Paint a Craft Bag

Ok, so short story goes something like this…I used to collect handbags. Now I’m trying to repurpose my bags and use them as storage, but I want them to be special. I have a new theory forming that when you turn something into art it is much harder to throw that item away. Like suddenly it is divine because you did something creative with it!

I bought this bag at Macy’s a couple of months ago. The first time I used it my husband said it just didn’t look like me. If my husband disses something I wear I cannot bring myself to wear it again, otherwise his comment is always just hovering in the back of my mind. He has way better fashion sense than I, he is more classy and I am more anything goes. So I only used this bag twice and then it sat collecting dust. :(

I decided to paint the bag and use it to store art supplies. When I researched the material the bag was made of it said plastic coated canvas. So basically the bag is a churched up plastic bag! Don’t even get me started!

I put down a little light purple liquitex basics paint to add a tint and then layered black acrylic paint over that. The purple kind of took the edge off the black paint and made it look subtly gray. It grunged up the bag some but the print on the bag still showed through.

Then I painted the pocket. I had this insect stencil book that I bought thrifted on Poshmark, so I used the general shape of a dragonfly and then altered it a little to be more my style. The angel is one of my folk art symbols that I have used a lot over the years.

I did add some text on the back of the bag, just painted in cursive. I wanted a reminder to live in the present! I might go back over the back and redo some of the lettering, but I’m pretty happy with how the bag looks! It is so ready to hold my precious art supplies, and has lots of pockets for all my needs!

Five Repurposed and Crafty Storage Solutions

I just moved in to my new home two and a half months ago, and the one thing that has haunted me this move has been the amount of junk I have acquired! Unfortunately a bunch of stuff got thrown away in the process of moving, and even now as I still have the last bit of boxes to unpack I’m wondering why I buy and hold on to so much stuff.

One thing that is so American is figuring out ways to store things. I mean, hell! There are like entire stores just devoted to storing stuff, like the Container Store. Plus there are storage options outside the home for when you just can’t bare to throw things away. It is so easy to just go out and buy a bunch of plastic bins. I have always stored my fabric and scrap materials in bins to keep everything dust and bug free, and when we moved into this place we bought even more bins to hold linens and blankets. My husband and I talked about it last night, because we had been considering buying even more bins to store things away in the basement. I asked if we could think of other ways to deal with our stuff besides stuffing it all in bins. He said, well we could throw stuff away instead of keeping it.

It feels challenging to go green because as an American I have acquired the hobby of buying stuff I don’t need. The USA is responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions, even though we only make up a small percentage of the world population. I know I am not alone in shopping just for fun and buying stuff I don’t need. I cringe to think there could be millions and millions of other people out there doing the same damn thing! Obviously the first major solution is just to buy less and buy smarter. Pondering the impact of purchases on the environment takes a really strong commitment to putting the environment first. Fortunately there are so many eco friendly options out there, it just takes some research and time to discover what they are.

Here are five ideas for storage solutions you can make at home with stuff you already have!

1. Sew fabric baskets! This is a great one for seamstresses because you probably already have everything you need to do a project like this. I found a website with links to twenty free patterns to choose from at Sew Can She.

2. Get crafty and cover some cardboard boxes with paper. I did this years ago, because I had tons of cardboard boxes and wanted a cheap option for storage. You can print out photos or artwork and glue the paper on with glue sticks or Elmer’s School Glue. I found images of cats online and printed them out for my boxes. Find photos of your favorite animal for a super cute look! Or use wrapping paper or artist paper if you have some on hand!

3. Make some braided rag baskets. I mistakenly discovered how to make a rag basket because I was trying to make a braided rag rug but the braid was wrapped too tight at the start and so the fabric curved into a basket shape. Follow a basic braided rag rug pattern to start but pull the braid tight as you sew around the shape so that the edge curve into a basket. Cut up old t shirts or knit fabric into 1 1/2 inch strips, and sew the strips end to end to form the strands. The wider the strips, the bigger the braids will be. Here is a tutorial I found on Capper’s Farm website for a braided rag rug. Experiment and have fun with this one!

4. Use old handbags and purses to store items! Backpacks and purses with lots of pockets are a great storage solution for things like art supplies, craft supplies, and more! Use larger lap top bags to store magazines and artist papers, and smaller bags for paint sets and colored pencils. Display the bags on an over the door rack and you will always be able to find those items you use the most.

