RED, WHITE AND BLUEJEANS

so...the hubs was about to throw out a pair of jeans...when, in slow motion i found myself diving in front the trashcan to save 'em...ok...maybe that didn't happen...but i did stop 'em from going in the garbage!...lol...i figured i could use the denim for something...and boy was i right!...still struggling with my lollipop flower addiction...i came up with a little something that's stylish...and fourth of july-ish....here's the tute...

you need some super glue, fabri tac, sizzix circles #2 die, and recently rescued denim...

you'll also need a 1" inch chipboard (cereal box) circle, tack back type pin, and a brad with bling....

cut your denim, layer up two pieces and run through your sizzix...

here's what you're left with...now this is enough for one pin...but since i do things in bulk...i did this tons of times...and had a nice 'ol pile...cut a couple extra of the smallest circles and set to the side...you'll need these later...

oopsie...forgot to mention that you'll need a mesh laundry bag for this next step...anywho...pile in all your denim circles (except for the couple extra of the smallest circles)...you'll want to get 'em all wet...i just did this at the sink...ring out all the water...then throw 'em in the dryer!...

here they are all frayed and fantastic...now...if you don't want 'em frayed...skip the previous step...but notice...i have the one unfrayed small circle in there too!...

stack 'em all on top of each other...keeping the same sizes together...and don't be perfect...make 'em kinda whompy and off center...

wow...looks like i forgot something else you need...the crop a dile...or at least something that will get through all the layers at once...now with all your might...punch 'em!...

post punch...

take you brad with bling...and put through...

now flip it over....

take your 1" inch chipboard circle...see...told you it was a cereal box!...lol...slap some fabri tac on there....

adhere it over the brad prongs...see...we're cleverly hiding it!...

with super glue...slap the tack back on there...if you don't have super glue...use some other kind of glue...but make sure it's going to hold!...also...you want it to be pretty centered...you'll see why in a sec...

ok...this is where you need your unfrayed small circle...using a paper piercer or somthing else really sharp...put a hole in the center....

slap some more fabri tac on there....

taking the denim circle you just put a hole in...slip it over the tack pin...i make sure that the side will match the back side of the pin...that way it really hides all that's going on back there...lol...

push it down and make sure that it's stuck!...

put the other pin part on there...

and lookie!...your pin's done!...

for my packaging...i take some 3 1/2" by 3 1/2" super thick chipboard...cover with patterned paper...ink up the edges...punch a hole...and pop up a cute little sentiment...

i know it might seem like alot of steps...but it's really not!...isn't the finished product so worth it?...

****check out my linky party directory on the sidebar to see where i'm linking to this week!...

THIS JUST IN...THE BEAN CAN SEW!

OMG....i just realized that i totally forgot to share the news that i was picked for the design team over at sugar sweet paper treats!....how could i let that one slip?...lol...anywho...well...of course i was super excited for our first challenge...until i saw what it was..."stitches"...ummm...the bean doesn't sew!...great...first time to design...and this is what i gotta work with?....hee hee...

well...ended up getting the janome sew mini machine...i figured if it was for beginners...i definately feel into that category!...wowser!...that little guy is fantastic!...from the very first time i pushed the petal down...i was sewing!...so...grabbed some scrap fabric and kraft cardstock (i'm becoming addicted to that stuff!)...and with a little help from a stampin' up sentiment...here's what i did for my first challenge!..

make sure you head over there to see what all the other gals have been up to!...

 

MACABRE MONDAY...TRUEBIE OR NOT TRUEBIE

so...here's what i came up with for macabre monday over at haunted design house....this weeks truebie or not truebie challenge was inspired by hbo's true blood....now...i don't watch the show...but the hubs is totally addicted!...and i wanted a way for him to earn his fangs without involving me...lol...so...i ended up taking this plain glass and etched some on!...creepy thing is...i positioned them just so, that when you tilt up the glass....they look real!...

MASTER OLIVE....TAKE TWO

ok...remember when i was to be over at olive juice studio?...and then kim broke her blog?...well...she really didn't break it...something crazy happened and she was tagged a spammer or whatever...anywho...she's got a new site up and running!...but...she lost all her followers...so...scoot on over there!...plus...you'll be able to see the second part of my interview!...

