Snazzy Zipper Necklace

I delight in making Christmas gifts for family and friends.
Of course, there’s the stress out part when I’ve hot glued my knuckle for the tenth time and the present still isn’t finished. But, when the stars align and my present comes off without a hitch with no skin burned in the process-that’s when I can say, ‘Merry Christmas’!

It was difficult to wrap up this Fancy Zipper Necklace and place it underneath the tree.
But since it was so easy to do, I might just have to make one for myself.

Here’s what you’ll need to make this simple necklace:
Metal zippers-3-4 colors
Iron & Ironing board
24” ribbon
Hot glue gun
Scissors
Invisible Thread and needle (not pictured, because it’s invisible…)

Cut the stops from the ends of your zipper and remove the slider.

Iron the tape (fabric) on your zipper flat. Don’t iron the teeth-it scratches your iron and makes an awful sound. Not that I would know.

Make a loop around your pointer finger and place a 1-2” bead of hot glue on the end of the zipper tape (fabric). Begin rolling the tape in a circle, adding hot glue with each new loop.
Also, don’t lotion your hands for several days and then take close-up shots of them.

Your loop should look like this when finished-the teeth stair-stepping down as the loop grows.

Do this with each new color of zipper and choose how the zippers will be arranged on the necklace. I chose to make different sized zipper circles to add ‘visual variety’.
I just made ‘visual variety’ up. You have my permission to use it.

Add a bead of hot glue to attach one circle to the next.

Continue glueing until each circle is sufficiently attached to the next.

Here’s an optional step. My necklace recipient is a mother of many children, and I knew the necklace would be yanked on and possibly disrespected. Tsk, tsk. I sewed each circle to the next one using the invisible thread, just for added strength and kid-proofing.

After I had sufficiently reinforced the necklace, I chose the location where the ribbon would connect.

After cutting the ribbon in half, I used the invisible thread to attach it to the underside of my chosen zipper circles.

I implore you to try it on to make sure it looks cute.

My Snazzy Zipper Necklace did not disappoint me one bit. I hope the recipient likes it just as much. And if not, I may hint that I will take it off her hands. Heh heh.

It’s that time of year-Photo Albums as Christmas Gifts

I love making digital scrapbooks. By scanning in an old photo, I can fix any scratches or flaws with one of my editing programs. I also don’t have to give up that ‘one copy’ of my favorite photo. And lastly, I can make several copies for each family member with a click of a button.

I made an album for Biceps’ Grandma and Grandpa two Christmases ago. Grandpa especially loved seeing himself as a young whipper snapper next to his purty car…

…and seeing pictures of his favorite horse. Grandpa had a myriad of stories about good ‘ol Charlie.
And just so you know, Charlie could do no wrong.

The youngest heard from the oldest the stories that make up our family.

When I become a Grandma someday, I can tell stories of the homesteads that are no longer remaining. The albums will have the visual to give my kids and their kids-roots to farming, to Iowa, to a different life.

They’ll hear from me what I heard from Bicep’s grandparents. Stories about horrific spring tornadoes and God’s provision afterwards.

Stories about the untimely death of this man, Grandpa’s son, who was killed by a drunk driver in the 70’s.

And stories about how Grandpa and Grandma visited the man in the hospital who killed their son and prayed for him. They were able to lead that man to the Lord.

These stories should be shared-generation after generation. They should be memorized, written down and never forgotten. I mean, if you don’t know where you came from-how do you know where you’re going?

If you’re looking for that perfect gift, may I recommend a digital photo album? Or if that’s too much work, may I suggest a roll of 100 dollar bills? I didn’t have a roll of 100 dollar bills, so I went the photo album root.

Sassy Military Up-Cycle Shirt

A few too many plain t-shirts are junking up my closet. When wearing a plain tee-I feel as if I am blending into the crowd. Today was the day to ‘Sassify’ one of my old boring t-shirts. I spent less than an hour of my day and used scraps of materials, turning this ‘yawner’ into a ‘take notice’.

This t-shirt is a nod to my Dad and the military blood that is running through my veins.
Having a father that is a Retired Lieutenant Colonel and a West Point Graduate influences much of my daily life-and now my clothing apparently…
I added little button details on the front and the back, just for a little more sass.

Here’s what you’ll need to ‘Sassify’ your own plain t-shirt:
Scraps of material (I would recommend using felt in a bold color)
Heat n Bond
Scissors
Tape measure
Seam Ripper
Iron & Ironing board

Using your scraps of material, pick out your style for your new shirt.
I decided on a simple stripe and used sparkly red felt (so that I wouldn’t have to seam the ends) on a deep purple shirt. But I say, ‘Get crazy!’ Make different colors of flowers, a bird, a cactus…whatever the heck comes to mind.

Apply your Heat n Bond according to the package directions. Iron that sucker in place and let cool.

After adding my stripe to the front of the shirt, I decided the tiny pocket needed a little something too. I added this geometric shape using the same Heat n Bond technique.

Lastly, I added a swatch that rests on the small of my back. I used Heat n Bond once again to attach it to the shirt. Next, I added buttons to give it that ‘military look’.

Here is a close up on the buttons that I added to the front of the shirt.
Snazzy and so easy.

Once more, here is the final product that set me back less than $1. And below is the back of the shirt.

I am so happy that this little ditty has a new life. It was headed for the garage sale pile, and now it’s my sassy go-to shirt when needed.
My Dad would be so proud.

A Bird in the Headband….

The whipping fall wind brought about the need for a hair taming device. I dug around my sewing scraps and found a piece of lace that happened to be long enough to wrap around my noggin’. I liked the simplicity of the lace, but decided to add a touch of cute factor with feathers and a mini bird. In five minutes, I had a simple solution to the crazy hair-all-over-the-place problem.

If you don’t like the feathers and bird look, the options for the headband are endless:
replace the feathers with fabric or scrap ribbon and fray the ends, replace the bird with a button or a jewel…Get creative, get crazy!

Here’s what you’ll need to make your very own Feather and Lace Headband (or a similar version):
Piece of lace, ribbon or material long enough to fit around your noggin’
Two rubberbands
Feathers, scrap ribbon
Mini birds (found in the hobby section), jewels, buttons
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Thread to match your lace and a needle or a sewing machine

While your bird is watching (see upper right corner of photo), intertwine your two rubberbands as pictured above.

Loop each end of the lace around one side of the rubberband, sewing the loop closed.

Group together the feathers, frayed ribbon or fabric and cut a piece of lace to ‘corral’ the objects. Wrap the lace around the entire bottom of the ‘corralled’ objects and hot glue it together.

Add a bird, button or jewel to the top of the ‘corralled’ feathers.

Hot glue the ‘corralled’ object where it suits you on your lace headband. I chose the right side of the headband, halfway between my ear and the crown of my head.

I’ve also been known to wear this like a hippie would, and it looks just as cute-at least to me, it does. You may not agree and that is quite alright. I know that I am weird. But, if you are also weird…then….
All hail birds of a feather!