5. Sew fabric drawstring bags to hold items. Drawstring bags make great storage for toiletries, jewelry, fabric items and linens, etc. Drawstring bags are super simple once you get the hang of sewing them. Woven, non stretch fabrics work best to make them, so upcycle an old dress or table cloth and make a bunch! Here is my basic laundry bag tutorial, you can make these bags any size you need.

Making Reusable Linens

Allergy season is here, but truly all year long I am tormented by allergies. I am one of those people who is allergic to dang near everything, including grass and animals. I typically blow my nose constantly throughout the day and night. I also use tissue and paper towels to dab excess water when I am painting. So I decided to create a little basket of hankies and rags for my art table. That way I can just wash everything instead of wasting so much paper. Today was my first day using the new handkerchiefs I made, and it will take some getting used to. I also made a basic drawstring bag so I can put some in my handbag for on the go!

Making handkerchiefs is actually super simple. They do not need to be fancy, and you can even make some without sewing. I used 10 inch pre cut squares and just hemmed the edges. But you could cut up an old sheet or cotton dress to use instead. If you do not sew, just get some pinking shears and trim the edges with the shears to prevent fraying. 10 x 10 inches is about the smallest I would recommend going, aim for 12-14 inches square at minimum. If you have some old bandanas, those would work great too!

Making UnPaper Towels is also super easy. You can buy them on Etsy, but making them yourself is a great way to use up some of your fabric and custom tailor the cloths to the specific purposes you will be using them for. A very basic rag can be created by cutting up flannel and zig zag stitching around the edges. Cut up tee shirts work great for dusting and are totally washable. Or use a flannel or cotton on one side and a more absorbent fabric like an old terry cloth towel on the reverse side for 2 ply towels. My twin sister bought me a bunch of UnPaper Towels from a woman who sews them online, and they were fussy with all these fancy details. Call me simple and plain, but basic things like handkerchiefs and cleaning rags do not need to be fussy, they just need to be functional.

Sewing your own fabric napkins is also super easy. Make them a bit larger, like 18x18 inch square. Use a single square of fabric for each and do a basic hem around the outside. Single ply is best for fabric napkins. I learned this the hard way and used a fabric on either side, which turned out to be way too thick for use as a napkin. You can use any cotton fabric for fabric napkins, and batiks or solids are especially nice because they look the same on both sides.

If you do want to add a nice element to your handkerchiefs or UnPaper Towels, embroider a little design on each one. Small bundles of each would be great gifts to give as well! When you are crafty, going green is so much fun! Little by little you can create objects of beauty that you will want to reuse instead of wasting paper all the time.

Reimagining the Life Cycle of Clothing

There is an informative article on Reader’s Digest that outlines where clothing go when you donate them to charities. In the article, it states that 84% of donated clothes wind up getting recycled into things like rugs and other goods, or shipped overseas to developing countries. The thing is those countries don’t want the used clothes, because they are hurting local economies and taking away income from indigenous people. I’ve done it too…donate clothing and feel so proud that you did something good to help someone else. The reality is that while some things are recycled into new items, you still don’t know where those clothes are actually going to end up or if they are going to actually cause harm.

I’m trying to reimagine the life cycle of the clothes I have. Upcycling clothing does take some elbow grease, creativity and a commitment to spend time to work on your own fashion. Anything that prolongs the use of an item is surely a good thing!

That dress that you just spilled ketchup on actually isn’t ruined at all, and you do not have to throw it away. Sew applique or lace over the stain and it will be like new. When you get sick of wearing that look, you could turn the dress into separates. It could become a skirt and matching top, that you could mix and match into your wardrobe. When your fashion loving heart gets sick of those pieces, you could sew the fabric into other items for your home. Or sew a fashion accessory with the fabric, or work the cloth into other upcycles. The last step for a piece of clothing could be to turn it into a rag rug or wash rags for around the house.

While the fabric will eventually wind up in the landfill, when you prolong the usage of that garment it truly makes a difference. Instead of throwing out fifty articles of clothing a year, you may only wind up throwing away a few things.

That is my dream for my own closet. I love new fashion, but I’m trying to break the habit of buying so many clothes. It is a challenge I’ve taken on myself and if you also want to change your ways Mother Earth will be so grateful!

Stash Buster: Use Up Those Pre Cut Squares!

