TooT! DIY "Thankful" Plaque - Turkey Day Decor

I'm not a decorate-y person.  I don't have boxes in the attic marked 'Valentine's Day', 'St. Patrick's Day', 'Easter', 'Thanksgiving', you get the point.  I have 2 lone Rubbermaid containers - 1 for Halloween and 1 for Christmas. 

After packing up the Halloweenie decor (can you call Halloween decorations decor???), I realized that the house was bare once again (well, except for about 50 toys strewn all over the place).  I felt I needed some fun, festive, Fall decorations to warm up this place. 

I have had the idea for my tablecloth in my mind for a little while now.  I knew that the tablecloth, while super cool, was not going to just stand on it's own.  I am also hosting our family's Turkey Day this year and really wanted a beautiful but clean table display.  So on the hunt I went.  I hunted Fall leaves for the tablecloth, vases (TooT! to come later) and inspiration.

 While I was at the Dollar Tree scoping out Fall leaves and vases I came across an awesome gift bag.  I just loved the pattern and colors and knew that it would not only work for Fall but for our house full time.  I grabbed it up and immediately realized that I needed to make some sort of plaque or framed art work or something with the gift bag as the background.  I then came across a pre-fab'd (fabricated) oval, wooden 'thing' in the crafty area of the $ Tree.  I remembered that I had a nice, new black frame at home that I bought at the Walton's Mega Dome (Wal-Mart) a while back on clearance and thus the 'Thankful' plaque was born...in my mind anyway.

Now it's alive and real and ready for you to make one of your own.  Let's get started! 

This project is so very easy and very inexpensive.  I got the bag and the wooden oval for $1 a piece and I already had the frame which I bet you do too. 

*You can use an existing frame.  Just take out what ever pic you have in it and use the frame during the holiday then put it all back the way you had it when you're ready to.

You probably already have glue of some sort, paint and either paint pens or even one of those ridiculous contraptions they call the Cricut or Silhouette that can do beautiful vinyl letters.

 Side Note:  Who would ever want one of those fabulous, amazing, SUPER AWESOME machines???  They only do EVERYTHING and are the COOLEST things I have ever seen. 

Not me!  I'm totally cool with not having one.

NOT !!!

Dear Silhouette, 

I heart you, very much.

I dream about you.

I love you.

Just sayin'

Can we do this or what? ;) ;) ;)

Materials

I think we've discussed this already but just in case...

Frame of your choice

Background of your choice - can be gift bag, wrapping paper or scrapbook paper

'Plaque'

Regular Glue (Mod Podge, Elmers) and Hot Glue

Paint

 Paint pens or AWESOME vinyl lettering from your SUPER SPECIAL machine

Shot of the oval and gift bag I used

Go ahead and paint your wooden plaque at this point so that it can be drying while you prepare everything else.  I used gloss black spray paint.  You could use anything though.  Maybe acrylic paint or even house paint.  Just do it! 

My 8 x 10 black frame

Carefully take your bag apart - you can do it, just be patient

Look at all of that awesome pattern real estate!

Trace the back of your frame onto the back of
the paper you are using and then cut out

I cut a piece of cardboard to glue my paper to.  I just did this so I
didn't have to use the flimsy board that came with the frame. 
We all have cereal boxes, right? 

Showing my paper and cardboard cut to size.  I then Mod Podged the
paper to the cardboard.  I only applied it to the back of the paper in a nice, thin,
even layer and then adhered it to the cardboard.

Add word of your choice with a paint pen for that home-made, not so perfect look.  If you have one of those boring machines, *yawn, go ahead and cut your beautiful vinyl letters and stick em on, however you all do that. (just jealous, lucky ladies) =)

Add hot glue to the back of your plaque. 
Make sure it's not thick but nice and even and then adhere it to the
pretty, paper covered cardboard piece.

Once dry, put it all in your frame and admire it's beauty!

This thing looks so cool!  It's literally 3D and very elegant looking.  I do sort of like that the letters aren't perfect and have a touch of that home-made look.  Don't get me wrong, I would do a back flip if I could make them perfect with cut out vinyl letters but for now this makes me very happy!

I Hope you are all enjoying your holiday prep and not stressing it.  Why worry about tomorrow when today has enough of it's own worries, right?  It will all work out the way it's suppose to and you will still be standing when it's over so just throw caution to the wind and have fun with it!!!

If you enjoyed this post or have any questions, please comment me.  I would totally love to hear from you!

Happy Thursday and Happy Holiday Crafting!!!

PEACE
LOVE &
Sweet Potatoes - I can't wait for those yummy sweet potatoes!

A

TooT! DIY No Slip Socks!

Like most awesome inventions these DIY No Slip Sox were born out of necessity.  Ok, so these aren't necessarily an invention.  I did not invent the sock, thank you that gal (you know it was a female...her little one's toes were probably super chilly so she weaved some wool and knitted up some foot and toe covers, thus socks were born!  I have no idea if that's really what happened but it is in my mind) ;)  I also did not invent the fabric paint.  But I did come up with these on the fly when Buggie ate it in the kitchen 7 times in a row in a matter of like 1 minute and 30 seconds!!!

We all have the store bought grippy socks with the fun little dots or some have designs.  Buggie even has a few pair.  It's not that they are horribly expensive but what if all of your grippy socks are dirty and you just can't stop falling down?!?  Then do this!  You probably have everything you need at home. 

