Link Parties

So in my effort to expand the reach of my blog posts I am trying out these link parties.  I guess they happen every week and its a way for bloggers to help each other out.  Here are links to the two I've joined today (that's part of it... you link on their site, they link on yours!)

You can find a ton of these parties here.  They are sorted by day so these are both Monday parties.  I'm still learning so if you have any hints or tips for me I would love to hear them!

Not-So-Extreme Coupon Organizer

Today's tutorial is for a simple coupon organizer.  I have made several of these for my mom in the past and she loves using hers so much I have to keep making her new ones!  I also made one for myself this time since I have been getting into using coupons more and more.  You can buy one of those accordion coupon holders pretty much anywhere but... who has the space for that?!  Those things are bigger than my purse!  So here is my solution!

First gather your supplies:

Card stock (I use plain for the main folder and then had a second sheet for decorating)

Pencil

Scissors

Washi-tape

Paper cutter (optional, you could just use the scissors :)

Draw a tick mark every 3 and 3.5 inches on the plain card stock.  The 3 inch mark is for the height of each section, and the extra half inch is to leave room for the tabs.

I got 3 sections out of one sheet and then had a scrap piece I used for the last section.  If you want to have more sections, just cut more pieces.

Next you need to cut the tabs, make sure you can see each one!  I just took the top measurement (8.5") and divided by 3 sections to determine how long to make each tab.  Adjust based on your number of sections.  Remember if you have 4 pieces you will have 3 sections, 5 makes 4 sections, and so on.

Now I like to attach each piece one by one with washi tape (or really any tape would work but washi is so pretty!).  This way you know that each section is secure and your folder won't fall apart.

That completes the structure of your folder!  You could choose to stop here and just write on the tabs OR... 

You can decorate!  I used scrapbook paper to decorate the front and each of the tabs.

That's it!  What do you guys think? Let me know in the comments!

Here is another one I made:

Super cute!

Check out how to put your coupons to use over on my other blog: Deals Actually

Custom Key Chain Tutorial

To order your very own custom key chain: Click here!

To make your very own custom key chain: keep reading :)

First you need to click on over to Amazon (after you finish this post of course!) and order some 1" key fob hardware sets!  The more you order, the better the price!  I think I ordered 20 for about $12.

Next head over to Joann Fabrics or Walmart and buy some cotton or nylon webbing.  If you are price conscious, definitely check Walmart first, less than $1/yard there!  Get a lot of pretty colors :)

Now for my favorite part: ribbon!! Make sure it isn't too wide or too skinny, 1" would be the absolute maximum, and I like to go skinnier than that so I can see the webbing color.

Go Gators! (Sorry couldn't resist!) These make great gifts for your guys too!

Now onto the how to:

It really couldn't be any simpler.  

1) Cut 10" of the webbing and ribbon

2) Sew up both of the long sides

3) Fold in half and attach key fob hardware with pliers

4) Done!

Now how easy was that?  These make the absolute best gifts because they are super cute AND super useful!!

 Order yours here!

If you have an embroidery machine, you can embroider onto the ribbon before attaching it, making your key chain even more custom! 

If you DON'T have an embroidery machine but want a custom key chain, I can help!  Message me on etsy and we'll create a custom order together!

Happy Krafting! ;)

Simple Pencil Case Tutorial

Today I bring you a super simple yet super cute tutorial!  Check out the original on Sweet Verbena's site.  Learn how to make this super quick and adorable pencil case for you, your kids, your friends, really anyone headed back to school for the new semester!

You need 2 cuts of fabric for the exterior and 2 of felt for the interior.

Don't be scared away by the zipper - I didn't even use a zipper foot!  It's so easy!

Lay down the fabric right side up then the zipper face down at the top.  Lay one piece of felt lined up at the top with those two. 

Sew.

Repeat on other side of the zipper.

Next sew all 4 pieces together across the bottom, right sides together. 

Now make sure to open up that zipper, at least half way.

Push the sewn bottom down so that it is laying on top of the zipper.

Sew both sides, this is how you make the pencil case flat, with the zipper in the middle.

Cut off extra fabric on the sides and bottom and turn.

Done!

See?  Told you that was easy. 

Now if you don't have your own sewing machine or time or desire to make you own, you can buy one over here, at my etsy shop Precious Prep!

Now if you want to make things exciting you can add embroidery, use 2 different fabrics, and move the zipper off center.  Let me know in the comments how you'd make it your own!

