Rachel Robin's Nest

Crafts, Projects and Recipes to Help Feather Your "Nest"

Pillow Gift Boxes from Toilet Paper Rolls November 6, 2012

Filed under: DIY — raediantphoenix @ 3:32 pm
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Christmas is coming people.  Whether you want to think about it or not, it’s coming.  And it seems like every year it happens earlier and earlier, and I’m less and less prepared for it.  I spend the month of December in a crazed blur of budgeting, gift buying, wrapping, decorating and listening to Christmas music on repeat.  And every year I say “Next year I’m going to start earlier.  I’ll be on top of it and get everything done before Thanksgiving.”  And of course, it never happens.

Until this year.  This is the year my friends.  It’s only the first week of November and I’ve already purchased and wrapped two Christmas gifts, and made or begun making several others.  I feel like I should get an award or something.  Anyway, since Christmas is on my mind, I’m sure it’s on some of your minds as well, so I’m going to share one of my new favorite, eco-friendly wrapping options.  Just start saving your toilet paper rolls now and you’ll be set come December!

Pillow Gift Boxes from Toilet Paper Rolls

Materials:

  • Toilet paper roll(s)
  • Optional decorations: spray paint, washi tape, ribbons, stickers, stamps etc

Directions:

1.  First things first, you’ll want to make sure that your toilet paper roll is relatively free of scraps of toilet paper and glue

2.  Next, decorate however your little heart desires.  I’m a particular fan of washi tape, and I also have this awesome “sterling silver” spray paint that I think would be particularly nice for Christmas.

3.  After your decorations have had ample time to dry, squash your TP roll flat.  Crease the edges well.

Orange washi tape from Target!

4.  Starting on one short side, press the center of the roll down with your thumb so that it curves in toward the middle.  You may need to fuss with it a bit to create an even edge.  Do the same thing on the opposite side, overlapping the resulting panels

5.  Repeat step 4 on the other side of the roll

Pretty silver spray paint and grosgrain ribbon make an elegant presentation

And there you have it!  Easy peasy.  Just wrap your small gift (jewelry, cash, gift card) in some tissue paper, stuff in the box, and tie with a ribbon if desired.  These are so simple, so cheap and so effective!  I’ve been saving toilet paper rolls for months and I’ve been eying some Christmas washi tape, so I can’t wait to get wrapping!

 

DIY: Yarn Wrapped Wine Bottle February 10, 2012

Filed under: DIY — raediantphoenix @ 2:26 am
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Happy Thursday, everyone!  Today I’m going to share with you yet another project inspired by Pinterest.  Quel surpris, non?  I felt like whipping up a quick and easy project so that I could spend the rest of the evening reading and relaxing, and I figured this was perfect for a quick dose of crafty goodness.  I decided to wing it rather than following a tutorial, and I’m sure I would have had an easier time of it if I had done so, but on the whole I’m pleased with the outcome, and I can only improve from here!

DIY Yarn Wrapped Bottles

Materials:

  • Empty wine or beer bottle
  • Yarn (many colors or one, up to you!)
  • Glue gun
  • Mod Podge
  • Paintbrush

Step 1:  Rinse and let dry an empty wine bottle.  Pull off any foil from the top of the bottle, but don’t worry about any other labels since they’ll be covered by the yarn anyway.

Step 2:  Using your glue gun, put a dab of hot glue near the bottom of the bottle, and use it to secure the end of your yarn.  Then, start wrapping the yarn around the outside of the bottle, using dabs of hot glue here and there to secure it.

Step 3:  Once you have a good, secure start, begin painting the bottle with Mod Podge and using that as the adhesive to hold the yarn.  Using Mod Podge was a lot faster and a lot less bumpy, although I did get a lot of Mod Podge all over my fingers!

Step 4:  Continue wrapping all around the outside of the bottle, and when you reach the top of the bottle (or wherever you want to stop),  secure the end of the yarn with hot glue.

I started at the top and went down the bottle, which was definitely a mistake, and gave me problems around the neck of the bottle where it started to flare out.  The yarn didn’t stick well with the Mod Podge, and started to bunch up on itself.  If you look at the close-up, you can see my sad, lumpy neck.  Otherwise, though, it looks pretty nice, I think.  Try using different colors and textures of yarn, or try only wrapping part of the bottle for an extra jolt of customization.

Sad, lumpy neck

Eventually, I’m going to make this bottle into an oil lamp.  My mother gave me a really cool wine bottle wick and plug for Christmas, so I just need to get some lamp oil.  You could also use as a nice little bud vase, or just as a decoration.  What will you use your wrapped bottles for?

 

Tutorial: iPhone Cable Wrap January 24, 2012

Filed under: DIY — raediantphoenix @ 1:20 am
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Boy do I have something cute and awesome today!  This is an idea that has been percolating for weeks, and today when I got home from work, I just had to make it happen!  You know how when you get a new electronic device, like an iPhone, cellphone or iPod, the charger cable comes all nicely packaged with that little piece of plastic film?  It looks so nice, and keeps everything together and untangled.  But unfortunately, that little piece of plastic is not very sturdy, and invariably, it ends up lost or destroyed, and you don’t have anything to keep your cord tangle-free.

So nice and organized!

Now, you’re probably thinking, but Rachel, I could just use a rubber band, or a twist tie, or any other little gizmo of that nature.  But here’s the thing:  twist ties and rubber bands just aren’t cute.  And I like cute things.  And I like to make things.  And I especially like to make cute things.  So here is the little jobby I cooked up tonight when I got home from work:

Isn’t it cute?  Velcro and fabric.  Couldn’t be simpler.  It only took about 20 minutes to whip up, so I plan on making LOTS more for gifts and for the upcoming Summer Bazaar at work :)

iPhone Cable Wrap

Materials:

  • Fabric scrap at least 6″ x 8″
  • Light weight fusible interfacing
  • Sew-on Velcro
  • Iron
  • Sewing machine, thread etc (heavy duty needle recommended)

Step 1:  Cut a piece of fabric and a piece of interfacing to 6″ x 8″

Step 2:  Cut a section of hook Velcro and a section of loop Velcro to 1.5″

Step 3:  Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the the fabric

Step 4:  Fold the fabric in half lengthwise, right side out, and press to make a nice crease

Step 5:  Open the fabric up and fold the two long sides in to the center line.  Press to crease

Step 6:  With the raw edges folded in, fold the entire thing along the center crease, creating a nice strip of fabric with the raw edges hidden inside

Please forgive my failing manicure!

Step 7:  Top stitch along the long edges of the strip of fabric.  I have this fancy new edge foot that makes it really easy to follow a straight line :)

Step 8:  Fold one short, raw edge over 1/2″ and top stitch it down

Step 9:  Turn the other short edge over 1/2″ and top stitch as well, so that it looks like this:

See how they're facing away from each other? Like that!

Step 10:  Line up one of your Velcro pieces (it doesn’t matter which) in the center of the strap, lined up with the short edge, laying the Velcro over the unfinished hem.  Stitch it down all the way around the edge

Step 11:  Do the same thing with the other Velcro piece on the other short end

The velcro pieces should be on opposite sides so they can fold together and create a ring

Tadaaaa!  Done and done.  So very simple.  So very cute.  And it makes me look very organized and put together, which I really appreciate.  No more tangled, lost, or sad cables.  Hooray!

Well what are you waiting for?  Go make one for yourself!

 

 
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