geometric mobile [a trendy diy mobile]

So I found myself with 3 sleeping kids... all at once this afternoon (insert singing angels here).  We've finally transitioned Stone out of his crib... 2.5 years old... the size of a 5 year old... yea... it was time. And after the pediatrican looked at me like I was on crack because Abel was still sleeping in his rocking bassinet, I figured it was time to transition him into the crib. This meant we needed a new mobile. The Dream Catcher mobile I made for Stone is still around.. somewhere, but all the feathers have been picked apart by little fingers and I wanted something new. 

I've been totally drooling over Simon & Ruby's new line. Especially all the new geometric necklaces. The Maggie necklace was the inspiration behind the new mobile.

This was super fast and easy to put together. I promise.. if I can do it, you can too. AND it was FREE, because I had everything on hand. If you had to buy all the supplies, it'd probably cost about $10 total, at most!

Here's what you'll need:

• Felt [I used 6 different colors, you can use as many or little colors as you'd like]

• Embroidery Floss 

• Needle

• Embroidery Hoop [only the inner part]

OPTIONAL:

• Liquid Stitch [or any other fabric glue. Super glue would probable work too]

STEP 1: Cut triangles. I cut way too many! I ended up using 68 triangles. I found the most time efficient way to cut these is to draw a triangle onto cardstock and use it as a template. Then trace a line of them down the felt. Just stack up your felt, a few pieces at a time, and cut them all together.

After getting them cut out, you can lay them out to see how you want to string them. Make it random, color blocked or ombré, the choiice is yours.

STEP 2. String the triangles. I peeled away one piece of thread from the floss. Around 1 yard in length. Put three stitches in the triangle, slide it down the floss and grab the next one to be strung.

There are 7 triangles per strand. 9 strands and 1 bunting.

The bunting is done the same way, but instead of stitching through the center, you stitch a long the top.

STEP 3: Take two pieces of embroidery floss and form a +. Set your hoop over the +.  Wrap each of the 4 loose strands around where it touches the hoop a few times. Once all four pieces are wrapped, grab the 4 loose ends and lift the hoop. This will form the hanging part. Make sure the hoop is level and tie a knot at the top of the strings.

STEP 4:  Start tying the strands of triangles to the embroidery hoop. I placed one in the center. and 8 evenly spaces around the hoop. Try to gauge how long you want them to hang. This isn't that big of a deal yet, but don't make them too short!!! You can trim them up later.

Tie the bunting between two strands from the hanging part.

STEP 5: Once everything is tied up (double knotted) go through and place the triangles how you want them... moving them up or down. Once you have it how you want it, trim off the loose ends at the bottom, pretty close to the bottom triangle.

[OPTIONAL]

STEP 6:  To keep everything in place, dab some liquid stitch over the knots and stitches. There isn't really a need to do this to every triangle, as they stay pretty well. But, dabbing it along the bottom triangles would ensure no triangles fall off.

That's it. 2 hours, start to finish... tops.

Super simple, super trendy. Would make a fun handmade gift for the expectant mom! 

If you make one, I'd love to see it, share your post or link to a picture in the comments.

xoxo (i always whisper "Gossip Girl" after typing that... FYI)

**don't forget the Google Reader is going away, so if you'd like an easy way to keep up with me.. and all your other favorite bloggers, follow us all on Bloglovin'. It's free, a super simple and user friendly interface, PLUS it has an app... yea... there's an app for that.... #igotjokes


** for those that have inquired, my handmade dolls are available @ stitchedvintage.com

Business Card Display | DIY

My business cards just lay on my desk, and half of them end up getting scattered and lost. I've been wanting to make a holder for them for everrrr, and yesterday I finally did!

What I used:
Altoids tin, some lace, twine, a few strips of washi tape for decorating the  outside and making the mini bunting.
(The washi with the writing "love it - want it" is actually from the SMASH line. I got it on sale for $1 at Target!)

