I got these simple, white magazine holders awhile back from a local organization supplies store. I knew I’d be able to do something cool with them…I just wasn’t quite sure what. I’ve been seeing lots of craft projects involving spray adhesive and figured since I already had some that I’d give it a go and give my magazine holders a makeover with some pretty fabric from my stash.
I gathered my materials and selected a couple fabrics. The magazine holder came partially pre-assembled so I couldn’t easily make a template as it wouldn’t lie completely flat (and I didn’t feel up to taking it apart and re-gluing it later…lazy me, I know). I figured I’d "cheat" and just do two colors – one on each side and and another corresponding color around the narrow edges.
I started by cutting my fabric pieces and giving them a quick ironing as they had been pre-washed and were a bit wrinkly. Then, I laid newspaper over my dining room table and sprayed one side of the magazine holder with the glue. I let it dry for approximately one minute (per the bottle) and carefully applied the first side, gently spreading the fabric to help keep it nice and smooth.
As I didn’t want the inside of the magazine holder to be sticky and this spray adhesive is a bit hard to control without covering stuff up, etc., I decided to use my friend, hot glue, to tack down the sides and stick the fabric down on the inside. I repeated the previous steps for the other side of the magazine holder.
Then, I took a long piece of fabric just a tad wider than the narrow width of the magazine holder and trimmed the sides with my scallop-edge pinking shears to give it a decorative edge as I wasn’t sure I could hide the raw edges. I figured if they were going to show, they might as well be cute, right? Anywho, b/c I was feeling a tad lazy, I decided just to use hot glue to glue down the long piece along the narrow edge of the magazine holder. The spray adhesive is rather messy and gets everything sticky if you’re not careful, and I didn’t want to be bothered with the newspaper sticking to me and stuff.
What do you think about the finished product? I have soooo very many magazines, I think I could possibly spend a lifetime making these little holders to contain all of them, but alas…I do not have such free time. Maybe I’ll make one here and there?
I can be a bit slow with my crafting at times, so I’m not sure if tonight was the case or whether this project is just a bit lengthy, but this one took about two hours to complete. I guess that’s not really too bad, but two hours more than I typically have every night! lol. I guess if I’m lucky, I’ll make at least one more…haha. Hey, at least I finished a project for once, right? 
by Diana on February 24, 2008
in Jewelry
Wow – things have been so crazy. As much as I’m looking forward to my wedding and honeymoon, I can’t wait for it to be over so I can have some free time again! There are so many things to do, it seems, that all I have time for craft-wise is to gaze longingly at my growing fabric stash and other craft goodies without any real time to do anything with them. Maybe I’ll be able to squeeze some time in this week? I hope so.
Recently, one of my fave clients asked me about a set I had already sold on my web site called, Tahitian Glow (click here to see the original necklace & bracelet). She ordered the earrings earlier but was interested in getting the matching necklace and bracelet, which are marked as "sold" on my web site. Happily, I told her that they were only sold b/c I didn’t have the pendant I needed for the necklace, and I wasn’t sure if I had the clasp for both, but that I could look into finding some of the necessary components. Turns out, I had the clasps in my jewelry goodie box and I was able to get a great faceted, red carnelian pendant at a local bead store. It’s not the same as the pendant on the original, but it is the same gemstone and I think, an even better fit with the other beads in the necklace!
I gathered all the materials on my "bead board" (aka the top to a plastic bin) and got started. See that spool of wire to the back right? I cut small pieces off of that and use my jewelry tools to wrap the wire to form hoops and what not, connecting all the beads together bit by bit. See there in the top left – I’ve started connecting some of the Swarovski crystals to some of the gemstones.
It’s a lengthy process, which is why these types of designs cost more than some of my others, but the result is so pretty. It’s also a bit meditative and relaxing…kinda like knitting, but with different materials. (Don’t mind those blue-ish green beads to the left – those are laid out for a different design I’m working on in my head…maybe I’ll put that together this week?)
Here’s the finished product – the necklace and the bracelet. Not too shabby, eh? I love the warmth of these red carnelian gemstones and how the Swarovski crystals add a touch of bling to the look. The sparkles get me every time.
Here’s another view. I hope she likes it!
I’ve been building my fabric stash for awhile now…at least 2 years, and my how it has grown! Recently, I got some pretty new fabrics from some craft shopping sprees at Hobby Lobby and JoAnns – here are a few of my goodies:
Unfortunately, I’ve been so busy with the wedding planning, work, and everything else that I only have time to take longing glances at my freshly washed and ready to sew fabrics. I don’t have time to do anything with them! The most frustrating day was President’s Day b/c I actually had it off (I get bank holidays), so I had planned to clean up the house a bit and make something with my yummy fabrics. As life tends to work out, that didn’t happen. Other stuff just kept coming out of the woodwork that needed to be handled first. Oh well…I’ll just keep plugging through my to-do list and maybe some free time will pop up. Let’s hope!
by Diana on February 15, 2008
in Doggie
I was watching TV the other night – it was one of my first "free nights" and by "free" I mean that I had just finished several things that absolutely had to go out the door asap the night before and that this was a night where I could put other things off and procrastinate a bit. Anywho, so I’m watching TV and I look down to see what Bailey was up to, and this was what I saw:
The little guy was all tuckered out and napping by the back door. See the blue bone toy? The one in his mouth? Yea, he fell asleep with the bone in his mouth! Can you believe it? So cute! I just had to sneak up on him and snap a quick picture.
