From Duvet to Sham...

My sister got a great deal on three discontinued EMMIE SOT Duvet sets at Ikea, $5 for a twin duvet with 2 shams.

Ikea Emmie SOT Duvet Set

She has an Ikea Hemnes Day Bed that I think is discontinued as well but the link will show you an idea of what is still available from Ikea.  She needed two of the sets for the comforters when the bed is pulled out and made for guests.  The third was picked up to make shams.  It turned out to be a way cheap alternative to the fabric store!

However, she DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO SEW!  Since I lover her and am a total sucker I did it for her, just like every other sewing project she wants done :)

Final Sham

Using the tutorial here I made four extra shams for her new guest bed/day bed.  Turned out to be super easy and they are very cute. I also made the back and front contrasting, just like the original duvet.

Each duvet easily makes 4 shams if you lay it out correctly.  I made a template from some of my kids writing paper rolls and used that to cut the pieces out.  The template pieces needed are:

• 31" x 25" (front piece)
• 35" x 25" (back) or 2 pieces measurinjg 17.5" x 25"  

* Note: I cut the back and front of the Duvet apart prior to laying out the pieces. This made it way easy to cut the sham pieces out.

Mother's Day! Lavender Salt Scrub with Coconut Oil

I wanted to make something special to give my friends and sisters for Mother's Day.  I remember a baby shower I went to about a year ago where the favor was a cute little jar of body scrub.  Since I've never made it before I perused Pinterest and find a couple of ideas.  I basically combined and switched them out to use the ingredients I had on hand and that I wanted to use.

I LOVE Coconut Oil and have been trying to find more ways to incorporate it into my life.  So here is what I came up with:

2 - 2 1/4 Cups Epsom Salt
8-10 Drops of Essential Oil (I used lavender that I had from making Toilet Bombs)
1/2 - 2/3 Cup Coconut Oil

Simply Mix them in a bowl, adding coconut oil to your desired consistency.  I did not use as much as other people suggested because I personally like a scrub that isn't over oily.  You can just melt the oil and add to the salt, stirring well.  Drop the oil, spread out over the mixture, and stir again.  I added a drop of blue and drop of red food coloring to turn it a little lavender (stir really well and let it sit before you use it).  Then simply spoon it into cute jars.

I picked up these jars at Tai Pan Trading for $1 each set of three.  I know Ikea has something like it, or you could just use mason jars.  I just printed the labels on card stock, cut out with a round punch, punched a hole and tied them to the jars.  The little spoons are just desert tasting spoons from Bed Bath and Beyond ($5 for 6).

You could print the labels at FedEx Office for a waterproof label.  I typically take the file on a jump drive and have it printed on clear label sheet using the laser printer for waterproofing.  Didn't have time today!

Burlap Bubble Wreath with Flowers

At Thanksgiving at my sisters house I saw the cutest wreath she made.  Loved it!  So, she said she would show me how and after an insane month and us having crazy schedules I decide to figure it out on my own.  One majorly long trip down the "Rabbit Hole" (AKA Pinterest) and a stop by Hobby Lobby lead to this:

Burlap Bubble Wreath

It was super easy to make.  The most time consuming part were the flowers.  I found a youtube video, completely by accident, that showed the flower technique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kwof_5H5e4.  It was surprisingly easy.  Here is my quick step-by-step of her technique:

• Make a 6 petal flower template:

1. Fold a paper in half, then in thirds and cut a the top into a dome shape and unfold to a flower

• Trace the flower template on to stiffened burlap.  

• I found great colors at Hobby Lobby and bought only 1/4 yard of each.  You can use fabric stiffener like Stiffy (Hobby Lobby, Michael's and even Walmart carry it) or if you have Mod Podge you can water it down a bit and wipe on with a foam brush and allow to dry overnight.  

• Cut out three for each flower, On the first flower:

1. Cut a slit between two petals to the center
2. Cut between each flower only about 1/4 inch to release the petal a bit
3. Curl each petal down using a pencil or pen

• On the second flower:

1. Cut a slit to the middle and remove one petal
2. Cut between each flower only about 1/4 inch to release the petal a bit
3. Curl each petal down using a pencil or pen

• On the third flower:

1. Cut a slit to the middle and remove two petals
2. Cut between each flower only about 1/4 inch to release the petal a bit
3. Curl each petal down using a pencil or pen

Assembling the flower:

1. On the first flower, overlap 2 petals using the slit already cut
2. On the second flower, overlap 2 petals where the petal was removed, glue with hot glue
3. Cut the bottom tip off of the second flower
4. Glue the second into the center of the first
5. On the third flower, overlap 2 petals where you removed the two, glue with hot blue
6. Cut the bottom tip off of the third flower
7. Glue the third into the center of the first and second
8. Cut the removed petals for the center of the flower
1. Cut the single petal into 2 petals, forming a heart shape
2. Cut the double petal piece into 4 petals
3. Roll the double/quad petal piece into a cone and glue with hot glue
4. Wrap the single petal/double around the cone and glue it together
5. Curl the petals outward
6. Cut off the cone end and glue into the center of the flower

Girls Night Wine Tasting

I need a fun girl's night with friends and my awesome sisters.  I sent out the invite and instructed each of my guests to bring an a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon costing under $15.  It is a great starting wine for reds, a good white is Chardonnay.  The end result was a great relaxing evening with good food and great wine!

