Thursday, September 27, 2012

Week 2- Headbands and Hair Accesories!

Hello, pretty ladies!

This week's project is all about hair accessories. These are great for adding some punch to everyday hair looks, and keep you from getting in the "ponytail" rut that so many of us get stuck in!

This headband is adorable, and is completely customizable. You can use any stencils you want, or you can simply create your own design as well. The hair clips I made are just as easy, and are pretty much a "anything goes" kind of project!
These accessories make great gifts for friends, younger girls, or are great in your own hair as well!

Here is the inspiration for the the headband:

And here is my take on it:

 Supplies Used:
 Cardstock Scrapbooking Paper (I used the glitter paper!)
Glue Gun
Ribbon 
Stencils
Felt
Pen or Pencil


 Step One:
Using your stencil, trace the amount of stars (or whatever shape you want) on the backside of your scrapbooking paper. If you have some original ideas, draw right onto the paper if you'd rather not use a stencil! The more creative the better!

Step Two:
Cut out the shapes. Be careful not to bend the paper while doing so.

Step Three:
Using your hot glue gun, glue the shapes onto your felt. Tip: Make sure you cover the entire surface of the paper before attaching it to the felt. Otherwise you'll have to go back afterwards to add more glue. After it dries, use the paper as a guide to cut out the now attached paper/felt shapes. This can be tricky depending on your scissors, so go slow and take your time!

Step Four:
Measure the amount of ribbon you'll need for the headband. It's always better to be more generous with the length, as you can always shorten it later on if needed. Then lay the ribbon out flat, and hot glue your felt pieces to the headband.

That's it! You now have a fabulous and totally original headband! I kept this headband pretty simple, but you could add a few embellishments (think buttons, beads, sequins, etc) if you want some extra pizazz!

Here are a few of the other accessories I made:
For the star I used the same cardstock/felt tutorial, but I added a big gem in the middle and then glued it to a hair clip! For the feather I cut out an oval shaped piece of felt, and simply glue the feathers right onto it. Then I glued a few pearl beads to the top. Just as a side note, feathers are not the easiest things to deal with when it comes to glue. So be careful, I may have messed up a few feathers in the process ;). 

I cannot wait to see what you guys come up with! Hope you enjoy this project!

xoxoKelsey.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Week 1- DIY Wreaths

      Last month, I happened across a pin that led me to a website with 80 different wreaths!  I have to admit, I could not resist scrolling through to the very last one! My eyes danced across the screen landing first on a simple elegant all cream number, and then a buttery yellow yarn delight. 

     The combinations of color and fabric are endless and allow each crafter to create a masterpiece that speaks to their style. Yarn, burlap, torn fabric, branches or pinecones… you name it and we can make a wreath with it. Thank goodness it is appropriate to have a wreath up on your door or mantel during every season and every holiday. So let’s get to it!
 Here are some wreaths featured on My blessed life (http://myblessedlife.net/), a blog that I adore and get a lot of my inspiration from. 



The recipe for a beautiful wreath is pretty simple. Gather all of your scrap materials, leftovers from other projects and make pretties with them. On this wreath that I made, I used a wreath form (Styrofoam or straw will do), yarn, and a variety of scrap material and ribbon to make flowers. 

You will want to start by wrapping the yarn as closely and evenly as possible around the form, using a hot glue gun to glue into place. 
  I then took two kinds of ribbon and two different fabrics and made flowers.

 I followed the tutorials from these incredible ladies here:

 Mazie Hutton

                                                               
My Sparkle
 

Here are my first attempts at flowers:


And my attempts at wrapping the wreath form: 



 The finished products:


The options are endless and the seasons are abundant with reasons to make pretty wreaths. Good luck with your next creation & God bless you all!!

-Hannah