March break: washi week

It's finally here, a week of relaxation and free time! What to do...? Craft! This week, luvely stitches is bringing you a DIY a day, to fill your time with crafting goodness, to end washi winter. So tune in from Monday to Friday for your daily dose of luveliness!!
Xox Luvely stitches

Day 2 of washi winter: Bunting

Hello again everyone!
Today to continue my washi tape tutorials, I'll be showing you how to make one of my favorite decorative items. Bunting!! I love this stuff, you can put it just about anywhere and it adds a perfect touch of color.

 Mine is 76cm (I put the tape about every half an inch and used 26 triangles) but feel free to modify it. I suggest figuring out how long you want it to be before starting, keeping in mind that the thread should be slight longer than the length of whatever you're hanging it on, as it hangs down in the middle. Also, I used four colors for mine, but you can use however many you want.

Here's what you'll need:
- a piece of thick paper in a color different from your tape
-scissors
-a pencil
- 76cm of thread in the color of your choice 
-20cm of 4 kinds of washi tape (in colors that go well together)

The first thing to do is to make your template. On the thick paper (this is essential so that it doesn't rip and is easy to trace) use a ruler to measure a 1.7 by 3.8cm rectangle and then trace it. I suggest to draw it in the corner so that you only have to draw two lines. Then, make dots in the in the middle of the lines you drew and the edges of the paper. Next just connect the dots and make a diamond shape, then cut it out.


You can fold it over to see what it will look like when the bunting is done. If you don't like the shape, just cut off little bits until you get the shape you want, just not too much or the next step won't work properly.

Next, you'll need to get out your washi tape. Measure the washi tape and cut it. Stick it lightly onto a clipboard or other flat surface.

Angle your diamond so that the sides are lined up with the edges of the tape. Next, trace the other with a pencil, lightly. For my bunting, I needed about 7 of each color but once again, you may need to alter it. For a 30 inch bunting, trace 26 diamonds in whatever colors you're using.

When you're done, cut out the pieces. You can stick them on the edge of a table until you're ready to use them.

Now it's time to cut your thread. Take whatever thread you're using and cut it to 76cm (or the size you want), it should be more than the whatever you're hanging it on as it should hang down a bit in the middle. As they say, mesure twice, cut once. 

This is where your bunting starts to take shape. What you want to do is to line up the thread with two corners on the sides like this

Then fold it over by connecting the top and bottom corners.

Continue doing this, spacing out the triangles by about a 1cm apart until you get to the end of the thread. Et voila! Your bunting is finished! All there is to do now is hang it up and admire your work.

Xoxo
Luvely stitches

Day 1 of washi winter, washi tape charger

Day 1 of washi winter

Hi again!

Well today's the day, My very first tutorial! I wanted it to be something that everyone can do, and should be helpful to everyone. As you know, today almost everyone has a smartphone or even a cellphone and that means a cellphone charger, which look, in my opinion, boring. Which means... Washi tape time!

                                    
What you will need:

- washi tape of your choice

- charger and plug

- scissors or X-acto knife

- non marking board

- pencil (optional)

-clear tape (optional)

As I'm doing this specifically for the iPhone charger and plug, you'll have to alter it if you're doing this for any other type of charger. 

The first step is to cut the tape. You'll need to cut one piece 0.8/6 cm, two 10/1.5cm and  one 1.5/4.5cm. If you're using scissors, use a pencil to mark where you have to cut. 

Voilà!

 Next, wrap! Just stick the tape in the back and wrap it around. Stick the tape down with clear tape so that it lasts longer (this step is optional) 

All done! 

There you have it, a cute personalized charger. I'd love to get your input on this, and email me pictures of new chargers!!

Xoxo

Luvely Stitches

Welcome to 2013/ Washi winter

Hello my dear readers!! It's a new year, a perfect time for new beginnings. I have decided to take this blog in a new direction. Not only will it be somewhere where I can show all of you my creations, but it will be a place where you can try some out for yourselves. I'll share my favorite crafts, techniques and patterns that you can follow or alter to suit your style and preference. This winter, I'll be showing you some of my favorite crafts to do with washi tape.

There's so much you can do with it, and so many colors and patterns so you can always find something you like that will inspire you to make something. If you're a brand new crafter or new to washi tape, I recommend to get a mixture of solid colors and patterns, that have similar colors or colors that go well together. Also, if you like a variety of thicknesses. The standard size is about 1.5 cm but there are also thinner ones that are just over 0.5 cm. If you get mostly thicker ones and a few of the thinner ones in solid colors, you have an endless amount of possibilities for mixing and matching. There are even thicker ones (3.5 cm) but in my opinion you really don't need many rolls of this. If you're looking to buy washi tape, I highly recommend Etsy. They have a huge amount of tape, in every color and pattern you could imagine. It's pretty reasonably priced and you can get sampler sets so that you know what kinds of tape you like to use. I've also been sucessful finding washi tape in a craft or paper store. Personally, one of my favorite brands is MT, they have good quality tape in a variety of colors and great sets, but it's really up to you. You'll soon see that it's great for just about everything. From gift wrapping to decor to just jazzing up anything that's looking a little plain. Good bye for now, and I look forward to hearing your feedback on my very first tutorial...! Luvely Stitches

California...!

Guess where I am? We've been traveling through northern California and I'm absolutely loving it! This is a trip that I've been looking forward to for a long time and this may sound strange, but I find it cool to be in state that inspired one of my favorite songs and by far my favorite music video. What, might you ask is the song I am referring to... California gurls by Katy Perry!













Who is my brand new inspiration!! I really admire her confidence and how she embraces what makes her different. So, I decided that I would try to whip up a few felt goodies inspired by Katy's amazing music video (of California gurls)! That's right... Cupcakes, lollipops, cotton candy clouds and gummy bears! If you haven't seen the music video... Here's the link, go and WATCH IT!
Hope everybody's summer is going great...
xoxo Luvely Stitches