How to Make an Easy Button Ring

I really wanted to make a ring last night, but I don't own a mandrel. So I went on line to order one one, and it was going to take two days for shipping! TWO! When I have a craft-spiration I can not wait two days... I mean really? Art waits for no one. So with a ring in one hand I started on a mission around my home, slipping the ring on random mandrel shaped items. Like the prince with Cinderella's glass slipper, I eventually found the candle stick to slip the ring on. Then it was no longer just a candle stick but a beautiful  mandrel.It was a perfect fit. Now I know just how Cinderella felt.

This is what I used to make this easy wire wrapped button ring. I used is 22 gauge, you can use any size you are comfortable working with.

Step 1
Slide your ring on to the tapered candle and make a mark. Later this mark will work as a guide for sizing your new ring. When sliding the ring on to the candle it is best to choose a ring that is one size larger than you want to make you new ring. In this wire wrapping process you will loose about 1/2 to 1 whole ring size. However if you don't have a ring that is one size larger, I will show you a trick so your ring will still work out. 

Step 2
With your wire cutters, cut a length of wire. I used about 30 inches of 22 gauge wire. I am making a size 5 ring. This length of the wire you cut will depend on how large of a ring you make and the gauge of wire you are working with.

Step 3 
Place the center of your cut wire against the back of the candle then wrap the wire twice around the candle(more times if you want a thicker ring) Leaving two even lengths of wire on both sides of the candle. 

Note: If you made your mark on the candle with a ring that fits the way you want the new ring to fit then you will do this step slightly above the mark. If you used a ring the next size up then you will work right on the mark.

Step 4

Bring the two ends of the wire together on top of the ring. Pinch them together. 

 Note: Note photographed (This is also a good time to use your pliers to tighten the wires on the candle so they are close and tight to each other._

Step 5
Slide the two wire tails through the shank of the button. Then slide the button all the way down to the base of the candle. Hold the button firmly down.

Step 6
Wrap the two tails around the back of the candle one more time. 
 I would again use your pliers to gather the all the wires and keep them as tight as I can.(not photographed)

Step 7

Pull one end of the wire out of your way so you can work with latter. Next start working the available end of wire( it should be on "top") wrap this wire around the buttons shank to cover it. Keep wrapping until you have the whole shank covered. 

Note: You can work this on or of the candle. 

Step 8 

Use the end of wire that was pulled to the side. Also know as the only wire that is left to work with..Start wire wrapping it around the ring. Wrap the wire all the way around until you get back to the top of the ring. Then wrap over the little end that remains of the other piece of wire that you used to cover the shank. When you are done if any ends of your wire are in a position that it will snag on things then you can file it down.

down a little.

That is it! You are all done and your ring should look amazing! This is how mine looks and I love it!

See how cute it is on my hand? Now you know why I love it and I am making 10 more.

RING RING RING

Sorry for all the ring pictures, I hope you liked this tutorial. please ask me any questions you have, I will get back to you.  I love comments so even if you just want to say hi, that is ok too.

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Wow us Wednesday the diy dreamer

Display Your New Born Hat, On A Pillow?

A unique way to display and use your babies new born hats and burp cloths.  Make a pillow!

I got these burp cloths when I was pregnant.  They were so cute and soft I could not resist.  That was before I knew what was really needed in burp cloths and promptly switched to cloth diapers for a burp cloth like all the other Mom's out there.  I just loved these little ones that I had thought, because they are so cute and soft.  I looked at them trying to figure out what I could make with them and thought, PILLOW?!

Ok here we go

What you need

Filling(Often find good deals at thrift stores)
Two sided burp cloth
Needle
Thread
Seam Ripper


Step 1

Get to seam ripping, make a small hole to put your filling in.  I had to remove a tag so I used the spot that the tag was located.

Step 2

Stuff your soon to be pillow, fill it up very well so it wont flatten out when your baby lays on it.
Step 3

Pin the little hole and stitch it closed with a needle and thread
TIP
A little liquid stitch will help prevent the old thread from unraveling, JUST A DAB!

