Quilted Wall Hanging

I made this Quilted Wall Hanging for my Mom for her birthday. 

This is the first Quilted Wall Hanging I have ever made...plus...I don't have much experience quilting, period. But this was fun! It was like a puzzle...trying to figure out what I was going to do next.

 

Before I explain what I did...here it is hanging. Since this is a gift for my mom, I just used some pushpins. But I did put a couple loops in the back to hang it on a curtain rod screwed into the wall. But...I wasn't going to put that up...that would just make me want to keep it all to myself even MORE! It turned out so cute! I may have to make another....maybe....maybe.

Anyway....The fabric is all flannel except for the backing/binding. It was pre-cut squares 9X11...kind of an odd size, so I cut them down to be 9X9. Then I used those strips I cut off, and sewed them together and cut them to make the checked border. My printer doesn't want to work, so I couldn't print the photos right on fabric...so I had some vinyl and decided to make pockets. Well....let me tell you....there isn't much online about sewing vinyl pockets on a quilted wall hanging. Theres info about sewing vinyl pockets...but not on a quilted hanging. So I was stuck trying to figure out how to cover up the seams....Hmmm. I also cut each pocket to fit my photos...but they are removable, so my mom can change them out if she'd like. 

*A trick to sew vinyl....cover it with tissue paper...

makes it SO easy to sew.*

I ended up hot gluing ribbon over the seams of the pockets. I did this near the end, when I had everything else done. For the backing...I just used a solid fabric and did the 'mock binding'....I read this in a quilting book, so the binding is actually the backing fabric folded to the front. Oh ya...I also tacked it instead of machine quilting. I also appliqued the word FAMILY at the top and did a couple flowers too! That was fun! I also don't have much experience with appliqueing either. 

Now I will show you more detailed photos (sorta)!!

 

 

Top Half

 

Bottom Half

I also glued buttons on the corners of photos. 

My mom was VERY happy with it....she kept saying it was Awesome! She wanted to bring it to work to show the girls before she hung it up.

I am submitting this for the Frames, Art, Wall Decor Challenge at The CSI Project

Office Tissue Box Holder

Here is my project for the Dollar Store Challenge through The CSI Project!

I had this project in mind when I saw an idea for it in the 

Better Homes & Gardens Magazine 

"100 Decorating Ideas for Under $100"

Here is my inspiration:

Originally, I looked everywhere for a tissue box cover for me to...decorate, but I found nothing. So I figured I could make something out of Foam Board (you can make ANYTHING...just about, out of foam board).

Thats when I realized this would be the perfect Dollar Store Project. Everything either comes from the dollar store or was something I already had. Good thing the Dollar Store is right across the street from me! I probably spent $5 there to gather some of my materials.

 

I am making this as a gift for my sister who has an office job and likes to decorate her space. Shes got kind of a shabby chic style....so I chose scrapbook papers that were that kind of style. This project came together as I worked on it.

 I started by measuring and cutting the foam board.

Then I did the same with the paper I chose. I Modge-Podged and Hot Glued away....I also distressed the edges a bit.

Here are some of the things I got at the dollar store that I wanted to add to the tissue box. My sister is a Post-It freeeeeak! So I made sure there was plenty of that! I also added Velcro to the backs of things, so that when things ran out, they could be replaced.

 

It fits perfectly!

It needed a little something....details of course!

I added some flowers...and I also glued flowers to some clips. I also glued rhinestones to the tops of Push Pins....to make it all a little more fancy, I guess! haha.....I also added some ribbon to the edges I wasn't able to cover with paper. I had glue ALL over my hands!

Ta-da!

Also linking to these parties:

Jewelry Organizer!

 

Remember my Vanity from my last post?? 

Well....now I want to talk about my Jewelry Organizer!

 

I found the idea for this at On My Side of the Room.

I originally had squares of cork to make a bullitein board hanging up with pushpins holding my necklaces and earrings. It wasn't quite cutting it. I had it that way for a while....but sometimes pins would fall out because the cork wasn't really thick and I was always dropping jewelry...and ruining some!

So when I saw that idea....I had to make it ASAP!

So again, I went to Lowes, but this time with my Mom, and found a nice square piece of wood, got one dowel, and a TON of hooks. I screwed all the hooks in while watching TV that night...let me tell you, my wrist was feeling it! I think I used about 40 hooks. Then I spray painted it black. I also decided to hot glue some white ribbon around the edges to add a little something.

I LOVE IT! I think I may need to make another! ;-P

 

I've...kinda got a lot of jewelry.

 

Here are the dowels. I used them to hang some of my earrings. 

Both dowels are the same length...then slide easily over the hooks, so the top one was pushed to one side more than the bottom, and I didn't notice when I took the photo. Oops...

