Tech | Ladies Learn

So my son is really into letters. Which is really exciting for me because I know he’s going to be a genius someday. Okay, maybe that’s a little bit of a stretch… genius or no-genius, I wanted him to have an alphabet set that was not only fun to play with, but that I would be happy about him sticking to my fridge. That being said, I’m not a fan of the regular old plastic magnetic alphabet letters…you know the ones…

My mom has made these glass pebble magnets and they are so fun, so I thought why not make an alphabet set with them! They are inexpensive to make, so cute, and super customizable—you can have them match your kids room, your kitchen, or your favorite toe nail polish—whatever you fancy!

Total cost= about $8

Total time = about 2 hours

So here goes…

Supplies:

Paper or fabric for the front and back of your magnets, any weight will do, although thicker is better.

Stickers—about 1/2” in size (this set was not for my son, but for a friend—the one for my son I actually printed out letters and cut them out by hand, I don’t recommend this because it takes a LONG time, but would save you money by not buying stickers, and you can choose the font)

Clear glue: I used Elmer’s because it’s all I had, however Diamond Glaze works best because it dries faster which will help to eliminate any bubbles, and it’s a stronger glue. I’ve only found it online, so if you’re a procrastinator like me and didn’t order any online, Elmer’s works just fine.

Paint brush for applying glue

Super glue: for adhering magnets (you don’t have to do magnets, in fact these make great ‘spelling word’ tools, just lay them out on the table and rearrange to create spelling words –you’d probably want to do extra letters, additional vowels, etc.)

Marbles: you want to make sure that your marbles are flat on one side. I found these in the floral section at Joanns, I know Hobby Lobby has them as well.

Magnets: any kind will do

Scissors OR a 1” circle punch: These babies will save you so much time! They run about $10, but if you use a Joanns coupon, you can usually get it for 40-50% off. (Michaels also accepts Joann’s coupons). If you are going to go the old fashion route and use scissors, make sure you trace or print out your circle so you get a nice, even shape (cut circles to be 1” in diameter).

The first thing you’ll need to do is wash your marbles. They can get really dusty and dirty and you don’t want that on your magnets!

Rinse and then dry really well

Then you’ll want to inspect the magnets to make sure none of them are chipped, broken, or have cracks in them. For this reason, it’s good to buy extra.

Use the ‘rejects’ in your floral displays

Next cut out all your circles

I like to have all the backs of the magnets be the same print, so I cut out additional circles to glue onto the backs of the magnets

Stick your stickers on the circles, making sure to center them (I had to peel off the stickers a lot and re-center). If you cut out your own letters, you would add a step before this to cut out your letters and then adhere them to the circles (I used a glue stick to adhere them).

Please ignore my ghetto manicure (or lack thereof). I don’t know why but I just never bother to take off my nail polish… I’m sure you’ve noticed this in other posts… I like to keep it real…

Do this for all your circles. I’ll take the time to mention that this tutorial works for ANYTHING. You can do letters, photos, fabric, dried flowers, fingernail clippings, numbers, whatever you feel like. Get creative! Get crazy!

Add a little dollop of glue to the flat side of the pebble. Just a teensy bit, you don’t want it to be too globoldy gloobledy.

Press the circle down nice and hard. Smooth out any bubbles. If you’re using Elmer’s, it’s a good idea to wait and then do this again since it takes the Elmer’s a little bit to dry. As you press down, some glue will come out from the sides, use this to smooth around the edges of the paper, be sure to wipe it off the edges and front (if it gets there) of the pebble.

Then apply a little more glue to the back and add on your ‘back piece’ circle

Press down firmly

Add some more glue

‘

Brush over the entire backing, making sure to get the edges really well.

Repeat all steps for the rest of your pebbles, and then let dry for a little while (until glue is no longer tacky to the touch), then repeat this last step to get a really good solid bond.

Allow to dry (over night is ideal, pull out your hair dryer if the party you’re making these for is in 15 minutes…I know I’m not the only one out there that does this…)

Note: so being a direction follower (call me crazy), I strictly followed the directions on this super glue. Which stated that you should apply glue to both sides of the ‘to-be-adhered’ objects and wait 2-10 minutes before adhering. I waiting about 7, and the glue was too dry by this time. So…if you’re using the same glue as me, consider me to be smarter than the glue and do what I say… (not because I’m necessarily smarter than glue—although I’d like to think so—but because you can greatly benefit from my mistakes, ‘aint life grand?).

Once the back of the circle is dry, apply a TINY amount of super glue to the back of the pebble.

