Callaloo Soup

Tuesday To Do: Felt Alphabet Hanging

When Ohdeedoh recently featured the map monogram that I made for Kieran, some of the commenters asked about the felt alphabet hanging they could see in the photos.

As luck would have it, I did take some photos when I made it two years ago, so it's my Tuesday To Do for this week!

Supplies:

Thick felt for backing measuring 22"x 11" (56cm x 28cm)

Felt in a variety of colours for the squares and loops

Ribbon

Felt letters: I used the Thickers letters by American Crafts of which I had a large variety in my stash, but you could possibly cut these out by hand or with a die cutting machine,

How to :

Cut 27 coloured squares of felt 2"x 2" (5cm x 5cm)

Cut 27 squares of felt 2&1/4" x 2&1/4" (5.5 cm x 5.5 cm) I alternated red and white for these and also used one black square

Cut five pieces of felt for the loops measuring 4" x 2" (10 cm x 5 cm)

Arrange the squares in layers as shown - (larger square, then smaller square), and add the letters. Since I was using stickers they already had adhesive (which has lasted two years and survived a move!). If you're using cut out letters you will need to use a fabric or other craft adhesive.

I played with the arrangement of the top layer so that same or similar colours weren't right next to each other. I also added a felt shape on the 27th square.

Pin the loops and ribbon to the backing as shown

 

 Use decorative stitches to stitch down the ribbon, as well as make a border. The border stitch should be about 1/2 " (1.25 cm) from the edge. This stitch will also stitch down the loops.

Finally pin the squares to the backing and use a straight stitch around the four sides to attach each one.

And that's it!

I made loops so that I could use a dowel to hang it. That part is still on my to-do list!

I hope this made some sense. Please feel free to ask any questions in the comments.

 

Tuesday To Do: Map Monogram

One of the things I've wanted to do for Kieran is a monogram K of some sort, so when I saw these I quickly bookmarked the idea.

 
The original are wooden, but I opted for the papier mache letters which are readily available at the craft store. So this is my version:

 

I used a world map that was a freebie in a mailing from a charitable association.

Here's how I made it.

I placed the letter on the portion of the map I wanted to use and traced around it.

You can see that I managed to capture both a portion of France, as well as the West Indian islands in my K shape.

I covered the back of the cut out shape with a PVA type glue - the kind that dries clear.

Then smoothed the paper onto the papier mache letter and applied a coating of the glue on top.

It dries clear and provides a protective seal. This was a quick one, even taking drying time into consideration.

 
I'll post more about where it is actually located very soon!

Update: You can now see Kieran's play area in this post.

 

If you liked this tutorial please consider sharing it with your friends in via your favourite social media site.

P.S. If you're visiting here from Pinterest, I'd love it if you followed me there! Leave me a comment with a link to your profile and I'll follow you back :)

P.P.S if you're looking for vintage maps or other papers for crafting please check out my Vintage Shop on Etsy

 

Tuesday To Do: Camera Bag Hack

I first saw this idea back in November last year, and really wanted to get it done before my trip. Alas, another of the things that had to wait. But after lugging around my camera and lenses in a really unsuitable way on the trip, I knew this would have to be one of the first projects I attacked this year. Then I ran across it again while browsing online and that was all I needed to get busy!

So here is my fancy new low cost camera bag.

Here's how I made it using the innards and a padded divider from an older bag, some cute fabric and a handbag bought on sale.

The main part of my bag is the inside of my old Tracy Joy camera bag (which no longer exists it seems). The main problem I had with this bag is that it was narrow, so when full with all my equipment it was difficult or impossible to close. I ripped out the inside portion which has a number of sewn in pockets, as well as the foam padding that was stitched into the sides.

I measured and cut a piece of fabric to fit over the outside of the innards, and stitched the foam padding to it. And by measured I mean that I wrapped the fabric around the innards and cut to suit!

