{Tutorial} Tshirt to Barefoot Sandals

Did you guys see me last month over at U-Create? You didn't? 

Well, you're in luck because I am going to repeat myself here! 

If you did and made these already I would love, love, love for you to share a photo with me on Facebook or by email.

Bug is turning into such a little girly girl! She loves anything girly {tutus, ballet shoes, frilly dresses}. When I made these for her she wore them all day long and even asked to sleep in them. What's even better is it cost me nothing to make these! I had everything right here in the house to whip these up and you probably do too.

Materials:

-an old tshirt

-scissors

-matching thread and needle

-matching felt

-hot glue gun and glue

-a baby/toddler/child

What to do {I don't sew...like ever...so #1) if I can do this, so can you & 2.) if I use the wrong sewing/clothing term, forgive me}:

1. Cut the bottom hem off your tee. Cut a couple strips of your tee about an inch wide. Cut one side so it is no longer a loop. Pull it so the edges pull together kind of. {It's like making t-shirt yarn - instructions here} You will be using the rest of the tee {or a good part of it} for the flower.

2. Cut a piece of your felt in an oval {mine was about 2" long and 1" wide} Bug is 2 1/2 so if you are making these for a baby you are going to want it a little smaller.

3.  Using these instructions you are going to cut 18 petals for your flower. {my flower was 3" around for Bug. Again, if you are making for a baby, maybe you want to make your flower a little smaller}

4. Take your strips of tshirt and measure from one side of your child's foot, under their foot to the other side. Mark and cut. Cut 6 strips this size. {the tshirt will stretch so you don't need to leave extra room for sewing}

5. Gather all your materials.

5.  Sew three of the strips along the long side of the felt oval.

6. Sew the other sides of the strips to the other side of the felt oval {making it like a ring}.

 I should have sewn them to be placed evenly on each side...oops.

7. Following the flower instructions, make your flower onto the felt oval.

Would ya look at that, you can even wear it as a little bracelet!

8. Take 2 of the strands at the bottom and sew to pinch them together {these will be the straps that go on the bottom of the foot}.

9.  Smile big for saving yourself about $20 and recycling a tshirt in the process!

10. Grab your cute little girl and decorate her feet! 

You can even put them over socks to discourage your little one from taking their socks off in the winter months when they insist their feet won't get cold but you know they will!

Bug loves these! I was shocked because she never wants to wear or model anything I make for her...but she even wanted to go to bed with these on her feet after wearing them all day!

YOU made it:

 Not Always With Thread made some for her little one and herself! Check them out here.

This post has been featured!

Happy Earth Day

Sorry to post so late. Hubby and I went to a dinner for the ambulance company he volunteers for and we got back super late which means we slept in because Bug didn't wake up until 9:30am {a very rare occurrence on a weekend day}!

 It's Earth Day! Here are some ideas to do today {and every day} because we love the Earth we live on and want to keep it around, right?!

• decorate a tote / crochet a market bag for shopping
• plant a garden / grow your own food
• shop local
• go on a nature walk
• hold a sale to collect money to donate to an environmental group
• pick up trash
• play a recycle sorting game
• switch to reusable items
• make your own baby/toddler food
• reusing things for art {egg cartons for paint, yogurt containers to store play dough...}
• recycle old clothing 
• repurpose  wine/bottles, bottle caps 

Earth Day Books:

Check out some other Earth Day ideas from these lovely blogs:

TZ Burps has some great Earth Day ideas to go along with the book The Lorax

ReiLynn Designs shares Budget Friendly Reasons to Grow Your Own Herbs.

Check out these Pinterest Boards to see some other recycling ideas:

What to do with TP Rolls

T-Shirt Upcycling

Reduce-Reuse-Recycle-Repurpose 

What do you do to help the Earth? 

Don't forget to check out some ideas for outside play or link up your own at our Outside Play Link Up!

Save those plastic egg cartons! {quick tip}

If you buy the eggs that come in the plastic cartons, don't throw them away! I have been saving them for crafts. They are great for holding small amounts of many colored paint and small crafty objects like beads, pom poms and such. 

Is there anything you save and use for crafting? I'd love to know!

 

Valentine's Day Can-dle Holder

This candle holder is made from a can and it's a great project to work on together to give to someone special on Valentine's Day!

What you need:

• an empty, washed out can with the label peeled and top off {make sure there are no sharp edges!!}
• paints in your color choice {we used kids poster paint}& brushes
• a hammer and a nail
• a sharpie
• heart stencil {I used the small heart from here}

What to do:

Place the can upside down {the closed bottom side up} so your child can hold it without touching the inside in case of sharp edges. 

I can't stress enough to make sure there are no sharp edges. Be sure to supervise your child as they are painting so they do not touch the opening or inside of the can juuuust in case!

For the kids to do: Paint the whole outside of the can {you don't have to paint the bottom}.

For the parent to do: Cut out your small heart stencil out of sturdy paper or thin cardboard {like from a cereal box}. I used a file folder. Place it in the center and mark dots along the heart with a sharpie.

Now for the fun part! Take your hammer and nail and bang the nail into the can on each sharpie mark. {if you don't have a steady hand the nail might scratch off some of the paint. We just repainted around the heart where it scratched off. It's up to you if you want to let your child help or handle the hammer. It does take some force though.

{or you can save the painting for last}

Place a tea light candle inside {or one of those flameless ones} and enjoy the heart shaped glow!

 {I have one of those long match holders so I didn't burn myself lighting it}

<3

Have a happy Valentine's Day!

You may find me at some of these lovely link parties.