How To Make A T-Shirt Scarf

Another craft I've picked up from Pinterest? The T-Shirt scarf! I've grown so enamored with these creations that I've even decided to make them to fulfill my quota for the upcoming Junior League Holly Day Fair.

So why, if I'm planning on selling these at the Holly Day Fair, am I sharing how to create these? Well, because I'm nice and they're fun and I'm hoping there will still be plenty of people to buy them at the fair. So if you'd like to learn how to make this fun and stylish craft project, read on folks! If not, you can get yours at the Crown Center the first weekend in November!

Without further ado:

The T-Shirt Scarf

Step 1. Start with a T-shirt. I find that a men's XL or XXL works best!

Step 2. Cut off the bottom hem and then make another cut below the arms, making sure to cut below any logos that may appear on the shirt. 

Step 3. Cut the rest of the shirt into one-inch strips, like so.

Step 4. Stretch and then stretch some more. 

Sssstttreeeetttccchhh!

You now have the most basic of T-Shirt scarfs. Yep. That's it folks. You can also cut and braid the pieces of the scarf or simply add a flower. In this version, we are going to add adorable matching rosettes!

Making Rosettes

Step 1. Cut several thicker strips of T-shirt material. I took mine from the back of the shirt, between the arms. Cut them about 2 inches wide.

Step 2. Cut squares of felt in the approximate size of your intended rosette. This will keep the flower together and give us something to attach a pin to so they can be removed from the scarf if needed.

Step 3. Tie a knot at the end of your strip of fabric. Place a generous amount of glue in the center of your felt and then place the knot tied side up in the middle. This will be the center of our rose!

Step 4. Now, begin twisting the fabric towards you, gluing it to the felt as you go. When you reach the edge of your felt piece, trim it to fit your rosette and then take one last turn around with the fabric, so the rosette is ever so slightly larger than the felt. Tuck the end of the fabric behind the rosette and then glue it down. Your finished product should look like this!

Step 5. I like to combine several rosettes together. To do so, just glue them to another piece of felt, placing a little glue between the rosettes so they attach to each other as well. Then, make a few slits in the felt and slip in a few pins or clips. Glue those down, like so...

Now you can clip your rosettes to your scarf and the result is totally adorable! Check it out!

Have fun crafting everyone!

She's Crafty

My mom and my sister have always been very artistic. And crafty! It used to drive me crazy how they were always making something beautiful out of nothing and I couldn't keep up. My talents lie more in the written word. Oh, and pulling obscure pop culture trivia bits out of thin air. Seriously. You don't want to play Scene It or Celebrity with me!

Recently, however, I've made good friends with a real creative lady – a photographer, very artsy. And before I knew what was happening, I was crafting! I've been spending crazy amounts of time on Pinterest and I even bought my very first glue gun! Imagine it! Me with a glue gun? I'll try not to burn down the neighborhood.

One of my first efforts was simple. An idea I took from Pinterest and spray painted an old spice rack and started storing my nail polish on it. Since my recent obsession with Ulta nail polish took root, the collection stored on said rack has grown considerably. I wouldn't be surprised if I have to make another, bigger one soon.

Next I saw a bit of art made from wine corks and thought, "I could so that!" I learned a lot about crafting from this project, namely: Don't use a sharp knife to cut wine corks while Sons of Anarchy is on. You could get distracted by sexy Mr. Jax Teller and almost lost a thumb. Here's the finished project:

Wine cork art.

Don't worry. My thumb is still attached. This one came out so well, my mom even asked me to make her one! Quite the compliment from such an artistic woman! Speaking of which, does anyone have any extra wine corks? I don't drink that often and momma needs some wine cork art!

Other projects have included a container for my makeup brushes and a shadow box to save ticket stubs in. But it is my most recent effort that I am most proud of – my beautful magnetic makeup board! I'd seen variations of the idea all over Pinterest, and I loved it. The shopping list for the project was small:

Magnetic Makeup Board

1. One sheet of 22-guage sheet metal (available at any hardware store for around $5).
2. An attractive piece of fabric or scrapbook paper
3. One picture frame, glass removed
4. Glue gun! (who hoo, I broke it out!)
5. Magnets, available at any craft store

A beautiful tutorial is available at one of my favorite blogs, kaneej.com, but it's really simple.

1. Cut the metal (carefully, people!) to fit the frame. 2. Cover it with the fabric. 3. Glue fabric in place. 4. Attach magnets to your favorite pieces of makeup. 5. Place makeup on board (duh)! And voila!

I don't know about you, but I kinda dig it! What do you think?

Anyway, crafter's of the world, beware. I've got a glue gun and a loyalty card to AC Moore. This is far from the last craft project I will make! Stay tuned for more!