Construction Journey Part 1

When we purchased our home we planned to build out our basement, put in a patio, update light fixtures and at some point redo our kitchen. Well life happened and time went by bringing us to four years later and finally construction is under way.
It has been a thrilling process and I couldn't be more pleased with our careful selection in choosing our contractor! I have had to make many decisions along this construction journey but the most important one has been the WHO were we going to trust into our home. Having any work done on or in the house while children are present is a decision not to take lightly when trusting access into your home. Especially for a job that requires weeks or months of work as our's has.
My kiddos have loved watching each truck deliver their goods, from lumber to dumpster to Port-A-Potty. I confess so have I... I have loved every step on this construction journey. Even the early morning wake up calls to the pound, pound, pound of a hammer or the late night spraying on of drywall texture, yes I have loved it all!
Here is a look at where we started from in our basement.

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Personalized Mugs

Easy and fun are mugs with your own personal spin! With a Sharpie permanent marker an inexpensive mug, or even a plate, some creativity and an oven your project is done in 35 minutes.
Once your mug is designed to your liking (any mistakes can be removed with acetone nail polish remover) then place it on a cookie sheet and pop it in the oven. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes and your design is now a permanent part of your mug.
These make for great gifts. Have your kids decorate their own hot coco mug or a special something for dad or grandparents.
Anyone will love sipping their favorite hot drink in a mug made special for them!
Happy decorating!

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Personalized Bath Towels

Five kids sharing one bathroom means, desperate need for organization! I had been using a color towel system (see here) that was working great, but I wanted something a little more personal and fun. Here is what I came up with. I am just loving how the towels turned out. I also love that my kids are enjoying hanging up their own towels and no one is left guessing whose towel is whose.

 Here is a quick tutorial of what I did. If you are left with questions, please message me, or email me and I will do my best to clarify.

The first thing you want to do is locate your tag. It will need to be on the bottom and the back. Lay your towel down and measure the top part of your towel. My towels had a clear band of stitching, at the top. Just above that, I measured the width and length. I then measured that same width and length for my fabric adding extra for a 1/4inch seam all the way around.

Notice just bellow my fabric is the stitching on the towel. I wanted to place my fabric directly above the stitching.

I first pinned and ironed my seam. I did a 1/4inch seam all the way around my fabric. Then I pinned my fabric to my towel.

 Using a straight stitch, I sewed the fabric onto the towel.
Now time for the monogram! I used my word processor to print out the font I wanted for my monogram. It is best to use a bold font.

I used liquid stitch to hold the fabric monogram in place on the towel. I then used an applique stitch on my sewing machine and sewed the monogram onto the towel.
I chose to place my monogram at the opposite, top corner of my towel. That way when the towel wraps around the monogram shows. 









 Because towels need to hang up to dry, I decided they NEEDED an easy hang loop! Here is a quick how I did it picture. 

The loop once pinned on (to the backside of the towel) should measure about 4". I folded my towel in half to find the exact center and pinned it on there. Using a straight stitch I sewed back and forth a few times just to reinforce the loop, since it will be holding the weight of the towel.

Are they not just lovely? It really is a simple project for a great result! Hope you have fun personalizing your towels!

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Now Open!

I am thrilled to announce the start of a new adventure for me! The launch of my new shop Creatively InDePendant in the wonderful market place of etsy! Please come stop by, shop, browse, tell your friends! I would be honored to have you join me!
Just follow the link placed inside Creatively InDePendant and you will land inside my shop! Or click on the "Shop" tab at the top of my blog and that will also guide you right to Creatively InDePendant! While in etsy if you did not follow one of my links, I can be found under the search tool by typing CreativeIndependant.

Come follow me on Facebook! CreativelyInDePendant on FB

Look forward to seeing you!
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Contact Paper Labels

I love labels! I love all those great vinyl labels available today, but the price just soars out of my budget.  Sadly I am not among the fortunate to own a Silhouette vinyl adhesive cutter do-hickey machine.  However, fortunately for me, my creative, frugal juices started flowing and I came up with my own solution for making "vinyl" labels.
Here is a quick tutorial of what I came up with. The labels I used, I created using gimp but the Internet (Pinterest too) is FULL of free printables you could take advantage of. 

I also used this method on other labels that I found out there on Pinterest while searching free printables. I cut these labels up and applied them to gift bags. Makes for a fun personalized way to say, "You are special to me!"
If you don't already, follow me on Pinterest and you can find these labels on my Printables board.
Hope you have fun sticking Contact Paper labels all over your home like I have.

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A Steamy Post

It's official! I have fallen in complete and total love! How did I not know how wonderful... how did I not realize when it was right there sitting on my laundry room shelf all these years?

My iron! I am swooning for this "hot" thing. I used to think of it as a steamy chore thing-a-ma-bob that I never used. Why use an iron when a hair dryer or clothes dryer works just fine... duh! Okay so for my wrinkly clothes they still will never be introduced to my new love, but for sewing and crafting HELLO! Love, I tell you! L-O-V-E, love! You know the iron never leaves its perch when your four year old daughter says, "Mom! What's THAT???" when you pull it out. I am happy to report she now knows what an iron is and made the quick connection to a small toy version she saw at Target, "Ohhhhh! That is what I have seen at Target. I always wondered what that was. Can I get one too?"
I am thinking this is a Christmas list must have! After all how can I deny her such love?

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Lampshade Makeover

What do an iron and a lampshade have in common? One very wonderful makeover project!

I bought this lampshade on clearance at Target with the purpose of giving it a makeover. Though it is cute, it is just not quite cute with the decor of my home so it needed a change. Using my iron, I set it on full steam and steamed around the shade. The steam and heat loosen and lift the glue making it possible to separate the fabric from the pieces needing to be reused.

 Here is the first part of the metal frame. In this particular shade there is a bottom frame as well rather than being all in one piece.

 Now that the shade is separated from the frame, it is time to separate the fabric from the shade.

 Using the steam once again iron over your fabric. Begin to lift the fabric from the shade.

Once you have separated the two, you now have a shade ready to be recovered. Lay out your shade face down on top of your fabric to use as a pattern. Cut around your shade leaving enough (but not too much) fabric to be wrapped around the edges of the frame. 

Then with spray adhesive or fabric glue brush on the glue on the wrong side or your fabric. Once your fabric is in place, use your hot glue gun to glue the top part of your frame in place. Once that is done it is now time to glue your bottom frame. After your frame is in place you will need to glue the edges of your frame. Go around the frame with your hot glue gun and wrap the fabric around the frame. 

Now time to "fun" it up with fringe! Don't let that glue gun cool because you will need it yet again to give your new lamp shade some sassy style. Remember the adorable play kitchen remodel? This stylish lamp coordinates with the bottom part of the ruffle. Oh the ear piercing squeals my girls let out, yes they love their new set up as much as I do.

 P.S. The lamp base was a garage sale find that used to be green. It got a fresh coat of black paint along with a new "hat" and I have to say this very inexpensive makeover turned out swell.


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