Archive | Tutorials

DIY: Extra Long Curtain Rod

 I have 3 huge windows in our living room that have needed curtains for a long time, but I couldn’t find a curtain rod big enough to go all the way across them all!
My friend Meghan made her own curtain rod and told me it was easy, so I tried my own!
(I also found instructions here)
I bought the curtains from Target
1/2 inch electrical conduit (only $2 for a 10 ft length at Home Depot)
Pipe Cutter for $6 at Home Depot
and 3 sets of curtain rod hooks from Home Depot
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Burlap Wreath Tutorial

Are you ready for a Burlap Wreath Tutorial?  I’ve had this wreath on my door for a week or two now and I’ve had several ask for the details.  Here they are….

Supplies needed: (I bought everything at Hobby Lobby)
Wire wreath form (I bought the biggest one – there were 3 sizes)
Burlap (I used 1.5 rolls)
Pipe cleaners (I used brown, only because the taupe ones were sold out.)
Burlap ribbon (2 different prints)
Accessories (pumpkins, flowers, more burlap, etc…)

Spread your pipe cleaners around your wire form.  (It was difficult to keep them in place.  You could just add them as you go too.)  The pipe cleaners are what makes this so easy!  No tucking or looping.  Just twist and go.

Be sure to alternate tying to the inside wire, then the outside wire, then the inside wire, etc….
To attach your burlap, just twist it into a pipe cleaner.  No glue, no knots, just twist it in.  Be sure to leave the ends of your pipe cleaners sticking out because we are going to use them some more.
Bunch up some burlap and tie it into the next pipe cleaner.  You can make it smaller or fuller depending on how much burlap you bunch into each section.
Once you’ve made it all around, it time to all the ribbon.  Using the same pipe cleaners that are already in your wreath, tie in the ribbon.  I tied mine in about every 4 pipe cleaners, alternating tying to an inside wire, then an outside wire.

Add the second ribbon.  Use different pipe cleaners that you used for the first ribbon.

I wove my two ribbon under and over of each other.

Add your accessories.  I didn’t use my orange burlap, but I might add it later.  Be sure to tuck in all the ends of your pipe cleaners now.

Didn’t it turn out cute?  I love it.  It was easier to make than I thought it would be.  My 13 year old daughter helped me, but I’m pretty sure she could have done it on her own.  It’s that easy!

Linking up with:
Snap Creativity

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Camping Foam Pad Cover

I have spent so much money on air mattresses over the years.  It seems that I have to replace mine every year!  Not this year.  This year I’m trying something new – A foam pad with a foam pad cover.  Emily and Cali have both made these foam pads (and blogged about them too), and now it’s my turn.  I was surprised how easy they really were.  6 steps is all it takes:

Foam-Pad-Cover

1.  Purchase.   A foam pad, twin sheet, and a king sized pillow case.  Foam Pad:  I bought mine at The Home Depot for $20.  It measures 72X30 and is 3 inches thick.  Sheets and Pillowcases:  I bought mine at Wal-Mart.  They were $5 each.  Sheet – twin sized.  Pillowcases – king sized.

2.  Sew.  Fold your sheet in half length wise (now it is long and skinny) with right sides together.  Sew along 2 sides of the sheet, 1 short side and 1 long side.  1 side is the folded side and you want to leave one side open.  Once 2 sides are sewn, turn your case right side out.


3.  Put on.  Put cover onto foam pad.  It’s a tight fit to get the foam pad into the case, but you want it snug.  It can be a little tricky and take a little time, but I got it on.

4.  Fold in.  Once your foam pad is all the way into the case, you will have some sheet left over at the end.  I didn’t want to sew it up (so that I can take it off and wash it later) so I just folded both ends into one side of the pad cover.

5.  Roll up.  Just like a sleeping bag.


6.  Slide on.  Once it is rolled up, slide the pillowcase over the foam pad.  It should fit in the pillowcase without much problem.  This is so much easier than tying ropes and strings.  Slip it in and you are done!

Easy-pad-cover

We are now ready to go camping without the hassle of the air mattress.  No air pump needed, no electricity needed, and you won’t wake up on the the ground (because your air mattress has a hole!)

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