SYTYC Contest | Lil Blue Boo

On to New Things!

January 25, 2010 By Ashley Hackshaw 23 Comments

Well, I didn’t need a contest to learn that Dana is just too darn talented! Congratulations Dana for winning the SYTYC contest! You definitely deserved it. I love everything you make! For a consolation prize maybe you can send me one of those amazing bean bags….haha!

I must admit I am a little glad that the contest is over….it is really hard to “craft-on-demand” for over 10 weeks. The contest helped me to think outside of my comfort zone though and come up with things I wouldn’t necessarily have made.

My project last week was the screen printed drapes and pillows. I’ll be putting up a tutorial for it next week! You can use the tutorial to make your own drapes, pillows, duvets etc!

I’ve been a little absent the past week and I’m sorry about that! I was a little overwhelmed from all the Three Angels Haiti donations and trying to finish up a pattern at the same time. I also had 2 beautiful nieces born this weekend too….so there was a lot of family time. Two sister-in-laws, two baby nieces, less than 24 hours!

Baby Sawyer was born Friday to my sister-in-law Jen:

Baby Cari was born Saturday to my sister-in-law Carolyn:

Visiting baby Cari at the hospital was a little upsetting for Sienna because she wasn’t allowed in the room. She got to see Cari through the window….but she still didn’t understand.

We visited baby Sawyer yesterday and Sienna was in heaven. She got to “pet” her and play in her new nursery and play with all her toys.

My new Lil Leggings pattern is now in the shop too! It includes options for customizing your leggings such as: adding trim, gathering/ruching a leg, adding a ruffle, and altering the pattern for length, leg width and rise.

I’ve also set up another Facebook page JUST for Lil Blue Boo Patterns. Check it out! This is a great way to share your ideas/tips and ask questions of other sewers. I just like seeing the awesome creations!

Have a great day!

Filed Under: Etsy, Life, Sewing Patterns, SYTYC Contest, Things I've Made

Resolution Subway Art – Tutorial

January 17, 2010 By Ashley Hackshaw 85 Comments

This was my submission from the SYTYC “New Year’s” Challenge….I finally won a challenge! That puts Dana and I into the final two this coming week!

I haven’t made resolutions for the past few new years because I usually forget about them after a few weeks. This year as a family we came up with a short list of things we wanted to focus on everyday and I made the list into a large piece of art. I love that this large 3 foot high wood piece is reminiscent of an early 20th century subway sign.

It is durable enough to hang in an outside eating area:

It is simple enough to rest on a side table:

And it is bold enough to display on a mantle as the focus of a room:

Here is how I made it:

Step 1: I bought a ready cut 2′ x 4′ piece of wood from my hardware store and had them shorten it to 2′ x 3.’

Step 2: I also bought long wood molding strips that were 1/2″ wide and 1 1/2″ deep. I started on one edge of my large flat piece of wood and marked where I would need to cut.

Step 3: I used a large mite saw to cut the corners at a 45 degree angle. If you don’t have a mitre saw you can use a simple plastic mitre box and hand saw. There are only a few cuts so it won’t take that long.

Step 4: I squeezed wood glue onto one of the long edges of the underside of my large board…..

…..and turned it over onto one of the long wood trim pieces and used hammer and nails to secure it.

I repeated this step, fitting each piece carefully into place until my piece looked like this:

Step 5: I used these little “nail-in” brackets from the hardware store as well to secure the corner pieces.

Step 6: I sprayed the entire wood piece with primer.

Step 7: I sanded it down to remove any significant wood grain. Then I sprayed the entire piece with white spray paint.

Step 8: I created this little template using Powerpoint to that I could space the letters for each line. Feel free to use this one or at least parts of it. Click image below to download:

Step 9: I printed out my resolutions on regular sized paper. Then I took it to Fed Ex/Kinkos and used the large copier to enlarge it to the exact width I needed (cost about $4).

Step 10: I cut strips of vinyl contact paper the same width as the wording (the vinyl contact paper came in a 12″ height so I could only fit 3 lines at a time on each strip).

