EYE SEE YOU !

Spooky, mysterious, bulging, or innocent,

eyes are a spectacular feature to enhance at Halloween.

If you’re sporting an extra one, you’re sure to get some attention.

Be forewarned: Friends will demand that you make one for them too.

 I made 8 of these t-shirts last year.

Black button still affixed a year later.

Mine has faded quite a bit.  I now wear it to the gym.

Time to make another more dramatic eyeball t-shirt!

A (cheap) t-shirt . Launder first if it is new.

Eyeball image. Look online, at the library…

T-shirt transfer paper for lazer or ink jet printer.

Follow enclosed instructions carefully.

Determining where I want my image before ironing.

This turned out fantastic and would be perfect to wear as is,

but I’m not one to leave well enough alone.

Fabric Paints

Fabric/Jewelry glue

A large button

Sequins (didn’t use this time)

I am not practiced with the fabric paint applicator tip,

so I pour out what I need, sometimes mixing colors, and use a brush.

I have much more control this way.

A large 1 1/4" faceted black button, like a compound eye!  Yes!

Remove the shank with wire cutters and sand smooth.

Apply jewelry glue and affix to the center of the shirt.

It really adds the finishing touch!

It's getting pretty creepy around here

My kids enthusiasm for Halloween always rubs off on me.

Do you want eggs or eyeballs with your toast?

I know our home would be haunted as early as July.

I manage to hold off their decorating till September.

Still, their tactics to get me in the mood are second to none.

Aghhh…a snake in my bed.      Good one!

Wall color in the game room; pumpkin.

A centerpiece that would impress the Adams family.

The butler did it.

Broken branches pilfered from the neighbors yard.

Busted! He came over and thanked me.

Sink the branches into styrofoam in a decorative container.
Trim carefully!

It's only fun until someone loses an eye.

Add black flowers, feathers, lights, webbing, spiders, a femur, eyeball...

                                   

The skulls are motion sensor lights that run on a battery
 and play the theme from Friday the 13th  Halloween.

The display is more frightful in person.

PB: Inspiration for DIY

Mauve/decopauged thrift store table, $15. Stripped, refinished, and added new hardware

to resemble a PB table for use as a nightstand in my son's room.  

Whether its repurposing furniture,

Beaded fringe added to Asian lamp shade for a Victorain flair. 

spiffing up existing items with clever accents,

Son's junk art guitar, made from a Gateway box, wood trim remnants, and acrylic paints.

PB Teens for inspiration.  It really is acoustic. 

Wood composite trim;   Primed, painted, distressed,

added (10) drawer pulls, and hung the trim 5 feet from the floor

in the laundry room to hold totes, raincoats, backpacks...

Odd sized frame, garage sale find,  $.50.

Barbed wire from the 1800's.

Wood shelving from great, grandfathers barn.

This assembly nearly came together on its own

at which time my husband claimed for his office wall.

or creating distinctive displays, using color, texture, and imagination,

PB is a source for ideas and inspirations, when I'm 'drawing' blanks.

My son wanted Euro pillows similar to some we had seen in PB Teen.

I borrowed a friends PB Euro Pillow Case and took measurements.

They look complicated but in fact are very easy to make.

The finished pillow measures 30x30 with a 2” flange
 for a 26x26 Euro Pillow.

Before cutting, launder/iron your fabric.

Use a ruler or straight edge and draw the panels right on the fabric.

Make the length (for the back pieces) with the grain and

be sure to mark the grain direction for the front panel.

Cut 1 panel 31” x31” for the front (ex.a)

For the back you need  2 pieces that create an over flap
to insert your pillow form.

Cut (1) 17”x31” (ex. b) and (1) 21” x 31” (ex. c.)

For the 2 back panels, fold and press the middle seams ½”,

then fold over 1”, press, stitch close to the inner edge.

Hint: for visible stitching, increase stitch length to 3.5mm for a professional look.

Assemble pillow in this order.

Front panel (ex. a) print side up

17x31 (ex. b) print side down and lined up to one side

21 x 31 (ex. c) print side dorn and lined up to other side

Make sure the fabric grain is in the same direction as back pieces.

Pin sides and stitch all the way around the pillow using a 1/2" or 5/8 seam allowance".

Trim seams to 1/4". Press open seams.
Turn pillow right side out pushing out corners, press.

Stitch around the pillow 2” from edge to create the flange.

Hint: Put a piece of masking tape on your sewing machine,

measure 2” to the right of needle, draw a straight line with ruler.

Use as a guide, lining up the outer edge of the fabric as you sew.

Insert pillow form

My son  loves them….

so I made some for my other son.

He loves them too!

DIY Fabric Cards

Photos, qoutes, meaningful words!

Send them off in a fabric card.

What you need for this diy.

Cereal boxes (heavy duty) or chip board    

Fabric remnants

Scrap (book) paper, tissue paper, wall paper...

Ribbon

Spray adhesive (use in a well ventilated area)

ruler

exacto knife

scissors

Use a straight edge and exacto knife to size your cardboard.

For this example, I cut 2 pieces of cardboard 5.5" x 7.5" to
display a 4" x 6" photo.

Lay cardboard pieces on fabric.  Cut fabric to extend 3/4" on all sides
for folding over.  Spray board pieces with adhesive.

Use a brayer or ruler to smooth the fabric.

