Oh Knickers! - The Knicker Bag Tutorial By Ros Coffey of RosMadeMe Blog

I have to tell you that the next tutorial is just too cute.    Not only is the fabric itself adorable, but the bag is made out of knickers.  It's a knicker bag.  If I've piqued your curiosity then check out the tutorial Ros Coffey has on her RosMadeMe Blog blog.   I just love it.

Oh Knickers! - The Knicker Bag Tutorial

Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Written by Ros Coffey of RosMadeMe Blog.

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial:  Yes, you read it right, this is the knicker bag tutorial and is I think the very first bag I ever made way back in the early 70s when the craze for them hit the Convent. It was such a great bag for carrying books and files to school, although I never quite managed to get the Peak Freens biscuit tin in there for Domestic Science!

As you can imagine the design is based on an outsize pair of knickers, with the gusset becoming the handle and the waist being sewn across to create the base of the bag... now before you think I have lost the plot I can tell you that no lingerie will be harmed in the making of this bag, so let's get started.

Ros's Bio:I live by the sea, in Essex, in Leigh-on-sea. I have been making things since I was a child, earliest memories were embroidering squares of binca matting, making felt egg cups and ripping back my knitting when my sister had picked up a dropped stitch... yep, it really did have to be all my own work! I am a dreadful hoarder, with stashes of wool and fabric hidden around my house, together with the projects that I have not yet finished. I am currently making cushions, quilted, appliqued, stencilled... actually just anything that I will enjoy crafting.

Copyright © 2010 - 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Ros Coffey of RosMadeMe Blog .

Please visit her RosMadeMe blog at http://rosmademe.blogspot.com .

Altered Book Frame Tutorial By June Crawford of A Creative Dream

I am a book lover and book collector and just hate throwing a good book away. Well, you can imagine how pleased I was to see that June Crawford had a wonderful tutorial on her A Creative Dream blog showing you how to make an altered photo frame from an old book. I just love this idea.

Altered book photo frame

Copyright © 2011 - All Rights Reserved - Written by June Crawford of A Creative Dream

Here's what June had to say about her tutorial:   Let's alter a book.... Not like I haven't done that pretty often, eh? I am somewhat obsessed with it aren't I? This time I have a twist though... instead of making another journal, how about we turn a book into my current fancy... a frame?

I seem to have caught this particular bug (for making frames) while I was working on the woven photo frame. (You know... the one that I've got up for grabs as the current give away...over there on the left).  Since you can alter books into so many other things, surely I can alter a book into a frame, right?

First is the deconstruction phase. One of the most interesting things I have found since I started altering books is how very simple it is to deconstruct one. I have always thought of a book as something that is rock solid, but all it takes is two carefully created incisions and you have a book cover separated from the book pages. My only caution here is that you be very careful (if you follow along and create your own) not to puncture the spine of the book while you make the incisions.

Please respect June's TERMS OF USE:  Please note, in regard to the copyright, all of the directions and photographs in my tutorials are mine, you may not copy or reproduce them without my consent. These instructions are for you to use for PERSONAL use only, not for profit.

June's Bio:  Me... a dreamer, a ponderer of big and small thoughts. A wanna-be artist, a soon to be empty-nester... wondering what the heck I am gonna do with the rest of my life...

Copyright © 2011 - All Rights Reserved - June Crawford of A Creative Dream.

Please visit  her A Creative Dream blog at http://acreativedreamer.blogspot.com/. Her A Creative Dream Flickr page is at  http://www.flickr.com/photos/creativedreamer/ .

Zip It, Flower! A Recycling Tutorial By Ros Coffey of RosMadeMe Blog

If you love to recycle and hate to throw anything anyway - even zippers then you're going to love the recycling zipper tutorial that Ros Coffey has on her RosMadeMe Blog blog.

Zip it, flower! A recycling tutorial

Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Written by Ros Coffey of RosMadeMe Blog.

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial:  My mother could mend anything and if she could not mend it, then it was saved just in case, which would explain why, when she was knocked off her bike in her 70s and had stitches, she was able to find a sterile stitch cutter in her sideboard so I could take her stitches out.

Now you will remember that the quality and capacity of her button jars were legend along with her useful bits of twine collection, however I am wishing that I had kept a hold of her zapped out zip collection because that is just what you are going to need to today to create these edgy, flower corsages or hair barrettes.

