*Taken* Fabric Rosette Cuff Bracelet Tutorial

This idea has been in the back of my head for a while now and I am so happy with how it turned out!!  This product includes two of my favorite things: fabric rosettes and customized hand stamped jewelry! 

It does NOT get better than this :)

Would you like to know how to do it? I thought you might!

Here's a rundown of the materials list: 1/8" steel stamping set, rolling pin, rubber mallet, 1/2" aluminum cuff bracelet, black sharpie marker, 60" 1 1/2" strip of satin fabric in your choice of color, hot glue gun or E600 glue, nail polish remover or baby wipe.

Some notes on the materials

-at one point I purchased a stamping set from Harber Freight Tools here.  It's a very basic print but very affordable.  (I lost that set so I purchased a new one from a local mom and pop hardware store.  The Home Depot's and Lowe's do NOT carry them.

-I purchased my cuff bracelets from this shop.

Let's get going!

 

steel stamp set

Decide where you want to stamp your word on the bracelet.  I chose the outside end.  With a steady hand, position your first letter and hold it in place.

Using a rubber mallet on a solid surface, pound the stamp HARD about 3-4 times making NOT to move the stamp.  I found hitting it hard and fast is best.  If I hit it too lightly I was more apt to slide the stamp out of position which gives you a blurry image. 

Once your word is completed, take your sharpie marker and color over each letter filling in the grooves with marker.

Clean off the excess with a baby wipe or nail polish remover.

Shape your cuff around a rolling pin.  Position the flat cuff underneath the rolling pin (make sure your stamped word is on the correct side!)  Hold the rolling pin with one hand and bend/wrap the cuff bracelet around the rolling pin...rolling the pin as you go to curve the OTHER side of the bracelet as well. 

At this point, I stretched out the sides with my hands to give it a more oval shape and then flattened the ends to make it shape to my wrist better.

Need to know how to make a fabric rosette?  Check here!

Cut a circle of felt and a circle of the satin fabric slightly bigger than the felt.  Glue the felt circle over the back of the rosette.  Glue the satin circle on top of the felt.

Apply 2-3 dots of glue in a line down the center of the back of the rosette.  See third photo in collage.

Attach the rosette to the cuff!  Wear that puppy out for Valentine's Day and show it off!

Do you love this but don't want to take the time to make one yourself?  I will be selling some of them at my Facebook only sale this thursday!!

Copywrite Infringement??

**Did you enter to win one of my Shades of Dawn necklaces over at Craftiness is not Optional?  Still a few hours left to enter!!**

**Have you LIKED me on facebook yet?  Hop to it! I'm hosting an awesome Valentine's Day Jewelry sale on facebook only this Thursday!**

****************************************************************************

Do you remember THIS post from before Christmas? 

I got to thinking that others might like to purchase a custom order of this bag sometime so I listed it in my shop a few weeks ago.  One question running through my mind before I listed it was the dreaded...

copywrite infringement.

Does selling my design for this bag intail a copywrite infringement?

There are other bags on etsy for sale.  (I promise that comment is not a "hey, she's doing it! Why can't I?" 

So, what do you think?  Do you have any information for me? Links I can read? 

And until I find out for sure, backpack is listed in my shop

HERE.

Shop Announcements

A couple of SHOP announcements:

I'm involved in 2 giveaways at the moment!  First off, head over to see Jess at Craftiness is not Optional and enter to win one of my Shades of Dawn Necklace's in your choice of color!  It's pretty easy to enter so run!

Also, beginning today, I am offering a $25 shop credit over at Gigispetals.  The giveaway is open for 8 days and there are 5 ways to enter!  Can't beat that :)

And my LAST announcement is that this Thursday I am hosting a Valentine's Day Jewelry Extravaganza!  I can't believe I didn't get spell check on that word   I have completed many pieces of jewelry and have more supplies coming to do even more.  I have some new products and some fan favorites so be sure to like me on FACEBOOK now in order to be kept in the loop!  This is a FACEBOOK only sale!!!  You must like Vibrant Designs on facebook in order to be offered these great deals!  I've uploaded some sneak peak photos so head on over and tell me your favorite!  The best part is that each item will be shipped in time for Valentine's Day! 

