Taking the Bus and Train

I finally did it. Actually had it done for me. I'm taking the bus and train, called the Metro Link here in St Louis, these days and no longer have a car. I've been living in St Louis since February and in April was in an accident that totaled my car. I just never got another one. I'm within walking distance to work and everywhere else I go I take the bus. It feels great, I'm getting exercise and have shrunk my carbon foot print.

I've opened a new Etsy shop called Deb Upcycles and where I've been selling things I make out of thrift shop finds. I still have the one I sell second chance craft supplies called Deb's Crafts, too.  I think I'm going to make this my official blog for both Etsy shops because it fits right in. There's a lot of work to be done here. I've apparently lost my background I had and I want it to look nice.

From a Wedding Dress to Christmas Ornaments

I bought this wedding dress at a thrift shop, it was badly soiled at the hem and had some other staining, also. But it was made of this gorgeous antique white heavy satin. I bought it with the intention of cutting it up and putting it in my Deb's Crafts Etsy Shop which I did. There are several listings there that include fat quarters or squares made from the train, I actually haven't gotton to the dress yet, the train had so much fabric in it. Then of course there are scraps. Although I put some of them in my bags of fancy fabric scraps in the shop this dress was creating like way too many scraps.

So this is what I started doing with the scraps. I have these stars for sale in my Deb Upcycles Etsy shop (or at least I will until someone buys them). They are really easy to make, so even though I'm trying to sell these I'll tell you how they're made.

1. Trace the shape you want on the back of the fabric and cut out with pinking shears.

2. Cut out a piece of quilt batting about 1/4 to 1/2 inch smaller than the shape.

3. Make a sandwich with the fabric and batting making sure the right side of the fabric is facing out on both sides.

4. Cut a small piece of ribbon (I used a small piece of leftover ribbon for this too) and attach to the wrong side of one of the fabric pieces using matching thread.

5. With 2 strands contrasting embroidery thread (another thrift shop find, I put a lot of it up in my Etsy Shop) use a running stitch 1/4 inch inside the edges making sure the batting stays tucked in. Then 1/4 inch inside that do it again. You can have as many or as few rows of stitching as the item will allow.

6. If desired, add a matching button to the center.

And that's it. Enjoy your new handmade ornaments.

Really Cute Fabric Filled Vases

Heres a great way to use up all those really small pieces of fabric you thought couldn't be used. Check out the tutorial at Craftaholics Anonymous

Great Ideas for Reusing Wrapping Paper

Every Christmas I can remember after all the presents have been unwrapped there were piles of wrapping paper that got stuffed into trash bags and taken out. Although I now use a lot of reusable boxes and bags there are still things that get wrapped in paper. So I have decided thois year that instead of stuffing all those wrappings into a trash bag and adding to the landfills I'm going to try some of the crafts at the following links.

How Recycled Wrapping Paper Crafts Work

How to Make Recycled Wrapping Paper Bows

Recycle Cards and Wrapping Paper

Summer Crafts - Recycling Craft - Decoupage Fun with Wrapping Paper

Quick Recycled Purse Tutorial

I found this while I was looking through youtube, check it out!

Recycled Paper Tables?

In the gift shop at the Missouri Botanical Gardens they had some recycled crafts for sale. What I really liked were the items that were made from magazine pages. The pages were folded and then wound up into various items there were platters, plaques and even a table. It was pretty awesome and I am searching the internet to see if I can find out how to do it. Not sure if I would have the patience to fold all that paper and am wondering if they didn't have some mechanical help. The pieces were all so even.

Missouri Botanical Gardens

Just wanted to show you one of the nicest places just to take a walk!