written by marieann

This project is SO easy! I got the idea because Caro has them and I always stick my head under the covers when Sean’s in bed with his laptop. But then I get all hot and I can’t breathe! It’s a frustrating problem easily solved with a bit of sewing. I wish I would have had a blue or green ribbon (instead of black) but I am still happy with it.

Supplies
A very small remnant of fabric — I would definitely suggest using a dark fabric to keep the light out better than mine
A very small remnant of batting
About 24″ of ribbon
Thread

Tools
Iron
Sewing machine
Scissors

Instructions
1. Cut out the pattern and pin to two layers of fabric and one layer of batting.

(I am sorry that it looks a bit weird. I cut out the pattern and then scanned with with a colored paper background and it looks strange. Just cut out the pattern so that all the yellow is gone. The squares are exactly 1 inch square for your sizing reference, but this pattern should just take up a full sheet.)

2. This is the hardest part (this really is an easy project). Lay one of the mask pieces RIGHT side up. Pin the ribbon pieces to each side with about 1/2 an inch of the ribbon hanging over the edge and the rest of it INSIDE on the mask. Place the pin at least 1/2 inch from the edge. Also, pin all the excess ribbon to the inside (be sure that it stays away from the edges). Do that to both sides.

3. Next, place the other mask piece WRONG side up on top (so right sides are together). Finally, pin the batting piece to the top of this stack (so that the batting is stacked on top of the wrong side of the masks).

4. Sew a 1/4 of an inch around the edge of the mask but leave about a 2 inch opening on the top.

These are photos that show the pieces after they’ve been sewn in the correct positioning.

5. Clip the fabric around the curves (as in perpendicular to the mask, don’t cut off any fabric but cut some slits in it, this is what lets you fold the mask more smoothly). If your batting stretched at all so that it extends beyond the fabric, trim that excess batting off the mask. Turn the mask inside out thru the hole you left. Iron the mask flat.

6. Hand sew the mask shut (be sure to turn under the fabric on both sides by 1/4 inch.

7. Finally, you need to quilt the mask to keep the layers stuck together better. I used my sewing machine and used a special stitch around the edges.

8. Sleep with the lights on!

9. Note: This falls off in your sleep. I am glad about that because I don’t want to wake up with it on. But if you’d like to keep this on all night then you should use 1/4 inch elastic instead. Sew it into the mask the same way as you did the ribbon.

written by threadslinger

Constantly when I am cooking I think to myself “don’t forget to buy ___ when you are out next.” Inevitably I will forget and then be cooking and really need that thing that I forgot to remind myself to get. Since I am a super visual learner I realized this could be solved by having a cute little notebook (hung on my wine corkboard) that I could write reminders on. So, to save money I bought a cheapie notebook and re-did it to now hang in my kitchen.

Materials Needed

3 X 5 notebook (I got 6 in a pack for a dollar, so super cheap)
ribbon
origami paper

1. Remove ugly wire binding notebook pages together and discard cardboard front.

2. Cut a piece of origami for the front of notebook. Use a pin to poke holes in that piece of paper so that all your pieces match.

3. String ribbon through holes looping it over. Leave enough at the end to tie the two ends together and have a bow in the front. Now you are done and have a cute little notebook to jot notes down into.

written by marieann

These are Hillary’s recipe for an old favorite. My mother loves these cookies so much she always asks me to make them up for her when I come home. The dough freezes really well. I like them because I think they are kind of healthy for a cookie with all the oats.

Ingredients

1 1/2 c flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 c shortening (or butter but shortening is preferable)
1 c light brown sugar; firmly packed
1/2 c white sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 Eeggs
2 c old-fashioned rolled oats
1 pk semisweet chocolate chips (12 ounces)

Directions

1. Combine flour, salt and baking soda in a large bowl. Set aside.
2. With an electric mixer beat together the shortening, sugars and vanilla in a large bowl until creamy.
3. Add eggs, beating until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in flour mixture and oats. Stir in chocolate chips.
4. Drop batter by well-rounded teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheet and bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden.
5. Let cool on sheets for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

written by threadslinger

I made this ipod cover after I was tired of seeing my boyfriend nearly ruin his ipod everytime he threw it in his backpack with no protective cover. The great thing about this is that the colors I chose are very Valentines-y so if you are looking for an easy, simple and inexpensive gift for your significant other for the big V day, look no further.

