Crafting

I've been crafting! I got the itch back when I was doing the sewing and have continued to do projects throughout the summer.
The first project was something for my door. I like to hang things on my door for each season or holiday. I couldn't seem to find anything that I absolutely adored, so I thought I would make my own. I went to Joanne and hoped for inspiration and there I found it. I bought some paint and some craft boards. I painted them opposing colors and then painted letters on each, spelling Summer Bliss. I drilled holes in the top to run fun ribbon (I already had the ribbon) through them to connect them all. When I went to hang-up the wonderful sign it was waaaayyyy too long, so I had to do some improvising and this is what I came up with. I really like it a lot, but am sad that I just figured out how to hang it and summer is almost over!

The second project came from one that I've been doing for awhile. During our college years, as each of us turned 21, someone created a t-shirt for the birthday girl/boy to wear throughout the night. People were to sign it, write words of wisdom on it, and write down the drinks you drank so the birthday person could remember the following day. A few weekends ago, a friend turned 40 and I created a shirt for her. On the front I painted a birthday cupcake and wrote birthday girl on the back I painted a 40 and wrote "buy her a birthday drink" I was so excited about it, I forgot to take a photo of it, so I'm waiting patiently for my friend to send me a photo of it. I don't know how well the shirt really worked, because she didn't get many drinks bought for her. Another friend of hers said that everyone at the bar must be illiterate because she didn't have many drinks in front of her.
The shirt painting project wasn't only for birthdays...it was also to celebrate fun things that we'd done. The last one I made was for AM and I after we went out to Colorado to surprise one of her friends from college and let me tell you it was a big surprise. He had no clue that we were coming out! We almost ended up getting a hotel because he wouldn't let us in. This week I worked on one to commemorate my recent trip to California.

This is all I can show you, because the other person getting it hasn't seen it yet and I want it to be a surprise for her half-birthday!
I painted on the front what we did and did a little design and then on the back I drew the state and all the fields that we visited. I spaced the words a little too far out on my shirt and half the letters are in my armpit! Oh well, I guess I will learn next time.

The last project is an ongoing one that started when I first got my teaching job. I have always wanted pillows in my room for my students to be able to use while they are reading. I also have collected a bunch of t-shirts that have special meaning, that I don't want to throw away, but am not wearing anymore, so in talking to my mom we came up with a great plan. I will buy pillows from thrift stores and garage sales and then cover them with my old t-shirts. It does involve a little sewing, but it is easy sewing that I can handle. I made about 7 when I first started and now 5 years later I'm going to make some more. Here is one from my dad's old t-shirts.

really, you don't need a tutorial on this- just lay the pillow on top of the shirt. cut around the pillow allowing an extra inch or two on all sides. sew up three sides. stuff the pillow in and sew up the last side! easy, see!