Here's a tip: If you do decide on embroidery, make sure that you do that first, so the back gets covered with the felt and looks much neater :)

Go Gators! :)

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Makeup Brush Roll Tutorial

Today I actually had time to do some crafting!  How exciting!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I have been working on my new blog Deals Actually!  I hope you'll check it out soon!

My tutorial today is for a super cute makeup brush roll!  This is super quick to make (30 mins?) and would make a great last minute Christmas gift for all the lovely ladies on your list!  How cute would this look in someone's stocking on Christmas morning?

So all you need to make this is some felt, fabric, and ribbon!  So easy!

First, cut felt to 8" x 9" and 4" x 9" (super easy if you are using a sheet of felt like me!)

Wow the felt looks GREEN in that pic!  I promise it does not glow in the dark! :)

Next, sew the 2 pieces together, creating the slots for your brushes.  I left a half inch on either (for the next step) and then I have a 2" slot on each end and four 1" slots in between.

Now cut out your fabric to 9" x 8" (I didn't actually measure, I just used the felt as a template!)  You'll also need a length of ribbon.  Exactly how long?  Whatever your gut tells you ;)

Next place the fabric and the felt right sides together (the side with the slots is the right side of the felt).  Make sure you fold the ribbon in half and place the separate ends inside your fabric sandwich, leave about an inch of the loop end sticking out.  You'll want to position the ribbon parallel to the top of the slots.

Sew around the edges (make sure you only catch the ribbon on ONE side!) leaving an opening for turning near the middle bottom.  Trim away any excess and clip the corners.  Turn and top stitch the opening.  You should have something like this:

Now how quick and easy was that?!  Felt is my new best friend!  It eliminates the need for interfacing and batting, its basically the best thing ever.  And the edges never fray!  Oh so amazing! 

Fill her up with your brushes:

Roll and go!

No time to make one?  Check out my Etsy store, Precious Prep, and place an order!  I am offering free shipping for the rest of the year!  Take a look around while you're there, maybe you'll find something else you like too!

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Precious Prep Now only $20!

Precious Prep Now only $15.40!

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Fall Wreath Tutorial - Burlap Wreaths

Have you seen the prices they charge for burlap wreaths in stores?! They must be crazy because I made two wreaths for under $20!

And now I am going to teach you to do the same!  So the first thing you need is a bunch of Michael's coupons... no one likes to pay full price, am I right?

I don't have my receipts any more but as I remember the two wreath hoops were about $4 each (before coupon), then the burlap rolls were $4 each(before coupon) (I only needed two!), the felt leaves and ribbon I honestly don't remember the price but I do remember that they were already on sale, so no coupon required!

I searched all over Pinterest to try and find a good way to do the burlap and I didn't really find a great tutorial.  Now you are probably expecting me to therefore give you a great tutorial on how to do it but... I can't say that I could.  What I can tell you is that all you have to do is weave the burlap ribbon in and out of the wires on the hoop.  Thats pretty much the best and only way to describe what I did.  It takes FOREVER at first because you have to pull 15 yards through each time, but it gets easier about half way through and in the end I think I did both in less than 2 hours.

After you have your burlap all poof-ed (is that a word?) and looking the way that pleases your preference, you can tie off the extra burlap that is left to make the hanger hook part.  Again, I can not think of a fabulous way to describe this process.  I just messed around with it until it looked right!  One hint though: make sure that you make the second one the same length as the first one! Otherwise your wreaths will not hang evenly.  I used a bit of hot glue to secure the ends.  Be EXTREMELY careful doing this, hot glue goes straight through the burlap so wait a few seconds before pressing anything down to avoid hot glue-ing your fingers!

Now let your imagination run wild!  If you like the way my wreaths turned out, which I really hope you do, keep reading!  Otherwise, share what embellishments you're using with me in the comments! :)

I purchased two bouquet things of leaves at Michaels, half of them were regular fake leaves and the other half were kind of a felt material.  I loved the way the felt ones looked so I only used those.  For the bows, I used about 6 yards of ribbon each!  I had never made a bow from ribbon before so yet again I don't have step by step instructions for you, sorry about that!  But if I can figure it out, so can you!  The ribbon I had had wire in the edges so that helped a lot to keep the shape of the bows.  I would suggest getting a similar ribbon if you aren't a bow expert, like me.  Just work that ribbon until it works for you!

