Happy Giveaway Day!

That's Right...Step right up folks. One and all! It's Pure and Noble's first GIVEAWAY! What's the prize you ask? Remember this?

inside

Rules - there are always rules! No worries. It's easy, simply leave a comment below! Please note that all persons entering must be a follower of Pure and Noble. Not a follower yet? Sign up now and then leave a comment.

We will draw the winner Monday evening! So get your comment in by 12:00 noon Monday. Ohhhh gosh, this is so exciting! xo

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Fabric Scraps

When I hear the word "scraps" I think of the left over food on the table that gets thrown into dog bowls. Yuck. But fabric scraps well, that's a different story! Just hop on over to any craft or quilt blog and you'll find a million and one things to do with fabric scraps. You know, the little bits that usually get tossed in the trash once you've finished cutting out the pieces for the big project you're working on. (I think I may have a touch of hoarding in me because I find it so difficult to throw out even the tiniest pieces of fabric left behind. But, because I love our small house and my husband, I'm getting much better at it.) Before you go tossing out your "scraps" take a look what others are making:

headbands a la yellowsongbird (and the cute little decorative clothespins you see below)

headbands

quilts

big and small - intricate and simplistic

birds

diy

cool t-shirts and onesies

onesie

appliques anywhere

red giraffe

garland/bunting

party!

pillows

(everything by) dottieangel

"wallpaper"

sliding door

What do you do with your scraps? After looking at all the lovely things that can be made with my "left-overs" I'm kind of thinking they are worth much more than the cents I think I'm tossing. xo

Around the House: Homemade Cleaners

Hello! Grab your craft supplies and plug in your sewing machines... it's DIY week here at Pure and Noble! I thought we'd kick off our week by rolling up our sleeves and making our own household cleaners. They won't harm you, your family, the environment or your pocketbook. That right there my friends is a win, win, win, win.

Before getting started I feel it should be said that I don't really care for cleaning. But I love, love, love the end result. It may sound silly, but after I've given my home a good scrub there's nothing I like better than to light a candle and watch a movie. A clean home gives me a warm cozy feeling that I just hate to leave - hence the movie.  The movie also allows me to kick up my heels and enjoy the fruits of my labor. (I should also give props where they are due... I don't do toilets. My husband does those and I am eternally grateful.)

My Mother-in-law clips out coupons for me and occasionally I get a couple of interesting articles as well. Most recently I received one on "Green Cleaning" from the Fort Worth Star Telegram. They shared several recipes and did a little Q&A on the basics of "green cleaning." I won't bore you with that here... I'm just going to skip to the good stuff and give you the recipes.

All-purpose cleaner

2 cups white distilled vinegar

2 cups water

20-30 drops essential oil (optional)

Pour in a spray bottle. Shake before using. For really tough jobs, put in a glass container and warm until barely hot.

Creamy soft scrub

2 cups baking soda

1/2 cup liquid castile soap

4 tablespoons vegetable glycerin

5 drops anti-bacterial essential oil such as lavender, tea tree or rosemary.

Mix and store in a sealed glass jar. Shelf life: two years.

Furniture polish

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup white distilled vinegar

20-30 drops lemon essential oil

Shake well. Dip a clean, dry cloth into polish and rub wood in direction of the grain.

Drain opener

1/2 cup baking soda

1/2 cup vinegar

Pour baking soda down drain and follow with vinegar. Cover and let sit for at least 30 minutes. Flush with boiling water.

Laundry detergent

1 cup soap flakes

1/2 cup washing soda

1/2 cup borax

Grate pure vegetable soap to make soap flakes. Mix ingredients and store in a glass container. Use 1 tablespoon per load in warm or cold water.

Who knew it could be so easy? I used Jasmine oil for the all-purpose cleaner and LOVE the way it smells. In fact, I think I may have just found my new perfume with a stellar price tag - $7.99 at Whole Foods. Is it weird to smell like your household cleaner?


Anyway, while we're talking cleaning, did you know that Borax is cheap and super versatile? The box lists all kinds of cool things you can do with it. But the best part of Borax is Gak. Yup, I said, "Gak!" It's a kid thing that started from the Dr. Seuss story Bartholomew and the Oobleck. Some people call it "oobleck" but my kiddos know it as "Gak" and love it. It provides hours of fun and you can make it whatever color they want! It's gooey and cold too, which is nice during the Summer. Here's the recipe.