Step 11: I used spray adhesive to attach the photo copy to the top of the contact paper. (Note: Do NOT apply to the paper side of the contact paper, you will be peeling this off later.)

Step 12: Then I trimmed around each line of words.

Step 13: I evenly spaced each set of words out along the board marking a “guide” line with pencil below each. Then I cut out each letter, peeled off the paper back and adhered to the board.

Step 14: I used a brayer to make sure each letter was adhered smoothly to the board.

Step 15: I sprayed the top and sides of the board with black spray paint. I did one coat at a time letting each dry well before applying the next coat.

Step 16: Once the board was completely coated and had time to dry…..

…I carefully peeled off each contact paper letter.

Step 17: I used a white paint pen to touch up any letters that needed it.

Step 18: Last step was to attach screws eyes (1/3 of the way down the back) and wire to hang!

Filed Under: Home Projects, Painting, SYTYC Contest, Things I've Made, Tutorial Tagged With: DIY, painting, spray paint, stenciling, Subway Art, tutorial, Vintage Sign

Wooden Pendant Necklaces (and Keychain) Tutorial

January 8, 2010 By Ashley Hackshaw 35 Comments

This was my entry into week 7′s “gift” theme in the SYTYC contest. These are some small gifts I made for Christmas presents. I transferred images onto small pieces of wood and made them into necklaces, bracelets and key chains. I love them because they can be for girls, boys, adults or children. Each piece is about 1” tall and matched with coordinating leather cord or a key chain attachment.

Here are a few I made the kiddos….a robot necklace for my nephew (you can get the robot image here), a star-shaped super hero necklace and a princess and frog necklace with a distressed image from the movie for Sienna:

I made one for myself too…..a distressed piece with the latitude and longitude coordinates of where my husband, myself and my daughter were born:

They are super easy to make. You can find these little wood pieces in the woodcraft/dollhouse section of the craft store.

I printed out some tiny images and took them to the office store to be copied in reverse (you have to use a copier because of the dry toner).

Then I took one of my favorite mediums, Golden Soft Gel…..

….and spread a thin layer on one of the wood pieces.

Then I placed one of the images face down onto the gel, burnished it with the end of a paint brush, and then let it dry.

Once it was dry I wet the back with water….

….and used my finger to rub off all the paper. The image is left behind in the gel.

Then I marked the top center and drilled a small hole using a tiny drill bit. You can spray or coat with varnish after this step if you like.

Just add a jump ring and a some leather cord or string and you have a perfect gift for someone special!

Filed Under: Charms and Trinkets, Gifts, Image Transfer, Printing/Stenciling, SYTYC Contest, Things I've Made, Toys and Accessories, Tutorial Tagged With: diy wood accessories, how to make wood necklace, make wood pendant necklace, wood jewelry diy

Second to Last Challenge!

January 4, 2010 By Ashley Hackshaw 11 Comments

This week will decide the remaining two competitors for the final challenge! I can’t believe I’ve even made it this far! I have yet to win a challenge week….but each week I’ve received enough votes to make it through! Last week I barely squeaked by. Check the bottom of the post to see if you guessed which project was mine!

Here is a look back so a far at what I’ve made:

Week 1 “Harvest” Theme:
Vintage Harvest/Crate Label Patches (tutorial here)

Week 2 “Leaves” Theme:
Teeny Tiny Shrinky Dink Necklace (tutorial here)

Week 3 “Green” Theme:
Scrap Ribbon Wallet/Clutch (tutorial here)

Week 4 “Turkey” Theme:
Turkey-inspired Ruffle Bustle Skirt (No tutorial yet)

Week 5 “Snow” Theme:
Princess Snow Globe Shirt (Tutorial here)

Week 6 “Mittens” Theme:

Mitten Cork Stamps (Tutorial here)

Week 7 “Gifts” Theme:
Wooden Pendant Accessories (Tutorial to be out soon)

And can you guess which is mine this week? Go over and vote on your favorite “New Years” themed project! Thanks!

