I Can Do It: T-Shirt Yarn

Once in a while I actually do the projects in my DIY bookmark folder. Today I figured out the reason I put links in that folder and then rarely touch them.  I bet my older sister could tell you why I do this, but since she's not here to explain: I don't like being bossed.  "Do It Yourself" sounds like a command therefore I don't do it. Very simple. You are not the boss of me Bookmark Folder!  I don't have to crochet that afghan if I don't feel like it! That skirt can just go sew itself! I'll show you!!  

Anyone interested in making t-shirt yarn can follow this lovely tutorial...or not. It's up to you.

You Can Do It : T-Shirt Yarn

urban bag bag

urban outfitters reusable shopping bag

cut off handle

cut in half 

hem leaving small opening to thread elastic through.  sew up open side.

i cut an opening and stitched the edges so it wouldn't tear.

use cut off portion for hook

done. problem is it only holds about 20 of my gazillion plastic bags.

inside out

i kept wondering why the inside of my tea box looked so pretty and then realized i could turn the box inside out and re-glue it. the lesson here is: it really is what's on the inside that counts!

I'll Make It Myself: T-shirt Scarf

First I cut 6"x 6" squares out of random t-shirts I had already started cutting for other projects.  I ended up with 17 squares.

Step two was lining them all up and pinning them together. I wasn't very scientific about it knowing how it would just drape down when it's being worn meant I stressed less about the details.

After the squares were pinned, it was time to brave the sewing machine...I have a terrible habit of what I call "Pulling a Rachael" which is when I jam the sewing maching every single time I make something. It only happened once this time. So I just sewed a basic stitch straight(almost) down the lined up squares.

Voila! Recycled T-shirt Scarf.  I can't wait to wear this simple little scarf with a tank top and jeans maybe while I'm out riding my bike so It can blow in the breeze behind me.  You should try it too! I can't wait to try out other ways of dressing it up and playing around with this basic pattern. 

Fetched & Etched

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Happy St. Valentine's Day! Today I want to share an easy gift idea for any occasion. The spices I like to use come in these great little glass jars that I was actually throwing away (horrors) when they could easily be made into something else or re-used for spices I buy that come in those annoying plastic bags or the bulk spice area.  I made this gift for myself but you could make it for a guy or a girl.  

Supplies: 

Empty glass jar (cleaned of all paper and glue residue..soak in super hot water and use a razor blade to scrape), Glass Etching cream, old paintbrush, Letter Stickers, tape, gloves.  

Just stick the letters on to say what you want.  I chose to make a little set that says "ODDS & ENDS" not sure what I was going to use them for.  Then tape off a square around the letters and really rub all the sticky areas down with the hard end of your painbrush so that the cream cant leak underneath. Put on your gloves, follow the instructions on the Etching Cream and let it sit. I think my instructions said five minutes but I got better results waiting more like 20 before rinsing it off.  I use a razor blaze (carefully) to get all the stickers and sticky residue off the jars.  Wash with soap and water and dry.  

Now go pick some wildflowers for yourself and don't forget it's okay to be your own Valentine...after all, we can't truly love someone else until we love ourselves first!!

(always feel free to ask questions here if i dont make something clear enough and please send pics of your own if you give this a shot!)

homemade water

Yesterday I made myself some delicious flavored water at home. I have this terrible unscrimpy habit of buying flavored waters because I honestly don't drink plain old water that just tastes like, well...like water. Not only is buying bottled water wasting money every day, but I am not the best of recyclers in the world and some of those empties go into the garbage and on to whatever land-fill there's still room in.  The reason I chose to make peppermint water is because i've been fighting some stomach issues for a long time and over the counter drugs and other things don't help but I remember my mom using peppermint oil for lots of things when I was a kid.  When I walked to the store for groceries yesterday I found a little vial of it on sale and a little mint plant and I was in water making business. I poured some filtered water into the clean jar, added a few little sweetener tablets and about four drops of peppermint oil, tossed in a few clean mint leaves and then put the cap on and shook it up.  I took this concoction to work with me and it was a delicious, nearly free treat about half way through my shift.  I even annoyed everyone with my story about how I made it but they mostly looked at me like I'd been replaced by a crazy old lady that smells like soup.  Oh well, some people just aren't Scrimpy!!

THE SUPPLIES

EMPTY DRESSING JAR: $0
SWEETNER FROM PARIS(gift): $0
PEPPERMINT OIL: $6
MINT PLANT: $3