No Sew Quilt

Last month on a FB Live I was challenged by Thai Thompson to make a no-sew quilt project.  I seriously had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I'm so glad I took the challenge!  Not one single stitch was used to put this together....NOT ONE!  Immediately I remembered the honor I had making a quilt with the ladies of Gee's Bend for the show While You Were Out.  I loved their graphic patterns and bold use of color and because of that experience, I based my quilt on their work.  Challenge yourself at every turn, possums and don't be afraid to Make Your Mark!

 Tacked to the fence like art!

Perched on my wood pile!

 Ready for a picnic!

Watch how to make it here!

HERE'S WHAT I USED

Fairfield World Natural Cotton Batting

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

60" Wide Colorful Cotton Twill

*2 1/2 Yards each of 6 colors 

Iron and straight pins

HERE'S HOW

1.  Create a puzzle box pattern on a 16 1/2" x 16 1/2" square

*Trace & cut at least 3 copies of this pattern

2. Create a plain 19" x 19" square pattern

3. & 4.  Layer the cotton twill and cut 12 16 1/2" x 16 1/2" squares

*2 of each color of cotton twill

 5. Layer the cotton twill and cut 24 19" x 19" squares

*4 of each color

6. & 7.  Cut the "puzzle box" pieces in fabric 

*all 12 layers

8. & 9. Place the puzzle pieces on a 19" x 19" square and glue them in place with E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

*Mix the colors and glue the pieces about 1/4" apart

10.  You'll need to create 12 squares with puzzle pieces

11. & 12.  Fabri-Fuse the squares together side by side

*My quilt was 3 squares by 4 squares

(part 2 below)

 13.  Glue the remaining 12 19" x 19" squares together to create the back

*3 squares by 4 squares

14.  Cut the batting to fit on the quilt and trim if necessary

*The Fairfield batting it thin so I used 2 layers

15.  Fabri-Fuse the first layer of batting to the back of the quilt

16.  Glue the 2nd layer of batting to the first

17.  Fabri-Fuse the top of the quilt to the top layer of batting

18.  Pin all around the edge of the quilt

19.  Cut 1 1/2" wide fabric strips

*enough to circle the entire quilt

20.  Glue the strips to the edge of the quilt with 3/4" hanging over the edge

and let dry

21.  Flip the quilt and iron the remaining 3/4" over the edge of the quilt and glue in place

So ready to be displayed!

Rome wasn't quilt in a day!

Upholstered Bench Build From A-Z

As fluffy as my behind is, I still like a nice padded bench to sit on when I'm dining outside on my patio!  These benches are the perfect addition to my outdoor seating to make everyone feel like they're sitting on a cloud.  I picked up the outdoor fabric at JoAnn's and then picked the orange and vintage green paint to match once I could see it in the light.  Since my patio table is an odd size, it was easy to customize this bench design to fit perfectly.  Also, each bench only requires 4 pieces of 

1" x 12" pine board, so I decided to make two of them.  Remember, if you can't find it, 

figure out a way to make it.  Oh, and always MAKE YOUR MARK!

 I love mixing patterns

The ombre stencil on the sides added just the right touch

Now everyone is super comfy when we're eating outside!

Watch how to make it here!

STUFF I USED

Pine Board 

2 - 1''x12''x17''

1 - 1''x12''x44''

1 - 1''x12''x48''

Hammer & Nails

Staple Gun

Amazing Goop II Max

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

DecoArt Vintage Effect Wash

Americana Decor Mandala Stencil

Americana Decor Outdoor Living

Fairfield Cushion Foam

Poly-fil Hi-Loft Batting

HERE'S HOW (PART 1)

1. & 2. Using Amazing Goop II Max, glue a 17" board to the side of the 44" board

3. & 4.  Measure down the center of the 17" board (for nail placement) and nail to the 44" board

5. & 6.  Repeat on the other side to create the bench base

7. & 8.  Add more Goop II Max across the top of the bench and then center the 48" board on top

9. & 10.  Mark along the center of the board (for nail placement) and then 

nail the top of the bench in place

11. Paint the base of the bench (not the seat) with Vintage Effects in Orange

*Wipe away the excess to show off the grain of the wood

12.  Dry brush Vintage Effects in White on the base of the bench to give it a weathered look

13. -15.  Tape your stencil in place and with a cosmetic sponge, paint the outside of the stencil with Americana Outdoor Living in Adirondack and the inside of the stencil in Harvest

