The Winner is....

AMANDA!

Thanks to all of you that entered the contest! I look forward to doing more!

Amanda, please contact me at inspiredbyjagger@gmail.com to claim your prize!

*Note: Apparently I do not know what I am doing and cannot figure out how to get a screen shot of the actual number, but it was #8 :)

Key Fob

Key fobs seem to be the new "it" key chain. They are very handy since you can slip them over your wrist while trying to juggle groceries, the kids, the dogs, etc. I honestly don't have a use for them because my car has push button start, which is FANTASTIC, but I still wanted to make some with scrap fabric that I have. The standard size is 10" diameter, which fits my wrist perfectly. I got 1 1/4" key fobs.

First, cut 1 piece of fabric 3" x 10" and 1 piece at 2" x 10".

*Note: The polka dot on mine is longer because I was trying to make a ruffle, but got mad and gave up :)

Fold your bottom layer in half, right sides facing and sew at 1/4".

Turn it right -side out and iron flat. I found that a bamboo skewer really helped on turing the fabric right-side out. I put my seam in the middle and then ironed it flat. This way you can sew your next layer right on top of the seam and no seam will be exposed.

Now, top-stich both sides.

Do the exact same thing, minus the top stitch for your next piece of fabric.

Now, pin your top layer in the center of the bottom layer and sew down the middle.

Trim up the top edges of any frayed fabric.

Fold your fabric in half and place in the key fob. I used a hammer to close mine, but I don't know that that is the recommended way, so don't take my word on it. It worked though! I placed it between a towel and gave it a few bangs to close it.

I then decided I wasn't going give up on making one with a ruffle for the top layer! I got out some pink ribbon and cut it at 15". I sewed straight down the middle with my loosest stitch. Then gathered. It worked this time!

Just pin it on and sew down the middle.

So, I now I have 2 key fobs. One for me and one for YOU! All you have to do is comment on this post. You can increase your chances of winning by: 1. Become a public follower of this blog. 2. "Like" me on facebook.

So that is 3 chances to win. You must comment 3 separate times. I will choose a winner with random.org on Monday, April 4th!

Good Luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Basement to Craft Room

I am so excited that I am actually getting a designated space to sew, scrapbook, make banners, etc.! Our house is something like 80+ years old. When we bought it, it had been gutted and completely remodeled with an addition added. The basement, however, still looks 80 years old! I currently keep all of my crafting stuff in a small closet in the guest room, strewn about the guest room, on the dining table, kitchen counter, yeah you get it, everywhere!

The process began last weekend with the installation of 2 of the 5 new windows. The hubby is super handy, thank goodness, so we don't have to hire a contractor to come do all of this work!

Here are some before and after.

"I can see clearly now...."

Here is the basement from the start. Totally icky and not a place of inspiration!

I already have the room finished and decorated in my head and if it turns out this fabulous, I don't know how you will pry me out of this space! The color scheme is going to be black, white, and green.

I plan to do a black and white chevron pattern on the floor.

I plan to do a faux board and batten about 4 foot up the wall and then paint the top green.

The furniture will be from IKEA in this line: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/series/09064/ It will be black.

I am going to make a slipcover for a sofa we already have in a fabric that I already found in wide black and white stripes with a small green stripe thrown in.

Um, yeah I can't wait for it to be done. The sheetrock is being delivered tomorrow!

New Spring Wreath

When I saw this wreath at A Diamond in the Stuff, I had to make one for my front door! I made a really awesome wreath last year, so I just moved it inside and put this one out instead! I love it! I had a picture frame that I built a while ago and spray painted black, so I just sprayed over it with the blue paint and it gave it a weathered look. I bought white eggs at hobby lobby for 35 cents, the grass was $2, and the birds's nest was $1, oh the butterfly came from Michael's $1 section.

This came to a whopping cost of $4.25!

Also, if you are not already, "like" my facebook page for an exclusive coupon code for my etsy shop!

