DIY IKAT rug!

Would you believe me if I told you I made the rug in the picture, and it only took about two hours? I am in LOVE! It is my new favorite thing.

I love it from every angle!

 I feel like it pulls the whole room together!

Update: To see me demo live on Studio 5, click HERE.

 I have been wanting a rug for my formal living room for quite a while now, and have been crazy about the ikat (pronounced, ee-kot) pattern. These rugs are all over the place, but have a very lofty price tag.

This Martha Stewart rug from gluefier is $468.

Ikat rugs in Pottery Barn start at $999.

The way I feel about it is; Ikat is very trendy and I love it now, but don't want to make an investment in something that I may not be crazy about two years down the road. I saw a tutorial online about how to make a rug, using fabric, so I thought I would give it a try. The tutorial can be found here.

You will need:

Upholstery Weight Fabric

I got mine at
warehousefabricsinc.com 

They have so many lovely fabrics to choose from, and have a terrific selection of ikat's (if you are a little obsessed, like I am). I highly recommend them for any project you have in mind, that involves fabric!

This is what I chose:

It's called Iskander Lime, and it is fabulous! I ordered 2 yards, equaling $32. Make sure you get at least a medium weight upholstery fabric. I was also sure to use a fabric with a large repeat. This will give your rug a more high end feel.

You will also need three products from
 Home Depot
(I like the Centerville, UT store. They are so friendly and helpful!):

Painter's Drop Cloth $10.98

5ft x 8ft Rug Gripper $22.97

Spray Adhesive $5.77

So, the whole thing costs around $72. I used thread I already had to sew the edges, but you may need to factor the cost of thread in there as well.

Let's get started on the tutorial!

The first thing you need to do is iron. I spent nearly an hour on this part! You will want the fabric to be as smooth as it can be. I left it on my railing while I prepped everything.

Lay the rug gripper out on a flat clean surface.

Lay the painter's canvas on top of the gripper.

Lay the fabric on top of the canvas. I laid mine so the salvage edge barely hung over the canvas, so that I could turn and sew it to finish the edges.

It should look like this.

Cut the excess around the fabric.

Two of the sides will look like this.

You will need to fold the fabric in half, and cut the base in enough that the  edges of the upholstery fabric will wrap nicely around the base when it's time to sew the edges to finish the project.

 Now it's time to start spraying the adhesive on. Fold your fabric in half, and start spraying a 6 inch section near the folded edge. Spray on the canvas. Don't spray too much. Use your hand to smooth out the fabric layers.

 Work your way down, constantly smoothing from the center to the outer edges.

 After you have finished the first layer, you can do the same for the next layer, but spray on the canvas instead of the gripper. My gripper moved a bit with the smoothing, and probably because of the slant of my driveway.

 Next, you get to turn the edges. The tutorial I read before recommended pinning, but I didn't actually need to, because of the spray adhesive making it stick on it's own!

 I had a hard time figuring out how to sew the edges, because of the scale and weight of the rug. I ended up rolling the rug, and setting the rolled end on the chairs next to me, and in my lap. I am not going to lie. It was hard to push it through the machine, because of the gripper. I did break one needle on a corner.

 Next time, I would sew it with the fabric against the table instead of the gripper, because it runs much more smoothly through the machine. I sewed an extra line of stitching around the edge.

I wouldn't recommend this rug for high pile carpets. I think it would do best on hard floors, like wood, tile or laminate, and it works well for low pile carpet.

Now for the fun part!!!

Here's how it looks in my house!!! What do you think?

 I love how it goes with my chairs!!!

I love everything about it!!!

It makes the whole room!

See that lamp? I am going to tell you all about it soon!  Also, I will be sharing this on Studio 5 on Wednesday. Tune in for a live demo. Our fabulous friends at Warehouse Fabrics Inc.  have a special for Studio 5 viewers that I will tell you about on air. You won't want to miss it!

Be sure and come back!

Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa

DIY First Aid Kit / Travel Kit Tutorial {Reusable Shopping Bag - part 2}

DIY FIRST AID KIT

You can make between 7 and 9 first aid kits for $1, plus the cost of the zip lock bags. I am about to show you how...

You will need:

1 large reusable shopping bag - I got mine at TJ Maxx.
Zip lock sandwich bags, or whatever size bags you want. I used standard sandwich size, and small bags found in the jewelry section of Hobby Lobby.



This is another super easy project!!! You will be so proud of yourself when you are finished.

Step 1:

Cut you bag apart as pictured below. You might want to leave the finished edges on the side pieces, as pictured below. I did it for one and not the other, and prefer having the finished edge.

See, when they are folded up, they look even better with the piping around the edge.



Step 2:

Lay whatever bag you are using over your re-usable shopping bag, and cut strips. If you don't mind the bags hanging over the sides of the re-usable shopping bag, you will be able to get 9 out of one bag, but if you prefer they be covered, you will be able to get 7. You will be able to get 4 to 6 kits (depending on the inside bag size) from the front and back, 2 from the sides, and 1 from the bottom.

Step 3:

Cut the remaining pieces into strips that are the same width as the kit.

Fold in thirds if you want to have no exposed edges. If you are okay with exposed edges, just cut a piece in the size you want.

Step 4:

Lay your bags so that their bottoms overlap, and leave enough room on top that the flap will be able to be folded over after it is finished. I prefer using the finished edge, or top of the shopping bag for the flap. It will give a more finished look.

Place the strip you folded over the overlapping bags.

Pin in place. The bags have a tendency to move a bit. You might have to adjust them even as you sew.

Step 5:

Sew everything in place in the shape of a rectangle.

Step 6:

Place two (or desired amount) of self-adhesive Velcro circles on the inside flap, and outside cover, wherever you think they need to be. You shouldn't need to sew these. They are very sticky.

Fill your pack with whatever you want. This is an option we are looking at for Girls Camp First Aid Kits. I am thinking if the girls don't feel they need a first aid kit after the fact, they can use them for a travel bag.

Remember, my giveaway for the apron I shared on Studio 5 yesterday, ends today at 6pm. You can enter HERE.



You might also want to look at:

10 minute Apron - Reusable Bag
First Aid Kit - Reusable Bag
Reusable Lunch Set - Reusable Bag
Party Set - Reusable Bag
$.25 Wallet - Reusable Bag
DIY Jewelry Organizer - Reusable Bag
Pillow Sham - Reusable Bag



Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa

All about GINGHAM, and The Littles...

I admit it... I have had a slight obsession with gingham lately... gingham ribbon, gingham fabric, gingham paper... you name it, I am drawn to it. Maybe it reminds me of my childhood? I learned how to cross stitch on gingham.

I have another obsession with using real linens at meal time. Forget about the paper stuff. I love cloth napkins, and if I can't find what I am looking for, I don't mind making them.

Part of my gingham obsession may have to do with the fun things I have found for a Wizard of Oz themed party. If you follow me on pinterest, you may have noticed my, Wizard of Oz, pins. If not, you can check out my board here.

I found this blue gingham fabric at Wal-mart for $1.50 per yard. So, of course, I bought all they had! I was home yesterday with a sick daughter, who was glued to Net Flix. She watched The Littles all day! I decided to join her, and make some napkins with my gingham.

This is how they turned out.

I put lace on only one side, because two sides is too much time and money, and no one really sees it anyway.

I like them folded this way... I think it is unexpected.

My daughter likes them this way, which is also cute. I may use them for an upcoming party for my son, and not even have the lace showing! That would be more boyish - right?

A little about, The Littles... I used to LOVE that show! I watched it every Saturday morning. I was convinced that little people lived in the walls of my bedroom. I think my kids now think The Littles live here. That's fine with me ;)

Back to the napkins. I am loving the flat lace that I got 1/2 off at Michael's.

(These are the same napkin, just folded different.)

