Friday Features {on Monday}!

Happy Monday to all! I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things! Spending Thanksgiving with not one, but two families and then black Friday really wiped me out! We managed to take down all of our fall decorations yesterday, and put up at least 75% of the Christmas decorations. The craft room is days away from being completed and I feel the creative juices starting to flow again!

Here are a few of my favorites from last week's link party! 

Pants to Wreath Recycle Tutorial from Sweet Pea & JoJo 

This is so awesome, and very creative! Great job! 

Secret Hollow Book from Polish The Stars

This is awesome! I've been wanting to make a book like this for a while! Great job!

Embellished Ruffle Top from Simply Step Back

Great job! I've yet to make a ruffled top... it's on my "to-do" list!

Christmas Wreath from My Happiness Experiment
Love this wreath! I just found some inexpensive holiday ornaments I used for centerpieces last year! I think I might need to try and make something crafty with them!

Birthday Owl from Whimsical Creations by Melanie

How cute are these little owls? I love them! Melanie, is one talented lady!

Thank you for everyone who linked up! Make sure you stop by Wednesday for another edition of What's Up Wednesdays!

Happy Thanksgiving!

At time when we embrace what we are thankful for we felt it was appropriate to thank each and every one of our followers who make this blog possible! You give us motivation when we aren't motivated to be creative! The past few weeks in our life have been challenging and we appreciate everyones cooperation. We are hoping that next month we can bring a wide variety of creative projects to the blog! Thank you again for following our creative journeys, and we wish that you and your family and friends have a wonderful day together filled with good food and great company! 

Here are a few fall/Thanksgiving decorations that we've placed around our house. We hope you enjoy them! 

The shelves above our couch... great to transform for anyone holiday!

I printed out a free printable here for the Keep Calm & Gobble On. For the life of me though I can't remember where I printed out the subway art piece! Sorry! 

I bought these gourds on clearance at Micahel's for 80% off after Halloween and the other foliage was bought on clearance for $3 at Walmart. I only spent about $6 on this decoration piece! 

On our dinning room table I have repurposed all three jars I used for Halloween and filled them with festive fall decor which I also bought on clearance for 80% off! 

What's Up Wednesdays {Link Party}

Hello and Happy Wednesday! Although, tomorrow is a holiday I figure we'll still do a link party. For those of you who have time to link up--we greatly appreciate it as always! We had a pretty good response last week, so lets keep that trend going! We promise we will have 1-2 craft post up this week! Although, we have lots of Thanksgiving preparation ahead of us today (prior to tons of family flying in from all over the United States); we are making time to finish up a few craft/house projects!

Remember to grab our button and display it proudly!

Rules for the link party:

-Please make sure your following me (I'll follow you back as long as you leave me a comment telling me that your a new follower)!

-PLEASE display our party button either on your home page or on your post. 

-Make sure your link is to your specific post and not your main URL & add a short description.

-Please try to view and/or follow at least two other participants. 

-You can enter as many craft projects as you'd like. (No recipes--go to Katie's Cucina for that!)

-No advertising please (that means etsy). 

-Entering into this party gives me the rights to blog about and feature your blog post. 

Features & Winner of the Timber Green Woods Oranments

Thank you for everyone who was patient with me (Mrs. Woodsy)! I was asked to go out of town for work last week, and it put all things in my personal life on hold! The good thing is--I'm back in action (and of course Mr. Woodsy does not know how to do these "blog" things... he just knows how to build great stuff)!

First, I'll announce the winner of the Timber Green Woods set of Mini Snowflake Wooden Ornaments (5) ($16 value including shipping)!

 I choose the winner by using Random.org...

 Congrats to Sarah at Sweet Pea and Jojo!!!

(Please make sure you send us an email at SewWoodsy@gmail.com so we can send your information on to Timber Green Woods)

Now on to the features! So many great projects linked up once again! Thank you to everyone who participated! If you were featured please make sure you grab a "featured" badge and place it proudly on your blog! Please remember to only link up craft projects... you can visit Katie's Cucina on Friday's to link up all of your delicious recipes!!!

Fresh Cedar Monogrammed Wreath from Diddle Daddle

OMG! This is amazing, and looks to be super easy! Might need to make something like this... I think this would make for a great holiday gift for a friend, neighbor, or party hostess!  I think I might have to give this a try! 

Plush Chick Family from BluDor Magazine

 

OMG! These are too cute! I love them!!!

Recycled Magazine Bow from See Kate Sew

Wow, I never knew it was that easy to make a bow! I have a plethora of magazines... I'm totally making me some bows! I love the idea!!! 