It was super fast and easy to whip up, using only tape! That's the fun with decorating with washi, there's no cutting or gluing, just rip and place. 
To adhere the lace, I covered the inner-top with washi tape- then covered that washi with strips of double sided tape. Lay on the strips of lace (starting at the bottom), press firmly and there you have it.
The bunting is just a piece of twine with strips of washi folded over, then cut into shapes.


It's perfect, because I need my cards out and easy to access daily, since I add them to all of the orders from the shop. It's more of a display than a holder, which will be great at all those indie craft shows I plan on attending (::sigh:: one day).


Altoids tins are GREAT for repurposing projects! Check out my Pinterest board full of fun inspiration. My favorite pin so far is this Travel Painting Kit! Just a NOTE: I'm not the first person to think of using an Altoids tin as a business card holder, I've been seeing them everywhere... but they're not a new idea either... just check out creativeKISMET's holder from over 3 years ago!


I'm totally loving the new kraft business cards and just as happy with the little quotes on the back of each card (except for the missing E at the end of Shakespeare... which I photoshopped in so I wasn't bombarded with emails... ya win some, ya lose some. hah). 


What do you think?
What's your favorite way to repurpose an Altoids tin?

DIY Mason Jar Tumbler Lid- In ONLY 3 Steps

I've been dying to get some of these tumbler lids since I saw them on Groopdealz May 3rd. After missing out on snatching up the deal, then shopping around the internet for them, I was discouraged, because they are ridiculously expensive!!! AND I couldn't find a tutorial on how the heck they were made. I knew they could be made on the cheap, just needed to figure out what that darn seal was!

Materials Needed:

Mason jar lid

Seal or Grommet

Drill and 3/8" drill bit

Wire cutter

How to do it:

1. Keep the lid on the mason jar, use the drill bit to drill a hole wherever you want.

2. You'll most likely have rough edges, so use the wire cutters to snip off any edges sticking out and try to make the hole as flat as possible.

3. Press, pinch and push the seal into the hole, carefully.

VOILA! You're done.

Just make sure you wash the mason jar and lid good to get rid of any debris.

TIP: Use the same jar, just new lids while making holes.

Now I have to be honest, if it wasn't for the guys at Lowes, I would have never figured this out on my own, so really all credit for this post goes to them! I figured I could use a drill bit for the hole, but I was lost when it came to what type of seal was being used. After rambling on about what I was looking for, I finally found the email to show them what I wanted to make. I kind of felt stupid when they had a "duh" look on their face and lead me right to the type of seals I needed. You can see them here.  They were in those little drawers that line the wall where you walk in (at least in ours)... I swear the sign above them said Automotive Parts, but looking at the part number online it looks like they are an electrical supply.

So after the Lowe's man helped me pick out the size, I then had to put my pride aside and ask what size drill bit I should use. HAH. I figured it would be 1/4" since that's the diameter of the seal we picked, but I was wrong, he said he'd go with a 3/8". (OK, so I actually bought both; what he recommended ANDD the 1/4" cause I totally didn't believe him.... he was right!  And turns out I didn't need them after all, cause Craig had them in his tool bag, oh well, I'm glad I asked!)

The most HILARIOUS (sarcasm) part of this encounter: When Craig came home from work, I showed him the new lids. He didn't seem as thrilled as I was, so I told him how much they sell for online. His reply was "and what did you pay for those grommets, like .10 cents"

WHAT! YOU KNEW WHAT THESE THINGS WERE CALLED AND DIDN'T TELL ME! Where were you weeks ago when I was searching and searching for them?!

haha.... guess I should have asked him first, huh.

These lids are prefect for any of your parties or backyard BBQ's. Maybe even an outdoor summer wedding, adding paper straws in the wedding colors?! Best part is it keeps those pesky summer bugs out of your drink. They're great for toddlers too. 

Please Note: these lids are not 100% leak proof, when layed on it's side there is a little dribble that comes out of the seal.

