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DIY Nautical Towel Rack

NauticalTowel Rack

The kids are back in school, but we still have plenty of hot summer weather here in Arizona. This means a lot of time by the pool.  My boys swim every single day, and always leave a pile of towels left in their wake.  I was tired of the towels and swim trunks piling up in their bathroom, so I decided it was time to make a designated place for them to hang everything to dry.  This DIY Nautical Towel Rack keeps their bathroom picked up and it adds a little fun nautical decor to the pool area, so it’s a win-win!

Materials:

  • 1 – 1x6x8′ cedar board
  • 1 – 5 gallon paint stick
  • 1 roll of 1×2″ sisal rope (about 10 feet)
  • 6 coat hooks
  • Green Apple spray paint
  • acrylic paint in the color of your choice (I used Americana Bahama Blue)
  • Wood Glue
  • Super Glue
  • Staple Gun with 3/4″ staples
  • 1 yard of adhesive vinyl and transfer paper for the stencil
  • Die-cutting machine
  • 1 1/2″ hose clamps
  • 1/2″ self-tapping screws

Instructions:

Spray paint the coat hooks and set them aside to dry.

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While the paint dries on the hooks, cut the cedar board into two 3′ sections.  (If you have a bigger family, you can always just cut it in half for a bigger towel rack. ) Cut the 5 gallon paint stick into three pieces to attach to the back.

cut-cedar-board-for-towel-rack

Line up the boards and attach the paint sticks to the back using wood glue and staples.  If you don’t have a staple gun, a brad nailer with 3/4″ nails will work as well. Read more

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21 Ways to Make and Decorate Totebags

Crochet Market Bag

21 Ways to Make and Decorate Tote Bags | Pretty Handy Girl

Have you been enjoying all of the awesome tote bag tutorials this week? Today we’ve rounded up even more sewing tutorials, decorating ideas, and an amazing crocheted tote bag. Let’s talk about 21 ways to Make and Decorate Totebags.

How To Sew Totebags:

canvas-tote phg

Who can resist an adorable lined tote bag with a monogram. Can you believe this beauty is all DIY! Jaime of That’s My Letter whipped up a classic monogrammed canvas tote.

Quick-Easy-Tote-Bag

Drop cloths aren’t just for catching paint anymore! Heather of The Sewing Loft shows how to make an Easy Canvas Tote Bag out of painter drop cloths!

Fox book bag

What does the fox say? He’d say he’s head over heels in love with this tote bag. Perfect for back to school, Heather shows how to sew or iron on this fox applique with sweet embroidery details.

reversible-reusable-tote-tutorial

Sandra from Sawdust Girl is famous for her amazing woodworking so it should be no surprise that she has a fabulous tutorial for Reversible Reusable Ruffled Grocery Bags.

how-to-make-a-piped-edge-totebag

It’s okay to cheat a little. Grab a store bought tote and dress it up that plain tote bag with piping. This tutorial also shows a cheat for the non-sewer!

decorate tote with old shirt

Old shirt + another store bought tote = Adorable! Customizing a Totebag With an Old Shirt in an hour.
This goes straight on my Christmas to-do list!

T-Shirt-to-Library-Tote-Bag

I know, it’s hard to discard that favorite t-shirt. Now you don’t have to! Repurpose that favorite tee into a library totebag? Jessica from Mad in Crafts shares how easy it is in her step-by-step tutorial.

tote bag from tee shirt

What’s better than repurposing one t-shirt? Of course, recycling two shirts! On Creative Green Living, Carissa shares another t-shirt-to-totebag tutorial using two shirts. One makes a stylish liner.

PostBreakblue

No-Sew Totebags: Read more

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How to Sew a Custom Canvas Tote

How to Sew a Custom Tote

Tote Week | Pretty Handy Girl

Hey guys! Do you know what today is? It’s the beginning of Tote Week! What, you had no idea? Tote Week here on Pretty Handy Girl is five days devoted to Tote Bags! Learn how to sew adorable tote bags and how to customize store bought tote bags.

If you’re just joining in here’s the line up:

To start us off, Jaime is here to give you the basic sewing tutorial to make your own lined (and monogrammed) tote bag. Jaime is from That’s My Letter, a blog filled with DIY Tutorials. Today, she’s showing you How to Sew a Custom Canvas Tote complete with painted monogram:

canvas tote

This tote makes a great everyday bag or purse, just big enough for all the important stuff but not too bulky.  The finished size is 16″w x 9″h x 8″ square at the base, and the handles extend about 6″ in height.

canvas tote 13

The tote is fully lined and includes an interior zippered pocket.  The zipper is easy as pie I promise!  I’ll show you how down below.

