A little bling.

It's getting hot in Delhi. The kind of hot that zaps my energy in the afternoons and often results in a headache.  Adjusting to the heat is not fun.  So because my brain feels like mush until the evening I have not been getting much done. I have a long list of things I would like to make over the next few months but I have not started a thing yet. Today my sewing machine seemed to be looking at me longingly and I couldn't ignore her anymore. I dug through my stash of craft supplies when I remembered I had these fun rub-on transfers.  It may not have been any actual sewing but my machine did get some attention today. I think she likes the glitter butterflies! 

  I think she looks cute now. What do you think? Have you made your sewing machine 'pretty' or is it just a tool?  I don't know about you but I am very attached to my machines! 

It's a hoot!

The weather has finally taken a dip here in Delhi which is great. I enjoy the break from the hot weather even if it's only a short one.  I've been trying to clear out some of Anaiah's old clothes and filling her drawers with her winter wear. How I wish I could turn back the clock a little and see her in some of the cute dresses she wore as a baby, she is growing up way too fast!  As it's getting cold, I like to have layers for her to wear now. I picked up some very basic and cheap camisoles or vests as they are called here. They were such a boring plain white that I decided they needed a little extra something! Freezer paper to the rescue! 

I brought some freezer back back with me from the US this summer for just such an occasion. If you have never done any freezer paper stenciling, you don't know what you are missing. It's pretty easy and fun and turns out super cute! There are probably a million and one tutorials out there for this so I am not the first one to explain the simple process. 

I found a cute owl design here, it's really a pumpkin stencil but works great for this also. You could certainly draw something yourself too! 




Just draw/trace your design onto the dull side of the freezer paper and cut out the part that you want to have painted onto you fabric.  An craft knife would work great for this but I couldn't find mine so I just very carefully used my scissors. 

I loved this simple owl. Isn't he cute? 













Once you've cut it out iron the freezer paper onto your fabric. (for best results pre-wash your fabric)

Make sure the paper has fully adhered to your fabric. 







I used Faber - Castell fabric paints because that is what I had on hand. Anaiah picked out this color. Please refer to your paint for drying times. Most fabric paints require you to set the paint by gently ironing on the back side after the paint is dry. 




Before painting.. place a sheet of paper under the layer of fabric that you are going to paint. This prevents the paint from seeping through to the backside if it's a little runny. 

Paint! I painted 2 cotes, letting the paint dry in between them. Do as many as you like. 



After the last cote was dry to the touch I very gentle peeled off the freezer paper and there he was in all his owly cuteness! My paint requires it to dry fully for 24 hours before ironing on the back and 72 hours before washing it so that is what I'll do. 

Simple. Fun. and Cute! My kind of project. 

There are so many possibilities with freezer paper stenciling. You could add several colors, customized initials.. you are only limited by your own imagination!  

Another use for DPNs!

I was cleaning up my crafting space a bit last night when some alligator clips caught my eye.  I decided it would be fun to make some bows for my daughter's hair. I had seen some in the mall the other day that I liked, being sold for about  6 USD a pair! That seems crazy expensive to me. I don't know who is able to afford to buy such hair clips for their child, and even if I could I find it hard to justify spending nearly twice the amount a day labourer might make in India working all day on a pair of silly hair clips!

I've been wanted to make korkers, you know those fun little pipe curls made out of ribbons, to add to my bows. Directions I find all over the web say that you need wooden dowels and wooden clothes pins.. things I have not seen in Delhi. (I'm sure you could find them somewhere if you made it your personal mission to find them, I just have not. ) However, I had a light bulb moment and grabbed a set of DPNs ( that's double pointed needles to those of you who do not knit.) and some metal binder clips I had in my stash, and I was all set to make my own little curly ribbons.

In case you don't know they are super simple to make, just attach the ribbon to one end of the DPN and wrap around tightly till you reach the end and fasten with another clip. 'Bake' in the oven (about 135 degrees Celsius) for about 25 min. Cool them, remove from needle and enjoy the curly goodness! I found that the grosgrain ribbon worked the best. The satin ribbons had mixed results, the better quality ones did better. (the navy blue was really cheap)

Here is what I made: total cost for these was less than a dollar!