And to wrap it up,

Can I get a little help?  I'm putting together an about me page...

I want to know...


what you want to know :)


Ask me questions: things you would like to know about me and I will do my best to answer.  You can ask them in the comments here, or email me them personally.  myvibrantdesigns at gmail dot com 

Sponsor--Keykalou Patterns

I'd like to introduce you to Michelle over at Keykalou Patterns who is my newest sponsor!

Are you familiar with Keykalou patterns?  Let me help...

I don't know about you...but...I love this Keykalou wallet clutch!  The first time I saw one I desperately wanted to try it.  It was a little while later that I finally had the chance to purchase a few patterns from Keykalou Patterns. 

Here are a couple clutches that I've created from this pattern:

I have to say that the pattern was very simple to follow with tons of color photos and detailed steps.  You know what I was most impressed with?  That first photo was the first one I made and my measurements came out about 3/4" smaller all the way around than it was supposed to be and very bulky. 

I emailed Michelle (the wonderful owner and designer of Keykalou Patterns) and she got back with me within hours regarding my question.  She helped me trouble shoot my problem and I figured out what I had done wrong. 

If you are a seamstress or want to be, I would highly recomend Keykalou Patterns as a jumping point.  Here prices are reasonable...and let's be honest.  Those pattern designs are to die for!  I've also purchased these two patterns from her as well:

the Camera Case wristlet

and

the Garden Party wristlet

which is no longer available in her shop anymore.  (Glad I bought it when I did!)

If you would like to browse her patterns simply follow the link on my right sidebar or any of the links in this post. 

KEYKALOU PATTERNS

Hope you have just as much making her patterns as I do!!

Nursing Pad Tutorial

If you follow me on facebook, you'll know that last night I was working on a POST maternity project--one that DOES involve a new baby arriving in this house hopefully in May. 

I am a proponant of breastfeeding (when possible) and have loved it every time.  That doesn't mean I don't have my days of wishing it was over, but after a couple months things really DO settle down and it IS easier than bottle feeding. 

It has been my goal with each baby to breastfeed for the first year.  My first child and only son was born at 37 weeks and slept for the first three weeks of his life.  I pumped and bottle fed at every feeding until the day he was due...when he finally latched on.  (I am leaving out a ton in that story!  Tons of tears and frustrations and almost giving up!)  At 11 weeks old, we found out he was HIGHLY allergice to dairy products...as in, anaphalactic shock allergic.  So, to insure I wouldn't mess up, we quit nursing cold turkey. OUCH

Baby #2 nursed for 13 months...her NICU nurse helped me get her completely nursing by the time she was released from the hospital.

Baby #3 was magical. 

I remember the delivery nurse cleaning her up from across the room.  I could see my newborn rooting on that nurses hand from across the room!  She was perfectly latched and nursing within the first 30 minutes of her life...and weaned herself at 8 months old. 

So....

all of that to say that I am prepping for a full term baby (fingers crossed!) who nurses wonderfully.  This POST maternity project is a week supply of WASHABLE NURSING PADS! 

After doing some research...and finding a couple things online about this topic, I purchased 2 used flannel receiving blankets from my local thrift store.  (I had already gotten rid of the ones I didn't want a couple years ago so I had none that I was interested in cutting up!)  I already had some white and pink fleece.

Here's what you'll need:

flannel (that has been washed a LOT)

I used a 30x30 receiving blanket and a 30x40 receiving blanket.  This cut the perfect amount of 4" circles for my project.  You need 90 flannel circles cut.