CHALKBOARD TUTU-TORIAL

so...i needed to make a little something for my niece's dance recital...you know...to go along with her balloons...yeah...i don't do flowers...lol...anywho...i had done one of these chalkboards a little while ago...and thought how perfect!...why the purple and green?...well...those are the colors of the dance school...see...i do pay attention...lol...and...thought while i was at it...i'd do up a little tutu-torial for ya!....

you'll need an 8 x 10 canvas...foam paintbrush...ribbon (1" or 1 1/2")...plastic baby hanger...

also grab...chalkboard paint (i like the brush on better)...staple gun...2 yards of tulle...and i totally forgot it in the picture...but you'll need a glue gun...

slap on two coats of chalkboard paint...

taking enough ribbon to go along the bottom...staple to the back...wrap it around...and staple the other side...

here's what it should look like...

then...take two smaller pieces of ribbon and staple those on the front to start forming the straps...they're about 3/8" from the side edge of canvas...

flip the canvas over...then putting the plastic hanger along the top...put the ribbon though and bring to the back...

staple those into place...and trim the excess ribbon...

now...grabbing the tulle and just pulling it together with your hands...kinda form a tube...

 

on the bottom of the canvas...start at one side...and staple the end of tulle...

making about a 3 inch loop...you'll staple again...putting it pretty close to your other staple...

doing another loop...staple again...

you'll keep making loops and stapling until you get to the end of the tulle...your last bit of tulle will need to be stapled at the very end of the canvas....

flip it over...and start to fluff...pulling the ends of the tulle...this gives the tutu it's poof!...

do up two bows in the same ribbon...

attach with hot glue...covering up those staples on the front...

and there you go!...one tutu cute chalkboard!...

****check out my linky party directory on the sidebar to see where i'm linking to this week!...

POTTERYBARN-ISH DESKTOP CORKBOARD

so...i know some of you gals might have limited space on your desks or work areas...but you want some kind of way to be able to post small notes or reminders?...well...here ya go...my potterybarn-ish (yeah...i make up my own words) desktop corkboard!...with just replacing the glass with cork...you'll make one super cute note holder that's only the size of a frame!...wow...that sounded a little like an infomercial!...lol...but be honest...is this not something straight off the pages from the pb catalog?...and how about those pushpins?...with help from little birdie secrets...i made those too!...

 

so let's get started!...you'll need...a frame (make sure it's not wall mount and has the little stand thingie)...i used 8 x 10...some cork...a craft knife...and a staple gun...

 

take the paper insert or the glass...put at edge of cork...and cut to size...

 

then...instead of putting the glass back...put the cork in...

 

you want to put the back on now...one thing you'll find...is that you won't be able to use the closures like you normally would...so this is where the staple gun comes into play!...plus...what gal doesn't love power tools?...lol...

 

you'll want to angle the staples...not staple directly into the frame...

 

and voila!...one cute little desktop corkboard!...

 

now to do up those oh so cute pushpins!...

you'll need scissors, a glue gun, thumbtack, scrap paper for the leaves, and a 4" inch square of double sided paper...

 

cut the edges off making it more of a circle...but don't be perfect...the messier...the better!...

 

now...starting at the edge...you'll want to cut in a spiral...go all the way until you reach the center....

 

putting the pattern you want showing facing down...start to fold the edges...going all the way around the spiral...

 

here's what it looks like all done...again...don't be perfect...

 

flip it over...and start rolling...make sure to keep it pretty snug...also...try to keep the bottom edge as even as can be...

 

still rolling...

 

still rolling...

 

done rolling!...now you almost have a finished flower!...

 

see...this little flappie you're left with?...that's what the flower's going to sit on...so...if it's a little bigger than the bud...just trim it up a bit...

 

now slap some hot glue on there!...

 

and press down until it cools!...be careful...they call it hot glue for a reason!...lol...

 

here's what it should look like...

 

now cute some leaves...be free form in your cutting!...

 

crumble 'em up!...

 

attach to the back...

 

put a glob of hot glue down...and slap your thumbtack on there!...

 

and there you go!...one oh so cute flower pushpin!...

 

change up the paper and sizes and you'll have a whole bunch of super cute flowers!...

 

***you know...you don't have to just stop at thumbtacks...you could attach a lapel pin on there...or even a magnet!...