Idea Thief: Mod Podge Jars

Hi There,

I found this idea via One Pretty Thing. It's a method of painting jars with Mod Podge. I really want to try it before our first outdoor party. It seems like a really fun easy project. (Not to mention really cheap!)

Check out Gingerbread Snowflakes for the tutorial.

DIY Wednesday: Owl Art

Hello,

Man, can you say busy? Over the past couple of weeks, I have completed finals, graduated from law school and am expecting my first child in the next week. It's been a life changing couple of weeks. So, you'll have excuse my inability to post on a regular schedule. I'm hoping things get into a routine once our little Lila arrives.

On a very exciting note, my owl crib mobile was featured on my favorite craft blog, One Pretty Thing. If you are into crafts, her website is definitely a must bookmark.

If you've ever wanted to make some sort of art for your walls, I have an idea for you to try. I created this art for my nursery, but the design could easily be adapted for art in any room. I was thinking you could do something with a quote in a modern like style or your family name or use any other animal that matches your nursery theme. For a printable PDF tutorial, click here.



Supplies:

Stretched Canvas

Scrapbook Paper

Acrylic Paint

Paint Brushes
(Sponge brushes will work just fine)

Mod Podge
(I prefer to use the Matte finish)

Scissors

Directions:

Step One: Paint Canvas





Using your acrylic paint, paint the entire canvas with sponge brush. I decided to create a “cloud” effect by taking a wet washcloth and blotting the wet paint to let a bit of the white canvas show through. You will probably have to do more than one coat of paint to cover the white canvas.

Step Two: Cut Scrapbook Paper



You could design anything to go on the canvas. You could use a name or do an entire quote. I did owls because my nursery theme is owls. I got this design idea from a fellow crafter on BabyCenter, MichelleLouie. Check out her Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ytlou.

If you had a Cricut, you would be set. Just use it to make some fun art and then move on to the next step.

To create my design, I just used the program “Paint” to create the image, then I printed it off. I traced the pattern on to the scrapbook paper and cut it out.

Step Three: Place on Canvas



You will want to create your design by doing “layers.” You will first put Mod Podge on the canvas to glue the paper to the canvas. Once you have put the paper on to the canvas, you will want to do a light layer of Mod Podge across the top of the paper. You will notice that it will at first create a white-ish layer of glue. That will disappear as it dries. You may want to do additional layers after the first layer dries for added protection.

Step Four: Finished Product





Enjoy your one-of-a-kind work of art!

DIY Wednesday: Reversible Car Seat/Seat Belt Strap Covers

Hi Everyone!

I have another project to pass along to you! It's a "baby" project; however, I think I might make one for myself to use on my own seat belt. So, it can be used for those who do not have children. The project is a cover for the straps on a car seat. They can be pretty sharp. (I know I tend to lean forward in the seat which means I always have a seat belt mark on my neck after a road trip.)

I made my straps reversible. One side is a soft plush pink fabric and the other side is a nice cotton. I figure one side is the "winter" side and one side is the "summer" side. (In other words, I couldn't make up my mind on fabric. :) Later on, I figured that cotton might be cooler next to the skin on a hot August afternoon.) Click here for a printable PDF tutorial.



Supplies:

Fabric
(I used two different types of fabric so the straps are reversible. I used a soft pink fleece fabric and a fun dot cotton fabric. You won’t need much. I used scraps)

Batting
(You won’t need much…just two 6x6 squares)

Binding

Hook & Loop Tape aka Velcro

Sewing Machine

Rotary Cutter, Cutting Board and Clear Ruler

Fabric Marker or Pencil

Directions:

Step One: Cut Your Fabric



Using your rotary cutter, cutting board and ruler, you are going to cut the following:
2- 6 x 6 squares of fabric “a” (my soft pink fabric)
2- 6 x 6 squares of fabric “b” (my dot fabric)
2- 6 x 6 squares of batting

Step Two: Pin Fabric & Draw Seams



Make a fabric sandwich with your fabric “a” on the bottom with design facing down, batting in the middle and fabric “b” on the top with the design facing outward. Secure with pins…you may have to reposition these pins in order to draw the seams on the fabric.

Use a fabric marker or pencil to draw 3 seams evenly spaced.

Step Three: Sewing Machine Time



Using the lines that you marked, sew seams down the fabric. These seams will keep your fabric “sandwich” together.

Step Four: Bind it Up to Finish Up



To finish up your car seat strap covers, you will want to add binding around the outside of the square. It was the first time I had tried using binding (so the results aren’t as pretty as a pro’s). I just pinned my binding around the outside and was very careful when I was sewing to catch the binding and three layers of fabric.

Now you will want to add your Velcro. Velcro is pretty easy to add. I just played around with where it would be most effective to add Velcro. (I even grabbed my car seat and played around with the car seat strap covers to make sure the Velcro went in the correct place). If your Velcro has a sticky back, your sewing machine needle is going to get all gunky. I keep a rubbing alcohol pad nearby to wipe down the needle as I go.

Sew around the Velcro several times to make sure the Velcro is securely attached. I also like to do an “X” pattern across the middle of the Velcro to add security.

Step Five: Ta Da!

You have finished car seat strap covers…hopefully you and your baby enjoy them!