Camera Strap Cover Sewing Tutorial

Have you seen all the great camera straps made out of fun fabrics? You can find them in the camera stores, or online, but why not make one yourself? You don't have to be an advance seamstress to make one. I am going to give you easy step by step directions on how to design and make your own.
First, select the fabric that you want. You can find some great fabrics at Hobby Lobby, Joann's, or a local quilting shop. I also found some great ribbon to use as an accent on the strap. You can choose to add this, or leave it off. The choice is completely yours :).

Supplies needed: 1/4 yard of fabric, ribbon(if you want), thread to match your fabric, scissors, and a sewing machine.

First start by measuring your camera strap. My strap measured 25 inches, this only included the thick part of the strap. I have a Cannon Rebel. Make sure you cut an extra 1/2 an inch for the seam. The width is 3 inches. So you will need 2 pieces that are 25.5 inches in length and 3 inches in width.

If you are going to add the ribbon then cut that piece 25.5 inches. Once everything is cut, I then sewed the ribbon on one of the pieces of the polka dot fabric. You only need to do this on one of the pieces.

Next step is to fold over the hems on each end and sew them. This way you will have a nice finished end.

Once you have finished the seams on either end, then you can start to sew the two pieces together. Then you will turn the pieces that you have sewn together inside out. And voila, you have you finished product!

Feed the new strap over top of the old one, and you will have a new fun look!

This project took me about 30 mins to complete, and I am so happy with the outcome. You can really get creative with this and make one for each of the seasons, or to match your mood! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you find yourself making one soon!

XO~Gretchen

Aspire banner

So since I decided on my word of the year, I wanted to make a banner to hang in my studio space. I wanted to create something bright and cheery. I went to Hobby Lobby and found all the fabrics that I needed to make my banner.

They have a great selection, and some of them were on sale. Per usual, I bough a little extra, but I have another project in the works that I'll be blogging about soon. Don't you love that pink burlap? I just cut out a large triangle out of the pink burlap. The burlap will frey, so just be sure to clean up the edges before you finish.

Since I have been drawing block letters by hand since I was in grade school, I felt pretty comfortable tracing out the letters. I then cut them out by hand. You could always use a letter stencil, and trace them if you want. Or you may want to use your Cricut to cut out the letters, and use some pretty paper.

I then got out my handy glue gun, and glued each of the letters on the burlap pieces.

Then I used some aqua and white bakers twine to string them together.

And here is the end result hanging in my studio space.

I hung it on my gallery wall. I had to wait until the hubs got home to hang it a little higher. ;)

I love my gallery wall, it's filled with items I have created and collected.

This projected was completed in about 45 mins. It's really easy to assemble, and you could pick whatever word or phrase you want. I think I am going to make one for Valentines Day, and maybe use the word LOVE!

Hope you feel inspired to create something for your home.

XO~Gretchen

Word for 2013

So for weeks I have been pondering over what my word for 2013 will be. This is the first time I have ever selected a "word of the year" for myself, so I wanted to make sure that it was going to be something that I could live with for the whole year. I kept looking for a word that would describe changing my attitude from a half glass empty, to a glass half full kinda person. I want to work at that, plus be more organized, a better wife and mother, go to church more often, volunteer more, work harder at growing the LuluBelles business, work out on a regular basis, don't drink as many caffeine free sodas, eat healthier meals, cook dinner more often, craft and blog more, and the list goes on...... So a light bulb finally went off in my brain, and I thought, "I ASPIRE to do all these things." There you have it, my word for 2013. I figured if I put it out there in the universe via my blog, it would help me to stick to it. I actually like choosing a word, verses a resolution because it seems as though I am working towards something, not just setting myself up for failure. So what will your word be for 2013? I'd love for you to share by leaving a comment. Hope you have a wonderful start to 2013! PS, this is my photo I took while up in NY this past Spring at a BYW Workshop!
XO~Gretchen