Recycled T-Shirt Yarn Tutorial on Great Day St. Louis

 

This morning I had the pleasure of showing St. Louis how to make recycled t-shirt yarn as well as the opportunity to showcase some of the necklaces that I make with it.  You've seen some of those necklaces (here and here) and you've also seen my affinity for recycled t-shirt yarn from Eclectic Notions (here).  

If you have some old t-shirts lying around, grab some scissors and make some yarn! You'll be addicted to this stuff! It's great for jewelry, potholders, coasters, bathmats, dishcloths, place mats, etc.

This week I will post a step-by-step tutorial as well as some photos of my latest t-shirt yarn necklaces with twisted fabric rosettes.  If you can't wait until then, check out this video!

Parties I'm Linking To Today: 

Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog 

Placemat Pillows

If you are looking for a quick and easy update to your pillow decor, look no further than the placemat section of your local Target, Pier 1, or Home Goods. 

Find a double-layer placement, pick up some poly-fil from your local sewing/craft store, go home and make some pillows.  

I've seen numerous bloggers share this simple, creative idea; so, I had to try it myself.  Find this idea here, here and here. Go ahead, try it.

Here are my recent additions to my pillow addiction via Target's placemat aisle. 

 (in the basement with other pillows I've made from remnants)

(in the living room and entryway)

Making these pillows only requires a seam ripper, needle, thread, stuffing, and placemat.  Simply rip open a small section of seam, stuff with poly-fil (be sure to push into the corners), and stitch the seam closed using a color-matched thread.  This idea is even for the NON-SEWERS because the stitches are barely seen. 

Window Treatments

Since making these window treatments for my entryway, I've been inspired to make more window treatments throughout my house.  Specifically, my bedroom and bathroom; since, those two rooms have been the most overlooked in our home since we moved in.  Here are few DIY tutorials that I like:

Easy Pelmet Boxes from Little Green Notebook

No Sew Swag Valance from Centsational Girl

Roller Blinds from Design*Sponge

Fixed Flat Roman Shade from Centsational Girl

We'll see what we actually decide on! Any other good DIY suggestions for window treatments? If so, please do share. 

smilebooks

Yes, that's me and the hubby. 

We were married on June 24, 2006 and I just recently purchased the rights to our wedding photos.  The reason why I waited four years to purchase these photos and create a wedding album is...well, there is no good reason.  

To be honest, I wasn't very pleased with the quality of the photography.  It was expensive.  We requested a "photo journalistic" package, but ended up with mostly trite, posed photos.  Although, after another look, there were definitely plenty of nice pics for us to create a lasting memory.  

To create my memory album, I'm using Smile Books.  There website allows you to create custom photo books that are high quality at a fraction of the price that many photographers will charge.  I highly encourage you to check them out; they may seem a bit more expensive than other online photo book makers, but the quality and customization is much greater.

Here's their breakdown: 

Create Custom Photo Albums

• Seven great photo book sizes
• Hard or soft covered photo books available
• Each custom photo book is professionally bound

Turn your favorite photographs into custom photo books and preserve your most precious memories forever. SmileBooks makes it easy to create individualized custom photo albums using your own digital photos and computer images.

Hard covered, soft covered, faux leather, satin finish, extra large, small….you choose. No matter what custom photo book you create, it's sure to be a book of smiles! SmileBooks software is easy to download. And just as easy to use. You won't believe how simple it is to design professionally bound, custom photo books with page after beautiful page of your favorite photographs, using one of our formats, or one you design yourself. Create individual custom photo albums for each special occasion and treasured moment you want to preserve forever. With so many different colors, sizes and styles to choose from, no two custom photo books will ever be the same.

Download your free photo books software and in as few as three steps you can create digital photo albums sure to make you smile. SmileBooks delivers your completed photo album in six to ten days at a price and quality you never dreamed possible. Start today. 

When my new wedding album arrives, I will definitely share with you the memories and the Smile Book.

*Now if I could just do something with all these pics of the kiddo.*

a long walk.

During the first weekend of this month, we enjoyed a nice long walk at a nearby park; we had fun throwing rocks in the lake and finding lots of bugs.  It was nice to see that the kiddo still enjoys his babypack.

Got to love summer and all its splendor, right?