Tutorial | Lil Blue Boo

The Casbah Carryall (and my new Silhouette!)

May 16, 2011 By Ashley Hackshaw 111 Comments

I started a new project……

……inspired by my new Silhouette machine!

I knew exactly what I wanted to try first…..I had the machine cut out a bunting design (a download from the Silhouette store) onto vinyl adhesive:

Here’s the cutout on the screen. Since the cut is a “positive” cut, I added pieces of vinyl to outline the bunting triangle…….

……and masked the other areas of the screen:

Now I just have to finish the rest of the pieces today:

I’ve been ready to release a new carryall pattern and as I silk screened I decided to use the bunting design to make myself a new bag! I silk screened the design on a canvas tablecloth and then cut out the pattern pieces.

I love wearing white all summer and this bag will be perfect to compliment it!

Love how detailed the Silhouette can cut!

The Casbah Carryall is the perfect design for a tote, handbag, beach bag, grocery bag etc. 8 pages of instructions and 8 pattern pages…..great for any level. It’s in the shop now!

I’m giving away 2 free patterns so leave a comment to be entered! (Giveaway ends Tuesday night at 12pm PST)

THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNERS ARE #3 Debra, and #102 Lily. PLEASE EMAIL LISA {AT} LILBLUEBOO {DOT} COM TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE!

Filed Under: LBB Patterns, Printing/Stenciling, Screen Printing, Sewing, Silhouette, Things I've Made, Toys and Accessories, Tutorial Tagged With: handbag, purse, Sewing Pattern, silhouette, silk screen, tutorial

Baker’s Twine Art

May 13, 2011 By Ashley Hackshaw 8 Comments

I recently came across Debbie Smyth’s art on Pinterest…..and was floored. It is AMaZinG. She draws with thread. I would LOVE to own one of these pieces!

Photo source Debbie Smyth

I have all this beautiful baker’s twine (from the Twinery) and decided to try some thread art myself:

I found this paper where Boo wrote her full name “Sienna” for the first time last year:

….and made it into artwork using twine:

These shadow boxes are on clearance at Michael’s right now for $5:

I used white spray paint to cover the brown frame:

I took out the foam back of the shadow box and replaced it with an 8″x10″ piece of hardboard:

I marked dots on Boo’s letters at every twist, curve and turn:

I taped the paper to the top of the hard board and nailed a 3/4″ brad nail into each dot:

Lots o’ nails:

Once all the nails were in place I carefully pulled off the paper:

Then I took baker’s twine, knotted it around one nail and then started to wind and loop the twine back and forth around the nails to form each letter:

I used different colors to make it more whimsical:

Boo is much better at writing her name now but still gets her “e” backwards every once in a while. This writing was from a year ago and it is forever sculpted in thread:

Father’s Day is coming up! How about some baker’s twine art made from one of your child’s drawings!

Filed Under: Gifts, Home Decor, Home Projects, Kids Projects, Things I've Made, Tutorial Tagged With: baker's twine, father's day gifts, home decor

The Ruffle Bustle Skirt

May 12, 2011 By Ashley Hackshaw 16 Comments

I’m a guest over at Grosgrain today for Free Pattern Month Day 14! Make sure to visit to see all the great patterns…..there’s a new free pattern every single day this month! Look at all these goodies so far (click to image to visit Grosgrain):

My contribution is the Ruffle Bustle Skirt (you might remember this design from WAY back….. SYTYC Contest November 2009. This is a fun, flirty knit skirt with a yoga style “fold over” waistband. The ruffled bustle is perfect for using up those small knit scraps you might have laying around.

Download the complete PDF pattern and tutorial by clicking the cover below:

Filed Under: Downloads, Free Patterns, Sewing Patterns, Tutorial, Upcycled Tagged With: bustle, download, free, knit, pattern, sewing, skirt, tutorial, upcycled

Accidental Painting (A Tutorial)

May 9, 2011 By Ashley Hackshaw 29 Comments

Each and every time I finish one of these little hardboard nursery paintings I laugh a little at how “accidental” they are. I don’t plan them ahead of time…..and I never quite know how they will turn out until I’m about 80% done with them.

I took photos as I painted this recent painting to show my design process. I always start with just a basic light color. It’s easy to paint over and allows me to use the broadest range of colors.

I usually print out a few different mixed fonts and sizes of each name letter and cut them out so I can visualize the layout.

I start with the first and last letter and then fill the center letters in.

I kind of have a theme in my head….like flowers, or animals, or geometric shapes. For this particular painting I was trying to match some floral bedding so I started by sketching what I thought would be the largest objects in the painting: flowers.

Before I even have the rest of the painting planned I’ll start blocking in large areas of color:

I even start outlining letters and detail:

The first thing I noticed about this painting was the large empty space at the top. It needed something large and sweeping…..so I added a bee spelling out “sweet girl.”

To unify the painting, and add some cohesion between the flowers and letters, I added some large circles. I grabbed a few random objects in different sizes to trace:

I then blocked in the circles with colors that would balance the painting. If an orange flower is on one side of the painting, I try to pull some orange to the other side of the painting by painting one of the circles. Light blue circles balance the blue “S” and pink and yellow pull the other colors around the painting:

I then started to add some more detail in the painting using my black paint pen….like the dotted line pattern in the large circles:

Tiny white dot flowers were a good way to subtly fill in some of the background area:

More detail:

The letter “a” looked bare and a little too mustardy so I added some white polka dots. I added a few white polka dots throughout the background as well as some dark pink dot flowers. The last thing I added was a dotted line throughout the painting as if the bee had flown through almost every letter….an easy way to help unify the painting:

Once the painting portion is finished, I placed little butterfly buttons throughout and marked them once I was happy with their location:

The last thing I do is drill and sew the buttons and embellishments on:

This “accidental” painting is for my new niece Sloan!

I float frame every painting myself…..see my other tutorials to see how to easily frame your own with a professional look!

Don’t even know where to start? Take a look at these:

Filed Under: Gifts, Home Decor, Nursery Art, Painting, Tutorial, Uncategorized Tagged With: art, bedroom, nursery decor, painting, tutorial

Mini Brad Charms (A Tutorial)

May 3, 2011 By Ashley Hackshaw 11 Comments

Mother’s Day is coming up and here’s an easy, inexpensive gift idea that can be personalized and special! To make these little charms, I took ordinary metal brads in different shapes…..

…..added different embellishment and then sealed them using embossing powder. All of the items I used can be found at your local craft or scrapbooking store.

Basic materials needed:
Embossing powder
Metal brads
Metal jump ring

Step 1: Carefully break off the brad’s prongs by moving them back and forth until they fall off. You can use a nail file to smooth any sharp edges.

Step 2: Using a small nail or awl, punch a hole in the top where you will insert a jump ring.

Use nail clippers to cut off any sharp edges from where the hole was created.

Step 4: Decorate the inside of the brad. There are a gazillion possibilities here….

Paint a tiny design:

Apply a small sticker, rhinestone or other embellishment:

Or….paste an extra small photo or picture to the back (I used nail nippers to trim the edges):

Step 5: Add a jump ring to the charm.

Step 6: Flatten out a piece of tin foil to use as a tray that can be placed in the oven. You’ll need embossing powder for this step.

Cut a small strip of paper to use as a little “spoon” and fill the brad with powder:

Carefully place the tinfoil tray into a toaster oven or oven (350 degrees). Watch as the embossing powder slowly melts into a smooth clear covering. Take out of the oven to cool.

If the clear melted covering is a little uneven you can hold the charm carefully and reheat it with a heat gun or blowdryer until it levels out. Use a nail file to carefully smooth the edges if needed.

Finished charms!

I love how they look when they are all bunched together as eclectic charms! What will you decorate yours with?

Filed Under: Gifts, Jewelry, Toys and Accessories, Tutorial Tagged With: brads, embossing powder, gift, jewelry, metal, tutorial

Painting a “Monet” (A Tutorial)

May 2, 2011 By Ashley Hackshaw 10 Comments

Paint a Monet-inspired work via lilblueboo.com

I love painting small pieces of artwork. They are quick, easy and a great way to decorate bare walls. The painting in this tutorial is inspired by one of Monet’s water lily paintings:

The finished “inspired” painting….it took about an hour from start to finish:

Materials needed:

Note: all of these materials can be found at most craft and hobby stores
9″ x 12″ Gessobord (or primed hardboard)
Acrylic craft paints (purple, white, mint green and slate blue)
Water soluble crayons (blue and green)
2-step crackle glaze
Willow or vine charcoal

**The key to a quick painting is to use your non-dominant hand. You will lose some control over your painting ability and the painting strokes will look better….promise!**

I broke this painting down into easy steps:

Step 1 & 2: Cover a piece of 9×12″ hardboard with purple acrylic paint. Work in long strokes….the coverage does not have to be perfect.
Step 3: Using willow charcoal (this can be painted over unlike pencil or graphite) draw out some circular water lily shapes.
Step 4: Using a mint green and a dry paint brush fill in the water lilies as best you can…..don’t try too hard to get it perfect….leaving some bare spots is preferred.

