5 Strand Braided Suede Bracelet

While I love Pinterest it can be very frustrating! Most of the time when I "pin" something I try and click all the way through to the actual website. I want to make sure there are directions if there are supposed to be. Recently there was a pin that had several bracelets on it that were handmade. While the pictures showed what to do I need the written directions also. Well I pinned it and looked at it later and it directed me to a sight that was in another language. Not so big of a deal because I just clicked on interpret. Well when I did that it was a log in page that you needed to sign up for. Well I'm not one to sign up for a page when it is originally in another language so I was very frustrated. So my goal is to make several of the bracelets with written directions and pictures. We will see how I do!

Supplies Needed - Suede cording, pliers, scissors, ribbon crimps, jump rings, clasp, and something to help hold the suede cording together like a clip or you can knot the ends and put it around a nail in a piece of wood.

Start by measuring your wrist. Now times that measurement by 2. If your wrist is 7 inches you will get 14 inches. Now cut 5 14 inch pieces of the suede cord. Lay the suede cord pieces right next to each other. Clamp the ends together with the clip.

Each time I do this I have to start over a couple of times. So don't get to frustrated if you have to start over. Starting from the left side take the first three pieces and braid them together making sure the furthest left piece is on top of the second piece and  under the third piece.

Now it will look like you have two pieces on the left and 3 pieces on the right. Now you will use the 3 pieces on the right and braid them together. You will do the opposite of what you did on the left side. So you will make sure the furthest right side is over the fourth piece and under the third piece. Now you will go back to the left side where there should be 3 pieces and braid together. 

You will continue to go from left to right making one braid on the left and then one on the right. Remembering to start with the out side piece. I know that this is a little confusing but once you start playing with it it will get easier. Continue till you get the length you want.

You will actually have length left over. It makes it easier to braid if you have longer pieces.

I couldn't photograph the next step because I was using both of my hands to do it and no one else was at home to help. Cut the excess ends off of the braid in a straight line. Once cut hold the ends together and put the ribbon crimp on the ends. Use the pliers to crimp together. Now take off the clip from the other side and hold together. Cut the braid to the length you want. Remember when cutting that you will be adding a little extra length when you add the ribbon crimp, jump ring and clasp. Add the ribbon crimp to the ends. Use the pliers to crimp together. Add a jump ring to both ends of the ribbon crimps. Add a clasp to one of the ends. 

Here is the final product! I made one in green and one in black. The green photographed better but I kind of like the black one better in person. 

I hope my directions weren't to confusing and that they will actually help!  Now I have to decide which bracelet I will make next! 

Spray Painted T-Shirt with Doilies

My second son turned 17 last month and I was shopping with him at my home away from home Target. While looking at the men's clearance they had T-shirts on clearance for $2.48! They were either grey or yellow. Since yellow isn't a good color on me I bought a grey shirt that was a size larger than what I wear with the intent of altering it. 

I started by cutting off some of the length of the sleeve.

Next, I cut the neck line off and made it larger. I then used Steam-A-Steam 2 to finish off the edges of the sleeves and the neckline. I then stitched the edges with a double needle to give it a more finished look. 

Now comes the spray paint and doilies. I used 8" and 10" doilies for the pattern. I also used Krylon Black for Plastics. I used this kind of spray paint because it is what I had in my closet. You will want to put something inside of your t-shirt so that the paint doesn't go threw the back side. Here I used some foam core. You could also use cardboard, freezer paper or bunch of news papers. I also didn't want to get spray paint on the garage floor so I laid some cardboard down under the shirt. Because I wasn't sure how the shirt would look I tested with some doilies and scrap jersey material to see how it would turn out. I tried with white first but didn't like the look on grey so I used the black. 

Lay the doilies onto the shirt for placement. I played with them for a little bit before I started spraying. 

I wanted a layered look so I laid some extra fabric under the doilies where I didn't want the spray paint to go through.  

You will want to spray about 10" away from the shirt in a light sweeping motion. If you get trigger happy you will end up with some dark edges that you won't be able to fix. Each time after I sprayed the t-shirt I immediately removed the doilies.

Continue to cover up any areas that you don't want to get spray paint on and move the doilies around to finish your design. 

I sprayed the shirt 3 times but figured it need a little more.

I sprayed a few more times and even sprayed some on the sleeve.

The shirt wasn't quite fitting right so I gathered the sleeve up to the collar of the shirt. I also tailored the sides a bit to make it more form fitting. 

Here is the finished product!

I was inspired by a shirt I saw on Pinterest that used doilies to decorate their shirt. I thought that I saved it to one of my boards but can't find it. If it is your shirt let me know and I will give you proper credit. I was also inspired by a shirt that was made on The Winthrop Chronicles. 

Etsy Shop!

It's official! I now have an Etsy Shop! Here are a couple of purses that I have listed. I will be adding more purses and jewelry as time goes by!