 

 

A closer view of the hooks. The hooks were gold. I spray painted everything black, so it blended in.

I also put some picture hangers on the back to make it easier to hang.

 

I am linking to:

Bathroom Vanity!

Here is my bathroom. 

This is my vanity. 

I made it. =) 

All by myself!

Let me explain.........

First off, I live in an apartment, I have two bathrooms, and this is the one that I get ready for my day in. One day, I was tired of trekking all of my 'beauty things' to the bathroom sink to get ready while looking in a mirror that must of been installed by someone tall (so you only see from the chin up and a lot of space above your head). Plus....I wanted to SIT! 

So one day...I decided I wanted my very own lil' Vanity. So off I went to Lowes shopping with my husband. I picked up 3 pieces of wood. I got the top piece a little bigger than the other two. I sawed off a portion off the two legs (yea...I used a hand saw!...that was tiring....and I did it in my apartment on newspaper).  Then I nailed the top to the two legs. That was a little tricky....I balanced part of it on my kitchen table to help me. I did this all while my husband was at work. Then when my husband came home...he told me to use the scrap pieces of wood for support under the vanity (you'll be able to see in another photo....hold oooon!) Then I painted it with left over wall paint...a sage-y green. 

I bought some hooks because I had something in mind for my styling tools. I am a hairstylist, so I knew I really wanted something to hold my blow dryer, like at work. I could of ordered something special...but I was like....'Nahhhh....I'll improvise'. So I ended up buying some big hooks and this plastic white thingy used for supporting plastic pipes (something like that, I know, technical, huh?!) I held my blow dryer where I wanted it to sit at the angle I wanted it, and then figured out where to screw everything in. Under my vanity I put a nail to hang up a hand mirror, since I use those a lot to look at the back of my hair.

Then...I bought a mirror to hang up. I made a little curtain to "hide" things underneath. Hey, I have a lot of beauty stuff! I also pinned a piece of ribbon along since my mirror and clipped all my hair flowers to it. I also got a desk lamp with a clip.

Now onto more photos!

 

Here is the underneath. Scary stuff! I put things that I don't use AS often. Also I have a power strip with everything plugged in. Then since I don't have an outlet on one of those walls, I have my power strip plugged into an extension cord, that I plug into the outlet above my sink when I need to. Then when I am done, I just unplug the extension cord and toss it under the Vanity.

 

Here is my hand mirror, and one of those 'supporting' pieces. I have a few containers with hair accessories and extra styling tools. My curtain is held up by a piece of ribbon and I used furniture nails to hold each side in place. I also put one in the middle under the vanity top.

 

Here are my flowers all hanging.

I made myself a little bangle holder (I'll post details about that in another post) and I also have little clay lover birds that I made with our names on them.

 

Now the Piece de Resistance!

My tool holders! Isn't it beautiful?!! Let me tell you....reeeeeal handy.

 

Here are all the hooks without my tools. Nifty, huh??

Well, I love my Vanity! I use it everyday...sometimes the top can get a bit messy...but owell.

I am linking this to:

Random Dozen

 So today I came across this blog called 2nd cup of Coffee. Linda from 2nd cup of Coffee posts a Random Dozen questions on her blog every week for people to answer on their own blog and then link to her blog. I thought it looked like fun, so I am trying it. I used to fill out the little surveys you see on Facebook & Myspace...so why not in BlogLand?!

1. Would you rather host party or simply attend a party?

Hmm...I think I enjoy hosting parties, but I do like to attend them too!

But I don't usually get to do either too often, just once in a while.

2. Tell us about the most memorable party you've been to.

Uhh, hmm.... ya know, I am really not sure. The only thing I can think of at the moment is my 101 Dalmatians themed 7th b-day party. 

(haha, interesting huh?)

3. What is one thing you hope for in the after-life?

These are things I don't usually think of....I just hope the world just becomes a better place for everyone to live.....and world peace! (haha)

4. What do you enjoy most about sunshine?

The warmth and the ability to make me feel happy just sitting outside listening to nature.

5. When you attend a bridal/baby shower, do you prefer to bring your own gift or chip in with others to buy a larger gift?

Well...I have to say bring my own gift. I like to put thought into something and get creative.

6. Would you rather have a FREE week of having your house cleaned or all of your meals cooked for you and your family?

Oh thats a toughy....but probably house cleaned (I hate cleaning...ugh)

7. What song describes your mood today?

Boy, these questions are making me think....

"Clap your Hands" by Sia (makes me want to dance and clap my hands, duh)

8. What is something you received for your own bridal shower/wedding that you still own or use? (If you are not married, feel free to sub a gift you received a long time ago.)