*Blend the colors where they meet to give an ombre effect

HERE'S HOW (PART 2)

16. & 17.  Place the bench face down on the batting, trace around it with a marker and then cut it with a craft knife

18. & 19.  Squirt E-6000 Fabri-Fuse on the top of the bench and then glue the foam in place

20.  Cut a piece of batting large enough to go over the foam and extend 1" on the underside all the way around

21. & 22.  Staple the batting in place around the foam on the underside of the bench seat

23.  Cut fabric so that it fits over the foam and extends on the underside about 2" and then pin it in place on the top of the bench so it doesn't shift

24. & 25.  Fold the raw edge of the fabric under and staple all the way around the 

underside of the bench

26.  Staple down the fabric along the base of the seat all the way around the bench

27. - 29.  Add a generous line of E-6000 Fabri-Fuse all along the base of the bench seat, then glue & pin the trim in place until it dries

30.  Done!

 Pretty and comfortable!

My new favorite place to sit and paint on the patio!

No Sew Sequin Boyfriend Jeans

Yup, that's right....NO SEW!  Grab your boyfriend's old jeans and give them a makeover with a little bit of sequin fabric and you'll have an amazing summer wardrobe piece.....perfect for day to night.  They're comfortable, too!  BTW,  I'm starting to get addicted to E-6000 Fabri-Fuse.  Perfect for 

No-Sew projects.  Remember, have fun, UP-style and don't forget to Make Your Mark!

Julie makes everything look good!

See how easy they are to make here!

STUFF YOU'LL NEED

Butcher paper & Scissors

Old jeans

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

Sequin fabric

HERE'S HOW

1. Place paper over one leg of the jean and pin in place

2. Using a crayon or tailor's chalk, rub around the shape of leg along the seams

3.  Perfect the lines with a marker

4.  Pin the cut out pattern to folded sequin fabric and then cut

5.  Place on the jeans and cut around the belt loop if you need to

6.  Glue all around the edges with E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

Time to rock your new jeans!

From Blazer to Couture Coat Dress

Ever wondered how to turn a blazer into a coat?  Well, with this simple tutorial you can easily turn a short blazer into a full length couture coat just in time for fall.  The best part about it is that there is hardly any sewing involved.  Grab some E-6000 Fabri-Fuse and some embellished lace fabric and you'll be runway ready in no time!

Danielle rocking her new lace Couture Coat Dress

Watch the video tutorial

YOU'LL NEED

1 Blazer

2 yards heavy cotton or wool fabric

2 yards embellished lace

Sewing machine

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse Glue

Scissors

Straight pins

Fabric chalk

 Lay one side of your blazer flat

Place the folded fabric under the blazer

*Line up the straight edges of the fabric with the front of the blazer

With a ruler, draw an extension on the fabric (I added 12" to this blazer)

 Once you've drawn the extension on the fabric, cut it out

Remove the pins and add 1/2" to the top of the extended fabric

Pin the pieces to the base of the blazer

 Zigzag both pieces to the bottom of the blazer using a wide stitch

Cut 8" up from the edge of each side of the lace fabric

Cut out several of the lace designs that are left in the middle of the fabric

Place the edge of the lace fabric on the extension of the coat and glue in place

Add pieces to the collar, cuff and anywhere you need to fill in 

Pin and glue in place and let dry overnight

Done!

Super Fun Summer Beach Chair DIY

If you're heading to a big body of water this summer, you'll definitely want to make some snazzy chairs to mark your spot on the shore!  These are basic beach chairs that sell at Target for 8 dollars each.  With a little paint and trim,  I turned them into the best seat on the beach!  Use any motif from starfish to your initials.  It's up to you.  Just make sure wear sunblock, OK! 

Not headed to the beach?  Make them for the back yard and turn on the sprinklers!

See the video tutorial!