Super cheap, super fun and SUPER CUTE!!!

Here we go...

Materials

Pair of Socks

Fabric paint

Out of the box thinking

Practice pair of socks, can be older and worn and maybe even slightly too small, like these!

Slip small piece of cardboard or wax paper in between the sock layers to protect the other side from paint and to keep them from drying shut :)

Choose your fabric paint.  I don't know how long I have had this stuff but it says it's dimensional fabric paint - but it's not puffy paint.  I have no clue!

Paint some super cute, fun designs on the footy part of the sock.  Make sure you cover enough of the area to actually count.  I later found out that this pair was not covered enough but they are really too small to matter so they just became the practice prototype. *When painting, keep it sort of thick and not pressed into the fabric of the sock.  This will keep it from inter-weaving and becoming flat.  This is key in getting that sticky, grippy effect.  

Here is another very cute pair. 

I just love the 2 color combo, the possiblities are endless!  

There you go.  An easy, fast and very rewarding, no sew project. 

PEACE

LOVE &

Painted Sox!!!

A

TooT! DIY Festive Fall Tablecloth!

I have had the awesome honor of being a Featured Blogger over at
What Allie's Making Now.  Please go visit her killer blog - you cannot believe the talent this chick has.  I can't get over some of her creations.  A-MAY-ZING!!!
I am guest posting over there today...sweet, right?

   
This is my rendition of a Festive Fall Tablecloth...for about $10.  Ya!  $10.  Sounds good, right???  Well let's make one!!!

Materials

Black sheet (or color of your choice) large enough to cover your table: $4-$6* depending on size

Fall Leaves: $2.50*

Metallic Thread: $1.94*

Sewing machine, pins, scissors, iron, patience ;) $0 if you already have these things

*Wally land prices

I chose a black sheet.  I thought black would look sooooo good with the beautiful colors of Fall.  It's also my favorite color and I couldn't see anything else on my table but black!  I am using a TWIN size sheet to cover my table and then some.

We need to make our square/rectangular sheet into an oval.  If you have a round table an oval will work but there will be lots of excess.  You might need to adjust this part of the 'how-to' so that it works for you.  If your table is square, or a rectangle, than just get the right size sheet to cover your table and skip to step 8.

1.  Lay your sheet out flat.  Now fold it in half width wise and then fold that in half again. 

2.  Now mark the area of the fold on both ends of the sheet with chalk.  I just stuck my finger in the fold to wiggle it apart a bit and then marked it.  Make sure you do this on each end of the sheet. 

3.  Unfold your sheet one time (do not unfold all the way) so that it is just folded in half.  Now we need to mark the long edge of the sheet.  (This is all in prep for cutting our rounded shape to make an oval.)  Measure the long edge and then divide by 4.  My long edge measured 75" so divide that by 4 and get 18.75" or 18-3/4".  Now I measure in from the right side 18.75" and marked this with chalk and then did the same from the left side (see pics).

4.  The pic I took for this next part just did not come out right so I will do my best to explain. 

Once you have marked both ends of the sheet fold it half but the opposite of the way we originally folded it.  So instead of folding it width wise again you are going to fold it length wise.  Fold it so that the you see the marked edges once it's folded.  So one side will have one set of marks and if you flip it over the other side will have the same marks.  They should actually line up with eachother.  Check it so that you know that you have measured and marked those 18.75" marks correctly.

5.  Now we are going to cut through all of the layers.  Make sure you have a cutting mat underneath the sheet.  I used my existing tablecloth's rounded edge as a guide.  I layed it on the square connecting the chalk marks and traced the rounded edge.  Then, using my rotary cutter (love that little beast!) I cut the rounded edge I just traced. 

 

6.  We need to cut the rest of the original hem off now that we have our rounded edges.  Then either create a new hem or serge the edges of the entire sheet/tablecloth.

Serged edge...not sure what happened to this picture :/



7.  Now you have an oval tablecloth!  Nice!!!  Try it on your table to make sure you like the size.

8.  Now the fun part!  Carefully peel the leaves off of their plastic stems.  They should come off pretty easily just go kinda slow and steady.

I seperated the leaves into piles by color. 

9.  Lay out your leaves all around your tablecloth until you get them in a 'pattern' that you like and then pin them on.

 

I also marked what I wanted to be the front of the tablecloth with small x's done in chalk.

10.  Load your machine with the metallic thread.  You only need to use it for the top thread.  I used regular black for the bobbin.

11.  Sew on the leaves.  You can do this however you would like.  I did mine by starting at the base of the leaf and following closely to the edges all the way around.  When I got back to where I started I continued up the main 'vein' of the leaf.  Then, on the larger leaves, I did a few of the small 'veins' that branch out.  Make sure that you are backstiching when you start and finish each stitch.



12.  Admire your new tablecloth in all of it's AWESOME glory!!!

    

I know the pictures don't quite do it justice but the way the metallic thread shimmers off the light ever so subtly is spectacular!!!  I am thrilled with the way it turned out and hope that you love it, too!

Please let me know if you have any questions.  I would totally love to see your tablecloth if you try this out.  Please send picures to

littlebuggietutu@gmail.com

Enjoy your day...it is a GIFT!

PEACE

   LOVE &

      Turkey - bring it on!

A