Canvas Stretching Tutorial

Well good morning!

I thought I'd squeeze one more tutorial on to the blog before we head out to good ol' Las Vegas, NV for the weekend! 

I try to give unique, personalized, well thought out, and hopefully handmade gifts for Christmas. I like to give something that I know for a fact that person doesn't already have. This year, I decided to get photo canvases made of pictures I had taken. I used THIS site to have them made. This particular canvas measures 12" X 18". 

1. You will need 4 canvas stretchers, each measuring 2 inches shorter than the canvas. For my canvas, my stretchers measured 10" and 16". You will also need the canvas and staple gun. I had to use my husband's because I couldn't find my girly one. :( It was a little harder because it requires more muscle.

 2. Close up of how the interlocking stretchers look. You can get these at most craft stores with a canvas section. 

Close up of the canvas.

3. Slide each adjoining stretcher into it's corresponding slot. This takes a little muscle. I felt like a dude during most of this project.

This is how it will look once it's in place. Do this to all ends. 

4. You may need to use a rubber mallet to make sure it's all as even as possible. You can check this by measuring from diagonals and checking if they are the same.

5. Lay the stretcher on the back of the canvas.

6. Stretch the canvas and staple one staple on each end.

7. One each side, staple two staples on each side of the first one. Continue to do this in a circle until you reach the corners. 

8. Once you reach the corner, fold it like a hospital corner and staple it. 

It should look like this.

8. You can hammer down and staples that stick out slightly. This wasn't my best canvas due to the heavy duty stapler. I wasn't able to get as close of a staple. 

9. Staple a string, wire or ribbon to the back to hang it.

This is how it should look. 

 11. Hang and admire your work. You might feel like a totally awesome carpenter. Like Jesus or something. Bask in that for a moment. 

Embroidery Hoop Art Tutorial

This super cute project can add a splash of color to any space needing it. In my case, it was my sewing room wall. I wasn't super thrilled about what I had before:

To me, it looked messy, not really cute, just blah.

So! I looked around at other pictures of craft rooms and saw these adorable embroidery hoop wall hangings. It seemed so cute and simple and cheap! So for the cost of $4.16 for 4 embroidery hoops and some of my favorite fabrics, I got to work!

1. You will need embroidery hoops, super cute fabrics, and scissors.

2. First, lay the hoop on top of the fabric, cut off a swatch to use.

In my case, I lucked out with this print (that I've been dying to use for something!) and was able to capture a perfect circle. (Well, almost perfect.)

3. Lay your fabric right side up above the non-adjusting ring.

4. Gently put the adjustable ring on top of the fabric. 

5. Flip it over and gently stretch the fabric between the rings. 

6. Once you reached your desired stretch, trim the excess fabric.

7. Admire your adorable work. 

8. Repeat steps 1-7 for the remaining rings. 

9. Hang them up! 

I think it really adds to the wall space, making it look  more chic!

Juniors to Youth Shorts Re-fashion Tutorial

I love tutorials. Absolutely love them. In fact, there's a site, www.youcanmakethis.com, that women actually sell patterns and tutorials of things they make. It is AWESOME.

I've always wanted to make one, so when I stumbled across a pair of size 11 juniors shorts for a BUCK at walmart, I had to come up with SOMETHING to make out of them. I tried them on, but they're a junior cut, so they were super short and wayyy too wide. So, instead of trying to whip something up for me, I thought making them into size 7/8 youth for my stepdaughter would be great! For a dollar, what could I lose, right?

Well, it was actually incredibly easy. It took me about 20 minutes start to finish. I can't wait to try them on her and see how they fit! I also bought a jump suit for $1, cut the inseam out, finished the edges and it's now one of my favorite shirts! :)

So here we go!

1. Buy giant shorts to make into tiny shorts. Check!

2. Lay small shorts on top of the large shorts. Line up the center (inseam) seams.

3. Hopefully you'll luck out like I did, and be able to cut the pocket out completely (shew!).

4. Open shorts, long ways.

5. Now, we'll insert the elastic the new back casing we created when we cut the shorts on the side seams. If you don't have this option, another idea would be to sew the elastic (stretched) to the inside of the back top. I used 8" of elastic for 7/8 shorts. You may need to measure your model to make sure the correct amount of elastic is used. Or you could be lazy like me and just eyeball the orignal 7/8 shorts. :)

6. Pin elastic at ends, the sew shut 1/2 from the edge on either side.

7. Pin shorts down side seams (right sides facing each other). Then sew shut with 1/2 inch seam allowance.

8. Finish ends with zig-zag stitch or serger. :)

9. Viola!! :)