Ros's Bio:I live by the sea, in Essex, in Leigh-on-sea. I have been making things since I was a child, earliest memories were embroidering squares of binca matting, making felt egg cups and ripping back my knitting when my sister had picked up a dropped stitch... yep, it really did have to be all my own work! I am a dreadful hoarder, with stashes of wool and fabric hidden around my house, together with the projects that I have not yet finished. I am currently making cushions, quilted, appliqued, stencilled... actually just anything that I will enjoy crafting.

Copyright © 2010 - 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Ros Coffey of RosMadeMe Blog .

Please visit her RosMadeMe blog at http://rosmademe.blogspot.com .

Up-cycled Beaded Bracelet- Simple Tutorial By Andrea Millington of Indigo-Blue

Do you hate to throw anything away? Especially beads? If you like to upcycle then you'll be happy to know that Andrea Millington of Indigo Blue Designs has a wonderful tutorial on her Indigo Blue blog showing you how to up-cycle beads into a beaded chain bracelet.

Up-cycled Beaded Bracelet- Simple Tutorial

Copyright © 2011 - All Rights Reserved - Written By Andrea Millington of Indigo Blue blog.

Here's what Andrea had to say about her tutorial: ....If any jewellery or other accessories break I do try and save whatever I can and visiting a little shop in Truro gave me an idea to recycle some beads which I have had hidden in my bead box for ages and ages. I needed the above which are miniature in size.

Please respect Andrea's TERMS OF USE: I am more than happy to share my tutorials with you. You can use them to make projects for yourself, friends or family. Please do not use my tutorials to mass-produce items for sale. If you post your work online, please credit me (Andrea Millington) with the design and link to my Indigo Blue blog. :-)

Copyright © 2011 - All Rights Reserved - Andrea Millington of Indigo Blue Designs. Andrea is a textiles teacher with a passion for making things.

Please visit her Indigo Blue Designs Etsy Shoppe @ http://www.etsy.com/shop/indigo1/ and her Indigo Blue blog @ http://www.indigo-blue-designs.blogspot.com/

Little Flowers In Salt Shaker Vase Free Tutorial By Karen Bailey of Todolwen Blog

I just love paper creations - especially when they are combined with another one of my loves which is floral crafts.  So, I was pleased to see that Karen Bailey had a wonderful tutorial on her Todolwen blog showing you how to make little paper flowers in a saltshaker vase. They are just too adorable to resist.

LITTLE FLOWERS IN SALT SHAKER VASE

Copyright © 2011 - All Rights Reserved - Written by Karen Bailey of Todolwen Blog

Here's what Karen had to say about her tutorial: My First Tutorial. Hello my dear Friends. As I mentioned yesterday, I was working on a tutorial for the little flowers in the salt-shaker vase. Well, it is ready. So, here we go!

Please respect Karen's TERMS OF USE:  Please do not copy my tutorials in full and/or claim them to be your own and/or post them on your blog without my permission. Furthermore the sale of my tutorials is prohibited. All my designs are protected under copyright.

Karen's Bio: My name is Karen Bailey, and I am the wife for over 20 years to a now retired british serviceman and a Mum to two beautiful daughters. For many years we traveled and lived all over the world whilst serving in the army. After leaving the army we now live in Ontario, Canada. My passion is antiques, especially victorian unrestored furniture and household items and creating/crafting. For me there is nothing better when I have a moment to sit down and make something beautiful. My blog is 'Todolwen' which is an anogram made up from 'old to new' which is what I love to do ~ take something old and give it a new life. I hope you enjoy my makings as much as I enjoy creating them.

Copyright © 2011 - All Rights Reserved - Karen Bailey of  Todolwen Blog.

Please visit her Todolwen blog at http://todolwen.blogspot.com/.

Little Monsters Free Tutorial by Alisa Burke

Decorating for Halloween is so much fun.  Especially when Alisa Burke shows you how to decorate with adorable little monsters.  Have fun decorating!

little monsters tutorial
Copyright © 2010 - All Rights Reserved - Written by Alisa Burke of Alisa Burke

Here's what Alisa had to say about her tutorial: With Halloween right around the corner, I was inspired to create a handful of colorful little monsters from recycled cardboard tubes. If you weren't aware, I love finding new ways to upcycle cardboard tubes- they are free and super easy to turn into something unique. This project would be really fun for kids or for those who are like me and sometimes act like a kid!

