We've Got Spirit Yes We Do!! (A Class Flag How To) Part 1

HoLy BLoG SlaCKeR BaTMaN!! Has it really been almost 8 months since I've visited my own blog? That's what happens when you are totally busy with life, and kids, and life, and crafting. But I'm getting my MOJO back!  School has started and Halloween is just around the corner so I'm ready to get to some craftin' (as we say here in Texas).

Okay, so in Texas we have some spirit... LOTS of SPIRIT! (Have you seen the way we love us some football?) We start them young here, and we are super proud to wave our spirit flags. We even have spirit flags for our classes. Yes you heard it right, Class Spirit Flags! We get all sorts of creative on these flags. From bling and boas, and Angry Birds and 3D animals. The sky's the limit... well actually the size of the canvas is the limit, but you know what I mean.

So since some people out there may be a little intimidated by making a spirit flag, we thought (this is my friend Liz's brain child) that it would be a great idea to put together a HOW TO. This is Part 1 which is the preparation of your flags.  Ill also be giving you some great ideas and tips.  Part 2 will be how we put together our own flags for this year.  So you'll have to come back to see how this year's flags turn out. Just remember, you don't have to be Martha to make a fun and cute flag.  It just takes some patience, paint, a glue gun and a HOW TO.  Now lets get to crafting!

First things first... supplies:
-canvas fabric (you will need the fabric to be 4 inches longer on the side where the pole will be and another inch longer all the way around to make up for your border.
- Gesso Canvas Primer
- foam brushes
- regular brushes
- 2 wooden dowels
- glue gun
- paint
- gems, fur, additional colorful fabric, glitter, or anything else you want to use on your flag.
- PVC tube ( this will be the pole used to hang your flag so the length is up to you.)

Before you start prepping your flag, you need to measure about 4 inches from the end of the flag.  Draw a line and fold over your fabric to meet that line.  If you are handy with a sewing machine you can sew a straight line down the edge here to make the pocket for the pole.  If you aren't then your handy dandy glue gun will do just fine.

Now it is super important to paint an even coat of Gesso all over BOTH sides of the canvas. You want to give it about two coats on each side. Without this, any paint you put on the flag will just be sucked up by the canvas, which means... more paint and more coats.  So believe me Gesso is your best friend on this project.  Plus it makes the canvas stiff and this is a good thing when adding all kinds of fun things to your flag.  

Once your primed canvas is completely dry, then you can begin drawing your image or painting your base color on the canvas.  I recommend using just regular acrylic craft paint for this.  It's easy clean up and the coverage is really good.  

Over the years I've done a variety of flags... from simple to wow!  It is really up to you how you do it.  I have found a few tricks along the way though.  

*  If you're doing a flag with an animal theme, don't be afraid to use a stuffed animal.  By cutting it in half and hot gluing it to your flag, you get a 3D look with a lot of impact.  Add a pair of child size sun glasses and you've got a Kool Kat

* Look for fabrics or trims that add to the overall theme and affect of the flag.  Fur around a lions mane and jungle type fabric for the trim finish off a fun Jungle Lion themed flag. 

* Make your flag colorful and fun for the kids to look at.  Also experiment with different fonts and mix them together.  You can use chip board letters, stamps, stencils, vinyl letters.  It makes for an interesting look!























Note:  And don't forget to decorate the back of the flag as well.

* Sometimes simple is a good thing.  

*Flags can be decorated with all kinds of fun things.  Here plastic gems are added (one per student) to represent all of Mrs. Thomas's Treasures.

*Finally, fun fabric, boas, fur, and fun themed ribbon can make great borders around your flag.  There is so many fun things you can use for this.  Go roam around the craft store and see what pops out at you.

How fun would it be to have a team flag for your little soccer player or baseball player?  Go out there and show your spirit!!

Deb

A GIFT FOR A FRIEND

So often I see things in boutiques that I really, REALLY like, and I think, "I can totally make that." Then I think, "But will I make it?" and then I see the price and I know I will totally make it. This was one of those times. I recently saw some super cute frames with crosses in them. Of course this was during Neath the Wreath and I'm totally not shopping for myself, so I put it into my mental "I Can Do That" folder, and move on. So I've been collecting frames, and crosses and ribbon and... well if you could see my craft room you'd see I'm collecting a lot of stuff for future projects.

