Thread Holder Tutorial

I had some fun today while attempting to organize my thread and avoid buying something premade and boring like this...

I made a quick and easy thread holder that doesn't require any of the very precious table space in my craft room. This is a quick and dirty tutorial on how to make a personalized thread holder in a matter of minutes. As you can tell, I refuse to buy matching thread for every project I work on so my stash is pretty small.

Supplies: 

Wood (any size will do, there are a ton of precut pieces at crafting stores, or just ask a handy fellow to cut you one)

Nails (at least 2 inches long) and without a head

Enough fabric to cover the wood and wrap around the edges

Modpodge

Hot glue gun and glue (optional)

Picture frame hanging hardware

Ensure your fabric is big enough to wrap around the edge of the wood so you can glue it on the back. 

Iron your fabric before you start!!! Adhere the fabric to the front of the wood using some Mod Podge. I kept it pretty light because I knew that the nails will also help secure the fabric. Do this a few inches at a time and smooth the fabric often to prevent wrinkles.

Now flip the wood over and use the hot glue to secure the edges of the fabric to the back of the wood. Then attach your picture frame hanging hardware in the center.

I grabbed a few spools of thread and lined up nails to determine how far to space them out. About 1 3/4 inches worked well for me.

I measured out the grid and placed a dot everywhere I would put a nail. I hammered in all of the nails with a slight upward angle.

 Here are a few pics of the finished product..................and I like it!

This concludes my Thanksgiving vacation. It was productive and creative; however, it lacked white fluffy stuff.

xoxo

Crow+Shay Travel Case

Winter = Crow+Shay

I carry a crochet hook and a ball of yarn with me a lot in the winter. What a better way to pass by 5 or 50 minutes while you are in line somewhere, at the dr.'s office, or even a basketball game :) I was kinda tired of my crochet hooks, scissors, and other stuff jingling around in my bag so I made an awesome little carrying case. 

I picked up this gorgeous fabric at Hip Stitch for a custom Christmas order, but really wanted to use a bit of it for me <3. 

I made a few more this morning and will either list them in my Etsy shop or give them away as Christmas gifts. 

Happy Friday (Black Friday that is...)

xoxo

Scarf Redo

I bought a boring ole yellow scarf from Target a few years ago (<$5)...its soft, very long, and just plain yellow.

After some adventures in sewing with elastic thread, I decided to give this scarf some shape and some ruffles using my new favorite sewing notion. Along the ends of the scarf and about every 10 inches I sewed horizontally. 

Looks MUCH better now, I might actually even wear it because it is such a fun color!

The backside of each ruffle looks like this. 

What a fun day of crafting, I hope you spent Black Friday being productive and NOT shopping!

xoxo

I've decorated for Thanksgiving!

Yep, all done. This is it, my one little Thanksgiving decoration. My sister-in-law makes these adorable painted pavers and I have one turkey and one Frankenstein. I love them, they are just the best!

xoxo

better late than never -- Halloween!

Halloween has come and gone and I slacked on sharing our costumes. Can you guess what we are?

Yep, you got it, HOBBITS! Here is a close up of the ears, hair, and beer steins!

Our friend Kerrie had a costume party and let me tell you what, it is nearly impossible to win "best costume" at this party because the costumes are fantastic! This photo shows off my husband, the tallest Hobbit EVER!

Great costumes by the Society of Women Engineers - Central New Mexico Section.

A few of the awesome friends I work with. 

My friend Lauren was dressed up as a character from the movie Resident Evil and her husband was a zombie. This is the look she was going for:

She did a great job compiling the costume and I helped her alter a red dress she had. She looks just like her character! 

And specifically for Grandma, Jakob the werewolf!

And just because my husband says I never post photos of him and our son Jakob. Love you guys!

Hope you had a very HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
xoxo

A Sugary Hit!

Over a hundred sugar skulls were patiently awaiting the crowd about to get their serious Dia de los Muertos craft on! The other fifty or so skulls got shipped off to somewhere across the country to be decorated by someone else. I didn't realize until a few days ago, that my price for "blank" sugar skulls was about 1/4 the going rate for a competitors site. Anyway, back to the best event at the Tuite house to occur this year.

About 50 or so people came and left from about 7 PM to 2 AM, they brought amazing food and drinks and some serious talent. Here are a LOT of photos from the party.

My friend and I made over 100 skulls combined between small and medium.

 

Decorations...marigolds are a must. Thanks to my friend Kerrie who had a bunch growing in her yard and brought some over for us to enjoy!

 

Now friends and family in action!

 

 

Bride of Frankenstein!

  

 

 

 

 

Even cutie pies hanging out!

 A few finished products!

 

 My lovely Mom even stopped by. 

And finally, some group photos. 

Hope you had a wonderful Dia de los Muertos too! And if you are in the Albuquerque area, check out the Muertos y Marigolds Parade this Sunday. You will surely be AMAZED!

xoxo