3D Calendar

 I had a lot of fun with this project. 
 Nothing too perfect but perfectly timed.

I was asked TO create a 3D Advent Calendar. 
The request was accompanied with this deadline plea...
"Be really good to get that by the weekend Mom. Thanks. I Love You"

24 little boxes into which he could put as many little presents 
 I smiled at the romance of such a thoughtful gift idea.  I grinned happily at the fact that this great guy is my Son. I giggled nervously as I gazed into the future.
  I proceeded with joy and anticipation.
 I enjoy the art of crafting and the challenge of producing the same for a song!

I used a total of 3 different cardboard boxes to complete the 3D Advent calendar project.
 The strongest box with the thickest cardboard was used as the base box. I used the flaps from the other boxes to create the dividers and strips from the sides of the cardboard boxes to create the lids.
The project was completed in several 3 hour time slots. 

Craft an Advent Calendar

  The finished box is  
  approx.10 x16 inches
 
 There are 24 little gift boxes.
 The Advent Calendar is approx 4 inches deep.

3D Advent Calendar

 I found the perfect size cardboard box for the base of this project. 

I cut off the top of the box and spray painted the base with a black spray. 
After drying I used a hot glue gun to attach the wide ribbon to the lower outside of the cardboard box. 
The ribbon folds over and is also glued onto the bottom.


 Because of the time restraints on this request, I was somewhat limited to the amount of "finishing" that could/would  be accomplished on the advent calendar. Had I more time, I would have taken the time to finish the top edge of each little box with possibly, glitter glue, a thin ribbon hot glued onto the top, a bead of metallic fabric paint?? 
Additionally I would have also spray painted the inside of the little gift box. Possibly making each a different color of each? 

  I cut 3 strips of cardboard from the side of several sturdy boxes 
  each 4 inches deep x 16 inches long.
Use a hot glue gun to attach the separator strips to the sides and the bottom of the base box. I glued the 3 strips evenly apart in the base creating 4 even width spaces 16 inches long.. 

I varied the size of the boxes by staggering the strips 
that I then glued within each16 inch length. 

I  needed to have 24 boxes so
I created 4 boxes across and six boxes down.

Make it. Lillian the Domestic Engineer Blog

The inside of the box could be spray
painted at this point.

Pipe cleaners are used to create a ledge for each lid to sit down and on to.
Preform the pipe cleaner for each gift box and affix using a strip of hot glue.
I staggered the lid depths by gluing the pipe cleaner lower into some of the gift boxes. Others were glued at the very top rim of the box creating gift boxes deep enough to hold the 3 inch plastic bottle with lid that was inserted into the box below.

Too Cute Cardboard

    





















    Lid Top Lifters
   Be creative. 
  Select any variety of colors and sizes for your lid toppers.
  Do ensure that the item used is durable enough to pull the lid from the box 
  and that you use sufficient hot glue to attach the lid lifters to the cardboard lid.... buttons, balls, bells, stones??
  As it is, if this box was to be upset the lids may come off and the gifts could fall out. 
   A wee dab of white glue could be tipped down onto two sides of the pipe cleaner
   after the gifts have been inserted into their respective gift box 
   and once you are ready to seal the calendar.

Craft an Advent Calendar

A cardboard lid could be made to fit over the entire box
and a large ribbon tied around the outside. 
Imagine the delight of opening a present that then offers 24 little gifts.

This would be a lovely new Mommy gift. Taking it day by day!
Soothers, teethers, breast pads, socks, earrings, bibs, affirmations.......
 
 Great memory gift for any senior. How Sweet it was. Pictures and candy are great routes to memories
. Correlate the number of boxes with the days of the month and make marking every day memorable for the recipient!

We are only limited by our imagination. If you can dream it you can do it.
Happy Crafting!

More GREAT CRAFTING IDEAS HERE

MOM

MOM

                               Maid  Of  Miracles.
                                                               Master Of  Much
                                                               
                                                              

The comforts of home and the joy of crafting

 

The comforts of home and the joys of crafting.

Comforts of home

No Spring has not quite yet sprung
 but my spring cleaning has now been done.
I confess, I am becoming a little undone.

I am ready for warmer weather and a bit more Sun.
I am anxious to get outside to get my garden going.


