{DIY} Artsy Journal

 

 

 I made a pretty new journal the other day that I have begun taking to class with me. It's just so cute and since it fits in my purse (and coordinates!), I figured why not? I haven't written in it yet, though.

 

 

I grabbed some wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, double sided tape, and scissors, as well as the notebook. The actual composition book, not the movie.

 

 

 

I wrapped the book very simply with the wrapping paper, securing it with the tape along the inside edges. I added a random magazine cutout...not sure where I got the magazine. I cut two strips and a butterfly from the scrapbook paper, and added letter stickers for my initials.

 

I then added a length of ribbon, also attached with tape (yeah, it's not getting roughly handled and I had already burned myself with my hot glue gun that day, so...).

 

Tie it up and you're done! Write in it, or just let it hang out on your desk!

 

 

DIY Target Chair Makeover

 

Hello, everyone! I have for you today my recent chair makeover. I got this chair on clearance at Target for $10 (I think it was originally $20, so a pretty good deal) and I've had it for awhile, but now that my room is coming together and the accent colors have pretty much picked themselves (these were not my original accent colors, not even close!), I had to do something with the stark red color.

 

 

The red Target office chair. It sticks out like a sore thumb right now. That's going to change........now.

 

I started by tracing a rough template on paper with a pencil. These were not by any means totally accurate, I just needed something to help me cut out the basic pieces for the covers.

 

 

I cut the back piece on the fold and the seat piece on two folds, so now I have these. Man, are they wrinkled. A quick iron will fix that!

 

I decided to add stripes to the covers, so I snagged two curtain tiebacks (please don't tell my mom) and stitched them in place with white thread.

 

I pinned the whole back piece in place and made adjustments and cuts to fit it in place all the way around. I had to do the top first and then the center bottom, the sides, and then the rest of the bottom.

 

If you are noncommittal like me, you may not want to permanently attach this just yet. I stapled mine in place.

 

The whole cushion stapled in place. I went to bed so I could get a fresh look at it the next day.

 

And if you still like it the next day (I did), remove the staples and pin the cover back in place. Be sure to smooth it out, unlike me.

 

Stitch the cover in place with matching or contrasting thread. I used dark red, so it shows in some spots, but is totally hidden around the stripe.  

 

And once you secure your threads and snip the excess, you now have a chair to be happy to see! Or at least, I am...I have issues.

 

Have a wonderful Thursday!

{DIY} Accent Pieces

 

Hello, everyone! Today, I am sharing with you a couple of accent pieces I worked on recently. I covered up a box and made it into a tray for my sewing table, and I recovered a brick so it would fit in better on my bookcase!

Here is the "tray" before. Just a boring little ipad mini box. For this mini project (no pun intended), I used scrapbook paper, hot glue, scissors, and some tiny clock embellishments. I cut strips of the scrapbook paper and glued the long sides in place. Then I glued on the short end pieces. Any excess paper is folded to the bottom. Then I hot glued on the little clocks -- I though they added a nice touch -- and placed everything back into the new tray!

 

Isn't this better than seeing ugly words on a stark white box?

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Next, I dealt with the brick. This is a very old brick. I used it for a science project back in maybe 3rd or 4th grade. And I'm starting my second year of college in the fall.  So to make it over from the ugly old fabric stuck on it, I grabbed some leftover pillow sham fabric, hot glue, and scissors for the job. I wrapped the brick like a present and instead of taping, I placed beads of hot glue to secure all of it.

When I first pulled the old sunflower fabric off of this brick, I was in shock but not much. The fabric had been on there so long, that the green and yellow from the flowers was dyed into the brick! I couldn't believe it! But I also could. Either way, I'm glad the new fabric is plenty thick enough to hide it easily.

And here is the recovered brick in its new spot. Full disclosure: I took these photos before the walls were painted and the books, brick, and kindle were all moved to the bottom shelf yesterday.  

 

Happy Tuesday!

I said I was done, but...

I used to sell reborn baby dolls, not regularly, but I sold them. I have 5 dolls living with new mommies and most of them were enjoyable experiences. I have three kits left in a box in my closet that I have finally decided to try and finish and sell. I will try to post progress pictures here, but it will be slow progress as I don't have much time to work on these dolls. And let's not forget to mention to $$$$$ involved!! These dolls are expensive to make! I may just price them low to make a quick sale (therefore, the prices on my website will change) and get rid of them, but I would be eating all of the expenses involved. 

I have the following kits on hand:

Kiri by Denise Pratt - I just found out a few days ago that she was discontinued...sad...

Brooke by Aleina Peterson - I always thought this kit was ugly. I am trying to make her cute. This is not an easy task. 

A Random eBay Berenguer Doll - This one is the same face as the first doll I ever completed. It definitely shows already how much I have improved in five years. 

You can see my adopted dolls here:

http://natashaskeepsakebabies.webs.com/apps/photos/