Embroidery Hoop Chandelier

A few months ago, a team of bloggers decided to get together for a thrift store challenge. The challenge was set to get paired up with a blogger who would send you a box of thrift store find(s) under $15 and you had the liberty to create whatever you wanted to create with those items. In case you missed it, you can read more about the challenge here.  

Today, I'm going to show you what I created with one of the items in my box. It's a project I've been wanting to make for quite some time. I'm so glad the challenge finally gave me the kick in the pants to make this embroidery hoop light. I love how it turned out and it's been a great addition to our back patio on our warm summer nights.

Let me take a second to refresh your memory. These are the items I received in my thrift store challenge box from Carol at Refurbish 360 Blog. I had a few ideas in my mind, but I kept going back to my original idea of making an embroidery hoop light. In fact, I had already purchased the lighting package from IKEA last year with this project in mind. I just hadn't gotten around to doing it just yet.

I started by using some Minwax stain in Bombay Mahogany. The same stain we used when we made our removable plank top table last year.  I put on two coats of the stain. I also had my IKEA lighting kit {if you don't have an IKEA close by, this light kit is really reasonably priced as well} and twine on hand. You will also need a lightbulb {I love the look of the Edison bulbs.} This one is a fantastic deal.

After your hoops are dry, start by sliding all of the embroidery hoops inside one another. I used three on the inside and then one went down to support the middle. Start wrapping your twine around to hold your first meeting point together.

Slip the middle ring around and wrap that in place at the meeting points as well.

Once you have all your meeting points wrapped, take our your light kit and decide how far down you want your light to hand inside your hoop. You will take your twine and slip it around like shown at the spot you want it to meet with your hoop.

As you can see, the twine was placed about two inches up from the light base.

Secure the cord to the side of the embroidery hoop point that you consider the top.

My husband helped me find larger twine to wrap the cord and secure the lighting wire in place.

He is more of a boy scout than I am and knots are second nature to him. He ended up leaving a loop at the top so that there was a place to hang the light on our patio when it was complete.

After the light was complete, it found it's place outside on our back patio.

I think it looks pretty great above this seating area.

Having this lighting has made us linger just a little bit longer outside and enjoy the warm nights just a little bit longer.

In fact, we have even fired up the charcoal BBQ and created some signature S'mores and enjoyed some amazing family time out back.

I was so happy to finally get this project that's been floating around in my head made. It's one of those things that I have enjoyed so much now, I wonder why I didn't make it sooner!

I also took the set of napkins that Carol sent and made some watercolor cloth napkins. I will have the full tutorial on that soon, but in the meantime, here's a sneak peak.

Take a second today to check out some of the other Thrift Store Challengers and see what they came up with!

dislaimer: this post may have affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing through them, I may receive a small commission. These small purchases help me to continue to keep writing content and creating at Holy Craft. Thank you!

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How to Use Vinyl Like a Pro- A Step by Step Guide

I'm a crafty gal, but sometimes I need to give myself a little refresher course on the basics. This happened to me just recently when I was trying to use vinyl {regular vinyl, not my go to heat transfer vinyl} on a project. Things weren't working the way I thought they should and it's because I was doing it all wrong! I spent some time reading the manual and going on the suppliers page and I finally figured out what mistakes I was making. 

I actually personally reference my blog quite a bit. So even if they rest of you don't read this post, I know that I will go back to it next time I need to use vinyl. So here you go, how to use vinyl like a pro, a step by step guide just for you {or maybe, just for me}.

I picked up some plain wood blocks at a garage sale for next to nothing. They were already cut, they just needed to be painted and I knew that they would look great with some vinyl. My go to medium when I use my Silhouette is almost always heat transfer vinyl. I'm a sorority girl, what can I say, I like a t-shirt for everything!

This is how they turned out, but this isn't how they started. And it took me a few attempts to remember just how to use regular vinyl, which is why we are all where we are now, following this step by step guide. 

Are you ready? I know you want to learn how to use adhesive vinyl like a pro!

How to Use Adhesive Vinyl Like a Pro

Step 1: start with your work surface

paint or prepare if needed

Step 2: design and cut out the vinyl

using your Silhouette software, design and cut out your image. I simply used text. There is no need to reverse your image if you use adhesive vinyl {heat transfer vinyl is another story}. Peel off your cut area. 

Step 3: you will now have a negative space and positive space area

Sometimes you can be creative and use your positive space area as a stencil.

Step 4: use transfer paper

Use a piece of transfer paper just a little bit bigger than your image and place it on top. You can use a spatula to rub down the transfer paper to make sure the vinyl sticks.