1/4-1/3 yd of fleece (preferably white or ivory so it doesn't show through your clothes)

You'll need 30 fleece circles cut.

white thread

sewing machine

4" circle template

Step 1: Cut your flannel and fleece into 4" circles.  For mine, you'll need 2 inner flannel circles, 1 outer flannel circle, and 1 fleece circle.  I made enough for 1 week, 2 sets a day.  That's 14 sets, right? I went ahead and made an extra set which took me to 8 days worth. 

Step 2: Sandwhich two flannel circles between a fleece and flannel circle. 

Step 3: Zigzag stitch all the way around the circle.  You can do this two ways: sew over the edge of the circle or sew just inside the edge and trim off the excess.  I sewed over the edge and it worked perfectly! No trimming.

Step 4. Finish all of the 30 circles.  A completed nursing pad should look like this.

And my completed stack of 30 nursing pads! 

You CAN make them contoured but I never found that to be all that helpful so I skipped it.  Do I have any nursing mama's out there?  Do you think you would be willing to try something like this out if it was going to A. work and B. save you $$? 

Just wondering if I should post these in my etsy shop?

ALMOST Twin Diaper Bags

I had a custom order for coordinating diaper bags for a Mom and Grandma :) Greens and blues were the two chosen colors with a touch of quilt piecing.  What do you think? 

diaper bag #1

I used my Mod Diaper Bag Pattern but changed up the flap shape a bit for this bag.  It was a nice change from the norm and I really like the result!

Basically I took 2 coordinating fabrics, cut the top third of the main bag piece of each, then put them back together to create these. 

diaper bag #2

Along with the diaper bags, they ordered matching changing pad clutches. 

Duo Pocket Changing Pad Clutch Tutorial

My daylight was quickly fading so I did not get a good photo of the second changing pad clutch.  You can get a glimpse of it in the last photo.

For these changing pad clutches, I chose to do a button/button hole instead of velcro closure.  I really liked the look of the button!  When I make this for myself, I plan to use a larger button.

Opened up...there is room for 4-6 diapers and a travel pack of wipes.  There are two pockets: one that opens from the top and one from the side so you can grab out the wipes for those messes that don't include a diaper change!  (You don't have to unwrap the whole clutch!)

Here is the whole group.  They're rather hard to see with all the fabric patterns, but there are two diaper bags and two changing pad clutches. 

Love. Love. Love.  If I was having a boy, I would seriously consider these fabric choices!  What do YOU think?

Entering a Whole New Realm!

I am scared.......

and maybe a touch...a tiny, tiny little bit...excited...

to be entering into this new realm.  And I just might be dragging my husband kicking and screaming behind me.  Well, not kicking.

We have decided to enter the realm of cloth diapering.

It is JUST as scary as it sounds!!

I poled my friends on facebook looking for people who had experience and I surprisingly found a couple!  Please no offense anyone because I really mean none but I'm talking about experience in recent cloth diapering...not the birdseye diaper and pin system.  Because I'll be honest with you, no ammount of money savings could cause me to use THAT cloth diapering system!  These few friends were able to give me some great tips and diaper types.  Here's what I've learned...and if YOU have any experience, please share with me what you've learned!

There are a number of diapering options but the two that I feel will best mesh with our family are the G-diaper style not system [the system uses flushable inserts...which makes absolutely no sense to me.  If you are using cloth diapers, why in the name of cloth diapering are you using disposable inserts??], and pocket diapers.  In order to keep my husband from screaming AND kicking, we will be purchasing a diaper sprayer for the side of the toilet.  I've read (and I think I believe it after having purchased disposable diapers for 3 babies now) that we spend over $2000 from birth to potty training in diapers alone.  That doesn't include wipes and other incidentals. 

So

These cloth diapers are kind of exspensive: like $15-$20+ per diaper!  (choke choke)  Regardless of the possible savings over the course of 2 1/2 years of diaper buying, we can not afford the start up cost that 30+ diapers would be including the sprayer.  A little math...that's roughly $450 in diapers and $50 for the sprayer. 

