Upcycled Chevron Purse

I made this little bag using the Buttercup Bag Tutorial at Made By Rae.
I haven’t purchased any of her patterns yet, but I know if I had a serger I would have to try the Washi Dress.

 

Refashioning a Too-Large Skirt with Bias Tape.

I'm still working through the host of clothing that I've been given or acquired to upcycle. A few posts from the last few weeks: Tunic Refashion for me, knit shirt for a little guy, Bike Shirt for me.

Continuing with that theme, here's a skirt someone gave me. It's a bit big. And long.
Here’s the before. (Please excuse the mess. Must sew, you know!)

Sleepy Bunny Bib

I made this bib as a gift for a cousin on my husband’s side who is due with a baby at the beginning of April! It is a refashion project as well….I’ll let you know how at the end.

I got this adorable bunny applique pattern from Make it Perfect. The blog’s author has a book and a whole line of patterns. I have not worked much with appliques, but this turned out to be fun.

Tailoring Pants: Some Tips.

The quest to rid my linen closet of the clothing I've saved for refashioning continues.

I love refashioning clothing. I was given these black pants by a friend and they’re a size or two too big. Here are the ‘before’ pictures:


I decided to try my hand at refashioning and giving ‘tailoring’ a shot.
Here are a few ‘after’ pictures:

Recycled Robot Craft for Kids

I save garbage. Like scraps of paper, scraps of yarn, boxes from food or tea…you get the idea. I have the intention of making crafts with my three year-old. Maybe you remember the owls we made back in the fall.

Let’s just say my three-year-old doesn’t make a lot of for doing crafts. Until I told him we could make robots. (I made him a robot shirt a few months ago. He likes robots.)

One problem: He thought we were making REAL robots. That would have working buttons. And talk.

Zulily, Anyone?

I have never ordered from Zulily. I've Pinned a few items (mostly shoes) that I've liked. Until today. They got me when they emailed and said they had Keen items. I love Keen boots and shoes. So does my husband.

So. If you join, you'll get daily deal emails. Use my link:
http://www.zulily.com/invite/monkeysee

Here are a few Keen brand items they have today that I love.

I love this bag. It is yellow and gray. Enough reason for me to love it.

White Cloud & Children's Miracle Network

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of White Cloud for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

White Cloud is a brand of bath tissue found at Walmart stores. Find a store near you!Their bathroom tissue line scored well with Consumer Reports. Anyway, they have partnered with Children's Miracle Network and their 168 hospitals to allow the children at the hospitals to decorate a White Cloud template that may end up on a White Cloud tissue box.

They've already chosen the top 10 designs for the box and voting is open on the White Cloud facebook page. Like White Cloud on Facebook In order to vote, just 'like' White Cloud on Facebook. Voting App You could vote for one of the entries on Facebook, like this one: 

http://facebook.rockfishinteractive.com/whitecloud/cmn/Content/images/art-small-5.jpg

This design may be my favorite: 

http://facebook.rockfishinteractive.com/whitecloud/cmn/Content/images/art-small-9.jpg

The children aren't just competing for a chance for their drawing to appear on a tissue box; White Cloud will also be donating funds to the hospitals where the winning designers are receiving care. 

What are some ways you give back? Over the holidays, my MOPS group collected coats, blankets, and other household items for needy people in a nearby neighborhood. A church distributed these items free of charge. Our MOPS group received word that the donations went to women and children who were so happy to receive these much-needed items. Our campaign went so well that we are continuing to make donations as a MOPS group all year for this church. 

As a family, we gave money to St. Jude's Ranch for children. A cousin of mine who is young had a friend who recently lost his battle to a rare form of cancer. This young cancer victim had spent time at St. Jude's and so we wanted to remember him and other children who are in poor health over the holidays. 

During the fall, our church organizes a clothing drive for our community. They ask all the members to bring any unneeded or outgrown clothing and shoes. For a month, they advertise to the community that this clothing is free to any who have a need. 