Step 5: peel off the transfer paper

You should have transferred your image on to the transfer paper and it's ready to go on your prepped work surface

Step 6: center and line up your transfer

Line up the transfer paper and the image where you want it and use a spatula to transfer the vinyl on to the final surface. Slowly peel back the transfer paper and your adhesive vinyl should be stuck on your work area.

I just love how these small signs turned out. They were so easy once I figured out how to use my adhesive vinyl properly. You can't go wrong if you follow this step by step guide.

I've also made these other projects with adhesive vinyl.

You & Me gold foiled sign
Restoration Hardware Knock Off Sign
I Like You Sign
Travel Wet Bags
Vinyl Bible Song Sign
Driftwood Beach Sign
Let me know if you have any helpful tips to add. I would love to have them included to reference.I've partnered together with some other fantastic bloggers as part of the June Silhouette Creators challenge. Go check out all of the great projects from them this month!

1. Crochet Hook Box - Dwell Beautiful
2. How to Repurpose a Table into Wall Art - DIY Passion
3. Silhouette Etching Vinyl and a DIY Farmhouse Breadbox - Creatively Southern
4.Silhouette Challenge Wood Slab Plaque - My Life From Home
5.Watercolor Patriotic Napkins & a Simple 4th of July Tablescape - Pocketful of Posies
6. How to Use Vinyl Like A Pro Step by Step - Holy Craft
7. DIY Team Banner - Morena's Corner
8. DIY Wooden Slice Dishwasher Clean-Dirty Magnet - Simply {Darr}ling
9. Custom Wall Plates Using Your Silhouette Machine dislaimer: this post may have affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing through them, I may receive a small commission. These small purchases help me to continue to keep writing content and creating at Holy Craft. Thank you!

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Customized monogram slippers

As a thrifty crafter, I'm always on the look out for plain surfaces that are cheap so that I can customize them and make them my own. If you hadn't noticed, sometimes finding plain items to use can be hard. Finding plain items that are cheap can be even harder! But, I'm always up for the challenge! Some of the best places to look are in the clearance rack {Target has some great tank tops I love to use HTV on} and of course, my favorite, at garage sales. 

I found this plain pair of slippers {they were originally from Victoria's Secret} for $3 and couldn't wait to get some sparkly heat transfer vinyl on them. I'm showing you how to make them today.

I'm always a big fan of showing you before and afters. The plain slippers were just fine, but, they needed a little something don't you think?

I used my Silhouette design software to create a monogram. Don't overthink it. You can follow Melissa's tutorial on how to create a monogram here, or simply do what I did and create two circles and make your letters different sizes. Easy peasy. I'm telling you this because I overthought it. Not all letters look good in a monogram. Trust me.

Cut your heat transfer vinyl out. I used this glitter HTV from Expressions Vinyl. I've never used it before and I thought that maybe it would be harder to use, but it cut like butter and didn't have any problems transferring to my slippers. I'm sold!

If you have never used HTV before you can find a full tutorial on how to cut it here.

Some HTV tips for you:

Always reverse your image
Put your HTV shiny side down into your machine
Always double cut and use a mat
Use a lightweight piece of cotton to iron your transfer on
Press your iron firmly and for at least 20 seconds in each area
Let your transfer cool and then peel {unless otherwise noted on your medium}

I think Sophie is thrilled with me trying to teach her how to fetch my slippers for me.

These monogrammed slippers would be great for a wedding shower gift, for a hard to shop for teenage girl, or really, for just about anyone.

Keep your eyes peeled for those blank items that you can jazz up a bit with your Silhouette machine. Think outside the box. You don't just need to put heat transfer vinyl on t-shirts. The possibilities are endless!

dislaimer: this post may have affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing through them, I may receive a small commission. These small purchases help me to continue to keep writing content and creating at Holy Craft. Thank you!

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Small Box Turned Into A Custom Sign

It's gearing up for my favorite time of the whole year. It's nearly garage sale season! Is anyone else excited? I'm dying. I can't wait for Friday and Saturday mornings to be spent looking for good deals, future projects and other crap I just can't live without.

Last week, I got a little garage sale teaser when a random sale popped up just down the street. I stopped in and picked up a small wooden box for a quarter. I was thinking outside of the box {see what I did there?} and crafted a little handmade sign simply by turning the box on it's side, painting it and adding vinyl. 

Plus I added my new favorite, Deco Foil! I kind of want to foil all the things. Come on over and see how I made this. You won't look at a box the same way again!

You might look at this and see a wooden box. Heck, I did at first.

But once I turned it on it's side, I noticed a little lip on the bottom creating the perfect frame for a fun vinyl saying. Do you see it? So I slapped on a coat of paint and narrowed down what I wanted my new sign to say.