I then turned it inside out, and fit the original bag innards into it

Then I folded in the top edge and stitched the two pieces together.

Finally, I covered the padded divider with some of the same fabric.

Basically what I created is a camera bag insert. I popped it into my new handbag and voila!

It holds my camera body with attached lens, two extra lenses, filters, cables, and other accessories. Plus space for my wallet, keys and cell phone. And when I get bored with this handbag I can just pop the entire thing into another one!

Is this something you think you might try? If so I'd love to see it! The two sites that I linked to show a couple other ways that you can do this, so be sure to check them out.

I am so happy. No more boxy camera bag!

 

 

 

 

Tuesday To-Do: Last Minute Advent Calendar. And It's Portable Too!

I wanted to take some kind of advent calendar with us on the trip for Kieran. Last year we just did the basic grocery store one with bad chocolate (which Lucas and I ate), but this year I wanted something handmade. But it needed to be able to travel. I finally hit upon an idea yesterday: envelopes!

I remembered that I had these envelopes in a stationary set that I bought on clearance like three years ago.

There's a reason I never throw anything away.

I cut out patterned paper and number labels for each envelope. This is a hybrid project. All the papers were digital ones that I printed out. I made the number circles using a Christmas themed circle brush by Karla Dudley and the Hero font (which is a free download by the way)

Then bound them into a book with my Bind-it-All.

The covers are just red cardstock. I used a "rejected" number from my December Daily project for the cover.

As for what will go in the envelopes, well I am currently working on Christmas themed flashcards to add before tomorrow morning!

So that's two daily projects for December. Heaven help me. I think I will hand the Advent Calendar duties over to Lucas!

Are you doing an Advent Calendar this year?

 

 

 

Tuesday Tip: Saving Paper with the Slice

Whenever I have to cut a lot of the same shapes with my Slice digital cutter, I find it frustrating not to know exactly where to put my paper for the least wastage possible. I finally came up with a way to save myself that little frustration (yes, it is indeed the little things).

Here's how!

1. Use scrap paper to cut the shape you need. Make sure to line the cutter up exactly on the edges of the glass cutting mat when cutting.

2. Leaving the cut out design on the mat, turn it over and use a permanent pen, like a Sharpie to draw around the shape.

3. Remove the paper and you're good to go!

Now you can position your paper over the shape and maximise your paper use! Just remember to always line the cutter up on the glass mat edges and it will cut in the same place. Since there are a few shapes I cut regularly, You will see that I used a different colour for each one.

Oh and the reason it is drawn on the back is so that it's not lost when you need to clean and reapply the adhesive. I learned that one the hard way! You can always do it that way if you'll be using one shape a lot for just one cutting session though.

So what do you think? Will this help you when using your Slice?

Tuesday To-Do: Sewing Machine Cover

I finally got tired enough of the ugly plastic cover my sewing machine came with to do something about it.

This was a pretty quick project to complete. Probably less than hour all told. Here's how I did it.

1. I carefully ripped apart the existing plastic cover, undoing all the hems too.

I ended up with a front piece, a back piece, a pocket and a long piece that runs from one side, over the top and down the other side.

2. Then I used the pieces as my pattern. I pinned them to my fabric and cut pieces out.

When cutting out you want to be sure that you cut the pieces so that the pattern on the fabric will run in the same direction on the finished cover. I totally didn't pay attention when I was doing this, but the sewing godesses were looking down on me and it just happened to work out!

To cut out the long side and top piece I folded it in half like so, and pinned it to folded fabric.

3. I traced the slot for the handle with dressmaker's chalk

At this point I had an aha moment as I realised that this is why I need a rotary cutter. Since I don't have one, I decided that my metal ruler and craft knife that I use for scrapping should work the same. So that's how I cut the slot.

4. I started assembling the cover by first hemming the top of the pocket and stitching it to the front piece

Then I hemmed the handle slot

Finally I stitched the front and back pieces to the long middle piece and voila!

