Sewing Sunday - Oh Christmas Tree!

This one is technically a YouTube video, but it was on Pinterest. Social media at its finest hour, really.

As you know, I am into the Christmas spirit. So far, I have all of my decorations out (except for a Christmas tree) and as I looked around, I knew that I needed more. To Pinterest I went! I found tons of stuff that I can't wait to try, but this one really stood out to me (mainly because I cleaned my craft room and needed to find stuff to do with the crap I didn't want to part with.)

After 3-4 more hours of Pinteresting (as you do), I got my items together and hunkered down for an hour project. Silly me - I should have known better.

This fabric was one that I bought from 3 huge bins full of fabric on Craigslist for $20. That was about 3 years ago, and the bins still sit in my craft room today pretty much untouched. When I cleaned today, I went through and found lots of flannel and plaid fabric - my favorite! When I completed kicking myself in the butt for not finding these jewels 3 years ago, I used the chalk roller to draw out a triangle - I did mine about 10" on each side.

Since I needed these to match up pretty well, I cut two at a time and pinned the centers so they didn't shift when I cut them. Then, I used them as a pattern for the next two and so on. All together, you need six triangles, paired up for three triangles, a la below.

You'll notice the two pins at the bottom of each triangle. I put these here so I remembered to leave a hole at the bottom instead of getting sew-happy all around.

Here's what you should do that I didn't: sew them with right sides together. Luckily, even though my tree is completely inside out, it doesn't look so bad because my fabric looked pretty much the same between back and front. I can't promise you'll be that lucky (although kudos, if you are.) Also, make sure to backstitch so you don't rip everything out when you turn your triangle inside out. (Did you hear that? That was experience, folks.

Once all sewn up, trim the two side seam allowances and trim the corners so they turn inside out flat, then turn your triangles inside out and push out all the corners with a pencil. Or a pen - I'm not picky. Once you have them all inside out, lay them on top of each other and sew a straight line from the bottom (cutting your hole into two holes) all the way to the top of the tree.

Here's the part that I thought would take 10 minutes, tops. This thought is a lie.

Stuff that tree for the next hour. You're welcome.

When stuffing, I started by stuffing the top point of all six triangles, and then filled the rest one at a time. Make sure you really stuff the fill into the tip. I'd say use your pen(cil) for this as well, but it turns out that there is a magical pusher inside the bag. Mind = blown. (Proof that I have not used this stuff near as much as one would expect when one owns 4 bags of Poly-fill) #poorchoices

Once all stuffed up, sew up the holes by hand and voila! You have yourself a tree. The lady in the video puts hers in a tiny terra cotta pot. Although this doesn't look near as cool, I see the appeal to put it into something because it's not what people call "sturdy" or "straight" on its own. But hey, when do you ever get a Christmas tree perfectly straight? We've all had the "it's leaning to the left! Now its leaning to the right! Just leave it alone - it's good enough!" conversation.

All in all, it's a cozy-looking, homemade Christmas tree that livens up a space in my house that didn't have nearly as much Christmas decor as I wanted. It's a pin win, I'd say.

Here's the breakdown (keep in mind, I didn't actually have to buy anything, but I'm going with the assumption that you don't have anything)

Flannel fabric: $7.64/yard at Joann Fabrics (on sale now)

General purpose thread: $2.79

Needles: $3.50

Poly Fill: $3.99

Total: $17.92

Let's be honest though, if you are a crafter and looking at sewing projects, chances are you will have scrap fabric, needles and a sewing machine that makes this one anywhere from free to a couple bucks for the fill.

Until next time!

Wino Wednesday - Easiest One Yet

Ever have one of those nights when you are sipping some wine and just want a super quick, simple craft to complete? No? Just me?

Well. Tonight was one of those nights for me. And I had the perfect pin! There's something about the pure simplicity of the second picture on the website that really tugged at my crafting heart strings. Plus, the tree looks difficult.

First, I got my supplies.

Not shown is the obligatory glass of wine full of... you know... wine. Get you some!

Next - I just went at it with the pen. It's truly that simple. Also, the pens I got worked so well! They dried fast, but were pretty precise and ran smooth over the glass. The trick to them is that how you use them and on what is completely trial and error. The single pens don't have any instructions on it except for how to get the paint flowing, so I just kind of guessed at it, as per usual. I did cheat a little - the store had a pack of 8 that had a few more words of instruction ("Great on glass!") so I went for it.

A couple five minutes later, I had my cute little glasses

Obviously, they are probably hand-wash only with a no-scrub rule, but I do see these being rather festive for Christmas.

You heard me - Christmas. It's almost close enough to being acceptable to bring out my crazy.

Seriously though - just picture it: a hand painted wine glass with some fancy chocolates in it wrapped in cellophane with a bright bow? It's almost like I'm writing your to do list for hostess gifts for you!

