Marine Style Necklace

Remember, yesterday I've mentioned about T-shirt leftovers and the Necklace? Here it is!

Two pieces of Dark Navy and White T-shirts remnants twisted together, then embellished with some gold beads and we are in business, but wait that's not it. I also got a pretty white flower

which is a brooch and a necklace lock. It should look good with my Beach Bag, don't you think?

Beach Bag or 30 days till our summer trip to the ocean

I can't wait when we will hit the road and spend a week by the ocean. May be that's why all my projects now are related to this subject. Ocean is the only thing I can think of right now.

This Beach bag is the first item in my so to say "Marine" collection. It's done in white and dark Navy colors (very Marine) and it's been crochet out of my husband's OLD T-shirts.

Remember - No Money Spent - that's a slogan. I've started with 4 and i thought that would be plenty, but ended up using 9 T-shirts for this bag. Can you believe it? - Nine! and my husband is a tall man who wears size - Large. Way to go! As usually, my epiphany happened on a way to my regular donation bag, and one day later, after intensive slicing and crocheting, and two broken crocheting hooks (I've had the ones with plastic handles:( ), I've got my bag. Finished size 20" Wide by 12 " High, plus handles Extra 10 ".

I've use up everything from these T-shirts! Back of the bag:

One had a front pocket and it was put to a good use as well!

Believe it or not, the hardest thing in this bag - was to create a button. I've had a vision of large red color button for a bag closure but couldn't find any large size available in my treasure boxes. At that moment, I've had a devil's voice in my head saying very nicely, that I can BUY it easily, but I stopped it right there and then!!! Sure enough, I found a perfect piece of leather triangle in RED color, that I rolled into a perfect size red button! I've messed it up with a glue, after all, but Oh, well..... we'll call it Distressed Look or may be you know how to remove an extra glue. That would be great, if you do. Making this story short - I have a perfect beach bag and a few strips of T-shirts left for a Marine Style necklace:) I already have an idea!

Beach will be only 29 days away tomorrow!

Birthday card

I don't have a Photoshop, but it seems to me everything these days have been edited in this software. I need to try it, but just for the folks out there - you still have some tools that you can use to create something similar without using Photoshop. This card has been made in Word and Paint-Pro that comes standard with Windows. I am just saying.....

Recycling smart - Bookmarks

I have some discontinued books of wallpaper samples.

The reason I keep them because the papers are very nice. I framed some of the pieces but now, I’ve decided to go with more practical approach – bookmarks. I am using wallpaper border samples, they are perfect length and all you need to do – cut the desired width fold them in a half. Take a look! All you need is a good book, for example this one.

Cruising the blogosphere

In my group of friends and the only "crafty" person, nobody else share my passion for crafts and some people just don't get: why make it if you can buy it?! Oh, well.... I am not changing myself!

That's why it's sooo exciting for me to explore this blogosphere and find so many people like me. Here is one example:

punk projects: Featuring YOU! *Erin*

I can sign my name under every single answer of this girl and I don't even know her! But it feels so good to know that you are not alone. Thanks blogosphere! Thanks crafty people for being out there for someone like me:)

Remakes

I love Naartjie brand clothing for kids. Probably 90% of my daughter's wardrobe is made by this brand. Quality, quality, quality. Their store is the only one where I can get 1 piece in three different colors:) I love some pieces so much that I don't let them go. Here are few examples.

Before

During

After

Before

After

The two tone shoulder ties are sleeves from the first and the second blouses. Worked out well and I think we'll put them to a good use this summer:)

I have am still working on the last blouse of the third color. I'll post soon)

My daughter loves Oswald - Toy tutorial

My daughter loves Oswald, that is a great show on Nick.Jr channel, but toys with characters from that show are so hard to find, so with her Birthday coming up, I've decided to create two characters for her - Oswald and his dog Weennie.

I couldn't use any patterns because I couldn't find any on the Internet (and that is unusual), so I went on my own.

Let's start with Oswald!

This is the bottom of Oswald

Then you will need 8 plus 5 pieces of same size for legs and body

Height

and width

Start with the legs - you'll use 8 pieces. Fold them in a half, length wise - it will give you a nice

curve

I stuffed them with old plastic bags and added some chenille stems for an ability to bend.

Then work on the body - you''ll use the remaining 5 pieces. You'll sew them together along long sides -you'll get a hat time shape. I stuffed Oswald's body with pillow stuffing, because I wanted weight and stability.

Now it's time for finishing touches: eyes, mouth and black hat. You've got Oswald:)

I think Oswald is getting a good care at our home:)

Talk to you soon!