Looking for a sentimental touch to your home? Craft a postcard pillow, courtesy of Gina at ShelterPop! Here are her foolproof instructions!:

What you'll need:
Decorative pillow form, about 9- by 12-inches (about $8)
Natural linen fabric, 1 yard (about $12)
Iron-on fusible web tape, 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch wide
Tape measure
Pencil
Scrap fabric, blue, white, red
Red ribbon, about 6 inches in length by 1/4 inch wide
Iron
White paint
Paint brush
Rubber alphabet stamps
Stamp pad
Indelible black marker

Lumberjack luxe is all the rage in the fashion world these days, and although I haven't yet skipped on board, I do see the appeal. After all, who wouldn't want to be swathed in flannel all winter long? Luckily, CraftyStylish has a new way to make a formerly plaid and pathetic frock work for you -- by turning it into a chic little vest number!

Ready for the 11-step tutorial?

1. Take off the pockets.
With a seam ripper, carefully remove the pockets and pocket flaps. If the shirt has manufacturer registration markings from under the pocket, remove them.
2. Remove the arms.
Use scissors to cut off the sleeves, leaving the seam behind. The seam will prevent the vest from fraying too much after washing.
3. Cut off the top.
Remove the top of the shirt, just below the back yoke. Use the lines in the plaid to help you cut a straight line across the back and front.
4. Measure and mark the tucks with chalk.
For each side of the shirt, determine how many tucks will take in the correct amount of fabric. A 1⁄4-inch tuck takes in 1⁄2 inch of fabric.
5. Sew the tucks.
For each tuck, fold the fabric along the chalk line so the wrong sides are together. Sew 1⁄4 inch away from the fold to make the tuck. Backstitch at the beginning and end of each tuck.
6. Sew the shoulder seams.
Turn the vest inside-out, and pin the shoulder seams (right sides together). Then try it on, and reposition the pins to adjust the fit. The length of your shoulder seam determines the size of the collar. With right sides together, sew a 1⁄2-inch seam allowance; make sure that all of the pin tucks point toward the center of the vest.
7. Finish the neck.
Sew a 1⁄2-inch seam allowance around the edge of the neckline. This will prevent it from fraying too much after washing.
8. Secure the collar.
Remove two buttons from the leftover sleeves or the top of the shirt. Fold the collars down at the neckline to determine where to place the buttons that will secure them. Hand-sew the buttons.
9. Cut out the pockets.
From each sleeve piece, cut out one 6 1⁄2-inch by 6-inch rectangle on the bias.
10. Fold the pocket edges.
Turn down the top edge of each pocket 1 inch, and press. Turn under the sides and bottom edge of the pocket 1⁄2 inch, and press.
11. Sew the pockets in place.
Pin the pockets on the vest front, making sure that the edges of the pockets are aligned with the plaid on the vest. Sew 1⁄4 inch from the edges along the sides and bottom of each pocket.

DONE! Now that's what I call lumberjack chic!

Now that summer's coming to a close, it's time to retire my floral wedges for the fall weather. (Don't worry -- they'll come back in the winter with knitted tights!). This can only mean one thing -- time to hem those jeans for flats. Not sure how? It's easier than you think!

Stylist Rachel Bagley of Cardigan Empire shows you how to hem your favorite pair of jeans in just three steps. The process couldn't be easier, and I'm so excited to try it myself (if I can find my dusty old sewing machine).

Of course, not everyone knows how to sew, and some are more talented than others in the arena (file me under the 'non-talented' section, please). Don't fret -- there's also a lovely no-sew hemming option for those of you who aren't sure whether a bobbin is a tiger or a piece of sewing paraphernalia.

So give it a shot -- hem those pants and show off your new fall flats. You can thank me later!

If you love shabby chic, this is your tutorial. Yesterday, I was browsing Velvet Brown, a hot spot for feminine decor in the U.K., and stumbled across this lampshade. Could be super cute in a girl's bedroom or nursery, or perhaps a Victorial entryway. Although this lamp skirt sells for roughly $40, you can create your own version with a considerably less alternative.

