tutorial Archives - Page 27 of 61 - Ashley Hackshaw / Lil Blue Boo

A Sock Bunny (A Tutorial)

March 15, 2012 by Ashley Hackshaw

Move over sock monkey! These little sock bunnies are so easy and cute! All you need is some nice knee high socks and some simple sewing supplies. I sewed mine on a machine but they can be easily hand stitched too!

So cute as a gift or to stuff an Easter basket!

Boo will be so excited to see these in her basket:

If you are making them for a child under the age of 3, just stitch eyes on instead of using buttons so that there won’t be a choking hazard.

I bought these cute knee high socks at Target for $2.50 a piece. They have a large selection of bright vibrant colors.

Step 1: Cut the foot of one of the socks right down the middle, but don’t cut all the way to the heel. The heel will become the face of the bunny and you want to leave about an inch before the face:

Step 2: Cut the other side of the sock down the middle as shown. These will be the legs of the bunny.

Step 3: Cut the foot off the second sock:

Step 4: Cut the foot of the second sock down the middle. These will become the arms of the bunny:

Step 5: Back to the first sock, hand stitch or use a machine to sew the ears shut:

Step 6: Sew the bottom of the feet and insides of the bunny legs as shown…..leaving a 2 inch hole to insert stuffing into:

Step 7: Sew the arms shut on one side….but not the ends. Turn the arms right side out.

Step 8: Fill the body of the bunny and the arms with stuffing. Sew shut the bottom of the bunny:

Step 9: Here is what the bunny should look like right now before sewing the arms on:

Step 10: Carefully tuck in the raw ends of each arm and hand stitch it to the sides of the bunny:

Step 11: A finished bunny before the face is added!

Step 12: Stitch buttons on for the eyes:

Step 13: Stitch a nose:

So many options for the face….and so many expressions you can make!

Soft and snuggly!

I love how quirky they look….and that the sewing is minimal thanks to the knee high socks!

I want to keep them for myself!

Painted Glass Magnets (A Tutorial)

March 12, 2012 by Ashley Hackshaw

So….I love a challenge…..so I was all for this one. The Scribble Challenge is basically like “Iron Chef” for DIYers. The Scribble Shop sent me a box of random craft supplies from their shop and I was supposed to come up with something to make from them.

Here’s what they set in the box: Metallic Stamp Pad, Dress It Up Embellishments, Mod Podge, Stencil, Raffia, Glass Gems, Paisley Shapes, Popsicle Sticks, Colored Pencils

I used glass paint to draw little designs on each glass piece:

Dots on some to resemble toadstools:

A few hearts on a couple more:

Once the glass pieces were completely dry, I glued a neodymium magnet to the back of each one using household glue (ES3000):

Cute, little easy magnets!

Make a set for a gift!

I made a second project using the pencils they sent me. I cut them up into tiny, tiny pieces. Click on the image below to view the full tutorial:

You can follow Scribble Shop at the following places: Facebook, Twitter and Google+!

Full post disclosure here.

Cast Resin Paperweights & Coasters (A Tutorial)

March 9, 2012 by Ashley Hackshaw

I made these cute little paperweights and coasters using clear resin. In the desert, we actually NEED paperweights….the weather is beautiful so we keep the windows and doors open….and it gets windy! You can cast anything in resin really…..it’s a great way to capture some mementos and trinkets from a trip. Carefully drill a hole through one and hang it from a window!

The paperweights I made using a box of colored pencils.

I asked my brother-in-law Jason to cut them all up into 1/2″ pieces using his table saw. Poor guy….they were like bullets flying around!

To make the resin you need clear casting resin and the catalyst which makes it harden….available at most craft stores:

You’ll need a mold too…..soap molds work or smooth tupperware. This was some toy packaging I had kept after Boo’s birthday (Melissa and Doug Doughnuts):

I filled the bottom of the molds with a layer of cut pencils:

First I mixed my resin….basically it’s the resin and a few drops of catalyst (follow the directions) and MIX OUTSIDE or in a garage! The fumes are too strong to mix it indoors…..you need some good ventilation.

Pour the resin in a small stream to reduce air bubbles to cover all the items:

Note: wood floats…so you will want to pour in small layers:

Add more pieces to the mold:

And add another layer of resin……not enough to completely cover the pieces though if you are using wood. You’ll have to pour another layer after this one has time to set (about 30 minutes):

Add the final small layer so the pieces are covered completely:

You can make a thinner version as a beverage coaster…..here’s one I did using buttons:

Let the resin set completely. It should only take a few hours. Once the resin is set it should pop out of the mold very easily!

Just think of all the combinations and trinkets you can make!