A Winner and introducing Horatio!

I only got 6 entries to the contest but that wasn't entirely unexpected. I only recently started posting again and it takes time to build readership up. I've seen a couple contests where they let a small child or animal select the winner so I thought I'd give my new kitty a chance to play. I wrote everyone's name on a slip of paper and spread them out on the floor.

 This is Horatio, the people at the Humane society shelter claimed his name was Whiskers but that was just too ordinary for such an extraordinary feline. Horatio came into our lives after I had to have my 13 year old cat put down because he had a brain tumor. He looks rather confused here,doesn't he? All he has to do is play with one of the pieces of paper.

 But no go, he wouldn't even walk over them to give me a clue as to the winner. I had to think of something else. It just wouldn't be cute after all.

 So I folded them all up and looked around the house to see if I had a hat to put them in. But, I couldn't find any so I couldn't draw a name out of the hat. What to do, what to do? Maybe a measuring cup? I never heard of drawing a name out of a measuring cup, have you?

Well, I guess there has to be a first time for everything. I took a deep breath, plunged my hand into the measuring cup and drew out a piece of paper. It says Desi, so Desi is our winner. Congratulate Desi and say goodbye to Horatio, it's time for his nap.

It's My Birthday! and a Contest

Today is my birthday and just remember that once a woman reaches a "certain age" it's very impolite to ask her how old she is.

I've decided to have a quick contest, today only to celebrate. If your wondering why I have pictures of my gift bags up, well that's what I'm giving away so it makes sense, right? And this is a Birthday celebration so it's entirely appropriate! Except maybe the Christmas one.

So the prize is four gift bags from my stash, not necessarily these because these are actually for sale in my Deb Upcycles Etsy shop. You can give me an idea of what you want, boy, girl, adult, Christmas but I will choose them.

All you have to do is leave a comment. It would be nice if you could like, favorite or follow something (pretty please?) of mine but you can only have one entry for this contest from the comment. I will find some semi-scientific way to choose the winner (Maybe ask my cat?) and announce it tomorrow. Contest ends at midnight tonight August 20, 2011. Oh, and by the way, make sure there's some way to reach you in your comment. A link to your Etsy shop works for me if you have one.

From Pajamas to Pillows and More

I have a day off today with nothing to do except go out to dinner with some friends for my birthday tonight. That doesn't happen often, the nothing to do that is. The birthday happens only once a year.

We just had a Goodwill outlet open near us. If you didn't know, this is the place they sell all the stuff they don't think is good enough to sell at the regular thrift stores. I love the place but have to drag the college boy (24 year old son) with me because the walk from the nearest bus stop to it, isn't in the nicest neighborhood.

I found a pair of Christmas pajamas there the last time I went. Really nice fabric and just knew I could do something with them. After stretching them out on the bed and studying them I decided the top would make a great pillow and I could make gift bags out of the arms and legs. I've already sold the bags but will be posting more soon. The pillow is available in my Deb Upcycles Etsy shop.

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