Pictures on Canvas

Hello Crafters!

Finished picture on canvas

I have a new project for you that you should definitively try, its easy and relatively inexpensive.  Moose and her friends were having a gift exchange and they invited me along, so I wanted to make them something special and not break the bank.  I kept seeing Groupons for putting a picture on canvas, but on a larger scale, and I thought I want to do that!  So I researched a bit and found some directions on how to do it.  Ok here we go...

Gel Medium

Things you will need:

• Canvas (any size, but the biggest would be 8" x 10", due to paper size, but if you can fine a bigger printer, go for it)
• Laser printer
• Liquitex Heavy gloss, gel medium  (it can be any brand, as long as it is a gel medium that will dry clear)
• paint brush
• spray water can
• towel

Desaray and Toby

 Now you should choose a picture you want to put on the canvas.  Special thanks you my friends Desaray, Toby, Al and Angela for allowing me to use you on my blog.  I took pictures of them and added some effects to them.  For Desaray and Toby's picture I made it black and white.  I thought it would look better on the canvas.  Al and Angela's photo had a lot of pretty colors in it, so black and white wasn't the way to go, instead I used a feature in iphoto called antique.  The picture had a kind of rustic look. Now you will need to print them on regular white printer paper, using the laser printer.  Make sure on the printer settings you match the size with the size of canvas you chose.

Angela and Al

Grab your blank canvas, gel, and paint brush. With the paint brush paint a thick layer of gel over the entire canvas, make sure the brush strokes are going in one direction.  After you have the layer of gel, place the printed photo on top, and smooth it out.  Now you should let it  dry for several hours, and if you have the time over night.  It should be completely dry before you start the next step.

Water taking off paper film

After you are sure it is completely dry its time for the fun part.  Place the towel underneath the canvas, because this part can get messy.  Then take your spray can filled with water and spray some onto a corner.  Spray enough so that when you run your fingers over it the paper film starts to come off and leaves the picture.  The more water the easier the paper will start to come off.  This part takes a while and is a bit time consuming.  Just keep spraying the water and peeling off the paper film until it is all off.  You might get some of the picture coming up, which I think gives the painting more character. 

When you are happy with the results, take your paint brush and gel again and paint another layer of gel on the painting, a thin layer will be fine.  Once it is dry you are ready to enjoy your creation!  I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, as always email if you have any questions!

Thanks! Jess, out.

Picture on Canvas

New Years Eve Project

Happy New Year Readers!

Original dress

So every year I go out shopping for the perfect NYE dress, and it takes forever and costs me a fortune, not the best way to start off the new year.  The greatest idea ever came to me while shopping at a thrift store in Austin, Buffalo Exchange.  I found a dress for $12, that for some reason was calling to me, "Make me beautiful Jess!" I snatched it up and began sketching some ideas out. 

While at the park with the dogs and Moose, sat with my pencil and Michael Jackson notebook, my favorite notebook that I put all my ideas.  I liked the choker style neck, so that was definitively staying, but the long skirt had to go.  I also wanted to add more flare to it, I usually like simple and use my accessories to jazz it up, but I wanted something else this time.

Sketch of NYE dress

I wanted to cut the back leaving a slit all the way down to the skirt and the front as well. I have also been on a flower kick, and everything with flowers seems to be beautiful to me.  I also did not want just any straight seem skirt so I wanted to have some pickups at the bottom.  I had the idea of lace or tulle on the skirt to add a little something extra, but I wasn't sure.  Later on I went to the fabric store, my favorite store ever JoAnn's.  I found the perfect lace to cover the skirt. I bought felt for my flowers, and black shiny buttons for the flowers and extra just in case I should be inspired to put them somewhere else.

Back of dress with added fabric

I only had a day in a half to produce a dress suitable for NYE in downtown Austin. First thing was to cut the skirt to the length I wanted it, just above my knee.  After I tried it on the skirt fit me kind of tight like a pencil skirt would and I really wanted it to be kind of loose "free flowing" if you will.  That was my first hurdle to get over.  Making the skirt about 6 inches wider was harder then I thought. Using the extra fabric left from shortening the dress, I added it to the skirt. I wasn't too concerned about the seams showing since I was going to add the lace over it. 

Added a slit in the back

After sewing in the extra fabric I made a hem at the bottom. Only about an inch thick.  Now it was time to sew on the lace.  That was also a hard and time consuming part of making this dress.  I had to hand sew it verses using my machine, because the fabric was too delicate. I also wanted the back to have a wow factor so I cut the back all the way down to the skirt.

Felt flowers

Now it was time to add the flowers to the top. I originally planned on cutting a slit in the front too but decided to 86 that idea and leave it.  I made the four flowers out of felt and all different sizes.  This part was the easiest to do.  My dress was finally complete and ready for me to wear!  I wore it with black tights and black ankle boots, it came out just the way I wanted it to.

Thanks for reading, and Happy New Year! Jess out.

NYE Dress

Close up of NYE Dress

An Apron for Leiah

Hola! Blog Followers!

Leiah's original picture

For my bff and cousin Leiah, I really wanted to make her something special, so I looked on her Pinterest account to give me some ideas.  I also recently learned that she likes to cook, even though I have never seen this. ;) On one of her boards she had a picture of an apron that I thought was beautiful and I was on a mission to make it for her! As you can see it is pretty awesome, but fairly simple to make it, at least I thought!

