DIY Summertime Fun

I spent the weekend with my family and one of the nights was filled with smiles and laughter as we played a new board game. Summertime is the perfect time to get outside, run around, take a picnic and play games. People tend to travel during the summer as well, and that shouldn't mean you can't take your games with you. Below are a few links to summertime DIY gaming fun. Enjoy!

Bean Bag Toss

Tutorial here.

Summertime Bucket List
Perhaps a little too late for this one this year, but I love the idea of creating a unique "To do list" for the summer.
Tutorial here.



Beach Board Game
Tutorial here.



Your favorite board games on the road.
I LOVE this idea. Take your favorite board games in the car with you. A wonderful idea and an easy to follow tutorial.
Tutorial here.



Happy Creating!
Lauren
upcycled unlimited

Hello from Sunny Alaska.

I am currently on vacation visiting my family in Alaska. They live in Fairbanks, which during the summertime is all about sunshine. The sun never really sets, so the darkest the sky ever gets is what most folks experience at twilight. In celebration of the sun, I wanted to share some of my favorite fun and sun-related craft tutorials.

Turn an old cd into a new suncatcher! Tutorial HERE.

Turn those umbrellas that protected you from spring rains into a new sun shade.


Tutorial c/o CRAFT

If you are spending time in the great outdoors whether it be on an urban hike or a jaunt on a trail, you will need to take your trusty bottle of water with you. Here is a great tutorial from My Recycled Bags on making your own water bottle holder from reused plastic bags.



If you like to be outside and online, reuse a grocery bag to make a sunshade for your laptop. No more glare on that screen!


Tutorial c/o Instructables

And, if you are a sensitive sally like me when it comes to the sun, make yourself a sun hat.


Tutorial c/o CLEAN.

Happy Creating!
Lauren
upcycledunlimited.com

Wedded Bliss.

I am on a plane to New York City! as you read this post to watch a long time friend walk down the aisle to wedded bliss. I wanted to share a few tutorials I dedicated to the big event that I posted on my blog, How to Reuse it Creatively.

The first is a super easy Wedding Hairpin. If you have a blouse, button, thread and a bobby pin, you can make one too! Grab the full tutorial HERE.



The second is a funky, fantastic playing card boutonniere. If you believe life is in the details and want yours to stand out, try out this tutorial for a creative and one of a kind boutonniere. CLICK HERE to make your own.



What are your favorite upcycled and creative REuse wedding ideas?

How to make a Fabric Scrap Ring.

Most crafters have a pile of fabric scraps laying around. I discovered mine again the other day while I was organizing my studio. There are a great many things you can do with a fabric scrap. I thought today I would show you how to turn your fabric scraps into a brand new ring!

How to make a Fabric Scrap Ring:

1. Measure around the finger you would like to make the ring fit snuggly onto. Add 1/4 to that measurement.



2. Cut a piece of fabric so one side equals the measurement you calculated in step 1. Make the other side measure 2 inches.



3. Fold and iron down the edges of all 4 sides of the fabric.



4. Fold the fabric in half along the long side. Iron and sew the edge.



5. Cut two other fabric scraps into circles, one being larger than the other.



6. Place the circles on top of one another in the center of the fabric and then place button on top of that.



7. Sew your button and circles onto the ring fabric.



8. Fold your ring inside out and sew the edges together.



YAY! You have a new bright, festive, fresh and unique ring to wear around town.



Happy Creating!
Lauren
upcycledunlimited.com

Spruce up that ol' zipper jacket!

I walk my dog every morning, usually while still wearing my pajamas. My pjs don't have pockets and neither does the sweater jacket I usually wear, so I decided to add pockets so I'd have a place to keep my keys and my hands on those extra foggy mornings.



If you have a sweater, shirt, or jacket that you would like to make all fancy with some new pockets, then check out the tutorial below!

1. Find a fabric for the outside of your pocket and some fleece or other cozy fabric for the inside of the pocket.

2. Cut the pockets in a slight "U" shape. The opening of the pocket is 5 1/2" and the end of the pocket is 3 1/2". The distance between the opening and the end is 6". Now, of course, you can change the size of the pockets to fit your hands and jacket perfectly.



3. Stack the outside fabric on top of the inside fabric and cut the inside of the fabric about an inch from the top.



4. Fold the extra outside fabric over the inside fabric, iron and sew down.



5. Pin the pockets to the jacket where you feel they will be most comfortable.



6. Sew in place!



Yay for a cute newish sweater jacket with pockets!

-Lauren
upcycled unlimited

The sun is shining down on me!

Wow, what a wonderful sun-filled day we had today! I was inspired by the hint of spring time to search for some floral inspirations.

Tutorial HERE.

Tutorial HERE.


Tutorial HERE.

Tutorial HERE.

And, just in case the rainy season still has some punches left, here is a tutorial for replacing the fabric on an old beat up umbrella.


Happy Creating!
-Lauren
upcycled unlimited

What do you get when you combine a button, thumbtack, and an ear plug?

A new EARRING, of course!

I have had a life long battle with not being organized. I go through stages and am in awe of how put away all of my art supplies are. That never lasts long and inevitably I end up with a random pile of stuff on my table. This week, that random pile gave me a bit of inspiration. And, a new pair of earring was born.


If you happen to have 2 thumbtacks, an ear plug (or something else squishy that you can cut apart), and 2 buttons, you too can make yourself a new pair of earrings.

Here's how:

Warm up that old glue gun. Put a dab of hot glue on top of the thumbtack and carefully press your button into the glue and onto the thumbtack.



Wait a few minutes for the glue to dry. Cut your ear plug into small pieces and use as the back stop to your new earring!

Yay for a new pair of adorable button earrings.

Happy Creating!
Lauren
upcycled unlimited