Step 5 & 6: Mix a blue-gray color and fill in the larger areas. Again, the uneven coverage of paint is preferred and using a dry brush will help get this effect.
Step 7 & 8: Using a blue water crayon (water soluble)….outline the areas of the water lilies focusing mostly on the bottom edges.

Step 9: The outlines of the water lilies.
Step 10 & 11: Using the water crayons draw some sweeping strokes around some of the water lilies.
Step 12: Mix a slightly later shade of the blue-gray that was used for the water and use it to fill the water lilies using an uneven coverage.

Step 13: Using the same color, fill in the rest of the water again.
Step 14: Mix white into the blue-gray color to lighten it and fill in the water lilies again to lighten them up. Uneven coverage will allow hints of the colors underneath to show through.
Step 15 & 16: Using the same color, switch to a smaller brush and some water, sketch the circular shapes of the water lilies to add some texture.

Step 17 & 18: Using a mostly white, paint in a few water lily flowers using a few thick vertical strokes.
Step 19: Sketch shadows underneath the water lilies using a blue water crayon.
Step 20: Sketch “water current” using blue and green water crayons.

I let Boo draw most of the water current…..if a toddler can do it, you can too…..so no “I can’t paint” excuses!

Step 21: Using a damp brush, blur the blue crayon shadows.
Step 22: Using the same shade of blue-gray for the water as before, paint over the “water current” sketchings lightly.
Step 23: Let the painting dry thoroughly and shake up your 2 step crackle paint to get ready for the next step.
Step 24: Apply the 2 step crackle finish and let dry.

Step 25 & 26: Once the crackle glaze has dried, mix a watery brown color (I prefer Golden Liquid Acrylics) and apply to the painting .
Step 27: Use a rag or paper towel to remove excess glaze.
Step 28: Let painting dry thoroughly.

A finished Monet-inspired painting!

Here are a few other painting tutorials I’ve done…..check them out if you get a chance!

Filed Under: Home Decor, Home Projects, Painting, Tutorial, Uncategorized Tagged With: art, monet, painting, tutorial

Doodle Shoes (A Tutorial)

April 26, 2011 By Ashley Hackshaw 25 Comments

I’ve had this pair of bright apple green shoes sitting in my closet for almost 10 years! I’ve probably worn them a total of three times because they just don’t match many items in my closet…..so I thought I’d add some color!

My only supplies needed were Angelus Leather Paint and a very small brush (with half the bristles cut off for a finer point).

For my design I was inspired by Doodle Easter eggs made by Alisa Burke. I started with one flower….

….and then surrounded it with some doodles:

I just kept adding doodles, and more doodles….

….until the shoes were covered!

A tiny bit of blue design makes these shoes much more wearable!

They even look cute with my paint covered studio jeans:

But they look especially cute with Boo in them:

Doodle Shoe Update Tutorial DIY via lilblueboo.com

Do you have a pair of shoes in your closet that could use a makeover?

Filed Under: Leather, Painting, Tutorial Tagged With: painting, shoes, tutorial

Glazed, Distressed Paintings (A Tutorial)

April 25, 2011 By Ashley Hackshaw 16 Comments

I was so excited when Kirstin and Jordan of Kojo Designs asked me to be a part of their “the sincerest form of flattery” series! I love a good challenge so I’ve been keeping my eye out for something on my “wish list” that would be fun to do!

I love these prints of glazed paintings from Ballard Designs and decided to make a miniature version of the beach themed one:

With a few simple steps (and an eager toddler), I was able to mimic a similar glazed effect to create my own beach painting! I use a paper mache layer underneath the paint so that I can get a peeling-paint-aged-look.

My family spent most of the summer at Debordieu beach (near Georgetown, S.C.) when I was growing up. It was so secluded and natural and peaceful…..just like the painting. Once distinct memory is my mother always warning us of large waves by yelling “WHOA NELLY!!!” I decided to add those words as my own personal touch to the painting instead of the “Beach” text:

Here’s how to make your own!

You’ll need:
Acrylic craft paints (I use the 99 cent bottle ones)
Art canvas
Newspaper or phone book pages
Matte Medium
Gloss Varnish

Step 1: I started with a plain gallery wrapped canvas….

….and covered sections with a generous amount of matte medium using small sections of old phone book pages and adhered them using the excess medium. You may have to add more medium as you go. It is similar to making a paper-mache layer (you can use newsprint as well, I just prefer the way the small font looks from the phone book pages).