Tutorial: Lace Key Hole Top from Polo by Simply Step Back

Love this idea! It totally transforms your old polo shirt! Can't wait to try this... 

Spell it out for Them from Extra Ordinary Bree

 

Ok, so I had no clue about "spell" on flickr! Totally going to check this out now and make some awesome projects with it... including some cool shirts!!! 

*Thank you again for everyone who participated in last week's link party!*

What's Up Wednesdays {Link Party} & Timber Green Woods Giveaway!!!

I'm very excited to host such an awesome giveaway this week! This should start to get everyone in the holiday spirit! Timber Green Woods is offering one lucky follower a set of Mini Snowflake Wooden Ornaments (5) 
($16 value including shipping)!

 
*Photo provided by Timber Green Woods*

Make sure you check out Timber Green Woods on et etsy sy! 

Need to buy a gift for your child's favorite teacher? What about your next door neighbor? What about sprucing up your own Christmas tree? Why not purchase unique and handcrafted wooden ornaments! They sell more than just ornaments, too. Earrings, keepsake boxes, and votive candle holders are just a few of the other items on there etsy shop! 


Want to learn more about  Timber Green Woods? 
Read below OR go to there site and check them out! 

"Timber Green Woods is a line of products created by a group of three artists who are working together with sustainably harvested Wisconsin woods. The trees are selectively harvested around the Spring Green area where most of the wood goes into flooring. Extra pieces are then used by the Timber Green Woods artists to create a variety of items that make up our product line. Contributing artist to Timber Green Woods include: Shawn Olmstead, Matt Van Susteren and Amie Elizabeth."

How to enter? *Multiple Ways*
*Open to United States residents only*

1. Link up a project and leave a comment that you linked up.

2. Follow Sew Woodsy on facebook and leave a comment that you are now following. *If you are currently following let us know too!

3. Follow Sew Woodsy on twitter and leave a comment that you are now following. *If you are currently following let us know too!

4. Become a new follower of the blog and leave a comment. *If you are currently following let us know too!

Ok, so the key is LEAVING A COMMENT. That's the way I will be running this giveaway via random.org. This giveaway will end on Thursday, November 18th at 11:59pm and one winner at random will be selected and announced the following day! 

Rules for the link party: 

-Please make sure your following me (I'll follow you back as long as you leave me a comment telling me that your a new follower)!

-PLEASE display our party button either on your home page or on your post. 

-Make sure your link is to your specific post and not your main URL & add a short description.

-Please try to view and/or follow at least two other participants. 

-You can enter as many craft projects as you'd like (just leave ONE comment below for the giveaway.

-No advertising please (that means etsy). 

-Entering into this party gives me the rights to blog about and feature your blog post. 

Giveaway Winners for Jolee's Jewel Bracelet Packs!

And the winners of the 3 Jolee's Jewel bracelet packs are... 

Thank you to all who participated! 

If you were chosen, please send me an email (sewwoodsy@gmail.com) with your mailing address, so I can send out your package! 

Remember to come back tomorrow and link up your most recent craft projects. I'll have another great giveaway!!! 

{Mini Tutorial} Pillow Covers

Pillow covers are super easy to sew; yet some how I missed the memo on this! I just started sewing earlier this year, and my first project out the shoot was an elastic waistband pencil skirt! One would say it's just as easy as sewing pillow covers, but I never realized how simple the pillow covers really were until my neighbor showed me hers! That's when I got inspired to make my own. I have these really bright and vibrant out door pillows for my bench on our front porch, and in the winter months I want them to be more season appropriate. Last year (prior to owning a sewing machine) I made pillow covers using stitch-witch (iron on adhesive). They came out ok, but nothing to really be proud of. I recently found awesome fall/Thanksgiving material at Wal*Mart and new I needed to make some pillow covers for my front porch! I am going to walk you through the steps as best as possible. If you don't understand my steps, you might want to go HERE and read this great tutorial! Same concept as what I'm about to demonstrate! 

Supplies: 

-material to cover one pillow (about a yard and a half)

-Sewing machine

-thread, scissors, and seam ripper

1. Measure your pillow. My pillow was 20 x 20, so I cut one piece 21x21 inches long and another piece 30x21 inches long. You can cut the 30 inch piece in half. Then overlap the material, so that it measures to be about 21 inches long.

2. Next you will want to hem the inside of each of the 15 inch pieces of fabric. I folded each of the interior pieces about 1/4 inch and sewed a straight stitch.

