The Last BURST of Creative Energy (part 1)

I wrote in the "UFO/Unfinished Project" post  about my holiday break giving me time to tackle projects. I tackled a few more, and thought I'd share!

Dodger was either climbing all over my projects, eating my ribbon, chewing on my laptop and finally just passed out!

(He's a good boy, my little sweet doggie!)
















I saw a picture a long time ago of a brown leather bowling bag with cute leaf embroidery. I apologize for not being able to provide the original source, but it inspired me to pick up my embroidery needle---haven't done that in years!

I found the bag for about $10 at the Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market. Seriously, if you're local and you've never been, you NEED to go! It's a huge flea market held once every month, with everything you could possibly think of, including carnival-style food and plenty of people-watching fun! (The hipster-domesticus mingles with the masses at these kind of affairs.)

Back to the project: I have long been in the habit of keeping embroidery thread on hand. It's awfully handy--and sturdy--when dealing with sewing repairs. I know, there is thin sewing thread made for that and I have that, too, but embroidery thread is almost indestructible for simple fixes.

This project, in the end, was less than seventeen dollars. Most of that cost was for the bag, I'll factor in a few bucks for the thread, and I did have to buy leather needles (you can get these at any craft store, $2-30. What a pleasant, fun project!

But just before I embroidered the bag, I did this sampler first:

This was inspired by the embroidered canvas at Misters & Misses but you'll see that I re-interpreted it. I am working on putting a wall display together and I wanted more than just the square shapes of canvas, which I opted for a sampler hoop. The fabric was left over from my wedding. Total cost: less than $8.

Everyone's seen the next project all over Pinterest, by many different folks, so I'm not bothering to cite this one:

It's a work-in-progress; I'm debating on whether or not to add fabric backing or to leave it open. The pictures are clipped using small and medium wooden clothespins (99 cents to $1.99, Michael's); the ribbon was my own stock and the lace I picked up from Joann's (price varies depending on what you want).

I also made this grocery list frame, which is currently laying on a table collecting dust until we figure out how to put it up in our kitchen:

The supplies are simple: glue gun, scissors, cardstock, ribbon, frame. I got the frame from Goodwill (this I highly recommend--you can find some great frames and other re-purpose-able items for great prices!). Total cost: $10, though that's a guess. I recycled cardstock from my wedding and used the remnants of lace from the larger frame project above.

I think the original was better, but mine is fine and will serve an efficient purpose. :)

This next project is an old one I did before my wedding. I repurposed old coffee cans into nice containers and ended up using them for the bridal shower, thank you party, and other entertainment-type events. They are great to hold napkins, utensils, straws, and can be color-coordinated as much as you like. Just be careful with the Xacto knife! 

(I am very flattered that my project has been repinned all over Pinterest!)