Archives for June 2013

Tie-Dye Your Summer!!!

June 12, 2013 by 2 Comments
 I am SO EXCITED to announce my “Tie-Dye Your Summer” Tie-Dye fest!  Ever summer my family gets together and we BBQ, swim, and Tie-Dye for and entire week!  Last year we tie-dyed over 50 pieces.  This year we are bringing the party to blogland.  That’s right….every day during the week of July 8th I will be posting tutorials, inspiration, and giveaways.
The ilovetocreate.com company, who Tulip Tie-Dye is a part of, sent me a giant box full of goodies to giveaway.  So mark your calendars and get ready for the most addicting craft out there!
What you need:
I gather white shirts all year long.  If I am at a store, I check the clearance racks and buy them when they are discounted.  We dye white skirts, white shorts, white sweatshirts, t-shirts, bags, anything you can think of.  So start stockpiling white clothes!
If you are out at a craft store, pick up some Tulip brand Tie-Dye.  The more colors the better.  You can use your 40% off coupon at Michaels or Joann’s.  Walmart also carries Tulip tie-dye.
Soda Ash
This isn’t a deal breaker, but we all think it makes the colors last longer.  It is sold in a box by the tie-dye supplies.

Amanda

Filed Under: tie-dye

Store-Ad Coupon Pouch {tutorial}

June 8, 2013 by 14 Comments
This is my purse.  Cute on the outside…..

 …the inside is a mess!!!  

 It is mostly store-ad coupons like Joann, Michaels, Kohls, Macy’s, etc.  Some of my friends clip the coupons and put them in a little coupon wallet.  For some reason, I like to save the entire ad.  Most of the ads are good for a few weeks and I can’t always remember what is on special.

 Yes, I know I can have all the coupons and ads I ever want on my phone.  Did you know you can use your phone coupons AND your store coupons?  So I will continue to have one foot on the cutting edge of technology and one foot back in ancient history of paper coupons!

For the past several years I have thought everyday, “I should sew something to keep all these papers organized in.”  I woke up this morning and decided today was the day!!  There are a lot of pouch tutorials out there.  Instead of finding one that would work I just created my own.  Here is how you can make one too!!

Materials:
1/3 yard outer fabric
1/3 yard lining fabric
44″ Therm O Web Heat n Bond fusible interfacing – light weight
hair elastic
button
trim (optional)

Begin by cutting your outer fabric and lining fabric 12 1/2″ x 21 1/2″

 I LOVE Therm O Web products!  I go through yards and yards of their fusible fleece.  For this project I decided to use a Heat n Bond fusible interfacing. (For more info on Therm O Web products & how to order click HERE.)  I wanted the pouch to be firmer.  Cut 2 pieces of your fusible interfacing 12 1/2″ x 21 1/2″.  Fuse them to the wrong side of your 2 pieces of fabric.

 Get a small plate or bowl and trace to round the top 2 corners of your main fabric.  Trim along your line.

 You can embellish this pouch any way you want.  You can top stitch fabric, ruffles, ric rac, etc on the main piece.  I choose to be speedy and added a piece of crochet lace to the center.

 Take the pony tail holder and sew it in half like this.  It only needs to stretch about an inch so you don’t need the whole thing.  I sewed it back and forth a few times to make sure it doesn’t pull out.

Trim the excess.  Make sure you trim so it looks like this:

 Now layer right sides together and pin.  I used a generous 1/4″ seam.  leave a 2″-3″ opening on the side to turn.

 Clip the rounded corners and the square corners.  Turn and press.

Fold the bottom half up 7 1/4″ and pin in place.  Top stitch around the pouch.

Sew your button on.

Fill with coupons & now you are ready to shop!!

OK – I really love this!  Can’t believe it took me so long to make one!  You can make this project in under 30 minutes 🙂

Here is a little peek into my purse and all my little pouches:

I also have a first aid kit that I forgot to photograph.  How many pouches do you have in your purse?

Amanda

Filed Under: crafts, organizing, sewing, tutorial, tutorials

Zipper Pouches

June 7, 2013 by 5 Comments

 I LOVE zippers!  Do you?  I spent so much of mu life avoiding zippers, I feel I am making up for it now.  (Like the time in my life I didn’t eat cheese….such a shame!)  I love going to the fabric district in LA and buying my zippers for 25 cents each – any length!!

I just finished these cute pouches.  My girls wanted to give them to their friends & teachers on the last day of school.  We really want to keep them all…..but happy to be giving them away 🙂  I am working on a tutorial so you can make some too!!!

Amanda

Filed Under: gift, gifts, sewing