriptive I just floor myself sometimes.

This one didn't have a hangy-thing at the top (look out world, there I go again), so I used a small cup hook and just screwed it in, then bent the hook a bit more with some pliers (read: the Leatherman I keep in my purse because using the actual pliers would have required me to walk a whole extra 20 feet and excavate them from the rubble that is our storage room) until it was more hook-y than before so it wouldn't fall off whatever we nail it up with so easily.

Then, I drew the pattern out on to the appropriate colors of felt using a yellow off-brand Sharpie because I'm awesome enough to rock off-brands and because I didn't want black to bleed through and somehow using white chalk just didn't seem like a great idea.  This simple pattern, for me, required a straight-edge, yes.  No, I can't even draw a straight-fucking-line.

I'll give you a moment to laugh at me.

...

...

We good?

K.

Glue the pieces on with hot glue and you're done.

No, really that's it.

Voila!

<3
The Wookie Wifey

DIY Slipper Socks! ^_^

This is such a cute, yet quick craft...If you don't count drying time, that is.

Non-skid slipper socks!  I tend to run around barefoot like the hippie I am in the summer time, but in the winter, my feet and hands are *constantly* cold and I tend to wear socks pretty much all the time unless I'm sleeping.  Socks + hard floors = busted asses...or at least a few close calls every winter.  Not anymore!

For this, you'll need some socks, some slick fabric paint (it dries sticky), and a flip flop or a cardboard cutout of your traced foot.

Super lazy cat is totally optional.  Mine would NOT move.

Stretch your socks over your flip flops or cardboard cutouts.  Make sure the bottom of the sock is on the bottom of the shoe and that it is fitted to it more or less the same way it would be on your foot.  If you're doing a more foot-shaped design instead of a flat one, this will help with that.

Take the puff paint and draw on your design.  Put it somewhere the cat can't wake up and pounce it and leave it there for about 24 hours.

Always test your design by poking it with a toothpick because REALLY big, complex designs that require a lot of paint can take more than 24 hours to dry if you try to goop it all on in one sitting.

There you go!  Cute socks and they really do put the brakes on sliding around on hard floors.  I have lots of designs in mind, so I think I'll definitely be making a few more pair!

Let me know if you try it out!!

<3 WW

DIY Tablet Case

Wow, so it has seriously been over a month?  I could have sworn I'd posted on here at least twice this month, but it must have been one of those "oh, I'm going to..." and then get distracted by something shiny moments.

Oh well!

This is one of my more involved projects, so hang in there!!

 First thing you'll need is some fabric of your choice.  I used some old PJs that were stained and torn and just no longer suited for PJ use.  The pockets came off of a really old pair of shorts and I thought one would look cute on the front.

 You're also going to need scissors and some felt to line the inside.  You want it nice and padded, but this isn't going to show, so if you buy multi-packs, like I do, then this is a great way to get rid of Those Ugly Colors That Never Get Used.

Of course, you'll need thread and needles and, if you choose, some cute patches, bows, buttons, beads, or other fun accessories to stitch onto it to customize it!

 Last but not least, you'll need some cardboard.  I cut a piece the size of the tablet to use when working with the case so that the tablet didn't get scratched when everything was all pinned up.

First, position the decorations onto the pocket and stitch them all in place.  This is way easier to do with the pocket off of the case than on it.

Now, I got really lucky in that these wide-leg capri pajama bottoms were the exact width of the tablet when stretched out, so I just lopped them off about two inches below the length of my tablet cardboard cutout.  I wanted to leave them a bit long to allow for the seam at the bottom and to be sure the top of the tablet would be covered when inserted.  I pinned the pocket where I wanted it to be, then flipped the leg inside-out once I had cut it off.

Once that was done, I pinned the bottom seam, then pinned the ugly felt to it to pad and protect the tablet once it was inside the case.  As you can see, I stitched the pinned pocket in place through both the leg of the pajamas and the felt to secure it all.  Once that was done, I popped a few stitches around the felt edges to hold it in place.  Repeat the pocket-and-felt-securing-process on the other side!  You will want to pop the cardboard tablet cutout in here a few times during the process to make sure you are leaving plenty of room for it to fit easily in the case.

