Tuffet Tutorial Part Two: Crate Slip Cover

It's finally here - Tuffet Tutorial Part Two! If you missed Part One you can find it here. Now, I must offer a preliminary warning that I  a) am not an experienced seamstress, and  b) just made this up as I went along. In other words this tutorial leaves much room for your improvement but I figured I would share the basics of what I did as a starting point for you to tweak to your liking. 


What You Need:
1 plastic milk crate
fabric for inner lining (  I used a couple of old pillow cases )
fabric for outer cover  ( about 1 1/2 yards)
sewing machine

What You Do:

1) Begin by cutting your pieces from your fabric. For the inner liner you need a 12x12 inch square for the bottom panel and 4 ~ 12 x 10 pieces for the sides. For the outer cover you will need 4 ~ 13 x13 inch squares. *Be sure to add you desired length of seam allowance to these dimensions *

2) Begin pinning and sewing your pieces together. First lay out the 12x12 square and line up the side pieces around the edges so it looks like this.

Pin in place and sew together one edge at a time. Next, pin and sew the sides together so you end up with this.

Set the liner aside and grab the pieces of your outer liner. One at a time, hem the bottom edge of each piece. 

I ironed the hem in place to get a really crisp edge but this is totally optional

Next, Pin the sides and sew them together like this making sure the right sides of the fabric are facing.

3) Now you are ready to sew the inner liner to the outer cover. With the cover piece still turned inside-out, slide the inner liner inside the tube with the right side of the fabric cover facing the right side of the liner. Line up the corners of the cover with the corners of the liner and pin the unfinished edges together. Its kind of hard to explain but here are a couple different views

.

Now here is where you could probably do a better job than I did. Since the width of the outer is 13" and the inner is 12", something needs to be done to make it fit together. I just kind of bunched up the extra fabric in the corners but it would look even better with some pleats. I was just too lazy to take the time to learn how to do it nicely.

Sew the two pieces together (however you decide to do it) and this is what you end up with.

 Just slip it on your crate, pop the cushion on and you are done!

 

 

Tuffet Tutorial Part One : Upholstered Cushion

Sorry to drag this out but I've decided to break the Tuffet Tutorial in to two segments. It's a bit of a lengthy tutorial and I think it will be more manageable for me to write for you to make it this way.

What You Need:

3 large diaper boxes or other cardboard equivalent
Fabric for seat cushion (about 1/2 yard)
1 square of poly foam ( I had a 12x12 square but 16x16 would be better)
1 small bag of poly stuffing
Hot Glue Gun
Scissors

What You Do:
1) Preheat your glue gun
2) Out of your card board box, cut 6 ~ 15" inch squares and 16 ~ 2" squares of cardboard.
Make sure you cut your squares from solid pieces of cardboard that do not have any seams or folds so you have nice sturdy pieces.

3) Set aside one cardboard square and begin stacking the other 5, adhering each layer with a generous amount of hot glue and pressing firmly together until the glue sets ( just a minute or two).

Do the same with the 2" squares, stacking them 4 layers thick to create 4 sets.

4) Out of the fabric you've chosen for the seat cushion, cut a 23x23 inch square.

5) Lay your fabric square out on your work surface and place your square of poly foam in the center. Then spread a  layer of stuffing ( more or less depending on how fluffy you want your cushion. Just remember that it will get smashed down when you pull the fabric tight to upholster) evenly on top of the foam  (and extending past the foam if you used a 12 x12 square like I did). Finally, lay your reinforced layers of cardboard on top of the stuffing.

6) Begin upholstering by squirting a small line of hot glue a couple inches away from the edge of the cardboard. Now grab a section of fabric and, pulling tightly, adhere it to the glue. Hold firmly in place until glue sets. Continue working along the first edge in 2" segments. Once your first edge of fabric is glued down, work the opposite side remembering to pull tightly and evenly on the fabric. Repeat the process for the remaining sides leaving the corners for last.

7) Glue down the corners of the fabric by folding, pleating, and gluing down the fabric little by little. I found that giving the corner a final twist and dab of glue helped to get an extra clean look!

8) Finish by gluing the last 15" cardboard square to the back of the cushion and attaching the 4 ~ 2" squares a couple centimeters in from the corners of the large square to create a little lip that will prevent the seat from sliding around on the crate (very important if it is is going to be used as a toddler seat!).

So there you have it. Easy Peasy Upholstering and you didn't even need a staple gun!

*Part Two of the Tuffet Tutorial can be found here*

Silhouette Tutorial

I've been meaning to post about for days, but being that this is the week of the big move I've been bogged down with loads of packing and cleaning.  I am now officially in Ohio and with our house not yet available and our moving truck still on it's way, I finally have the time to sit down and share this fantastic little project with you. If you are looking for a quick and easy last minute home made Mother's Day gift you are in luck!