Go see if you have a favorite design & vote for it on the White Cloud Facebook page. You can also follow White Cloud on Twitter. Follow White Cloud on Twitter

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. The Children’s Miracle Network Contest and Sweepstakes are sponsored by Kruger Products (USA), Inc. The Contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, between the ages of 4 and 14, who are eligible patients at one of the 168 participating Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The entry period for the Contest begins on November 29, 2012 and ends on December 28, 2012. The Voter Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, 18 years of age or older. The Voter Sweepstakes begin at 6:00 p.m. ET on January 3, 2013 and end at 11:59 p.m. ET on January 30, 2013. For official rules, visit mywhitecloud.com/tissue-box-contest.

 

Knit Argyle Shirt

Continuing with working through my refashioning pile (see Monday’s post for info on that--items needing an update are falling out of my linen closet on me), I took a stained green shirt and added some embellishment that is boy-worthy.

T-Shirt Update: Bicycle

I am on an upcycling kick.

What I actually mean: the clothes I have stored in our linen closet with the intent to upcycle tumble out on me every time I open the closet. So I have to get started on these projects!

If you are also interested in repurposing clothing, upcycling the worn out shirts, jeans, etc you have been saving, or just making things without spending money, you’re going to love the next few weeks of posts here on Monkey See, Monkey Do! You've already seen the tunic refashion I shared last week. 

No nonsense Tights & Leggings

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of No nonsense for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

No nonsense tights and leggings

I love to wear skirts and dresses in the winter. That means to stay warm, I have to pair my skirt or dress with tights or leggings. I love that adding leggings under a dress or tunic can change the feel of an outfit and make it look more chic and layered. No nonsense leggings are stylish whether you wear them for modesty, warmth or both!

 If you like to make upcycled skirts from t-shirts (there are lots of tutorials for making easy skirts on Monkey See, Monkey Do!), you can wear your handmade items year-round by purchasing some No nonsense legwear to keep you warm. 

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I was asked to create a Polyvore collage showing an outfit with tights. The hardest part was choosing which of the No nonsense produts' colors I should incorperate! No nonsense has a large selection of colors and textures to add a little 'something' to any outfit. I decided on basic black for this set, but I could've used any of their trendy colors.

It's easy to find No nonsense products. I live in a small town and don't have easy local stores except for drug store chains. That's not a problem because food & drug store chains carry No nonsense along with the bigger chain stores.  The No nonsense products are also affordable. It's nice to find a wardrobe update like tights or leggins for just a few dollars. It makes it fun to shop your own closet for fresh combinations to wear with new tights or leggings.  Follow No nonsense on Facebook and Twitter to get the newest news about the brand. 

No nonsense on Facebook

@benononsense

Fashion expert Jill Martin has partnered with No nonsense to help spread the word about affordable No nonsense tights and leggins. Watch the video above for more ideas and information about wearing No nonsense tights and leggings! 

Crocheted Baby Hats

A few weeks ago, I posted some baby bear hats I’d crocheted to donate to the local hospital. I’ve been working on some other hats, too and discovered I really like crocheting. I also made a coffee cuff using this pattern. I don’t really buy a lot of coffee but it seemed like a fun thing to make.

Tunic Refashion

I have a great interest in learning to alter clothing. Refashioning clothing I've obtained for free or at a low cost is a great way to learn.

Before & After: Kitchen Backsplash

My husband is fantastic. Three days before Christmas, he told me that my Christmas gift from him was going to be him installing a backsplash for our kitchen. (And that I would get to help!)  I’d mentioned a few months ago that I thought we should put one in someday. And he remembered! 

Fleece Baby Hat with Bear Ears

My church makes hats that are donated to newborn babies at the local hospital. Many women crochet these hats, which I can {sort of} do.  I liked this hat (which is crocheted) but decided I would get them done faster if I made a sewn version. This tutorial shows how to use my tutorial for making a double layer fleece hat and add ears.