You could use the glue to close the pillow if you are especially lazy

Step 4
This step is optional in your pillow making process.

Attach your cute matching New Born hat to what ever side of your pillow you like.  I could not decide, so I pined it to both sides and looked and thought and looked and thought.  I chose the blue side and I did not have a thread that I liked so I used a few stitches on the bottom layer of the hat for the photos.  If I had the correct thread I would use a Whipstitch.

And that is it! A super easy way to make a pillow and show of a baby hat of yours!  Hope you enjoyed this tutorial

And the other side...

How to paint suede shoes, an easy shoe Refashion

How to paint suede shoes, an easy shoe Refashion

Shoe refashion

Well...this is my before and after photo, they look even worse than I remember! These Sued flats were in serious need of a shoe redo!  A little fun fact about me, shoes was my first word.  So as you can imagine these old nine west's needed a face lift!  

I had some suede leather shoes and suede is fun to paint!

Step 1
Paint the shoes, let dry (fabric, acrylic or spray paint will all work, test a section on your specific fabric)
*Tip When painting suede, I have learned that it works best if you use a small amount of paint and work it into the leather.  Instead of "on top" of the leather.
Step 2
Add shine with Gloss Mod Podge to the trim and let that dry.

 I painted the shoes then after they dry I added a thick layer of Mod Podge

TA-DASo what do you think of my easy peasy how to paint refashion?

This is a nice simple easy shoe refashion.  I like it... I wanted to LOVE it

You could stop here and be done. I seriously considered it. So you can do that if you want, but I wanted to show you how with a few more easy steps you can take this easy shoe redo one step further.  

Ready? Alright part two of the easy shoe refashion

Step 3
Make an embeliment for your updated shoes.
I think the picture shows how best but I will try and describe how to make the easy shoe embellishment.

Use a long head pin, load it up with ribbon. (I used this double ruffled ribbon) When you work your way half way through, loading the headpin(in a sewing fashion) add a button.  Then continue to load the ribbon on to the head pin.

When your all done cut the Ribbon. form a circle out of your ribbon, fold the wire as shown in the photo and attach to the shoe as shown in the photo!

And your done! TA-DA then you have a pair of flats that can be worn two different ways.

This is how the flats will look with the embellishment attached, but if you want to go more simple...

Then you can just pull of the ribbon!Go simple. So this is like two new shoes in one!

So what do you think? I love this refashion, I think it worked out so good! Even my boyfriend liked them, well he didn't say that.  I could tell because he usually says "that looks good too" or "both ways are fine, I don't CARE!" when I ask him about my refashions.  But when he saw these (I didn't even ask) But today he asked, "How did you paint those?" "Is that going to be your post today?" "I never even knew that they made fabric paint!"

So if baby daddy is excited about the refashion, then well you should be too.  ;)  I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial about how to paint suede shoes and refashion them into something fabulous.

Please let me know your thought.

Kasey

A fix for small shirt sleeves

Day 3

This is probably the fastest refashion I have ever done.  I guess it is more of a update than a refashion.  Some how all these easy refashions make me feel like I am not realy trying. Like since my refashions are no -sew then they don't count.  I am luck that this one was fast and easy because I had to battle with my computer all day.  I finely just deleted firefox and moved to Google Chrome, so far so good.  Firefox was getting worse and worse overtime I updated it.

Ok moving on to my refashion.

I bought this shirt on 99cent day at The Salvation Army. I got it because love this color, I am so glad its back "on"!

Love the color

 However the sleeves on this shirt are way to small for me.  See how they dig in and are very unflatering!

Uncomfy to say the least

So I just hacked the sleeves off!

Now I have a halter top for the summer time

I did not leave enough extra to sew the edge and this type of fabric will frey.  So I went for my very fave...stitch witchery.  To fix up the arm holes.

So what do you think?  I like it, I just don't know.  I think it still needs a little something.  I feel a little to "mom" in this, well see.  Maybe with the vest I will feel good!


