From a belt to a headband }{ diy

And the boxes are still crowding almost every room...

On the other hand, I'm taking this move as an opportunity to purge, clean out, de-clutter. With that comes some reorganizing and considering the fate of many possessions. I'm no hoarder, but I also don't like to waste. I see potential in a lot of random odds and ends. If it sits in my to do list for too long however, it's time for it to go.

So, this month's theme on the blog will be reorganizing and repurposing.

As part of that theme, today's post is about changing a fabric belt into one (or many) headbands. It's so simple and easy, you can even do it without a sewing machine (although the machine makes it that much faster).

Materials: your old belt, some elastic, measuring tape, scissors, needle/sewing machine and thread

Steps: 

1. Measure your head around the area you want to wear your headband.
2. Measure your belt from one end to about 4 inches less than your head's measurement and cut it.
3. Cut about 2 inches of elastic (depending on how stretchy it is, you may want to make it a bit shorter or longer).
4. Fold the raw edge inward twice (1/4" * 2) and iron (optional but makes it neater).
5. Place one short side of the elastic in downside of the folded edge and pin. Sew edge.
6. Place the other side of the elastic on the downside of the other edge, pin, and sew it in place.
7. Wear your band.

I asked my sister who's living with us to model the headband for me. She's a little shy but reluctantly agreed. Thank you, sis!

Won't you share your repurposing projects?

A pen holder for father's day }{ Tutorial Thursdays

I know, I know, we still have some time to go before Father's day. I just figured I could give you a head start on making something for dad. This particular craft is inspired by my husband's desk, which is much, much more organized than mine.

Materials:

• empty (also clean and not smashed) toilet paper rolls; paper towel rolls also work, but you have to cut them down to a smaller size
• scissors
• cardboard
• strong glue (I used a hot glue gun, but it's not necessary as long as your glue is strong enough)
• scraps of fabric, felt, and/or graphic paper (I took the cover of a mail catalogue)
• embellishments

Steps:

1. Make the bottoms - draw a circle on the cardboard using your toilet paper roll for measure. I circled very close to the sides but on the inside of the roll to make the bottom a little smaller than the roll.
2. Cover it with fabric/paper/felt - spread glue on the circle and place it on your choice of covering, then let it dry.
3. Cut the fabric leaving a little extra around the circle.
4. Attach bottom to roll - spread glue on the inside of the rolls at the bottom. Carefully push the bottom with fabric from the top to the bottom, with the fabric side facing down. The extra fabric will get glued to the sides of the roll and attach the bottom more firmly.
5. Cut a strip of paper of fabric and glue it around the roll in whatever design you'd like. I'm going to describe the suit design only. 
1. First cut a white felt triangle and glue it to the roll with the bottom of the triangle going along the top of the roll. 
2. Then measure and cut a rectangle out of the felt for the suit that will cover the entire roll, but only as wide as it takes to cover it without leaving an empty space. However, do make it a little bit longer, so you can fold the fabric in and glue a bit of it on the inside.
3. Take some spot around the middle of the rectangle and attach it with pins to the white felt on the spot where the triangle was cut. Cut carefully a matching triangle out of the top of the felt rectangle around the middle. Basically you are matching the opening of the suit to match the triangle you already cut (the shirt).
4. Glue the rectangle to the roll, matching the missing triangle section on the suit to the white felt triangle already on the roll.
5. Measure the length and cut a tie shape, then glue it to the white shirt/triangle. 
6. Measure the length and cut two strips to glue alongside the shirt triangle and make a suit lapel.

steps 2 and 3

steps 5.1- 5.4

steps 5.5 and 5.6

I also made one with a baseball-themed cover of a catalogue we received in the mail, since my husband loves baseball. All I did for that was cut a rectangle out of the cover with the pitcher and his team positioned in the middle of the roll. I also covered another roll with fuzzy yarn and added some buttons, but that one's for me. :)

Once you have the bottom, you and your big or little kids can really decorate the roll however you want. You can even put an "I love you dad" or "#1 dad" in there. I ran out of old rolls....

What are you planning on doing for Father's day?