summer fun

This past week was nice and relaxing.  Even though it was 90-100 degrees and very humid, it was perfect in my book (I'd take that over snow any day)

Hubby & I were able to enjoy a few more days out at the lake.  Lots of fishing and boating.

Then, I headed straight for a "roomie reunion" camping trip with my friend from college.

The next couple of weeks will also be full of friends and family as we have two weddings coming up!

In between all of the excitement, I'm figuring out my paperwork to go back to school, and yes, I am still sewing, A LOT!  (I just can't post pictures since I've been sewing gifts that haven't been given yet :)  )

Mölkky lawn game

A couple of weeks ago, my Dad and I made a Mölkky game. 

I googled the game regulations to know what dimensions to cut the pieces.  The lengths were all accurate, but I couldn't find a dowel with a large enough diameter, so I ended up using a 2" dowel instead (this seems to be a common problem).

Martha Stewart has a nice tutorial for making the game.  The measurements we used were slightly different than hers, and instead of painting the numbers on the dowels, I used a wood burner.

Cutting the pieces

 Sanding the pieces

Here's the complete set!

Before I could even wonder how I'd store or carry this game... my Mom pulled a zippered cloth bag from her collection and the game fits great in it.

Beware, this game is VERY addicting!

Refashioned t-shirt (REVERSIBLE & multi-look)

Hubby & I just went through our house and got rid of TONS of old clothes and other stuff.  Knowing my love for refashioning t-shirts, Hubby pulled a handful of old t's aside for me :)

I think this shirt turned out kind of fun, because it is REVERSIBLE and since it has a ribbon for straps, it can be tied several different ways, giving slightly different looks.

Here's the BEFORE:

The shirt was a bit roomy for me to say the least.  Oh, and I'm not sure I should admit this... but there were holes torn in the armpits of it (that probably explains my slightly creeped out face in this picture).

Anyways, here's how I refashioned this shirt:

1) Lay the shirt flat, and place a shirt that fits you well on top of it.  

2) Using the shirt that fits as a guide, cut the t-shirt (that's being refashioned) width to size. 

*Remember to add enough room for seam allowances*

*If the guide shirt has more or less stretch than the shirt you're refashioning, add/reduce your measurements as well*

3) Cut notches for armholes

4) On one side of the shirt (doesn't matter if it's the front or back piece, since it's reversible) cut a v neck (leaving 3-4 inches for each shoulder)

5) If you want to get rid of the logo  sew the pieces opposite of normal (making the previous "right side" of the fabric the new "wrong side"  the logo should be on the inside of the shirt in the end)

6) Turn the fabric at the armhole under and stitch a seam (remember, to make sure you're sewing on the proper side of the fabric if you're hiding a logo)

7) Repeat step 6 with the "v" shape cut out of one piece

8) Sew sides of shirt together, under the arm holes

9) Sew casings on the top edges of each piece (the straight top edge on the uncut side, and each of the 2 shoulder pieces on the side with the v cut)

10) Thread a long ribbon through the casings and tie it together.  There are tons of ways to thread and tie the straps, here are just a few examples:

Straight front with ribbon threaded twice

Straight front with ribbon threaded once

V-neck in front with bows tied on each shoulder

V-neck in front with ribbon threaded across and tied on one side

V cut out in back with simple bow

V cut out in back with ribbon threaded through and tied in front

Straight back with ribbon tied in front

There are lots of other ways to wear the shirt, or instead of ribbon it can have a more nautical look if you tie thin rope as the straps.

back from vacation

Hubby & I are settling back in after a trip to Florida to see his Grandpa.  Visiting with him is always fun.  We looked through old family photo albums and heard a lot of great stories.  Hubby & I love genealogy so it was really neat to put a face and story with a name :)

We also picked blueberries and went on a river float.  Then Hubby & I went deep sea fishing, it was a pretty rough day to be out on the water!  We spent some time at the beach but didn't snorkel this time because the water was too rough.

Now that the fun is over, it's back to yard work and home organization for me haha.

DIY canvas wall art

Don't forget to enter the MyMemories Suite digital scrap booking software GIVEAWAY by Tuesday June 19th 11:59pm central time!

After painting tons of walls and shuffling decor in our house lately, it was time for some new wall art.  I didn't want anything fancy and didn't want to spend much.  So, hubby hesitantly went along with my idea to paint something for the wall.

I was totally into the idea of a bold color with a silhouette of something, and since we were in the middle of taking SCUBA classes at the time I had sharks on my mind.  Here's what came of my super inexpensive DIY canvas art project.

To be honest, I loved the look when I finished painting it... but after its been on the wall for awhile I'm thinking about painting something else :)  Decisions, decisions, lol.


Here's how I transferred my design onto the canvas:

1) Paint the background color on the canvas (on all 3)

 2)  Draw your image on paper (Since my middle canvas was placed vertical and the outer 2 were smaller, and horizontal, I taped computer paper together in that fashion)

3) Cut out your design and determine which parts of it will be on each canvas

4) Trace it on the canvas (I used a pencil) and paint the inside of the image black (take care to make sure that the image lines up from canvas to canvas)

After hanging this on the wall the image didn't line up just right between pieces.  Instead of pounding more nails in the wall, I just got out the black paint and made some adjustments :)

I actually enlarged the drawing I made when transferring it to the canvas, so it looks a little different than the original paper cutout.