Antique Looking Paper Flowers (Part One)

Isn't this cool?  I think it is.  In fact it's so cool and so easy to make I made the executive desition to teach you how to make this, mwahahaha!  You will never have a say in what I write about, you are cursed to only read what I present to you!  Oh my evil plan is working!  what?  Someone must have hacked my posting. ;)  Well this is going to turn into a 4 or maybe even a 5 part DIY.  (again evil plan is all coming together, maybe it's because I am wearing black nail polish, oh how stereotypical.
  Well here it is part ONE:
THE ACCORDION FLOWER. (bet you can't guess which one that is.)

First you need all of the materials, now pay attention because these are the exact same materials you will use for all of the flowers.

* Mod Podge
* Needle and Thread
* Little paint brushes
* Scissors
* Old book pages, newspaper, or what ever kind of paper you would like to use, it's up to you!
* Paint (totally optional)

Step One:  Cut out some strips of your paper.  Tip!  The wider the strips the longer they will need to be in order to get a good ACCORDION FLOWER.

Step Two: So this might be self explanatory but... glue the strips together.  :)

 Step Three:  Remember those old fans you use to make with scratch paper?  Anyone?  Well I use to all the time, and apparently I still do.  Haha!  Well ya, do that.  And if you don't ever remember doing that...  fold the paper back and forth like an accordion, oh imagine that! :)

Step Four:  Now with your needle and thread, thread the needle with the thread and poke the needle through the strip of paper.  It will not go through the whole thing in one punch, you will need to work it through the strip, but once at the end your good. (make sure you leave off at least 2 or more inches at the end in order to tie the knot! LOL Ya I guess you can use this for wedding decor! :)  Tip: Never reuse this needle for fabric, the more you use it on paper the more dull it will become and will not work well on fabric.

Step Five:  Now PULL!!!  And then tie the knot!  Don't worry you are not actually marrying this flower. :)

Step Six:  Start to shape the flower!  This  may be difficult at first, but just work at it and you'll get there.  If your folds are starting to get too wide, on the ends then that means you need another strip of paper.  Then Mod Podge the two ends.

Step Seven:  Well this step is just showing you what it looks like glued.  Now you can choose to be done or...

Do this...

and or this...

No matter how you want to finish it, end with a coat of Mod Podge over the whole thing.  That's right every nook and cranny.  Well just give it a nice coat. And...

Whoolaa!  Your ACCORDION FLOWER(S)!

Well this has been fun, right? Maybe?  Anyways see ya in part two! :)

Drab To Fab (1st 2015 post! YAY)

Before...

After!

Umm, ya so much for a  consistent blog posting.  Whoops!  Well here is a little check in just to see if you're still listening.  Check, check, one two three!  OK I think were good. :)  Anyways, todays little post is little.  Short, sweet, and to the point, short in duration, not extensive, brief, small in amount and degree, not much.  You get what I mean? (definitions by dictionary.com) :)  So here's how this one goes.  My sister this past summer, (ya I'm known for delayed reactions...it's winter),  went through some old hand-me-downs that were mine when I was her age.  She stumbled on these drab things and almost thew them out!  (I think she forgets I can sew. ;)  Well I took a look at them, and we decided she needed some goods tank tops for the summer.  So I went ahead and cut off the sleeves, and hemmed up the arm holes, and WHOWLA... cute summer ready tank tops!  So what does this have to do with it being winter right now?  Nothing absolutely nothing, but hey I have now done my first post for 2015!  Sparkling cider, I await thee!  Said Sew Me A Blog in February. :) 

Talk to ya later! :)

After!

Before...

Tape Me a Flower (DIY Ep. 2)

So first of all March is behind us and now it is the time for those “April Showers” that bring beautiful “May Flowers”  or in this case… “April DuckTape brings April Flowers”.  Wow, that doesn’t have that great of a ring as the original.  But you get the picture.

