simple sweater update

So yesterday I had about 30 min when BOTH kids were napping.

This project has been on my brain for a while & I finally decided to just knock it out.

I have been loving all the embellished clothing lately at places like J.Crew, Anthropologie & Loft

I have also had this plain old white cardigan for YEARS, but it has been hanging in my closet {unworn} for a couple of years now. I figured all it needed was a little ruffle.

Voila!

Here is what it looked like before...boring!

Want to know how it did it?

Supplies:

old white cardigan

1 2yd package of 3/4" wide twill tape, white

sewing machine & white thread

Step 1: set your sewing machine stitch length to the longest option, sew down the center of the twill tape from beginning to end. Pull the thread to ruffle the twill tape.

Step 2: Reset your stitch length to the normal setting. Decide where you want the ruffle to go on your cardigan (I started at the bottom and took it all the way up to the shoulder seam on one side). Lay your ruffle on to the sweater and sew right up the center of the ruffle, back stitching at the beginning and end.

That's it! So easy and turns an old sweater into a brand new one!!!

water bottle label tutorial

Personalized water bottle labels are a cute, easy an inexpensive way to give your party a custom look. I'm going to show you just how easy it is!

Step ONE: Design your label

I used Microsoft Works, but any word processing program should work.

You can play around with the fonts and sizes, but you should fit 5 labels on letter size (8 1/2 x 11) paper. Make sure it is in portrait for the orientation.

For these labels I used a font called Leftovers at 65pt. and inserted pictures at the front and end of my words. Then I copied and pasted it four more times.

Once you are happy with your design, it's time to print!

Step TWO: Cut your labels

I cut my labels into 1 1/2" strips, the 8 1/2" length of the paper was perfect for wrapping around my water bottles and did not need to be trimmed down.

Ideally you would use a paper cutter, but since I don't have one I used my handy-dandy rotary cutter & mat! :)

Step THREE: Remove your labels

I got my water bottles at Costco and the labels were SO easy to remove!!

Step FOUR: Adhere the labels

I used clear packing tape to adhere my labels to the water bottles and to help make them water-proof. Just cut a strip of tape slightly longer than the label. Center it over the label carefully (something about the static makes the label kindof pop up onto the tape when you get close). Then tape the label onto your bottles. {I found that starting in the middle and working may way out to each end seemed to work best}

Step FIVE: Keep going until all your bottles are done

Step SIX: Admire your cute water bottles!!

Now, wasn't that easy!?