A Denim Skirt From Cutoff Jeans

Denim math: 1 Pair of Jeans = 1 Pair of Shorts + 1 Skirt

Iron Craft time again! This challenge was "Denim" and I'm sure you can guess what that means. I had to sew. Well, really it means that we had to make something from denim, but to me it meant sewing. And, yes, I poked myself repeatedly with the needle. And, yes, I'm still terrified of my sewing machine, so this was done by hand.

My daughter has hit a growth spurt, so several pairs of her jeans still fit her around the waist, but are way too short. I decided to cut off a pair, naturally. I was left with the two legs and being the craft hoarder that I am, I kept them. When this challenge was issued, I was prepared (for once).

No making fun of my sewing skills!

The denim is stretchy, which I think is probably pretty important in this project. All I did was cut the seams as close as I could get, which left me with two squares and only two seams to sew. I left a bit of a vent area at the bottom of the back. I then sewed a seam at then top and then sewed a piece of elastic at the back and two darts at the front.

She thinks she's a supermodel.

Always posing for the camera.

I really, really need to learn how to use my sewing machine.

Photo Key Fob

Keyping my baby close (Geddit? Key-ping! *cue rimshot*)

Iron Craft's "Smile" challenge nearly slipped by me. It was due today and I did it, oh...today. Since I missed the last one, I was determined to do this one. Even if it's a bit late-ish. I did a photo key fob featuring one of my favorite (old) pictures of my daughter. I have one of those nifty credit card accounts that lets me design my own card. This particular card had expired, but I couldn't toss it out. Just look at that face! You couldn't toss that out either.

I trimmed the card into the shape I wanted, sanded the back and painted it with acrylic paint. When the paint dried, I stamped several images and layered some stickers on top. I sealed it with a coat of Mod Podge and put it on a key chain with a pre-made felt flower. And that's it. Easy peasy!

Cheep and cheerful! (Thank you folks! I'll be here all week. Be sure to tip your waitress.)

A pillow case and a table to match

An envelope pillow case with a felt flower embellishment.

It's Iron Craft time again! This challenge was In Stitches and, just as the title suggests, we had to sew something. Not my favorite thing, but I'm very proud of how this project turned out. It's completely hand-sewn with not a drop of glue used. Weird, I know.

Close-up of the flower.

My husband and I ordered a new chair that has shades of green and grey and it's all stripey. I love it to bits and can't wait until it gets here. In honor of our new chair to be, I whipped up this pillow case. The pillow is a cinnabar red that just won't go in my new color scheme.   This pillow case is so easy to do, I'm not going to bother with a tutorial. If you need step-by-step directions, try this envelope pillow case tutorial. And if you have any questions, just ask me.

The back.

 I had just enough fabric left over to change out my candlestick table. Yay! It needed an update.

And a matching table.

I love it when a project comes together exactly how I envisioned it. It's so rare when that happens.

From Cutlery Box to Ring Box

My new ring box

 It's been a while, but I'm still here. And still burning my fingers with my glue gun. Whatever. Iron Craft's Think Inside the Box challenge got me crafting again. Yay! This is a project I've been wanting to do for a while. I had a couple of wooden cutlery boxes laying around and since I saw the ring display case from Tea Rose Home, I knew I had to do it. I did a few things differently. I used a box instead of a frame and I didn't make individual rolls (sort of...more on that later). I think it turned out pretty well.

Original box

I lightly sanded the box top and quickly (not very neatly) slapped on a coat of white acrylic craft paint. I then attached a piece of scrapbook paper to the top with a couple of coats of Mod Podge. Love that stuff!

Pretty top!

Original insides

After that dried, I cut a piece of fleece to fit the inside of the box top and attached it with a glue gun around the edges, which is perfect for storing brooches. I then cut squares of batting, rolled them up and glued them to the insides of the compartments. I cut strips of the same fleece, glued one side down, and then tucked it in around the rolls. I used a flat screwdriver to tuck in the edges. I glued the other edge. And then did it all over again twice more.

Batting rolls

I left the last compartment free of batting rolls for chain rings and stretchy rings. I lined the bottom with more fleece. I then loaded the whole thing up and admired it on my shelf. 

Finished!

I want to find something to use as edging around the inside of the lid and the flat compartment just to finish them up a bit. I need a trip to the craft store for that. Can you believe that I didn't have anything appropriate in my overgrown stash? Seriously.

Peeps! (a headband and a craft fail)

Peeps bunny headband slide

When the Iron Craft Peeps Challenge was issued, I knew just what I'd do. Peeps Pops! They were adorable...in my mind. In reality? Er...more on that later. So I had to come up with a back up project. I whipped up this Super Simple headband using felt, a brown fabric marker, card stock, and a super strong glue stick.  I also used a pair of scissors, Made's Peeps Bunny template, and a plastic gold headband.

Easter Cupcakes

Easter Cupcakes - Chocolate cake topped with a chocolate buttercream nest, milk chocolate curls, green leaves, and Whoppers Mini Robins Eggs

$20/dozen

Call 304.545.6714, send me a message here,

or email tabbiecat77@gmail.com.