Here's the breakdown for this super simple one:
- 2 Painters pens (one gold, one silver) - $1.29 each at Walmart. Really, any paint pen would work.
- Wine Glass - $.96 at Walmart. *Side note: all of the glasses were this same price, so pint glasses, stemmed glasses, etc. will all be the same price. Get crazy and shit*
Total: $3.54 per glass (assuming you use only two colors)

Happy Thanksgiving, all. Enjoy your friends and family (and get some crazy deals on shopping, if that's your thing.)

Test It Out Tuesday - Home Decor (Clearly Not Christmas)

So here's the deal up front - I didn't want to do this pin. (And if we're being technical, I'm not really doing this pin.)

Here's the deal: I was trolling the black hole known as Pinterest this weekend and somehow wandered into the realm of Christmas crafts. You read that right - Christmas. I am totally into Christmas decorating this year and couldn't help myself but to just. keep. clicking.  I'm not sure what it is but I'm really trying to reign in my crazy until (at least) after Thanksgiving. I saw a pin during my trolling that seemed super simple: a Christmas cut out, a small stretched canvas and some paint. Immediately, I ignored the pin and refused to let my crazy out yet. I don't even have the original pin to link to - that's how hard I refused.

So... this isn't that pin.

This is "practice" for that pin.

I went to Walmart and picked up the following:

See? Nothing Christmas. It's just practice home decor. We're talkin' 'bout practice! (shout out to whoever recognizes that reference) Don't mind that red paint there.

First thing I did was paint all three canvasses in black, using the same brushes I bought for my horrible leaf bowl disaster.

Next, I painted the wood cut-outs. Walmart didn't have a great selection, and I quickly realized that I should have gotten birds that faced different directions (so they could look at each other all romantic-like), but I didn't care that much. I probably could have taken off the wing and put it on the back side to "flip" it myself but... ain't nobody got time for that. I did, however, put three coats of paint on these things, so apparently somebody got time for that.

Next, I had to get the two stuck together in some way, shape or form. After a mad-dash through my art supplies, I quickly realized I didn't own any glue. What was a girl to do?! I turned to the rest of my disaster of a leaf bowl project.

Well look-y there! It says "glue"! Good thing I had purchased an unnecessarily large size of Mod Podge. Before I could change my mind and make my way back to Walmart for some legitimate, primary-purpose glue, I slathered the backs of the wood cut-outs and stuck them to my painted canvas.

After about a half hour, I was surprised to find that not only did the Mod Podge work as a glue for wood-to-canvas gluing, but it also dried clear on all the areas that I just didn't care enough to wipe away the excess. (Quiet your "how lazy is this girl?" thinking - with haste is how I do my best work!)

In the end, I think this came out really well. I do love the look, and with how simple and cheap they are...

You guessed it! As soon as I find me some Christmas cut-outs, there's going to be LOTS more. After Thanksgiving, of course. (Side note: Where are all my emoji's when you need one?)

Here's the breakdown (everything purchased at Walmart):
3-pack Canvas: $2.77
Owl Cut-Out: $0.77
Bird Cut-Out: $0.77 x2
Paint: $0.87 x3
Mod Podge: I already owned this, but I found a small 1oz bottle at Target Dollar spot, and it's really all you need for this, so I'm calling this as $1.00
Grand Total: $8.69 for three canvas decorations

Not too shabby for practice, heh?

Apply Pie a la Sunday

Hey Friends! So a few weeks ago, Mike and I went apple picking as we do each fall (it is New York, you know). Every time, in result, we have an entire peck of apples that we stare at until they go bad and then we toss them out. This fall, I said "no more!" I was determined to eat and use every last apple. Apple picking is not just an experience, ya know - except it is.

My idea? Apple pie. A traditional autumnal go-to. After a bit of Pinteresting (i.e. I typed in "dutch apple pie" and chose the first pin that lead to a recipe) I found this pin.

But first, I had to start drinking. Why? I've never made a pie and the idea of a pie crust from scratch terrified me. Plus - I just do things better while drinking. Exhibit A:

 Not bad, but not awesome. Done while drinking just a little.

My favorite. Done by drinking just a lot.

Exhibit B: it was a Saturday. Case closed.

So first things first. Get all the ingredients together. And there were a lot of ingredients. Nothing should need this many things.

So I got everything together and threw it in bowls and bags and everything else it called for.

Except... the dough was horrible and smelled ridiculous. It didn't roll out, and was just thoroughly disgusting. I thought an entire dough out of shortening was weird, but I was going to roll with it. I had a picture of it, but apparently lost it. But, I did find another pin that said it was "perfect"... how could that be bad? Find it here.

Second go wasn't so bad - less smelly and more dough-like.

So far, looking like a legitimate pie. Not so scary at all, really.

And then I baked it.

Looking less legitimate.

But once cut up and sliced like a pie, it moved slowly but surely back into the legitimate category.

Turns out - this tastes quite good. When you add an ungodly amount of ice cream on top.

According to my husband... because I kind of don't like apple pie. Chuck that up to another pointless pin for me, but useful for my husband.

And if you thought this pin was written weirdly, differently or with a weird tone... it's because I'm trying not to wake the cat. #crazycatperson