Elegant Fabric Pumpkins (no sewing required)

I saw an idea on Pinterest that I had try, so I dug through my stash of fabric, twine and ribbon and made these glamorous pumpkins.

Start by stuffing a plastic grocery bag with fabric scraps (when I ran out of scraps I used entire pieces of fabric and old t-shirts). When it's the shape you want, set in the center of the outer fabric and pull all sides up around it. Fasten the top with a rubber band or twist tie. 

To get the indentation shape desired, I used a jute string and wrapped it from the center bottom up to the top, over and back down to the bottom several times spacing the string out for each pumpkin section. 

Finally, I made paper leaves, Curling the edges, then attach a junk bow out of twine, jute, burlap, raffia and ribbon. I always add a bit of sparkle ribbon, and the orange fabric pictured actually has tiny orange sequins all over it. The purple fabric shimmers and has a moon design. If I had a better camera you could see that. I'm working on getting a new one soon. ("Oh hubby, darling, it's my birthday next month")

Elegant for table decor, and the squirrels won't eat them.    

 

Looking Back at Re-Creations, One Year Anniversary

Happy Birthday Blog!

My blog is one year old this month! I am so grateful for all of the opportunities I have had to meet new crafters, teach classes, learn new techniques, create and "re-create".

Here is a look back at a few my favorite projects. You can click on the links below the photos to view the original blog post of each project.

Cards

My Craft Channel Superfan Blog Hop  

Rubber Cafe Inspired Greeting Card

Side view of stand up card

Graphic 45 "Bird Song" Cards

Home Decor

Valentine/Anniversary Wreath

Real Leaves made into Fall Bouquet

Spring Childhood Memory Jar

Graphic 45 & Clear Acrylic Clipboard Display

Scrapbook Layouts and Albums

Graphic 45 + six more Layers Layouts

Using a Floral Paper on a Masculine Page

Tiny Canvas Frame Accordion Album

Made from Scratch Summer Album 

Wearables

Felted Wool Booties

Felted Wool Beads

More UP-Cycled "Ugly Sweater" Beads

Anthropology Inspired diy Fabric Necklace

Just For Fun

T.P. Roll Challenge - Marionette

I hope you enjoyed viewing some of my favorites, and that I have inspired you to try crafting something new this year. 

Follow me to see some  unique Christmas decor, cards, layouts, and d.i.y. gifts to be posted over the next few months. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Trash to Treasure Stool, Magnetic Chalkboard, China Cabinet and Frame.

Three items that were meant for the trash, rescued by me! I'm not sure how this post will look online, as it is the first post that I am trying from the iPad. Doesn't seem like I have as many options as to where to place photos and such, and no spell check! Yikes! Here goes...

Adorable old fashioned step stool. It used to be a weird beige color. A few coats of cherry red spray paint give it a new life in my retro home. 

Yep, someone threw this out on the very day we moved in, and happened to have a truck on hand to pick it up. It used to be very dark brown, doors falling off of hinges. My awesome son helped me sand and stain it to a color that matched the rest of our furniture. He also fixed the hinges. We had to use a very white wood stain called "Limed Oak" before two coats of "Honey Maple".

This sweet magnetic chalkboard was once and old baking pan. 3 coats of chalkboard paint and voila! More cute decor for my retro kitchen. 

Last for this post, I was shopping for a card for a friend (yes, I usually make them, but my craft room was in boxes) and I bought myself this card. Went to thrift store same day and found adorable red frame, added gingham ribbon and glued a pearl brad to the top of a flathead nail. 

This says it all...

Trash to Treasure Bulletin Board

About 3 weeks ago we moved into our new home. (That's why no posts for a while) I knew I was going to have my very own craft room, so when I saw this really large frame from an old mirror on the street, I saw (in my head) a new bulletin board, and I had to pick it up. 

I forgot to take a "before" picture, but grabbed my camera and took this picture before it was completely covered with the first coat of Martha Stewart mint green paint.

