A Few Simple Clothing Update Hacks

 

Screenshot from video

I stumbled across this on Pinterest today and thought I would share it here.  

It has some simple updates and repairs that can be done to clothing with scissors and embroidery floss and something simple to do while watching Christmas shows on television.

xx

Embroidering a Leaf

Screenshot from video

I haven't embroidered anything since grade school when my Mom taught me, but thinking about picking it up again and spotted this trick on how to make an embroidered leaf fairly easily by sewing a loop around a pencil, running the thread through then center, and then pulling it down.

Below is a short video from Reddit.

The way it's embroidered from r/BeAmazed

Screenshot from video 

REVERSE TIE DYE T-SHIRT

 

This project is based on the video below by the DIY Designer Orly Shani on Youtube (video below) that I made for Marv.

Items used:

• 1 black cotton t-shirt
• 1 Tulip Mini Tie Dye Kit (Red and Blue)
• Rubber bands
• Bleach
• A large enough container to dip t-shirt in bleach
• Lingerie bag
• Washer
• Ziplock bag
• 1 cup vinegar 
• 1/4 cup salt

I had actually attempted this twice prior and had not as successful results, but I am very happy how this one turned out.

I started with a black Hanes cotton t-shirt and pinched it in the center and twisted it.  I have overexposed the picture so the detail is more clear.  You keep twisting until the entire t-shirt is somewhat of a circle.

I rubber banded it up into six sections and tried to make them somewhat equal.

This is a picture from my first project but I forgot to take a picture of this one.  I think I filled it about a 1/4 of an inch on the bottom and I used one of the large Halloween bowls from The Dollar Tree and you put a little bit of bleach in the bottom and dip on one side and dip on the other side.   

Don't oversaturate (which is what I did on the first project).  If a section seems dry on one side you can add a bit of bleach and dip again.  

I let it set 20-30 minutes, checking until it is as light as you desire on the dipped sides and then I shoved the entire thing into a lingerie bag (otherwise you might lose the rubberbands).

In the video she rinsed out the rubber-banded t-shirt to stop the bleaching, but I washed mine with laundry soap with some white towels (no fabric softener though) and dried in the dryer.

When it came out I had to re-twist and rubber band again as indicted above, grabbing the center again and twisting and tried to put back as it was.  If you rinse in the sink you would not need to do this step, but might need more dye.

I purchased the kit below at JoAnn's using a coupon.  I think the sale price was around $3.50 with tax.

On my project I broke one of the rubber bands and used one from the kit.  

On one side I used pretty much and equal amount of red and blue.

On the other side, I used more like 1/3 red and the other blue and I know the person I made it for wouldn't want too much red.

After the dye was on I put into a ziplock bag and it was in there for 8 hours overnight.

I took the t-shirt out of the bag and washed it again with the vinegar and salt to help set the dye by itself on the small load setting.  

xxx

On Our Sleeves: Growing Our Gratitude

Above is from an email from Big Lots

The above was in an email I received from Big Lots and thought I would share it as I think in tough times we need to focus on things we still have to be grateful for.

Two things you can be thankful for if you are reading this is electricity and access to the internet.  The Washington Post reported 1.3 billion people in the world to not.

On Our Sleeves is a movement to transform children's mental health.  On their website, they have downloadable Gratitude guides and worksheets as well as an online one you can complete and submit for two free seed packets.

There also have resources for find help in the United States.

WASHINGTON POST MAP OF CURRENT STATE RESTRICTIONS

Source:  Washington Post

The Washington Post has a map of the current restriction of the States on their website.  

The article indicates public health officials have warned with the increase in activity new cases could surge, that most schools have ended their academic year and the death toll for the US is currently 88,000.

If you scroll down below the article there is a dropdown where you can select a certain state and it will jump to provide additional detail.

Below is a screenshot of the State that I live in, Indiana.

As I live in Indiana it varies.  Where I live while some restaurants opened back up at 50%, many are still just doing carry-out and delivery.

On some of the retail outlets that have opened up, the number of people in the store is limited and enforcement depends on the store.   

Most stores have it listed on the door how many people are allowed in a store and have reduced hours.   The enforcement of the number of people in a store varies.  Costco is very stringent and there is a line and they won't allow a new person in if overcapacity until another customer leaves and the lines can be very long.  On the other end of the spectrum, it doesn't seem that Ollie's Discount Outlet enforces at all. 

Stores with carts usually have someone dedicated to wiping them down and those that have been wiped down are in a separate location that unwiped carts.

Most stores have up plexiglass shields in front of the cashier and there are marks in masking tape on the floor for social distancing every 6 feet.

Also, some store requires face masks.  Menards only allow those over 18 and must wear a mask. 

How is your state or country handling reopening?  If you have anything to share, please feel free to leave a comment.

Quaranstream: Free events and services to watch online while self-quarantining

Tropical Reef Cam powered by Explore.com on Youtube

Good Morning America has compiled a list of video streams to help people survive the remaining weeks of quarantine.  

They are calling it Quaranstream: Free events and services to watch online while self-quarantining.

The subjects are:

• Animals and Pets
• Arts, Crafts & DIY
• Beauty, Style, and Fashion
• Book Clubs and Story Time
• Cooking and Food
• Games and Activities
• Holiday and Events
• Movies, TV, Films, and Celebs
• Music & Concerts
• Performing Arts
• Science and Technology
• Sports
• Travel and Tourism
• Wellness and Meditation
• Workouts

For the listing in links, visit Good Morning America's Quaranstream listing here.

