Monogram Applique Pillow Tutorial

 Monogram Applique Pillow Tutorial

I always begin any applique with a stencil. You can draw it out yourself, print it, or trace it.
I found the font and size I wanted for my letters and traced them onto lined paper. You can use printer paper, but I tend to like lined since it is so sheer.

You will then need to trace your stencil onto fusible interfacing. If you haven't used fusible interfacing before, just go to your local craft store and ask where it is. Normally a small roll is about $6 and that seems to last me forever!
Lay your interfacing on top of your stencil and trace it. I like to use a marker so that it can be seen from both sides of the interfacing once I am done.

The bumpy side of the fusible interfacing is the part that you will iron down to your fabric. Keep in mind that the underside of the fabric will be your front (the side you see on the pillow). This photo shows the backside. Using a high heat setting, slowly press the interfacing until it adheres to your fabric.

Now your letters are ready to cut out! I use very sharp fabric scissors to get a clean cut. The interfacing helps the to make the fabric more sturdy and less likely to fray along the edges.

Now I have been used to using single sided fusible interfacing (meaning only one side will adhere), but when it comes to laying down my appliques, I have to pin them to my fabric and make sure they don't shift around. I have been sewing for over 20 years, so this is just second nature to me, but it you are a beginner, you may want to get double sided fusible interfacing (where both sides adhere). This way after you fuse the interfacing to your letters, you can then fuse your letters directly to your fabric and they won't move when you are stitching around the edges.

I used this cute western looking stitch for my boys' monogram pillows since their room has a more masculine/rustic feel. But, most of the time, I like the simple look of a zig zag stich (which you can find on any sewing machine). Use a scrap piece of fabric to test how tight you want you stitch to be, and once you a re ready, just sew along the outside edge of each letter! Tip: GO SLOW! This is not a race! Take your time to turn around each little curve.

And here is the finished product!

Isn't this just the perfect finishing touch on the bed? My boys share a room with 2 twin beds, so I loved the idea of having their own monogrammed pillows to show whos bed is whos!

I used a khaki pillow slipcover from Ikea (only $4)! and stuffed them with some old throw pillows I had laying around the house. This is such an inexpensive project and may just inspire you to take your sewing skills from straight stitch, to applique wiz! You can literally cut out any letters and shapes you would like and just  follow the same steps above!

Leave any questions or comments below and remember that inspiring you is the biggest compliment I can receive!!

Build a Nursery with Me!! Part 3

Build a Nursery with Me! Update!

For those of you just joining us, here is the inspiration board I designed for the nursery!

Rustic Woodland Nursery

Here are the projects I've been working on since my last post update!

This was my inspiration for what I wanted the closet to look like. When you are working with baby and kids clothes, one long, tall bar just isn't going to cut it...

...So my hubby ripped out the bar, painted the closet to match the room, and installed this awesome closet kit! This kit is by Rubbermaid, from Lowes. It was only $89 and you can configure it however it works best for your space!

Next was addressing my nursery rocker situation. Yes, its white and yes, its been through 2 baby boys already, so lets just say its not as pretty as when we bought it 4 years ago lol. But, it is a quality, custom made chair and it is so comfortable!!

Of course my first choice was to have it reupholstered, but that would have cost almost as much as buying the chair brand new. Second was to slipcover it, which I am never opposed to, but the look was just too casual for this space. That is when I came across this chair protector/cover on Zulily for only $40! I loved the quilted stitching and the grey color matched the room perfectly. It is very comfortable and easy to throw in the wash when it needs to be cleaned. Overall, I am pretty pleased with my bargain find!

It also has a sheepskin underside for extra warmth and comfort!

I added this black and white Aztec pillow from Ikea and this adorable orange fox pillow I found at Home Goods!

This is the perfect example of designing a neutral colored room, with just a few pops of color. So far I have orange in the deer art and on the pillow, with a few more items in mind as well. This helps to draw the eye around the room!

This was my inspiration for the art I wanted above the changing table/dresser.

I started by buying 3 12x24 canvases from Michaels for $25. I hung them on a blank wall, spaced slightly apart (like I planned on hanging them in the nursery).

One of the awesome perks of being a teacher' wife is that I have access to some pretty awesome tools! A projector couldn't have been more perfect for this project. Of course, there are many other ways you can do this without a projector. You could have a large scale print made at an office supply company or try to free hand your silhouette.

I used this image to project onto my canvases and played with the zoom to get it placed where I wanted it.

Once I was happy with the placement, I began to lightly outline the silhouette with pencil.

You can see a close up of the outline here.

I used a burnt orange craft paint and a few different brush sizes to fill in the silhouette. I just love how this turned out! You could literally do any silhouette for this project!

Next, this was my inspiration for a focal point behind the crib.

My hubby purchased these fence boards from Lowes for $1.27 each. We layed them out 17 wide. Then topped it off with 1 board to cover the rounded edge that came on the fence boards. Then everything was nailed together with a nail gun.

From there he added the 'barn door' style details and stained it with grey and brown paint.

And here it is! The gorgeous finished product!!! A huge thank you to my handy hubby for making my vision come to life!

Of course this isn't all I have planned for this barn door, so stay tuned!

I have so many other projects in the works for this nursery and I can't wait to share them with you! 

I have about 11 weeks to go until our sweet baby boy arrives! 

I hope I have inspired you to do some of your own DIY projects! Please leave your comments and questions below!

Click here to see Part 1

Click here to see Part 2

My Rustic Holiday Home 2014

 Welcome to my Rustic Holiday Home! I absolutely love Christmas time and decorating my home for the Holidays! This is the first Christmas in our new home, so I kept things pretty simple. Not to mention that I am 7 months pregnant with my third boy! 

I hope you enjoy touring my Holiday home and that you are inspired to do some of the same decorating in your home!

Welcome! Come on in!

This front door wreath is was so simple! It is just a green wreath with a rustic script ribbon, and a bell wreath hung on the inside. It literally took me 10 min to put together! 

This swag was just as simple! I started with a simple greenery swag, added the ribbon and the bells. Then to attach it to my coach lighting, I used a medium weight wire! Instant rustic front porch!

I am so in love with my tree this year! I really wanted to go with a rustic holiday decor theme throughout my home since we now live in a small little farmhouse in the country! And can I just say that my 2 little boys (both under 4) have not even bothered with my tree!! How is this even possible?! I think after the stressful year I've had, God decided to give me time off from the "Christmas tree vs the kids fight". 

*Mom Tip: I also gave the boys a tiny tree with dollar store ornaments in their own room :)-  

I used a mix of burlap, twigs, pine cones, snowflakes, and ornaments in natural colors to achieve the rustic look I was going for. If you would like more tips on Christmas decorating, check out my tutorial here!

These wooden twig snowflakes were only $2.99 at Kirkland Home!

This was my one small Christmas craft this year and I already had all of the supplies so I didn't have to spend a penny! I rolled pine cones in faux snow, added a jute ribbon at the top with some wire, and hung them on the tree! 

Sometimes just a simple small wreath around a candle is all you need for an end table!

All this small end table needed was a little wicker tree! 

I also scored these beautiful burlap wrapped cone trees at Kirkland Home! Both for under $25! 

I have had this Christmas card holder for a long time now. I think I bought it back in 2007. I wanted the Pottery Barn version, but being the budget gal that I am, I couldn't bring myself to spend $50 on a wire card holder. But, it must have been my day when I stumbled (why does this sound like I was drunk while shopping?) walked into Pier One and they had almost the identical card holder, ON CLEARANCE, for $10!! I have used it every year since! I think having a place to display your cards, especially since most cards today are photo cards, gives such a personal touch to your Holiday decorating!

I also kept my bookcase decor simple. A small tree with a burlap base along side my everyday decor on this shelf...

...and a few metal reindeer on this shelf! These came with my stocking holders back in 2007 (when there was just the 2 of us lol!) but now we have 4 and another on the way! They are too cute to get rid of though, so now I just use them around the house for decor! 

This is a metal star garland that I literally stuffed into a glass jar. That is it. Seriously. What Christmas decor can you stuff in a jar?

And last but not least another 2 min project...place 5 pine cones in a rustic bowl, then set on the table. Check!

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into my Holiday Home! but most of all, I hope you walk away with at least 1 simple, easy, inexpensive tip that you can use in your own home! 

 **And remember, the biggest compliment I can receive is knowing that I inspired you in some way or another! Please share your comments and photos!