Superhero Gift: Green Lantern Apron

On Facebook, I often see friends posting pictures of things that are funny or interesting. I usually acknowledge this in passing, but, before a birthday, everything holds new significance.

Naturally, when I saw her "ooh"ing and "ahh"ing over some superhero and video game themed aprons by "Bethany Sew and Sew," I was inspired. Already interested in expanding my sewing skills, I decided to try my hand at making one. So, after fishing for as many pictures and free patterns online as I could find, I "Frankensteined" them together into this:

Excuse the Quality... Old Camera Photo.

I'm still really proud of this project. Cute skirt, cute pockets. Relatively clean edges on the logo. Not to mention the difficulty of sewing a circle without raw edges. (This is all speaking from the perspective of a relative newbie.) There are straps which tie around the back and neck, which was my preference since I wanted it to be as adjustable as possible. 

If I get a chance to take a newer photo, I will post one. It went over really well and she seemed impressed that I made it. I was too! 

(Don't you always find that you end up giving your best projects away?) 

Source: Bethany Sew and Sew

Holiday Crafts: Gift Wrapping, Cookies, and a Floral Centerpiece

I have taken forever to update this, but there was a lot of creativity to be had during the holidays. I was "employed" to be the family gift wrapper and, when I was not dying from being hunched over for so long, I was able to really get in there and have some fun.

You'd better appreciate this, Dad...

This was one of my favorite packages. I had a lot of small strips of ribbon that I had collected over the course of many Christmases, so I used them to create interesting bows.

There are some other designs that I would like to try in coming years that involve using a lot more uncut ribbon at once. But, I think this turned out well enough that maybe those who are used to throwing the piles of beautiful ribbon away, or who pass over it for the cheaper stuff, might consider picking up and saving or buying a bit in the future. It can be reused as long as you care to keep it and makes for the most beautiful packages, which may imply a lot more effort than you actually put forth!

Cookies and flowers after the cut!