They turned out SO cute... I think I will add them to my Pinterest board. I have never pinned anything from my blog before. There's a first time for everything - right?
Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa

Giveaway Winner Announced & Halloween Silhouette Pillow Tutorial!!!

First Things First...

The winner of the
9 Day Halloween Advent Calendar is:
Thank you for all your entries! I feel so loved :)
Charon, who said: I am a huge studio 5 fan. I had a miracle baby at 44 after being told I would never have children. So I am getting started late at all of this crafting for children. I absolutely love your advent calendar. I hope I win. I have enjoyed reading your blog and will be a frequent visitor to your site. I love creative people!!!

Charon, please e-mail me risabaker@gmail.com, so I can get your contact info, and get the calendar sent to you as soon as possible!

Second Things Second...

Spooking up my porch for Halloween is a bit of a process. I wanted to share one aspect of it with you today - my pillows.

When I saw this * NOTE - I just got the updated infor from the seller, and the image is available at her etsy store. Just click the green "this"* witch silhouette on etsy, I knew I had to use it! So, as not to offend anyone, I have to tell you that I paid for it. I didn't include that info in the original post, but it seems people are worried I didn't. It was $3.50ish, maybe $3.49. I purchased it on August 29, 2010. I would not be advertising the image if I didn't pay for it. I thought it would be nice to send business to the etsy store where I purchased the silhouette. Anyway, that said... I have been wanting to make cute covers for my porch pillows for Halloween for a while. Fun fabric and a cute Halloween silhouette...? The perfect combination! Here is the process. I have added the "Trick Or Treat" wording (which I created myself) in printable form at the bottom for you!!!



***Another update***

After a number of questions about it, I thought I better post this... I got the fabric at JoAnne's. It is a thicker decorator type fabric, but it was regularly I think $10 a yard. I think I got it for $6 or $7. On the side, it says "Original Copyright Design by Mill Creek Fabrics." I live in Utah, and got it at the Centerville store towards the back. Hope that helps :) So, the lady that won the calendar also made the pillows, and gave the suggestion of putting buttons on the pillow to make the silhouette interchangeable for the different holidays. I thought that was SO SMART (You could also use velcro or snaps so you couldn't see anything!) She said she had already found a fun Christmas silhouette. Charon... you're brilliant! Thanks for the suggestion!

What you'll need:

1) Iron Transfer Paper (I used Avery Light Fabric Transfers 81/2X11)
2) Fabric to transfer the image onto
3) Silhouette of your choice (There are tons out there from esty, and free ones on google images)
4) Pillow Fabric
5) 9X12 sheet of white felt to go behind the image if the fabric is sheer
6) Felt for the back
7) Thread, Scissors, Iron

Steps:

1) Print the image on the transfer paper, and iron to fabric, as per directions on the label.

2) Lay the liner felt behind the image. I did this so the image fabric would look dimensional. You could iron the image onto thicker fabric, fray the edges, and just sew it to the top fabric if you want a more rustic look.


3) Fold in sides.

3) Pin and top stitch onto front of pillow fabric.



4) Envelope sew the pieces of felt onto the back. I used felt so I wouldn't have to finish any edges. To make an envelope for the back, cut two pieces the same width as the front of the pillow, and half the length plus two inches (so they will overlap horizontally in back). Attach one at a time, and sew in place. Pieces will overlap. This is the best (and easiest) way to make a pillow ever!!!



5) Trim all the excess thread and turn right side out. See how the edges are raw, but won't fray? Love it!


6) Now you have it... the perfect Halloween Pillow for any decor!!!

Added bonus... I made this printable, and thought you might like to use it as well. The writing is already backwards to be used for iron transfer paper. Please feel free to use it, and tell your friends about it!

What else is coming this week...?

A Halloween Banner
That is different from any you have seen before
for my
LAUNDRY ROOM!!!
(A little over the top, I know. But, you might want one after you see it!!!)

Wishing you a Happy and Creative Day!


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