DIY Infinity Scarf {in under 10 minutes!}

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I don't know about you, but we have had a TON of snow lately (17.5 inches in one sitting!)  that's a pretty good amount for Indiana.  Since it has been so chilly, I have accompanied most of my outfits with scarves.  While talking with a co-worker who said that she loved my infinity scarf but that she only owned one herself, I started to think about how easy it would be to whip up a few.

Turns out it is even easier than I expected.  It takes less than 10 minutes from start to finish (really!)

What you need:
-Fabric
-Thread that matches fabric
-Sewing Machine (or hand sew if you wish)
-Pins

Here's how to do it:
STEP 1: Find some fabric.  All of this fabric was already in my "stash".  The sizes are as follows:

Black: 59x12 inches
Coral: (roughly) 57x13 inches
Green: 57x13 inches
Gold: 59x27 inches

The green and black fabric was already cut to that length (scraps) and since the coral was such a dense fabric, I chose to make it thinner in width as well.  Since the gold was so light weight, I doubled the width to give it more volume.  As you can see, the fabric and width both make a significant difference in how the scarf will look.


STEP 2: Fold the fabric in half -lengthwise- with right sides together (right side= the side you want to see, usually the darker side)

STEP 3: Pin along the edges.  You will be sewing the long side and one short side, although you may not need to pin the short side at all.

STEP 4:  Once everything is in place, sew a straight stitch down the long side of the scarf and then turn and sew one short side (do NOT sew both short sides closed!)  Don't forget to back stitch when you stop and start to keep your threads in place. I sew at 5/8 inch but 1/2 inch is commonly used as well.

STEP 5: Pull the fabric through the opening in the un-sewn short end, turning it right side out.

STEP 6: Using your finger or a blunted item (like an un-clicked pen), pop the corners of the sewn short end out. This isn’t as important in a scarf as in other crafts, but it will help the fabric lay better. Do this by pushing the corners lightly from the inside.

STEP 7: On the open end, fold around an inch of the fabric to the inside and then slide the closed (short) end into the opening. This will make a nice edge and will close the scarf. Pin this in place.

STEP 8: Stitch along the edge as close as you can, making sure to catch the underside as well (if you pinned them together evenly it should be fine)

Ideally, you want to use a thread that blends in to the fabric. For the sake of this post, I used white threads against the green and black so that the stitching is visible. If you cannot find thread that matches, it will only show in the back. Below is how it will look when matched:

That’s it! Although there are 8 steps involved, that is just for detail. Sewing these scarves will take less than 10 minutes and are perfect for even the most beginners with sewing. I had time to make FOUR of them and I take forever to do anything!

Here’s how the width looks when they lay flat:

Wear them folded twice or only once, either way you will look great in your brand new infinity scarf! While you are at it, might as well make one for a friend too!

Most importantly, HAVE FUN! I particularly liked the “photo shoot” for this post (my husband took the pictures of me in the scarves). I was trying to keep all the pictures consistent in appearance and he just kept making me laugh. If you aren’t having fun then it’s not worth your time. Enjoy!

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann

Canning Lid Ornaments

Happy weekend everyone.  To quickly update you on my ever-changing life:  I have a new job that is still in the field of social work but is Monday-Friday 8-5 (you know... a normal job!)  That being said, I am- for the first time since being married- really getting to enjoy my evenings and weekends with my husband and extended family.  This also means that I am going to start adding new blog posts on Saturdays, since it is a consistent day that I have off.  I also have an injured puppy right now (he tore the bottom layer of his paw pad off- ouch!) that is going stir crazy being stuck in the house with me.  I am hoping that this post makes sense, because my mind is on him right now.  So, if something sounds a little off, have mercy on me today.  Thanks!

Now, on to the post...

A few weeks ago I was invited to attend an Ornament Exchange Party.  I've never been to one before but I would totally recommend having one- it was so much fun!  My old college roommate (of 3 years) was hosting it.  The only requirement was to bring an ornament.  At the party, we played a sort of "white elephant" gift exchange so that everyone wound up with a different ornament than they came with.  Being a crafty person (you all understand) I couldn't just go buy one... I needed to make one.  Here is what I came up with:

If you've been here before, you might recall that I use mason jars for EVERYTHING.  Seriously, I have enough for a small army yet keep acquiring more.  I can't complain though, they are so useful! 


Making ornaments from canning lids is not an original idea, I do hope however that you can draw some inspiration from my three very different designs:  Classic Christmas, Pretty in Pink and Rustic Treasure.