I began to do some research.

and more research...

and even more research...

I've looked into making cloth diapers before but I was never able to find the PUL fabric that I really wanted to use at any of my local fabric shops.  That is...until about 6-9 months ago.  Hobby Lobby recently began carrying a whole line of cloth diaper materials: from snaps, to velcro, to PUL fabric.  I realized that I can now attempt to MAKE my own cloth diapers.  They'll cost me a total of about $3.40 per diaper.  Slightly...cheaper.

I've also been searching for free diaper patterns online.  This one looks to be great (but understand I haven't tried making any yet.)




source

This seems to be a very comprehensive diaper pattern.  It includes not only the pocket diaper but also the gdiaper style as well.  So, once tax season hits and we get our return, I'll be getting to work on a couple of these little wonders!

Any of you have any great tips to share?  Another diaper pattern that you've tried and loved?  Please share!  I would love to hear them. 

I would like to introduce you to an amazing lady!!  This is Courtney...



...and she writes this great little blog called Not So Homemade.  There are two things about Courtney that I love: 1. she is an amzing blog designer (more to come on that in a minute) and 2. she is a NICU nurse!!  Some of you know that I had problems during my first pregnancy that landed me in the hospital on long term bedrest.  My first two children were hospitalized in the NICU due to delivery complications and pre-term birth.  The longest stay was 2 weeks (not long in the scheme of things but when all you want is that little 5lb baby in your arms at home...2 weeks seems like forever!!!)  It takes a very special person to be a NICU nurse...believe me, I KNOW.  Our NICU nurse for my daughter was amazing!  So...Courtney...an awesome blog designer (in case you're in the market for one) and NICU nurse.  That's a great mix!

She has amazing prices (especially in this world of $80-$100 a pop for blog design!  Head on over and take a look at her site.
 

Take a look around the blog and see what we've been up to!  I am loving the design.  I gave Courtney some tons of vague ideas and over the course of 67 emails, we have finally gotter done!!  Let me give you a little tour...

Things have been brightened up a bit...dontcha think?  (I am in love with my new header!)

I now have a nifty little nav bar on the bottom right of my header with all the social media to which I am a part.  Brand spankin' new buttons: one for my blog, one "I've Been Featured", and one for my sponsor space.  Yes, sponsor space.  Until further notice, I am offering sponsor opportunities for FREE on my blog!  If you have not taken advantage of and would like to, please email me with your html code and I'll set you up!

Oh and I love the extra wide space I have for my blog posts and sidebars!  WONDERLICIOUS!!  (Is that a word??  Ah, who cares!) 

Do I have any tweeters in the house???  I am now a part of Twitter as you can see on the social media nav bar on my header.  If you wish to follow me simply click on the Twitter link and you'll get all my newest etsy listings, special coupon codes, and tons of other twitter specials!  So come on over!

And if you haven't already gone over to check out Ms. Courtney...go, now!  Run!!

Chiffon Ruffle Necklace

This little necklace is just too pretty to be so easy!!  My word!  It is sew simple...a stright line of sewing, a little heat sealing and a necklace chain and you're done.

I first saw these here.  I had totally forgotten about it until a few days ago, so I went looking for it again, pinned it, and purchased some chiffon fabric this morning. 

I got the chiffon on clearance at $2 yd, bought 1/4yd and you can get 4 of these necklaces from a 1/4yd.  So...doing my math in my head, that equals 12.5 cents per necklace in the fabric.  If you had to purchase chain, it might take you up to about $2.  Not too bad for a rockin' necklace, right? 

Wanna see? 

Taking a picture of yourself is...awkward.  It's also hard to get good lighting when it's freezing cold and snowing out!  I had to stand in front of the front door, with the door open--daylight shining on me to get decent lighting.  Just so happens I was wearing a lavender shirt today!  I made the earrings this morning which are a simple pearl drop earring like what I posted yesterday.

