BEFORE:

AFTER:

THE PROCESS:

1. Measure your mousepad.  Mine was 7.5" X 7.75".  Using my Gypsy and my Cricut, I cut out a frame background shape with those approximate dimensions.  This particular shape is from the Songbird cartridge.  I cut it out using the Provo Craft black vinyl.

2.  Because this was one solid piece of vinyl, I didn't bother using transfer tape.  I just applied it to the top of the mousepad like a giant sticker.

3.  I cut out "toolulu.com" using green vinyl.  I set the letters to cut at 1.5" tall.  I used the Simply Sweet cartridge.  HINT: there isn't a "." on this cartridge.  I set it to cut out "toolulu!com" and then just didn't use the top of the exclamation point.

4.  You'll definitely want to use the transfer tape if you're doing a design like this one.  I show how to cut and apply vinyl in a video post I did a few months ago.

5.  Use your mousepad!  I tested out the mouse I was using on vinyl before I applied it to my pad to make sure it would work.  Vinyl is a nice, smooth surface and works well.  If you're planning on adding a lot of different layers, you'll want to keep those along the outside of the mousepad so it doesn't interfere with the main path of the mouse.

This is a really fun project because it is quick and non-permanent.  If I decide I don't want a Toolulu mousepad anymore, I can just peel of the vinyl and add on something else!

This project is a true collaboration with my daughter. Today is her last day of preschool and we are going to miss her teacher, dearly.  Her teacher loves coffee so we thought a coffee cup sleeve would be a good idea.  I was just going to make a generic one with some cute fabric and then I had a grand idea!  I had my daughter draw on some felt and then I embroidered her drawing.  Genius, right?

Supplies:

Felt

Embroidery floss

Needle

Elastic hairband

Button

Washable marker

1.  Cut two pieces of felt into the shape of a cardboard coffee sleeve.  You can go and get your own coffee sleeve next time you're at the gas station or coffee shop and trace that (allowing 1/2" seam allowance on all sides).  I also found a few templates online.

2.  On one piece of felt, draw your design using washable markers.  Eva wrote her name and added a flower, heart, and a butterfly.

3. Begin stitching your design using the embroidery floss and a needle.  I use a combination of stitches to add some variety to the design.  It will really depend on what you have drawn out on the felt.  Eva picked out every single color on this particular project.  I think she did a great job!

4. Sew a button off to the side.  Eva chose this button as well.  I attached it using embroidery floss and I tacked it down pretty securely.

5.  Get your second piece of felt and place them right sides together.  On the opposite edge from where you placed the button, place your elastic hairband in between the two pieces of felt.  Pin it in place so about 1/2" of it is sticking out.  The picture below shows what it will look like after it has been sewn.

6.  Time to sew!  With your sewing machine, stitch around all four sides of the coffee sleeve leaving a 2"-3" gap so you can turn it right side out.

7.  Once it is turned right side out, use a needle and thread to stitch the opening closed.

Eva wants to be an artist when she grows up.  I think she's well on her way!

]]> http://www.christynelson.net/2010/05/embroidered-coffee-cup-sleeve-tutorial/feed/ 5 http://www.christynelson.net/2010/05/learning-to-love-my-veggies-jicama/ http://www.christynelson.net/2010/05/learning-to-love-my-veggies-jicama/#comments Thu, 20 May 2010 16:24:12 +0000 christy http://www.christynelson.net/?p=3312 photo credit: Gary Soup, via flickr

I'm kind of cheating this week because I already love jicama.  I fell in love with it when I served a mission for my church in Mexico.  I'm also kind of cheating by recycling a post I wrote back in 2007 called, Jicama 101.

Enjoy.

This, my friends, is a jícama. It is pronounced HEECK-uh-muh. I love them and I want you to love them, too.

A jícama is a vegetable that comes from Mexico and South America. It has often been described as a blend between an apple and a potato. It is somewhat sweet, watery, and can be eaten raw as well as cooked. It can be boiled, steamed, and mashed or cut up to be eaten with guacamole, put into salads, or with just a smidge of lime and salt (my personal favorite). You can even grill it! I can imagine it could be a little intimidating to try and figure out what to do with a jícama if one ended up in your shopping cart one day. Here is my tutorial on how to make my favorite Mexican street snack!

I like to give mine a little rub with a damp towel before I get down to the real business.

This particular jícama is well over 3 lbs. They range from ounces up to 6 lbs. I usually try to find them that are 1-2 lbs. but it seemed like the store didn't have any smaller than this when I was there. I'm not complaining! That just means more jícama for me! For the sake of this tutorial, however, I cut out a chunk for demonstration.

I use a knife to get under the skin and then use my hand to peel it back. It is much quicker and faster than trying to cut off the skin.

See that big chunk of peel? That was fun. There is still a small bit of rough skin on the outside. When I begin to cut the jícama, I can easily cut this off.

I cut slices about 1/2 inch thick.

I stack some slices and cut them into sticks. Before I do this, I trim the sides so my sticks will not have the rounded edges. These sides either go directly into my mouth (highly likely), I give them to Eva, or I save them for a salad.

I place the sticks in a cup and squeeze a little lime juice over them. Then add a dash of salt. A little goes a long way--remember, you can always add MORE but it is harder to take away! Feeling spicy? Add a dash of chili powder.

