DIY No Sew Petti-Tutu

Oh yeah, I am totally making like 50 of these for “L” when she’s old enough to want one.  I found this tutorial and just had to try it out.  About a year ago, I asked my sister-in-law if my nieces were too old to have a tutu.  To my disappointment, she said yes.  Then in February, one of the sweet girls said to me, “Aunt Kelley, will you make me a tutu for my birthday”?  Wahwhawhawhaaaat!  Well, what do you think I said to her….?  Duh!    My head began turning, as to what the colors would be.  I had already found the greatest tutorial for the tutu I wanted to make.  Now I just needed to get the materials!  Oh what fun.  I will tell you!  Prep, prep, prep!  Cut all the materials you need first and foremost!  The most time consuming thing to this project was the tying the knots and looping the strips.  Get you a good movie and start tying and looping!  It took me three hours total to make this cute little tutu!  I added a little flower on the waist-line to help determine the front from the back.  And…if I do another one (which I will) I will do this to the waist-line:

It did turn out cute and my little niece loved it.  Which is ALL that matters.  Right!?!?

Oh yeah, see how fluffy it was!  Oh my goodness.    Am I too old for a tutu?  Ha ha.

Miracle Pan Release!

Yeah, that’s what I said.  Miracle Pan Release!  With “L’s” party just weeks away, I’ve been getting ready to make her first birthday cake.  It’s so fun to be girly!    Luckily for me, her first year photo shoot with Tasha B Photography is this Saturday and I have to do a mock up of her smash cake.  It’s gonna be the cutest photo shoot ever.  So today, I ran across this GREAT goo for a cake release.  I haven’t tried it but the girl swears by it.  All the comments say it’s a go too!  I don’t have any pictures of my goo but copied hers.  She totally gets the goods for this one.  Thanks Apron of Grace for the great post!

Another Chan Luu Bracelet Tutorial

Yes, I’m addicted now.  It’s official.  I love these bracelets and with all the beads I have left over from when my grandmother was obsessed…the sky is the limit.  She would be mortified that I was cutting up all her strands but hey.

Anywho…found this fabulous tutorial over at buatkalunggelang.  So far, this tutorial is the best tutorial I’ve found for these tiny beads.  The ONLY tid-bit is “fray-check” won’t work.  She say’s, “maybe”…I say, “nope”.  If you are going to spend the $4.99 at Michaels (SUPER GLUE works too) on pearl/bead glue, make sure you really need it.  So far, I haven’t put any glue on my pretties but that’s not to say I won’t before it’s all said and done.  Oh and it take at least three yards of thread to bead this puppy!  I have medium sized bones.  A 22″ inch bracelet goes around my wrist three times.  With all the wrapping you’ll do, be prepared to spend at least two hours.  Get a good movie, glass of wine and BEAD!  You’ll get better as you go.  These pictures are from the first two I made.  I made one yesterday that turned out beautiful.  I’m just too tired to post.  Maybe later…?

Here’s what they looked like.  Pretty huh!

I was given this fabulous box of buttons from my mother-in-law.  They were from her mother (granny allen).  So I am wearing stuff from both Grannies.  I love it.  Check out this cool antique button.  I think I’ll remake this bracelet and use my new techniques to hold the beads into place better.

Here’s the finished bracelet.  Cute huh.

Even after doing this one, I thought I’d make another one using these teal beads.  The cord I used is actually purple (that’s all I had) but it works. 

Now, go craft one of your own.  These $3 bracelets make for a good gift, right?!?!?  Right!

Chan Luu Bracelet Tutorial

Yeah, so I had to get back to crafting something other than “girly” stuff for my daughter’s FIRST birthday.  Not that I’m not totally excited about it but I need to do something that isn’t pink for a change.  I got on Pinterest and found this really cool bracelet!  Apparently, wrap bracelets are popular.  I made one and totally fell in LOVE.  Here is the tutorial over at Henry Happened.  I had so much fun making mine.  Here’s what I used.

6 – 32 inch leather strings
1 – 1 inch metal washer
24 brown wood beads

* The ONLY thing I can say is the most time consuming thing was the fastener.  I tied a knot with a washer on one end and a loop on the other.  Make SURE you follow the directions on the tutorial.  Six inches on either end (braided) and 24 beads in the middle.  Don’t tie it too tight but don’t tie it too loose either.  The bead will either slip around or they will pop out.  Get them just right.   Also, get something heaving to hold one set of stings to the side when you’re attaching the beads.  Otherwise it will be a big mess and you’ll have to keep resetting the beads.  Yuck.  Have fun. 

Hand Warmer

Not that we actually need these now, but really.  I can ALWAYS use a nice warm something to get my hands warm.  This one was actually the first one I made.  I’ve made three others since then.  Of course, they get better with practice.  Here’s what you’ll need:

1-2 Cups Long Grain Rice
Smell Good – Essential Oils
Some Cute Coordinating Fabric
(use whatever size you want but no bigger than 12X18)
Paper Funnel

First, pick out your essential oil.

Then pour your rice into a bowl.

Then drip a few drips of oil onto your rice.  Stir it up nicely.

After you’ve stirred up your rice, set it aside and get your fabric.

For this particular project, I sewed two 12X18 sheets together with the floral print.  Then with the other print, I basically sewed a pillow case (for easy washing) to go over it.

For the left-over rice, I just sealed it away in a Zip-lock bag.

Go make one!  They are so easy.  Remember, send me a picture.  I wanna see your creative ideas.