Materials
Yarn (I used thick wool yarn, both red and white.)
Medium size crochet hook (I used the gray plastic one that is the 2nd biggest hook I have seen)

Directions

1. Do a single crochet in a line. I did 14 loops but my yarn was quite thick so if you are using thiner yarn you may want to do more. Attach the ends together to form a loop.

2. Continue to do single crochet for 21 rows, this is long enough to reach the top of the nano.

3. When you get to the end of the 21 rows you should have a little tube. Close it off by crocheting the ends together.

4. Make the heart by doing a single crochet line (about 7 stitches) and attach it to the ipod cover. Now you have a lover ipod cover.

written by marieann

I love the flickr toys. I’ve been meaning to make a mosaic forever and it’s finally here. I chose some of my favorite craft projects I’ve made for this image. Some of these projects haven’t been featured yet but they will be.

Make your own here (you don’t have to have a flickr account either).

written by marieann

Clothing reconstruction — changing an item of clothing from one thing to another — is really popular these days. It’s a great way to change an over-sized or unwanted piece of clothing into something really great. Go to your local thrift store or look at the bottom of your closet for something to shape up!

Supplies
Thread
Shirt to reconstruct (much larger than you are and LONG sleeved)
Fabric remnants (matching)

Tools
Sewing machine
Pins

Instructions

1. Use a seam ripper to take the seams out of the sleeves. Do not cut them out as it makes it more difficult later.
2. Cut the shirt in half about two inches below your breasts.
3. Take in the sides of the shirt to fit your chest. This means to turn the shirt inside out and make the seam deeper than it was. DO NOT CUT until you’re certain that it fits. If you take it in and that’s not enough, then just do it again. A great tip is to try on the shirt inside out and pin it to your the way you’d like. Then sew right outside the pins. Once you’ve made it the size you want, cut off the spare fabric.
4. Cut open the sleeve along the seam. Cut a strip of fabric out of the sleeves that is long enough to go around your waist and about 5 inches wide (you may have to go narrower if your fabric isn’t long enough. You may need to use both sleeves. The bottom of this strip should go about to your hips (thus it should be from just below the breasts until the top of the hips).
5. Sew this to the shirt you have so far. Be sure to make the ends line up on the side. If you had to sew two pieces together to get a long enough piece, line up each seam with the side.
6. Cut a strip of fabric long enough to go around your hips about 4 inches wide. Sew this along the bottom of your shirt. Again, keep the seams on the edges.
7. Finally, you’re going to sew the rest of the shirt back on the bottom. This allows you to use the finished edge that was on the original shirt to your advantage. You may need to take this up some before you start. If you want the skirt to be fluffy you can just work in the excess to a pretty gather or if you’d like it straight, then take it in first. I took it in some but also allowed some excess because otherwise it was too snug in the rear end area.
8. Finally, you need to turn under the sleeve caps about a 1/4 inch and sew around the edge to give the sleeves a finished look.
9. Pair with leggins and rock out!

written by marieann

I made this shirt for my boyfriend and he loves it. The quotation isn’t mine — I got it from craftster — but I did photoshop things to create the design. The words were too little for doing a stencil and I knew I only wanted to make one so I made this shirt with an iron-on.

Supplies
Blank tshirt (preshrunk)
Iron on transfer paper

Tools
Printer
Iron

Instructions
1. Print the design (click on the small image below for the full size). Don’t stretch the picture but it should nearly fill out the entire 8.5 x 11 page.

2. Cut out the image — cut it very close to the design so you don’t leave any of the blank iron on transfer stuff left.
3. Follow the instructions on the iron on package to attach the image to the shirt.
4. If you mess up and there’s some splotches were you didn’t totally transfer the image, use a red/black sharpie pen to fill in the colors totally.