More posts coming soon...

I know it'd been forever since I've posted, but moving is crazy and I haven't even set up my sewing machine yet! Keep checking though-more is coming soon, I promise!

Upcycled Dresser using decorative paper - Tutorial!

I got this dresser at a garage sale for 5$. It was completely raw wood, and very dirty! I wanted to find a way to spruce it up without spending a fortune, and managed to do it for FREE, using just the supplies I had on hand. For the paper, I had a piece of scrapbook paper that I loved but didn't know if they sold anymore. So, I scanned it in and printed off copies of it. You can either do that or use scrapbook paper, wrapping paper, or anything else you like!

What you need:
- 1 crappy dresser
- interior (latex) house paint
- paper of your choosing- enough to cover your drawers
- mod podge
- brushes: one for paint, one foam one for the mod podge
- optional: contrasting paint for the knobs, new decorative knobs, etc.

Before:

Step 1: Prep the dresser. If the dresser already has paint on it or a varnish, you will want to sand it down so the paint will stick. Wipe the dresser down after sanding it.

Step 2: Take the drawers out, and paint the dresser. You’ll want to do several light coats, depending on the color of your paint. If it’s dark, you’ll need less; light you’ll need more.

Step 3: Now’s the fun part. Take the knobs out of the dressers (you might need a power screw driver for this). Cut the paper to size—you can use several sheets to cover one drawer, just try to line the paper up so it matches. Paint a quick layer of mod podge on the wood and press the paper on.

Step 4: Poke holes in the paper where the knobs will screw back in. Paint another layer of mod podge over the paper on the drawers. Next, paint the knobs if necessary, then screw them back in.

Depending on your dresser style, you may need to paint the sides of the drawers where the paper doesn’t cover. Enjoy!

Etsy Shop and Teacup Pincushions

I finally set up my etsy shop! I'm still not done, but it's getting there :). I have some pincushions I made with vintage china that I'm putting up for sale. I really wish I could keep them, but I simply don't have the room or the money to keep making stuff and keeping it!
Check it out at rufflesandrosescraft.etsy.com
Here's a picture of the ones that will be going up in the next couple days, curtesy of the Photographer:

Ruffle Pillow Tutorial

These are really easy to make, and really cute!

What you'll need:
-2 pieces of cotton in the desired color a little bigger than the size you want your pillow to be
-poly fill/stuffing/batting
-strips of jersey or knit (you can use a t shirt for this!), enough to cover the length of the pillow with them slightly overlapping. The length of the strips should be the width of the pillow plus another half.

Step 1: Sew a gathering stitch down each strip, then gather to the width of the pillow.

Step 2: I forgot to take a picture at this step, but it's pretty straightforward. Sew each of the ruffles to the cotton, slightly overlapping. This works best if you start at the bottom, then sew the next one so the bottom of it slightly overlaps and hides the seam of the first ruffle. I left a slight gap on the top because I didn't want the ruffles to go all the way to the top, then stitched a ribbon along the top ruffle.

Step 3: Sew the two cotton pieces together, making sure to catch the ruffles in the pillow at the right place. Then, stuff the pillow and sew up the opening. You're done!

Projects to come

I've been thinking of more t shirt refashions that I could do, and the possibilities seem pretty endless. Here are some pictures of shirts I'm going to be attempting in the future, as soon as I get my hands on some more T-shirts:

More coming soon... I promise

Sorry about the lack of posts, I've been very sick :(. I will be having some new tutorials coming up hopfully in the next couple days. I'm also thinking about changing my blog name to something a little more descriptive, so if the name changes don't be surprised!

Smocked Dress

I love smocking right now, and am using it on everything! Here's the first smocked dress I made. It was definitely experimental, but I think it turned out well and I learned a lot from it! I love the fabric especially- it is so cheerful and vintage-looking.

I have a bunch of fabric all ready for more smocked dresses- I'm also planning on putting some of them on etsy, since I love to make them but can only keep so many! I also want to make another one of these with the same fabric. Check back to see the polka dot one that I'm working on now...

Ruffle Rose Tank - Tshirt Refashion Tutorial Part II

Here's the second part of the ruffle rose tank tutorial - the rose appliques!

Step 1: Pull out those strips you cut earlier. Make sure your top thread matches the fabric that you're using. Grab the end of one of the strips and fold it over into a little scrunched design- there's really no rhyme or reason to this,so just do what you think looks good for the center. Pin it on your shirt where you want the center of the rose to go.

