Tuestorial: Skinny Jeans

Spring is in the air and it's time for an update! Turn those "blah" jeans into something you want to rock into Spring. It's easier than you think. 

Materials Needed:

• Jeans that need fixin'
• Your favorite skinny/straight jeans
• Chalk pencil or pins
• Scissors
• Sewing Machine

Blahhhhh pants

Step 1:

I find the most effective way is to use your favorite skinny jeans as a template to alter your not-as-fab jeans. You already know you like the fit! 

Step 2:

Place your fab pants on top of your fixer jeans. I prefer to use a chalk pencil over pins to mark where I need to sew. Trace the backside of the pants from the knee down. You want it to be a gradual tightening from the knee down. 

Hi, Bernina

Step 3:

Once the tracing is done, it's time to sew! I just followed my line with about a quarter inch space. Once both sides are sewn, try on them pants (before cutting of course). If they look and feel great, cut the excess fabric off.

Step 4:

Wear them! Duh.

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Tuestorial: Fake Diamond Ring

Love is in the air…engagements are being made...weddings are being planned. If you feel left out on the bling, now you can make your own! 

I made these fun "diamond" rings as a party favor for a friend's bachelorette party. They were a hit!

I have lots of sparkle vinyl laying around, but you can use what you have. A great resource for sparkle vinyl is Mendels, Fabric Outlet, and Amazon. 

Materials Needed:

• Sparkle vinyl or felt

• Scissors

• Vinyl glue 

• Adjustable ring 

• Ruler 

Step 1:

On the back of your material, use the ruler to create your diamond shape. Make it any size you want! Bigger is better.

Step 2:

Cut the diamond shape and place it face up. For the facet details, I used the corners of the material I cut. 

Step 3:

Glue the details on the diamond. Place a book or something heavy on top while it dries.

Step 4:

Once it is dry, glue the ring on the bottom. Place on your finger before glueing so you get the right placement. Then you are ready to wear it and rock it!

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Tuestorial: Sweetheart Conversation Garland

Happy New Year, SF Etsy! December was quite the whirlwind, but we survived and ready to focus on 2015. Just in time for Valentine's Day, here's a "sweet" garland that will get you in the mood for love!

Materials Needed:

• Felt in various (love) colors
• Embriodery thread
• Embriodery needle
• Stuffing
• White paint
• Paint brush 
• String
• Scissors

Step 1:

Cut your hearts. To save time, I took two pieces of felt and folded in half. I cut the heart shape on the edge. This creates uneven hearts, but reminds me more of the imperfect sweethearts! 

Step 2:

Paint your sayings on the front of the heart. Get sassy or get romantic. The weirder, the better. 

Step 3:

Once the paint dries, embroider the edges of the heart. Leave an inch and a half to stuff.

Step 4:

Stuff that baby and watch your heart grow! Once it's shape is made, sew up the open end. 

Step 5:

Use your needle with the string to make your hearts into a garland to hang. Put it on display and let your Valentine know you made it with love!

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Tuestorial: Business Card Tin

Craft show season is here! Are you ready? If not, don't fret! I have a quick and easy business card holder to add a little pop to you display! The best part? It will take no time at all! 

Materials Needed:

• Altoids tin
• White mailing labels
• Trim (use materials from your handmade items or something that represents your shop's style)
• Scissors
• Glue

Step 1:

Time to give this Altoids tin a new life! Start by covering the exterior with mailing labels or you can glue decorative paper on the outside. Anything that will cover it's past life!

Step 2:

Print a label with what you would like your customers to see. I selected "Please take one! Online shopping & custom orders". You can keep it simple or make a statement. I left room to decorate with my material of choice. You can also hand write this.

Step 3:

Decorate! Of course, I choose glitter. I used scraps of material I make my zipper pouches from in a pattern that matches my shop banner. Color, sparkle, and sass. 

Step 4:

Viola! A handy display that will show-off your business cards and it doubles as storage! Now, back to crafting...

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Tuestorial: Thrift Store Craft Display

Do you hear that? Santa's sleigh? Jingle bells ringing too? That's the sound of craft show season on the horizon. Besides planning for all that inventory you need to make, you also need to plan for an awesome looking display too!

Today I'm here to show you how to find inspiration and save money by shopping your local thrift store for your craft show booth. Whether you have your booth aesthetic down or are just starting out, a thrift store can be a great resource. 

