DIY 20 Minute Apron for Under $5

My mom showed me how to make these aprons a couple years ago, and I think it is the greatest! These make the best gifts, they are inexpensive, AND THEY ARE SOOOO EASY TO MAKE. Seriously. It is going to be harder to explain how to make it, then to actually make it.

What you need

• Tea towel (one per apron)
  • I like to use the floursack ones (Polkadot: $0.50 @ Walmart, kitchen measurement: $2.50 @ Target)
• Extra wide double fold bias tape (one per apron)
  • Pick one that matches your tea towel. ($2.19 @Hobby Lobby – use a 40% off coupon to make it even cheaper!!!)
• Thread in a color that matches the bias tape
• Sewing Machine
• Sewing pins
• Scissors

Instructions

Start by folding your tea towel down the middle the long way. You are going to mark where you will cut for the apron arms. I fold it in half to cut both sides at the same time to ensure they are the same. I like to take an apron I have, fold it in half, and line it up on the fold of the tea towel to mark the same shape. If you don’t have an apron, you will draw a rounded line in the corner maybe about 6 inches from the corner both ways *see picture

 

Next, get our your bias tape and mark the center. I then put the bias tape around my neck, with the center of the bias tape at the center of the back of my neck, and mark the point I want the neck strap to meet the apron. Do this on one side, and then measure the length on the other side of center to make it even.

Tuck the cut edge on each side of the tea towel into the fold of the bias tape and pin.

 

Starting at one end of the bias tape, sew along the open side of the bias tape the entire length of the bias tape. THAT’S IT! You have a super cute apron!

 

Still Small Voice: Free download

I want to share these prints I made for a lesson my sister taught this week! Both are intended to remind us to quiet out lives and look/listen harder for those subtle promptings we receive.

Here is the download for the L. Tom Perry quote above: Still small voice. Just download and print.

The second one looks like nothing is there but look closer! I love the idea that you can only see the this if you are really looking. Here is the download: Whispering of the spirit. Just download and print.

Elephants

Elephants have always been my favorite animal. I might have grown up and but I love elephants more than ever. I think it is because elephants are capable of human-like emotions like feeling loss, grieving and even crying. They remember and mourn their loved ones, even many years after their death. They love their families and relationships are important to them. Their emotional intelligence makes nature just a bit more beautiful and gives me hope that compassion is innate in us all.

 

DIY Watercolor Canvas Backdrop / Curtain

This was a project that I was commissioned to do for a friend. She is a photographer and wanted a watercolor inspired backdrop for an upcoming shoot.

I was a little unsure about how to approach this project, but with some trial and error, I think I figured it out for under $30.

PC: Loblee Photography

What you need

• 6 X 9 drop canvas, or bigger ($7.26 @ Walmart)
• RIT powder dye ($5.31 each @ Walmart)
  • I used two shades of the same color for depth
• Large paintbrush ($1 @ Dollar Tree)
• Disposable cups
• Plastic drop cloth bigger than your canvas, I got a 9 X 12 ($2.98 @ Lowes)

*If you mess up the first time like I did, you might also need bleach diluted in water

Okay… so I had to do this project twice and I did it differently both times, but the benefit of that to you is that you don’t have to make the same mistakes I did.

Instructions

The setup both times is the same: layout the plastic sheet and then spread the canvas out on top. The first time I completely wet the canvas before I started, but I would recommend starting with a dry canvas.

Mix some (*not all) of your powder dye with hot water in a plastic cup as per instructions on the package. Because I used a lighter pink and darker pink, I also did combinations of the light and dark to make more colors. I made 4 cups with one light pink, 2 combinations, and dark pink. It is also very important that you keep some of the powder dye for later. In addition to your dye, have a cup of warm water on hand.

Now comes the fun part. Use your paint brush or pour the colors randomly on the canvas. In some areas pour warm water overtop to help the color bleed in areas. Leaving white space will help give the canvas more depth and helps give that Watercolor effect.

The canvas during the dye process. The speckled parts are where the powder was sprinkled

Once you are finished with the hot water and liquid dye, sprinkle the remaining powder dye in areas where you want more texture or concentrated color.

This part of the process is the worst. You have to wait DAYS for this to dry. 

Like I alluded to before, the first try didn’t work out. Why? Because I am impatient. Having pre-soaked the first canvas, it was super wet and after letting it air dry for a couple days, I thought I might just throw it in the dryer… BIG MISTAKE. It came out completely one pepto bismol color! (*see below about how I salvaged this pink fabric)

After I had already invested a few days in this process, I started all over again a second time and let that completely air dry and it turned out much better!

 

Air dried canvas

PC: Loblee Photography

Salvaged Pepto Bismol Drop Cloth

I decided to use this fabric as a curtain for my closet. I filled my bathroom sink with water and poured in some bleach. I scrunched the pink cloth randomly and dipped it in the sink until it had absorbed all the liquid. I then put this in the dryer and let it dry. It was really happy with how it turned out.

 

Quote: Mothering

A few months ago, I was honored to have a good friend ask me to paint this quote to hang in her nursery. The quote is from her cousin who passed away not long after writing these words on a mother’s day post.

I am not a mother, but I believe that children are the most precious gift. Children are constant reminders of what matters most- they are relentless at giving love, forgiveness, trust, and humility. Spending this last weekend with my niece and nephews was a much needed reminder!

Be My Valentine

To kick off the music on my site, a happy love song seemed appropriate. I love any excuse to show love and, even though I am single, I am a big fan of Valentines Day! Take a moment to show a little extra love to EVERYONE around you.

Enjoy this cover of Kina Grannis’ Valentine. Consider it my way of showing a little extra love for YOU!

 

DIY Mid Century Modern Writing Desk

I love the mid century modern style and I had my eyes on this writing desk from target. This desk is on the cheaper side, but at $169.99 this was not even an option for me. Naturally, I found a way to make a similar desk (with no drawer) for around $35.

The $35 table I made and the $169.99 Target Table

As many of your probably know, you can buy table tops from Ikea for a very reasonable price. I got this white 39 3/8×23 5/8 “table top for $8.99. Ikea sells table legs, but I did not like the style of the table legs there, so I started searching for other options.

I found these 27.5″ tappered table legs for $3.63 each at Lowes. To attach the table legs to the table, you need a table leg top plate. I wanted the table legs to be angled, so I got these angled plates at Lowes for $1.98 each.

The table legs were unfinished, so I stained them with an oak wood stain. The legs feet were originally silver so I spray painted the feet with the same pink-gold spray paint I used on my DIY pegboard.

The great thing about these table legs is that they screw right into the table plates. You can assemble and dissemble easily which makes story and moving simple.

Guess what, that’s it. This was very simple and cost a fraction of what I would have paid anywhere else.