Make Your Own Curtains

Too Cute Curtains

Whatever you love - birdhouses, hearts, teapots, _____ (fill in the blank!) you can bring your passion into your home with curtains and rods to match!

What You'll Need

Fabric of your choice

Aleene's Fabric Fusion

Scissors

Ruler

1/2" - 3/4" diameter dowel (measure length for your window)

2 decorative pieces for the end of your rods, wood or paper mache

Drill with bits for wood or craft knife for paper mache

2 sawtooth picture hangers

Nails

Hammer

Iron

How You Make It

1. Wash fabric to remove size. Iron to remove wrinkles.

2. Hem one long edge of fabric by folding over 1/2" to wrong side and gluing. Repeat on two short ends of fabric.

3. For casing, fold fabric over 1/2" to wrong side and glue down. Fold fabric down 2-1/2" and glue. Let dry.

4. Make hole in decorative pieces using drill or craft knife.

5. Attach hangers on back of decorative pieces.

6. Place curtain on dowel. Insert decorative pieces on dowel.

Backpack

Back to School Backpack

Whether you're 9 or 90 and heading back to school, make toting your stuff an expression of you!

Here's What You Need!
Aleene's Fabric Fusion
Tulip Glam-It-Up! Iron-On Crystals
Tulip Cordless Heat-Setting Tool
Backpack
Chalk pencil
Trim with dangles
Studs, star shape

Here's How to Make It!
1. Draw letters on center of backpack, using chalk pencil. Place Crystals over letters. Preheat Heat-Setting Tool following package instructions. Gently press Tool on top of a Crystal and hold for a few seconds. Let cool. Touch to make sure it is adhered. If not, reheat. Continue with all Crystals.
2. Glue studs randomly on backpack.
3. Glue trim where desired. Let dry.
4. Add Crystals along edge of trim.

SOCK IT TO ME DECORATED SOCKS

I was just out shopping and ran across some adorable decorated socks for $7.99 EACH!!! It reminded me of these socks I made a few holidays back and I thought I'd share them with you.

What you need to make them
Tulip® 3D Fashion Paint™, desired colors
Aleene's® Fabric Fusion™
Socks
Fabric, Christmas print
Scissors
Giftwrap tube or jar
Cosmetic sponge
Plate
Waxed paper

Here's How to Make Them
1. Prewash fabric and socks using no fabric softener. Dry.
2. Loosely cut out desired designs from fabric. Place fabric, wrong side up, on waxed paper.
3. Pour a small amount of Fabric Fusion on plate. Dab sponge into glue and dab on back of fabric. This will keep the fabric from fraying. Let dry.
4. Cut closely around design.
5. Dab a generous amount of Fabric Fusion on back of fabric. Smooth on sock. Repeat until desired look is achieved.
6. Place socks on jar or giftwrap tube. Make dots or outline fabric with 3D Fashion Paint. Let dry. Socks may be washed after 72 hours. Turn inside out, machine wash gentle, line dry.

I've been feeling under the weather the last few days and just got some antibiotics tonight, so I'll have to share my tips with you another time.

Jolly Snowman Apron - We're counting down to Christmas with a craft a day and today's project is this cute snowman apron that you can create with a wink of the eye. The apron makes a great hostess gift, a gift for the new bride and don't forget a gift for yourself!

Here's what you need
Tulip® 3D Fashion Paint™

Shiny® Black

Shiny® Orange

Shiny® Brown

Crystals® Icicle

Aleene's® Fabric Fusion™

Fabric: white, print for scarf, black for hat
Scissors
Apron, red
3 (1/2") black buttons
Chalk pencil

Cosmetic sponge

Straight pins

Here's how to do it!
1. Prewash fabrics and apron to remove sizing. Do not use fabric softener in washer or dryer.
2. Enlarge patterns to desired size and print off - patterns are below. My snowman is about 8" tall. Cut out patterns.
3. Pin body pattern on white fabric, scarf pattern on print fabric and hat pattern on black fabric. Trace with chalk pencil. Cut out.
4. Squeeze some Fabric Fusion on paper plate. Dab cosmetic sponge in glue and dab on back of snowman fabric. Place snowman on apron. Repeat with scarf and hat.
5. Paint dots for eyes, using Black 3D Paint. Place a dot of paint where buttons will be placed on body. Gently tap buttons into paint. Paint smile and a 1/4" diameter circle at top of hat with Black.
6. For carrot, paint a long, thin triangle, using Orange. Paint sticks for arms, using Brown.
7. Paint dots for snow and squiggly line under snowman, using Crystals Icicle. Let dry.
8. Can be washed after 72 hours on gentle cycle and line dry.

Make it Yours Tip - Use non-holiday or preprinted fabric that already has a large design on it and just cut out and glue on.

Wrapping Tip - Buy an inexpensive mixing bowl, place the apron and some spices in the bowl, wrap it with cellophane, tie a bow with fabric used from the project and you're done!

Crafty Room Makeover!!!

OK, I had company coming two weekends in a row - so I challenged myself to spruce up my guest bedroom on a tight budget.

I already had the Caribbean Blue bedspread and brown and blue pillows, but nothing on the walls and dustbunnies on the bedside table.

I ran across the drawing of a sandal I did a couple years ago when I was 18 and the paper was pretty crumpled. I decided to tear around the edges to remove the torn section. I knew I wanted to frame it and it needed some color to draw it into the room colors. I brushed water on a piece of Vellum paper and sprinkled on Tulip Soft Fabric Paint that I'd watered down a little. It was fun to watch it spread and have no control over what it did. The white showed through too much, so I watered down the Chocolate paint and did an antiquing wash over the whole sheet. I let it dry and applied the sandal drawing with some Aleene's Original Tacky Glue. It is so much better to have a home for my little sandal instead of in a roll in my closet.

So, the room still needed some pizazz. I found this braided rug for $4 and decided it just needed to be cut in half and used as a valance over the vertical blinds. I ran a line of Aleene's Fabric Fusion along the cut edges to keep it together.

I found the great Caribbean Blue candle, large tropical leaf and glass sprinkles at my local craft store to add a little more color. Later, I added a beautiful picture of the Hawaii coastline to the table.

Perfect! And within my budget too!