Towel Wrap !

Graduation time = crafting time!  What does a college girl need...a towel wrap of course with school colors!  LSU is a favorite school in Louisiana...and that's where this little gift will end up.

Supplies:  1 bath towel ( lightweight works the best, less bulk to sew)
                1 piece elastic 1" wide 22" long (adjust acording to desired fit)
                Fabric for decorative strip down the front (mine was 32" long and 4" wide)
                     (Measure your towel length and add 1 1/2" for turning raw edges)
                1 fabric piece 42" long x 4" wide to make bow on final wrap
                Velcro 2 pieces 4" long
                 Ric Rac for decoration if desired (length of towel)

 Begin by folding the ends of the fabric to conceal raw deges and  iron it forming a piece about 2" wide.

 Finished piece ironed and ready to attach to towel edge.

 I folded it over the end of the towel (this will eventually be inside the casing area.

 Pin fabric down and stitch.

 Stitched and ready for the next step.

 I added the Ric Rac on one side just for some extra color!

 Bring the Ric Rac over the end just like the fabric (the bottom of the fabric and trim were sewn to finished
edge of towel.


Measure 2" and pin ...don't stitch at this point....(this will form the casing for the elastic )

 Attach one side of the 4" velcro onto the towel front top edge.

 Do not stitch the casing edge all the way across just yet..you will need an opening to put the elastic through.

 Pull your measured elastic piece through the casing and stitch across one edge to hold in place.

 Pull elastic up to desired length ( I put it on to see how tight I needed it to fit)
Once the elastic is in place, fold the towel down and stitch across the elastic area to hold in place.
Finish sewing the folded casing area at this time and attach the matching velcro to the other side matching the front piece.

 You are finished unless you want to add a little decoration to the top...mine was too plain so I added a bow.

 I cut a piece of matching fabric 42" long and made a tube, turned it and tied a bow.

 I sewed the tie onto the top of the towel wrap ...added that extra that it needed!

Now I need to wrap it up pretty and deliver it to the lucky GRAD!

DIY Dish Birthday PRIZE!

The DIY Dish is having a Birthday and wants to give away lots of prizes to some lucky ducks!
Check it out and enter to win....I sure am!
The DIY DISH

Cruise Tip!

Clear Shoe Bag = Best Cruise Tip Ever!  The simple clear shoe bag you hang over the door was the best thing I brought on my cruise a couple of years ago.  I recently passed this tip on to a friend who will be going on a cruise soon and thought I would share.
I found my shoe bag at my local Walmart.  When I boarded the ship I hung the bag on the inside of the door in the VERY SMALL bathroom.  There is very little counter space and the bag becomes your hanging storage!
All the little things we use everyday from lotion to toothpaste, q-tips, hairspray, suntan lotion...and on and on fit neatly into each clear shoe compartment for easy access! 
The next best advice....get yourself some seasick bracelets and keep them on throughout the entire cruise!  Believe me, I learned the hard way!



Happy Cruising!



I am linking up with
Tip Junkie Tip Me Tuesday

Mark your SPOT!

It's a bookmark...ribbon...buttons...elastic hairband and there you have it!  I didn't come up with the original idea...wish I could remember where I saw it first but it was so simple and cute I had to share! 

I made it for my daughter's friend to mark her place in her drawing journal!  I also made a small envelope purse for her to carry her drawing supplies but didn't get a good picture but you can go to The DIY Dish and see the project...really simple and cute!  The purse slipped easily under the bookmark for safe keeping.



Supplies:   Ribbon( about 12-14 inches/any width would work)
                2 buttons (large enough to hold elastic band)
                1 hair elastic
Fold the cut edges of the ribbon on one end 1/4" to conceal the raw edge, fold again 1/2" and slip the elastic band into the fold before stitching the width of the ribbon.
Repeat the process for the other end excluding the elastic band.
Sew a button on both ends and place in book hooking the elastic band around the button.

Mark your spot with style...!

I have joined a newbie link party at DebbieDoos  Go check her blog out..lots of great ideas!

Ladybug LOVE!

My mind went straight to ladybugs when I saw the wooden block with antennas at Michael's...odd how that works!  The project started with painting the unfinished block red and the ladybug started to take shape.

Oops...I forgot to take a pic of the plain block...but here it is painted red.

I cut a triangle out of scrapbook paper and used Mod Podge to attach it to the center.

After attaching the paper to the block I coated the entire front with the Mod Podge.

The Mod Podge tries clear so no worries.....!

