DIY Denim and Lace Cell Phone Case for Mother's Day

It's getting to be that time of year when we start turning those blue jeans into cut off shorts. It's one of the most popular refashions and so darn easy, even non sewer's can do it. It also leaves you with a bit of unused denim lying around.

I hate to let denim go to waste because it isn't cheap. Luckily cut off shorts time corresponds with Mother's Day quite well. Turn those denim scraps into a beautiful cell phone or digital camera case to give as a gift (to your mom or to yourself).

I added a lace overlay to make it pretty and made the chain out of a broken necklace so that it would be easy to find in a purse, or carry around without a purse.

You Will Need:

• Denim and lace scraps
• A sturdy broken necklace
• Scissors
• Thread
• Sewing Machine
• Hand sewing needle
• Sew on Velcro

Step 1: Mark your seam lines using the cell phone as a guide for size.

Step 2: Cut out Denim. Remember to include seam allowance and hem allowance. On the back leave 4 to 5 inches of extra fabric and trim to a curved shape. 

Step 3: Flat line the denim with the lace. Flat lining is the process of attaching the overlay. It's very simple. Just sew the lace to the denim inside the seam allowance so that the stitching won't be visible once the seams are sewn. From this point forward the denim and lace will be considered a single piece of fabric. 

Step 4: Hem the top of both the front and back by turning it under and securing it with a straight stitch. Then use a zig-zag stitch along the edge to prevent fraying. On the back piece with the curve, you may have to clip the fabric to get the hem to lay flat.

Step 4: With right sides together, sew the front to the back along the bottom and both of the long sides.

(Sorry, no pictures)

Step 5: Turn to the right side and attach the Velcro  Attach the chain with a thread loop. You may want to use home decor thread to attach the chain to make it stronger.  (Sorry again for the lack of pictures)

This post is part of the Sharing is Caring Mother's Day Blog Hop hosted by Life With Lovebugs, Powerful Mothering and Feeding Big!


All of the blogs listed below are sharing Mother's Day themed posts as part of this event, so click on one or all of the links below to find some great recipes, tutorials, crafts and more!

KCW Day One: Jack Frost Hoodie Progress

The kids and I got a chance to watch the new movie Rise of the Guardians a while back, and I have been obsessed with Jack Frost's Hoodie ever since. You can see here where I first sketched out a plan for it. 

I've made a few changes to the plan since then. Mainly, I am drafting a pattern rather than buying one, in an attempt to save both time and money. We'll see if that works out.

I traced a long sleeve t-shirt for the body and arm pieces, and the hood off a zip up hoodie. I just kind of winged the pouch pocket. Its basically a rectangle with a curve thrown in. Not to hard to draft. 

I also added the "prince seams" that make the hoodie so special. I just think it's so amazing that cartoon art has come so far that you can actually see the seams in the clothing!

I finished cutting out the pattern and fabric, except the wrist bands, which I will add at the end.

And finally I got around to sewing. This is where I am at. I still need to make some changes to the neckline, and I am sure that sewing that pocket on is going to be interesting, now that I already sewed up the side seams. I told myself, at least a dozen times, not to forget that, and what do I do? I forget!

Can't wait to pick up again tomorrow.

Lots of Layers Garden Party Dress

It's Thursday evening and I finally finished my entry for the Project Run and Play Spring formal week. Talk about cutting it close!

This was the most labor intensive children's dress I have ever made. Each of those layers have a narrow hem, individually pressed and sewn without a narrow hem foot. One of these days I am going to invest in some attachments for my machine.

Each ruffle is calculated to be exactly 30% smaller than the original strip of fabric (which by the way are either 4 or 5 in width depending on where they are placed) to create a more fluttery than ruffly look. 

I also fitted this dress on a very squirmy 6 year old a total of 3 times before I got it just right.

At least I managed to get the photos taken before it started to rain. 

I plan to share a step by step tutorial sometime this week, with lots of pictures, but for now I am going to take a nap!

Update: The tutorial is finished. You can see it here!

Kid Made Look Books!

I have been overjoyed the with the last few projects that I have made for my children. More so with their reaction to them, than the projects themselves!

It's amazing how children start to form their own opinions when your not looking. One day they love anything you give them to wear, the next they only want to wear clothes that suit their style.

I am determined to keep sewing clothes that they will love, and to help me do that I taught them how to pin.

I give them very little direction on their own Look Books. The most I will say is "Summer is coming.  Why don't you pin some shorts?" 

Of course, I keep an eye on them to make sure they aren't veering off onto inappropriate websites. My youngest daughter also needs a little help with navigation, but she is starting to get the hang of it.

As my kids get older, they are less interested in talking with their mom about their favorite things (or anything else for that matter). I am so grateful to Pinterest for giving me one more avenue to keep that connection open, just a little bit longer.

Lego Star Wars Tee and Other Fun

My refashion bin is still overflowing, and despite being busy sewing along with Project Run and Play I am determined to get it under control. I pulled another perfectly good item out of the bin today; another victim of me buying clothes that nobody truly loved.

It was a plain blue Hanes T-shirt that sat in my son's drawer with tags still on it for a year. I was determined to turn it into something he loved, and was excited to wear. Plus I saw a chance to check a project off my 14 Pins List. 

                  Supplies 

                  Solid Color T shirt

                  Printable Stencil

                  Freezer Paper

                  exacto knife

                  DecoArt SoSoft Fabric Paint 2oz Glitter Silver Bling(affiliate link)

You could use any color fabric paint you want as long as it goes well with your shirt color, but I strongly recommend using deco art fabric paint because it holds up best over time, especially when washed and dried.

1. Print the stencil, and trace onto freezer Paper.

2. Cut out your stencil with an exacto knife and carefully arrange on t-shirt with the shiny side down.

3. Iron it in place and then paint.

It was a fairly easy project and my son is now excited to wear his new shirt to school.

I did get one other Pinterest project done this week. However it was not nearly as successful. My gummy bear Ice Pops Were supposed to look like this.

Instead they ended up looking like this. And the gummy bears were soggy. Oh well the kids were still happy to eat them. 

I completed 2 of the items on my 14 pins list, and found one more to fill in the blank spots, so my list now looks like this:

 1. Sprite and Gummy Bear Popsicles

2.Pinwheel Wreath  

3. Plastic Toy To Toothbrush Holder

4. No Sew Blanket

5.Princess and Panda Dolls

6. Felt Paper Dolls

7. Bleach Batik Shirt

8. Lego Star Wars T shirt

9. Doll Hamster Cage

10. Decoupage Shoes

11. To Be Announced 

12. To Be Announced 

13. To Be Announced 

14. To Be Announced

I've found a  linky part at Craft-O-Maniac with tons of inspiring crafting ideas. I linked up. I hope you do to.