Cupcakes are made fresh to order.

Now accepting Visa, MasterCard, American Express, & Discover.

Bailey's Irish Cream Cupcakes

Bailey's Irish Cream cupcake just in time for St. Patrick's Day!

For St. Patrick's Day, how about indulging in a box of Bailey's Irish Cream cupcakes? They're definitely not for the kids. They're a Bailey's and cinnamon cake, topped with Bailey's buttercream frosting, sprinkled with green and gold sparkling sugar.

Get a dozen for $20.

Call 304.545.6714 or email tabbiecat77@gmail.com.

Cupcakes are made fresh, so a day's notice would be greatly appreciated.

Now accepting Visa, MasterCard, American Express, & Discover.

A Melty Cuff

Yeah...so I couldn't think of something else to call it.

Iron Craft's fourth challenge was Catalogue Creation and I knew immediately what I wanted to do. I just didn't know how I wanted to do it. You see, I've had a page ripped out of October's Marie Claire tacked up to my bulletin board since, well, October. I fell head over heels in love with this melty cuff by Delfina Delettrez, but I just didn't have an extra $1,660 laying around.

Gorgeous, right?

After mulling it over for a few days, I scaled back the design to something more practical for me, and figured out the construction, and surprise, surprise, it didn't involve metalsmithing. I cut a piece of felt and some thick elastic, sewed them together, layered a ton of hot glue, painted it, dripped some more paint, and then sealed it with Mod Podge. I'd still rather have the original, but sadly, I still don't have the cash and it's apparently sold out. The picture is still tacked to my bulletin board.

Menu Updates

Sugar Free Chocolate Cherry

There's been a few new exciting additions to the cupcake menu. I've added a sugar free chocolate cherry cupcake (made with Splenda), and a Cinnamon Toast Crunch cupcake. And thanks to my new Square, I'm able to accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover! Super yay!

Infinity Scarves...Forever!

Zara's ecstatic over her new pink scarf.

I've developed an obsession with infinity scarves. Luckily, they're so easy to make they're Super Simple. Iron Craft's challenge is Warm Up, which, hello, is perfect for my new fixation.

Valentine's Day Special

Don't forget the sweets for your sweetheart!

Get our Valentine Dozen: 6 Cherry Bomb and 6 Strawberry Surprise cupcakes for $20.

Cherry Bomb - Cherry flavored cake with pink cherry flavored buttercream frosting, topped with red, pink, and white nonpareils and a maraschino cherry.

Strawberry Surprise - Strawberry flavored cake, filled with strawberry preserves, with strawberry frosting, topped with heart-shaped candies and sanding sugar.

Order by Friday, February 10th for pickup on the 11th through the 14th.

Call 304.545.6714 or email tabbiecat77@gmail.com to order.

Heart on a StringMommy-Daughter Necklace Set

You've got my heart on a string!

Hearts and Flowers was the theme for Iron Craft's second challenge of the year. I did a simple Mommy-Daughter necklace set out of shrink plastic, some cord, a couple of jump rings, and a few self-adhesive rhinestones. It was so Super Simple! The smaller heart is made from the inside of the larger heart and the three sparklies represent the three members of our family. Just cut the shapes out with scissors and a craft knife, make the holes with a hole punch, and bake according to directions. After they've cooled, add the rhinestones and jump rings and string it onto some cord. And then give one to your little Valentine. Or keep it for yourself and layer them. Whatever.

Open for Business!

Peanut Butter Cup

Root Beer

Who wants cupcakes?  You know you do. See the Cupcake Menu tab at the top of the page? Yeah, that's my menu because I'm now officially open for business. Cupcakes are $20 per dozen and made fresh to order. A little prior notice is appreciated so that I can get to the store for those fresh ingredients. So check out the menu and then give me a call or an email and you'll have yourself some yummy-scrummy cupcakes.

Valentine's Pop-Up Card

Of course there's someone I love more than cupcakes!

Pop-up cards are a lot of fun. For me, anyway. Iron Craft's first challenge of the year, Paper, is because this is also Iron Craft's first anniversary. (By the way, happy anniversary!!!) For the first challenge of the year, I decided to step out of my comfort zone a little. For the first time ever, I embossed. With embossing powder. And a heat tool. Yeah...I'm a bit behind of the crafting curve...by a good fifteen years or so.

10 on 10 Photo Project

9 a.m.: Oatmeal and iced tea. The breakfast of champions.

This year I've joined Develop's Project 2012 and have started doing a Project 366, which means that I'm taking a photo a day for the entire year. Or at least one, anyway. Some days I can't limit myself to only one. You know how it is. Anyway, I've decided to join in on the 10 on 10 challenge as well. And that means that on the tenth of each month, I'll be taking ten photos on consecutive hours. This set is what my typical Tuesday is like from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Multi Chain Necklace

Much love for this one!

I'm not going to lie...I had a really hard time letting this one go. If it hadn't been so close to the Christmas party, I would have kept this necklace and made something else for Zara's teacher's assistant. As it is, I'm going to have to stock up on more chain and make one for myself.