{Classic Christmas}
Since I had no idea who these ornaments would be going to, I didn't want to make a set of rustic ornaments (my personal favorite style in about everything) and them be a die-hard classic Christmas person. So, I made both.

All I did was attach some blue paper to the flat part of the lid with glue.  The snowman is a sticker and the snow balls at the bottom are sticky "lumpy bumpys".  I finished off the design by hot gluing sparkly gems around the snowman.  Looking back, I would have used a finer point glue applicator because the hot glue made a mess!

Meanwhile, I painted the rim of the lid with white paint.  For that snowy affect, take a sponge brush and dab it onto the surface of the rim.  Don't worry if a little bit of the metal color shows through, that is what helps it achieve that look!

Once everything was dry, I stuck the flat part of the lid as far into the rim as I could, flipped it over and glued around the edges to keep it in place.  Sorry I don't have a picture of this.  I wrote "Ornament Exchange 2013" with a Sharpie on the lid but you can cover it with another piece of paper or leave it blank as well.  It's the back, so no one will see it when it is hanging.

Tie a piece of ribbon around the rim of the lid and allow room to make a loop so that it can hang on a tree.  All done!  Now you have a classic Christmas ornament.

{Pretty in Pink}
Since my friend Christine was hosting the party, I wanted to give her an ornament to help her remember her first ornament party. She loves pink, pearls and all things dainty and pretty. It's no wonder we are friends. I stuck with the canning lid theme but made hers a little more... girly!

 
This was basically made the same way as the last ornament with paper at the base.  However, here I added a chipboard flower (outlined in colored pencil) a "C" tag (for Christine) with a heart shaped brad and a piece of lace across it all.  Just as I have many mason jars left over from my wedding, that lace was a part of it as well- it was on our invitations! 

Please note: If you use a brad, attach it to the paper prior to gluing it to the lid.  It can be done afterwards, but it will be more difficult to puncture a hole in the metal.

The rim was pained the same way as the snowman ornament and it was finished off with a sparkly pink ribbon.  Perfect for my lovely friend.

{Rustic Treasure}
Now on to my favorite one. I love the rustic feel of this ornament and am thrilled to have been able to tie the "Christmas" theme into it!

 
Just like the others, it was started with a base paper and embellishments were added on top of it.  I LOVE paper that has words written all over it and this musical themed one fit perfectly into my idea of Christmas.  How many of you imagine singing classic Christmas songs from an old hymnal or from a yellowed piece of sheet music as a critical part of your Christmas celebrations?  I know I do.

After this, I added some thicker kraft paper and covered it with glitter.  I find this is easiest to do with spray adhesive and a sealant (after the glitter is on).  I thought the glitter would dress up the ornament a bit.

It was finished off with a "2" and a "5" (December 25... get it?) from the same punched letter set that I used for Christine's "C".  Lastly, I added some of my special wedding lace and the design was done.

I did not paint the rim because I thought it fit the look better without it.  Attach it the same way as the others and finish this one off with some thin jute twine.



{That's it!}
Ornaments are not one of my craft specialties but I had a blast making these! I had even more fun attending the party and getting to spend that time with some people that mean the world to me.

I took my mom along...

...and got to catch up with one of my best friends in the world...

I couldn't have asked for more!

{Your Turn!}
Which design is your favorite? Do you have any tips or tricks for those of us just dabbling into ornament making? For those of you who can create amazing ornaments without a second thought, I am in awe of you. I think I lucked out this time!

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann 

Make a Shadow Box in your Window

My husband and I just got out our Christmas decorations for the first time today and boy do we have a lot to put up!  I love decorating for Christmas and I love the Christmas season and I suppose that starts to show when I own more Christmas decorations that I could possibly hold in my house!  That being said, my goal for Christmas crafting is to make items that don't just sit on another table top or mantle.

But... I LOVE those shadow boxes that are filled with ornaments or jingle bells (see some here, here, and here)  The problem is, making one would break my rule about taking up counter space.  So here is what I came up with instead...

It's a "shadow box" using a window in your house!

If you've got ornaments lying around for your Christmas tree you are ready to go- it's that easy!

Step One: Pick a window.

Step outside and find a window that is close enough to the ground that visitors will be able to see it when they walk up (no upstairs attic windows please!)  This window is about 4.5 feet off the ground and is easily spotted when pulling up to the house.

(Yes, there are still plant holders that I really should have taken inside a few months ago- oops!)

Step Two:  Clean the window!

