Painted DIY Roman Shades: On a Budget

SOOOO, this is what happens when you rent a house full of mini-blinds AND share that house with a curious cat: 

Obviously, it got a little uncomfortable to live fully exposed to the neighbors so I needed a quick fix.  Beautiful, sturdy, wooden blinds would be my preferred solution but too costly for a rental. Instead, I found 1 pack of THESE curtains at Ikea (discounted at $14.99 which equals about $2.30/yard), 5 yards of muslin ($0.90/yard) at Dallas's CHEAPEST fabric store, and THIS awesome tutorial on pinterest. With the cost of the fabric glue, my end product: 5 Roman shade window treatments for about $5 each.

I got a bit ambitious on the first shade and decided to paint THIS print on it. I like to call the finished look "free-hand weathered" basically because I didn't know what I was doing. So if any of y'all have tips on how to paint fabric, feel free to share! Here is what I did:

 1. Print off desired shape and trace with a pencil or chalk the same color of the paint. (I used a pen the color of the fabric but it shows through the paint... bad idea)

 2. Lay fabric flat on cardboard since the paint will bleed through.

 3. Dilute the fabric paint just slightly with water (the more water you add, the more it will bleed) and paint over stenciled outline.

4. Let dry for a couple hours and then follow steps in Roman shades tutorial linked above.

Now, even when I forget to raise the blinds, Horatio can weasel his was under the fabric without ruining the fixture.

(randomly foggy day in Dallas)

Pattern Review: Simplicity 2599

I made this top using the Simplicity Pattern 2599.

This pattern is a really great, basic pattern.  It is good for people who are just learning to sew, because there are no buttons or zippers- hooray!  It is also amazing for those who like to experiment with altering patterns.

For my top, I started by cutting the bodice front and back.  I decided to taper the width of the bodice from under the darts to the bottom hem to make the top less baggy.

I wanted the sleeves to be a little longer with a band and have a little puff to them.  I traced the sleeve pattern on tissue paper, and added a couple inches to the bottom.  Then, I followed  this puffy sleeve tutorial.  Anyone else instantly think of Anne of Green Gables when they say or hear "puffed sleeves"?

I topstitched some trim on the front bodice piece before I sewed the front and back bodice pieces together.  I also sewed trim on to the sleeve bands.

I would love try and make this pattern into a cute shift dress- just and width and length to the bottom of the pattern.  It would also like to try it with some of the cute collar tutorials that are out there.

WARNING: This pattern did seem to run a little large, so make a size or two smaller than the measurements recommend.  Even after I tapered in the width, the top is a little boxy.  I will be sure to go down an extra size next time.

If you have tried this pattern, or decide to in the future, we want to see your finished product!!  What did you think of the pattern? What changes did you make?

Easiest Way to Fancy Up a Shirt

Congrats ANNE, you're the giveaway winner! Please send us your mailing address.

And to anyone who's ever wanted to dress up a boring tee without having any skills or exerting any effort whatsoever, here's a solution. Go to a fabric or craft store (we love SAS in Tempe or Phoenix) and look at the fancypants old lady casino appliqués and find that one that speaks to you. Purchase it, hot glue it to a t-shirt, and boom. 

Mines looking a little ratty after several washes and a 9-month-old that likes sparkly things, but if you let it air dry, it should be no problem. Heck, you could even appliqué it on the way you're supposed to. 

Sorry for the boob shot. 

Valentine Giveaway

NOW CLOSED

Readers, we LOVE you- like, A LOT!!!  Valentine's Day is about a month away- and what better way to celebrate our love for you than a little DIY giveaway?

One follower of the Sisterhood of the Crafty Pants blog will win a diy valentine kit.

The kit includes:

12- 6" squares of adorable scrapbook paper (6 varieties)

6 different ribbons

8 white, scalloped cards

8 white envelopes

A handful of felt heart stickers

All followers of the blog are welcome to enter! Not a follower yet? Sign up on the side bar, and leave us a comment.

Extra entries:

• Post about the giveaway on Facebook
• Pin one of our Logos

• Pin a photo from one of our posts (some favorites here, here, here & here).
• Link our blog on your blog.
• Tweet about the blog.

For each entry, write a separate comment with a link to where you posted.
The winner will be chosen January 18th... just in time to make cards for all your valentines!

Remember- we love you!

Goodly Parents Poster

I really liked the talk "Becoming Goodly Parents" by L. Tom Perry since I'm new to the whole parenting thing and being bombarded with advice--some helpful, some not so much. His advice is some I actually want to follow, but knew I wouldn't remember it unless I had a visual reminder, so I put together this little poster (inspired by this design):

Feel free to download and print your own!

More colors HERE

Headboard

He's so annoyed with me!

This isn't really a tutorial- as I didn't document the process.  I DO hope it inspires you to tackle that headboard project that you have pinned, but are to scared to try.  Making a headboard can be easy and REALLY fun!  I decided to make a headboard over Christmas break...and it actually worked.  The best part is that I only spent $25.  So cool.

 The artist Kiki Smith was my inspiration:

I bought cheap muslin, batting, fabric dye, and embroidery thread.  First, I did a series of dip dying in different colors of rit dye.  My hands were stained and looked a little troll-ish because I didn't wear gloves.  I intended the fabric to be a quite a bit darker- like a deep black/purple, but I am pleasantly surprised with the lighter color. 

 I used my mom's gigantic embroidery hoop to stitch the stars (I did this while watching Anne of Green Gables with my sisters and mom- this is highly recommended).  I loved stitching the stars free-hand, it was exciting and interesting to see how each one developed.

Then I slapped the batting and fabric to a big piece of wood and stapled it to the back (with a staple gun- duh).  That is it.  Simple.  It is not a fancy headboard, but it is perfect for me!

Now, go make a headboard and send us a link so we can see it!