Here are the questions I ask myself when thrift store shopping for a display item:

• Can I store it? (pre and post show)
• Easy to travel to shows with?
• Does it match my display?
• Will I use it more than one?

Idea 1: Frames

Every thrift store has an abundance of pictures frames waiting in stacks for a happy home. I've used these to display item prices or promote deals. It can be eye-catching or just do the simple job of displaying information. With some paint and a good clean, even the ugliest frame can find a home in your booth. 

Step-it-up: Glue a piece of wood inside a detailed frame and paint it with chalkboard paint. Ta-da! A reusable sign for all your shows.

Idea 2: Drawers or Baskets

Straw baskets are the glue that holds a thrift store together. They are everywhere and they are begging for a new life. Spray paint one of these babies, line it with some cute fabric, and you have easy storage on your table. Stack them (covered) and you have different heights to play with. They are light, cheap, and can be versatile. 

Thrift stores usually have a good selection of storage drawers, organizers, and office supplies too. These are items that are easy to play around with to create a way to showcase your items or store them. 

Step-it-up: Plastic office trays are easy to cut to customize the display you need. If you need a tray (4 sides), find two plastic office letter trays. Cut the side off one and glue this to the open side of the other. Paint it a solid color that goes with your display and viola! Instant (and light) tray.

Idea 3: Knick-Knacks

This can be an easy thing to overlook. Obviously you are showcasing your handmade items in your booth, but sometimes they need a story. Knick-knacks can set the scene to show potential sellers how your items can live in their life. It can also draw someone into your booth and start a conversation. 

A small vase with a flower, a vintage pieces that shows some humor (and holds your business cards), or a piece that fits inside your item to show how it can be used.

I sell wine bags and started displaying my wine bags in a "bar cart" scene to show their potential. Before I started doing this, people weren't immediately sure I was selling wine bags (true store: someone once asked if I was selling sand bags). When I placed them on a tray, with wine glasses, a cork screw, and a wine bottle around them, the message is clear. "Hey, that's a wine bag that my lushy friend might like!"

Step-it-up: Have a particular color theme for your booth? If you find a figure or item that fits your style, paint it a solid color that matches your booth. It can be an easier fit in your booth as a solid color and will give it a little something-something. 

Idea 4: Target Clearance Items

Not such a secret anymore, but Goodwill sells Target's overstock clearance items. You can find some interesting items that your local Target could not sell at their lowest price. At my local Goodwill, I found outdoor umbrellas, different types of shelving, decorative marbles, and containers. 

This is a great starting point for a thrift store newbie. An item that is lower than Target's clearance price and still in it's original packaging? Yes, please! 

Step-it-up: Find some mis-matched shelving brackets with a Target clearance price and no matching buddy in sight? Use the brackets to create your own small display. Glue or screw a piece of wood on top (any length you need!). This can create an interesting visual display and give some height to your items. You can cover the mis-matched brackets with fabric or paint them the same color to match. 

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Tuestorial: Candy Corn Vase

Tuestorial: Candy Corn Vase

I can't believe it, but Halloween is almost here! There are many craft-inspiration ideas for this time of year, but I thought I would be inspired by my favorite seasonal candy...the humble candy corn. Some love it, some hate it (we aren't friends), but you can enjoy it in this unique form with most items you probably already have around your house.

Materials Needed:

• Empty wine bottle (easy find in my house)
• White paint (acrylic or glass friendly)
• Yellow paint
• Orange paint
• Paint brush
• Painter's tape

Step 1:

Clean your empty wine bottle of any labels or dirt. You want a pretty surface before you start painting. Once it's clean and dry, apply at least two coats of white paint to the entire bottle. This will provide a good base for the other colors too.

Step 2:

Once the white paint is dry, mark the section for yellow with painter's tape. The edges don't need to be neat (should be uneven to look more like candy corn), but this makes it easier when painting. Start with yellow at the bottom!

Step 3:


Once the yellow section is dry, remove the painter's tape and mark off the top (just below the neck of the bottle) for the orange section and go to town. See how delicious it is looking?

Step 4:

Once the orange section is dry, just remove the painter's tape and you are done! You can go back to make the other edges less neat or touch-up any boo-boos (technical term). Put it on display for all your trick-or-treaters! 

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Tuestorial: Pick-Me-Up Banners

"Because I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and, doggonit, people like me!"

Stuart Smalley and the power of positive thinking

Sometimes you just need a reminder that you are awesome and doing a great job. As we gear-up for the busy Holiday season, I thought a positive-thinking craft would be helpful. This week's Tuestorial features one that is easy to make and will hold your hand while you start the busiest season of the year!

