Cozy Sweater Pillows

As you know, I like to re-invent things around my home, offering a fresh look to a room with little to no cost. Sometimes I tackle huge projects-like building a table, destroying a mirror, or making my own spinning composter.

However, some days I like to make a nice hot cup of Cinnamon Apple tea and stay indoors. This is one of those days.

I love pillows on my sofas, but hate paying $20 for something that cats will eventually destroy-or I’ll spill coffee on. What’s a girl to do?

Combine thrift store pillows with my ill-fitting and ugly sweaters. That’s what!

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own Cutesy Sweater Pillows:

Old Pillows or stuffing
Old Sweaters
Backing material-I used an old canvas laundry bag
Tape Measure
Scissors
Straight Pins
Thread and Bobbin to Match
Button covers (if desired)
Invisible Thread (not pictured here, due to its invisibility)
Sewing Machine

Start by measuring the width & height of the pillow. If you are using stuffing, determine how big you want the pillow.

Measure on the sweater the width & height of the pillow and add 3 inches for seam allowance.

For example, my pillow was 14″ x 14″. I cut out two 17″ squares of sweater material.

Fold the backing material in half, measure and cut out the same sized square as the sweater.

Sandwich the sweater material (right sides facing in) with the backing material. Pin all four layers of material together.

With a 1 1/2 seam, sew the four pieces of material together on 3 sides only-leaving one side open for the pillow (or stuffing).

Cut off the excess seam, snip the four corners and turn the material right side out.

Stuff the pillow inside of its new home-or add stuffing.

Using invisible thread and a stout needle, sew the opening closed.

If desired, make a button for the center of the pillow, following the instructions on the button maker box. Sew the button(s) on with more invisible thread, going all the way through the pillow and pulling the thread tight. This will make the button dimple into the pillow.

For ruffles on the pillow, cut 3-4″ wide strips from the sweater, making them 2″ longer than the squares of sweater material and backing.

Follow all of the above instructions, except instead of sewing all 4 pieces of material together at once:
Sew one side of the backing to the wrong side of the sweater material-leaving two separate pieces total.

Sew the edges of one side of the potential ruffle using a zig zag stitch.

Fold over 1/4″ of the unsewn side of the ruffle, pinning and evenly spacing each ruffle on the right side of the sweater material.
Sew the tops of the ruffles in place.

With right sides of the sweater facing in (backing material on the outside), sew the two separate pieces together on all 3 sides with the same 1 1/2 seam, leaving an opening for the pillow or stuffing.

Cut the excess seam off, snip the corners and turn the material right side out.

Slide the pillow inside of the material or use the stuffing to fill the pillow out. Use invisible thread once again to sew up the opening.

Throw them on your fancy pink couch, brew some more tea and take a nice nap.

Cute Presents from Mindy Mae’s Market

Dear Readers:
Have you ever forgotten you entered a contest and then weeks later were sent in the mail an awesome prize? This is what happened to me last week and I mistook it for a birthday present from some unknown source, until I tracked it down. I won a contest through Tatertots and Jello! This unexpected surprise made my day, my week and my month.

I entered the contest hosted by Tatertots and Jello in April-with the prize offered by Mindy Mae’s Market , which included cupcake holders, treat bags, bakers twine, tiny scissors, brown twine, jewelry and so much more. Let’s take a look!

I am not getting paid, reimbursed or even asked to write about this prize. I just loved it so much and the products were so freakin’ awesome that I wanted to share it with all of you!

First off, these amazing cupcake/treat holders were super cute and it will have to be a pretty special occasion for me to use them. Seriously? Polka dots?!

Next up, a bag of the cutest little plastic flowers.

I plan to attach those cute little flowers to these metal adjustable rings. Or make tiny crowns for Barbie dolls. I suppose I’ll need to find someone who has some Barbies still…

Along with the plastic flowers and rings, I had a bag of fun buttons and hair pins. I can’t wait to make all sorts of crazy combinations and give them away as gifts.

This is when it gets crazy. Fabric tape, ribbons, ric-rac, and tiny clothespins? It’s like this store came into being just for me.

Patterned tape, magnets and mason jar lids. Will the cuteness never end?

And finally, a beautiful necklace full of shiny keys with matching earrings, two wristbands and a bracelet. I seriously felt like I had won the lottery.

Thank you so much, Tatertots and Jello and  Mindy Mae’s Market  ! I feel like the luckiest girl in the world!

Plethora of Cans, Ideas and Your help

Dear Readers:

I am a minimalist by nature; the garbage can and the goodwill drop-off locations are my dearest friends. I often get into trouble for throwing something that we needed away.

That said, I am beginning to do something I swore I would never do. I am “saving up” for a project. What that project is, I don’t know. But, by golly, I am saving this stuff up for it.

These Wasabi Pea cans are just too good to throw in the recycle bin. And with each passing week, one more can is added to my stash.

Since all of you are a bunch of crazy creative nutjobs-just like me, I need your creative input on my multiplying can collection.

I have already made lanterns-Can You? I can, I CAN!. I am not opposed to making more of these, if I have a purpose for them. I know I can do the obvious luminary, too.

The cans are 7″ in heigth-tall and skinny (just like I like ’em).

They are about 3″ in diamter.

And they have a plastic lid that snaps on very tightly.

So, here’s your assignment, creative ladies:

Before I am featured on the show “Hoarders”, what do I do with these cans? Your input is much appreciated.