A Website To Check If Looking for A New Fragrance to Wear: Fragrantica

Screenshot from Fragrantica

I stumbled across this site a few years ago and thought I would share here as a resource for someone that is looking for a new fragrance to wear.

 Fragrantica indicates it is:

"An online encyclopedia of perfumes, a perfume magazine and a community of perfume lovers. Fragrantica informs their readers about new perfume launches, about famous fragrances and less-known but wonderful scents."

It currently has over 59,000 different fragrances.

It has many ways you can search for Perfumes including:

• Designers
• Notes
• Groups
• Colors 
• Awards 

You can also search by Notes and if you like a certain scent, click on that Note and it will give you recommendations. 

You can also search by Perfumers and there is a forum with fragrance related topics you can read or participate in.  There is also a section called fragram where you can share your fragrance photos.

If you click on a scent it gives you photo of the fragrance and below that where you can buy it online with the cost (although sizes vary and it does not indicate that).

Screenshot from Fragrantica Michael Kors

Below is an area that shows the rating of the perfume by users, the notes in the perfume and to the right the Main Notes per votes of users of the site.

Screenshot from Fragrantica Michael Kors

Towards the bottom is an area that shows fragrances that the perfume reminds users of that you might be able to find something similar at a lower cost to try.  If you have tried the other fragrance, you can also vote if you think it is similar. 

Screenshot from Fragrantica Michael Kors


Disclaimer:  I have no affiliation with the above company and have received nothing for this post; just sharing it as a useful resource. 

Pinterest Try - Cross Rock Paintings

I decided to try something different using items I have on had during the COVID-19 lockdown and tried using a Pinterest inspiration to paint a cross on a rock.

I used Deco Acrylic Paint Markers that I previously purchased on Amazon for a little under $12 (they are slightly higher now). 

This is the first time I have tried anything like this and there is no brown and the red is more like a hot pink and with the markers there was no way I would be able to duplicate the inspiration at the bottom of the post), but it was quicker, easier and little to no mess and it was fun.  

No Sew DIY Face Mask From Bandana and Rubber Bands

While there are many DIYs now on Youtube, some with free patterns to sew face masks to protect yourself from the COVID-19, this is the first I have seen that is no-sew and just simple folding and rubber bands.

DECLUTTER: VHS TAPES, A COUNTRY CD AND FIX-IT MANUALS

As I purchased some items at a recent half-price sale at thrift stores, in keeping with my declutter plan that an equal to or greater than numbers of items need to go out I picked out all except the fix-it books for donation.

The Fix-It books had belonged to my ex, Marv, and they were purchased through Reader's Digest Do-It-Yourself Manual and Fix It Yourself Manual and I believe these were purchased in 1990 right after we purchased the house.  I believe he used one as a reference to fix a dryer to replace and element instead of buy a new one and saved us hundreds of dollars.  

They are very informative books and I would recommend them to anyone who owns a home.   Usually more updated versions are available at your local library.

Most of the videos have have seen several times and now available on streaming services, should I want to see them again.  What will miss, as I do with LPs, it the artwork and photos that are on the box used to market the products.   

I am trying to sort through my vast collection to donate all but what I really love, that way I can donate them while people still have VHS tape players to watch them.

As I am not a country fan, the CD is a leftover from when I was engaged to a man that was.   Not sure why he left this and chose to take my Rick Springfield's Greatest Hits and Foreigner 4 CDs.  

I donated clothing as well but the photo didn't turn out.  I have lost weight and sorting through what is too big and getting rid of it as an incentive to keep the weight off, which is even more of a challenge due to the isolation of  mostly staying in due to the Corona virus.

Twine Carrot

Check out Twine Carrot on Cut Out + Keep

This was a library craft that I made recently that goes with the Sock Bunny made previously.

It is made with inexpensive items and takes under 1 hour to make.

For detail, check out the tutorial at Cutoutandkeep.net

Sock Bunnies

This is a free craft at a local library and it is a cute and easy Easter decoration to craft and very inexpensive.

I have posted a brief tutorial for the Sock Bunnies on Cut Out + Keep.


Check out Sock Bunnies on Cut Out + Keep

2020 RUNWAY INSPIRED CROPPED TRENCH COAT DIY FROM THRIFTED TRENCH COAT

Screenshot from video below

I have been a long time follower of Angelina at Blueprint DIY and posting this as I am now going to be on the hunt for an old trench coat to try this DIY this thrift flip as I love how it looks.

While she posts it as a mystery with the surprise ending of the refashion based on 2020 Spring runway shows, I put the screenshot above as it is fabulous and I am not usually a fan of cropped anything these days. 

While the crop itself will be simple, the detail that makes this jacket is re-do of the sleeves with pleats to make it puffy, which is a trend this Spring.  While it won't be a simple as just cropping, it doesn't look too daunting either.  

Below is the video for this refashion.  If I do find the right coat and make it, I will post it here.

Pizza Hut Pepperoni & Cheese Stuffed Cheez-It™ Pizza

I decided to try a new menu item on Pizza Hut's menu, their Pepperoni Cheez-Its Squares.

Where I live the cost is $6.49 for a box of 4, although the website currently has a deal if you buy 2 products from a specific collection you can get them for $6.00.  The product also comes with a container of marinara sauce and. Each square seemed to be about 5-6 inches.

Here is a picture of the inside of the product.  The squares were very dense and would get cheese flavor Cheez-It flavor but it was only a bit crispy/flaky on the outside and barely tasted the pepperoni or mozzerella inside.  

The square was filling but a little too rich, but the marinara dipping sauce did lighten it up a bit.

While it is a cute concept, it is not something I would purchase again.