I use my fingers to smooth air bubbles and wrinkles….Boo loves to help with this part:

The prepared canvas looks like this:

Step 2: I painted the first paint layer using basic acrylic craft paints:

I painted the small white strip for the sandy beach:

And I painted the blue for the sea/sky:

I dragged a dry brush loaded with white paint along the line where the two colors met to blend them:

Step 3: Using a simple stencil and some willow charcoal (it is easily painted over), I sketched out the letters:

Step 4: I painted the letters with white paint:

Step 5: Using an electric sander (you can also use a sanding block), I distressed areas of the canvas:

Step 6: I mixed up a glaze using darker acrylic colors (I prefer the liquid acrylics by golden for glazes)

Starting at one end of the canvas I began layering perpendicular lines of glaze…letting layers dry in between.

Building and building…

…..so that the top end turned darker and darker.

I used a damp paper towel to dab areas that got too dark and to blot color into the bottom white portion of the canvas to age it:

After several layers of painting, dabbing and removing I ended up with this:

I’m really happy with how it turned out! Rich layers of glaze and texture:

Now you can make your own original instead of buying a print! Here’s a comparison of the original and the inspired version:

Thank you Kristin and Jordan for letting me play along! This was so much fun!

Filed Under: Home Decor, Home Projects, Painting, Recycled, Tutorial Tagged With: distressed, DIY, glazing, painting, tutorial, Wall Art, wall decor

A Mermaid Tail for a Doll (with Pattern Download)

April 4, 2011 By Ashley Hackshaw 27 Comments

Boo’s favorite princess is Cinderella…..but Ariel is a close second. Her doll Li’l Sally has a Cinderella dress we made for her but Li’l Sally needed a mermaid outfit too! Here’s how we made the mermaid tail and you can even download the pattern template at the bottom of the post. This is a super simple project…..even if you’ve never sewn before!

Step 1: Download and print out the template and use it to cut out two pieces for the front and the back of the tail:

The template will work for several types of dolls. For skinnier dolls you might need to reduce the width slightly…just check that the doll looks like a reasonable fit:

Step 2: Place your tail pieces right sides together and sew the sides and bottom closed using a 3/8″ seam.

Step 3: Place the tail on the doll and fold the waist down to the correct length (so the top of the tail hits the lower chest):

Step 4: Sew 3/4″ down from the top of the tail, leaving a 1″ gap, wide enough to thread elastic through:

Step 5: Cut a 1/2″ piece of elastic long enough to fit around the doll’s waist….

….and use a safety pin to thread it through the casing:

Sew the elastic closed at the two ends and then sew the casing closed:

Step 6: Stuff the tail with poly fil….

….so it’s nice and plump:

A finished mermaid tail!

We made Li’l Sally a simple bandeau top with a strip of knit fabric and cinched in in the center with another scrap. Boo made the little miniature shell necklace for her:

“I love Li’l Sally as a mermaid! Can we make one for ME now?”

Filed Under: AppleTreeHouse Doll, Downloads, Free Patterns, Kids Projects, Sewing, Sewing Patterns, Tutorial Tagged With: clothing, doll, download, free, Mermaid, pattern, Waldorf

Painting a Monogram on Leather (A Tutorial)

March 30, 2011 By Ashley Hackshaw 10 Comments

No leather is safe in my house now that I have a full set of Angelus leather paints!

I’ve always loved the look of the custom Louis Vuitton monograms…a pricy luxury, right?

(photo source)

I found a $5 leather purse at the thrift store and made Boo her own Louis Vuitton-inspired purse….a “Boo-tton” (thanks for naming it Melissa!). I have a VERY shaky and unsteady hand so if I was able to paint this….anyone can!

Here’s how you can create your own:

Step 1: Make sure the purse is clean and free of oils:

Step 2: Print out a sample monogram using a text or word program. The font shown below is Academy Engraved LET. Draw lines to block off each letter:

Step 3: Using a light colored pencil mark where you want the monogram to be painted:

Measure and mark the other guide lines:

Step 4: Start painting! You will need small tiny detail brushes. For my smallest brush I cut off half of the bristles (see the photo of this brush in my painted headband tutorial).

Step 5: The key to painting very detailed letters is to start very skinny…it’s easier to widen the letters as you go. Add additional guide lines if you think you need them!

Step 6: Use adhesive contact paper or painters tape to block off any stripes or additional blocks you want to paint:

Paint just a very thin layer to use as your guide….paint will seep under the tape just a bit but you will be able to see your lines to work with and touch up the edges as you go. You can keep a clean damp paintbrush nearby to quickly clean up any mistakes.

Step 7: Slowly paint the lines with your smallest brush rotating around to different parts of the purse to allow other areas to dry. You will probably need several thin coats on each area: