Desk Organizami

Finished Project:

To make a box, start with a square (different size squares will just create different sized boxes). 

Fold the square corner-to-corner in both directions.

Then bring one of the corners to the center and fold along the edge.

Then fold that edge up to the center line as well.

Do the same to the opposite side so that it looks like this:

Then unfold and do the same process to the other two corners.

Then unfold it all again. When you open it up it should look like this. Cut along the lines as shown in the picture (you should be cutting in two squares and have a 2x2 cube box left in the center when finished cutting).

Then, fold edge back to center as shown.

Then fold up little arm pieces, as shown. Do this to the opposing side as well.

Little arms should come together and overlap, as shown in picture.

Then use the remaining piece to fold over the "arm" pieces.

Do this to both sides.

Put a piece of tape in the bottom and viola! You have a box for organizing! Make as many as you see fit!

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Exploding Box

Finished Project:

Start with 4 pieces of card-stock (or other heavy & durable paper) that are at least 10''x10'' for the box portion of the project. Additionally, you will also need 1 piece for the lid.

Cut the first piece of paper to a 9 3/8''x 9 3/8'' square.

Cut the to 9''x 9'' square.

Cut the third to 8 5/8'' x 8 5/8'' square.

Cut the fourth to 8 1/4'' x 8 1/4'' square. 

Then you need to draw lines across the paper to split it equally into thirds each way (horizontally and vertically). 

The first piece will be at 3 1/8'' intervals.

The second piece will be at 3'' intervals.

The third piece will be at 2 7/8'' intervals.

The fourth piece will be at 2 3/4'' intervals.

Then, following the lines cut out the four corner pieces on each piece of paper. Then fold along the remaining lines.

Stack the pieces beginning with the largest to smallest to create the exploding box effect. 

Decorate as desired!

For the inside my box i made each inside flap a month of the last year. On the front i put a picture from that month, on the back I typed a little summary of fun things we did that month along with using something (ticket stubs, map pieces, various papers from travels) on the back of the corresponding flap. It made a great anniversary present that summarized our first year in a fun way!

To make the lid:

 

Cut a 6 5/8'' x 6 5/8'' square. 

Draw a line 1 5/8'' away from all edges, then fold along this line.

 

Pinch and tuck in the corners, use tape to hold them down. 

Decorate the top as desired!

For my lid i used the school map with a red X marking the spot of the classroom we met. Decorated the outside of the box and when i gave it to him he was definitely surprised (and stunned happily!) at the contents inside!

Additional sources/ideas:

Crafts by Carolyn

About.com

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Jewelry Mirror

Finished Project

 I got the inspiration do to this project from a friend who had a mirror like this in her room, it looked so fun and full of bedazzle I just wanted to try it out!

First: my sister and i went through all of our old/broken/unused jewelry that we no longer wear (goodwill or other cheap hand-me-down stores are great places to start for great old gaudy stuff!). Key: finding items large enough to cover the frame!


Next: I got mirrors that were a pretty nice size from target for only about $5 that had a nice thick frame on them that could be used to attach lots of our findings!

Then: we laid out all the bangle we wanted to use and used a hot glue gun to attach it to the outside of the mirror. 

That's really all there is to it, get creative..you could use anything really, doesn't have to be jewelry (I just liked it, thought it looked like a bedazzled princess mirror!). Get creative and enjoy!



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Flamenco Style Ruffled Shower Curtain

 Finished Project:

I am excitedly planning for moving next fall, I found a comforter that I love and then fell in love with a shower curtain I LOVED as well..unfortunately the shower curtain was almost $120 from Anthropologie.

I LOVE the look of this curtain but figured I could make it myself for a lot less, after reading a few very helpful blogs and tutorials (thanks so much to Domestic Dillard Diva and Sweetie Pie Bakery!), here's how I did it... 

1. PICK COLORS!

As you can see in the Anthropologie curtain, there is a total of 10 ruffles. I decided to use 5 different colors and make 2 ruffles out of each color. From what i read in tutorials i expected to use 1 yard of fabric for every ruffle, therefore i got 2 yards of fabric for each of my five colors (a total of 10 yards of fabric).

-I was trying to match my colors to my bedding which is a very dark plum purple color. I ended up finding a silky, shiny type of special occasion fabric at JoAnn's which matched great, and was a light fabric (good for letting light through in the shower!) the fabric was $5.99/yard but I was able to use coupons and spent less than $30 total for my fabric!

2. BACKING!

Instead of making my own backing to sew the ruffles on I was able to find a plain white fabric shower liner that already has the buttonholes (for hanging the curtain) on sale at Bed Bath and Beyond. The curtain lining measures 72''x72'' which is the standard size for a shower curtain.

-I spent less than $10 for the backing.

3. RUFFLES!

Each color= 60''x72''

To begin, I measured each colored piece of fabric i had and they were all at least 60''x72'' 

Then I figured out what the height of my ruffles needed to be:

height of shower curtain=72''

72''/10 ruffles=7.1''/ruffle (this is how much you will SEE when looking at the finished project)

Each strip should be 12''

 7.2''ruffle+1'' top hem+1'' bottom hem=9.2''+2'' overlap (or more)=11.2'' ruffle

You will end up with 5 strips measuring 12''x72''

Because I had gotten 2 yards of each color and each of my pieces of fabric were at least 60''x72'', I rounded up and cut each piece of fabric into 5 pieces so that each piece measured 12''x72''. I cut 5 pieces but only used 4, there will be one piece extra to use for another project or for practice/accidents!

4. HEMMING! 

After i had all my pieces of fabric cut i hem the bottom and top of the fabric. To do the hem i folded each side over twice because this type of fabric frays-a lot, and pinned it to keep it in place, then ironed along the hem to help hold it when sewing.

5. SEW 2 STRIPS TOGETHER!

After hemming all pieces on the top and bottom I combined two of the same color strip pieces to create one large ruffle measuring 12''x144'', and then make sure to hem the side edges of the ruffle.  

6. PUTTING RUFFLES ON BACKING!

Line up each pin with each 1/8 mark

First i measured and marked a line across the curtain where each shower curtain would be, this helped A LOT when i was sewing to make sure i was staying straight and in the right spot. After marking all these lines i also found the half mark in each line, then the quarter marks and even eighth marks, then found half, quarter and eighth marks on each of my ruffles marking them with a pin. I lined up each of these pin marks on the ruffle to the marks on the curtain and then had equal amounts of fabric within each of these sections that i was able to make my own ruffle as i sewed across the line.

Ruffle on left=no hem showing sew on to backing.

I pinned and sewed each ruffle on starting at the bottom of the curtain and working my way up. I put the raw edge (side with the hem) on the line i had drawn on the curtain, then once i sewed across it this allowed the piece of fabric to fall so that no hem or stitching was showing across the top (although this isnt necessary because the overlap of ruffles should cover it anyways).

I continued this all the way to the top of the curtain and actually hid the shower button holes because the white backing did not match well with my top curtain. I left holes to put the shower hooks in but they will be hidden and all you will see are the ruffles going to the top!

 7. TADA!

I LOVE IT!! 
Now i am one step closer to being ready to move out, excited for next fall when i will have my own bathroom for the FIRST TIME in my life!!

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