A big part of going green is making use of what you have instead of buying store bought goods. I’m feeling a little overwhelmed tonight because I have amassed so much scrap material, and I want to use it up. I literally feel like I could sew for the rest of my life and still not run out of fabric, lol! I don’t buy new fabric very often, but somehow I have kept all the leftovers from past projects and it adds up fast.

My quilt making used to be about combining mostly scrap material with a few yards of store bought fabric, but there was always something that I didn’t use. Quilters amass so much fabric and it is celebrated on Facebook…the pure gluttony of it all! I’m committed to using up what I have, or finding others who are in need of materials. I’ve donated art supplies to a veterans home before, and am in the process of looking for charities who might need supplies.

A year or two ago I bought two packs of ten inch squares from Amazon, and let me just say that it is not quilt worthy material! The fabric has lots of cute prints so I made a bunch of scarves when I was selling clothes. I was including a free scarf with each order that I received. Needless to say, I was left with tons of extra pre cuts.

Here are some ideas for using up pre cut squares. If they are ten to twelve inches, these projects might be a great fit! You can also cut up yardage for the projects. I’m enjoying using the squares because I can just grab some and get sewing. If you don’t have pre cut squares you could always spend a weekend cutting out squares from your scrap bin to use instead. Use what you already have, and try to be an eco frugalista when it comes to your sewing. Be conscious of your tendencies to buy new material for each project, and challenge yourself to use what you have on hand first.

1. Scarves

2. Fabric Napkins

3. Drawstring Pouches

4. Coasters and Table Mats

5. Hats or Bandanas

6. Fabric Gift Bags

7. Button Clutch and Wallet

8. Decorative Pillows

9. Patchwork Squares Quilt

10. Squares Bean Bag Pouf

I hope these ideas get you excited to get at the machine! One thing seamstresses are not short of is creative ideas! When you use what you have it actually makes you more creative, because you come up with new inventive ways to rethink those materials. Christmas is coming up soon, and if you start now you can sew your gifts instead of buying them from the store, or think of what you need and try to make it next time instead of buying it. Happy crafting!

How to Be an Eco Fashionista

It happens to me all the time, I look in my closet and find I have “nothing to wear” even though I have an abundance of clothes. Today I pulled out a pair of pants that I had only worn a couple of times and the button is already about to fall off after only two washes! So I did my typical thing when that happens. I flipped open my laptop and started looking at one of my favorite shops. This time though, fate stepped in! I saw a pair of bell bottoms for sale that I desperately wanted, and a patchwork dress that was so pretty I needed to have it. My lightbulb moment happened when I realized I could make similar pieces myself!

If you are a fashionista, you may also crave all the new and latest fashion. I feel committed to make a change and stop buying clothes, but let me tell you the struggle is real! I keep thinking that if I actually follow through on that commitment, I might wind up looking pretty haphazard once my wardrobe is filled with homemade clothes. The thing is there is so much you can do to create clothes that are even better than what you find at a store. And when you put your personal touch on those things, they become divine to rock all the time!

Here are some things I am doing to begin to transition from buying clothes new to making and altering them myself.

1. I am mending things that need repaired. That black pair of pants that has a button dangling by a thread…yup…that needs to be fixed. I also recently got a sweatshirt dress that my husband said looks like a nightgown, so that needs some sprucing up as well.

2. I am trying to look to my own closet and begin to rethink what I already have. Maybe layering in different ways or accessorizing with things I already own would make the outfits I have more fun.

3. I’m starting a fashion illustration journal to give me ideas for clothes to make. Browsing at that shop today made me realize I wanted more patchwork in my wardrobe and that a new dress sounded fun. So I’m sketching out the styles that spoke to me to see if I can somehow make something similar myself.

4. Figure out what you like about the items you see in stores. Is it a certain fabric or cut of skirt, do you like your pants more fitted or are you into flare style jeans? Once you figure out what you like, find a way to infuse more of that into your own upcycled projects.

5. If you absolutely HAVE to buy something, try to buy second hand when you can. I tried ThredUp last year, but the clothes were pretty disgusting with hair and soil on them, and seams were coming apart. So if you want to buy secondhand do so in person if possible. Or try Poshmark to find used clothes and goods. Poshmark is great because you buy secondhand directly from individuals, but you have to be careful because some of the sellers buy items from stores and then mark them way up to sell on the platform. One bonus of Poshmark is if you receive an item that is not in good condition there is a way to review that item and even get your money back. If you have a big social circle, you could do a clothing swap for a fun evening together, and leave with a few new-to-you pieces.