The next step was painting a second layer of mint green, then a coat of this turquoise green. Because it was on the un-treated wood, it gave a rough surface that was perfect for chalkboard markers (shown in last photo)  After the two coats were dry, I went back in and added a touch of pink with a very flat, very "dry" brush. Then rounded the corners of cork tiles and glued them on.

 

When finished and hung sideways, it looked so much like a giant tag, I just had to add ribbon and a tassel. 

Looks great in my new craft room! 

Anthropology Inpired DIY Fabric Flower Necklace

I get the Anthropology catalog, I have a store very close to me that I wander around in, I never buy anything.  because it's too pricey for my budget (o.k. I'll give them credit for some good sales).  Wandering around upscale stores, thrift stores, even hardware stores for inspiration and then going home to make it, yeah, I'm that person. In high school I fell in love with some bait in a fishing tackle store. They were adorable little painted wood fish with feathers on them. They became earrings.
This charming little piece of eye candy was made by hot gluing rolled fabric flowers to a felt backing. Hung with a gorgeous piece of seam binding, subtly died with Heidi swaps Color Shine Sprays.

Here I am wearing my new favorite necklace.

Spring Memory Jar

First I would like to say THANK YOU to my friend Elise who asked why I hadn't posted in a while. I had no idea that I had any regular followers because blogger doesn't show me people who signed up to get the blog post as an e-mail?? So, I'm sorry to anyone else! The news is that I have been so busy creating samples for the classes I will be teaching at Michaels this April, and I'm not allowed to post pictures of those.
However, I did make time to do a little home decor for Easter. This project has a sweet memory and story included. The memory jar idea was inspired by an episode of My Craft Channel click here for link to show

Meet "Mr. Peeps".    This adorable little stuffed bird in the jar has magnetic feet, and was given to my son when he was about 5 years old.   He would stick him on something, and who ever found him would move him and stick him on something else.   This game has been going on now for over 14 years!   It's a sweet family memory that I wanted to display for our Easter get together.   "Chickie" is a hopping chick that joined in the game a couple of years after Mr. Peeps' arrival.

To make a memory jar like this, I used a jar that I purchased for a couple of dollars at Goodwill. I added paper grass, made from shredding green paper in a paper shredder. 

I added One artificial flower from the Dollar Store.

I decorated  two standard tags, and  tied them together like a card so that I could write the whole story on the inside of the tags. 

The ribbon is actually white seam binding colored with (click here for link to Heidi Swapp )Color Shone spray (can't get enough of the stuff!) then it's scrunched and dried crinkly. Of course I had to add a bit of bling to the bow as well. 

Thanks again for following me, and leave a comment if you are able.  I'll work on posting more often! -Sheila

Mr. Tweet (T.P. roll recycle challenge)

My Craft Channel posted a "What can you do with toilet paper rolls? " challenge a couple of weeks ago. This is one challenge where my imagination took flight. (Pardon the pun). Anyone remember the Tiki Room song from Disney World? "In the Tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room,  in the t.p. t.p. t.p..." kidding.

So I started with a couple of cardboard toilet rolls, craft paper, wooden spools, scrap trim, 3 in1 glue, hot glue, Heidi Swapp Color Shine, chopsticks, washi tape, baker's twine and some google eyes.












1) Cut 2 strips of paper into 6 inch long, t.p. wide strips.
Cut a third color for the beak, half as wide, but 6 in long.

2) Glue paper to cardboard rolls with 3-in 1 glue or a strong craft glue. Hold paper together with paperclips while waiting to dry.

3) Punch holes in the bird/animal (horse?) where the hanging strings (baker's twine), neck and legs will be. Depending on the weight of your construction, this spot may change, so you can test if it hangs right by using a bit of washi tape.(It is re-positionable).
The length of your marionette's neck and legs is up to you. If you want to make a four legged puppet, you may want them shorter.

4) Cut, fold in, and hot glue the beak in place, then the back of head in place.

5) Color Shine in Fuscia and Gold Lame was used on the tail feathers which are an old cotton tassel, and on the feet which are wooden spools.

6) Hot glue on the tail "feathers" and "plumage, the eyes, and the spool feet. I used small tassels for plumage as well.

