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

Thurs-DIY! Seven Stunning Weekend Projects!

 It's Thurs-DIY and I have lots of stunning projects to share with you.  Now that you have a long weekend ahead, perhaps you'll have time to take on one of these projects and show your friends just how creative you are.  I'm loving the paper succulents by my new friend Robert and Debi Beard never disappoints with her clever ideas.  Make some friends, hop around and say hello to these talented crafters.  Tell them I sent you, OK. 

Margot Potter blocks bullets with her fantastic Wonder Woman cuffs!   http://icanmakemetalstampedjewelry.com/diy-wonder-woman-cuffs/

Robert Mahar is giving some terrific paper making classes.  Check them out here!  http://blog.creativelive.com/paper-craft-idea-diy-paper-succulents/

Debi Beard makes a beautiful sea glass salad bowl!   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xggpwn4bx7k&list=UUIp7rXN2jsXwC-ISMEHxZcQ

Heather Mann rocks some hardware and creates a terrific choker!  http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2014/07/make-jewelry-from-hardware-part-3/

Cathie Filian makes a stunning necklace worthy of any runway!   http://www.plaidonline.com/glamour-girl-necklace/5567/project.htm

These Mermaid Cuffs could make Ariel give up her legs!   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPBdX8oU7c0

Make Stackable Boho Bangles from supplies I'll bet you already have!   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYmaRo1vZMw

Stackable Bangles

Very often I'll hear friends say that they can't find bangles to fit over their hands. I finally figured out the perfect way to make a bangle base (that can fit everyone) with zip ties from the dollar store.  Just cut them to size and tape them together and you're ready to embellish.  These bangles are perfect for stacking and they use up all of your scrap fabrics and leftover beads.  A few of these wrapped up with a fabric bow and you have the perfect gift.

Danielle wearing scrap fabric stackable bangles

Watch the video tutorial here

YOU'LL NEED

Scissors

Large zip ties

Assorted beads

Transparent tape

Thin gage wire (I like 18 gage)

1/2 strips of scrap fabric

Wire cutters (or needle nose pliers that can cut wire)

 Figure out how big you need to make your bangle

Add 1" to the measurement and then tape it together to create your bangle

Cut fabric in 1/2" strips.  I like to cut mine on the bias

Wrap them around the zip tie bangle

 Tie a knot at the end or hot glue the end when you're done wrapping

Cut off about 14" of wire

Wrap it around the bangle about 3 times

Add a bead to the wire and secure the bead in place with more wrapping

Continue wrapping and adding beads all the way around the bangle

Add more wire if you need to 

Mermaid Cuffs DIY

I grew up in Colorado with a bathroom that was decorated in seashells.  My mom was obsessed with them.  It wasn't until I was 19 years old that I actually saw an ocean, but even before then I loved anything and everything about living on the coast. Even if you live miles away from the ocean, these cuffs are perfect accessory to wear with your favorite summer outfit.  Dressed up with a fancy dress or down with a t-shirt, you'll feel like the beach is just down the street.

Danielle with her new Mermaid Cuffs

Watch the video tutorial here! 

YOU'LL NEED

Smooth On Liquid Plastic #325

Coral Silicone Mold

Starfish Silicone Mold

Americana Acrylic paints

DecoArt Dazzling Metallics

E-6000 Glue

Wood Bangles

Pearls and pearl cabochons

Paintbrushes

Minwax Polycrylic

Transparent tape

 Mix 2 teaspoons each of the two parts of your Smooth On #325

Pour it in your molds and let set for about 15 minutes

Remove from the molds while the pieces are flexible and tape them to the wood bangle

Let them harden for another hour

*They will harden to the shape of the bangle making your piece look polished

 Remove the hardened pieces

Paint them with DecoArt Dazzling Metallics in gold

Paint your wood bangles with Americana Acrylics in a color of your choice

Coat the bangle with Minwax Polycrylic

Glue your dry pieces to the bangle with E-6000

Tape them in place while the E-6000 dries

Add pearls and cabochons with more E-6000

You're done!

ThursDIY! My favorite day of the week

ThursDIY is my favorite day of the week!  Everyone I know got busy and made an awesome project to share with you.  Margot Potter shares a terrific summer drink, Cathy Attix makes a beautiful macrame necklace and Debi Beard makes some very sweet shoes!  Hop around, say hello, get inspired and then fire up that glue gun, OK!  Happy ThursDIY!

The gorgeous Margot Potter makes a yummy Orange-arita on diydoyenne........I'll have another! Here's how:  http://diydoyenne.com/diy-orange-margaritas-orange-aritas/

See how to make big button stepping stones for your garden!  Add a little bit of whimsey to your yard.  Here's how:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIWGx9wlHGA&list=UUt4zycubX8BJZ8pZhZ4w8ow

Need a comfy beach cover up?  I made this one with 4 old t-shirts and some RIT Liquid Dye. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2QXbjceMqw

Cathie Filian decks out her picnic table for the 4th of July here:  http://handmadehappyhour.com/2012/06/24/dollar-store-makeover-chip-bowl-for-the-4th-of-july/

Jader Bomb rocks a knot and tie galaxy shirt that's out of this world!  http://ilovetocreateblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/knot-and-tie-galaxy-shirt-tutorial.html

Cathy Attix, the classiest girl in town makes a stunning dyed macrame necklace that could grace any runway!  http://ilovetocreateblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/diy-dip-dye-macrame-necklace.html

Kathy Cano-Murillo makes a patriotic Styrofoam Pool Floatie that's just brilliant!  http://www.craftychica.com/site/2009/06/star-spangled-pool-floatie/

Heather Mann makes patriotic jewelry with pieces from the hardware store!  http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2014/06/make-jewelry-from-hardware-part-2/

Debi Beard makes the cutest birthday shoes with faux frosting and sprinkles.  Good enough to eat!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea9zGN01uZI&list=PLVwr-Pr6V4ivgiYRUXA-t4Y-83sYy_K2I

Full Length Dress/Beach Cover Up DIY

Summer is finally here and so are long days at the beach.  If you're needing a comfortable beach cover up OR something that you can toss on over your bathing suit and head to dinner in, well then look no more!  This full length dress/beach cover up is just what you need.  I took 4 dingy t-shirts and sewed them together for this dress and the Rit Liquid Dye was perfect for giving the fabric a new life.  Think twice before you toss out those old t-shirts, because it's RIT TO THE RESCUE!  

Danielle in her new summer dress

Directions for her necklace are in The Big Ass Book of Bling 

               

See the video tutorial

You'll need

Sewing machine

4 t-shirts

Rit Liquid Dye in Navy Blue

Rubber bands

Scissors

 Cut off the bottom hem and sleeve hems of shirt 1.

Fold shirt 2 in half down the center and place the sleeve of shirt on the fold just below the neckline

Trace a sleeve extension from the cut sleeve down to the hem of shirt 2  as shown

Cut along your lines

Cut across the chest of shirt 3 right under the sleeves

Also cut off the hem of shirt 3

This will be the mid-section of the dress

 Cut across the chest of shirt 4, right under the arms.  Do not cut off the hem.  The hem of this shirt will be the hem of the dress

Time to stitch the sleeves together

 Fold your sleeves right sides together and stitch the edges together using 1/2" seam allowance

Putting right sides together, match the seams and the raw edges and stitch them together. 

 Stitch shirt 3 to the bottom of shirt 1

Stitch the raw edge of shirt for to the bottom of shirt 3

Pick your dye color

Tie rubber bands around the dress

Dye and rinse until the water runs clear

Wash and dry your new dress