DIY Baseball Bracelet

Soon Adam and I will be headed to Cincinnati, Ohio for his brother's wedding and a nice, long, vacation. Part of the trip will include a Reds baseball game - of course! Being married to a baseball guy from Cincinnati, we could not pass up the opportunity. It will be my first major league baseball game. I am so excited!

Part of the fun is picking out a cute baseball outfit. ;-) I found a red tank that will make me look like a Reds fan (but that I can wear the rest of the year too, since I'm particularly loyal to any baseball team). And Pinterest opened my eyes to some fun ways to accessorize, including a DIY baseball bracelet.

Of course, I took the challenge! Adam supplied me with a slightly used baseball and I got to work.

Here's how:

1) Using a hobby knife, cut around the laces of the baseball. All the way around. It's up to you how much leather to include in your bracelet, but be sure to steer clear of the holes that the laces are woven into.

2) Pick a spot and cut the loop so it is on long piece of leather.

3) Soak the leather in water for one hour. Then gently stretch it so the piece is as straight as possible. It will need to dry straight. (I used a pants hanger with clips to keep mine stretched out.)

4) Wrap the leather around your wrist to measure your size. Add about 3 inches to the length, and cut it. Start undoing the laces at both ends of the strip.

5) Cut away the excess leather and keep measuring around your wrist until the leather ends meet (you should have about 1.5 inches of lace on each end).

6) There are a number of ways you can secure the bracelet to your wrist. Some use clasps, some make slip knots. I decided to tie a button on one side and make a loop on the other. It's easy on and off - and super cute!

7) You are done! This is my finished bracelet:

Take me out to the ball game!

Two Ways to Make Fabric Flowers

I recently posted about a baby shower I planned where we made fabric flowers for both mama and baby to wear on headbands, hair clips, clothes or accessories. I prepped various colors of fabric for two styles of flowers. We mixed and matched colors, sizes and adornments for the centers. Now she has several color options and styles to match to different outfits!

I was surprised at how quick and easy they are to make! Below are the tutorials for each type of flower in case you want to make your own.

Tip: To have a variety of fabric options and make it cheap, shop thrift stores! I found several clothing items at $1.00 or less (mostly 25 cents) so I could have a lot of colors without spending a ton of money. Just be sure to wash everything before you start crafting!

T-Shirt Flower

Supplies:
T-shirt material
Cardstock (optional)
Sticky Felt
Matching thread
A button or pearl
Scissors

Instructions:
1. Determine the final size of the flower you wish to create. Usually 2-3 inches wide is a good size.

2. Make yourself a flower-shaped template out of cardstock (optional). The diameter of the flower should be the size you picked in step one. Make it easy and cut a simple flower shape with five or six petals.

3. Use this template to trace flower shapes onto your t-shirt material (or you can hold the two together and cut around the template).

4. Cut at least 6 flowers out of your material. (You can add more if you'd like!)

5. Lay one of these flowers flat on the table.

6. Pick another one and fold it in half. Then lay it on top of the first flower. Align the outer edges of the flower.

7. Do this three more times around the flower, placing each layer over half of the layer below it. Your layers should look like a pinwheel, or box fold. (See photos.)

8. Starting back to front, sew a single stitch in each layer, as close to the center as possible. Do not cut your thread.

9. Fold the last flower shape in quarters (in half and then in half again).

10. At the folded corner, sew a stitch to attach it to the center of your flower. At this point, you may choose to add one or two other quarter-folded petals.

11. Choose a button or a pearl and sew it into the center of the flower. You may need to play with your petals and folds to find the center and make it look the way you want.

12. Tie a knot in the back of the flower and cut your thread.

13. Cut a small circle of sticky felt and attach it to the back of the flower.

14. Glue your flower to a barrette, or attach it to a safety pin.
 
(Note: I glued a piece of felt onto the sticky felt in a way to make a "pocket" for a plastic headband or hair-clip to slide through. This option makes the flower more versatile.)


Satin Flower

Supplies:
Satin material
Cardstock (optional)
Sticky Felt
Matching thread
A button or pearl
Scissors
Candle
Cup of water

Instructions:

1. Determine the final size of the flower you wish to create. Usually 2-3 inches wide is a good size.

2. Make yourself circle templates out of cardstock (optional). The diameter of the largest circle should be the size you picked in step one. Make five or six circles of decreasing size.

3. Trace circles onto your chosen satin material and cut them out.

4. In each circle, cut 4 or 5 slits about half-way to the center of the circle. (See photo.)

5. Using a candle (with a cup of water next to you), carefully and slowly "burn" the edges of the circles. Do not put the fabric into the flame - just hold it above until the heat causes it to melt and curl slightly. This will prevent fraying and create a pretty flower petal shape.

6. Layer each of your flowers on top of each other.

7. Starting back to front, sew a few stitches in the center.

8. Choose a button or a pearl and sew it into the center of the flower. You may need to play with your petals and folds to find the center and make it look the way you want.

9. Tie a knot in the back of the flower and cut your thread.

10. Cut a small circle of sticky felt and attach it to the back of the flower.

11. Glue your flower to a barrette, or attach it to a safety pin.

Sorry I don't have a final photo of the satin flower! For more tutorials, visit Skip to My Lou (where I got my inspiration)!

Enjoy your flowers! 

Tissue Paper Pom Flower Tutorial

These are inexpensive and easy decorations to make any event look more festive. And when you are done, you can take them apart and use the tissue paper for gifts!

Tissue Paper Pom Flowers

Supplies:

20x20 or 20x30 inch tissue paper (8 sheets per flower)

Fishing line or ribbon

Scissors

1. Fold a stack of tissue paper in 1 ½ inch accordion folds (like you are making a paper fan). If you are using 20x30 inch paper, be sure to fold on the shorter side, otherwise your pom will come out floppy. (You can also cut the paper into smaller squares for different sized poms).

2. Cut the ends of the folded tissue paper in points or round them.

3. Tie some fishing line or ribbon around the center of the paper. Leave enough length for hanging the pom once it is complete.

4. Gently pull each layer of tissue apart from each other and fluff into a “ball”. 

5. Hang from the ceiling…you are done!

Pink Girly Baby Shower

I recently had the joyful experience of throwing my friend a baby shower for her second little one and first baby girl. We used a lot of pink to decorate!

I love doing baby showers like this one because those silly baby shower games were not on the agenda. The schedule for the day allowed for time to fellowship, eat, open gifts, and participate in a craft activity. We all enjoyed the day and mama was happy. That's most important part!

For decorating, I was blessed to have a couple more pairs of hands to help, and someone to open their home for hosting the shower. The whole experience is much more fun when there are others to share it with.

In case you are looking for baby shower ideas, here are a few of the decorative highlights from our celebration:

 

Lots of pink tissue paper poms!

 

 Name banner made with scrapbook paper, hung on twine with clothespins. 

Diaper centerpieces with tissue pom flower toppers. 

Yummy cupcakes on a candelabra turned cupcake stand.

 Mason jar drinking glasses with twine bows and pink straws.

Fabric flower craft to make flowers for momma and baby to wear on headbands, hair clips, and brooch pins.

Craft tutorials are coming soon.... ;-)