I feel all revved up and ready to go but tomorrows forecast now calls for snow!

It was 12 degree above yesterday. A beautiful  close to a spring like week.

It is however only the end of February. Winter persists yet.

It is only spring fever that has arrived.

With the cob webs cleaned and the mirrors all shining
 I set out to seek an indoor project, made to inspire!


Pillows are perfect!
 Brighten up a room and your constitution. 
Stitch together a story that speaks to the day.
No sewing machine required. A needle, a thread, embroidery and cotton thread, as little as half a yard of fabric (depending on the size of pillow you will be re-covering) 2-3 small remnants of complimentary fabric,
scissors, an iron, an afternoon, a hot cup of coffee or a glass of wine and a little imagination will get you on your way. 
 I have certainly been feeling a need to respond to the call for the love of nature. Teased by the weather at this time of year and not weathering well the seasonal variances in temperature, I find myself spending more time inside than I like.
My longing for the greens of growth that will eventually overtake the now empty planters that I pass on my way in the door became my inspiration for design.

Make a pillow cover

I chose a grey cord, blue corduroy, cotton print remnant and felt in my design.
The new pillow covers will slip over the old. 

Fold the grey cord in half with right sides together. Lay the pillow to be covered on top of the folded fabric.  The top of pillow will be at the fold in the fabric.
With a chalk pen mark 2 inches from the pillows outer edge on 3 sides.  This will be your cut line.
Cut 3 sides only. DO NOT cut fold at top.

Open grey cord  fabric and lay on a flat surface.
The front finished area of your pillow will be from the top fold down and across.

Cut the green cotton  fabric smaller than the grey cord to allow for a border around your design.

The green cotton fabric edges will then be folded over 1/2 inch and pressed.

Lay the cotton fabric square onto the grey cord, center it
down from the top fold.  Pin into place.






I next cut the blue cord just smaller than the green cotton. I also made sure that the ridges on the grey corduroy ran horizontal and that the blue cord ridges ran vertically. It adds a wonderful visual to the finished pillow.  Fold over 1/2 on 4 sides and press flat.
Place the blue square evenly on top of the cotton square and pin into place.

Finally the felt pieces are cut and pinned into place.
Once you are content with the design you are ready to stitch things into place.
 I used cotton thread to blind stitch the edges of the green cotton onto the main grey.
I chose to use a light blue embroidery thread on the blue cord to  blanket stitch it in place.
I also used the embroidery to stitch all of the felt pieces in place.

Once the pillow front design is stitched  into place the pillow edges must be stitched together.
Fold the pillow fabric in half with fold at top and edges even all the way around. Fabric will be right sides together.
Pin together and stitch together.
I stitch the length of one side like this    -  -  -  -  -  - the needle goes through all fabric from back to front to back to front and so on
and then I stitch back over the same area bringing the needle and thread up where it passed down the first time. ----------- filling in the space between stitches. Do both sides.

 I stitch the same way on the bottom edge but to only about 2 inches in from each side.
 Reach into the pillow pouch and pull the fabric right side out. Poke out the corners.
The old pillow is now inserted into the case.
Because the pillow will be wider than the opening on the bottom, it does helps to gently fold the pillow
while inserting into case. Reach inside the case to straiten the  pillow and to ensure that each corner has been stuffed into the cases corner. 

Fold under the grey edges at bottom pillow and pin front and back together.  Use a matching thread to stitch together.

 

Lillian the Domestic Engineer

As this is meant to be an enjoyable experience it is understood that there are no rules and no completion dates.
Whatever will be will be is good policy.
I have worked so long on some pillow covers that the finished product didn't end up resembling the original plan whatsoever! None the less the end results were always pleasing.





I worked on two covers over the weekend.
By Sunday evening I was sitting with a smile on my face, satisfaction in my soul and a couple of fine,
freshly covered pillows gracing my sofa.
The joy of creating had satisfied my desire to be inspired.
I found satisfaction in self gratification, without guilt and while enjoying myself.
It was a good weekend in spite of the weather that was.

Make your own Pillows




I just happen to have a corduroy couch! 
 