Ok I am linking this up to a few partys!
http://simplydesigning.blogspot.com/

Easy Chevron Cuff Bracelet, How To

 Easy Chevron Cuff Bracelet, how to make one quick! Step by step  tutorial

I had this fabulous jacket laying around. What do you think?  It was a gift back in...a long time ago

This was actually from wet Seal

 I did not want the leather to wind up in a landfill so I have dectied to refashion it!  I want to make as much as I can out of this jacket.  Today's refashion is how to make an easy chevron ombre cuff  bracelet.  I cut it up!

            I always like to show a quick Before and After before I get to the tutorial

Step 1
I cut it up!
Seriously be as careful as you can, you want to save as much of the leather as you can. You never know what you can make with a little scrap.

Photos 1-4 ,  my deconstructing this old Wet Seal jacket that will so be a Ombre Chevron cuff Bracelet for your wardrobe

Step 2
find the best piece for you to work with.  This all depends on your preference in cuff bracelet size

If you are a visual learner then you will see from this collage that I found a section of leather and trimmed it off 

If you prefer to read
I will walk you thorugh the photos above
1, I found a pocket
2. Opened it up and saw that the inside trim was perfect sizes and shape for my soon to be chevron cuff bracelet
3. tried the leather piece away very carefully.
4.The I had a nice piece of leather to work with, that was once the inside of a jacket.


Step3
This is how I got it into the shape needed and added a backing

visual learners have you way with my photos

Steps to adding the backing
1. Cut the strip of leather as straight as you can, leave it a bit larger than you would like(leather shrinks with heat, we will be using heat, I am a LAZY crafter)
2. Cut some fabric that will be your lining(I used part of some linen pants I cut up years ago)
3. Now make a sandwich.  Leather, Iron on fusing, top it of with your lining.
not shown in the photos next you will iron it all together according to the directions on you fusing(or stitch witchery).
4. then trim it all up, making it pretty!

Step 4
Now add the chevrons with tape (I suggest painters tap,I was out...donations are welcome)

Tip: Make a guide line down the center, this will help keep the tape centered.  You can do this by making a slight indention 

How to add the tape
1. Make a right angle with two pieces of tape
2.Line up all your right angle to make things easier
3.place them all down very carefully, stay as lined up and centered as you can(do not press them        down to firm yet)
4. Now remove every other piece of tape, like in photo 4.  Then pres the remaining tape down very well, paying extra attention to the edges.  This way your paint will not leak under the tape and ruin your whole project leading you to cry.

Step 5
How to add the paint.

Tip: add the pain in an up and down tapping motion. This will help paint leaking under the tap, leading to crying.(photo1)

 Steps to add the paint
This is the part in the process that you need to use your own creativity.  I will describe how I added the paint.
1. Add a strip of the dark color, it is best to use a up and down tapping motion.
  1.1 Next mix some white and paint a middle line of with the same up and down tapping motion.
  1.2 Lats use the white and add very little of the darker color, make a third line. of the lightest color.
2. Photo two is how mine looked.  You may choose to use more or less paint depending on how dark you want it to be.  Less paint will make a less dramatic effect.
3. After letting the pain soak into the leather for a few moments.  Then use a dry sponge to absorb the extra paint.
4. After letting that paint dry a touch more, VERY carefully remove the tape.

Step 6
Finish it up!

Let it dry over night

This is how I finished mine up, I left mine kinda long so I could use it on my wrist or ankle!

1. this is how mine looked in the morning when I got up.
2. You have a lot of options on how to finish the bracelet, I have shown a few in photo 2
3. I chose to fold a leather strip under each side and then sew it down
4. TA-Da, that is how mine turned out! What do you think?

So what do you think of my bracelet? I hope you like it and will give it a try. Please leave a comment letting me know your thoughts.  If you have any questions please email me and I will do my best to help you out.

This tutorial was featured over at

Linked up at

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http://whipperberry.com/2012/06/friday-flair-link-party-23.html