What in the world I am DIY(ing) for you today?  You may ask.  Duck Tape Flower Pens!  I learned how to do this at my friends birthday party.  Can you guess the theme?  Duck Tape!  So one of the activities was to make Duck Taped things with fun and colorful Duck Tape.  Try to say Duck Tape 3 times fast.  It’s really weird and difficult.  I know because I tried.

But this little DIY is fairly simple.  All you will need is…

• Duck Tape! (get fun colors and patterns for your desirable look)

• Exacto Knife! (if you have little kids please help them out with this, they are very useful but like any sharp objects, if not used right will cut you and you will have an ouchy)

• Pens! (round, square, any shape you like. :)

• Finally a quilters board with measurements. But since every one doesn't have this, a ruler taped down on a wood board or stiff card board, something to protect your table or floor from the Exacto knife.  Step One:  Take the lid off of your pen. :)

Step Two:  Measure out the duck tape (DT), to the length of the pen from bottom to just before the pen does that tilted cone thing. Wrap the tape around pen until edge if flush with the pen. ( you may need to wrap a couple times depending on how thin or wide your pen is) 

Step Three:  Cut a small inch by inch square, put it on the bottom flat of the pen, make some slits and fold onto pen.  (this is optional, but I like to do it because it gives it a more “finished look” in the end.)

Step Four:  Grab your contrasting (DT)  line it up, and cut into 2 inch strips. (these are your petals) 

Step Five:  a. This can get a little tricky.  But if you keep practicing you’ll get it.  Fold the strip at a diagonal like you are going to match up the corners.  But fold it about 3/8 from the edge of the corners.

b.  Next you will grab one of the corners and fold it so it turns into a triangle with a sticky lip.  Congratulations!  If your (DT) looks like this picture, you have successfully made your first petal if not, try again you’ll get it.

Step Six:  (the fun part) wrap your petal around the pen.  Sticky side on the pen. (The beginning of your flower has begun.) 

Step Seven: Continue wrapping all of your petals around and around until you are satisfied with the fullness.  (do not make the rows into tiers but stack them on each other so you come out with a flower shape instead of a cone shape.)  Play around with it and have fun!

Step Eight:  Make as many flower pens as your wonderful hearts desire, and then put them in a jar/vase/ or pen container and smile for a craft well done.

Picture Earrings (DIY Ep. 1)

So, you have a lot of earrings you need to get under control do you?  Are you the kind of person that doesn't like your current earring holders because you have had them since you first got your ears pierced?  Except for the black one in the shape of a dress form that you are still going to keep because it is kind of cool, but you really just don't like it as an earring holder anymore?  If you said yes to any of these, then this is the DIY project for you! :)  (Even if you said no to any of these that's ok, you can keep on reading. ;)

  That's right, we are going to make this scene go from drab to fab!

O.K. so this is my first DIY project run through so bear with me.  (Grab a teddy bear and hug it while reading. :)

Step Zero: gather supplies.  Well looky here I took a picture for you of all the supplies.

I lied.  Sorry all but one, the sharpie!  We will see it being used later.

List: *Burlap, I got about a yard, but you don't need that much, I guesstimate about 1/2 a yard depending on your picture frame. (I literally used only part of 1/4 a yard  but no less than that unless you are using a mini frame)  It's better to have extra and have enough than to have too little and need to get more and just go through all of that stress.

         *Picture Frame,  I got mine out of my mom's cupboard, (don't worry I got her permission first)

         *Hot Glue Gun

         *Glue Gun Sticks

         *paper or cardboard for under the glue gun, wouldn't want your tables or floors all glued on.

         *scissors, preferably the one's that cut through burlap (fabric)

         *(optional) Exact O Knife, why?  you'll see.

         * Sharpie, any color will do

Ok now the fun stuff!  

Step One:  Cut off the back card board of your picture frame.  (I used the Exact O Knife for a cleaner finish)  If your frame cardboard comes off after you flip those little tab things, then you can skip this step.

Step Two:  Position your frame over your burlap (I put mine at an angle) and trace the frame with the sharpie.  (P.S. try not to get sharpie on the picture fame, unless you're going for that "sharpie on the sides of my picture frame" look.)

