Perfectionist Need Not Apply

I had a super long work day today.  I left the house at 6:45AM and I didn't get home from work until 6:45PM!  I knew today was going to be a long day, and I had planned a DIY to have ready for today.  However, the best laid plans don't always come to fruition.  The first project I had planned, I never bought the materials for, but that's a whole other story.  My back up project I thought I had enough materials for, but it turns out I need twice as much as I thought I would.  I don't want to spend too much on this project, so I'm waiting to collect enough material to complete this one. Either way it's a pretty cool DIY, so I'm going to share what I've gotten done thus far.  A little warning though these photos are TERRIBLE, don't judge, I live in a dungeon.  Just kidding, my parent's house is lovely it's just rather dark in our family room.  

I saw this great rag banner on pinterest, and though I don't have a wedding to use this for, I knew this project would look great in a whole bunch of places.  Like over our fire place during the warm months.  Our fireplace isn't the most attractive feature in this home, so I wanted something bright and fun to hide it with.  This will only work for the warm months when we aren't using the fireplace, but hopefully we will be in our own home before we want to have a fire again!  I started by figuring out where I wanted my hooks for the rope, and putting them in place.  Then I played with the way the rope hung, until I found the most visually appealing spacing.  

Once I was happy with the rope I cut it to length, and tied slipknots at each end.

Then I cut up three t-shirts, a tank top, two pillow cases, and a yard or so of fabric.  I cut them into varying lengths and widths, because this is definitely a project that looks better if I don't let my OCD tendencies get the better of me. :)  Perfectionist need not apply to this project!  My pieces ranged from 1.5 inches to 3.5 inches wide, and 8 to 22 inches long.  After  I cut everything up mixed all the pieces together.  That way as I tied the strips of fabric onto the rope, I could just reach into the pile and grab a random piece.  

This is how it looks after I tied most of the pieces on. I ended up with more orange and the green patterned fabric than anything else, so I still have those left over.  To tie the pieces on you just simply tie them on at the middle, and then slide them into place.  You can play with the spacing to get the look you'd like, and if you'd like to trim any of your pieces when your done you can do that too.  

Sorry about these awful pictures.  This is a super weird angle.  I was standing on a chair leaning against that lamp you can see in the first photo.  l like the way this is looking so far.  To add in the new fabric I'm going to slide the pieces on there around, and add in the new colors evenly dispersed through out.  I went to Goodwill and bought a couple shirts to add in, but I only got two and I still spent five dollars.  i don't want to spend more than 20 - 30 dollars on this project, so I'm going to wait until I naturally gather cheap fabric.  So this is on the back burner for the foreseeable future.  I hope you enjoyed what I've gotten done so far, even with the less than perfect photos. :)

Happy DIYing, chris

Here are some better photos of the rag banner.  I added the two new shirts I bought at Goodwill, and spaced the rages a little further apart.  It still looks awesome, and now I can use it for this spring!  xoxo, chris!

Matchstick Holder

Today I am transforming a clear votive glass into a matchstick holder.  You can pick any type of material to cover your votive with, this way your 'matchbox' can blend with your current decor!  This idea originally came up, because I had a candle lighting bit in my wedding ceremony, and I didn't want an ugly box of matches sitting up on the alter.   

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

- Clear Glass Votive

- Ribbon or Fabric or Paper

- Box of Large Matches

- Glue

- Scissors

Directions:

Start by running a line of glue around the bottom edge of the votive, then quickly place the ribbon down evenly around the bottom.  Thicker ribbon is more forgiving, try not to use too much glue.  

Continue adding glue, and then the ribbon all the way up.  Make sure to line up the ends vertically.   Be creative with the way you apply the ribbon, and the colors you pick out!  This is optional, but you can add a little clear nail polish too keep the ends from unraveling.  

Finally, cut out a thin strip of the striker from a box of matches.  Make sure it is wide enough to cover the seams, and the right height to fit on the glass.  Add glue to the back of the striker board, and then place over the seams.  

Now you have a lovely way to display your matches next to your candles.  

The matchstick holder on the right in this photo I used for my wedding.  

Hope you enjoy, happy DIYing!

Organizing Your Seeds!

I love to garden, and it is almost time to get some of my seeds started.  So for today's project I am decoupaging some plastic containers to store my seeds in.  I am making two containers.  One container will keep my herbs and seeds I'll start indoors, and the other will hold my flowers and seeds I start outdoors.  I bought my containers from Target, and they are the perfect size for this project.  

Before (bottom)  & After (top)

Start by cutting a piece of material for each side of your container.  I cut each side a little larger than they really are, this is so there is some overlapping on the edges.  Begin with the bottom.  Apply modge podge or a similar product to the bottom of the container, and then smooth your bottom piece of fabric down.  

Next apply the fabric to each short side, or the side with the handles.  Start by cutting slits where the handle notch is, and then cut across the middle section, making it shorter.  

Click to Enlarge

Then apply decoupage, and stick in into place.  Now make three slits on each end.  This way the fabric will wrap around the notches smoothly.  

Click to Enlarge

Apply glue to the plastic container, and then smooth the flaps down.  Start at the top and work your way down.  Leave the flap over the bottom until you glue down the other side first.  Glue the bottom down before moving on to the other side, and or the long sides.    

After your are done the short sides, you can move on to the long sides.  Apply the long sides the same way you did the short sides.  Attach the fabric to the lid last.  Then apply a thin layer of decoupage over all of the fabric.  

Now make dividers out of cardboard.  I wrapped mine in black gaff tape to make them a little more substantial.   Also cut out a bunch of hearts, these will be your tabs.  

Now get out your seeds, and organize them into two different groups.  The first group is of seeds you start inside, and the other group are the seeds you start outside.  

Then write different seed groups on the hearts, and glue them to the cardboard dividers.  Alphabetize the seeds in each section and place them in your new container!  

Happy DIYing!