How to make a leather and recycled plastic Steampunk style cuff

 Today's latest creation is another in my recycled leather cuff series. I didn't realize it was going to be a series but here is the third one I've made. Go figure. OK so here is how I did this one.

 I scored a party platter at...wait for it...a party of all places. A huge piece of smooth black plastic perfect for die cutting. I trimmed off the groove part around the edge and sent it through the Sizzix die cutter using the Tim Holtz Alterations Gadget Gears Die.







I should also back up a bit and say the inspiration for this whole project came from flipping though the book Hot Connections Jewelry:The Complete Sourcebook of Soldering Techniques and seeing this cool gear necklace but since I'm on a cuff kick that's what I was going to make.


Once the plastic was cut I thought it looked a bit shiny so scuffed it up with a piece of sandpaper.

 Then I sewed the gear on with a JHB Steampunk gear button on the topside of the leather (after cutting a tiny hole for the shank to go through) and a flat button on the back so the shank button wouldn't wobble around too much.
I thin stitched a pair of "D" rings I had cut off an old pair of sneakers to secure the sides of the gear and have them wrap around my wrist.

The cuff's closure is just a bit of Velcro i sewed onto each end.

If you like to make (or be inspired by) modern style jewelry I bet you will love:

Hot Connections Jewelry:The Complete Sourcebook of Soldering Techniques
by
Jennifer Chin

More about the book from the publisher Potter Craft:

"The art of soldering—permanently joining metal components with a torch and solder—can open up a new world of creative possibilities for jewelry makers.

In Hot Connections Jewelry, award-winning jewelry designer Jennifer Chin guides you through every step, from choosing a torch to basic techniques like sawing, filing, and riveting, as well as more advanced techniques like creating surface textures, setting stones, and using inlay.

With 23 in-depth lessons and 15 stunning projects, as well as inspiring examples from contributing artists, Hot Connections Jewelry is your essential guide to unleashing your creativity and confidence in jewelry making."

How to decorate a sombrero for Cinco de Mayo

 As I have shared in previous posts my neighbors are now expecting gate decorations and not wanting to disappoint I bring you my Cinco De Mayo Sombrero decoration! I was hoping to score one at a thrift store that was all fancy and such but no luck. I did find one though that was plain and figured as the crafty gal I purport to be I could work some festive magic on it. Would you say I did?

 First I went to the pom pom trim box and decided on red. I didn't like how the pom poms were attached with two strings so I cut one of each string for each pom pom and pulled the pom pom down to the end so it would dangle as long as possible. I also got out the raffia and sequins and embroidered a "5" and some zig zags and a fan shape like on the mini sombreros I had.

Happy Cinco De Mayo my crafty peeps!

How to cut a pair of socks and make them lace up the back

I love to cut things up, no surprise there. And I have cut my fair share of socks but always horizontally, but today I have my first vertical cut (also known as "steeking" in the sweater/knitting world). I was inspired by this page in the wonderful knitting book Wendy Knits Lace: Essential Techniques and Patterns for Irresistible Everyday Lace.

This page features a pair of socks that have a line of lacework up the back center that is so beautiful. I thought I could steek a pair of socks and add some lace trim to make them lace up the back.
How I made my lace-up the back socks:
I tried the socks on and marked the spot I wanted to cut down to and I also measured the socks while they were on me from the bottom to the top edge. I did this because I knew the socks were stretching a bit and the lace trim I was using did not stretch. It ended up being about an inch and a half longer than when the socks were off.

So all I did was cut from the top edge down to the back of the ankle.
Then pinned on the lace trim to each side stretching the sock evenly to be as long as the trim.
I sewed the trim on using a stretch stitch and slightly pulling the sock as I sewed.
I did take great care to make sure both sides of the trim matched up.
I then used 1/4 inch organza ribbon to lace the two sides back up.

Whether you like to knit your lace or you are like me and are a Sweater (knit) Surgeon I bet you will love and be inspired by the too pretty book from Potter Craft:
Wendy Knits Lace: Essential Techniques and Patterns for Irresistible Everyday Lace
by
Wendy D. Johnson

"With 20 original patterns for gorgeous lace shawls, sweaters, hats, gloves and of course socks, popular blogger and author Wendy D. Johnson provides thorough instruction on the best lace techniques for aspiring, experienced and advanced knitters. Many knitters are intimidated by lace, but with a little guidance anyone can create beautiful pieces. As she did for the toe-up sock technique, Wendy demystifies lace knitting by thoroughly explaining the basics and offering the best techniques to create the most intricate-looking patterns. She shares a wealth of tips that will help new lace knitters avoid any frustration. Twenty projects for beginners through to advanced knitters include scarves, shawls, afghans, accessories and sweaters. Ranging from a lightweight seashell camisole for summer to a thick cowl for winter, Wendy presents projects that are surprisingly easy and fun to create and great to wear year-round."

Easter turtles

As far as I'm concerned everything is better with bunny ears on it. And add a bit of irony to the mix and you get downright hysterical in my book!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there are tutorials on how to paint vintage style dahlias, 2 ways to create collages and make a recycled soda bottle bird feeder along with a recipe for atomic tofu pecan loaf. 
RockPaperInk.comFashion Filter: The Fetish: Fashion's Guilty Pleasure
Aileen's Musings
Aileen shows us step-by-step how she created faux copper patinaed paper flowers.
Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy reviews an interesting new e-book on Fair Isle knitting that has some very cool embedded videos.
Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Learn how to create cute clay pot garden bells for your yard!
Mixed Media Artist
Got a few paint-soaked paper towels lying around? Don't you dare throw them out!
Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to sew a scissor holster garter.

How to sew a scissor holster garter

Do you like to make projects that have a slightly sinister or snarky quality like I do? Then you will love, love, love the new book Criminal Crafts: From D.I.Y. to F.B.I. Outlaw Projects for Scoundrels, Cheats, and Armchair Detectives. I will be making every project in this book!
The first one I had to make being the scissor aficionado I am was the one Criminal Crafts called a shiv cozy. My version came out more what I would call a scissor holster garter as it's made with elastic lace.

I simply wrapped a piece of elastic lace around my thigh to fit snug.
I then traced the scissors in the shape of a triangle onto a piece of black felt.

I stitched one triangle to the underside of one end of the lace and the other triangle to the top (as in the photo but I did sew with the lace on top). This will form the pocket between the lace.

Then I sewed the triangles together along the two sides leaving the top open. I decided I wanted it a bit smaller so the scissor handles would peek out the top so I did sew it a second time and trimmed.

I can't wait to wear it under something!

If this looks like your type of craft project and want more check out:
Criminal Crafts: From D.I.Y. to F.B.I. Outlaw Projects for Scoundrels, Cheats, and Armchair Detectives
by
Shawn Bowman

more about the book from the publisher Andrews McMeel Publishing:
"Criminals attract an audience. People admire the sneakiness and creativity of the profession while cursing the dastardly outcomes. So why not have all of the tricks without the trade? Criminal Crafts brings together illicit behavior and artistic expression with dark humor in this do-it-yourself project book. Author Shawn Bowman focuses on original crafts and recipes themed in noir, murder, retro espionage, pulp fiction, mafia, and voodoo.

Crafters and mischief lovers alike will love this book of 30 projects revolving around notorious criminals and their activities. From John Dillinger's soap gun to Bonnie Parker's gunshot poetry journal, readers will find themselves both amused and intrigued with the devious creativity. Not to mention how impressed party guests will be when they show up to Flaming Amy cocktails and cocktail bars stashed in violin cases. And just wait until you show off your shiv cozy! From the practical to the classically kitsch, Criminal Crafts are art projects readers will love."