I cut 6 circles out of the same paper and attached with Mod Podge just like the triangle. 

I glued wiggle eyes to 2 small black pompoms and glued those to the top with Tacky Glue.

The Mod Podge is still wet in this pic but dried clear.

This pic is the flop version...I tried using pompoms on the front but they were too heavy and would not adhere well....after this I went to the final paper dot idea.....lesson learned!

I used my finished Ladybug to hold a card I made...I'll tell you about that another day!

Revels week!

Revels...what's that?  Revels is the final dance recital for the "World Famous Rangerettes" of Kilgore College!  My daughter is a sophomore this year, it is only a two year college so this is the end of this journey and on to another.  It's sad to see it end, it has been so much fun for our family!  Lots of hard work for Amelia but well worth it in the end. 
It is a full week of practice and performances...5 times in all with an audience.  I was there every single time and loved every minute.  I took over 600 pictures, thank goodness for digital!
I brought her gifts each time I went to the show.  Lola the ladybug is their class mascot.  She loved them all but the cake ball bouquet was her favorite I think but the chocolate covered strawberries came in a close second. 
Heading back to Kilgore today to take some pictures of her and her roommate together.  This journey is almost over and she will be off to another adventure...time will tell what that may be.
Not only Revels took place this week but my son turned 18.  He had to be at the recital on his big day, hated we didn't get to celebrate much but we did go out to eat and we surprised him with a new mountain bike earlier in the day.  He will be taking it to college in Florida in August...that's something I would rather not think about.  I get choked up thinking both of my children will be gone and the house will be empty except for the animals...and my husband!
Guess this is the next chapter in my life....could we please put a bookmark in this page for a bit longer PLEZ!

Chocolate covered strawberries...

Ladybug card holder & card...will post how-to later

Cakeball flowers...(Will post how-to later)

Amelia is in the split leap....!

The middle dancer is my daughter! 

These two are my life...!

Amelia and Austin...the best a parent could ask for!

Seeing RED!

Everything looks better RED!  I have this obsession...I admit it....I confess....I am addicted to RED!  I have driven a RED vehicle since I was 17, except for the sad years I had to drive a blue minivan...my sweet husband surprised me with a brand new van with a big RED bow on it but it just wasn't the same.  I was soooo glad when I finally got a new car.  We shopped for months trying to find the perfect one!  I didn't really care what kind, it just had to be RED!  I finally found it, a RED Yukon XL...my kids named her "BIG RED"....she was a jewel!  I just recently traded her in for another and can you guess what color it is...?  YES, I got "BIG RED'S" little sister, another Yukon except for the short bed! 
What does this have to do with crafting...well, when I started to paint a few pieces of old furniture I inherited...guess what color I was leaning towards?   Yes, your right on RED!  I am really satisfied with the results even though the table took one coat of primer and about 4 coats of RED but it was completely worth it...!  The table has a home in my craft room for now and the chair is at my desk!  Mission accomplished.....now off to get more RED paint.  Nothing is safe from RED around here!

Purse...turned Camera BAG!

I think I made the perfect bag even better!  I found the cutest bag big enough to carry all my camera STUFF!  I have a camera backpack that is wonderful but it makes me look like I'm going on a hiking trip!  This perfect bag...it's big, so cute, and can carry everything I need but there's one problem....everything drops to the bottom and clanks together.  My solution, make a bag insert to pad my supplies.  I know, it's not an original idea but the ones I've  priced are way beyond my budget.  My  insert is padded and made of flannel so it will protect my camera supplies.  I even made a couple of dividers with velcro in order to change up the inside depending on what I need that day. 
The best thing about the project....once I take the insert out....the camera bag is back to being a purse without a hassle!
I know I should of taken pictures while I was making it  but I got so excited I completely forgot!
I promise to do better next time...!

 

Hippity Hop!

Thanks to Jenn at Rook NO.17 for the cute Moss Bunny Topiaries idea. You can find the original tutorial here.  I made a few changes but the main idea stayed the same. I found the rabbits at Pier 1 just like she suggested. I white washed my pots but instead of the numbers on the original idea, I stamped along the top of the pot rim with a stamp loaded with distressing ink...turned out great! Just what my kitchen table needed to help celebrate the season! Thanks again to Jenn for the super, spectacular idea...it was really simple to complete! Hopping off to complete a few more projects I have in mind!

