Bracelets, flower pins, and bath salts, oh my!!

Well above is some of the fun bracelets I have been making the past few days. The 3 fun zipper flower bracelet were fun to make and very easy - just a little time consuming. I used one large zipper and unzipped it all the way down, then cut the bottom part off that held the 2 sides together. One side made 2 smaller roses, and I used the other side to make one large rose - the center flower on the bracelets.

I found several different directions on the blogosphere on how to make these flowers out of zipper. One of them stated that they used hot glue to make them - in my personal experience this did not work out well. I could not get the bottom of the flowers to gather up close enough with out burning my fingers and then the flower base was lumpy once the hot glue was dry. I found the best most reliable method was using a needle and thread and gathering the bottom of the flower together as I rolled the zipper up. The underneath of the flower does look messy with all those little stitches but that is ok no one will ever see them. In making the bracelet just measure out a length of ribbon that fits around your own wrist. Fold ends of ribbon under and stitch close. Then add Velcro to opposite sides of the ribbon (one on the top end, and the other one -on the other end and on the underneath side, I put the softer side of the Velcro on the bottom side of the ribbon, just because I thought it would be more comfortable against the skin if adjustment was needed).
Above is a picture of one of the flowers I made but instead of turning it into a pin, I hot glued this one to a clutch. I guess I am excited about "Sex in the City 2". I love the Zebra print flower but I also loved the denim flower pin that I made that I singed the ends of the flower to give it a great look! The singe smell does last for a few days so do not try this craft if you are wanting to wear that flower immediately. I suggest using a decorator weight fabric, or a thick weave that will fray.



I took some pictures as I made this pin. In honor of Earth Day yesterday - I used a pair of jeans that my daughter had outgrown, and cut circles about the size of my palm. I then folded one circle in half and threaded it onto a long piece of thread.


Ta da! Once you get the first circle threaded onto the thread, roll it into a cone shape.

Once you have rolled it into a cone shape run your needle through the base to hold it into place. Then add half circle at a time folding it around the cone building the flower petal by petal. Once again the bottom of the flower will look messy because of all the small stitches you have to make. Once done you can hand stitch on a pin base. (but watch out!! They are inexpensive but come in quantities of 75 - 100) But hey, if you are wanting to make one for you and your girlfriends this is a great inexpensive and fun craft to make!!


Well as the end of the year approaches so does Teacher Appreciation week. I try to do something every day. Some days are small little things, others a little bigger. I make gift bags out of leftover fabric - some small, some medium, some large, and some skinny and tall for a wine bottle. (That idea was a Martha Stewart "good thing") The bags above I used to fill with vanilla scented bath salts. I filled each bag half way up, then hand stitched the bag closed with a contrasting color button. (this ensures that my children will not open the bags and spill them on the way to school!) I plan to tie a cute little note card around the button.

Well those are some of the projects I have been working on this week. I am trying to reduce the amount of craft supplies I have in the closet - and the focus on recycle and reuse got me focusing on using what I have. So we shall see what other projects I come up with this weekend!