You can add any monogram or name to personalize the tote.  Then you’ll be making canvas totes as gifts for all your friends.

canvas tote 3

The square base makes for a nice wide tote and the canvas is super durable:

canvas tote 2

Materials:

  • drop cloth canvas (1 yard)
  • blue canvas (1/2 yard outdoor patio fabric Sunbrella or the like)
  • lining (1 yard)
  • medium weight fusible interfacing (1 yard)
  • firm interfacing – 9″ x 9″
  • 1 1/2″w cotton webbing (1 yard)
  • 9″ zipper
  • lightbox
  • small paintbrush
  • acrylic paint
  • sewing machine, thread to match, iron, seam ripper

Materials Cut List:

Base:

  • 1 – blue canvas 9″ x 9″
  • 1 – lining 9″ x 9″
  • 1 – drop cloth canvas 9″ x 9″
  • 1 – firm interfacing 9″ x 9″

Body:

  • 2 – drop cloth canvas 10″h x 17″l
  • 2 – med. fusible interfacing 10″ x 17″
  • 2 – lining 10″ x 17″
  • 2 – blue canvas 4″h x 17″w

Handles: 2 – 1 1/2″w cotton webbing @ 17″l

Instructions:

canvas tote fabric cuts

Step 1: Cut materials (see cut list above).

canvas tote base

Step 2: Prepare base.  Sandwich drop cloth, firm interfacing then blue canvas. Read more

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DIY Pouf Ottoman ~ Tutorial and Lessons Learned

DIY Pouf Ottoman ~ Tutorial and Lessons Learned

Hey everyone!  It’s Katie again from Addicted 2 DIY.  Today, I have (1) a tutorial on how to make a fun DIY pouf ottoman and (2) a few lessons I learned while I was making mine that will help you out when making your own.  I’m pretty certain it’s hard to miss the fact that pouf ottomans are everywhere right now.  The problem is the price.  These babies are expensive!  I refuse to pay a high price for something that I can make myself. I bought some fabric and figured out how to make my own!

DIY Pouf Ottoman ~ Tutorial and Lessons Learned

I’m no pro at sewing, so know that this is a tutorial for even a novice sewer! Sewing is not one of my chosen hobbies, but I do love the fact that I am able to save a ton of money when I make things myself.

Materials:

Instructions:

Cut your fabric pieces.  For the top and bottom of the pouf, cut two squares of fabric at 19×19″.  For the sides, cut four pieces at 19×15″.

DIY Pouf Ottoman ~ Tutorial and Lessons Learned

Sewing on the Zipper:

Sew two side pieces together (on the short sides) with a basting stitch.  Press open the seam and place the zipper face down on the seam.  Pin the zipper in place.  (Note:  You don’t have to use a zipper, and I didn’t on my first pouf, but it will make it difficult to sew together when it is stuffed because the polystyrene beads will try to fall out everywhere.) Read more

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Home is Where the Heart Is – Door Decor

house-shape-door-decor-1

house shape door decor collage

How about an unusual front door decor idea today?  Jaime from That’s My Letter here to share this house shape door decor project with free plans to make your own.

house shape door decor title

A little play on “home is where the heart is,” this door decor is definitely different and not your typical wreath.  I used 1×3 pine boards to make the house shape then added the cut out hearts to hang in the middle. (Yes the house shape does look like an arrow. If you want to make an arrow shape, those plans are below as well.)

house shape door decor 1

This would also make great indoor wall art. Imagine all the paint color possibilities!

house shape door decor hearts

Supplies:

  • 1 – 1″ x 3″ x 6′ pine board
  • 1/4″ plywood scraps
  • miter saw
  • measuring tape
  • pencil
  • wood glue
  • finish nailer
  • 1 1/4″ finish nails
  • 3/4″ finish nails
  • scroll saw or jigsaw
  • sandpaper
  • wire hanger
  • drill
  • 1/8″ drill bit
  • wood putty
  • white spray paint
  • red acrylic craft paint
  • paintbrush
  • clear exterior grade polyurethane spray

Below are the step-by-step instructions to make your own wood house shape door decor. Always follow all precautions and safety rules when using power tools.

house shape door decor dimensions

 

Cut List:

  • 1 – 1×3 @ 12 3/4″, one end 45 degree miter (roof)
  • 1 – 1×3 @ 12″, one end 45 degree miter (roof)
  • 2 – 1×3 @ 2 1/2″, one end 45 degree miter (roof overhang)
  • 2 – 1×3 @ 13″ (sides)
  • 1 – 1×3 @ 9 1/2″ (base)

 

Step 1: Assemble roof.  Attach long side to short side using glue and 1 1/4″ finish nails.
house shape door decor step 1

Step 2: Add roof overhang pieces to mitered ends of roof.  Use glue and 3/4″ finish nails here.  Below demonstrates how to cut these super short mitered pieces. Read more

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