Not sure what happened in this photo but the color is a bit off.  Still love the necklace though!

I think these would make great bridesmaid necklaces!!  You'll soon find these in my shop if anyone is interested in purchasing one.  Hope you're having a great day!  We are off to pick up my niece for a weekend visit.  My daughter is so excited that her behavior has been less than stellar today.  You know the drill...doesn't want to DO anything because she just wants to go get Kaiya!

Aiyiyi!!!

My Daughter's Life in black and white...

Apparently when I was little, my father taught me (or maybe I figured it out on my own) that there is something between our toes...called fuzz. 

I remember last week as a child, sitting down and picking the fuzz out from my toes.  I don't know about you, but sometimes that stuff could feel like I had pebbles between my toes!  Now who leaves pebbles in their shoes, let alone between their toes??  So...a few months back when my almost 2 year old began potty training...one day she was sitting on the potty and I saw a large piece of fuzz sticking out from between her toes.  To distract her from wanting to get up, I showed her how to pull the fuzz out from between her toes. 

Oh dear!!  It has spiraled from there!!

as you can see...

This child pulls her toes so far apart I fear her skin will split!!  She REALLY concentrates!

It's not like she does it every day, all day...but whenever she feels those little pebbles between her toes, boy does she go at em!

In other news...I put these little earrings together this morning.  They are quite simple, and meant to match the Shades of Dawn Necklace here.

I really like them...the pearls are gray and 12mm size. 

They can be made to match any Shades of Dawn Necklace...

And a glimpse of them on for size comparison :)

As I said: simple.  I don't like a big statement necklace with huge, over the top earrings.  These are so easy so if you're up for a tute, I am happy to oblige. 

Or you could just check out Amie's jewelry making series she did last year! 



And the Winner...

of this gorgeous Shades of Dawn Necklace is...

Janet Jan 11, 2012 05:52 PM

My favorite is the shades of dawn necklace; I've already got rosette earrings and a purse. I posted separately I follow by email and put the giveaway on facebook


Janet


craftythriftydecoratingwifemom.wordpress.com

Congratulations Janet!  Please claim your prize within the next 48 hours by emailing me at myvibrantdesigns at gmail dot com.  If I don't hear from you within 48 hours, I will re-draw a winner.  Thank you so much to everyone who participated!  If you too would like a Shades of Dawn Necklace, check out GigisPetals today!  I am hosting a feature of a slightly different variation on my necklace that I think you'll love.  The best part?  It's only $10!!  That's HALF off the normal price in my shop! 

If you'd like to purchase one,

GO HERE!!

Thanks to everyone who participated!  Be sure to follow me on facebook to find out about my features and some great deals that are exclusive to facebook fans!

Will this year be our last??

According to this, it will!!




I am about to be brutally honest with you.  I think the Mayans got to the year 2012 and were like, "DUDE! That is enough!!  Somebody else needs to step up and finish this sucker!"  And here we are, a few thousand years later on pins and needles thinking the world is going to end based on a calender. 

I don't buy it.  My God is waaaay bigger than the Mayan calender.  So, all I'm saying is, I'm not sweatin' it.  And in light of the fact that the new year just began, I am expecting a wee babe in a few months...and my house has way more junk in it than I could ever hope to use in a lifetime...I am making public my New Year's....GOAL.  (I am with the "I don't like the word resolution" group of people)

My husband and I are on a quest to de-clutter-i-fy our home over the course of the next 4 weeks or so.  We've actually already gotten a good handle on it...BEFORE Christmas...to make room for the new toys that would inevitably be coming into our playroom.  So far, the toys have been seriously overhauled and we went through 5 boxes of books that have been packed away for nearly 5 years now.  (Did I just say that?)  We got rid of 4 full boxes of books...and a ton of toys.  Here are a few of my problem areas:

clothes...


