Children's Mailbox - Tutorial

Here is the mailbox tutorial I did for U Create. I was asked to wait to post this so that U Create could have exclusivity to it for a month and that it's readers would find it there first. I can't believe that was over a month ago, already! Whaaat? So, now I am presenting it to you...just in case you happened to miss it!

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My child loves to help us get the mail! He looks forward to the postman coming each day and delivering envelopes filled with what he believes to be invitations to extravagant parties and letters and pictures from Grandma! I don't dare spoil fun by telling him that what he is looking at are merely utility bills and grocery adds! The thought occurred to me that we could have this kind of fun all day long by making him his own little mailbox! Now I love to drop him a little note and picture and watch him pretend the day away and see his imagination run wild!

Materials needed:

1 sheet of poster board

2 sheets of 12X18 stiff felt (a.k.a. Easy Felt)

approx. 1 yard of ribbon (preferably canvas/cotton)

scissors

craft glue or hot glue

patterns printed off computer (provided at the bottom of the post) 

Step 1: After printing the provided patterns, cut 1 set of each piece in both your felt and your poster board. The poster board will provide durability and rigidity to your mailbox. The felt will then be the cover.  

Step 2: Cut a strip of ribbon to the length of the side of your back and front piece. Apply glue to the entire area of the ribbon. 

Step 3:  Glue your 2 pieces of poster board together. Allow glue to dry completely. 

The ribbon will act as a hinge and will allow you to fold and bend your pieces more easily.

Step 4: Now apply ribbon to the opposite end of your paper just as you did in step 3. Allow glue to dry completely. 

This is what you should have when the 4 steps are complete. The ribbons will be on the INSIDE of your mailbox.

Step 5: Apply glue to the entire exposed area to the back of the ribbon. 

Step 5: Fold your front piece over and adhere it to the glue covered ribbon. You will need to hold it down and allow glue to dry completely.

This is what it should look like after all 6 steps are complete.

Step 7: Cut 6 pieces of ribbon measuring 2" in length and glue as shown to the poster board piece labeled "bottom".  These will act as tabs and make it possible to adhere the bottom to the mailbox.

Step 8: Begin to glue the tabs to the inside of your mailbox.

This is what it should look like after the 8 steps are complete.

Step 9: Cut a piece of ribbon the length of the top lid of your mailbox and glue to the lid and the back of your mailbox as shown.

Step 10: Now glue all your felt pieces over the poster board for a more finished look.

Now you can add any embellishments you wish! I simply embroidered on a piece of canvas and glued it to the front. I added a ribbon tab under the lid to make it easier to open and I also used it cover my edges to give it a little detail. You can add a hook or loop of ribbon on the back if you want to hang it on the wall or just leave it as is if you are setting in on a flat surface.

*Templates*
Print out at 100%

Matilda Jane

I came across this clothing company that I thought was really cute and should be shared. Matilda Jane offers fashions for the little girlie ones and for mommies too! As far as I know, the clothing is not sold in a store but is sold online and by hosting private trunk shows. When I read the company's bio and how it all started by being just a vendor booth at various art and craft shows, traveling from town to town, I just thought about how so many of us start out making handmade items never knowing when, or if, it could really turn into something more!  I love that her talents and passions are now turning into a profit! Here is an excerpt from her bio:

I really like what she said about how she "can't stop her brain from spinning"! A blessing and a curse that many artists can relate to! I'm beginning to think that it is a requirement! I know there are several nights and early mornings that I wish I could just shut down for even a minute! 

Here are a few pieces from the website that I fell in love with:

For the wee ones

The Lacey Tank

The Tanna Linen Dress

The Frankie Dress

For the Mommas

The Haley Halter Dress

The Cher Dress

The Macey Skirt

The Natalie Skirt

All information on hosting a party and trunk show can be found on their website. Also, be sure to check out the company's blog for updates and additional information!

Calling All Crafters!

As I am looking over my calendar for the month of July, I am noticing that there are very few days that I will be around! Which brings me to the need to call on you - my readers, my fellow crafters and my saving grace! I don't want H is for Handmade to be neglected so I am looking for innovative, modern and "out of the box" creations done by YOU! Because after all, in the divine words (kind of!) of Abraham Lincoln, this blog is of the people, by the people and for the people!! 

Just what do I need, you might ask? I would love to have some guest bloggers do any of the following:

- Spotlight your handmade items 

- Provide a tutorial

- Introduce us to either your Etsy shop, blog or website

- Provide great recipes

- Host a giveaway

- Contribute helpful crafting tips or your favorite craft supplies

If you, or anyone you know, would be interested in being featured on H is for Handmade in the month of July, I would love to hear from you! Please contact me at hisforhandmade@yahoo.com. Or, if we are friends or family, I may be bugging you (again!) to help me out!