If you'd rather purchase these lids instead of making them, you can check them out on Etsy here.

xo

If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram (@kristanlynn) , you already knew about how I made these awesome lids, if you don't, you missed out on knowing how to make them days ago. There are lots of little DIY projects and inspiration photo's I post on there that don't make it to the blog, so be sure to LIKE me on FB to be the first to know what's going on.

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I'd like to announce a new blog sponsor The Letter 4 +  1. The Letter 4+1 is a charitable company that provides hope & support through uplifting stories and by donating proceeds from inspirational products sold to benefit: childhood diseases (See Love), child abuse prevention (Give Hope), & a unique monthly cause (Create Possibilities).  They sell the cutest shirts, iPhone cases and prints. Go shop and help support those in need. Read about how The Letter 4 + 1 got started here.

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DIY Bath Salts | Gift in a Jar

So, I was at Michael's last week, and happened upon a huge jar of mineral/sea salt, it was cheap so I had to buy it. I knew it would come in handy at some point. It did.  I decided to make a homemade bath soak. Super easy. Super Yummy! Perfect for handmade gift giving!

What you need:

• jar (I used the Ball jelly/jam jars measuring 250ml)
• mineral and sea salt
• essential oil (or in my case extract)
• food coloring
• small piece of fabric

How to make it:

1. Pour enough salt to fill a jar, or two. (Honestly, I didn’t measure) and add a few drops of essential oil to fabric.
   If you’d like your salt to have color, just add a few drops of food coloring to the fabric before stirring.
2. Stir the fabric into the salt for a few minutes, making sure to get the salt well coated.

That’s it! Just make sure that the fabric is in dripping wet, you don’t want it to dissolve your salt.

You can use any scent you prefer. I used peppermint, with it being the holiday season, peppermint just seems fitting. Remember though, peppermint is an energizing scent. Have fun with it, add a drop or two of a few different scents to make your own custom scent. Add some burlap, twine and lace. A tag would be nice, but I think most of us now know how to use bath salts, so it’s not a MUST but would add a nice décor element.

 

# kristanlynn
xoxo  

This post was sponsored my Little Miss Momma.

TuTu(torial): DIY Fabric TuTu

 
I recently shared this project on The Wiegands. It’s so fun and pretty. So I HAD  to share it with all of you who who missed it. This fabric tutu is very easy to make and you can do it all, start to finish, in ONE nap time. BONUS: If you even semi-regularly sew, you’ll have everything you need.


What you’ll need:

• Scrap fabric
• Elastic
• Scissors to cut fabric (pinking shears if you have them)
• Sewing machine to make waistband.

 
Making the TuTu:
As you can see from the picture, your strips do not need to be perfect, or even the same length. It adds character to your tutu. Some of the pieces we’re not long enough so I pieced them together with the sewing machine. My strips measured 20-22 inches with a few 17-19 inch strips thrown in. The width of my strips were somewhere around 1.5”.  (I did not use a ruler or measuring tape to cut my strips… all of them are uneven.)
Tip: If you have pinking shears, I would recommend using them to cut your strips, as it will keeping the fraying to a minimum


For the elastic waistband, I used 1/2” elastic. The length of the elastic should match the measurement of your child’ waist.

Now the only thing you have left to do is to tie your strips around the elastic band. (My daughters waist measure 18” and I used 42 strips)
I also added a few places of scrap tulle for fun. Make sure when you’re double knotting, you’re getting the knots some-what close to the center of the strip.

After your all done, you can go through and trim up the super long strips and make the whole thing even.
Adelyn loves it. I love it. I hope you love it!


You could use just a few different fabrics with matching tones and I’m sure it would be even cuter! Or add more tulle through out it to make it more “tutu”ish.






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Note: The strips will fray, but it adds more character. Like I said before, cutting the strips with pinking shears will minimize that fraying. I would NOT recommend washing this in the washing machine.
I’d love to see pictures of your finished fabric tutu’s.

# kristanlynn
xoxo