YOU'LL NEED

Beach chairs

2 yards of pom pom trim per chair

E-6000 Fabri Fuse

Americana Multi-Surface Paints in Neon Blue and White

Masking tape

Contact paper

Paintbrush

Craft knife

 Use masking tape (or painter's tape) to make stripes on the chair

Fill in the stripes with Americana Multi-Surface Paint in Cotton Ball and let dry

Create your graphic on contact paper and cut out with a craft knife

 Apply the contact paper stencil to the back of the chair

Fill in with Americana Multi-Surface Paint in Neon Blue

Add a line of E-6000 Fabri-Fuse to the edges of the chair seat and back

Add the trim to the edges and let dry

Paint the details on the graphic if needed 

Seahorse Tote Bag DIY

Cities are banning plastic bags so it's time to start creating your tote bag collection for everything from groceries to garden supplies!  This SEAHORSE TOTE BAG diy is perfect for the beach AND it will get you noticed at the supermarket when the summer is over, I guarantee it!  Use the basic tote bag pattern and then decorate them any way you want.  

Just in time for beach weather!

Watch the video tutorial 

YOU'LL NEED

3/4 yard of fabric (cotton, twill, canvas)

Sewing machine

Freezer paper

Iron

E-6000 Glue

E-6000 Fray Lock

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

Americana Decor Multi Surface Paints in Jade, Chick and Peach Silk

Pearls, Googley Eyes

Fish Tanks Rocks (Aquarium Gravel)

Fringe

Paintbrushes

 Cut a 20" x 45" piece of fabric for the body of the tote

Cut two 14" x 2" strips for the handles

Stitch the handles lengthwise using 1/4" seam allowance

Turn them inside out with a tube turner (make one with a wire hanger if you don't have one)

Center and pin them 1" below the edge of the the 20" sides of your fabric

 Fold the edge of the fabric twice over the handles and pin in place

Stitch across on the fold

Pin up the handles and stitch them in place

Pin the sides and a 2" pleat a the bottom of the tote

Stitch down the sides of the tote using 1/2" seam allowance

Clean up the edges and secure with E-6000 Fray Lock 

*This will keep the edges from fraying

Print this out if you need some guidance

Fold 10" of freezer paper in half

Trace the seahorse pattern close to the fold

Cut out with a craft knife

Iron the freezer paper on to the tote

Fill in with Peach Silk 

Glue on googley eyes, pearls and fish tank rocks to create the bottom of the tote

Add bubbles with Chick and highlights to the seahorses with Jade

Happy Thurs-DIY!

It's that time of the week when we get to see what my creative friends have been up to!  There are some fantastic projects this week and a chance to win tons of Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint! Cathy Attix blew me away with her new sea theme handbag and Debi rocked her Anthropology mirror diy!  Crafty Chica creates a beautiful tea cup garden and Margot Potter is right in the spirit of July 4th!  Hop around the web and say hello to everyone!  

Happy Thurs-DIY

Here we go!

Margot Potter shares her terrific 4th of July freedom tank!  http://diydoyenne.com/diy-patriotic-tank-top-for-silhouette-cameo/

Cathy Attix blew me away with this beautiful sea theme beach tote!   http://www.trinketsinbloom.com/diy-beach-tote/

Need some extra seating this summer? How about a bench to get to that top shelf in the kitchen? Check out this stepping stool tutorial (which can easily become a bench that seats 3) http://youtu.be/i5D3Xu7AaSw

Have a blazer ready to be donated? Why not give it a NO SEW makeover with some gold lace and gems and bring back the 80s for a glamorous night out? http://youtu.be/iCmdSVKqBis

Cathie Filian makes a gorgeous cell phone case with collage clay!  Love the big huge bow.  Wish I could carry this around!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaPouHKUOA8

Heather Mann uses simple hardware to create this unisex bracelet.  I say make two or three and stack them up!  http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2014/06/make-jewelry-from-hardware-part-1/

Kathy Cano-Murillo plants a shelf garden in coffee mugs.  A great way to use up those mismatched mugs that take up cabinet space!  http://www.craftychica.com/site/2014/06/coffee-mug-planters/

Debi Beard is going to kill me for using this photo, but I had to!  This gorgeous and talented girl rocks an Anthropology inspired mirror in an extremely clever way.  See how she does it here:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CYTmylV6uw&list=PL0518B6B8F234C4D2

Make sure to enter to win a big stash of Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint, too!
Subscribe to DecoArt's Youtube Channel here: http://ow.ly/y5XD7 
Leave a comment on this video that says "Chalky Finish Paint" here: http://ow.ly/y5YaO 
Tell me what you'll make with it if you win (on your video comment)
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