Refreshment Table

I love adding a handmade touch to my parties and so I went crazy making fun wine themed things. Some of the things I made were score sheets, burlap wine bags, burlap table square, wine bottle candle holders, chip board "clip" boards, orchid flower pens, monogram cork decoration, chalk board frame, and chalkboard wine glasses.

Here's how:

Chalkboard Wine Glasses and Chalkboard Frame

I used Martha Stewart chalkboard paint from Michael's in the light grey color.  The frame is a leftover IKEA Ribba Frame I've had around for a while.  The great part about using this frame is it has a chipboard backing that is solid and I was able to paint that piece rather than the glass, which needs a glass primer to work well. Two coats on the chalkboard was a must!


Burlap Wine Bottle Bags

Rather than use brown paper bags or spend a bunch on fabric bags, I went with a rustic and natural theme by using burlap.  I found burlap for $3.99 a yard at Hobby Lobby and since I love to save I used the mobile coupon for 40% off (almost always available). One yard made 12 bags. Burlap falls apart if you aren't careful so I used a zigzag stitch in black to hold them together well.  A stencil and black paint I already had made the numbers.

At the party, I took each bottle brought and filled out an info card on each wine that matched the corresponding number bag I selected.  Each bottle was corked and the top label removed if necessary so there was no way of figuring out which bottle was which.


Burlap Wrapped Wine Bottle Candle Holders

Super easy to make and of course emptying the bottles was 90% of the work but SO worth it!










Clip Boards and Orchid pens

Everyone needed a hard surface to write on so I cut down some 8.5" x 11" chipboard sheets and used a simple ribbon on a paper clip to hold the score sheets on.  My little ones helped me wrap pens in brown floral tape and attach a tiny orchid on the end.


Food!

Cheese is a great compliment to wine.  When planning a wine tasting party check out cheese pairings to bring out the flavors of the wine.  I shopped the cheese bar at my Harmon's Market and went with a  hard white Irish Cheddar, smoked Holland Gouda, and a Delice Camembert.


We tried several wines and in the end I added up the individual scores, rated 1-10 by each guest, and the winner was Black Opal Cabernet Sauvignon and cost $9.99.  Not too bad!  Next time we will try out a white and go from there.

Inexpensive LEGO Play Table

I have an active 6-year-old boy who LOVES Lego's, me not so much.  Bending over, on our knees, Lego's aren't my favorite thing to play with.  A Lego table was much needed but not at $100+!  This super simple idea is great and incredibly inexpensive.

Table: Ikea Lack Side Table $7.99 in Green (other great colors like white, grey, red, and black are all available but at different prices)

Lego Sheet: Lego Building Plate 15" x 15" (I bought it from Target but they are also on Amazon and at Toys R'us.  You can also go with 4 of 5" x 5" squares, about $6-8 each, my store was sold out and I was too lazy to go elsewhere.)

E6000 Glue: (available at Walmart, craft stores, etc.  Dries strong but not hard like hot glue and very difficult to remove so little fingers won't be prying it off.)

Just assemble the table and glue the plate into the center and for $23 you have a great end result!

 

 I'm changing my tune! Yes, I never post and it's sad really. Much of what I have to say or think about when I want to post something is basically unexciting or just marketing my shops on Etsy. Well, I'm not just a boring old jewelry designer. Not at all. I call myself a "Domestic Goddess" and I love to try new things like sewing, cooking, crafting and anything that keeps my scatter brain busy. I'be been working on several projects around my house and in my studio and want to share them with everyone.Upcoming posts include: Awesome and Easy to Sew Bench Cushion and Lego Table.

Right now, a glass of wine and some lists of upcoming posts so check back!

I Love a Great DEAL!

I've gone totally nuts with taking part in deals, couponing, and saving for my family. I follow a couple of blogs and one of my favs is called Freebies2Deals, it is AWESOME! In honor of their saving ways I'm offering 15% off either of my Etsy stores, Sahara Amaya Designs and Amaya Designs, using the coupon code "FREEBIES". It automatically takes 15% off your order at check-out and is a great way to save on a Valentines gift, Mother's Day gift, birthday or even wedding pieces! Enjoy!



P.S. This deal expires at the end of the week, January 29th!