Packaging Your Etsy Items (Part 1)

The other day I went packing happy. Meaning I had a great idea and before I knew it I had packaged over half my items.

Would you like to see?




I must say, I really love how they turned out! Why didn't I think of this before? You can use your fabric scraps to beautifully package all your Etsy items. :)




All it takes is some tape, tissue paper, your item and some fabric scraps/ribbon/twine.

Here's the easy process:

1) Grab your item and wrap it in some tissue paper or kraft paper. I used to use kraft paper but when I started running out I just switched to tissue paper. I use 2 sheet for larger size items and one for smaller ones.

2) Grab a piece of fabric and cut it down to 3" wide x "amount need to wrap around item".  Wrap it around your item securing it with tape in the back. I used a painters drop-cloth for some of these and some cheap $3yrd muslin for others. You could also use kaki, or any solid.




3) Grab a ribbon, twine, or another fabric scrap and cut it about 1"-2"wide x 1.5 the length of your previous piece. (in other words so it can wrap around your item 1 1/2 times) Wrap around a tie a knot in the front.

There you have it! A super cute way to package item for all you sewers out there!



Now you can go and wrap all your stock items! Or if you rather wait until it sells BUT want to make packaging really easy simply pre-cut a basket full of different sized scraps to have on hand. What took the longest for me what determining which fabric I was going to use on each package. :)



Since I did pre-wrap at least 20 packages I also labeled them so I knew what was in them. Because I used tissue paper I could still see the print on the back side, but to make it quick after I wrapped it a stuck a little note on it with the prints pattern.












And for all you non-sewers out there I'll show you another easy and inexpensive way to package your items next week.


Linking up with- Tatertots and Jello , Flamingo Toes, The Well Crafted Home, The Grant Life,  One Artsy Mama 

Bridal Shower Chair How To

It was my moms idea actually. She wanted a special chair for the occasion so I created a Bridal Shower Chair slipcover.



Complete with a floral back...



and a lovely bow!

You'll need
Approx 2 yards of white cotton fabric (I used 36" muslin because I need the length not width)
And at least 3 yards of tulle. I think it would be better with 6 yards so you could so 2 layers or use something thicker than tulle.

I did this with frugality in mind. The final price was only $5!








Here are my rough measurements.
I was only measuring the padded part of the chair. This is how I pieces my chair:
Starting at the top of the font all the way down to the edge of the bottom. Meaning the entire front piece of the chair was one big piece: 20"x41"
Back width and length: 20"x20"
Vertical Side-over the top-down the other side: 3"x56"
Horizontal side-back of chair-other size: 3"x56.

I added 2" for seam allows and measure large so I'd have plenty of wiggle room.

Cut out all your pieces. If your planning on doing a floral background I'd do so before you continue sewing. I wasn't planning on adding roses so I did it after I finished it over, it was much hard to sew that way! I used extra scraps I had for the bow and for the rose background.



Here I've laid out my main front piece and started pining it tot he top/side piece. Once it was Pined I sew it into place. Next I did added the back, and finally moved onto the back/side/bottom piece.

Once they were all sewed into place I cute my tulle into three piece, sewed them together and trimmed it. Added a gather stitch a, pined it into place and sewed it down.



It was a rather easy and quick project! I think it took me, maybe, 2 hours.



As you can see it was windy outside.

Linking up with- Tatertots and Jello , Flamingo Toes, and The Grant Life.

French Country Zipper Pouch Tutorial

I've recently fallen in love with the french country look. So upon finding some linen lookalike I decided to make myself a little zipper pouch! I really do love this little guy! I've been using it for a makeup pouch, but I think it would be great for an Easter clutch too!







Supplies:
1/4 Linen/Muslin Fabric
1/4 Interior Fabric
1/4 Pellon Shirt Tailors interfacing
1/4 Lace fabric
1/8 White Fabric for bow
9" zipper (or larger)
4-5 10" lace and string pieces. 




Start by cutting {2} 9"x6" from your exterior fabric, interior fabric and interfacing. And a 10"x7" from your lace fabric. For the bow cut {2} 4"x20".
I picked my linen lookalike fabric up at Hobby Lobby for 3.99 I yard. It looks like linen, but I believe its a muslin type fabric.



For this project I used Pellon Shirt Tailors Interfacing. Heavy weight or Light weight interfacing will work as well.



Take your interfacing and fuse it on to the wrong side of your Linen/Muslin Fabric.



 Pin your lace fabric on to the back of one of your linen pieces. Because lace is often slippery/stretchy its much easier for it to be large then your actually project size.



Sew about 1/8-1/4 all the way around the edge and trim off the extra lace.



For the bow take your pieces and begin by folding them in half length wise and ironing them down.



Placing one on top the other and do a diagonal cut along the edge.



Sew about 1/4 from the edge leaving the flat end open. Trim the corners and flip inside out. Press.



For my project I only cut my bow pieces about 15" long. Then when I got to tying my bow I barely had any wiggle room! For sure you want to have your piece longer, so I suggest 20" long.

1) Start by laying your bow pieces one over the other. Make sure the end facing up is the flat end.
2) Fold the underneath piece, over the top piece.  The two ends you haven't touched yet should be longer (circled in purple). These are the ones you'll use to tied the bow.
3) Begin by pinching the one on the left.
4) Still holding it pinch the one of the right with your other hand and tie them in a knot.



It may take a few tries but... walla! A lovely bow!



Take your lace and sting and lay them out in what ever order you like, leaving enough space for the bow and about about 3/4" from the top and bottom edge.



Pin in place and sew. I started with my 3 bigger laces then moved to my smaller ones.



If pins don't work you may also want to try tape



After all your lace is in place add the bow, sewing down the entire side to secure all the lace pieces.



Now to add the zipper. Place your inside fabric down first,right side up, then the zipper on top (facing up) and finally your linen fabric right side down.. Pin in place and sew along the top. Repeat for other side.



When your done, top stitch 1/8 down the zipper. Because my Zipper was long I've also sewn over my zipper to hold it in place.



Here's what it should look like.



Fold it over so that the zipper is in the middle with the line/muslin fabric on one half and the inside fabric on the other half. Pin in place.



One thing to keep in mind is to face the top part of the zipper towards the linen fabric. That way when you flip in inside out the zipper is pointing towards the outside of the pouch.



Sew 1/2" all the way around leaving about 3 1/2 inches to flip it inside out. Trim your edges and corners.



Take your opening and flip it inside out.



Once it flip, fold your opening under and sew along the edge.



Yay! Your done!

Linking up with- Tatertots and Jello , Flamingo Toes, The Grant Life, and One Artsy Mama