Wrap up any leftover sticks in plastic or place in a baggie. You can refrigerate them for up to a week. Jícama sticks make great snacks. They are healthy and refreshing on those hot summer days. It really takes me back to the time I spent in Mexico when you could buy jícama sticks from street vendors on every major corner. Enjoy!

This floral headband was one of the quickest and easiest projects I've completed.  I was inspired by some trash.  My friend, Lisa, came over and had me serge the edges of some flannel blankets for her new baby.  All the flannel edges that are basically trash,  looked so amazing in a pile and I knew I had to make them into little rosettes.

I made three rosettes.  The larger one had a bit more fuzz along the edge.  The smaller two...not so much.  All you do is roll up the strip of flannel until it is the size you want.  I added a bit of tacky glue along the edges to keep it rolled up here and there but that is it.

I had a spare headband that needed embellishing so I got out my trusty glue gun and added the rosettes off to the side.

I made this the night before I went to the Big Omaha conference.   I went with my Toolulu business partner, Deb, and we had a blast!  Here we are in the photo booth with our friend, Nia.

]]> http://www.christynelson.net/2010/05/flower-headband/feed/ 0 http://www.christynelson.net/2010/04/may-day-craft-ideas/ http://www.christynelson.net/2010/04/may-day-craft-ideas/#comments Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:32:26 +0000 christy http://www.christynelson.net/?p=3251 Do you live in a place that celebrates May Day?  In our neck of the woods, we make May baskets.  They are small and usually filled with flowers or treats and left at someone's doorstep. The kids love ringing the doorbell and running away.  Here are some of the projects we've made in the past few years.

This was one of my favorite May Day projects.  We made a cone out of scrapbook paper and filled it with pixie sticks.  We made the pixie sticks look like flowers by adding some punched scallops and circles.  I also used some fun stamps to embellish the flowers.  I punched a hole in the back of the cone and added an eyelet to thread the ribbon through.  Super easy to make!

We made these little matchbook favor boxes last year for May Day.  Here is the tutorial on how to make those.

This year I haven't decided on what we're going to make for our baskets.  I have a feeling fabric and felt will be be involved.  I'll be sure to post the finished results.

Speaking of finished results...want to know the winner of the April Craft Challenge?

You can use different materials to make these beads as fancy as you'd like.  We used some glossy paper that I had on hand.  Think about using scrapbook paper rolled up and finished with a clear lacquer and then mixed with glass beads for a funky bracelet or bookmark.  Maybe I should try that...

Supplies:

junk mail (magazine paper, brochures, etc...)
toothpicks (we couldn't find ours so we used matches)
Elmer's glue
scissors
string

1. Pick out your paper. We used  paper cut from one of those playground brochures.

2. Get your stick.

3. Cut your paper into triangles. The longer the triangles, the thicker the bead. Experiment with the size you like best. Then, starting with the largest side, start rolling them (right side down) onto the stick.

4. When you get to the end, put some glue along the tip and then keep rolling. You want to have a little excess so you can roll it across the rest of the bead. Your fingers will get a little messy---that's what crafting is all about! Using Mod Podge would be a better option if you're making beads for more than just play.

5.  Here are some of our finished beads. You can then string them onto string, yarn, or beading cord. We just used some old crochet thread I had lying around (turquoise/silver...oooh la la). The girls loved them!

Fresh off my crafting disasters, I went to a craft day held by our local group Lincoln Handmade.  I thought I'd keep it simple and just make some flower barrettes.  My daughter really loves putting those in her hair now and all of the supplies were on sale at Hobby Lobby a couple of weeks ago so I figured I'd go for it.  Easy enough, right?

Supplies:

artificial flowers

wire cutters

glue gun

alligator hair clips

Using your wire cutters (thanks to Christine for letting me borrow hers), snip off most of the stem.  Or, you can get the flowers that slide right off the stem.  Guess what?  Most of them do.  I was an idiot and snipped most of them before realizing that I could have skipped this step.

Next you want to put a big glob of hot glue over the hole.  You should still have a little bit of green plastic in there from the top of the flower.  Make sure you cover that with a big bit of glue.  That should hold all the layers of your flower in place.  Add a strip of glue just below the hole and place your clip on top.

I held the clip open so I didn't glue it shut.  I didn't even have to learn that tip the hard way.  I thought of it before it happened.

Things got a little crazy after I was finished.  I ended up making 25 of these.  I know we don't need that many but I used up all the clips and flowers.  Now I have some quick birthday gifts on hand.

Here is where you can find the original pi applique post.

To cut vinyl with your Cricut, you'll need some supplies.

Cricut machine (assuming you have a mat, blade, and a cartridge)

Vinyl

Transfer Tape

Tool Kit (useful, but optional)

an idea

Enjoy the video and me in all of my Cricut demonstrator glory.

Special thanks to Lezlie for running the camera.

Cartridges used for these projects:  Simply Sweet (font and stars) and Forever Young (flowers)

When people ask me what products got me excited at CHA, I always mention the button and shape studio from Epiphany Crafts.  It's difficult to tell what it does by looking at the contraption so I had them do a quick video demo on the product.  I think you'll like it!