shoes...



unmatched socks...(oy)



I have to appologize and say that these are not actual photos of my home, although they definitely could be!  We also have already hit our daughters' room where I cleared the whole thing out (including the closet) and pitched a bunch of things.  Now, everything has a place...and I am proud to say that after 2 weeks, everything is still in it's place--meaning the room is currently picked up!!  Another area that has been a problem is the corner or our kitchen.  It's a catchall for any number of items and drives me crazy!!  As I type this, my wonderful husband is building a tall shelving cabinet (with doors and a drawer!!) that is taking the place of what used to be there: an old bakers cabinet.  It takes up much less floor space...something that is a hot commodity in this house especially with another child on the way!  All the cabinets were hit last week, cleaned out...purged...you know, all those wonderful, organizy kind of words.  Pretty soon, my microwave will be behind closed doors!!  Awesome!

Now...the clothes: a HUMONGOUS undertaking!!  These kids have so many clothes it's crazy!  We get them in all manner of ways, but regardless, I have come to the conclusion that less is more.  We are ditching all but what we actually need.  Roughly, 4 pairs of pants, 4 shorts, 4 long sleeved tops, 4 short sleeved tops, 4 dresses/dress outfits.  This will do many things: cut down on the amount of clothes I have to fold, keep me up to date on getting laundry done, makes it possible for the kids to get their own clothes out of non-stuffed drawers, keep me sane!!  I think at this point, I have taken 5 bags of kids clothes to the local thrift store and I think I'm only about half way there. 

Socks...oh the socks.  One of these days I'm going to locate the little blue men who steal them away!!  (Smurfs anyone?)  In the meantime, we have ditched all the socks...and I mean, all of them.  We purchased the same exact sock type for the girls (they even wear the same size right now! Score!), same for my son, myself and my husband.  It has been...sooohooohoooo much easier to match socks!  I HIGHLY recomend it!! 

Shoes...currently are literally in a laundry basket in my closet.  Compared to some women, I really don't have that many, but I most definitely have not found an effective means of taming the shoe problem: meaning how to store them until such time as I need them??  Have I figured it out yet? No...but, my bedroom is now #2 on the list of cleaning out/purging/decluttering so I will have an answer for you VERY soon. 

Here is my checklist:

Toys
Books
Living Room
Kitchen
Clothes
Son's Room
Basement closet
Unfinished portion of the basement
Our bedroom
My Craft Room--I really could use more storage space!!

I am also happy to announce that the living room has stayed neat and picked up for a week.  (I can NOT tell you how huge that is!) 

So...what is your New Year's Goal?? 

Your good Fortune!!

In an effort to help clear out my sewing room of completed projects, I am selling a few items at discounted prices right here on my blog!  If you wish to purchase an item, simply comment (or email me if you'd rather) with your email address.  I will email you an invoice via paypal.  You simply follow the links to payment.  Are you ready to see what's up for grabs??

Ruby Red Clutch $11 FREE SHIPPING

Great for Valentine's Day!!  I have 3 available!!

Mauve Floral Tote Bag  $35 FREE SHIPPING

Great for Diaper Bag, Tote Bag, Teacher's Bag...or dare I say...Craft Bag?

Fabric Rosette Rings $5 FREE SHIPPING

Can be purchased in hot pink, ivory or red.  Ships in time for Valentine's Day! 

Comment and tell me what color you want.

Shades of Dawn Necklace in Saphire blue and silver pearls $15 +$2 Shipping

THREE available!!  Comment with your email address.

Lavender Rolled Rosette Trio Headband $6 FREE SHIPPING

Only one available!

Hot pink Fabric rosette Trio Headband $6 FREE SHIPPING

Only one available!!

These items are good at these prices until Monday, January 16th 2012 at midnight est.  Comment with your item choice and email address.  I will invoice you via paypal.  

I LOVE  my followers!