TIP: tape your recipe onto your box so you don't lose it.

Dr. Seuss

GAK
(Part A)
2cups Elmer's glue
1 1/2 cups water
Food Coloring
(Part B)
1 cup hot water
3 tsp. Borax


Mix part A ingredients in bowl or tall plastic storage container with lid. Mix part B ingredients in a bowl until Borax has fully dissolved (or Gak will not solidify properly). Pour part B into  part A and knead until mixture starts to congeal and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Cover and let sit overnight. Use just like Playdough.
TIP: have toddlers knead Gak in a plastic zip-loc bag so they don't try to eat it. (Mine has never tried this, but he doesn't usually put things into his mouth either.)


Do use homemade cleaners already and have a favorite recipe? If so, I'd love to hear from you. I hope you've enjoyed today's little DIY for your home. Come back tomorrow - I have the cutest handbag DIY ever! Promise. xo

Red, White and Blue

usa

Sunday is a holiday in the States. Fourth of July means a lot to some and hot dogs for many. It's our Independence Day. An independence that many gave their lives for and a freedom that I hope I never take for granted.  Many celebrate with fireworks, friends and family, parades, hot dogs and ice cream. Me and mine will be sunning it up at my sister's lake house. I'll be taking off Monday, so until then I have a few 4th of July memories that I thought I'd share with you.

Sitting on the front porch of my Nana and Papa's farm house with my cousins all taking turns churning our ice cream maker. That was quite possibly the best vanilla ice cream ever!

ice cream maker

My oldest's umbilical cord stump fell of on 4th of July. I know it's gross, but I cried because it was his "independence day..." Pathetic, but I'll never forget it.

My husband asking me to marry him twice on Independence Day - once with a plastic flag ring from a cupcake on our first date and the second time a year later with a rhinestone flag ring, followed by the real deal and over 150 candles. (It was hot in more ways than one and both flag rings are still sitting in my jewelry box.)

pinwheels

However you celebrate it, I hope your 4th is a blast! Oh, and I have a HUGE guest stopping by for a little post on Tuesday - you won't want to miss it. xo

A Very Big "I DO!"

That's Kim. She's been my best girlfriend for over 15 years now. Over time we've grown a lot; sometimes choosing the same path and other times choosing completely different ones. But we have always managed to stay "together" if you will. Something you should know about Kim because you sure as heck can't tell it from the photo above... she's old! (Ha ha ha, just kidding Kim.) Her nickname is "Granny," but for different reasons. A couple of years ago, she finally met the man of her dreams and in August, she'll say, "I do" to that lucky guy.  His name is Drew. He jokes, "I can't believe Kim was a Granny before she became a Mom."

Because I have known Kim for so long, we have often talked about weddings and the like. She was my Maid of Honor and now I am one of her Bridesmaids. Here's the sad part for me, she lives in Austin which is three hours away. This leaves me longing to be more involved in the wedding planning and all the activities that go along with it. Lucky for me, I have a blog! So, I thought I'd share some of my ideas for Kim's wedding with all of you, as if I were the Wedding Planner.

Here's what I know so far: 

The wedding will be held mid-morning in Kim's Mom's backyard that overlooks the Austin Hill Country... it's lovely. The color scheme is Coral and Lavendar. The eats will be yummy Texas bar-b-que. The dress has been purchased and it's a beautiful tea-length stunner.

my fabric choices for flower wraps, napkins, garland and table-covers

flowers in fabric adorned mason jars will hang from the trees along with floral garland

clipboards (with pics, art and love notes) and mason jars filled with candles will adorn the back fence behind the seating

Texas bar-b-que will be served on a table like this (chalkboards, flowers, pics and garland)

or like this (aren't the wooden drawers to die for?)

this print will be framed (without glass), propped on an easel, with silver sharpies for guests to sign

guests will have their photos taken in a hanging frame (love this!)

Willy Wonka candy will be served alongside cupcakes (I call the groom Willy Wonka)

cupcakes from Hey Cupcake! will be adorned with sweet little handmade flags

attendees will enjoy music, laughter and handmade favors (I'm thinking lavender.)