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

How can I tell other than by the calendar that SPRING is here...well the allergies are here to stay! I love this time of year, time to plant flowers and get busy with making the outside pretty again! I wish I could have all this Spring goodness without the runny nose and itchy eyes but guess you have to take the good with the bad.
I found a quote that describes my feeling about Spring..."The day the LORD created HOPE was probably the same day HE created SPRING."-author unknown-
I am always rejuvenated during this time, a newness seems to take over my attitude! Now if this new attitude will just get busy, all will be well. I am trying to get all the things required for college entrance for both of my children finished, bitter sweet. One will be transferring to Texas and the other moving off to Florida. Both states are too far from me but that is their destination and I will learn to love it because that's what they want! We have always told them to follow their dreams and they will be happy. You make your own happiness, you can't wait for others to make it for you!
Now on to making my happiness...not sure what that is at the moment. My job for the last 20+ years has been MOM. I know that job never ends but the job description does and that's what I am having to deal with at this moment in my life. I know God has a plan for us all and I will listen close to my heart and go forward.
"All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today."
-Indian Proverb-
Time to go spread some seeds of HOPE today!
deb

What have I done lately.....?

Good question...my creativity has been on hold recently...! About the only thing I have made in the last few weeks is a computer envelope for my sis's birthday. I monogramed a few things along the way for gifts and that's about it....haven't felt the creative bug bite me in awhile...I think I need a boost of some kind. Not sure what that might be, I will be searching for the cure diligently!

"You are responsible for the TALENT that has been entrusted to you."

Now on to being responsible...:)

Inspired to create!

I have been in baby mode this week.....a special friend is having a little boy next month! Her theme is FIRETRUCKS...fun, cute, adorable! I monogramed a few items along with making a hooded bath towel and a wall hanging! Fun to get back into the painting again...it's been awhile!
Something about baby things inspire me...I sure miss mine being little. I loved making dresses and outfits for both of mine along with painting special things for their teachers.
Now...on to the crafting room to get more organized...I feel a wave of painting and creating coming my way!

Grateful for my talents...Gods gift to me!

deb

2011 Ready or Not...Here it is!

2011 is creeping in whether I am ready or not! I had great plans for 2010, "Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men"...!
Looks as if I will need to revamp my plans and see what I can accomplish is 2011. Both children (YOUNG ADULTS) will be gone from the nest this time next year sooooo my #1 plan is to try to prepare myself for the empty nest!!! I hate even saying it..it sounds so SAD but that's where my attitude needs an overhaul. I will start today, HOPEFULLY, to get a better attitude and start working on MY future!
I am 51 and still don't know what I want to be when I grow up..I have been a Jill of all trades up until this point...College Graduate...Display Girl...Store Manager....PTL President...Crafter...and MOM, my best job so far! I cherish all the MOM duties the most, I have never had a job I loved as much!
I strive to become a better person each day, most days I could use a little help but I'm trying! I want to be a better seamstress...take better pictures...take better care of myself...love life a bit more each day. I depend on God to help me with these things, I want to begin a closer walk with him. That's my goal at this very minute....

Living in the moment...minute by minute
deb

Southern born and sooo glad!

It's been a heck of a weekend....flew to Baltimore, Maryland to visit MICA, better known as Maryland Institute College of Art! The weather turned off COLD and WINDY...I think it stays that way up north. That's why I am glad I was born in the south and plan to live here forever!!! Austin and I did a little sightseeing on Sat. and on Sunday we took a taxi to the school. The day consisted of a LONG talk from the MICA staff then a COLD school tour. The freshman dorm looked like a prison...I wouldn't even consider letting Austin live there..guess that says it all! The day was long and cold! We were unable to get a taxi back to the hotel so we took the train, one more adventure. We didn't make it back to the hotel...only part of the way! We ended up walking about a half mile to flag a taxi and finally made it back to the HILTON! Never so glad to get to a hotel and rest my weary bones. We ventured out that evening and found the Cheesecake Factory, best meal we ate the whole weekend!

Morning came finally and we caught a taxi to the airport...made it to Dallas, boarded the plane to return to Shreveport. Couldn't be that simple, the plane was broken and we had to get off and wait around for about an hour to eventually board another plane. We arrived in Shreveport about 4! So glad to be in our hometown...needless to say I am staying home for awhile and I hope Austin decided the NORTH is better left up there and will pick a college in a warmer climate!

Side note...I slipped in the tub on Sunday morning, fell flat on my back, bumped my head on the back of the tub and have had a dull headache since. I am hoping it will go away, it worries me it still hurts but hope all will be well soon! Thank goodness I didn't pass out...would of hated to have been hurt so far from home!

Better days ahead...no question about it!
deb