Filed Under: Featured/News, SYTYC Contest, Things I've Made Tagged With: challenge, contest, themes

So You Think You’re Crafty? Week 7

December 28, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 8 Comments

I made it through to the 7th week! This week’s challenge is “gifts.” 4 crafters and 3 challenges remaining! Please go over and vote on your favorite “gift” craft. Is it getting easier or harder to guess which is mine? Or am I too predictable now?

Filed Under: Featured/News, SYTYC Contest Tagged With: challenge, contest, crafting

Wine Cork Stamps

December 23, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 22 Comments

The SYTYC Contest is on hiatus this week. I still have to come up with a project by tomorrow for next week! Here was my submission last week for the “mitten” theme: little matching mitten cork stamps. It didn’t get the most votes but I am still in the game! I used them to create some stationary for a Santa letter….

….and a simple piece of artwork for our guest room night table.

Wine corks are the perfect size for making miniature stamps. (click here to see some others I have made.) I start by slicing off one end of the cork so that I start with a perfectly flat surface:

Then I draw my shape:

And cut straight down around the edges of the shape:

And then carefully cut and chip off the pieces from the sides:

Then just dip them in some paint and stamp away!

Filed Under: Home Projects, Painting, Printing/Stenciling, Recycled, SYTYC Contest, Things I've Made, Tutorial Tagged With: DIY, recycled, stamps, wine corks

So You Think You’re Crafty? Week 6

December 14, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 12 Comments

I made it through to the 6th week! This week’s challenge is “mittens.” 5 crafters and 5 challenges remaining! Please go over and vote on your favorite “mitten” craft….can you guess which submission is mine?

Most of you guessed right last week! Mine was the Princess Snowglobe Shirt. I’ll be putting up a tutorial at the end of this week for it! Thanks everyone who voted! I’m still up against some amazing talent so it is getting harder and harder every week!

Filed Under: SYTYC Contest Tagged With: challenge, contest, crafting, snowglobe

So You Think You’re Crafty? Week 5

December 7, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 9 Comments

I made it through to the 5th week! This week’s challenge is “snow.” 6 crafters and 6 challenges remaining! Please go over and vote on your favorite “snow” craft….can you guess which submission is mine?

Filed Under: Featured/News, SYTYC Contest Tagged With: challenge, contest, crafting

Modern Bustle Skirt

November 30, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 14 Comments

This was my entry last week into the SYTYC contest. Once again I was totally upstaged by my friend Dana over at Made who also did a skirt. She is WAY too talented. My entry was the Ruffle Bustle Skirt. I’m thinking of making this one of my new patterns after the holidays. It would be really cute with some different knit fabrics.

I used pieces of old t-shirts to create a modern Victorian bustle underneath the back of this knit skirt. The result is a ruffled, flirty full skirt that every little girl would love to wear!

If you are wondering……the theme last week was “Turkey.” The colors (maroon, red, purple, brown, charcoal/white stripes) and angles of the ruffled t-shirt pieces were inspired by a plume of turkey feathers.

Sienna tested the skirt at our local playground and it was a huge hit…..

…..especially when it was discovered that the full bustle creates a padded “seat” for the swings and slides!

The SYTYC Contest is on a break this week. I’ve survived last week so I’ll let you know when the new entries are up this next week!

Filed Under: Children's Clothes, Recycled, Sewing, SYTYC Contest, Things I've Made Tagged With: bustle, children's clothing, girls clothing, modern, sewing, skirt

Scrap Ribbon Wallet/Clutch Tutorial

November 25, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 36 Comments

These are the little wallet/clutches I made for the SYTYC Contest for the theme “Green.” I was going to wait until after Thanksgiving to post the tutorial, but I had so many requests that I thought I’d do it early. Maybe you want to stay in on Black Friday and make some handmade presents for Christmas instead of shopping!