I love my Silhouette machine. If you don't have one, you seriously need one. If for nothing else than to cut out vinyl to create custom projects. It's a crafting game changer. You can find a great price on this starter kit with a whole bundle of supplies to get you started.

I used my favorite vinyl from Expressions Vinyl. I've never tried the glitter vinyl but I love it! I measured the space that I had and made a rectangle in my Silhouette design software. Then I found a font that I liked and the rest is history.

I used my transfer tape to transfer the glitter vinyl on to the box.

If you haven't tried Deco Foil yet, you totally should. It's my favorite new craft thing. I used double sided adhesive and cut that out on my Silhouette machine in an ampersand. I removed the back paper to make it sticky and put it on the box and then followed the directions for the Deco Foil.

It was so easy. I promise, you will be obsessed! And then all the things in your life will start to get foiled.

The best part about garage sales is stocking up on new supplies you can use for creating. Sometimes all it takes is to start thinking outside of the box.

I'm joining in with some other bloggers to share our Silhouette projects. Make sure you go check them all out!

1. My View From Home - Teacher Apprecation Watering Can

2. Holy Craft - Easy Vinyl and Foil Sign From Old Box

3. Patina Paradise - Painted Wood Mason Jar Door Hanger

4. Dwell Beautiful - Customized Coldplay Song Lyric Tote Bag

5. C'mon Get Crafty - Silhouette Shirt: Silhouette Monthly Challenge

6. Tried & True - Teacher Appreciation Travel Mug

7. Morena's Corner - Silhouette Wall Art

8. Simply Darrling - Easy DIY World Map with Hymn Quote

9. DIY Passion - DIY Cake Toppers and Birthday Banners

10. Dream Design DIY - Hangry Kitchen Tray

11. Pocketful of Posies - Thonet Yardsale Chair Makeover into One of a Kind Office Chair

dislaimer: this post may have affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing through them, I may receive a small commission. These small purchases help me to continue to keep writing content and creating at Holy Craft. Thank you!

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How to Make Zipper Bracelets

I've been blogging for a really long time. {I think blog years are similar to dog years.} Through those years I've created a lot of projects. Some of those projects just haven't gotten the love that I think that they deserve. Many have barely been seen, because when I wrote them I had like four people reading my blog. I have a few new readers and I don't want my new friends to miss out on some of these projects because I think they are pretty stellar, so I'm refreshing some of them. I'm bringing them out of the archives for you to enjoy.  Coincidentally, I'm conveniently leaving some of those not so great projects hidden in the archives. You can find them on your own but boy oh boy I'm not bringing them back into the light! Some of those need to get buried far deep down {ahem...pipe cleaner tree} and never seen again. 

I'm starting with this zipper bracelet tutorial because I love my arm candy and because these bracelets cost me next to nothing, which is my favorite price for a project.

I am a craft supply hoarder. I love my garage sales during the summer and I find that it's the best time to pick up craft supplies. Sometimes, like this time, those supplies sit in my closet or in a drawer for weeks, even years before they get used.

There aren't many people that sew anymore, so finding vintage zippers like these are usually easy to come by at an estate sale for cheap. I picked them up for about a dime a piece. My favorite zipper to use are the 7" jean zippers. I like the brass on them and the thickness of the zipper makes for a nice substantial bracelet. Don't have a garage sale? You can buy a zipper instead. 

I don't make jewelry often, but I do have needle and round nose pliers that are helpful to make and fix jewelry. Consider getting a set. You will also need cup chain ends, jump rings, clasps and charms {optional}.  All of these materials I usually have on hand because when you buy them, you usually have to buy them in bulk.

Start by cutting off the ends of your zipper.

Next, cut as close as you can to the zipper cutting off the material on the sides.

Once you cut your seams, light a candle and hold your zipper over the flame to seal the sides of the fabric. Be careful because your zipper will be hot!

Use a cupchain to secure the end of your zipper. You can even use a dot of glue to make sure it holds in place.

Slide on a jump ring, your charm if you are using it and a clasp. Close your jump ring with your pliers.  Your clasp will fit into the hole at the end of your zipper. 

Pretty snazzy right? You can layer your bracelets for even more awesomeness because one can never have too much arm candy.  If you want to see the original tutorial with even more step by step photos, you can find the post here.

Don't miss the thousands of posts I have in my archives. You can find a "search this blog" bar on the right, or find popular labels to search. dislaimer: this post may have affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing through them, I may receive a small commission. These small purchases help me to continue to keep writing content and creating at Holy Craft. Thank you!

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