What You Need:
Photo of child's profile
Picture Frame
Tracing paper/ scrap paper

Black card stock
White or Cream card stock cut to fit frame
Glue stick
Black calligraphy marker/pen (optional)
Precision scissors
Pencil


What You Do:
1)  On your computer enlarge your photo to the size you want your silhouette. Place the tracing paper over the photo and trace the outline of your child's profile.

2) Cut along the outline of the profile to create a stencil of the silhouette.

3) Place the stencil on the black card stock and trace around with a pencil.

4) Using your precision scissors, cut out traced silhouette.

5) Carefully apply glue to the back of the cutout silhouette and adhere to the white card stock
* smudges of glue on the front of your silhouette can be removed with a slightly dampened cloth before it dries.

6) With your calligraphy pen you can customize the silhouette with your child's name, date, any other decorative markings. Place your silhouette in its frame and you are done!

Cardstock BuntingTutorial

This Tuesday I am sharing yet another project from E's birthday party. This pretty little bunting was one of my favorite decorations because it really pulled the "Winter ONE-derland" theme together.

It was so simple to make and, once again, I had everything I needed on hand! By the way, my original design was much different with fabric instead of paper, ribbon instead of yarn, etc. but my goal for all of my projects was to buy as little as possible so I rummaged through my craft supplies and came up with this. I love the challenge of using only what I have - I think it boosts my creativity and gives my projects character!

What You Need:
4-5 12x12 sheets of pretty card stock that fits your color scheme ( I chose a variety of prints in light pink and light blue)
12x12 sheet card stock in contrasting color ( for letters)
white printer paper
craft glue
1 1/2 inch circle punch
 hole punch
yarn
scissors
ruler
pencil

What You Do:
1) Create a triangle template for your bunting on a spare piece of card stock. To make a perfect triangle, draw a line measuring 5 inches long. At the halfway point on that line (2 1/2 ") draw a perpendicular line that measures 5 1/2 ".  Draw diagonal lines connecting the points to create your perfect sized triangle. Make sense?  (sorry for the lack of pictures)
2) Cut out your template and, using a pencil, trace on the card stock to create enough triangles for each letter - I needed 18. Cut them out and set aside
3) To make the white circles, I used my 1 1/2 inch circle punch on scraps of computer paper . If you don't have a circle punch you could trace around the bottom of a cup and cut them out. These go in between each letter so I only needed 15.
4) Next, make the letters. I traced around E's magnet letters (be sure to trace them backwards) but you could use a stencil or create a template by printing your message in a large pretty font on the computer and cutting them out to trace on the card stock.
5) Once your letters are cut out, glue them in the center of each triangle and press until set. Lay aside to dry.
6) When all of your pieces are dry, use your hole punch to make holes in either side of your triangles along the top edge and on either side of the circles along the mid-line.
7) Arrange your letters in the correct order and then string the triangles onto the yarn with circles in between.
8) Hang for all to see and enjoy!!!

Monogram Tissue Wreath Tutorial

With only 4 days until the big party I have been busy planning, crafting, and checking items off my crazy-long To-Do List. One of the projects I've been working on is this pretty little sign that will welcome guests into our Winter One-derland on the big day. 

What You Need:

a large piece of card board

10 sheets tissue paper in your color(s) of choice

 scissors

 hot glue

What You Do:

1) sketch letter or shape onto cardboard and cut it out.

2) Cut tissue paper into squares that are roughly 3x3 ( no need to be exact here).

3) Holding one of the squares in your palm, pinch it in the center, gather, and twist. It should look something like this:

 

4) After twisting all of your tissue, begin gluing them onto your letter. Make sure they are close together so there are no gaps. Continue until the entire letter is covered.

 

Before you know it you will end up with this:

And there you have it, a beautiful party decoration that will WOW your guests before they even enter the house!

Tissue Paper Pom Pom Tutorial

Over the past year I have absolutely fallen in love with tutorials. It all began about a year ago when my nesting instinct suddenly kicked in and I found my self obsessively googling the web in search for some help with the last minute laundry list of nursery projects I decided must be done before E arrived. And the rest is history...

Because I have so enjoyed all sorts of tutorial that others have posted ( ranging from home made cloth diapers to custom Photoshop templates) I have decided to give back by sharing some of my own. For my first stab at this I am going to keep it simple with the Tissue Paper Pom Poms I am making for E's birthday party. Lets get started:

What You Need:
10 sheets of tissue paper (any color)
floral wire ( I actually used jewelry wire because I had some on hand )
scissors
string

What You Do:
1) Lay your stack of tissue paper out in front of you portrait style and accordion fold the paper, creasing as you go.

2) Locate the center of your folded tissue and secure with the wire.

3) Using your scissors, round of both ends of  the tissue.

4) Tie a string to the wire for hanging purposes later

5) Fan out the tissue paper

6) Begin separating the layers of tissue by gently pulling up towards the center. Once all the layers are pulled apart, spread them evenly to create a nice round pom pom.

 

And there you have it - a whimsical, low cost, decoration!