Step Three:  Cut it out.  

Step Four: Glue the burlap one side at a time onto the back of the picture frame.

(I glued one side, then the other side next to it, not across, this gave me the advantage to pull it tight on the other sides and cut away the extra fabric, and made the burlap more sturdy to hold many earrings.)

Step Five: Gather your Earrings and start arranging them on.  Fun Stuff!

And Vowala!  A new and chic earring holder.  This project is not only neat looking and very versatile to style, but it is quick and easy.  Seriously, it took me longer to put together this blog for you than it did to actually make it!  But I had fun both times!  It was like making it twice!

(Before)                                                                            (After!)

The Blog Formerly Known As "Dress Me Up For Less"

  HELLO PEOPLE! :)  I am very excited right now because I get to introduce you to my updated blog!  (And the crowd goes wild!)  Instead of a retro redo for a dress or what not, this was a retro redo for the blog it's self.  Don't worry I still have all of those other posts, so now you can go back and look at them and reminisce.  But not for too long because I don't want you to miss out on these new blog posts I am going to be bringing to you throughout the next months and perhaps years! :)  That's right, there is no getting rid of me now!

  The reason I even changed the blogs identity is because I felt a little held back on what I could blog about.  Though "Dress Me Up For Less" had good intentions, it didn't end very well.  Example (not blogging).  So that is why I bring you, "Sew Me A Blog" with this new title, page design, and atmosphere, I will be posting not just "Retro Redo's" but also DIY's and possibly just some thoughts on things!  Doesn't that sound fun?  Just looking into my brain... what?  Anyways.

"Sew Me A Blog"  what do you think?

Retro Redo (episode 3)

In the beginning of last school year, my amazing geometry teacher, handed me two dresses that she didn't want any more.  Well I took them and 10 months later I finally did something with the first one, the other is still in the process of being "remade".  When I tried it on even though the color looked good I just couldn't see myself wearing it, and couldn't think of something to make it in to.  Until I looked at my sister.  She was smaller than me, so that meant that, I could use the material more easily and that's how it all started...

I put it on her, and it was perfect.  (to big for her = Perfect!)  Definantally enough material to use for her.  So I went to work with my machine and shirred the waist and did a couple little tricks with my serger, and sure enough!  There it was an adorable skirt perfect for summer, and great for school!  She loved it.

Formal 2013!

  It's that time of year again!  The Birds are chirping, every girl is sitting in the classroom wondering who will ask them to prom/formal this year?  Kevin?  Mark?  Bob?  The guys are all day dreaming about what they could have done with the money that they are now spending on there date.  But the most important thing that is going through every girls mind is... "What am I gong to wear to the formal!?!"

  Yes!  FORMAL!  It's here and we are going to shop till we drop, while staying within a budget of under $65.00!  I promise you it is possible!  Do not be alarmed!  You do not have to spend your parents life savings on your prom or formal!  "What?"  "No way?"  "I am going to faint!"
  Now, there are several ways to be money savvy when it comes to formal.  For example, you could trade dresses with some of your good ol girl friends from the year before.  If you have a big sister that has moved out of the house you could gab one of her old dresses, maybe give it a hem, a little tweak and wallah   Brand new for you!  But if you are like me, you really like shopping!

  First of all, never ever go to a bridal shop, a prom dress store, boutique, or a mall.  Don't even go to Ross!  Their stuff is cheap... but that is for a reason.  Besides why would you want to go to where everyone else is getting their dresses?  You know that fear you get, when you think, "What if somebody wears my same dress!?!?"  Well avoiding these stores, avoids that problem.  So here is what I did.  (P.S.  It was so much fun!)  I went to the Antique mall!

  "What?"  "The Antique Mall?"  Yes people the Antique Mall!  And in my neighboring town's antique mall there is a upper room called a the boutique.  In which there are millions (hypothetically speaking) dresses, men's suites, accessories and more!  They have great prices and superb costumer service.  Their dressing rooms are right next to the only bathroom in the entire "mall"  for easy access if you know what I mean. (wink wink).