Then I just used hot glue to get everything on there!  It helped me to lay them both out before glueing so that I had an idea of where everything would go before committing to it with the hot glue.

Finally give them to your mom as a surprise when you come home for the weekend! ;)

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Craft-a-holic

Here is where you can buy my crafts: Precious Prep on Etsy
I did a LOT of sewing this weekend! And let me tell you- it was awesome! I'd kind of taken a break from sewing for a bit there but it felt great to get back at it! Here are the majority of items I made:

Quite a bit right?! And that isn't all of it! Please leave a comment or shoot me an email (chicboutique612@gmail.com) if you'd be interested in any of the items pictured! I can do custom items too with my embroidary machine! 

So the real point of this post is to share some valuable lessons I learned this weekend! 

1) the iron is your friend! I never use the iron because it is a pain to get it out with the ironing board and wait for it to heat up and blah blah blah... But for once I went through with the hassle and OMG! It makes a difference! 

2) pin pin pin! I always hated the process of pinning my fabric- takes so long and then you have to pull em out as you sew and... Am I sounding lazy yet? HA! But yeah, pinning makes a huge difference! So just do it!

3) patience! As you might be able to tell from tips 1 and 2... I'm not the most patient girl on Earth ;) But if you are patient the first time, you won't have to rip everything out and try a second (third) time! And you won't have to insult your sewing machine with a dictionary's worth of 4 letter words ;D tell me I'm not the only one who does that... Oops 

Happy Crafting! :) 

If you are interested in purchasing, the items I have available are:

Makeup bag

Pencil pouch

Hair bow

Glasses sleeve

Key fob/ key chain

Prices will vary based on each order but items are between $5-$10 :)

Chicboutique612@gmail.com

or 

Etsy

DIY Makeup Palette

I am so excited to share this with you!  I combined my two (current) favorites - makeup and crafts, to create my own palette.  If you haven't heard of "depotting" and makeup palettes, just do a quick Google, You-Tube or Pinterest search and you will be able to learn a bunch about it!

At first my plan was to make a Z-Palette copy and depot all these eyeshadows:

But then I chickened out and didn't want to risk the most expensive makeup I've ever bought with this experiment.  Soon I will write another post on depotting some cheaper eye shadows :)

So here are my supplies, in pictures, because who doesn't like a bunch of pictures??

Are you ready for this?! Washi Tape SHEETS! They're awesome (Got mine at Target)

Magnetic Tape Strips (Just $0.97 at Walmart!)

This container from the Container Store (It was $5.99) (Sorry about the bad pics, it was hard to figure out how to take a picture of something clear...)

A 1" circle punch (not 100% required but it sure makes things easier!)

And now for the how-to!

First cut a piece of Washi Tape Sheet to fit into the container, like so:

Don't be fooled by the picture - that thing is no where near perfectly smooth, but it looks pretty good, took some patience to get that in there though, but you can do it!  I chose this pattern because it is super cute and since it is darker, if any makeup gets on it then it won't show up as much.

Next take the magnetic strips and make 3 equally spaced rows:

Make sure you space them out enough so that the shadows will fit with each one centered.

Now the bottom of these Lorac containers has a ridge around the edge, so just putting one magnet on the bottom didn't work.  I had to put a circle of magnet (although you could just use thick card stock instead) on each to make the bottom even and then put a strip of magnet down, like so:

The circle punch worked perfectly! This magnetic sheet was also from Walmart, by the way.

So this step is optional, but super cute and fun, if you ask me!  I decorated each container with more washi tape!  I guess you could say I like washi tape, check out THIS POST for another washi tutorial :)

Bad pic, I know, but you get the gist of it, right?

Finally just load it up with your Dazzling Dozen and enjoy!  The reason I really wanted to make something like this is because every day I had to open up the box of shadows, unscrew each color I wanted, and then close em all up and blah blah blah!  It was a real pain, so now all I have to do is flip open the lip and I'm ready to go! Yay! 

A little more about the eyeshadows, in case you're interested.  These are a limited edition eyeshadow collection I got at Ulta.  I am not sure if they are still available but I thought $35 for twelve nice shadows was not a bad deal, considering just one shadow can cost around $15!  The brand is Lorac (if you couldn't tell from the packaging! Ha!).  I've never used this brand before but I like em :)

Pleaseeeeeee leave me comments!!!

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I am in no way affiliated with any company, this is just my personal stuff and my own creations!