So a good friend of mine was having a birthday, and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to make one of these super cute frames. I started out with a nice black frame.



Then I covered the glass with some cheetah fabric I had left over from my Christmas tree skirt I made this year.



I then forgot to take pictures of the next two steps. I hate when I do that. So you'll just have to imagine it. I made a double layered bow out of some pretty brownish ribbon that I had and I hot glued it to the top of the frame. Then I hot glued two different crosses to the center of the frame. I love this layered look. And if you have a good imagination, this is what you get...



Okay, now I have to make one for myself!

A SUPER EASY TASSEL TUTORIAL

Little things make me happy. Yummy smelling candles, blingy jeans, Sonic ice, my kids putting their dishes in the sink. Really it's the simple things... and I do love me some easy to do crafts. So I thought I would put up a tutorial for those who want to make their own tassels so you could see they are really pretty stinkin' easy to make.

First, you need an ornament with a flat base. Really... it doesn't even have to be an ornament. It could be a small snow globe, a cute knob, just as long as it's flat on the bottom. So for this tutorial, I went to Target to find this super cute Santa that my friend Julianne used for her tassel.



and you need one of these little wood things... they are called candle cups, although really I've never seen these used for candles.



You glue the candle cup to the bottom of your ornament.



Next you find fun ribbon that coordinates with your ornament. If you're like me, you have lots and lots and lots of ribbon (don't tell my husband). So find yourself some cute ribbon and start making loops. I can't really give you a length since really it depends on your personal preference how puffy you want them.



Then you start hot gluing them to the candle cup in rows starting from the bottom and working your way toward the ornament.



Then you just continue to layer the ribbons until you make it to the top of the candle cup.



Once you're done with that, then you add some kind of trim or a fun boa to cover up the ends of the ribbon... and it makes it super fun too. You can also add some to the inside of the candle cup just to finish it off. You could also add cut ribbon or fringe to the bottom to lengthen it.



And voila! You're done and you have a fun, cute and unique tassel. These would make cute gifts don't you think??



Make sure you send me photos of what you create. I'd love to see them!

I'm also linked to this party...


*ciao
Deb

DRAB to FAB"ULOUS"

My little Drama Queen has a habit of asking me, "Mama, do I look FABULOUS?" She's got a whole lot of attitude in that little body of hers. So the other day, I found these denim totes at HobLob for 50% off which made them $2 each. I thought they would looks super "FABULOUS" if we just added some fun fabric to them. Luckily, I had some left over scraps from a previous project that would be perfect. Well as usual, my wheels start turning and I end up doing much more than I intended, but in the end... they are "FABULOUS!!!" What do you think??



So I start with this... plain Jane denim tote.



Then I found a "peace" symbol online and cut and pasted in into a Word document.




Printed it and cut it out. Then I traced it onto the fabric and cut it out...(sorry I didn't take a picture of that.)

Then I glued it (yes glued since I didn't have any of that sticky iron on stuff that you put on fabrics). But I did use fabric glue, so at least I wasn't totally off the wall with that. Anyway, back to my story, I glued and then stitched the "peace sign" on the bag.



Then because everything is so much more "FABULOUS" when it is blinged out even more, and because I just can't stop at mere cuteness, I decided to go on and do the inside too. So I measured (professional seamstresses turn away from the monitor and cover your eyes... I am about to do something that may make you spit!) This is my way of measuring... I put the bag on top of the fabric and just eyed it.



Then I added in some pockets for water bottles, crayons, stuff...



I then sewed up the side that was open and the bottom and made a little pouch, that then slips into the tote like this...



Then you pin the inside pouch to the outside tote (again, you seamstresses out there, just close your eyes and save yourself the frustration. I know, I know, just breathe in and breathe out!)



oh, and one more thing... don't forget to change out your bobbin thread (is that what the bottom circle thing is called? I forgot and had to go back and remove all the "white" thread that was showing on my denim bag... aaahhhh!!! So yeah, don't forget to do that.



Then you sew, sew, sew and in the end you have a fun tote that is lined with fun fabric...



and a little girl who thinks it looks "FABULOUS!!"



My girls like their bags so much, and Pre-Teen is even asking if she can use it as her back pack this year. Guess I saved myself some bucks with that one.

Have a great afternoon.

*ciao*
Deb