I know there is some serious talent out there so I hope to hear from you all!

DIY Club and Skirt Tutorial

I am a fortunate soul. You see, I have this great group of gals that I get to meet up with once a month and have what we call a DIY Club! It is a club where we craft handmade items that have been inspired by fellow bloggers and online tutorials. I really look forward to coming to our group for several reasons. A) It is a great way to meet other woman who have similar interests, B) it's fun to get out of the house and take a break from mommy/wife responsibilities  C) it's therapeutic to create handmade items and D) it's always more fun to craft with someone than craft alone! 

This past get together was a fun one because the ever so popular Susan from Freshly Picked is in our group so we decided to make an elastic waist skirt from a tutorial she has posted on her blog.  

For the full elastic waist skirt tutorial click HERE.

Here are a few photos from our stitch filled night! 

I did mine just a little differently. I took all the steps from the tutorial to make the body of the skirt, but made a drawstring waist instead. I also didn't do inverted pockets because I found a fabric that I really wanted to show on the outside. This will definitely be my "go to" skirt for the summer!

If you are interested in starting a group in your own area, here are a few tips that have made ours a big success:

-Choose crafts that are not too complicated so that all skill levels can enjoy
-Send out an email a week or two before with an attachment of various crafts and links to tutorials for everyone to vote on
-Once the craft has been voted on and chosen, chose a date and send out a list of materials that everyone will need to bring
-Either pick one designated house to meet at each month or rotate houses with different members of your group
-Bring treats and have fun!

Check out the blogs of some of the other busy and brilliant ladies from our DIY Club!

Nicole with Elsa Bags
Susan with Freshly Picked
Madeline with Uber Chic for Cheap
Caroline with Caroline's Bake Shop

Winner!

Congratulations to Angie who is the lucky winner for the May giveaway! With Katherine's great pricing on her jewelry, you are sure to load up on so many great things from Pretty Little Me! Keep checking Katherine's shop as she is always updating it and creating new things for it! A big thank you to everyone who entered, who reads and follows this blog and for supporting all that is handmade! Also, I am so grateful to Katherine for hosting such a great giveaway! I am tremendously a wee bit jealous of the winner!

I am really excited for the holiday weekend and am looking forward to blogging again and offering more tutorials for you all next week. 

-Amy

May Giveaway - Jewelry by Katherine Wallin

Dear Readers,
I would like to introduce you to a wonderfully talented and amazing person: Katherine Wallin

I like hot chocolate, even in the summer. I like doing yoga with my wii along side my husband, who is so awesome. I like putting puzzles together with my children. I have a 3 year old daughter who is my best little friend, and a sweet dreamy little 18 month old son, who has a mild case of cerebral palsy. I love my church. I like to travel. I like laughing, and I think I am funny (because one of my sisters tells me I am). I like photographing glimpses of my life as the days go by. I feel more like a cute mom with a pair of pretty earrings on.  And I really like singing loud to any song sung by Kelly Clarkson.

you can find my true colors here wallin-family.blogspot.com

capturing pretty photos here wallinphotography.blogspot.com

creating pretties to dress up my ponytail, and yours too, here prettylittleme.etsy.com

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You see, Katherine is the whole package. She is beautiful, artistic and sweet as can be! If you are not already friends with this girl, you will want to be! Trust me!
I contacted Katherine a few weeks ago to see if she would custom make a cuff for me. After a few emails back and forth, the cuff was designed, produced and presented to me. I could not be happier with the result! I'm not sure what she named this design, but I think "The Amy Cuff" sounds good!
See for yourself!

Here are some of my other favorite pieces at the Pretty Little Me shop:

Katherine is here today to offer all the sweet H is for Handmade readers a fantastic giveaway.  Everyone is a winner with this one!

-One sweet reader will receive $40 of in-store credit to Pretty Little Me, plus free shipping!  

-Everyone else can receive 20% off, via paypal refund.  Just mention "H is for Handmade" in the checkout notes to me. Offer expires June 4, 2010. 

Rules of the contest:

1. Leave me a comment

2. You must have an active blog

3. You must be a US resident

4. Extra entries for becoming a follower of the blog or fan on Facebook

5. Make sure you have an email address listed either on your blog or in your comments so that I can contact you if you win.

This giveaway is now closed.

Biking Bloomers - Tutorial

Did you hear? May is National Bike Month! 

Photos Clockwise: 

1. The Drifter and the Gypsy

2. Cycle Chic

3. Anthropologie

4. Riding Pretty

It seems like every time I click on my favorite style and designs sites, there is a girl riding her bike...in a skirt. I am embracing it fully and with ferver! For one: I love bikes. And two: I love skirts. I have almost forgotten what else you could possibly wear while riding a bike! This romantic fashion movement is a synchronicity of beauty, freedom and femininity!  But, as poetic as it all sounds and looks, there is one minor detail that keeps coming to screen and mind. Sporting a skirt or dress on a bike is a little "revealing"!