I hope that the older I get the more I know. Slowly I am coming to know myself. 
When I wake feeling blue
not being motivated about much I have to do
when mounting frustrations and grumbled gripes dare to defeat me long before night
when the sun refrains and the snow turns to rain
I now smile to myself  and run with the game.
No longer able to run from myself  I claim the feelings as mine
even though the world wont wait I need to take some time.
A little self love and a pillow hug feels necessary
and with that I'm fine.

 I  craft in the name of my sanity.


More CRAFTING IDEAS HERE

 

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Blue Jeans Baby!

                      Another Up Cycled Denim Design.

                      An artful Apron.
                     
                      Stuff a set of oven mitts in the pocket and gift it to work in the kitchen.
                      Put paper, paints and a brush in the pocket and paint a starry night!
                      Supply sandpaper and incentive and employ it in the workshop.

The artfully up-cycled Apron

 The basic Apron shape. 
I cut the pattern from an opened leg making use of the original hemming as the bottom hem of the Apron.
The pockets of course are salvaged from the jeans and stitched onto the apron.
I start stitching the binding at a bottom side and go up and all the way around.

Up Cycled Denim Apron

 Seam Binding
I like to make my own seam binding for the Apron edges and ties.
 I prefer working with cotton as it presses well and is available in a huge range of patterns and colors.

Start by cutting the selected cotton into strips
approx. 2 inches wide.
Be mindful of the pattern and which direction you want (in this case) the stripes to lay in the finished garment. Cut accordingly.

Sew all strips together at ends, with right side together. Press seams flat.





                The Artful Apron

Fold over (1/4 inch) on one edge of entire cotton binding strip
 and press.

Up Cycled denim

 Pics are now blue binding. 

Pin unpressed edge of cotton binding 
 with right side down
onto wrong side of Apron fabric .
Be sure to fold in end edge (at thumb area) first.
Stitch binding in place around entire outer edge of Apron.

 Turn Apron over now with right side up.
Bring binding to front, tuck in corner at bottom edge, allow pressed edge to fold under and pin into place.

Top stitch binding in place.











Up Cycled Denim Apron

 The ties for the neck and the back area are also made from the cotton strips.
 Fold over and press in a smaller edge on both sides of the cotton strip. Fold in half and top stitch over folds.
Press. Cut to desired length and stitch in place for neck loop and back tie
  

 Applique Heart

Up Cycled denim apron

 Alleen's Glue to the rescue.
Paint the back of your heart with a layer of Alleen's glue.
 Let sit for a minute of two before turning over and applying heart to apron front.
Although it takes 24 hours to really set it is not easy to move because of the glue residue that will be left from the first placement.
Be sure of where you want the heart the first time.

Craft Apron

Zig zag over the edges of the heart with your machine.

Blue Jean Apron

Squeeze on a thin line of Fabric Paint.

Up Cycled Denim Apron

 Set to dry overnight.
















I don't know why this will not sit up properly..lol
The artful Apron can be washed in machine and dried in the dryer.

A baby denim Sunsuit on a handsome little model.

I have had this pattern running round in my head for over 20 years. 
The last time I made denim summer suits my oldest Son was about 2 and happily modeled this version of the summer suit for me. 

Denim Summer suit @ Craft Blog here

I made his suit in 1992. Here it is!


I purchased the seam binding and the snaps.
I decorated the denim with both the fabric paint and acrylic paint spatter after it had been stitched.
The white paint was a puff paint and so required that I bake the garment for about 7 minutes at 250 degrees. 
It is machine wash and dryer safe.




These are the 2015 version of the summer suit.
 Fashioned from the leg of blue jeans these adorable sun suits are a super summer solution for little boys and little girls alike.
Velcro and or buttons and snap enclosures help to make putting on the denim summer suit as easy as ABC
Open the suit up at neck and sides and lay it flat out. Lay the baby in the back bum area.  Pull the bib up at front and secure shoulder and sides.
Add  suede baby boots and a cute t-shirt to the outfit and smile out loud at the outcome. 

Denim Summer suits @ craft blog

      Thanks to little Landon 
                     for being such a happy, 
                                     handsome and willing model.

Lillian the Domestic Engineer.Blogspot.ca

                      in spite of the fact he was a bit too small for his britches.

 

 I love summer and babies too!!

Sew, are you up to it?