Ok, I’m officially sewing myself some bell bottoms this weekend, and figuring out how to make another groovy patchwork dress! Becoming an eco fashionista can be challenging at first when you are starting to change your habits, but it truly is worth it.

3 Painted Pumpkins That Create a Woodland Scene

3 Painted Pumpkins That Create a Woodland Scene

 *In this tutorial I used Liquitex Acrylics, because that is what I already had on hand. For an eco-friendly alternative try these Natural Earth Paints! They have a kit for kids that is affordable and should work great on most surfaces.

Hiking, camping and treks through the woods are some of my most cherished memories from childhood!  In the Midwest, the fall season brings trees bursting with vivid colors, chilly crisp nights and weekend afternoons best spent hanging out by the campfire with people I love.

In the spirit of the woods, these pumpkins create a fall scene that is perfect for the season.  Get out some paints and have some fun with these family friendly projects!  Each pumpkin would look great on its own or create multiples of your favorite design for added impact.  Add your own twist by using your favorite color scheme.

1.     The Artful Acorn Pumpkin

Materials: 

one small pumpkin, the one I used is a Lakota variety

acrylic or craft paint in dark brown, sea foam green and opaque white

1-inch-wide paintbrush or foam brush and cup of water

removable artist tape

q tips

paint palette

paper towels

paper pad or wax paper to protect your work surface

Step 1:  Dampen a paper towel and clean off the surface of the pumpkin, then blot dry.

Step 2:  Apply artist tape around the pumpkin in a horizontal line, about one-third of the way down from the top.  Next, apply a second row of tape about one quarter of an inch up from the first row of tape.

Step 3:  Put smaller pieces of tape along the top indentations of the pumpkin, starting at the stem and stopping at the uppermost horizontal piece of tape.  Be sure to press the edges of the tape down so that the paint doesn’t seep underneath for a crisp edge.

Step 4:  Grab your paintbrush and dark brown paint.  I went with traditional brown, but you could use purple, blue or green for a fun effect!  Just make sure to choose a color that contrasts with your pumpkin.

Step 5:  Dab the paint onto the open areas in between the tape, staying above the bottom paint line.  Try to work quickly because acrylic paint dries quickly, and you want to remove the tape before the paint has dried.  It is okay if the paint looks kind of splotchy, it will add to the overall effect of the design.  Once you have the paint coat down, remove the tape carefully.  Let the first coat dry.

Step 6:  Once dry, gather up two contrasting opaque paint colors and some q tips.  I used an opaque white and sea foam green, but feel free to go with any colors that sound fun to you.  If your paints are more translucent, simply mix with some opaque white which will help the paint color stand out against the dark brown.

Step 7:  Using the end of a q tip, put dabs of paint onto the triangle shapes you painted near the top of the pumpkin.  Overlap some of the edges of the dots for a laid-back look.  I alternated the two colors for a pretty effect.  Let dry and you are done!

2.     Woodland Mushrooms Pumpkin

Materials:

large white pumpkin

cup of water and paint brushes

white and brown acrylic paint markers

acrylic or craft paint in red, copper, dark brown, yellow ochre, sea foam green, raw sienna, white and purple

ponytail holders

small rectangle of thick cardboard

paint palette

paper towels

wax paper or paper pad to protect your work surface

Step 1:  Dampen a paper towel and clean the pumpkin, blot dry.

Step 2:  Grab a brown paint marker and draw the mushroom shapes around the pumpkin edges.  I drew mine at mostly the same height, but you could vary the heights of the mushrooms for a pretty look.  Let the marker dry before the next step.

Step 3:  Dip your brush in water and press it onto a paper towel to remove some of the water.  Then paint the mushrooms, rinsing in between colors.  For a sheer wash of color, put a dab of paint onto your brush and then dip it in the water.  Gently blot the brush on the top edge of the cup, and then paint.  Continue to dab the excess water off the paint brush in between colors throughout the painting process for a thicker coat of paint.  You may want to do two coats of the red paint for a more saturated hue.  If you go outside the lines that you drew, wet down the mistake while the paint is fresh and dab off the area with a paper towel.

Step 4:  I used yellow ochre and copper for some of the mushrooms.  Copper paint has a sparkly sheer look for a beautiful effect.  For darker accents I used a deep purple.  Add little smudges and accents within the mushroom shapes for a stunning intricate effect.