Photos Clockwise:

1. Let's Go Ride a Bike

2. ?

3. Nutsbike

4. The Sartorialist

For those of you who would like to join this crusade but would like to opt out of displaying your unmentionables in public, I have come up with a solution: Bloomers!

Bloomers were actually invented by Amelia Jenks Bloomer in the early Victorian era when the bicycle was making it's big debut in America. She wanted women to abandon their petticoats and trade them in for trousers! She was worried that heavy and long garments would get caught in the bikes cog wheels and she therefore began a controversial reform in women's fashion.

In todays society, we don't need to look like circus clowns on our bikes, so here is a modern day bloomer tutorial:

Materials you will need:

-knee length or longer, leggings of your choice (they are everywhere and they are cheap!)

-sewing machine

-scissors

-tape measure or ruler

Begin by measuring your leggings from bottom of the cuff to the knee. Cut.

Next, take the cuff that you just cut off and open it up by cutting down and off the seam. Also cut off the hem so that you will have a flat panel of fabric that looks like this.

Now divide your panel into 1.5" sections and cut into strips. Depending on how short you want your bloomers, you should be able to get 3-6 strips. (this picture shows 3 strips, but I was actually able to get 4!)

Line up all your 3-6 strips from one pant leg so that they are end to end. Use a running base stitch to sew them together like this. 

Now take one of the threads and begin to pull back gently on your fabric to pucker and ruffle the fabric. Keep moving the ruffle down the seam as you go.

You should have a long piece of ruffle that looks like this when you are done. 

Now set it aside for just a moment.

Make a 1/4" hem on the bottom of your leggings using a stretch knit stitch. (trying saying that fast 5 times!) You may want to refer to your machine's user manual to see if you need to switch out your presser foot and what settings your machine should be on for stretch fabric.

Now measure the ruffle around your leg opening and pin it around the bottom.

Finally, use a stretch knit stitch to sew it onto the bottom of the legging.

Now you can ride to your heart's content and your mind's ease! No more panty shots for passerby's!

P.S. If you are not a bike rider, these make FABULOUS pajamas and swimsuit covers! They are also a nice alternative to the ever so popular legging and allow you to modestly sport those insanely short skirts on all the department store racks without any fear! 

*Please remember that all handmade clothing is hand washed clothing!*

Renegade Handmade Faves!

I might be willing to give my right arm to attend one of, if not THE, nation's largest indie art and craft fairs! The Renegade Craft Fair got it's start in 2003 in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. This DIY craft fair rapidly grew in it's popularity and is now held in 5 major cities across the US (mine is not one of them. boo.), has an online marketplace and a storefront located in it's hometown of Chicago that carries work from over 400 vendors! If your city is not one on the list of locations, don't fret! You can check out a list of artists and their webpages/shops from each region with just a click of your mouse! It's always inspiring (and humbling!) to see the talent from sea to shining sea! I have selected a few of my favorites from the lists. I better start saving my money!

Wool purses and satchels from Wooly Bison. This is going to be my winter bag this year! If a wool carry-all wasn't enough to steal my heart, they had to go ahead and make it in red just to make it that much more tempting for me!

I don't know if there are words to describe my pure adoration for this. I am always so pleased when I spot something so original and unpredictable, that I want to shed a tear. Miniature Rhino has been one of my favorite blogs to stalk for quite some time now. I wonder if she would like to be my new friend?

I am saying a secret little prayer that my next child 

will be a girl! I need this dress from Baby Bean. Or, can I just be really tiny for a day so that I can wear it around? Look at that bow!

I am loving the contrast of the soft and romantic feel of a pearl paired with the cold, industrious looking metals. Jane E Roberti has a lot of charming pieces in her Etsy shop right now that have a similar feel and texture.

This is the most perfect plant for my sister!  Jane Joss , a fabric florist, creates these darling plants that don't require water or maintenance. Perfect for the non-green thumb in your life! She was also a featured artist on Design Sponge and did a tutorial for a leafy branch that we all may just need to make!

I really, really REALLY like these posters! Spread the Love has quite a few prints in their shop that I would like to have hanging on my wall. It was hard to choose just one to display on here, so choose 2! I think her art is incredible and I really like the vibrant colors she uses in a lot of her work.

I am a little enamored with bikes right now. My husband is fixing up my 1971 Schwinn Super Sport as I type. This acrylic painting on a wood panel from Yellow Owl Workshop might be just what we need! How creative to give the painting a pop of color with the spokes!

So, have any of you ever been to the Renegade Craft Fair?
Do you have any indie art hanging around your house?
What type of items do you like to buy when you go to a craft show?