I made the wallets using leftover ribbon scraps that are too small to use for anything else (except maybe for a scrap ribbon camera strap or a scrap ribbon belt) and a basic applique technique.

The wallets have a clear vinyl ID/photo wallet and three pockets for cash and credit cards.

They are so interesting when folded out!

I made one of the wallets for Sienna’s teacher and one for Sienna (with the little princess button/ribbon flower on the front). She keeps her little pet shop puppies in it now….she doesn’t have any money….not even sure if she knows what money is yet.

Materials needed:
Scrap ribbon
Wonder Under or fusible web (I used the kind without backing)
Muslin fabric for the base of the outside
Fabric for the inside lining
Magnetic clasp
Optional: clear vinyl PVC (for the ID pocket)

Note: All the dimensions in this tutorial are for the wallet size. You will have to adjust them for the clutch size.

Step 1: Cut a 5″ x 11″ piece of muslin and a 5″ x 11″ piece of Wonder Under.

Step 2: Place the Wonder Under on top of the muslin and begin layering your scrap ribbon pieces on top until the Wonder Under is completely covered. Try to overlap all ends of the ribbon with other pieces of ribbon. As you get sections completed, place a piece of parchment paper over the ribbons (use parchment paper if there is printed design on the ribbons) and apply heat with an iron to fuse the Wonder Under. You may need to cut several small pieces of the Wonder Under and place it under pieces of ribbon that do not come into contact with the fusible web.

Step 3: Once all of your ribbon has been fused to the muslin, trim off the excess around edges….

……so you end up with a nice 5″ x 11″ piece.

Step 4: Carefully sew all your exposed ribbon edges to the muslin….this doesn’t have to be exact. There were areas where I just sewed directly across the piece instead of following a ribbon edge….it just depends on the look you want.

Step 5: Cut your 5″ x 11″ piece into 3 smaller pieces: one measuring 3″ x 5″ and two measuring 4″ x 5″…..

….and sew around the edges of each piece to keep all the ribbon secured.

Step 6: Cut fabric pieces for your inside lining: one measuring 3″ x 5″ and two measuring 4″ x 5″. You will also need to cut a 3″ x 5″ piece of fabric or clear PVC vinyl for the inside pocket.

Step 7 Creating your ID pocket piece: Take a piece of ribbon and fold it in half over the 3″ x 5″ PVC piece. Sew along the ribbon edge.

Take one of your 3″ x 5″ ribbon quilt pieces and add one side of your magnetic clasp.

Sandwich your ribbon quilt piece with the magnetic clasp and a 3″ x 5″ piece of lining wrong sides together. Add your PVC piece on top of the two and sew the bottom edge.

Step 8 Creating your middle pocket piece: Cut three pieces of fabric 4″ x 2″ and then cut a slight slant to each as shown below.

Take a piece of ribbon and fold it in half over the slanted edge of each piece (the same as you did with the PVC pocket. Sew along the ribbon edges. Place your top pocket in position first and sew along the bottom.

Then sew your middle on and then the bottom pocket on as well.

Step 9 Creating the top piece: Take your 3″ x 5″ piece of ribbon quilt and a 3″ x 5″ piece of lining and place them wrong sides together. Make sure to add your magnetic clasp first to the lining side. Sew around the edges to secure the two pieces together.

Step 10: Lay out your three pieces as shown….

…..and find a piece of ribbon wide enough to cover where the pieces will connect but leaving a 1/4″ gap in between.

Step 11: Fold your ribbon over the gap….

…..I used seam tape to secure (or you can use small pieces of Wonder Under)…..

…..and sew both up both sides of the ribbon…..connecting the two pieces of the wallet.

Step 12: Repeat to connec the last two piece of the wallet. Use bias tape or ribbon to cover the outside edges of the wallet…..

…..and now all seams should be covered!

Now you can add embellishments to the front of the wallet if you like. For the brown/green wallet I added little flowers made from scrap ribbons, a plain button decorated with thread, a small ribbon “fan” covered with a gold/pearl button, and a ribbon badge with a matching fabric covered button.