7) Put dots of hot glue or 3in1 wherever the strings and hole are to give it a solid hold during active play.

8) Attach the string to two chop sticks by tying in place, then holding in position with washi tape (you will need help from someone for this). The chopsticks in this picture have been wrapped in matching washi tape just for a bit of color.

DON'T MAKE THIS MISTAKE, I forgot to punch holes and put string through before sealing up head and body going back to do it later was kind of messy.

Can't wait till the little guy comes over to play, he will love it!

Glass Paint on Recycled Jelly Jar

Wow! I've been a social media butterfly since I posted last, and it's been a blast! So far, I really enjoy being a My Craft Channel Superfan! I have virtually/digitally connected with 14  wonderful, funny and creative ladies in the group. I'm pinning and posting and tweeting my passion for creative thinking and crafts, and receiving so much inspiration in return.
While internet surfing (a great thing to do in Chicago when it's only 6 degrees outside) I saw a beautiful post on the Plaid Crafts web site and wanted to try it for myself. This is the first attempt using . Gallery Glass Window by Plaid (The makers of Mod Podge).
I was holding on to a couple of really cute jelly jars, and now I know how I want to up-cycle them.
Best thing is this takes about 10 minutes, and dries over night.

1) Plaid's Gallery Glass Paint In Blue Diamond $3.49 ( They have a Martha Stewart version out now, I will try that next)
2) Rinsed out jelly jar
3) Crepe paper trim and blue bird of happiness purchased at Michael's  90% off after Christmas sale (85 cents), fabric flower on hand and hot glue to stick it all onto the lid.
4) Paint Brush

Step One- squeeze paint onto jar in pattern desired. The paint is about the consistency of white school glue and will drip very slowly.
Please check out the blog Something Turquoise  where I was inspired, for directions on covering entire jar.


I wasn't sure how transparent it would dry, and I wanted a little texture, so I thinned it out with a paint brush.
I won't thin it out next time because when dry, it is very sheer and I really like the color.

I did not "cure" the paint in the oven, because I'm not using this for food, and won't be putting in the dishwasher.
The color is just lovely, and even better when on a window ledge in the sun. It's stuffed with tissue for the photo, but I think I'll keep tiny buttons in this sweet little blue jar.

Inside-out Thank You Card/Tag/Bookmarks

I feel so lucky and grateful this year, because I have many students, and many Thank you cards to write. I needed a quick and inexpensive card. I came up with this Inside-out Thank you card because I wrote the message on the envelope, and not the card. The card is a bookmark made from a tag, so it could also be hung from a tree or tacked on a bulletin board.

Inside-out Thank you card/tag/bookmark

Supplies;
Box of 100   4  3/4 inch  x  2  3/8 inch  shipping tags from office max.
A stack of coin envelopes I had from a friend (available at office max)
1 Mr. Huey's color mask
Heidi Swapp Color Shine Spray in Primrose
Ribbon on hand
Border Punch on hand
Thank You  rubber stamp
Powder Puff Chalk Ink in Tahiti
Tape Runner (Xyron 5" if you have one)


First take the wires out of the tags and put them aside for later craft project. Lightly mist the tags on one side with Color Shine. I wish I was a better photographer and you could see the amazing shimmer that these Heidi Swapp mists have, The colors a beautiful! Try a bottle and you will be hooked.
Step two flip tags over and spray through a Mr. Huey's Mask. (It's a plastic sheet with a pattern cut into it and the color does not go where the plastic is laying. See Heidi Swapp's page for technique video)

Find a quote that you like, print and cut to fit tag. I always go to Quote Garden.com
I wish I had that 5" Xyron for all the sticking of quote to tags, but I just used a tape runner.   After tags are very dry, punch edge. I have an Oriental Trading border punch.  Chalk ink the bottom edge of tag. Cut ribbon in 6" strips and add to finish.
Stamp "Thank You" onto the outside of the coin envelopes and write your message.
Tuck tag into the coin envelope. If you want to mail these out, you must put the coin envelope in a standard size mailing envelope. I have a lot of students that I will see on a daily basis and will be handing these out in the coin envelopes.