Search for a toddler's skirt, preferably layered (I've found a lovely black alternative that I may love even more than the beige!). Fit to the shade, and make accommodations as necessary. You may need to tighten the waist with elastic, or add another layer with filler fabric.

Don't have time to shop the toddler's section? You can create a similar look with an old skirt in your closet by sewing a few extra layers.

Whichever you decide, it's important to remember how easy it is to create stylish alternatives for the same items in big box retailers. With a bit of creativity, you can own a one-of-a-kind lampshade that would make Velvet Brown melt!

Plans for homemade hammocks range from the complicated to the super-simple. Let's focus on the latter: those made and hung in an hour or less using easy online instructions. You can have it done in plenty of time for your 4th of July get-together!

You will need an eight or ten foot length of any sturdy fabric and about 50 feet of equally sturdy rope. Both must be tough enough to suspend your weight without snapping.

Last week I painted the outside of my front door.

I left the inside of the door alone, so that my kitchen would stay light and bright. I am glad I didn't paint it, since last month I had to move some furniture around to make room for my new freezer-on-the-bottom refrigerator, and the front door is constantly being bumped against the microwave stand. I am desperately in need of a doorstop to keep my door from being marred.

Elizabeth Hartman has a downloadable PDF tutorial on how to make a nine-patch bean-filled doorstop. Choose your fabric, have 5 pounds of dried beans on hand, and sew up that little gorgeous number.

What's really nice about the fabric doorstop is that it has a handle so that you can carry it around and use it for different doors in your house. I also think it would be great to knock out a burglar, should you happen to be so unfortunate as to have one visit.

In any case, I love the doorstop. It's perfect for all my door-opening-and-closing needs.

[via: Whip Up]

I love strawberries, both as a food and as a motif.

Recently, two separate summery strawberry stitching projects were posted over at WhipUp within a couple of days of each other: a pattern and tutorial for felt strawberries from Mr. Monkeysuit, and a felt jam-jar topper with a strawberry applique by Amy at Lucykate Crafts.

Even though they aren't by the same person, they seem like a perfect pair to me! You'll find further suggestions for this adorable project, including links to supplies, after the break.

I love to cuddle, so I can usually be found hugging a pillow if my 3-year-old or my husband are unavailable to be squeezed. Pillows are so comforting, and I just can't own enough of them.

Any project that requires time sitting at the sewing machine gets put on the back burner for me, especially in Summer. I found the perfect no-sew pillow project over at Craft Bits. All that is needed to make the pillow is fabric, filling, scissors, and plenty of patience.

You can use down feathers or other loose filling to plump up your pillow. Polar fleece is a soft, super cuddly material that doesn't fray. Lycra and knit fabrics do not fray, either. Young kids who know how to make knots would be helpful for this project; keeping them occupied on a rainy day.

I admit, even though I know how to sew, it takes a special project for me to actually pull out the machine and get to work. Usually, those projects are gifts, like baby slings in drawstring pouches.

The inspiration to sew may just have crossed my computer screen, with the adorable little girl clothing patterns and tutorials collected by Whip Up.

What little girl doesn't love a twirly skirt? This one is easy to sew, and the tutorial has very clear instructions and helpful photos; if you can sew a straight seam, you can please a little girl in your life.

The only possible drawback? The sizing is European, so you need to know the height of the wearer.

Recently, I've written about projects you can make using fabric scraps, from fabric flower cards to hair curlers. More, more, more, you say!

How about fifty more? That's how many fabric scrap projects TipNut has compiled. Is a diaper case something you've been needing? Maybe an iPod cozy or even a rag rug is more what you are looking for.

I love the trim boxes: cute fabric boxes on a small scale that you can use to store any tiny things that tend to get away from you. But the first thing I am making from this list is the fabric envelope -- no sewing and so classy!

Will you make the door draft dodger, or the layered fabric photo mats? Tell us about your favorite project using your fabric scraps.