Please respect Alisa's TERMS OF USE:  I work really hard to come up with my art, tutorials, ideas, classes, inspiration and more. Please understand that everything I post on my blog is for your personal use only - not for resale or redistribution. Please contact me if you are interested in using anything that I share online-thank you!!!

For more information on Alisa's Terms of Use please CLICK HERE.

Alisa's Bio: Alisa Burke is a freelance painter and mixed media artist who studied fine art at Portland State University. With a background in painting and printmaking, a desire to explore and push materials, Alisa is always looking for new ways to break the rules and redefine art. She draws inspiration from street art, graffiti, art history and fashion and it is not uncommon to find her digging through the trash in hopes of recycling something unique use in her artwork.

Alisa’s paintings have been exhibited in a variety of galleries and her handmade, painted accessories are carried in a number of boutiques across the country. Her artwork has been featured in publications such as Cloth Paper Scissors, Quilting Arts, Where Women Create, Somerset Studios’ Haute Handbags, Art Doll Quarterly, and the University of San Diego Magazine. In addition to making art, Alisa teaches a variety of workshops nation wide. Alisa appeared as a guest artist on the DIY Network show Craft Lab and book Canvas Remix was released in spring 2008.

Copyright © 2010 - All Rights Reserved - Alisa Burke of Alisa Burke.

Please visit her Alisa Burke website at http://www.alisaburke.com and her Alisa Burke - Redefine Creativity blog at http://www.alisaburke.blogspot.com. Her Alisa Burke Etsy shop is at http://alisaburke.etsy.com.

Christmas Stockings Made From Sweaters Free Tutorial by Kelly Oribine of The Complete Guide To Imperfect Homemaking

If you're looking for an innovative way to recycle old sweaters check out Kelly Orbine's "Christmas Stockings Made From Sweaters" tutorial.

Christmas Stockings Made from Sweaters

Copyright © 2011 All Rights Reserved - Written by Kelly Oribine of The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking

Here's what Kelly had to say about her tutorial: As many of you already know, we added two adorable new members to our family this year. Which means we were in need of two adorable new stockings. So I made some out of thrift store sweaters!

Please respect Kelly's TERMS OF USE: The content of my tutorials belongs to me. You may not use my images or text without crediting me. If you would like to share something you enjoyed on The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking on your own website, you may use one picture and /or a small selection of text, placed in quotation marks, credited and linked to me. I work hard to create my tutorials. Don't steal my work!

Copyright © 2011 All Rights Reserved - Kelly Oribine of The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking. Kelly is a homemaker and mother of five home-schooled children. She is passionate about keeping house, living simply, and painting things teal. Please visit Kelly's The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking blog at http://www.imperfecthomemaking.com .

Quick and Easy Throw Pillows From A Bedsheet Free Tutorial by Kelly Oribine of The Complete Guide To Imperfect Homemaking

As far as I'm concerned you can never have enough throw pillows. At least I can't. If you're like me then you'll want to check out Kelly Orbine's tutorial for quick and easy throw pillows from a bedsheet.

Tutorial: Quick and Easy throw pillows from a bedsheet

Copyright © 2011 All Rights Reserved - Written by Kelly Oribine of The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking

Here's what Kelly had to say about her tutorial: Before I start, I just want to say: this is not a sewing tutorial.  We are going to sew, but this is not a sewing tutorial.  I don't do those.

Sewing tutorials are best left to people who measure, and press and serge and know what all those doo-hickeys that came with their sewing machine are for.

We aren't going to do any measuring. Or pinning.  Or serging.

Please respect Kelly's TERMS OF USE: The content of my tutorials belongs to me. You may not use my images or text without crediting me. If you would like to share something you enjoyed on The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking on your own website, you may use one picture and /or a small selection of text, placed in quotation marks, credited and linked to me. I work hard to create my tutorials. Don't steal my work!

Copyright © 2011 All Rights Reserved - Kelly Oribine of The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking. Kelly is a homemaker and mother of five home-schooled children. She is passionate about keeping house, living simply, and painting things teal. Please visit Kelly's The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking blog at http://www.imperfecthomemaking.com .

