DIY Jewelry Holder

This jewelry holder is made of baseboard and thumbtacks. That's it.  I love the effect of the gold on white. This is ideal for holding necklaces with a thin chain because of the small space each tack provides for hanging.

First I decided where I would be putting the finished product and cut my baseboard to the necessary length.  I placed a tack every two inches so there was enough space that my necklaces didn't get tangled. I gently hammered each tack in far enough that it was not likely to fall out (and so far it has been sturdy). 

Once the tacks were secure I hung the necklace holder up.  The easiest way to do this is to use double sided picture hanging strips (like Command Strips).

There you go! A simple, inexpensive and cute DIY jewelry holder!

Blogmas Day Fourteen: Upcycled Candle Holder

                                     

                               

Happy blogmas day fourteen! There are only eleven days left until Christmas. I have had a very very busy week with performing in three concerts with the local youth choir (thus the abundance of polyvore posts - there was no time for anything more). With classes wrapping up for me this week I can hardly wait to get in full-on caroling, cookie baking, Christmas wrapping and crafting mode!

Today I wanted to share one of my favourite finds from this years round of Christmas craft fairs and bazaars. This is a jam jar with old hymnal pages mod-podged on it. Twine and a small artificial poinsettia were tied around the neck of the jar.  A little tea light goes inside and lights the jar up beautifully.

                                                 

This cost me a whopping $1.50 at the bazaar and would be simple to recreate.

Old jar + book pages + mod pod = an adorable candle holder and Christmas decoration.

Until next time,

Kyra

I Spy a DIY: Traveling Laundry Bag

Whenever I travel I keep a plastic bag in my suitcase for dirty laundry but I have always wanted something cuter (and quieter than the crinkly plastic)!  I made this  bag without a pattern because drawstring bags are super easy to make.  To add interest to my bag I used three different patterned cottons so I could have a stripe and an appliqué on it.  

Supplies:

White cotton 18x22 inches

Blue Cotton (optional) 

Pink Cotton (optional) 4x42 inches

Wonder-Under or other fuseable interfacing (optional)

Cord, shoelace or other tie for the drawstring.

White thread and bobbin

Iron, ironing board, sewing machine and scissors

The first step is to add the stripe to the side and the bottom of the rectangle of fabric.

Next I pressed the bag in half and placed the applique where I wanted it.  For the applique: iron the letters down, top stitch around the edge of the letters and then zigzag over the edge to prevent fraying. This step is not necessary, I just wanted to add some extra interest to the bag.

I then top stitched around the edge of the stripe before I trimmed the extra fabric. Next, press and pin a large hem to hold the drawstring.  Sew and trim the excess the fabric.  Press and fold the bag in half with right sides together. Pin along the bottom and the side of the bag but NOT THE TOP. Sew along the bottom and side, stopping just before the top hem.  Do not sew over the openings for the drawstring.

                                    

Turn your bag right side out. Clip a safety pin on one end of your cord and feed the safety pin through the top hem of the bag.

Tie the ends of your cord together and BOOM! you have an adorable laundry bag for when you travel!

Good luck, happy sewing and happy travels.

Until next time,
Kyra