Flip boards over, spray adhesive and fold the fabric at the corners (inward)
on to iteslf forming 45° angles, (creates a mitered corner).

 Fold all four sides on to the board.

With ruler, mark and cut your decorative paper for the inside.

Cut your paper 1/2" smaller than your board sizes.
For example, I cut my paper 7” x 5”

This forms a .25” border along the inside edge for a finished look.
Don’t glue yet.

Determine the length for your middle ribbon.

 To tie a bow, you want the ribbon to extend 6"-8" past the sides,

plus 2 times the length or width (portrait or landscape display)  

Cut 2 more pieces of ribbon to stabilize the top and bottom.

Affix ribbon and paper.

Place under heavy object for an hour.

Once you get going, it’s easy to make several up at a time

Vegetable Conspiracy?

This is a story about a kid who shunned vegetables.

We’ve all known one.

There may even be one living in your home.

My attempts at sneaking vegetables into our meals always fails,

leaving me with the feeling I have betrayed my son with my duplicity.

As a child, there were many vegetables I didn’t like but I do not recall

refusing to eat a meal just because I discovered one in the mix.

I would just pluck out the offensive morsel, usually an onion,

and continue eating.

I now eat vegetables daily, including onions.

Several times a week, I prepare Ramon noodles.
 I ate them in college and swore

afterwards that I would never eat them again.

Ha ha.

Ramon noodles are a hefty dose of carbs, but when teamed

with fresh vegetables, sans the MSG packet, it is a quick, healthy,

and economical lunch option.

I follow the instructions on the package, bringing water to a boil.

Into this, add 2 eggs, noodles, fresh broccoli, green onion,

and (precooked) thawed shrimp. When 3 minutes are up, drain off

most of the broth and pour the mixture over uncooked spinach.

Add low sodium soy sauce and pepper.

It tastes great and is nutritious.

One Saturday, my son observed as I prepared the veggies and noodles.

"I'd like to try some of that. Will you you make me some?" he asked.

!Huh?!

“Excuse me. Did I hear you say you want some of this?

These are vegetables son. See! Broccoli, green onion, spinach,”

as I pointed to each one.

“Yeah mom, I know. I want some. It looks good.”

I couldn’t believe my ears or my eyes as my 10-year-old stood

before me requesting that I make him noodles loaded with every

vegetable he despised.

I immediately wanted to touch his forehead and cheeks just to

make sure he wasn’t running a fever. Perhaps I used too much

comet while cleaning the toilets that morning.

What the hec. I made it for him then watched in awe (and shock)

as he devoured every last bit of noodle, vegetable and egg.

The kid who would leavethe table in disgust after discovering a

vegetable in his food was now a convert.

This miraculous event occurred Sat. June 13th 2009.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

I prepare this for my son almost daily. He asks me to

make it for breakfast. Just this morning he suggested that

I bring some up to the school for lunch. When he gets

home, he often requests that I make it for his snack.

Since that historical Saturday, I have introduced him to other vegetables;

bok choy, bean sprouts, leeks, zucchini, snow pea pods and sugar snap peas.

He will not try carrots and he does not like zucchini or leeks.
I’m still pleased!

This is the story about a kid who only wanted to eat ice cream….

One Last Spin, Before Summer Ends

JCrew Spring 2009

Charmed by this cover,

Michelle Jank Jewelry

smitten with this designer,

and spurred into action by Maegan's tutorial,

I cultivated my own neck bouquet.

I know what you're thinking…

Summers almost gone!
I'm just not quite ready to move on

You see, the frequent rain forecast has me dismal and gray
Perhaps I'll perk up with a beautiful bouquet

With four layers of tulle, a needle and thread
I anchored my flowers in an eye catching spread

Cut away excess, affixed trim, doodads, and a teal feather
Attached felt to the back and defied the raunchy weather

Today, I donned my neck bouquet for the 3rd time this season
Tomorrow, I'll accept the end of summer for an inspiring reason....

I'm gonna make one for fall!

What I used for my neck bouquet:

4 layers of tulle
needle and thread
silk flowers
embellishments
ribbon
o rings
fabric glue

wool felt

Maegan's instructions are excellent.

Be sure to check out her bouquet......perfect for fall.

Custom (Wine) Corks

Jewel toned drawer pulls and

crafty corks

combine to make unique wine stoppers

This is a quick, easy project (my favorite kind)

that makes a nice grab bag item for a wine tasting party.

Everyone gets something!


What you need:

An assortment of unused wine corks

You can get these at any craft store.

No affiliation with these mfgs.

Drawer pulls with hardware
Wood glue and
Cement Glue
Drill or skinny nail

Make sure the hardware that comes with your drawer pull will go

two-thirds of the way through the cork without going through the bottom.

You can easily resize the hardware with a dremel.

Drill a small pilot hole into the top of your cork

or use a skinny nail and work it half way through the cork

Do not go through the bottom of the cork.

Dip the thread of the screw (with drawer pull in place)

into the wood glue, and into cork.

Use a rubber mallot and tap screw until there is just

enough space between the top of the cork and drawer pull

Use a tooth pick and apply cement glue to the top of cork

and bottom of drawer pull.

Use a rubber mallot and tap the screw

the rest of the way into the cork,

leaving no space between cork and drawer pull

Let set up about 1 hour.