But this is all my vision. I think I may need to recite my vows soon! xo

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Reclaimed Wood

coffee table

When I first asked my mother-in-law where she thought I could get some old wood pallets she looked at me like I was crazy! But I have wanted to build a daybed for my back patio out of pallets ever since I saw the image below. One word - Breathtaking.

daybed

bed

It's hard to believe that so much beauty can be made from reclaimed wood and old wood pallets. I did a little dumpster diving for a pallet that was later broken apart to create a wall tree turned coat rack for a friend's little girl. But seeing all of these images, I want to get my hand on more and begin creating.  I love how imaginative people can be with the resources they have lying around. 

dining table (diy found within the link too)

shelf

walls/magazine holder

bookcase

daybed

"after" beds with headboards

Ok, help me. I'm drooling. There's so much charm to be found in the recycling of old things. Don't you think? xo

Safety Sidenote: Sometimes the crafts we do and the things that inspire us aren't as safe as we would like them to be. We do live in a fallen world. Please read this article and craft with pallets at your own risk. Above all else, the safety of family takes top priority. There's a lot of information on the web - Pure and Noble is still learning and growing.

Not Your Granny's Embroidery

via candy mandy

While doing a little research on embroidery hoops for a Wednesday Reduce, Reuse, Recycle post I came across a ton of cute and really funny embroidery pieces. I'll show you the hoops next week. Until then... Enjoy!

via planet coco

via meezi

1. bike, 2. dachshund, 3. stripes, 4. paint by numbers

This makes me laugh - a LOT! via xperimentl

I love a good stache. via good gorilla 

via good gorilla

Here's to all you handmade heroes and the countless hours you put into making your masterpieces! Happy Weekend! xo

DIY: Tissue Box Cover

Not that I have anything against Target or their tissues (I really do love them - great quality), but how is it possible that so many designers can come up with great prints and patterns and NONE of them end up on tissue boxes? This is what we get:

A generic print in generic colors. I know, they're trying to appeal to the masses, but can we get some options here? It seems like a silly thing to get worked up over, but every tree and flower is blooming and budding here in Dallas and I  have a tissue box in almost every room. Allergies!

Dallas Arboretum last weekend

I love the flowers and the warm weather; I just want my tissue boxes to be as nice to look at as the flowers outside. All of this sparked a desire to make my first ever tissue box cover. Remember the crafty ones from the 70's? Total greatness. Here is my first attempt at a tissue box cover of my own with instructions for those of you who would like to try this as well.

First up - choose your fabric, measure your tissue box and add a half inch to each side for seam allowance. Once you have your measurements, make your outlines on your fabric (I always use any marker handy, but chalk or the fabric markers that become invisible are also great) and cut out your pieces.

-You should have 4 pieces for your sides (4 all measuring the same or 2 small and 2 long depending on the tissue box) and 2 for your top panel. You need 2 for the top panel to create the opening for your tissue to be dispensed. *When adding seam allowance for the top panel, make sure to add an extra inch in width because you will be cutting it in half.

-Sew your 2 pieces for the top panel together first (right side to right side) keeping an opening in the center long enough for the tissues to come out. 

-Press open.

-You'll want to sew along the edges around the tissue opening for wear and tear and to create a nice finish. I "stitched in the ditch" (a phrase used to mean to seam of the panels) at the start and end and gradually moved the stitch as close to the edge of the opening as possible. I know I suck as describing this. Hopefully the picture will explain this better than my words!

-Next, sew all four panels on right side to right side. Remember to start and finish your seams 1/4 to 1/2 and inch away from the edge of the fabric. This makes it a ton easier to turn your panels while sewing them all together.

-Press all yours seams for cleaner, sharper lines.

-Once your edges are all sewn and you've pressed all of your seams, your tissue box cover should look like this. (see above)

-Finally, press your raw edge at the bottom all the way around and stitch to finish. I used a straight stitch and a zig zag because I sadly do not own a serger and forgot to add enough length to my side panels to turn them under twice!  Hey, at least I'm honest about my hack jobs right?

Tada! Not bad for my first attempt, huh? I like how the faux wood knot looks like a Praying Mantis. Ha ha ha! This was so easy and fast that I am going to make covers for all of my rectangular tissue boxes and start adding some appliques too! Send me pictures if you decide to make some of your own. I'd love to see them! xo

PS - I wrote this past 2 days ago and found this yesterday on Design*Sponge. Great minds think alike? Her sewing and directions are way better than mine!  I am quite a sewing hack!