  Oh hey guys I just got back from my commercial break.  Anyways this upper room is great, there are a bunch of good dresses ranging from 1930's to now days!  That's right you can even get the resent stuff for really cheap!  As in money people.  So in this upper room my friend and I played dress up, trying on things from the 80's and she went all out accessorizing every outfit!  What fun!

  So here comes the most exciting part of the entire shopping trip as every shopping trip is for me... the bargains.  Now if you have been reading my blog then you know that I like to look up the original price, (if I can find it)  and give it an evaluation on my bargain, you know to see if I got a good deal or not.  So I looked up my dress and it turns out to be a Mori Lee by Madeline Gardner!  Isn't that exciting?  Don't worry I have never heard of her either.  Well it turns out that her dresses go from $100 (on sale) - $700!  My dress by looking at her other designs was probably around the $200 range, and I got it for only $34.00!

  You just fainted didn't you?  Yes!  I knew it!  Well after finding my perfect formal dress, and my friend's great 1960's dress.  We headed off to just look around the "mall" and see what we could see in about five minuets   There was this one booth that had a rack of jewelry from the 50's-60's.  And low and behold there it was... I grabbed this cute necklace, my mom said it looked like the same color as my dress, and behold it was... the perfect necklace.  And only $6.00!  Hey that is pretty good for an authentic vintage necklace that's around 50 to 60 years old!  My grandma could have worn this same necklace at her prom or formal!

  Well after buying these things we went back home... and my mom and I woke up early the next morning to complete the outfit!  By the way if you have or will be going shopping with your mother for prom or formal, please say thank you and wish her a happy mom's day! :)  Love you mom, and thanks! <3

  As I was saying, we went to another town to look for the accessories (great story but this post is getting to be extremely long, way longer than I thought it was going to be).  Haha!  So my mom and I went to this great "world" store, you know like the kind that you get stuff from all over the world like jewelry (wink wink).  We walked into the store with only a picture and a vision!  In which was fulfilled for an even better bargain than we could have ever expected!  The perfect earrings, that actually matched the necklace!  It was a pack of 12 for $4.50, so one pair that I would wear for formal was only .38 cents!

  Next we went to Joann's Fabric (I love you my love!  I told you I would come back some day!)  So we got some gold sash that was a bounce off color of yet again the necklace, and the sash really gave the dress more of a shape on the torso and it also really tied the whole outfit together, literally!  This was not all that cheap but hey, I do think that there are very small exceptions to the rule.  Remind you I say VERY small exceptions.  So here it is $7.47.

  Lastly the shoes, did you know that Payless has coupons?

 So we went to Payless to get their "every day low price" of  $19.99, (aka $20)  for only $12.49, (aka $12.50).  With the help of a coupon, and my sister who needed a pair of shoes so that we could get the deal. :)  They are comfort plus nude pumps.  Love them!  I love them so much that they are still up here right next to me on my desk I can see them right now.  And they are mainly here because there is no room in my closet because of my dress.

  So if you were calculating all of those prices and didn't get under 65 then your calculator is broken.  So lets recap.
  *Dress:  $34.00
  *50's-60's necklace:  $6.00
  *Earrings:  .38 cents
  *Gold Sash:  $7.47
  *Shoes:  $12.49
Total amount, drum role please... dralalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala :  $60.34

  "Whoo hoo!"  "How dose she do it?"  "Lalala!"  "Yay!"  "Bravo!"  "Ole!"

  So those of you nonbelievers, is it still impossible   Well maybe for those who really just hate spending bottom price.  But really, who is that?  Everybody loves a good deal but not many know how to get it.  So I hope that this will be appealing to all of you prom/formal shoppers out there, and maybe you parents could show this to your little princess, and prove to them that they can look great and still pay the minimal amount.
  So happy shopping and bargaining and may all of your prom and formal dreams come true.
Until next time,

See Ya Later!