Step 5:  Paint a sheer wash of purple in between the mushrooms for a cohesive look.  Let everything dry at this point.

Step 6:  As an additional element, add some artful grassy spots.  Make a stamp by wrapping a few ponytail holders around the rectangle of cardboard.  Arrange the rubber bands so that they lay flat on the side you will be using for a stamp.  You can line the bands more straight up and down for a uniform look or put some to an angle. 

Step 7:  Dab some sea foam paint onto the rubber bands and then stamp in between the mushrooms.  Overlap some of the stems for a pretty effect. 

Step 8:  To finish, grab your white paint marker and add some details.  Outline some of the lines add accents to some of the mushrooms and stems.  Let dry and you are done!

3.     Moonlit Woods Pumpkin

Materials:

cup of water

paint palette

2 angled paintbrushes; one medium and one small

acrylic or craft paint in grey, black and sea foam green

white acrylic paint marker

removable artist tape

paper towels

Step One:  Dampen a paper towel and clean off the pumpkin, blot dry.

Step Two:  Choose the best side of the pumpkin to create your woodland scene.  Pick a side that is mostly smooth with few imperfections.  Apply horizontal lines of tape along the top and bottom of the pumpkin.

Step Three:  Apply vertical lines of tape that extend slightly past the top and bottom horizontal lines.  Vary the width between the lines and make some slightly angled.  Smooth out the tape, pressing the lines down for a smooth paint edge.

Step Four:  Using your medium paint brush, paint in between the tape lines.  Load your brush with a lot of paint for a nice thick coat of color.  Working quickly, rinse off the paint brush in between colors and blot the brush onto a paper towel so that the colors are saturated.  When you are done painting, carefully and quickly remove the tape before the paint dries.

Step Five:  When the tree trunks are completely dry, add some branches with the small angled brush.  My branches are mostly straight and about one to two inches long.  Starting with the lightest color, add a few branches.  Then work your way through the darker colors.  My branches are short, mostly straight lines to create a retro look.  Less is more, try to only add one to three branches per tree.

Step Six:  Once the branches are dry, add the moon.  Use the inside of your roll of tape as a template or find another small circular object to trace.  Grab the white paint marker and trace the template for a small circle.  Then fill in the shape with dots and dabs of paint marker.  Let dry and you are done!

Keep Clothes out of the Landfill

I've been a long time advocate of donating clothing to charities.  I always throw in a couple of pieces that are still in great condition and highly fashionable, just hoping that some woman will find a score at the thrift shop.  I was reading National Geographic last night and came across a one page spread about where used clothing go.  It turns out that 75% of all used clothes donated in the US wind up being sold in Africa.  It is a multi million dollar industry that has put most of the African Textiles industry out of business.  The people there love to buy the used clothing because it is cheaper and more well made than the cheap Chinese made clothing that they can buy new.  

Like a lot of women I have a lot of clothes!  With the environment in the state it is in, I often wonder what will happen to the things I throw away.  Clothing is a huge burden on the waste system and winds up sitting in the landfill for hundreds of years after the time it is thrown away.  

It comes down to buying less clothing, and making the clothes you do buy last for as long as possible.  Another possible option is to recycle those clothing into other items. 

Here are some tips for what to do with old clothing to give them more life and prevent them from going to the landfill.

1.  Update last season's clothes and make them like new!  Mend tears with patches, use dyes to change a color, add appliques over stains.  Even the most outdated clothing can get a whole new lease on life with a few minor changes.  Youtube has tons of videos on restyling and upcycling clothing and there are some great used books on the subject as well.

2.  If you buy something and don't like the way it fits, alter it!  Add panels to pants that are too small or take them in if too big.  Shorten the hems of dresses to make them look modern, add lace and other embellishments if something is too plain.  You could even get into screen printing and print on your fashions.

3.  Find projects online that remake old clothing into new things.  There are even no sew projects for old t shirts, baskets and rugs that can be woven and braided from old clothes.  Make a quilt with old t shirts and it will become an heirloom.  

Whether you upcycle, donate or alter your clothing; making an effort to be intentional with your purchasing power can make a huge difference!  The things we buy will eventually wind up in the landfill so it takes a commitment to prolong the life of those items.  Creating heirlooms from items that might just be cast aside is a fun way to honor the abundance in your life!