All those scratchy beads and buttons are in there, so aren't you glad you have that silly cardboard cutout now?

Now that the stuffing is done, it is time to stitch up the bottom!  If you didn't have serendipity on your side with the width of the pajama leg, then you would also do the other two long sides at this point, as well.

I looped the fabric seam in over a large needle and then went around it once more for good measure to make sure the stitches were extra sturdy and the pouch could withstand a lot of abuse.  Just make a few stitches and move the needle up and wrap the seam as you go - it prevents tedious pinning and is much easier than I'm making it sound!  This will also help prevent dust and other things from having as many entry points into your case.

Flip that baby rightside-out and you're good!!

Here's the back...I chose to only decorate up one side of the pocket.

...and here is what it looks like with the tablet inside!

Pretty!

<3WW

DIY Cookie Cutter Yard Decor

What do you do when you buy some super cute vintage cookie cutters, but don't want to use them because you're about 99% sure that paint on them is lead?

Well, first you punch holes all around them.

They were rather thin, so I used a leather punch and it worked just fine.

Then, string some pretty beads and baubles onto something very strong.  Since it is crazy windy where we live, I used a very heavy test fishing line.

Then, tie the line to the holes.

Alternatively, you could use some cheap chain and then use jump rings to attach them!

These already had holes in the top on either side of the little handles, but if yours don't, that could be remedied with the leather punch or with an awl.  I used chain through the holes of the beaded one to hang...

...then I used a leather cord for this one since I'd used up all of my gold cheapie chains on it already.

Super quick craft that turned out very cute!  Bonus?  They hold up crazy well.  These have been hanging up for about 4 months now outside in the harsh summer heat and wind and withstood several bad storms and are none the worse for wear!

<3 WW

Listening to:  "The Lost Vikings" - Dethklok

DIY Cardigan Clips

This is a super quick and easy way to re-purpose those adorable clip-on earrings you see everywhere at thrift stores...because who the hell wears clip on earrings anymore??

I realize it is still hot as Hades in my corner of the planet, but I'm posting this anyway since some of my readers are in Australia and I think its already cold there.  Yeah.  That's what we're gonna go with.

Actually, the truth is that I only ever seem to get struck with inspiration for winter crafts in the heat of the summer and vice verse.

Seriously, tho, this is stupidly easy.  String your beads or pearls.  I just used a broken bracelet because it was the exact length I wanted.  Make sure that if you are stringing them, to tie or crimp bead the ends around a jump ring so you can use it to attach them to the earrings.

Find a good place in the back of the earring you can wrap the jump ring around, then twist it closed.

That's it!  These are super cute and give you an excuse to buy the earrings you see out and about, but can't wear.  That, and they're great for actual function when you live somewhere super windy that threatens to remove a cardigan if you don't button it up.

<3WW

How to Re-Size a Maxi Skirt

This is much more quick and painless than you think it is going to be.  I thrifted a skirt that was too big and, since we've already been through how to up-size one, I thought it would be good to go the other direction with it!

First you'll need a skirt that is too big and a new piece of elastic.  'New' is flexible.  I hi-jacked this piece from an old pair of skivvies!  SCANDALOUS!

Flip the skirt to the inside of the waist and find the side seam.

Carefully, and being sure to stay between the top and bottom  seams, cut a small hole next to the side seam, then pull out and snip the elastic as well, but don't pull the elastic out of the skirt because we're going to use that to cheat the Craft and Sewing gods.

Take your new piece of elastic and safety in it to one side of your old one, then carefully tuck the pin and the attached pieces of elastic back into the hole.

Then, take the other, non-pinned side of old elastic and, while holding the free tail of the new piece, yank the old elastic through the tube.  This should automatically thread your new piece in as you pull the old one out!  TAKE THAT, SEWING AND CRAFT GODS!