3. Now that you've hemmed the middle two pieces of fabric pin them together so that they make a 21x21 inch square, and that one piece of fabric over laps the other (see the arrow above the picture? Can you see the one sewn seam). Take the other 21x21 whole piece of fabric and face that towards the already pinned together 2 pieces. The whole pillow should be pinned together and ready to be sewn. **Make sure that the corners line up. I used a 1/2 inch seam allowance and sewed using a straight stitch (to be honest you can use whatever seam allowance you want)! 

4. Once you've sewn around the perimeter of your pillow you can flip it inside out (patterned side), carefully stuff the pillow inside, and enjoy! 

Now I have two festive pillow covers for my front porch bench! 

Jolee's Jewel-It-Yourself "Lunch" Party & Giveaway

If you follow Katie's Cucina you would be oh-so familiar with the concept of House Party. If you aren't familiar I suggest you go check it out! HouseParty.com host a variety of house parties from food, to travel, to crafts and everything in between. This was my 6th house party I've hosted this year! When Mr. Woodsy found out I got accepted to throw yet another house party he told me that I was not aloud to have it at our house until the office project was complete. With that being said I had to get creative. I thought about all the people I would invite, and since I was only receiving a limited number of bracelet sets I knew my invite would be small anyways. I figured the best place to have my house party and not disrupt work on the office was to have it at work. Almost all the ladies in my department like to craft, and since we held a crafting lunch last month I figured we would do it again.

When I sent the "meeting invitation" at work, all the ladies were beyond excited! None of us--including me had ever made jewelry before (well one person, but it was a very long time ago). I watched the video Jolee's Jewel put on you tube multiple times and even wrote down the directions. The bracelets were so easy to make, and now I guess I'll have a new hobby to take up (not what Mr. Woodsy wants to here)! 

As soon as I got the box in I had to open it up to see all the fun goodies I received!

Look at all the goods!!!

I asked all my co-workers to bring there lunch, and I reserved a conference room where we could all eat lunch and craft! Everyone who attended had a blast! 

I asked everyone who was attending to watch the bracelet making tutorial, so they would have a better idea of how to create there bracelets (although I still walked everyone through)! 

Jolee's Bracelet Video Tutorial

Christy modeling her bracelet!

Rachel & Kristi showing off there bracelets!

Cecili showing of her green gems!

Annika and I showing off our works of art! 

"bracelet power, unite!" 

Because I have three bracelet sets leftover, I am going to give them away to 3 of my lucky readers, and you have up to 3 ways to enter for a chance to win a bracelet prize pack! 

1. Leave a comment telling us that your following the blog (new or current follower)!

2. Follow Sew Woodsy on facebook and leave a comment letting us know! 

(If you already follow us, leave a comment letting us know!)

3. Follow Sew Woodsy on twitter and leave a comment letting us know! 

(If you already follow us, leave a comment letting us know!)

The key here is to leave a comment. That's the way I will be picking 3 lucky winners using random.org. Contest closes Tuesday, November 16th at noon (EST). 

Friday Features

Thank you to everyone who participated this week! 27 fabulous projects linked up!!!
Honestly, there were so many great projects it was really difficult picking just 5. I honestly wanted to spotlight all of them. If I featured you make sure you grab a featured button and display it proudly on your blog. Remember, to come back next week to link up your latest and greatest craft projects!

Owl Themed Baby Gifts from In His Grip

These are the cutest hats ever! I would wear one and I'm an adult! lol. 

Tutorial: Sweet Confection Pillow from Living with Punks

LOVE this pillow.
The time and dedication it took to make this pillow amazes me! 

Tooth Fairy Pillow from Simpsonized Crafts

This is too darn cute!!! I think I'll need to make this for my nephew when he starts to loose his teeth
(but a masculine version)!

DIY No Slip Socks from Little Buggie Tutu

What a genius idea this is! Never thought to use puffy paint like this!!

PB Knock off Candles from Can't Stop Making

Anytime you can make the "knock-off" version look JUST AS GOOD as the real thing you've succeeded! 

What's Up Wednesdays {Link Party}

Well, it's Wednesday again! As the holiday's get closer I feel like time is flying by! Maybe also because I am super busy at home and at work.

Last week we had 21 crafters post up some awesome projects! I apologize if I didn't get to comment on all the projects linked up last week... like I've said in past post... life has been a little hectic.  Please make sure you grab my button and display it proudly!

<a href="http://sewwoodsy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb431/ktbright7/whatsupwednesdays-1.jpg?t=1287494472" /></a>

Rules: 
-Please make sure your following me (I'll follow you back as long as you leave me a comment telling me that your a new follower)!
-PLEASE display our party button either on your home page or on your post. 
-Make sure your link is to your specific post and not your main URL &  add a short description.
-Please try to view and/or follow at least two other participants. 
-You can enter as many craft projects as you'd like.
-No advertising please (that means etsy).
-Entering into this party gives me the rights to blog about and feature your blog post. 