Things you will need:

• material, I chose linen (beige like the picture)
• sewing machine
• scissors, measuring tape, pins, thread (any color, I chose brown)

As you probably can tell without a pattern I kind of just made it up in my head of how I thought I should do this.  Due to the lack of formal instruction I decided to just give you a summery of how I did it.  If you have more questions you can always email me for further instructions.  

Square cut out of fabric

The hardest part I think was measuring.  My cousin Leiah is the tiniest person I know, and seeing as it was a surprise for Christmas I only had her Husband, LT, to help me figure out her measurements.  I took her waist measurements, using her pant size, and her chest measurements using her bra size.  Using those measurements I cut out a square of the fabric.

Cut out base design of apron

Then using the square I cut out the shape of the apron I would be working with. Of course you will need to cut out the same piece for the back as well.  I then began working on the skirt and sewing on the ruffles.  I found an online tutorial of how to sew ruffles without using a ruffler foot tool for your sewing machine.  Start by setting your stitch length to the longest length on your machine.  Increase the tension. This is where it becomes a little 'dependent on your machine'.  After I finished, I began sewing on the ruffles to the "base" cut out of the apron.

Next, It was time to sew the strings that she would use to tie the apron.  I wanted to create that criss-cross effect that the original picture had.  I knew two strings would suffice to keep the apron up, but I felt two wouldn't look right.  I decided to sew on more strings, but only long enough for looks.

After that I sewing the back piece, on the base cut to hide the seams on the back and I was finished. Special thanks to my cousin Kristina for letting me use her apartment and keeping me company while I finished the apron.  Leiah I hope you love it, Merry Christmas!

Thanks again! Jess, out!

Finished Apron

Art with crayons! Merry Christmas Dad!!

Crayon Art for Dad

Hello Readers!

As you probably can tell I like to make presents instead of buying them. I find it makes for a more personal gift!  When I was trying to figure out what to do for my dad, I immediately thought of the Dallas Cowboys! My dad is a die hard Cowboy fan and anything Cowboy related he loves!  Last year on Moose's birthday I made a crayon art painting, a picture is featured on the About Me section of my blog. Using that same technique I thought I would do the same for my dad, but Dallas Cowboy style.

Things you will need:

• a canvas board (whatever size you want it to be)
• crayons (if you want to use the colors featured in this project, I used and array of blue, silver, grey and white crayons)
• masking tape
• hot glue gun/super glue 
• blow dryer

First you will want to take your crayons and glue them to the side of canvas you want them to drip from.  I used a hot glue gun, but any strong adhesive will work.  Also I would like to thank my friend Natalie and Grandma's Daycare for helping me acquire all the crayons I needed. Gathering all the crayons can be quite a task, unless you want to go out and buy them.

After the crayons are glued into place, you will need to take your masking tape and start laying it out on the canvas board.  Since I was doing a Cowboy themed painting, I chose the iconic star of the Cowboys.  You are encourage to use any design you can think of.

Now comes the time consuming part.  I would suggest doing it outside or in a garage, but if it is cold or windy you will have to do it inside some where safe.  I will tell you that while you are melting the crayons it can get all over the place.  Special thanks to my cousin JD for letting me use his apartment! This part will take a while but the end result is worth it.  Take the blow dryer and start melting the crayons.  At this point it is up to you and your creative mind.  You can manipulate the streaks of crayons by tilting the board or changing directions of the board or air, anything you can do to steer the streaks where you want them to go.  Keep the blow dryer close to the crayons to heat them up faster.

When you are finished and happy with the result, let the crayons sit for a while to cool down, and then remove the tape.  Voila! Crayon art!

Thanks, for reading! Jess, out!

Pajama Pants ---> Infinity Scarf

Los lectores ¡Buenos días!

Infinity Scarf

The following project was inspired by my good friend Karla!  I wanted to make her a Christmas present and I came across some DIY (do it yourself) projects on the internet.  This particular site used old pajama pants to make other winter like clothes to wear.  I decided to make her an infinity scarf.


Things you will need:

• pair of old pajama pants
• scissors
• sewing machine/needle and thread

Old Pajama Pants

Grab your pants and lay them out.  You will want to cut them into four panels.  Try to make them as straight as possible. After you have your four panels cut out, grab your needle and thread or sewing machine because its time to put them together!

Cut out panels

Now, take two of the pieces and put them side by side.  You will need to decided which side is the "good" side, the part that will be showing when you are going to wear it.  Sew the two pieces side by side for both sets of panels.  

After you are finished, line up the sets connecting them at there ends, where the feet would be. This will create one long piece that will give the scarf the length to wrap around twice your neck.  Now you will need to connect the open side, and sew it together.  Make sure you sew the seam on the inside, so it will not be shown while wearing it.  

You are almost done!  Now just to connect the ends, and you will have your new infinity scarf.  With the scarf turned to the "good" side, the side you want to show, fold the ends in about 1/2 inch and slide one end into another.  Sew directly on top of both ends.  Now you are finished!  

Infinity Scarf

Like always if you have any questions feel free to email me!  Keep reading for new projects!


Thanks, Jess out!