Saturday, November 19, 2011

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 41

Another week of Sew Darn Crafty is here. I just love seeing all your projects, crafts, recipes and ideas. Whether it's your first time linking up or your 41st time, I want to say a great big thank you for each visit.

This week and next week are anything goes, but in December you can also link posts during Christmas/ Holiday theme weeks. See below for specific weeks and themes.

Here are the weeks and the theme for the weeks to come...so start putting all your great posts together!

December 4th...Christmas/Holiday Decor
December 11th...Cookie Recipes
December 18th...Last Minute gift ideas

If you want to add the button to your blog...Click HERE for a tutorial for adding a button


If you're NEW to Sew Darn Crafty, then grab a cup of something tasty, sit back and join in on the fun (starts Sunday and lasts all week long at Sew Many Ways).

WHAT IS SEW DARN CRAFTY...
  • "Sew" for anything to do with sewing,
  • "Darn" for anything to do with knitting. I always think of darning to do with knitting, but in my case "darn" usually is similar to the word I say when I mess up crafting!!
  • Let's not forget the word "crafty"...that can mean just about anything we do to create.

WHAT IS A LINKING PARTY...

So now we all know what Sew Darn Crafty means, let's explain a linking party again. I subscribe to a linking service, which provides the ability to link thumbnail pictures on my blog. The picture is a link that other bloggers provide to share their projects.

Two things can happen at a linking party...looking and/or linking
  • you can be greatly inspired by wonderful projects, ideas or vacation pictures (looking) and/or
  • you can share what you've been up to (linking)
If you want to be inspired by all the great ideas...just click on a picture and it will take you to that post from a wonderful blogger willing to share her thoughts and ideas.


HOW AND WHAT TO LINK TO THE PARTY...

Sew Darn Crafty is all about YOU!! Show off your projects, share a tutorial, show us your vacation pictures, share a family favorite recipe...share anything. Not only does linking inspire us all, it also brings lots of new people to your blog for a visit. Click here for past parties and lots of inspiration

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

  • link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not  search through all your entire blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post.
  • link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
  • anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects, vacations, parties etc...
  • visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
  • grab a Sew Darn Crafty button for your blog (on my right side bar) or just link to the party in your post.
  • the more we share, the more people will join and then there's more inspiration to look at!
  • linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
  • just click the "click here to enter" button and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week,
~Karen~

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Thoughts on Thursday...

"I've learned that people will forget what you said,
people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel."

                                                       ~Maya Angelou~



Have a thoughtful Thursday,
~Karen~

Monday, November 14, 2011

Tool Time Tuesday...Light Plate Cover

Happy Tuesday everyone...today's project is a quick fix for an old problem that we've had, but I would rather not hire someone to come in and fix.

See this picture below...this is the "after".



This is the before...


We moved into this house 18 years ago. Nothing was our style, including lights, colors, kitchen, flooring etc. Well, little by little we changed things. We put these sconces in to replace very big and very ugly wall lights. The previous owner had them off center, because she had corner cabinets in this room. Off center doesn't work for me, but there were more important things to do over the years.



Well, I can't take off center any more. I didn't want to remove the electrical box all together just in case we want to do something later when we can afford it. So covering it up is the thing to do.

I did take pictures of the steps to remove this fixture, but decided against showing it. You should hire someone qualified to remove it or if you know someone with experience. It is easy, but I don't want to be responsible!!

The most important thing is TURN OFF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER TO THE LIGHT...not just the light switch!!!



Here's what you may have when it's off...1 or 2 mounts.


Measure these holes or the holes that are on the diagonal bracket in the back. I used the larger holes in the back.


Here's my saving grace...a $2.00 cover plate.


Super thin, so it's flat against the wall.


Metal on one side and white on the other.


I painted it the wall color.


and the screws too!


Screw it in and it's invisible...well, almost. Good enough for me!!


I circled here...


The wall sconce was off to the left on this wall and off to the right on the opposite wall. Couldn't do anything with lamps with that crazy thing stuck up there!

Here's the after again.


Here is the plate circled. I might add a little wall plaster in the groves of the screws to really fill it in.




Here's a quick tip for a bow. I used chair webbing or strapping.


and place your jar candle on a candle stick and wire some berries around it. Better than worrying about a regular candle on there.


Here's a peek at another dresser redo...stay tuned. Nothing earth shattering, but not bad. No before pictures, because this is a hand me down 4 times over!!


Have a great Tuesday,
~Karen~

Belt Makeover and Flower Tutorial...

Being frugal with 2 girls in college is a way of life right now. Doing simple projects to spice things up is easy.

Here's a new look for an old belt...add a matching flower and we're good to go!!



I liked the belt, but don't wear much pink...




All you need is some kind of glue and fabric. I used  spray glue, but Mod Podge would work great too...even just white glue.


I traced the belt buckle on paper.


and trimmed to fit.




Used that for a pattern for the fabric.




I sprayed the back of the fabric with the glue not the belt buckle.


Use a plastic sandwich baggie to press the fabric. Spray glue is very sticky.


Now for the flower...I just cut 8 three inch circles of the same belt fabric and one smaller circle out of felt. You will also need one pin back and hot glue.


You can buy large packages of the pin backs at the craft store if you are going to make flowers for gifts.




I pinched 4 circles with the right side of the fabric in...


and 4 circles pinched with the right side of fabric out.


I gathered up the 4 with the right side in...




and whipped stitched the 4 of them together at the point.




Here are the 4 with the fabric for the center of the flower.


Now place the 4 circles with the right side of the fabric on the outside around the first bunch. Whip stitch the points together again.


All stitched together.


Now take your smaller felt circle and punch little holes the size of your pin back.


Place the pin back through the holes with the back flat part of the pin on the back of the circle.


Hot glue the whole unit to the bottom of the flower.


Belt and matching flower pin!! Fast and easy!








Go through your closet and see what you can spruce up for FREE!!!
~Karen~

Wisata Danau Toba - Sumatera Utara

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