I honestly don't know why I waited so long! I really thought this was going to be a complicated project but it definitely wasn't. Now I want to make covers for everything! I also did two other sewing projects that same day. One of them isn't worth seeing the light of day, but I'll post about the other one soon.

Tuesday To-Do - Cone Advent Calendar

I came up with this idea two years ago, and posted it over on my (sadly neglected tutorial blog as part of my series of holiday crafts in 2008. Since then, around this time of year I notice lots of hits to the blog, and this post in particular. So I decided to share it here as well!

 

The Story

I was going through one of my mother-in-law's old magazines and saw a photo of a banner made from cones. Since I was looking for Christmas ideas a light went off, and I thought: Advent Calendar! This is a great project for using up your stash. I didn't purchase a thing to be able to make this. Which says a lot about the size of my stash!

Supplies
Template (the PDF file is attached to this post) Download cone_template.pdf
24 pieces of patterned paper (I used seasonal and non seasonal)
24 pieces ribbon and/or trim
Assorted flowers, brads, sequins and other embellishments
Numbers 1-24 (I used stickers, but you can also use stamps and rub-ons)
1&1/2" circle punch
Ink
Hole punch
String, twine or ribbon

Instructions

(1) Print out the template and cut out. Use to cut 24 pieces from patterned paper. To do this, place template as shown on the back of patterned paper, trace and cut out

 

(2) Form cone by rolling cut out shape and gluing together as shown

It may take a few tries to get this right and form a nice pointy cone, so I advise trying this with some scrap paper until you get the hang of it. I also found that it was more difficult to get a nice cone shape with cardstock weight papers. Regular weight papers worked extremely well however! Once you get the hang of it then you just need to make 24 of the suckers! :)

(3) Decorate rim of cone by adding ribbon or trim (I just used my regular adhesive for this, but you can also use fabric or ribbon glue)

Now add a flower, or two, plus a brad or sequin if you like! I added my flowers over the spot where the ribbon ends meet.

Note: I didn't spend a lot of time finding embellishments that matched because I really wanted the project to have a homespun feel. Here's a pic of some of my decorated cones

(4) Punch 24 circles from patterned paper, ink the edges and number them 1 to 24

Then add to front of cones below flower. Once again, not a lot of matching going on

(5) Now put it all together!!! Cut three peices of string or ribbon each 2 yards long. Punch a hole in the back of the cones and tie eight cones onto each piece at regular intervals. I did mine in random order, but you can to do it in sequential order.

Now you can fill with treats and/or activities for the month of December and hang in your home!

A couple more photos

I'd love to see if you make one of these! You can use papers to match whatever your holiday decor would be this year, or just a randoe assemblage like I did.

May the Holiday crafting begin!

 

Tuesday To-Do - Chipboard Mini Album

My latest tutorial on the Design House Digital blog shows how I made the cover and pages for this hybrid mini album.

Today I wanted to show you how I constructed the album itself. When I came up with the idea for the album I knew I wanted it to be a square chipboard mini. Looking through my basket of blank minibooks, I didn;t have one that fit my idea, but I did come across a package of 5"x5" Bazzill Really Big Chips. I'd also been hoarding some kraft book binding tape for a couple years now, and thought this would be the perfect time to try it out!

Above are the supplies I used, plus scissors and a craft knife. The tape is gummed and when wet becomes sticky.

I cut three pieces of the tape just longer than 5"

Then lay two of the pieces of chipboard next to each other, like so

Then with a sticky piece of tape attached them together

The tape forms the hinge bewtween the pages. To finish up the book I folded the pages up

cut off the excess, then added the next page

and so on until the book was complete.

I used a fourth piece of tape as a binding on the outside of the book.

Finally, I covered all the pages with kraft cardstock.

And voila! A blank minialbum ready to fill with memories!

You can see all the steps I did for creating and adding the pages over on Design House Digital.