It seems silly, but this is an important step.  This decoration will draw more attention to your window than ever before!  If you're anything like me, the window probably needed a good cleaning anyways. 

Open the front part of the window and clean both sides.  Keep it open for the next few steps.

Step Three: Build a base

Depending on how tall the sill on your window is, it probably doesn't matter what ornaments you put here.  Their purpose is to act as a base to stack the visible ornaments onto. 

Make sure to put a "stopper" at the end.  Nothing fancy, just something to keep them from rolling to the other side of the window.  I used a tiny Purdue anvil that my husband made years ago in one of his classes!

Step Four: Build your ornaments!

You may either try to stack them before shutting the window or (what I found was easiest) go about two layers up and then shut the window just enough to hold them into place.  Slide your arm inside and just drop the ornaments into place.  (caution!  I used plastic ornaments, if using glass, be careful when dropping!)  The window will allow them to fall into place, creating some dimension but without falling over.

Ernie tried to eat and play with my ornaments before I could even get stacking!  Those colored balls were just too temping for him.

 Step Five (optional): Add a message

 Just like the shadow boxes, a nice message written in vinyl is a beautiful finish to this project.  Make sure that you are using outdoor vinyl if you are sticking it to the outside window.

That's it!  It's a super easy craft and a fun new spin on those adorable shadow boxes!

If you like that wreath, check out the tutorial here.  It is one of my most pinned projects and is super easy to make as well!

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from our family to yours.  Come back next week for another Christmas project that doesn't take up shelf space!

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann

100th Post Giveaway! {Origami Owl}

Today is the day... this is Cut, Craft, Create's 100th post!  How exciting!  Some of you might have noticed that I did not post last Friday.  I had my first Origami Owl jewelry bar on Saturday and was driving myself crazy trying to get everything just right.  It went very well and I am more excited than ever to share these beautiful living lockets.  That why (drum roll please...)

We're having a GIVEAWAY!

 This giveaway is for (1) Plain Silver Mini Living Locket or (1) Plain Silver Medium Living Locket.  If the winner however, would prefer a different color, one with crystals, or a larger size, the giveaway prize is equal to the value of the listed lockets (US $20) to be used towards the purchase of different locket.

Did you know that Origami Owl was started by a fourteen year old?  With $350 of her own babysitting money and a matching fund from her parents, she started the small company in hopes of earning enough money to buy a car at age sixteen.  Are you impressed?  At fourteen I was doing much less impressive things (we won't get into that!)

Living lockets are a unique way to personalize jewelry for yourself or others (psst... they make GREAT Christmas gifts!)  The locket opens and the charms can be changed out as often as you like.

The quality of these lockets are also spectacular!  I had never seen one in person when I first decided to join the team (I loved the concept so much I just jumped right in) and when I got my started kit in the mail I was pleasantly surprised.  The lockets are dainty yet heavy duty and even the charms are a better quality than anything else I have found before.

Living Lockets are a perfect way to tell your story.  What are you passionate about?  Who is most important to you?  What makes your heart beat faster and your face light up each day?  Tell the world through your living locket!

There are so many different colors, styles and sizes to choose from and that's in the locket alone!  Add in a slew of charms (in about anything you could imagine!) plate options and beautiful chains and you've got yourself the perfect necklace.

Did I mention that we make bracelets now too?  Check them out on my Origami Owl page!  They are just like the necklaces in that they are completely 100% personalized by you!

Ignore my "spring" picture, I just wanted to show a few "made up" options for you to see!

Enough Talking!  Where do I enter the giveaway?
Please enter using the Rafflecopter gadget below.  Don't forget to enter under each category, earning yourself more entries!  You may also earn more entries for each new day you participate.  Good luck!  The contest ends November 27, 2013 at 12:00am EST.


  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann 

Easy Tips for Fall Decorating

Hello again.  I hope everyone has had a great week since you've been here last.  I have had a CRAZY week and I should probably be working on a hundred other things right now but oh well, right?  If you can't make time to craft then the week really isn't that good is it?

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I decided to make a Thanksgiving themed craft.  I don't usually decorate for Thanksgiving, so I needed something easy with crisp, clean lines.  You know... nothing too over the top since I'm not used to it!  What I came up with was a lovely printable (it's free, scroll down!) that reminds us to be thankful.

I also wanted to share the fall decoration that my mom made for her front steps.  I love the simpleness of it but find it absolutely stunning.  I think I actually gasped when I first saw it and compliment her on it every time I visit now.