Here's a great idea for bedside storage. Might I add, it's a great idea because it's really easy and, assuming you already have a tote bag to spare, it's free! Makezine put me onto this idea from Five Whys: repurpose an old tote bag as an underbed pocket.

You will need:

1. An old cloth tote bag
2. Scissors
3. Needle and thread or (even better!) a sewing machine
   
4. About 10 minutes to an hour of your time, depending on your sewing skills

Cut the bag down each side, starting at the top end and ending about halfway down. Fold the cut flap down inside the bag. Fold and sew the cut side edges to prevent fraying. Next, lay the bag's handles and top half under your mattress, letting the newly-created pocket hang down the side of the bed. The weight of the mattress should keep the bag in place. Voila! A place for bookmarks, magazines and other odds and ends.

Want to make a tote bag? Anna can tell you how. Oh, and she knows how to make a bag from old jeans, too!

Last year, my neighbor bought a new patio set, and I inherited their rusty, out-of-style set. Now that summer is near, it's time to spruce up that patio set and breathe some new life into it. I've purchased new seat covers and will start sanding and painting soon. But to really give it some flair, I want to add some colorful pillows.

Obviously, being made for the outdoors, the fabric needs to be water-safe. Martha Stewart Living recommends using inexpensive vinyl tablecloths. I think it's a great idea. A reader also suggested using shower curtains. So this weekend, I'm on the hunt for a cute vinyl tablecloth or shower curtain that will make my patio set pop with color.

My grandmother loved to quilt. But she was an old-school quilter. Her quilts were for use, not beauty. The stitches were quick and imperfect and, since the quilts were made with whatever fabric scraps she had, the colors often clashed. But her quilts were made with heart.

She made a Sunbonnet Sue quilt for each of her granddaughters and an Overall Sam quilt for each grandson. After 35 years of use, mine is faded and torn, but I love it just the same. And, somehow I think my grandmother would approve.

A true classic, the Sunbonnet Sue pattern is traced back to the early 1900s. You can make it in the traditional manner, or try any of the new varieties including holiday patterns. Freequilt.com has links to many free Sunbonnet Sue patterns... enjoy!

I often wish that the pretty fabric I find could somehow be protected from sticky little fingers or grown-up messes. If only that pretty cloth came as an oilcloth or was water or dirt resistant. I could finish so many more projects if I could just preserve the cloth using oilcloth or vinyl.

Jessica at How About Orange has a tutorial on how to make iron-on vinyl coasters. She found the iron-on vinyl at her local craft store, and decided to try it out by making the gorgeous coasters, using some heavy weight fabric and glossy vinyl. She sewed the cloth and vinyl together, and then used pinking shears to give the finished coasters a nice edge.

The iron-on vinyl is flexible, water repellent and UV resistant. Imagine all the nice gifts you can make; after all, Christmas will be here before you know it. I can't wait to finish making giant bibs and smocks for my 3 year old, laminate my scrapbook paper, and finish the chair seat covers.

via: Craft

When "Partners in Crime," the first official episode of Doctor Who's current season, aired in the UK back in early April, a friend suggested to me that crafty types would soon be all over the alien of the week. Because they're made primarily from human fat, the Adipose are a bit icky in concept. In action, though, they're adorable: little white globules with limbs, quirky smiles, and sweet dispositions.

Erika, of My Imaginary Boyfriend, engineered a great Adipose sewing pattern, and she's offering it for free; detailed instructions for making it up can be found on the Livejournal community Crafty TARDIS. The pattern calls for white polar-fleece (1/2 yard makes several dolls), stuffing, an iron-on transfer pen, black and white embroidery floss for the face, and a few other supplies.

We've written about Doctor Who-related crafts before, but this is much cuter than a crocheted Dalek. Still, I wonder how long it will last, given the news that the BBC is sending trademark-related take-down notices to some people who post free knitting patterns based on the show. You might want to grab it while you can, if you're interested.

(Also, see CraftyCrafty's take on the controversy.)

[via Jenny at Craft.]