Once you have the elastic threaded through the tube, un-pin and discard the old elastic, then stitch the ends of the new elastic together.  Be sure to go over it several times so that it has a lot of hold.  No one wants a wardrobe malfunction.  We in the real world aren't looking for publicity.

Once that's done, stitch your little hole back closed and that's it!

See?  No difference at all from the outside, only one tiny stitched-up place INSIDE and now we have a new skirt that fits like a dream!  YAAAAY!  :)

<3

WW

Listening to: "Raven" - Mejibray

Salvaging Broken Jewelry

Sometimes you just end up with a crapton of broken jewelry.

Or maybe that's just me.

Whether you buy it for crafty purposes, someone gives it to you, or you just stockpile things you have that break, it can accumulate!  While I'm certainly not a hoarder in most areas of my life, my craft stockpile can sometimes beg to differ.  I find myself having to clean out and re-organize all of it every 2 months or so just to sort of ferret through and ask "am I *really* going to do this project?" or "is this something I have the time and energy to finish?" so that it doesn't take over...well...everything.

At any rate, in case you are the type of person who also ends up with a lot of broken jewelry or weird odds and ends, then this post is for you!  Maybe you'll have the same pieces here or maybe you'll be able to use this for some sort of inspiration!  :)

Now, I don't have any 'before' photos, but this metal cabochon thing had had the jump ring, bail, or whatever had belonged to it broken off, the stone was loose and had a silver paint on the back, and it was bizarrely wrapped in some sort of odd, iridescent fabric that was all bunched up underneath.  That had to go.

I pried up the prongs, ripped off the fabric and carefully used a razor blade to scrape the silver paint off of the back.  Not all of it, though, and you'll see why.

I wanted to put a photo under the stone before putting it back in, but without all the bunched-up fabric under it, it just didn't sit right, so I used some Loctite to glue some flat beads in there.

Once I had the proper level, I was able to trim the photo I wanted to use around the "stone" and set it into the little bevel...wait...is that even the right damn word?

Anyway...

I put the "stone" back on top, then closed the prongs....You can sort of see here how the silver I left gave it that 'damaged old mirror' look.  It looks better in person...

Now, the aforementioned bail.  It didn't really have one, I just did't know what the proper term for they-glued-it-directly-to-the-chain was.  Still don't.  Either way, I took a small, flat, ugly charm I had lying in my jewelry supplies and used the Loctite to affix it to the back of the whole ordeal.

And now we have a really cool, sort of goth pendant that needs a matching chain!

For that, I used a plain chain and then added some drapes to it using a different style of chain to break up the monotony.

Then, I attached the little dangling parts which are actually those little metal things you're supposed to put around round beads.

I am so full of terminology today I shock myself.

Awful fucking terminology or not, I'm very pleased with how this turned out!  It took me about 20 minutes (not including the glue-drying time, of course) to take this pile of trash and make something pretty and unique!  Score one for repurposing!

<3 WW

DIY Window Clings

This post will be a quick, yet really, really fun craft!  I saw this one forever ago on pinterest, but have no idea what happened to the actual pin.  Anyway, I was very skeptical, but it actually worked and I was stoked!

Step 1: tape some wax paper around a cutting board, picture frame, cookie sheet, or whatever other flat thing you can get your hands on.

Step 2: draw designs onto it with puff paint!  Since the cookie sheet is transparent, you can even slide a coloring book underneath if you need to!

Step 3: Let dry.  I'd advise letting them sit somewhere for about 24 hours as the thick or 'solid' ones take quite a while to dry!  After that, be careful when checking them because some of mine even needed to dry for two days.  Once they are completely dry, you can peel them off!

I made a TON of these for every holiday and occasion and will probably make more.  I just love them!

The glow-in-the dark puff paints came out amazing, particularly in the spiderwebs.

Once I got comfortable with the paints, I began to marble a few and such!

...and best, they really DO cling to slick surfaces!

Quick and easy!  The longest part is the dry time!

<3 WW