Pattern Drafting

Here I am going to show you how to draft a simple change to a basic bodice to make a blocked bodice similar to the Easter dress I made for Kels.

The Supplies needed:

Bodice Pattern Pen Scissors Scrap Paper Ruler (Not Pictured) Tape Protractor although not necessary

Step 1: Measure down from the center 2 1/2”

Step 2: Use a protractor to make another line that is “squared” with previous mark.

Step 3:Draw a line across entire pattern piece.

Step 4: Cut on the line

Step 5: Tape the top of the bodice front to a scrap piece of paper.

Step 6: Add seam allowance. I measured 1/2” down. Cut out the new pattern piece and label.

Step 7: Tape the bottom of the bodice front to a scrap piece of paper

Step 8: Add seam allowance. I measured 1/2” up. Cut out the new pattern piece and label.

Step 9: Congratulate yourself! You just drafted the front of the blocked bodice pattern.

Step 10: Take the new bodice top pattern piece and lay it on the back bodice. Draw a line at the end of the top piece.

Step 11: Cut on the line.

These next steps are no longer pictured, but you’re awesome. You can do it. Just refer to the other pictures about adding seam allowance if you have a problem.

Step 12: Add the seam allowance to the bottom bodice back. This time add 1”

Because, when we traced the “new” top bodice back piece it had the 1/2” seam allowance already added. So for the bottom bodice back we need to add the 1/2” back on, plus an additional seam allowance.

Trust me.

If you have any questions just let me know.

Enjoy your new pattern!

Photography Hack

I think many of us are aspiring photographers. Just admit it. 

But let's be honest, 

who can really afford a backdrop?

Seriously? 

They are like $100-$300. 

That's just for the backdrop, don't forget about the flooring, 

and the baseboards, and the lights, blah blah blah.....

The list is long....

Well, to make this long story short, I was at the dollar store the other day, 

and well I found these...

Contact paper! Apparently, people use this for lining in cabinets and such,

but the clear stuff, I use for laminating. 

There is so many uses for contact paper!

I have seen wood print contact paper at WalMart too, but $8...

GA! I'm so cheap. 

Anyway, I saw this and my brain got turning. 

I remembered I had this roll of paper.... I know!

(Oh you guys are going to love me!!)

I'm going to make some backdrops. 

Oh yeah!

I stared with the edges, and lined it up as best as I could. 

If you just leave the contact paper on the roll and pull the flimsy white stuff off slowly, 

you shouldn't get any bubbles. 

Just go slow and a few inches at a time. 

Then I went down the center.

All done! 

Here's the rundown:

12 rolls of contact paper

White Paper on hand

which made 2 backdrops

and 2 flooring drops

Total: $12

I just saved myself over $500!

I call that a win.

Here are the backdrops in action!

Please excuse what my daughter is wearing and her hair, oh, and the rubber band.

I let her get dressed by herself, and I was too lazy to tame that wild mane!

See how awesome! I don't have any baseboards, but I just couldn't wait to show you!

Looks pretty good right?

If you look closely you can see where the pattern doesn't line up, but come on $3??

There is a downside to them, 

but I think it would be the same with professional backdrops, 

they need to be completely flat. 

As you can see by my daughters feet, 

that is where the tile changes to carpet, so there's a tiny bump. 

I don't find this a huge deal for what I paid for them.

Also, the light green backdrop, 

if the background is in focus, 

you can see the lines, where is over laps. 

Again, I don't find this a big deal, I'll just blur the backgrounds!

Easy!

$3 Fall Wreath

I found this large 18" Wreath at Dollar Tree, 

at the beginning of October, 

and I only bought 1!

I know, dumb, right?

I figured that I would just change it every season...

we'll see how that goes. 

Next to the wreaths at Dollar Tree 

was 50 Fall Leaves. 

Awesome. 

I have my Fall wreath. 

My total cost was $3;

1 Wreath

2 Packages of 50 Fall Leaves

I covered the wreath in some brown felt, 

I have laying around.

And hot glued the leaves on.

Simple Simple.

I thought it looked a little boring. 

What do you think?

Well I added this, 

Some scrapbook paper and used book pages. 

Ta-Da! 

All done,

at least now my door is festive. 

The rest of my house, 

not so much. 

Travel Sign

I was given this awesome piece of wood from a friend

who works at a cabinet shop. 

She gave me a whole bunch of scraps, 

but I just love this one because of that huge knot! 

I knew I wanted to make something out of it, 

but I just couldn't think of anything, 

I have had this since Christmas last year. 

Seriously, brain block!

Then finally I thought of something fun. 

I cut off the dove tails, or the little things on the end, and sanded it.

I printed out the word that I wanted, 

and because I don't have a silhouette, or cricut, I used the

old fashioned way to trace the letters.

I know, real high tech. 

You could also, print the letters on the maps 

just make sure to print the mirror image! 

Psst...

Don't tell my husband, that I used the road map from the car!

I don't think he will notice!

At least I hope not.

I drew a straight line then added little tick marks where the letters would go.

I wanted to get the spacing right.  

I decoupaged the letters on,

then did a couple more layers of decoupage. 

The letters in the above picture are not decoupaged, 

just so everyone knows. 

TA-DA! 

Know I have to decide what to do about the knot, 

my original plan, was to take out the parts of the "R" and the "A"

that are in the knot, just to show it off. 

And distress around the knot, to make it look "traveled".

But once I rip them out, I can't put them back in!!

What do you think?

I need some help here.

She gave me plenty of help too, 

She just had to be in one picture. 

But that's ok because she is cute!