Adhere magnet and firmly press. I’d even go as far as to put it on the table and really put your back into and prrrrrrrreeeessssssssss down really hard. Toddlers like to eat small objects like magnets…

Voila! You’re done. Easy peasy lemon squeezy (ok I know, the jokes are getting lame, but it’s late…so forgive me)

A few more notes:

-Although these glass pebble magnets are very durable (my toddler thinks its so fun to chuck them across the kitchen, landing on the hard tile floor—no broken ones yet), they are still glass, so be careful

-If you’re super cool and you have a fancy fridge that is not magnetic, you can use the back of a cookie sheet, or purchase a magnet board

Have fun!

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By Sarah | Also posted in Crafts, Home Decor, Kids Crafts | Tagged alphabet letters, alphabet magnets, glass pebble magnets, kids magnets | Comments (1)

Do you have a favorite workout song that is just FANTASTIC to workout to? It gets your heart pumping, makes your push your pedals faster, run an extra mile, or turn up the ‘incline’ on the treadmill? Except there’s just one problem…that dang swearword. Completely audible and completely unnecessary. And the ‘clean’ version isn’t available on iTunes? Or that song that is so great up until the end of it when the artists are blabbing or doing something weird that really just interrupts your ‘zone’. What to do, what to do…

Well I have a solution for you!

It’s a program called, Audacity. I’ve been using it since my days of creating ‘pep rally’ music back in high school.

It’s a super easy-to-use music editing software. And the best part? IT’S FREE! Yep. Free. Ahhh, now that’s music to my ears!

You can also use it to make ringtones (I’ll show you how in another post), clips of songs for video montages (also coming soon), and to cut out those annoying ‘talking’ parts at the beginning or end of songs (Black Eyed Peas are guilty of this!).

First thing you need to do to is download Audacity. Download it using this link, from Download.com, it’s a trusted source:

http://download.cnet.com/Audacity/3000-2170_4-10058117.html?tag=mncol

Next, if you are going to edit a song that is a Mp4 (the typical iTunes format), you will need to convert it to MP3 format. To do this, I use this program:

http://free-mp3-wma-converter.en.softonic.com/

(If these video tutorials are too small, click on the ‘You Tube’ icon on the video to watch it in You Tube, you can then watch it a little larger or full screen)

Then convert your music, this tutorial will show you how:

To trim a songs beginning, middle or end, see this tutorial:

To edit out a specific word or small part of the song, see this tutorial:

After your song is the way you would like it, in Audacity, go to File>Export As WAV OR Export As Mp3. This is a matter of preference, but both formats are very similar, I usually go with Mp3, it’s more universal.

And that’s it! Play around with Audacity, it’s a lot of fun. You can create little song snipits, record your voice to a song, mix two songs together, there are really a lot of options!

Good luck!

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By Sarah | Also posted in Tech | Tagged audacity, clean music, edit swear words, editing songs, how to edit music, how to edit songs, how to trim songs | Comments (0)

For my office re-organization project, I needed something to jazz up my fun yellow wall.

However, my budget didn’t allow me to spend crazy amounts of money on fancy art or decor. So…I came up with this great, fun, and INEXPENSIVE decorating idea! I love how thriftiness inspires creativity!

You can replicate my fabric frames, for just a little over $1 per frame!

For this project, you will need:

Unfinished frames from Michaels. These are only $1 each! Love it! They come in square or rectangle shapes (maybe more depending on your Michaels). Any frame will do for this project, you can even use old frames that you have hangin’ around (pun totally intended). I like the glass-less look since I’m using fabric, so try just ditching the glass if your frame has glass in it (the ones from Michaels don’t have glass).

4”x4” square of fabric for each frame. You can use old scraps you have of your favorite fabrics (I love the idea that I can preserve my favorite fabrics!). Or if you don’t have any scraps, or want to find some other fabric, a good way to go is buy a fat quarter of your fabric, they cost about $2.50 each.

Cardboard. Make sure that at least one side of the cardboard is a neutral color like white or brown (white is best). I didn’t think about this until after I cut out the cardboard, luckily the other side was white! The red would have shown through the fabric. This won’t matter if you fabric is really thick or dark.

Glue stick. Make sure it’s a clear-drying glue. A glue stick really is the best to use for this, so if you don’t have one, get one. Glue guns will make your fabric bumpy, and liquid glue will show through when it dries. They’re about $1 for a couple sticks.

Other tools: scissors, pen, hammer, nails.

If you’re using unfinished frames, or you want to jazz up your old frames, you’ll need some spray paint in your desired color. Here’s a little lesson I learned: being the ‘super saver’ that I am (or try to be). I thought it’d be a good idea to buy the Wal-Mart brand of spray paint for $0.97 as opposed to $2.97 for Krylon (DON’T get spray paint at Michaels, it’s twice the price!). Well after 3 cans of cheap spray paint, and a blister on my finger, I decided to try the Krylon, MUCH MUCH better. It’s worth the extra money. This sounds silly, but the nozzle for the cheap one is really uncomfortable and hurts your finger! I also feel like it didn’t go on as smooth as the Krylon and didn’t look as nice. So unless you don’t really care, or are much tougher than me, go with Krylon.

If you like, you can sand your frames first. I’m lazy and didn’t do this step. It will just make your frame look a little smoother.

When spraying your frames, hold the can about 6 inches away from the frame, and spray in short blasts, moving the can swiftly over the frame, back and forth, back and forth. If you just spray and hold, you can get ‘pools’ of paint that will make it uneven. Also make sure to do it outdoors or in a well ventilated area. You can even wear one of these…

Yes, I have no shame. I can’t believe I just posted this picture for all of you to see. It’s actually from a few months ago when I was up all night working on a project for Christmas. Lots of spray painting.

You could paint the frames using acrylic paint, but I like spray paint, I think it looks smoother.

After your frames and painted and dry, move on to the next step:

Next, if you would like only a certain part of the fabric pattern to show, place each frame over your fabric to determine how it will look in the frame (this won’t matter if you have a solid or small prints on your fabric).

Using the card that came with your frame, trace the square onto your fabric.

Cut out the square you just traced.

Repeat these steps for each frame.

After all your fabric squares are cut out, using your ironpress them well so they’re nice and flat.

Next, trace the squares onto your cardboard. Now you COULD just use the card that came with the frame, however, I wanted something a bit thicker. But if you’ want to use them, that works too—and you can skip this step.

Cut out each cardboard square.

Next, apply a generous amount of glue to the neutral side of your cardboard.

Place your fabric square onto the cardboard.

Press down firmly, smoothing out any glue lumps.

Lift up the corners and apply more glue if needed.

Repeat for all other fabric pieces.

Next, place your fabric and cardboard piece into the frame, making sure to be aware of the nail hole and how your fabric will hang (only necessary if you care which way the pattern is in the frame).

Press tabs down, securing your fabric and cardboard.

That’s it! Quick, easy and cheap!

My frames were very simple because I wanted them that way for my bright wall. Feel free to add more paint, embellishments, ribbon, buttons, rhinestones, the sky’s the limit! You could even cover the frame with something using modge podge.

I also love the fact that these are totally interchangeable! When I get sick of one, or find a new fabric I love and want to showcase, I will just switch out the cardboard!

The only bad thing about these frames is they sometimes hang crooked, solve this problem using double stick tape, or picture tabs (sticky pieces of foam that help your frames stay in place).

Have a bright and sunny day!

PS- Fabric.com is offering a great coupon right now! Save an Extra 20% off on All Clearance Items! Use code “CLEAR415″ between 4/15 and 4/19!

Want the SAME fabrics that I used? Here they are (from right to left):

Amy Butler Belle in French Wallpaper-Mustard

Amy Butler Love Tumble Roses Pink

Jennifer Paganelli Dance With Me Kayla Yellow Fabric By The Yard

Tanya Whelan Darla Picnic Damask-Green

I think the last one is Tanya Whelan (sorry I can’t find the name!)

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By Sarah | Also posted in Home Decor | Tagged bedroom decorating ideas, cheap home decor, decorating ideas, home accents, home decor, home decorating, interior design, unique home decor, wall decor | Comments (0)

Like I promised, this week’s ‘Learning Center’ post is a NON-sewing craft! This craft is very simple and quick! I love these headbands, they are so fun and versatile. You can also use covered buttons in almost any craft—they make fun doo-dad’s and nick nacks for whatever you can dream of. Instead of attaching them to a headband, you could glue it to a clip for a little girl’s hair, or add then to shoes, jackets, purses, etc. Have fun with it!

You will need:

Some fun fabric to cover your buttons with. You only need about 6”x6” square for each button.

A glue gun with extra glue

Scissors

60 ” of ribbon (I use 3/4” grosgrain ribbon, it works well)

A headband to cover (I like this thin one, but you can use whatever you like—find them at craft or hobby stores or online)

Button covering toolkit and buttons (I have found them at Joanns and Walmart, other craft stores probably carry them as well, or get them online ).

Check out this video tutorial to find out how to make them!

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By Sarah | Also posted in Crafts | Tagged baby headbands, fabric headband, girl headbands, hair bands, hair jewlery, headbands, plastic headband | Comments (1)

My apologies to all the non-sewers out there, but this week I have another sewing project. Next week, no sewing, I promise…

My friend asked if I would make her a ‘custom’ changing pad cover for her soon-to-arrive baby girl’s nursery. She couldn’t find exactly what she wanted, so I gladly accepted—knowing that you all would greatly benefit from her need! Thanks Tarah!

This is a great way to get that extra ‘piece’ to your nursery, you can really customize it how you want. Also a great baby shower gift, I think it’s a good idea to have a few of these on hand. My son was SO messy when it came to diaper changes, we were changing the cover multiple times a week.

So here goes…

What you need:

1 yard of 44′” wide fabric (this will be just enough, get a little extra for more wiggle room)
Measuring tape
45” elastic (any thickness will do)
2 safety pins
Coordinating thread

It’s always good to start with a freshly cleaned piece of fabric, this prevents shrinkage, and since this project is for a baby, I wanted the fabric to be nice and clean. So go ahead and throw it in the washer and dryer (bonus, you get to skip ironing it if you do this!)

Start by measuring your changing pad. I think they are all about the same size, but measure just to be sure. This one was 31x16x4. If yours is the same, woo hoo! skip the measuring part (I did it for you)

If your changing pad is not the same size, measure it to see what your dimensions should be. Measure the width, and add 5 inches to fit around the bottom of the pad (36” in my case).

Then measure the length of the ends (to determine the size of your end pieces). You do not need to add 5 inches here. 16” in my case.

Measure the height, add 5 inches (about 9” in my case).

Then measure the length of the pad, 31” here.

From my measurements, I decided I needed:

1 piece 36×31 inches long and 2 pieces that are 9×16 inches long, but to account for seam allowances, I’m actually going to cut the two smaller pieces an inch longer, so 10×17.

Got that?

1- 36”x31”

2-10×17”

(This where you can get creative, piece together different prints or types of fabric like minky and fleece to get a really nifty custom cover! Just make sure your end results are these sizes)

Now cut out your fabric:

I love using my rotary cutter to cut out rectangular shapes, but scissors work fine too.

Once all 3 pieces are cut out, you’re going to match the small pieces to the ends of the large piece.

To do this, with RIGHT sides together, use a pin, or mark with pencil or chalk, to mark the center of the small piece to the center of the large piece:

Then pin in place

Stitch a 1/2” seam, making sure to backstitch at each end

Repeat for both sides and press seams

After these pieces are stitched, it should look like this:

Next you’re going to sew the corners together

Lay your fabric out so you can see the corners meet at a 90 degree angle

Pull the corner of the bottom piece up to the corner of the large piece (right sides will be together), like so:

Make sure your edge where the seam makes a 90 degree angle is flat and straight, place a pin in the corner to keep it from shifting; pin edges in place

pincorner

Stitch a 1/2” seam along the edge, making sure to backstitch at each end.

Making sure your corners are flat and lined up straight will result in a nice corner like this:

Do this for all 4 corners.

Because my friend just wanted a ‘plain pink cover’ I decided to jazz it up just a tiny tiny bit by adding a zig zag top stitch to the seams. This step is totally optional, but gives a fun, finished look. I used a light pink thread for the top thread for a little bit of a contrast.

First press out the seams of each corner

Before you do your topstitch, this is a good time to make sure the cover fits onto the pad (at this step I found that I had miscalculated and had to cut off some fabric and re-do 2 corners…see aren’t you glad I experimented for you). Since you don’t have any elastic in yet, it will be loose, but should fit well over the corners and around the sides of the pad.

If all is well, continue on…

Select which stitch you would like to use, set the width and length accordingly.

Stitch directly on top of the seam, pulling the fabric tight so that it does not get caught and bunched in your stitches.

Make sure to pivot at each corner

Fun!

Now you’re ready to do the hem!

Fold the bottom of the cover over once

Then once again measuring about 1” (Don’t be lazy, use your seam gauge!)

Pin in place and continue to do so for the entire bottom edge of the cover

When you get back to where you started, make sure to mark with a pin about an inch or two away from your starting point, so you know to stop—leaving a small opening, this is how you will insert your elastic

Stitch close to the edge of the seam

Insert a safety pin into one end of your elastic

If you want, you can secure the other end of the elastic to your fabric using another safety pin (my fabric is pretty stiff so I skipped this step)

Insert the safety pin into the opening you created

Then using your fingers, work the safety pin with attached elastic through your hem

Keep working, pulling the bunched hem towards the opening, working an pulling…

Once you reach the end of the hem, safety pin your two ends of elastic together. Put the cover on the pad and make sure it’s as tight as you want it, if you want it a little tighter, just pull one end of the elastic and safety pin in place again.

When it’s the tightness you like, pin the edges of the elastic together and stitch (I used a zig zag stitch to make it extra secure)

Then pull on the hem to cause the elastic to revert into place

Fold over the fabric at the opening and pin in place

Stitch the opening closed.

Look at that! You did it!!

Now, this is a VERY simple cover. Change it up with fun fabrics, appliqués, embellishments, all sorts of nifty things…just keep in mind what may end up all over your cover one day…maybe less is more on this one.

Happy sewing!

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By Sarah | Also posted in Sewing | Tagged baby, baby changing pad cover, baby gift ideas, changing pad, changing pad cover, how to make a changing pad cover, how to sew, learn to sew, nursery, pink changing pad cover, Sewing | Comments (0)