I can sometimes be a little over-the-top on... everything, so I appreciate the opportunity to use simple designs in my decorating.  I think this holds particularly true in the month of Thanksgiving when we recognize how grateful we are for the simple things that we sometimes take for granted.

Simple and to the point.  For an extra touch, I included a little green on there.  I love random splashes of color!

For this printable (it's an 8x10) click here.

For the potted decor, my mom said that she spent around a dollar on the whole thing!

The flower pot was from my wedding, as was the burlap.  The gourds and corn she got on sale for around a dollar.  All you need to do is fill the bottom of the pot with whatever filler you desire (so that everything keeps from sinking to the bottom) and layer it up!

These simple pieces speak volumes when it comes to fall decorating.  Don't be afraid to keep it simple and enjoy!

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann

4 New Ways to Make {Pointed!} Christmas Trees!

Before anyone starts yelling at me for posting a Christmas craft, please allow me to explain myself.  As I've mentioned before, I was very behind on my fall/Halloween crafts and now my house looks very un-festive.  It's likely that I will make one (maybe two) Thanksgiving crafts, but that's not really my holiday as far as decorations go.  As I contemplated whether or not starting a Christmas craft would start WWIII, I started to get notifications on my phone that this post from last year was being re-pinned a lot.  That proved to me that people are ready to at least start looking at Christmas crafts and I would be good to go.

What prompted this particular craft was when I was shopping with my mom and saw those beautiful glitter trees.  Saying to myself "I could make that" I went home to search ideas on Pinterest.  What I found was upsetting: several tutorials on how to make glitter trees from Styrofoam cones.  What's the matter with that you ask?  The tops aren't pointed!  I know, I know... I'm obviously crazy and a little picky but I wanted my trees to have points. 

I love the tall skinny trees but you could make them as wide (or yes even flat topped) as you wanted.

Since I couldn't use Styrofoam I opted for heavy paper.  I actually ended up using a thin poster board!  At first it takes a little bending but once you do one it's easy peasy.  Just start at a corner and roll! 

Don't worry about it being creased because it all gets covered.  As a matter of fact I found that creasing it as much as possible helped give this sturdy "paper" it's shape.

Make a few of these bare trees (I hot glued them at the ends) and decide which of the 4 styles you prefer: glitter, fabric, ribbon or paper.

{Glitter}
The classic glitter trees are always a winner. Although after making these my husband lifted the "no glitter in the house" test run and made it a rule instead. You win some you lose some.

They're easy to make.  Take your blank paper trees, add some mod podge, sprinkle on the glitter and seal with your choice of spray sealer.  For the silver and red I used some old (without labels) glitter that I probably picked up at the Dollar Store and for the green I used Martha Stewart Tinsel Glitter that I won during a craft giveaway!  The green has more of a "tree" look but I think I like the classic glitter better.

{Fabric/Burlap}
I love burlap and I love rustic Christmas decor... of course I made a burlap tree!

At first I cut a huge rectangle, thinking that I was going to somehow drape it over the top.  After realizing that was not going to work I simply rolled a "paper" tree into some burlap, hot gluing the ends.

Once it's set, trim the ends so that it can stand upright.

{Ribbon}
This came about by accident when I was trying to see how ribbon would look wound across a glitter tree. I didn't really like the look of that but I did love when it was covered in ribbon. Plus, glitter ribbon doesn't break the "no glitter in the house" rule!

It's easy to make as well.  Dab some hot glue on the end and starting at the top, wrap the ribbon all the way down the "paper" tree.  Add another dab of hot glue on the end and it's stuck!

This ribbon is thin and easy to work with but just lovely.  I have it in multiple colors and use it for gift wrapping.  Best part?  You can get it for about a dollar!

I think what I like so much about the ribbon versus the regular glitter is the texture that it has from wrapping it up!

{Paper}
You might be thinking "we've been using paper this whole time, how can you make a new category for it?" If you were thinking that, you are very clever. However... it's a different kind of paper! Scrapbook paper.

I wanted something with more of a design on it.  As I flipped through my giant stack(s) of scrapbooking paper I found some that were the classic red and green but in more muted shades.  Perfect for that rustic feel.  I made new cones out of this paper but if you wanted them to be a little more sturdy, just wrap the scrapbook paper around the poster board trees.

If you are really loving this paper, it came from this pad pictured below.  I bought it at Michaels' on sale for around $11!  I was so excited to say the least.

{That's it!}
I started out trying to re-make some glitter trees I found at the store and ended up with several new styles that I love! I'm not sure that I have one favorite, I think I like them best when they are mixed. What about you?

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann