popcorn tin upcycled.....

 Tutorial reveal.....upcycled popcorn tin! I am in the midst of remodeling my sweet pea's room....oodles to do over the summer months. What better time to offer a few tutorials as I go along. I envisioned a cute metal trash can for my sweet girl's room....as I am trying to reuse and upcycle as many items as possible I didn't want to go out and purchase a new metal trash can....so alas an idea was born. I knew my mother had a few of these popcorn tins in her storage room.....so I thought about recovering one in some fanciful fabric. The tin was originally a snowman theme...so I spray painted it with a white primer to not allow any of the old theme to show through my fabric cover. Next I picked a pretty floral pattern I knew she would love. I cut the fabric to fit the tin...which was 9 inches tall and 28 inches around. I cut the fabric a little wider and longer to allow for a pressed seam so that I would not have any fraying edges to show.

I originally was going to use double sided tape...alas I didn't have any. I decided on my tried and true Modge Podge glue....which I am happy to say worked like a charm. I just dipped my fingers in and started slathering away with glue little by little as I tightly layed the measured fabric along the tin until I reach the end. Make sure to wrap your fabric tightly as to get any air bubbles out and the fabric should lay nice and smooth. We recently laid hardwood flooring in her room...so next I was concerned with the trash can scratching her floors.

 I placed 4 felt feet along the bottom of the tin for added peace of mind. Now she has a stylin' new trash can that will add a new look to her room.

 While I was at it....I decided on recovering her mouse pad to match the new trash can. I recovered it a few months ago with this fabric....still lovely...but hey....let's match things up.

 While my fabric was still out I layed it right side down and layed the mouse pad on it facing down. Trace around your mouse pad with a pen and cut your fabric out along your traced markings.

Now again....slather your glue all over the right side of the mouse pad and lay your fabric on top...right side facing up. Smooth out any air bubbles and lay a few heavy books on top until dry. After it is dry you will need to trim any excess fabric and apply clear nail polish or fray check around all your edges so that the fabric won't fray. Viola'.....a new mouse pad and trash can!

sneak peek.....

I have been having a blast redoing my sweet pea's room.....bohemian chic. So.....a new tutorial coming soon....a little sneak peek in the meantime. I will be finishing up the project today...so a tutorial coming very soon!

father....

What can one person say about their father? All I am thinking about today is how much I miss him, love him and think of him every day. Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there who love unconditionally, deeply and to the fullest. Someone once told me "I can't imagine a world existing where my dad doesn't". It has stayed with me in my thoughts....especially today...the first Father's  Day without him.

another year older.....

Ok....I'm not celebrating my 4th birthday this year....but still just as exciting as ever before to be turning another year older. I don't always look forward to birthday's...but this year I am most certainly so thankful for the many blessings in my life.....it's gonna be a good life! 

a clean start......

 Like many people I love being able to cut costs in various ways and making your own liquid laundry soap is one of those ways....and is super duper fun. My sweet pea and I spent one afternoon making our own laundry soap...a perfect project for kiddos this summer....plus it teaches them basic measuring skills as well as economics. The ingredients you will need are:

1 cup washing soda

1/2 cup borax

1 bar of soap

approximately 3 gallons water

You will also need a container....I used a large 5 gallon bucket with a lid from my local hardware store. Something to stir your mixture...I used a long handled wooden spoon Also another large cooking pot to boil water in and melt your bar of soap. Lastly a grater....I used a cheese grater for grating my soap.

 First thing you need to do is boil 4 cups of water in your large pot. While you are waiting for your water to boil you can grate your bar of soap. I used Lever 2000....my husband loves the fragrance. But in the meantime I think it would be nice to use honeysuckle or peony soaps...which can by found in various etsy shops.  Once you have grated your bar of soap you should have a bowl that looks like the picture above. Your water should now be boiling and you should turn your heat down to simmering and add your grated soap to the water.

 Now just continue stirring until your soap is completely dissolved and you have soapy water. This was perfect for my sweet pea to do while I followed through with the next steps.

  You will need to fill your 5 gallon bucket with 3 gallons of warm tap water. Now add your washing soda and borax to the warm tap water in your bucket and stir until dissolved.

 Your soapy water on your stove top should be ready to add to your borax, washing soda and water mixture in your 5 gallon bucket. Stir until everything is completely mixed and cover with a lid or you can use a clear saran wrap of sorts. I left mine in the laundry room for 24 hours to set up. After your have left your soap to set up for the 24 hours your soap can look like a variety of things...from chunky, slimy or watery. Any appearance is fine.....just stir again really well to break up any chunks you might have and break up the mixture. You can certainly use a measuring cup and use right out of the bucket....I prefer to use smaller containers. I saved milk jugs and bleach containers and filled them up with a funnel and a liquid measuring cup. I left each one of my containers with a little room to spare for shaking them up before each use.

Now you have liquid laundry soap to use or give as gifts. When figuring how much money I can save by making my own laundry soap...it was just exciting. Normally I spend about 40-50 cents per load of laundry with my store bought laundry soap. Now I am spending less than a penny per load. The great thing about making and using your own laundry soap are there are no chemicals....so it is great for anyone with sensitive skin, you are saving money AND the liquid soap is perfect for those with HE front load washing machines. Your clothes smell great and are as clean as ever before. Have fun.....spend the day with the kiddos and make some laundry soap!

last day....

Last day for the vintage bed linens swap......email me or leave a comment if you would like to sign up. Check out some of the fun goodies you can make with fat quarters of vintage linens.....

 napkins.....perfect for parties or everyday use....

 burp clothes for a baby....makes for a lovely baby shower addition....

 a diaper cover...perfect for those hot summer days for your wee one....

 a scrappy card....sending a birthday message, thank you, get well or thinking of you...

 just the right amount for a baby bib...another great baby shower addition.....

 a mini journal....perfect for jotting down your thoughts and dreams for summertime....

 scrappy wall art....these are always a pleasing addition to any room...

 a fabric flag garland...makes for great reusable party decorations....so pretty and perfect for summertime picnics as well....

 a reusable shopping tote....perfect for the post office, school or the beach....

 a small zippered coin purse...perfect for gifts for lil' girls or to stash loose change in while out and about shopping....

and who could resist making a few traveling drawstring bags. They keep your shoes looking great and allow your clothes that you pack to stay neat and tidy as well. These are also perfect for lil' girls to pack away treasures and such.

keeping it all together.....

 I have a HUGE list of to do's already compiled for the summer months. Amongst the list was something to hold a few plastic bags. I try to use my reusable bags most of the time....but there are those few rare occasions where I wind up coming home with a few plastic bags.  I had been stashing them in our pantry....but really wanted something pretty and functional. Most of the plastic bag holders I see to purchase are just too large for the amount of plastic bags that come into our household. Thus my conclusion was to make a smaller fabric bag holder that would fit our needs. To make a mini fabric plastic bag holder you will need the following:

2 pieces of fabric that measure 5x12 inches (I used a section of a vintage pillowcase for mine)

2 pieces of narrow elastic (1/4 inch or more narrow) 6  inches long and 8 inches long

1 piece of ribbon or trim 4 inches long (I used a piece of bias tape for mine)

thread 

 Start by laying your two pieces of fabric right sides together.....then sew them down each side seam (the longest length are the sides of your holder). 

 I also serged my edges for a finished look...as well as if I decide to wash the holder it will hold up longer. you can also zig zag your edges after stitching to ensure the edges won't fray.

 You will also need to zig zag or serge your top edges....leave them open....do not sew them together. This will make a cleaner edge when you turn the hem edge and press.

 Now press a seam allowance for your elastic. I made a hem edge of 1/2 inch to allow enough room for my elastic to run through smoothly.  You will need to do this on the top end and bottom end of your bag holder.

 Now stitch a seam allowance enough to fit your elastic through all the way around....leaving an opening of 1 inch or so to run your elastic casing through. You will need to do this on the top and bottom of your bag holder.

 Here is my opening for the elastic to run through. I almost always use 2 straight pins to mark this area so that I don't forget to leave an opening.

 I usually use a few safety pins to run my elastic through the casing. One attached to the end where I am running the elastic through....the other for pinning the end of the elastic to the holder so that the elastic stays in place and doesn't pull all the way the through the casing.

 Here is where I have pinned the other end of the elastic to my holder....that way the elastic will meet up with the other end once I have pulled it all the way through the casing.

 Allow a 1/2 inch or more to lay one end of the elastic over the other...to give you extra strength and give. I usually sew over this area several time as well as back stitching to ensure a proper hold.

 Now your elastic should be in place and you can finish your hem to enclose your elastic. You will follow this step for both the top end and bottom end of your bag holder.

 Now turn your bag holder right side out. You can see your bag holder taking shape. It's time for the final step.... you can add your piece of trim or ribbon as a loop for hanging. I used a small snipet of bias tape for mine....just making a little loop at the top for hanging. I stitched it down on both ends as well as back stitched for strength.

Now fill up your holder with plastic bags for recycling. This makes a nice petite holder which is just right for what I was needing. Stay tuned all summer long for tons of tutorials including.....making your own liquid laundry soap, dip dyed curtains, fabric storage bins, granola cereal, leftover fruit salad popsicles, grocery tote bag, 70's string light fixture, making a duvet cover, a crocheted doily bowl and much more! 

fat quarter swap.......

In the mood for a swap? If you love vintage bed linens....then this swap is for YOU!  Just email me by June 13th if you would like to participate. As part of the swap......

- there will be 2 partners for each participant

-a fat quarter measures 18 x 22 inches

-vintage bed linens that are in good vintage condition (fading is understandable...no holes, tears, etc.)

Each participant will mail out 2 packages....each package will contain 2 fat quarters of vintage bed linens fabric (not necessarily matching...but not the same fabric print).  Once I get every one's emails I will email everyone addresses and names of those participants. I am so excited for this swap......especially since I la la LOVE vintage bed linens....don't you?!