Ribbon Bangles

It's funny how I get on these "kicks", 

right now I think I am on a jewelry making kick. 

Like many crafters, I have lots of ribbon. 

LOTS. 

I thought of this fun idea to use the left over chipboard 

ribbon spools, as the bangles!

You need about 3-10 yards of ribbon depending on

how wide the ribbon is. 

If possible, try not to cut the ribbon, 

just to make sure you have enough to go around the spool.

Here's how to do it!

Tie a simple knot around the spool, 

leaving a 1 1/2" tail. 

Tuck the tail on the inside of the spool, 

this is going to get covered as you go along. 

Take your ribbon, 

Down, Through, and Pull tight! 

Now do it over and over again until your done.

Tie a square knot and cut 1 1/2" ends, 

to tuck under the ribbon. 

All done!

I wanted to add some sparkle to the bangles, 

so I added this leftover chain.

Using the same way as above, 

I just threaded the ribbon through a link in the chain. 

See how pretty!?

But, uuhhh, this is what happens when the ribbon is too short. 

Sad day....

I still think it's pretty. 

Have fun!

I-cord

Back to School! 

YEAH!

Oh wait... that really doesn't effect me. 

I have a 3 year old.

humm...

Back to school does mean, 

Fall or  

Autumn. 

Which means, yarn crafts!

Knitting and crocheting. 

It is still WAY too hot to have a bunch of yarn sitting on my lap, 

so sadly I did make these last year, 

but just finished them last week! 

If you know anything about knitting, 

I'm sure you have heard of I-cords. 

Here is a great tutorial over at the Purl Bee, if you want to learn.

It is really pretty easy.

I whipped up these cords in no time.  

I sewed on ribbon on the end of the I-cord. 

Cut a hole in a couple scrap pieces of leather, 

and hand sewed the leather in half.  

They are a pretty easy accessory

for the coming cold months! 

The only difference with the small white bracelet, 

is the addition of grommets and a jewelry clasp. 

It's Been Awhile

It seems I have been neglecting a certain part of this blog, 

Can anyone guess?

Maybe...

Patterns??

Well, I know this, and I have been trying to think of something

 I could show you that would be easy enough for me to make a pattern for you!

So here it is, 

the

Simple Summer Tie Hat!

I have seen these in a few boutiques and other 

really "fashionable" places.

But again, 

I don't like to pay for something I can make.

Especially something which will take me 10 minutes to make!

Here is a link to the pattern, 

if you have any problems, let me know, so I can email it to you. 

You only need about 1/4 yard, or scraps work just as well. 

Just so you know the pattern does not include 

seam allowance! 

So cut seam allowance! 

How ever much you need!

Cut:

2 semi circles for the brim

1 semi circle of interfacing

1 5"x48" for the tie

Sew the curve of the semi circle and clip

(p.s. I clipped my semi circle lots more than pictured)

If necessary sew the long piece of fabric together,

like I did.

Don't forget 

RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER!

See how I clipped that?

Try not to clip through your stitches!

Turn the semi circle right sides out, 

and iron.

(Just so everyone knows, 

I never ironed anything before starting this blog! 

You guys are turning me into a good seamstress!)

Slip the interfacing in. 

For this next step, 

find the center of your long tie, 

and the center of the semi circle. 

Try and match them up. 

Pin like shown, this is where the semi circle or brim will be placed.

Sew the long tie, but don't sew between the pins.

Turn it right side out, 

and iron again. 

It will make it so much easier if you do iron.

As much as I hate to admit that. 

Slide your semi circle into the opening, 

about 1/2". 

If desired you can pin. 

Top stitch and you are done!

See how easy!?

It looks like some weird bib, 

when it is not being worn, 

but so cute on.

She wasn't happy with me,

when I took this pictures, 

as you can see.

See the cute ties? 

This is the first 1 I made, 

and I thought that the tie was a bit thick. 

But for a bigger child, 

that might be nice.

Tin Foil Wreath

Do you believe me that this is made of tin foil?

Well it is, 

and I am going to show you how. 

Here's what you need. 

All of this stuff is probably laying around your house,

just waiting to be turned into something exciting!

First start off with a pretty good length of foil.

I used a high-tech devise to get a circle. 

A Frisbee!

Really anything can be used to get it round:

a plate, a ball, a drawing of a circle, 

or you can just eye it. 

I added a few layers of foil, 

until it was about 1" thick.

 I might have had a little too much fun with picnik!

I then added some crushed paper, 

to make it thicker and lighter.

Then added another couple layers of foil.

TA-DA!

You have just made a Tin Foil Wreath. 

Have fun making your own! 

Personalize to what you like. 

Here's what I did:

Gather up your materials.

A flower paper punch. 

(I actually borrowed my sisters)

Brad nails

(I used these instead of pins, 

because I had them on hand, 

and they are SUPER cheap)

and a tin foil wreath.

Shape the flowers. 

I used another high-tech device here too.

Needle nosed pliers. 

(I was using my finger nail, but 

after about the first 50, 

it hurt.) 

Add the flowers. 

My fingers really hurt after I finished. 

Sometimes I actually used a little craft hammer I have

to put in the nails.

(Who knew paper could be so hard to poke a hole in!)

I added a ribbon and bow, 

made with hot glue. 

All done.

If you wanted, 

I'm sure you could wrap the wreath in fabric or spray paint it 

to cover the silver foil,

but I like the foil shining through. 

I think it makes it look fancy, 

with the silver shining through. 

Plus it matches the silver brad nails!

I'm excited to see what you have done, 

post it on the Bandy Canyon Flickr Group.