Ruffled Shirt :)

I love the blog and creativity of Elizabeth Kartchner and the ideas she shares on her blog Dear Lizzy
This shirt originally had long sleeves so I cut them off, cut the sleeves into strips, pinned them onto the shirt and sewed them on. Easy and fun!
I searched on her site for the post where she had a tutorial and can't find it, though if you visit her blog, you'll be hooked.
There are so many talented bloggers out there in blogland, I just want to say "Thanks for sharing!!" to all of you! :)


I made this shirt for my 10 year old and she was tickled!
(Sorry, the pics are a bit fuzzy.)

Tiered Skirt!

Our Daughter Sierra made some comfy pajama pants in her 'Clothing' class at school recently and had some leftover material, and after hearing my grandparents and parents say all the time growing up - 'Waste Not-Want Not', I couldn't let those scraps go to waste! So, I decided that there was enough to make a few small 'Tiered Skirts' for our littlest girls.

Here is a 'Tiered Skirt Tutorial'

Supplies You Need -

Fabric (for 1 small skirt, approx. 24 months)
1 Strip approx. 60 in. X 6 in.
1 Strip approx. 90 in. X 3 in.
1 in. Elastic (the length of the childs waist plus 1 in. for seam)
Lace (optional)


Step #1 -
Lay the Fabric Strips, right-side together and sew a seam down each short end (as shown) and either Serge or Zig-Zag the edge.



Step #2 -
Serge or Zig-Zag the edges that are going to be seamed together. (I like to do this so that it prevents less fraying during the sewing job.)


Step #3 -
Sew a loose or gather stitch on the edge where you are making the ruffled edge, and pull the thread that gives easily to gather it.

*NOTE* On the smaller skirt, I did a gather stitch, and on the larger skirt, I pinned the gathers on myself. (I find that I use both of these methods when I do gathers, and it usually depends on what I have going that day. As was the case today, I was home while working on the smaller skirt, and at a soccer game while working partly on the larger skirt. Hence the photos taken on the grass, except the last one, I just love being outside and the feel of grass on my feet!! :)


Here is what the looser gathered skirt looked like. (when I put in the elastic, which is for a little girl, it is really full!)


Step #4 -
Now, Fold over the edge of the fabric, at the waist, with the Elastic inside it and sew a seam to enclose the elastic (for the Waist-Band).


Step #5 -
Final Step, fold the bottom up and stitch a seam for the hem. (If you don't have a serger, and want a more finished hem, then fold the bottom hem up twice and run your stitch over the folds.)
Now, put this fun 'Tiered Skirt' on a cute little girlie!!


I would have taken a picture with my little girlies wearing these, but when I finished them it was their bedtime! Stay tuned for pics of them wearing them at a later date (I still have to make at least 2 more for my other girls:)!)

Now, you can dress up your skirts with other notions, just let your creative juices flow and HAVE FUN!!

If you have any questions, please leave me a comment and I will answer them, I love to hear from all of you!! Thanks for stopping by!

Twisted Roses Tutorial!

Here it is! I hope this is helpful to anyone that would like to create flowers like this!

This Twisted Rose Ring would compliment any outfit!
Make some for yourself & some for gifts!

I am also listing some on my Etsy Shop - thepinkbug.etsy.com :)

Step #1 - Get
1 Strip of Fabric (approx. 10 inches long)
1 Circle piece of Fabric (approx. the size of your thumbnail)
1 Small piece of Fabric (approx. 1/2 in. X 3/4 in.)
1 Piece of Round Elastic (approx. 3 in. long)
A Glue Gun



Step #2 -
Take the Strip of Fabric (no need to iron it) & fold it in half and tie a knot in the end like this!


Step #3 -
Put a drop of Glue on the side of the knot,
then keeping the fabric folded in half, Twist it and press it on the glued spot.




Then, keep Glueing & Twisting the Fabric (around into pretty much a circle)
until you reach the end of the fabric.
(Sorry for the blurry pics)


Step #4 -
Now, Glue the end of the fabric strip onto the underside of the Rose.


Step #5 -
Take the Circle piece of Fabic and Glue it onto the underside of the Rose like this.


Step #6 -
Tie a square knot (right over left, left over right) with the piece of Elastic, with the ring the size you desire (depending on who you are making it for). Pulling the ends really tight, so as the knot will not come un-done. And, clip the ends of the elastic so they are not so long.
Now, Glue the Elastic to the underside of the ring.


Step #7 -
Finally, Glue the small Rectangle piece of Fabric over the knotted part of elastic (so it has that finished look & makes it more secure).
Trim the extra frayed ends (But, the fraying also gives it that 'Special Look' that is desired!)

Now last, but not least, Put on the ring and go have lunch with some friends or family!

Twisted Roses...are Fun to Make!

After checking out the blog 'U Create', which featured 'Creative Crate'(s) blog on 'fabric rosette's' I decided to make a few 'Twisted Roses' of my own!
My girls and I loved how they turned out, the girls kept saying, "Make me one like that"! I even made a few 'Ruffled Fabric Hair Clips' too!


Here is also a Headband I made with some 'Twisted Roses' w/feathers! That was a lot of fun!

I've made some for my girls, gifts and for my Etsy Shop - thepinkbug.etsy.com !

Crayon Wraps!

I made some of these for my little girls a while back, and since then, I have made a few for gifts.
Here is a 'Tutorial of a CRAYON WRAP', if you decide to make one yourself.

If you desire instead, I have some listed on my Etsy shop -
www.thepinkbug.etsy.com !!



First, measure and cut your choices of fabric & ribbon -
1 @ 21 inches X 10 1/2 inches
1 @ 21 inches X 6 inches
1 24 inch ribbon

The fabric used here, I purchased from Wal-Mart and from the selection - 'Quick Cuts'.



Here is the tricky part (I hope not too confusing)!

Fold each piece in half, Iron flat.
Then, Lay the shorter piece on top of the taller piece
(where they will be when it is completed).

Flip the back taller half over the front piece
with the ribbon, folded in half, with the ribbon fold end centered and laying on top of the shorter piece, lengthwise.

Pin in place, starting where the ribbon is placed.

Now, Stitch around the edge (wrong-side facing out).
Making sure not to sew the ribbon ends in anywhere else.
(it wouldn't hurt to pin the ribbon ends around the middle, inside of the wrap)

Leave about a 1 1/2 inch gap on the side above where the ribbon is sewn in.

Now, turn the wrap right-side out!
Isn't that CUTE?! Just a few more steps to go :)



Tuck in the spot where you turned it right-side out & iron.

Lie a ruler on top of the flatened wrap & mark on the shorter piece at 1 inch spaces (so you know where to sew the lines up to divide the crayons).

Now, Sew around the outer edge, about 3/8 inch seam, starting below (& back-stitching the ribbon part, to re-inforce) where the ribbon starts.



When you get to where you started, start sewing up the the lines (where you marked at 1 in. for the crayon dividers). Always back-stitch at the top of each seam to re-inforce.
I do a zig-zag pattern while sewing this section, after back-stiching the top part, I loosen my thread and skip over to the next line, and on the bottom, I just stitch over to the next line up.



When you get done stitching the crayon divider section, clip all the stray threads (don't forget the ones between the tops of the dividers where you skipped!).



Woo-Hoo, CRAYON WRAP Complete!!! :)

(except for the crayons!! (I don't know how to make crayons, Yet!!)
I have melted old crayons into new ones, but that's another tutorial!