Monday, June 7, 2010

Tip of the Week . . . Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

I'm sure by now, you have heard of the "Magic Eraser". Have you tried it? Think it doesn't work? Well, I'm here to tell you that it does. I love the Magic Eraser. It cleans almost anything and is well worth the money. I can tell you it even removes marker . . . permanent marker . . . from your wood furniture. Oh, how kids love to draw (on things they shouldn't). It cleans scuff marks on baseboards and doors, dirt and grim off your refrigerator handles, cleans your kitchen sink, bathtub and on and on and on. If you haven't bought the Magic Eraser, grab one at the store and give it a try! You won't be disappointed. Happy Cleaning!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Crocheted Headband Craze

Lately we have been seeing our Lydia crocheted headband popping up across the valley. Our very own Cheryl created a new version of an old headband with an original 6 petal flower. It is so fun to see others enjoying the headband as much as we do! The Lydia headband was one of Loopty Loo's original products so we thought it was time to spotlight it again. We love this headband because it is a perfect extension of the trendy headwraps everyone was wearing this winter (check out our version here) but unlike the wraps, it can be worn year round.

The Lydia is the perfect touch to any outfit from dressy to jeans and a t-shirt. We offer the crocheted headband in adult and youth sizes that tie at the base of your neck and if you want a more custom fit we offer all sizes with connecting elastic. Check out our yarn colors/sizes below and order some for you and your daughter!
Lydia headband prices are normally: $10 each, 2 for $18, 3 for $25.

Lydia is our "Item of the Week" so you can buy them this week only for: $8 each, 2 for $14, 3 for $19. Just purchase straight from our blog (upper right corner).

Available Sizes with elastic:
head measurement is taken where headband is worn.
Newborn: 0-3 months: 14-16" head
XSmall: 3-12 months: 16-17" head
Small: 1-3 years: 17-18" head
Medium: 3-6 years: 18-19" head
Large: 6+ years: 19" + head
Teen
Adult

Here are our available color options as well:
If you love to crochet like us we also sell our pattern on etsy, we just ask that you don't sell them locally, in Utah.
We would love to hear what you think about our Lydia crocheted headband and see pictures of you wearing it.


Have a great day!
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Friday, June 4, 2010

Gem Wallets

For Christmas I received a fabulous present from my mother-in-law. It is a pink Gem wallet and I am STILL in love with it. If pink is not your color the wallet comes in a bunch of other fun colors including black and brown.






I can fit everything I need and then some in the wallet and I can find everything quickly too. I feel so organized!


Through the years my preferences change on whether I want a small wallet or a big one but right now I am all for big. If you are in need of a new wallet check out the Gem wallets website for yourself.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Strap Happy--Tutorial

When I was in the 7th grade I took a photography class and fell in love. I carried around my Dad's SLR (film) camera with an awesome orange and brown strap. I took the camera everywhere and have some really good blackmail pictures of my friends and I "modeling". Ever since then I have wanted my own SLR camera.

Fast forward 18 years and I still am dreaming of owning my own SLR. Right now I am sporting a camera that looks like a mini SLR but doesn't have the speed or all the options. One thing my camera does have in common though is a neck strap, and it is uncomfortable. When the weather is hot my neck gets all sticky and I don't enjoy having to wear my camera. I have been wanting to make a fabric camera strap and since it seems like everyone else has an SLR, sniff, sniff... I thought you might want to know how to also!

How to get Strap Happy:

Start by measuring the webbing of your strap, length and width.

Don't include the leather in your measurement because it will not be covered. My strap is not as wide as an SLR so the measurements will be different.

Double the width of you measurement and add 1 inch. This will allow for seams and the thickness of the strap. Also add 1 inch to the length for seams.

Now cut your fabric. I used scraps that I had so I pieced them together but you can use one piece or even one print on the front and another on the back. That would make it reversible too. If you do use scraps make sure to allow for seam allowances so your final product is the correct length.


On each end fold over 1/4 inch and press with your iron. Fold over another 1/4 inch and sew across. This will give you a nice finished end.

once...

twice...

Optional: Iron on some interfacing. This material will make the fabric more sturdy and add some thickness. If you don't have interfacing, no big deal. Another idea is to sew fleece on the inside to make it soft.


Fold the fabric in half length-wise with the right sides together. Pin and sew: 1/4 inch seam.



Using a safety pin turn the fabric right side out. Press the strap with the seam in the back.


Now you are ready to thread your strap through and start wearing your camera with style. If you need help getting the camera strap through the fabric, use the safety pin again.



This was so easy to make that I think I might need another one in summer colors! A little side note, if you are making a strap for an SLR camera it would be great to add a little pocket on one of the ends to hold your lens cap.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Tip of the Week--Picnic Style

Now that the warm weather is here (I think) we are starting to do more outdoor activities. One of our favorite things to do is head to the park with friends and pack a lunch. Usually our plans are made last minute and I am throwing together a lunch as we walk out the door, which means that more often than not I defer to the good old PB & J sandwich. Only problem is the sandwiches always ends up soggy by the time we actually eat. Here comes the revolutionary tip (or at least it was for me when I learned it)...put peanut butter on both sides of the bread! Ta Da! I have to be careful not to go overkill with the peanut butter but my sandwich always tastes like I just made it.

Ok, since the first tip was a little on the silly side, here's another little tidbit. For the coupon lovers, like myself, Costco has a $4 off Coupon on two bottles of Banana Boat 50SPF spray sunscreen. If you don't get the coupons in the mail, they are generally sitting on the customer service counter.

Happy Picnic-ing!

Friday, May 28, 2010

Etsy Finds - Recycled Vintage Tin Mini Dress Necklace- Peppermint

I don't know what it is about this necklace that I love, but I am drawn to it. I definitely love the aqua red color combinations, it is one of my favorites!

To see more of the necklaces from this Etsy Shop click here.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

How To . . . make a plastic bottle birdfeeder

Instead of sending more plastic to the landfill, turn a plastic bottle into a and functional birdfeeder crafted like a birdhouse. This is a great green craft from Heidi Borchers for using the occasional plastic bottle.

Materials:
Aleene’s® Super Thick Tacky Glue™
9” x 16” piece of lightweight cardboard
2-liter plastic soda bottle with cap, washed and dried
Spray paint: black, brown
Acrylic paint, burnt umber, black, beige
Small sponge piece
Craft knife
3/16” diameter hole punch
3” square white shrink plastic
Paintbrushes: fine-tip ½” flat shader
Drill with 18” and 1/16” bits
16” length of braided cord (for hanger)
2-1/2” length 1/16” diameter wood dowel
Clothespins
Aleene’s® OK to Wash it Glue®
Pine bark pieces
Wooden craft stick
Fine-tip permanent black marker
26-gauge florist wire
Bamboo skewer
Window Pattern
Roof Pattern

Instructions: Transfer roof pattern to cardboard and cut out roof. Spray-paint both sides of roof and bottle cap black. Let dry. Spray paint bottle brown. Let dry. Working with 1 paint color at a time, dip dampened sponge into burnt umber and black and sponge-paint the bottle. Let dry. With craft knife, cut 1 (1-3/4” diameter) circle about 3” up from bottom of bottle for door. Punch 1 hole about ¼” below door.
Measure approximately 1-1/4” to left and right of door and transfer window pattern onto bottle. Paint design beige. Paint outline details in black paint using liner brush on each window. Paint beige wavy line around door. Let dry. Push dowel halfway into hole below door and glue to secure. Let dry.
Center and drill 1 (1/8” diameter) hole in bottle cap. Fold cord in half to form loop. Working from outside of bottle cap, thread cord ends through hole in cap. Knot cord ends. Pull knot up to cap and glue knot to cap. Let dry. Screw cap onto bottle.
Curve roof into cone shape, overlapping straight edges and glue. Hold edges in place with clothespins until glue is dry. Snip off tip of roof to leave hole for hanger. To help weatherproof the roof, brush with coat of OK to Wash-It glue on each side of roof. Let dry. Glue pine bark pieces to cover outside of roof (with Tacky glue). Let dry. For sign, cut 1 (2-1/2”) length and 1 (1-3/4”) length from craft stick. With shorter piece centered along longer piece, glue craft stick lengths side by side. Drill 1 (1/6” diameter) hole in each end of longer piece of sign at top edge.
Write “Welcome Home” on sign with marker. Cut 1 (5”) length of wire. Wrap center of wire around bamboo skewer to coil. Remove skewer. Insert 1 end of wire through each hole at top of sign, working from back to front. Bend up ends. Cut 1 (1-1/2”) length of wire. Bend wire in half to form hanger. Slip bent wire hanger onto coiled wire on sign. Working from outside, poke hanger wire ends through bottle about 1-3/4” above door. Bend wire ends to inside of bottle to secure hanger. Thread braided cord hanger through hole in roof, working from inside roof.
Click here for a link to the original post.

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