How To Make Easy Paint Chip Wall Art and How To Make Boxes From Paint Swatches Free Tutorials by Jessica Jones

If you love crafting with paint chips you'll be happy to know that Jessica Jones has two wonderful tutorials showing you how to make Easy Paint Chip Art and how to make Boxes From Paint Chip Swatches.  Enjoy!

How to make easy paint chip wall art

Copyright © 2011- All Rights Reserved - Written By  Jessica Jones of Jessica Jones.

Here's what Jessica had to say about her tutorial:  If your apartment needs some decorating, you can't draw, and you're broke, consider chopping up paint chips. (Yep, I'm still on the paint chip kick.) These are Glidden swatches from Home Depot made into a simple triangle pattern. I put it inside a mat and frame I already had, and it looks fairly respectable. Put anything inside a mat and frame and it will look respectable. Heck, you could frame a crumpled-up Kleenex and somebody will assume it's a very special piece of modern art.

How to make boxes from paint swatches

Copyright © 2011- All Rights Reserved - Written By  Jessica Jones of Jessica Jones.

Here's what Jessica had to say about her tutorial:  If you've got paint chips sitting around begging to be made into something, try folding them into boxes for paperclips, thumbtacks, party favor candies, or tiny gifts. I made these from Behr swatches, available at Home Depot.

Please respect Jessica's TERMS OF USE:  You're welcome to link to my How About Orange blog or use a single image and brief description to link back to any post. Republishing posts in their entirety is prohibited without permission.

Copyright © 2011 - All Rights Reserved - Jessica Jones of Jessica Jones. Jessica is a professional graphic and textile designer.

Please visit her Jessica Jones website @ http://www.jessicajonesdesign.com/ and her How About Orange blog @ http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/.

Upcycled Baby Clothing Creature by Alisa Burke of Alisa Burke

I just LOVE softies especially ones that can evoke sentimental memories. If you love to recycle and love creating sentimental memories from your children's clothing then you'll love Alisa Burke's Upcycled Baby Clothing Creatures tutorial. Turn your kids clothing into sentimental softies. What a great idea!

upcycled baby clothing creatures

Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Written by Alisa Burke of Alisa Burke

Here's what Alisa had to say about her tutorial: Our baby is growing like a weed and that means lots of clothing doesn't fit anymore! And while we haven't invested very much money in her wardrobe (thank goodness!), we still have some cute things that already hold lots of memories and I can't bear to get rid of. So I have been saving my favorite outfits to cut up and create a whole bunch of abstract and whimsical little creatures to keep in Lucy's room for future play time and to display as little mementos of her early years. As she continues to grow out of more clothing, I will keep adding more creature to the collection!

Please respect Alisa's TERMS OF USE:  I work really hard to come up with my art, tutorials, ideas, classes, inspiration and more. Please understand that everything I post on my blog is for your personal use only - not for resale or redistribution. Please contact me if you are interested in using anything that I share online-thank you!!!

For more information on Alisa's Terms of Use please CLICK HERE.

Alisa's Bio: Alisa Burke is a freelance painter and mixed media artist who studied fine art at Portland State University. With a background in painting and printmaking, a desire to explore and push materials, Alisa is always looking for new ways to break the rules and redefine art. She draws inspiration from street art, graffiti, art history and fashion and it is not uncommon to find her digging through the trash in hopes of recycling something unique use in her artwork.

Alisa’s paintings have been exhibited in a variety of galleries and her handmade, painted accessories are carried in a number of boutiques across the country. Her artwork has been featured in publications such as Cloth Paper Scissors, Quilting Arts, Where Women Create, Somerset Studios’ Haute Handbags, Art Doll Quarterly, and the University of San Diego Magazine. In addition to making art, Alisa teaches a variety of workshops nation wide. Alisa appeared as a guest artist on the DIY Network show Craft Lab and book Canvas Remix was released in spring 2008.

Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Alisa Burke of Alisa Burke.

Please visit her Alisa Burke website at http://www.alisaburke.com and her Alisa Burke - Redefine Creativity blog at http://www.alisaburke.blogspot.com. Her Alisa Burke Etsy shop is at http://alisaburke.etsy.com.