handmade gifts: part 3

::tree pillow

 This tree pillow was made for my best friend Kelly-Jo. We have had numerous conversations about how much we love trees...we are drawn to them - maybe growing up in the Pacific Northwest has something to do with it.

::recycle shirt

 

Kelly's husband Michael (Michael Recycle! as my boys call him - yes, he does own the book) was the recipient of this shirt.  He is in the recycled goods business, and is always giving us all kinds of treasures (clothing, fabric, and more), so this gift seemed fitting for him!

I used reverse applique to create the design (also seen here and here).

green birthday gift

 

 

 

 

sandwich wrap with serged edges

My nephew is turning 6, and his mom asked if I would make reusable snack bags and a sandwich wrap for him, and of course I was delighted! For this set I decided to add a little reverse applique and stamped lettering on the outside of the bags and the sandwich wrap. On the inside, I stenciled a piece of bread to illustrate how to use the wrap, and used a gallon size Ziploc bag (cut apart) on the inside.  These are super fast and easy refashions made from an old shirt (blue) and linen from my scrap bin.   

We have a number of these around our house and they get used all the time (see more here and here).  After a few uses I just throw them in the wash and hang them to dry.  

These are on the top of my stocking stuffer list this year!

reusable lunch bag

 

 

I just love the idea of reusable lunch bags, along with teaching my little ones how to be less wasteful.  This lunch kit (bag, snack baggies, and sandwich wrap) is for my oldest son who is attending preschool this year.

Thanks to my wonderful friends Kelly and Michael, who have generously given me a ton of thrifted fabric, I was able to make this whole lunch set for just pennies!

(I apologize for the terrible pictures)

embellished shirt

Total Cost: $2 (2 thrifted shirts, paint, and thread)

This thrifted shirt was embellished using the reverse applique technique from this book. The green background was also a thrifted shirt that I cut to fit the design.

Hello!

My first post for Wardrobe Refashion:

Total Cost: $2

I purchased this skirt for $1 from my favorite thrift store. It was just too long and ruffled for my liking, so I removed the ruffle at the bottom. The edges of the skirt were already raw, making this refashion super fast and easy (under 10 minutes!) For the lining, I serged the hem and left about 1/4 in. peaking out . The black shirt in the "after" photo was purchased from the same thrift store for $1.

Total cost: $1

These shorts (3T) are made from a thrifted shirt using my own pattern. One sleeve was used as a side pocket for the shorts. I have several more of these in the works for this summer!

Total Cost: Free
(old shirt, paint, thread from my stash)

This is a shirt I just finished for my Hubby! I used the reverse applique technique from this book. The "recycle" image is first painted on using a stencil, and then a second piece of jersey fabric is pined to the back. Then it is hand stitched around the edge of the entire "recycle" image. When finished, the center is cut out, revealing the background fabric. (It is hard to see in this picture because the background fabric is black too. )