Guest Bathroom Mini-Makeover + Black Crown Molding

*Remember this teaser picture back from the beginning of October? When I wrote about my new $2 bathroom art... Now you finally get to see the tiny bathroom reveal! 

This project was finished at the end of September, but I never had time to post pictures of this mini makeover project. We called it a mini-makeover because we took down the builder grade mirror, light fixture, and medicine cabinet, and added our own touch to the bathroom. We also decided to be bold and not only put crown molding in our guest bathroom, but paint it black! I am so glad we chose to go with black crown molding! It gives such an amazing and elegant touch to this bathroom. We don't have much left to do on this bathroom... we just want to upgrade the laminate countertop with granite, but that won't happen until we get our kitchen countertop done! I hope you will enjoy looking at all the pictures below on how our adventures of black crown molding went. 

Unfortunately, Mr. Woodsy does not have time to write up a tutorial on installing crown-molding. If you asked him he would tell you that the "mrs" is being a slave driver about this craft room project (it has to get done before Thanksgiving (it's been going on since April))! Mr. Woodsy learned how to put in crown molding from his dad. {His dad is very handy as well!} He helped his dad put in crown molding all through there home, and we could say is the inspiration of why we choose to place crown molding in our bathroom! {Eventually, we will have crown molding throughout the whole house, for now we have it in the three smallest rooms of our home; guest bathroom, laundry room, and soon-to-be craft room}.

Let me preface... the crown molding was all painted white at first, and then Mr. Woodsy stacked our painted white high gloss crown molding. DON'T EVER STACK CROWN MOLDING AFTER IT HAS BEEN PAINTED NO MATTER HOW LONG THE PAINT HAS "DRIED" FOR.  {If anything I hope everyone can learn from a BIG mistake}. We unfortunately, had to learn the hard way, and large splotches of paint ripped off the boards thus causing for double, no wait triple the work! Mr. Woodsy had to sand them down, prime them, and then painted the high gloss (twice with this process because he wasn't happy the first time) thus even after the second time of hand sanding the boards you could still see where the paint had ripped off. Luckily on his second go around with hand sanding and painting that's when we decided to paint two boards (maybe it was three) black for the bathroom. We used Behr high gloss black paint. 

{I would say we, but} Mr. Woodsy taped up the bottom base boards and painted them black! This was the start of the black molding. I was very nervous about this, but in the end it came out great! {Side note: we kept the door frame white... we felt that a black doorframe might be too much.}

Mr. Woodsy cutting the crown molding (incorrectly--read below). He bought what he thought was going to be the trick to his crown molding dilemma this "amazing" tool (blue thing under the black crown molding) that helps with angles... no not so much it stunk and almost ruined one board of crown molding. Needless to say this was brought back to the "depot" the very next day! 

As you can tell from the caption... "we have a problem". He cut the angles incorrectly. This is a common problem in cutting crown molding. You have got to have everything measured out perfect! One brain fart and you could have BIG problems! Because we literally had just enough crown molding to complete our three smallest rooms in the house (and just enough painted for the bathroom) he was forced to cut the piece in half to make it work. Not what he wanted to do... he wanted it to be one solid piece, but I refused to spend any more money or time on this crown molding project. At the end of the day when you look up at it you have to look very closely to see that it's two pieces. 

{Not the end of the world in my book!}

If you want to read a great tutorial on crown molding, visit This Old House or visit youTube that's where Mr. Woodsy picks up a lot of great ideas, tips, and tricks! 

After he messed up the first cut he made the second cut correct and decided to start on that side first! Because this was such a small space he did not need any extra sets of hands to help put up the crown molding. Thus after this piece he had to close the bathroom door so he could finish his work (not allowing me to take any more pictures). 

*For larger spaces you need at least an extra person to hold the molding in place. 

Here is the finished product! Doesn't it look amazing?!?!?!

*I purchased the shower curtain over 3 years ago at K-Mart for $20 & hardware for cabinet $5 at Home Depot.

Here is a view of me laying on the ground taking a picture of the ceiling. 

The walls were painted a light grey, and we kept the ceiling white. 

This gives you an idea of all of our upgrades in one photo! We purchased the framed mirror ($25) at Home Goods, the new bevelled medicine cabinet ($30) and Crown Molding (5 pack for $90+) at Home Depot, the light fixture was given to us for free (thanks to Mr. Woodsy's parents). This kind of gives you an idea of our mini make-over. For about $150 we have a brand new look and elegant feel!  

We entered the CSI Challenge: