April 26, 2012

Acute How-To: DIY Fabric tape

Did you know that you could actually make your own fabric tape?  I confess, I didn’t know until fairly recently, but you can and it’s really simple.

This tape is perfect for dressing up handmade packaging or for adding a special touch to gift wrapping.

Supplies:

  • kraft packing tape
  • sand paper - If you buy the kind of tape that is covered in a waxy coating, then you will need to lightly sand the smooth coating. If you buy the kind not coated, then you can skip the sand paper step.
  • fabric, cut in strips as wide as the tape
  • mod podge glue
  • paint brush
  • waxed paper
  • scissors

Step One:

Tape pieces of kraft tape to a long sheet of waxed paper. If you have the tape with the waxy coating, gently sand down the surface {which is what I did}. If not, just proceed with step two.

Step Two:

Paint mod podge glue all over the tape and lay down a strip of fabric. Use a credit card or the back of a knife to smooth down the fabric.

Step Three:

Allow the glue to dry overnight and cut away the strips of tape. I cut my pieces of tape in half in order to have thinner pieces of tape. Roll up the strips of tape and secure with a small paper clip. Whenever you’re ready to use the tape, just peel away the waxed paper!

Filed Under: Acute How-To, The Setting Tagged With: , , , , , 24 Comments
March 1, 2012

Acute How-To: All Natural Fabric Dyes

Before chemical fabric dyes came into existence, natural substances such as fruits and vegetables were used to dye fabric. I have been meaning to try out a natural dye technique for a while and finally did it this week. I am happy to report that it was a success and SO simple!

Pretty much any dark colored fruit or vegetable can be used for this how-to. Some options are: red cabbage {pink}, blueberries {purple}, blackberries {darker pink/purple}, tea or coffee {beige}, turmeric or saffron {yellow}, grape juice, and many more.

What you will need:

  • Fabric items to dye – These items must be made from a natural source, such as 100% cotton. I used a tote bag, a few old napkins, and a few small cotton drawstring bags {all of which I already had laying around my house}.
  • ¾ cup salt – I used plain kosher salt.
  • Fruit and/or veggies – I chose blackberries {dark pink/purple}, tea {beige}, and turmeric {golden yellow}.
  • A large pot
  • A colander
  • Lots of water

Step One:

Mix ¾ cup salt with 12 cups of water. Submerge your fabric in the water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and let the fabric simmer for about an hour.

Remove the fabric from the salt water and rinse with cold water. Ring out the items and set aside.

Note: if you are planning to dye a lot of items, you might need to do this step a few extra times. Or use a really, really big pot and double the amount of salt and water.

Step Two:

If you are using berries, put a cup in a pot with four cups of water and boil for about 15 minutes. Strain the fruit from the water and discard. Set the water aside to cool.

I also used turmeric and black tea. For the turmeric, I mixed two tablespoons with four cups of boiling water. For the tea, I let several bags of black tea sit in four cups of boiling water for about 5 minutes.

Step Three:

Dye your fabric. I wanted a dip-dyed look for my cotton bags so I carefully set the end in the dye and draped the top {un-dyed part} over the side of the bowl. I let my items sit in the dye for about 10 minutes.

For my napkins, I decided to completely submerge them in the tea dye and let them sit for about 10 minutes.

Step Four:

Rinse your fabric with hot tap water, ring out, and hang to dry.

That’s it! This process can be done with any cotton or other natural fiber fabrics. Just be careful when/if you need to wash your items as they might bleed the first time.

Filed Under: Acute How-To, The Setting Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , 25 Comments
October 25, 2011

sponsor feature & giveaway: do what you love for life

We love our sponsors! Today, learn more about this month’s Top Drawer sponsor, their latest e-course, and some sweet giveaway action.

turquoise "Etched Floral" apron by Rachael Taylor

turquoise "Etched Floral" apron by Rachael Taylor

Beth Nicholls is the mastermind behind Do What You Love For Life, a web site that focuses on inspiring you to follow your passions through blogging, retreats, and e-courses. In 2010  she was chosen by Marie Claire magazine as one of the UK’s 16 most exciting young female entrepreneurs.

The latest e-course offering from DWYL, The Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design, is geared toward those who dream of seeing their designs on stationery, fabric, homewares or other products, sharing their art through pattern, and monetising their designs. Beth has teamed up with thriving surface pattern designer Rachael Taylor to make the course a rich combination of design inspiration, practical advice, demonstrations, creative exercises, resources and interviews with leading industry practitioners. Clearly, this is the go-to guide for anyone wanting to develop their design skills.

“I truly have fallen in love with teaching, sharing, and (hopefully) inspiring others,” says Rachael. “I feel very blessed to be a part of the fascinating world of surface pattern design and hope to inspire others on their own creative journeys.”

“I am excited to be working with Rachael to bring this collaboration to you, and will be at your side every step of the way to support you through the course,” says Beth. “As a long-time lover of pattern (and with a secret dream of launching my own stationery label), I was a proud guinea pig as the course was being developed, and I’ll share some of my designs in class.”

Beth & Rachel are also offering a special giveaway just for Scoutie Girl readers!

One reader who signs up for The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design within 48 hours of this post will win a bumper package of Rachael Taylor-designed home and giftware worth $100, shipped anywhere in the world!

The prize package includes a turquoise “Etched Floral” apron (pictured above) with matching tea towel and oven mitt, a black and white screen printed heavyweight fabric canvas shopper bag, plus a set of six cards featuring Rachael’s pattern designs. Everything is handmade with love in the UK.

Rachael Taylor cow parsley patternRachael Taylor floral umbrellas patternRachael Taylor multi floral patternRachael Taylor organic shapes patternRachael Taylor quirky motifs patternRachael Taylor scribble shells pattern

Thank you for sponsoring Scoutie Girl, Beth & Rachael!

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June 23, 2011

Acute How-To: Simple Sew Cloth Napkins

I love cloth napkins.  Not only are they a greener option than paper ones, I just prefer the way they feel.

Making cloth napkins is one of my favorite projects for beginner sewers.  Even though I learned to sew when I was 10 years old, I rarely advance beyond the “beginner stage” and prefer to tackle really simple sewing projects.

If you can sew a straight line, then you can do this project!

What you will need:

  • 1 piece of cotton fabric {at least 24”x24”}
  • Iron and ironing board
  • Thread
  • Sewing machine

Step One:

Wash and dry the piece of fabric and cut it into four equal parts.  Napkins are typically 14”x14”, but anything between 12”x12” to 18”x18” is fine.

Step Two:

Use the iron and create a small hem around the edge of each fabric square.

Step Three:

Sew a straight line through the hems on each side of your fabric square.  After I had them completely sewn, I ironed them again in order to make them look nice and crisp.

That’s it – so simple!  If you feel ambitious, you can monogram each one with a stencil and fabric paint in order to make a lovely and personal hostess gift.

Filed Under: Acute How-To, tutorials Tagged With: , , , Leave a Comment
June 23, 2011

Thrifted Thoughts – Telephone Table

Do you ever wonder what to do with retro pieces that don’t really serve a purpose in today’s lifestyle?

Take this telephone table, for example…

We are no longer bound to one location when talking on the phone. Most of us use our cordless telephones or even our cell phones around the house.

A piece like this can still be super-functional, especially in a small space.

I picture it in an entryway, doing double-duty as a console table and seating. It offers you a place to set down the mail, your keys and your purse, while also providing seating for putting on your shoes.

If you’re lucky, you’ll find one like this, that is solid wood (as opposed to laminate) and is in near perfect condition. Being able to keep the existing wood, as-is, cuts down on your makeover budget.

All you really need now is some fabric and 20 minutes to recover the seat and give this piece a new lease on life!

To liven it up and add a little drama to the entryway, introduce a bold, graphic fabric. Any of these gorgeous fabrics would do the trick.

And there you have it: An outdated piece now has a new function, a new look, and a new home in today’s lifestyle!

How would you revamp a retro find like this one?

Filed Under: Thrifted Thoughts Tagged With: , , , , , , 8 Comments