DIY- Nautical Wastebasket

Hey Cats!

It’s been SO LONG since I’ve posted! I’ve been super busy with camps and getting ready for college, so I haven’t really had time to blog, much less craft! This is something for my dorm room, and I feel like it’s kinda cheating, because I painted it with my friends at the beginning of summer. But I’m going to share anyways! As I may have told you, my room is a beach theme. I wanted to incorporate the theme without making it look like a tacky beach house, which has been slightly difficult. I thought that the little rope detailing on this trashcan gave it just the right touch of nautical-ness. You can definitely change this up to match whatever room you’re wanting to put it in. I’ve actually painted one for my room at home, and my sister painted one for our bathroom. It’s a great way to add a pop to a room, and it’s a good small project when you’re feeling slightly crafty. Anyways, here’s what you’ll need:

– 1 wooden trashcan (I’ve always gotten them at Hobby Lobby)
– Acrylic paint of your choice (navy & white for stripes)
– Masking tape (for making stripes)
– Hot glue gun
– 1 piece of clean rope that will go around the top of your trashcan

Here’s what you do!
1) Paint your trashcan in whatever color or pattern you’d like. For my stripes, I painted the entire trashcan white (I’d recommend using multiple coats). Then, I placed masking tape in straight lines, leaving stripes in between the tape that were the width of the tape. Make sure you press down the edges of the tape so the paint doesn’t seep through. Paint the spaces in between the tape and remove the tape when it’s dry! I also recommend painting the inside and bottom of the trashcan for a more polished look.
2) Next, cut your rope to a length that will go all the way around the top of the trashcan, giving yourself no more than an inch extra.
3) Tape the ends of the rope so it doesn’t fray.

4) Glue one end of the rope to a corner of the trashcan, making sure it lines up directly. You should use a thin line of glue and will probably have to hold it down a while for it to stay.

5) Continue gluing the rope onto the trashcan in small sections.
6) When you reach a corner, chances are (unless you use super skinny rope) you will have to cut the corner in order to turn. Just glue the rope all the way to the corner and then just skip the pointed part of the corner. This is a little hard to explain, so just look at the picture 🙂

7) Continue gluing the rope until you reach your starting point. You might have a little rope left over, but don’t cut it off!

8) Take the extra rope and glue it on top of the other rope, as if you were going to wrap it around again. This time will require LOTS  of glue, and you’ll probably need to hold it down for a few minutes to make sure it sticks.

I know this looks a little messy, but just put this part against the wall 🙂

And you’re done! Here’s what it looks like!

I’m super excited about this, and I can’t wait to see it in my dorm room in 6 DAYS!!! OMG. That being said, since I’m going to college and might have actual social events to attend, I’m not really sure how often I’ll be crafting. I won’t give it up of course, but it might not be such a giant part of my vida anymore. 😦 BUT I’m taking all my stuff with me! I have a tub to put it in and everything! So, until next time, whenever that may be!

DIY- Big Fat Headbands

Hey Cats!
This DIY might just be my favorite so far! I love headbands, and I’ve been wanting some wide ones for quite some time, so this was the perfect project! I used a leftover piece of thin, woven fabric for one, and the bottom band of a sweatshirt for the other. I can’t take much credit for the idea for the sweatshirt headband, because I got the idea from the blog Studs and Pearls (http://www.studs-and-pearls.com/2011/02/diy-leftovers-sweashirt-necklace.html). Yes, I did make the sweatshirt blazer, but no, I will not show you, as it turned out looking like something the bag lady would wear (it was my first DIY). As for the woven fabric, I really like the tribal trend, and I thought it would make a great fat headband! I haven’t worn either one of them yet, but I forsee them becoming my new bff’s once school starts!
Here’s what you’ll need:
– 1 leftover band from the bottom of a sweatshirt, OR some other semi-stretchy fabric
– 1 piece of thin fabric, long enough to go around your head. (If you don’t have any lying around, I would suggest looking for fabric trim rather than regular fabric, because you don’t want any ends that can fray)
– 1 piece of wide elastic ( about 1 inch long)
– Sewing maching ( You can do it by hand, but it will probably hold up better if you use a machine)
– Matching thread

Here’s what you do!
1) First, we’ll make the tribal headband. Trim the fabric so it is about an inch short of fitting around your head. also trimming any frayed edges off.

2) Fold one end of the fabric over about 1/4th of an inch. Using a zig-zag stitch, sew down the center of the fold.

3) Fold the fabric over again, this time making it a little thicker. Using the zig-zag stitch, sew down the middle, going back and forth a few times.

4) Repeat steps 2 and 3 on the other end of the fabric, making sure the folds are on the same side of the fabric.
5) Wrap the fabric around your head again, measuring the gap between the two ends. Cut the elastic to the length of the gap.
6) Using the zig-zag stitch again, sew the elastic onto the fabric, making sure it is centered. I would suggest going back and forth a few times to make sure it’s secure.

7) Repeat step 6 to sew the other end of the elastic to the other end of the fabric. Make sure it isn’t twisted before you sew!
And you’re done! Here’s what it looks like:

*DISCLAIMER*I would like to apologize for these next two photos. I understand I look like a tween taking mirror pics, but no one else was at home and I wanted to go ahead and finish this. Sorry. Just know that I don’t regularly do this. Also, I got my hair cut and it’s shorter than I wanted, so I look like I’m about to go for a run, which is not what I wanted. I might wait until my hair is a little longer to wear these…

Now for the black one!
1) Wrap the fabric around your head to measure. This time, it should fit all the way around your head and overlap a little.
2) Using the zig-zag stitch on your sewing maching, sew the ends together, making sure it isn’t twisted. Sew it a few times to make sure it’s sturdy.

And you’re done! I contemplated adding buttons, but I decided plain black would be more versatile…and also, I didn’t really feel like sewing them on. But if you want to add buttons, or rhinestones or anything, go for it! Here’s what it looks like!

*The above disclaimer applies to these next 3 photos*

See how easy that was? I plan to do this a few more times, and I want to experiment with different materials. These are very versatile and can be added to basically any outfit. Well, any casual outfit that matches. I’m not really one for an eclectic mix of clothing. I like my solid J-Crew tees and shorts. Which these might look cute with, actually… Anyways, I have no idea what my next DIY project will be, so it might be a while. Let’s hope I figure it out soon! Until next time!