Materials Needed:

• Felt or wool in two different colors (any size will work!)
• Craft glue
• Scissors
• Wood skewer
• String
• Printer or alphabet stencils 
• Bonus: glitter 

Fold twice to create the perfect banner shape

Step 1:

Select a color of felt or wool that will be your background color for your banner. Cut to any size and add the classic "banner" to the bottom (two triangles). 

Plan it out

Step 2:

Select your positive saying to cut your second color of felt or wool from. Here are some examples:

• "You're Awesome"
• "Good Job"
• "It's OK"
• "That's Amazing"
• Thumbs-up sign

Make it short and sweet, and meaningful to you.

A beautiful mess

Step 3:

Use alphabet stencils or print your saying to trace from. Outline your second color of felt or wool with the letters. Cut and glue on your first piece on your banner.

Pro tip: Make sure the letters are the right size for your piece before cutting.

Binder clips are helpful!

Step 4:

To hang, take the wood skewer and fold over the top of the banner to create a "lip". Glue the edge of the lip to the back of the banner. Cut the sharp piece of the skewer off so there are no positive affirmations accidents. 

Tie each end of the string to the end of the wood skewer to create a loop so you can hang your banner. 

I feel better already!

Step 5:

Once everything is dry, you will have your completed banner! Hang it above your craft space to remind yourself that you are doing a great job.

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Tuestorial: Shoe Sachets

Hello SF Etsy team! It's officially Springtime which makes me think about cleaning and organizing (exciting life!). After cleaning out my dresser, I had several pairs panty hose I didn't want to just throw away. I decided something could be done with my pile of scrap fabric, old panty hose, and disorganized shoes. This project can also be used to add a wonderful scent to your dresser drawers or luggage!

Turning scrappy into pretty!

Materials:

• Panty hose 
• Fabric scraps
• Lavender
• Scissors 
• Needle
• Thread

Step 1:

Cut your piece of panty hose depending on the shoe you are filling. I wanted this piece to fit snug inside the toe part of my heels to keep the shape while making my shoes smell good. The "toe" part of the panty hose is obviously the best part of use, but all of it can be used for this project!

Step 2:

Fill the panty hose with lavender. If not using the "toe" part of the panty hose, you will need to hand sew one end before filling.

You're pretty…on the inside

Step 3:

Sew the open end close. I did a fast whip stitch to secure. I didn't worry about it looking pretty or perfect since it will be living inside my shoe.

Step 4:

Select a piece of scrap fabric that will cover your piece of lavender-filled hose. Cover the piece of fabric around it and "wrap" the edges (just like wrapping a gift!). I did another whip stitch on both ends to complete. You could also sew these as drawstring bags!

Step 5:

Now it's ready to be used! You get to open your closet to a lovely scent and a beautiful sight!

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Tuestorial: Sleep Mask

Hello SF Etsy team! And we are back to start 2014 off right. This week’s Tuestorial features a sleep mask to help you get that much needed sleep to feel energized and ready to take on your New Year goals!

Beauty sleep materials

Materials:

• Print sleep mask template here
• Cotton fabric of your choice
• Felt or soft fabric to use for the inside of your mask
• Elastic cord
• Sticky back felt
• Pen
• Sewing pins
• Scissors
• Iron
• Sewing machine (can hand sew as well)

I only have eyes…for this awesome fabric!

Step 1:

Decide which template you want to go with (ears or no ears? No wrong decision!) and trace it on the wrong side of your cotton fabric and felt. Cut with your fancy scissors.

Warning: pins can be dangerous in your lap

Step 2:

Put the cut cotton fabric and felt good-side together. Take your elastic cord and measure length (use your head!). Pin both elastic ends in between the two fabric pieces.

Sew it…Bernina style!

Step 3:

Now your mask is ready to be sewn! Sew a quarter inch margin around the mask and be sure to leave an opening to turn it inside out.

Make it pretty!

Friendly help

Step 4:

Turn inside out and press edges with an iron. Now use the lash pattern included on the template to outline the detail on the back of the sticky back felt. Cut and apply. It helps to wear your mask to figure out where your lashes are or ask a kind stranger for help.  

Shhh…they're sleeping

Step 5:

Time for a nap! Wear and enjoy. You can also add extra padding around the eye area if you are sensitive to light or lavender for a luxurious sleep experience.

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