Well, since it has been only a little over a year since we have been married, I still 'own' everything, but at the moment, my feet are on the braided rug we got, so I am kind of using it.

9. Your favorite flavor of ice cream is?

Ben & Jerry's Half Baked (the FroYo version is great also!)

10. When was the last time you felt "tested?"

Last week....def.

11. "[Fill in the blank] is a food that once I start eating I find really hard to stop."

Oh there are so MANY! Right now, I am thinking of Peanut Butter M&M's

12. "-----" is the best motivation.

Music...def. (my word of the night, I guess, haha)

Paint Project!! Peg Board & Sewing Desk

Here is my Paint project that I am submitting in The CSI Project! It started out as an organizing project. I purchased a peg board at Lowes a few weeks ago and one night before I hung it up, decided it needed to be jazzed up from its boring brown. So I spray painted it white. I noticed that it soaked the spray paint up, so it didn't end up coming out white-white...but white enough for me. Then while watching TV, I painted the Swirly 'Fiddleheads' (thats what I call them....its fiddlehead season) all over in black. I have been on a black and white kick in this room. I think it goes nice with the red walls.

 

After I painted my board and hung it up, I added my hooks and baskets. I like that everything can be moved and changed up. After I did this....I decided my sewing desk needed a new paint job....so I tried the same thing!

  

Here it is before I put my sewing machine back on it. I also forgot to get a before photo. I remembered after I got it halfway painted black. I decided to do the opposite with the colors. I LOVE it!

 

It looks SOOOOOO GOOD! (well, at least I think so!)

It was fun to paint too =)

I am linked to:

I made the TOP 10!!!

NEW-Facebook FAN Page!

So, I decided to make a Fan Page on Facebook for Technicolor Dreams! 

Check it out! 

Become a Fan!

(That's just my two cents =D)

Onto some new projects!

*Rosette Tank Top Tutorial*

Tonight I felt like making a tank top. I had a bunch of this material in my fabric cabinet, so I decided to use it. Its sage green with gold shimmer. I think its some sort of polyester type of fabric. It is bouncy, drapey and stretchy. It doesn't really seem to fray. So while I was making it, I decided to snap a few photos to create a tutorial for everyone. 

It's pretty simple...nothing fancy-smancy. 

  

The first thing I did was dig out a tank top I already had that was a shape I liked. This tank has a racer back and its longer on the sides so it loose fitting and flowy. I laid it down on my fabric and used it as a template for cutting my fabric. The back and front are different. I left maybe an extra inch all around to give me room to play with. Also the front is a little wider than the back. So when sewed together, the front piece technically goes around to the back a bit....you know what I mean? (let me know if this confuses you)

  

They I pinned the sides and straps to sew first.I could of zig-zagged the seams....but I didn't bother since this fabric didn't seem to want to fray. Plus, the tank is for me and I don't really care. But...you can always zig-zag it just in case.

I machine basted the fabric first (I only did this on the sides). This isn't something I am used to doing...but I decided to try it, and it seemed to help quite a bit from the fabric moving all over the place since it is stretchy. If you don't have stretchy fabric, you probably can skip this.

 

Here is the basting stitch and regular stitching. I pulled the basting stitch out after. I also trimmed the excess fabric off. Don't forget to sew you straps (just the tops).

 

I then pinned the hole for my head, carefully....since everything curves.

 

I also pinned the bottom. That part was probably the hardest to try to keep both sides the same.

 

After I sewed the head hole and bottom, I pinned the arm holes and sewed those.

This is what it ends up looking like. Pretty simple and cute. I tried it on at this point and it fit PERFECT! But it needed something....

  

I decided I wanted some sort of flower, and decided on a rosette or a couple. So I cute a few strips out of the scraps pieces of fabric. It doesn't matter how long...but I made them about 2 inches wide. 

(I didn't end up using all the pieces)

 

I folded a strip in half and ran a gathering stitch down it. (no back-stitching....leave plenty of extra thread at the ends to pull the bottom thread to make it gather, if you have questions, let me know). I then gathered it.

Then I started to roll the gathered strip on itself to form the rosette.

I then hand sewed under the rosette some to hold it together......

 

......then hand sewed it in place on my tank. I placed them on the left side of my tank along the neckline.

You can place them where ever. I ended up with one bigger rosette in the middle and a smaller one on each side of the bigger one.

  

Here is the front on a hanger......

 

......and here is the back on a hanger. (Doesn't look as nice on a hanger, but its really cute in person)

  

Here it is on me (this was taken late last night after I finished it)

These are from today....not too shabby! Too bad you can't see the gold simmer that great...but its a really pretty fabric (and COMFY!)

I Linked to these Parties: