Crystal Light Reuse/Upcycle

Hey there everyone, I know it's been a while but I'm still here.

I hope you are well in these very trying times. We try to only go to the store when necessary and always take our masks to wear. 

We've been on three camping trips to Cottonwood Creek Campground in Lovell, Wyoming so far this year and are getting ready to head up to the Big Horn Mountains soon. I love it up there, so relaxing and beautiful views no matter where you are.

No stitchin' mojo to be found anywhere, but I have managed to use my sewing machine a few times so at least there's that.

Do you like those little bottles of Crystal Light to flavor your water, I do to, but hate to throw away those little plastic containers. 

Today I found a use for one.

After popping the top off (just twist it) I rinsed the bottle and the lid out and removed the label. Then I got our large bottle of hand sanitizer and pumped it in and snapped the lid back on. 

Tried it out and it works great and is just the right size to put in my purse. Pretty sure it will also work for hand lotion, so I'll try that with the next one.

That's all for now, so until next post.......

Take Care Everyone &

Stay Safe.

Hugs, Sandy

New Ironing Board Cover

 Hello everyone; hope this finds you all well.

My tabletop ironing board needed a new cover after years of ironing damp needlework and other crafts it was looking very, very sad.

So not wanting to wait until I found the perfect fabric I did a "make-do" cover.

I used an old king sized pillow case that was at least 30 years old but still in great condition. I left the original thin foam pad that came with the ironing board but added two layers of cotton batting for a nice padded feel that won't let the grid pattern show or leave an impression when ironing.

First I turned the pillow case inside out.

Then I traced the outline of the old cover on top of the pillow case then added a 1/2"-5/8" stitching line (didn't measure, just eyeballed it). I stitched around on the stitching line leaving a 2"-3" opening for turning at the front. 

I then cut 1/2" away from the stitching line and turned the case right side out and pressed.

Went back to the sewing machine and stitched on the outline from the old cover to make a casing. 

I finished by pulling 1/2" elastic thru the opening and stitched the elastic ends together. I didn't sew the opening closed since it was brunched up enough to not show after the elastic was in. I tried ribbon but it was a hassle trying to get it pulled tight and tied off.

This only took me about an hour and cost nothing.

I'll keep the original top for when I find that perfect fabric.

Take Care Everyone

Hugs, Sandy

Some Things for the Vacation Home

Hello Dear Friends & Readers. I hope this finds you all well.

Back in March I placed an order on Amazon for some items for our Vacation Home (aka: the 5th wheel trailer) and totally forgot to post about the goodies even though I did take pictures.

I wanted to organize our dishes better and keep them from sliding around in the cupboard and also wanted to replace the Tupperware that Bretz RV included with our trailer, so I got these.

"Camco - Stack-a-Plate"

These work great and have a non-slip coating on the bottom to keep them from sliding around and you can also screw them in place if you need more security.

The large one hold's up to 10 1/4" plates and the smaller one holds the sandwich plates and bowls.

They hold our new dishes.

 

"Corelle Living Ware"

 It is guaranteed to be highly break and chip resistant and other campers and full-time RVer's have been using it for years with great results. 

 I added squares of the black non-slip shelf liner in between each one of the bowls for added safety. I also have squares of the shelf liner in between the cookware to keep them from scratching since they are the non-stick variety. I kept the Tupperware plates and bowls to use for lunches. Need to add a shelf above the dishes for more storage room.

 

Wanted to add more hanging space to our closet, so I bought these....

 

 

They turned our hanging area from this....

 

To this....

Our closet is a little short so some of the clothes bunch up on the bottom, but it's not that bad and nothing gets wrinkled. 

Of course there is no room for extra shoes on the bottom when the closet is fully loaded for camping season so I need to come up with a shoe rack of some sort now. Think I'll check out Pintrest for some do-it-yourself ideas.

Also need to buy a battery operated light bar to replace the puck light that doesn't put out near enough light in the closet.

 

All of these items cost me no money at all thanks to spending some time taking surveys and exchanging my points for Amazon gift cards. 

I found an older paper towel holder in our basement and need to get it put up so the paper towels aren't just sitting on the counter. I mostly use Pinecone, Lifepoints, and Swagbucks.

After a soak and a scrub in hot soapy water it looks just like new.

I also bought sheets for the bed and modified them to fit better, but that is a post for another day.

Take Care Everyone

Hugs, Sandy

Meet Belle

Hello Dear Friends & Followers;

Hope this post finds you well.

After I finished making "Jingles" for my winter decorating I decided that he needed a friend, a lady friend.

So let me introduce "Belle" 

"Belle"

She might get the rosy cheeks treatment as soon as I buy some blusher.

She is made from the same natural cotton batting and stuffed with fiber fill from an old pillow. She wears dark red felt earmuffs with a braided jute band adorned with smalls snowflakes, a dark red felt scarf with fringed ends and a snowflake, and a dark red felt apron with lace overlay that ties in the back. She has a handmade orange felt carrot nose and sewn on dark blue button eyes. She is 8" tall and 6" across the bottom.

 

I still haven't decided on the arms yet, I have some twigs that would work, but would have to be very careful when packing them away so they don't get broken. We're going to town next weekend and will hit up the craft stores to see if they have any alternatives for arms. If nothing else maybe I can use brown pipe cleaners or something similar. Maybe some heavy wire or pipe cleaner wrapped in a single strand of jute.

"Jingles & Belle"

I think they make a perfect couple.

I call these "make-do" crafts since I had everything for them right in my craft room except the arms. I'll have to try a pipe cleaner wrapped in jute to see what that would look like, I have that in my craft room too.

Since I worked in a House of Fabrics for 2 years and a Ben Franklin's for 4-5 years I acquired a lot of stash.  

Thank you so much for stopping by today and maybe leaving your thoughts behind, I really appreciate each and every comment.

Take Care Everyone &

Have a great day.

 Hugs, Sandy

Winter Crafting

Hello Dear Friends & Followers

I hope all is well with you.

Since I haven't been doing any stitching since late October, I decided to do a bit of crafting. I love decorating for Christmas/Winter, but most of my decor pieces are Santa's of varying sizes, two Angel's, one Nativity and assorted pine boughs and wreaths. Not a lot to leave out for the rest of the winter months, so I'm trying to remedy that.

Here is my first try at making a more rustic winter....

"Jingles"

He's made from natural cotton batting, stuffed with fill from a well laundered old pillow, he has a weighted bottom, a hat made from an old glove and adorned with jingle bells sewn on the finger tips and little snowflakes scattered on the front, a scarf made from purple felt and fringed on the ends with a bigger snowflake, sewn on button eyes and two more for buttons down the front and a felt carrot nose.

 

He stands 9" tall and is 7" wide at the base. His nose pokes out at 1 1/2".

I tucked the thumb inside the glove and stitched the opening closed then gathered the fingers together and secured with some thread.

I thought about a bit of blush for the cheeks and twig arms, but don't know yet since I can mock up he arms but pink cheeks are forever.

I think he's just to cute and want to make a few more.

Thanks for stopping by and having a peek.

Take Care Everyone

Hugs, Sandy