Step 2: Put the presser foot down on the center of your rose, and start to sew. Sew a little ways past the center on the strip, then fold the strip at a 90 degree angle, and sew down a short ways. Flip the strip again, this time at a slightly bigger angle. Continue doing this all the way around in a spiral, until the rose is the size you're looking for. This may sound really confusing, but if you look at the pictures and give it a try you'll figure it out- it's really easy, and the best part is it doesn't have to be perfect. Every rose will be unique.

Step 3: Once you have the rose the size you want, cut the remainder of the strip off so you have about an inch. Tuck it under the last layer in a way that hides the edge, then stitch to the end.You're done! These really just take practice-you can get creative with them and figure out different ways to fold them as you're sewing. Follow the pictures and you should be fine!

NOTE: If you flip the fabric over and look at the back, the bobbin thread should be tracing a spiral out on the shirt. This can really help guide you if your rose is looking a little crooked or lopsided!

Enjoy! Post links to pictures if you make any of these!

Flower Ruffle Tank - Tshirt refashion tutorial, Part I

This project resulted in what is now my favorite shirt. The best part? It cost me 2 dollars and took half an hour. AND, no hemming, because it's a cotton knit!

What you need:
-A blank cotton Tshirt - either new or used, but it needs to be as big as possible. Michaels has them for 3 dollars, sometimes on sale for 2. I wear a small and bought a XXL, but I also only used about half of the extra fabric.
-Thread matching the color of your shirt-A tank top that will be used as your cutting guideline

Step 1: Lay out the tank top on top of the t shirt. Line up the part that goes over your shoulders with the fold on the t shirt. Make sure it's centered, or it will fit weird.

Step 2: Cut it out! First, cut the bottom strip off so the length is correct.Keep in mind how tightly the tank top you're cutting around fits, and how much tshirt material stretches (it does, but not as much as ribbed tank tops do!) Either way, leave at least about an inch on each side as a seam and error allowance- you can alter it to fit better later. Make sure that the shoulder pieces stay together (so the back and front are still connected). Cut out the desired shape and depth of your neckline as well.

Step 3: Sew the sides together. Now let's look at the fabric you cut off. First, look a the strip you cut off the bottom. You'll want to cut this in to strips about 3/4 of an inch. You will need at least a couple of these; I would suggest three. If you don't have enough fabric to do this, you'll have to use some of the fabric you cut off the sides for it. These strips will be for the roses, which I'll get to later. The picture below doesn't show these (sorry).

Step 4: Cut the sleeves off of the extra side material you have. Then, cut the shoulder, so it lays flat. Now, you'll cut the ruffles out. Measure around your neckline, from front to back to front again. Multiply this number by somewhere between 1.5 to2 (2 will be fuller ruffles, 1.5 will be a little more subtle), then cut strips from the fabric and sew them together to get the correct length (that got when you you multipled before). When do you this, make sure you cut a smooth line as these won't be hemmed! Any jagged edges will show and look bad.

Step 5: Sew the ends of the ruffle together (so you have a loop), then do a running stitch down the length of it. Gather and pin to your neckline with the shirt INSIDE OUT, and the raw edges together. This way, whe you turn the shirt right side in, you should be able to flip the ruffle over and the raw edges will be hidden. Flip the ruffle, the sew it in place all the way around.

Ruffle pinned to wrong side, before sewing:

And after (it looks a little crooked in the picture, but it isn't I promise!):

Check back tomorrow for part two: making the rose appliques! I promise they're super easy (each one took me about 2 minutes) and look beautiful!


For Part Two Click HERE

Pictures, future tutorials, and etsy!

I'd like to apologize for the poor pictures in all my tutorials. I've been away from my Photographer, and have had to rely on my less than amazing skills. Good news though-I will soon be moving and will be near The Photographer again, so amazing pictures will be accompanying my tutorials in no time at all.

I also will be posting some items in my Etsy shop as soon as The Photographer can take some pictures for me.

Check back later tomorrow for a tutorial of one of my all time favorite projects- A rose ruffle tank refashion from a plain old t-shirt. It will be truly amazing, I promise (and it only takes about 30 minutes to complete).

Also, check out the my mama made it exchange button to the right. Yay for sewing supplies exchanges!