Magnetic Menu Board

Have you seen the awesome magnetic menu board in the blogosphere? Adorable and so useful! I plan my menu by the month and try to do all of my shopping at the beginning of the month. This started after Jagger became a handful in stores! No matter what you have read about these magnetic boards and magnetic spray paint, just DO NOT but it! It does absolutely nothing and cost a fortune!

Here is a good tutorial to make your own: Magnetic Menu Board

I used a piece of sheet metal cut to a 12x12 size. I found my frame at Michael's and paper at Joann's.

Have fun!

Grandmothers

You know how you can never come up with a good gift for your grandmother because she has everything? That has been me for about a month. My Memaw has absolutely everything plus a lot more :) I thought about getting her a hummingbird feeder or a new candle warmer, but then I decided that I would make her a box of greeting cards! She is always talking about sending someone a card, so I thought it would be perfect!

She is obsessed with butterflies. I wished I lived close enough to take pictures and show you how obsessed she really is! You will notice a theme with the butterflies here!

I made five different cards.

Thank you.

Happy Birthday.

Blank

Thinking of You.

Get Well Soon.

Then I put them each with an envelope with her return address already printed on it in a nice little clear plastic sleeve. I got these at a craft store and find them very handy when trying to prevent my cards from getting messed up between assembly and delivery.

I got a paper mache box and covered it with coordinating paper, tied some raffia on it, and sent it on it's way!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Old Shipping Box to Canvas Lined Storage Container

It is March now and I would like to think that spring is just around the corner, and then it snowed something like 5 inches yesterday, boo on you frozen tundra. That hasn't stopped me from thinking about spring cleaning! First things first, get all of those toys under control. It is ridiculous how many toys the little monster has and he keeps them strewn everywhere. He does, however, like to help me clean and tidy up just not his toys. I love baskets, the ones with liners specifically, but they are so expensive to buy. So, when I saw a post some months ago about Amy from http://www.positivelysplendid.com/ turning diaper boxes into lined canvas storage boxes, I was all over it! Well, a month or so later!

Here is what I started with:

Jagger thought it was perfect with his stickers already on it, but I wanted something more presentable :) So I headed to Joann's and found the perfect fabric to go with the linen. Green, blue, birds, brown, can't go wrong with that! I just followed the instructions that is on the website I mentioned above to cover the boxes with linen. To give you an idea of how much fabric you will need, I bought 2 yards of each linen. I used 1 1/2 yards to cover a 12x12x8 box and four 8.5 x 11x5 box.

Here is what I ended up with:

To make the liners, you will need to cut 5 pieces of fabric. One for the bottom, and then all four sides. For the smaller boxes I added 2 inches to the length and for the big box I added 4 inches. So for example, with the big box I cut five 12.5" squares. The bottom was 12" square and all four sides are 12"x8".

Now you want to hem one side of your fabric panels for 4 pieces.

I folded over 1/2" and sewed at 1/4".

If you are using a fabric where the pattern matters, like the bird pattern I used, make sure you sew it so that it will run in the correct direction when flipped over the side of your box.

In this one you can see that the fabric turns over the edge correctly.

but see in this one how the pattern runs wrong going down in the box? No one will see it once it is filled with toys anyway, they will only pay attention to what the flipped over edge looks like.

Once you have hemmed all of your panels, sew them onto the bottom piece in there respective places. Then you will want to sew the corners together. Make sure the tops line up evenly, like this:

Be sure to reinforce the tops of your corners really well or the seam will break when you turn it over on the box, not that I learned the hard way or anything :)

Once you have sewn all 4 corners, put it in your newly linen covered box and turn the edge over!

I added "No. 1" on the top box and can't decide if I want to keep it and add it to all the boxes or not. I used a brown vinyl cut with my Cricut for this.

Here is a closer view of the 2 fabrics I chose.

Now I need to go get me some stuffing and make some throw pillows to match!