Crafting "Bug"!

Lately, it seems like the 'crafting bug' has hit me super hard. 

I blame pinterest.

But its a good thing!!!  I've been so super inspired with ideas and the like I feel like things around here are slowly transforming!  That is, that my hoard of craft supplies (anyone else belong to this 'club'?) is finally getting put to good use. 

I bought some charcoal gray stretch fabric at Walmart a few weeks back for a buck a yard.  I bought 3 yards, having no idea what I'd use it for. Hey..it was a good buy AND it was stretch fabric.  The thoughts of maxi dresses, swaying skirts, and toddler yoga pants danced through my head.

But not a shirt.

I don't think I've ever fashioned a shirt before.  But after a night on pinterest and seeing 'supposidly' oh-so-simple diy dresses, I had out my favorite shirt and got inspired.  My mom (well..I picked it out) bought it for me at Target for Christmas and I love, love, love the way it fits me.  It hids my scar on my chest and is a flattering cut all around.  I got it out..and saw how easy it would seem to be to make a shirt just like this one.

So out the charcoal gray fabric came..I layed it flat (doubled over so I wouldn't have to cut twice), laid my favorite shirt on top..and cut..leaving about an inch all around for hemming purposes.  After about 30 minutes on the machine, I had a new top..that fits perfect!!!!!  When I wore it yesterday, my mom asked me where I bought it..and when I told her I'd made it she implyed that I should start a line at Target called the "Melanie Green Collection"..HA! 

I'm going to make another one too..I found some super cute stretch fabric at Hobby Lobby the other night that would make a really pretty top (think hot pink/black/and white print).

I had also been in the process of redoing our lamps.  We got them as a wedding gift (so they've been around for a while!) and while very functional, just not my 'taste'.  They were glass with gold trim on the base with standard white shades.  Can we say 'boring'? 

After looking for some funky 'old' lamps at the ReStore and Goodwill and coming up empty, I decided to repurpose the ones I already had with some spray paint and fabric.  Again, something I had never done was re-do a lamp shade.  But let me tell you, if I can do this, so can you! It was sooo easy!

First I made a template using Christmas wrapping paper (because its nice and wide and we usually have tons to spare) and traced the lamp shades using a process I'd seen on pinterest (if you'd like the link, I'd be happy to give it to you!)..its super easy but basically what you do is lay the shade on its side, mark your starting point, and trace the edges of the shade while rolling it along the paper.  Then I just cut the fabric out using the template. 



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For the bases of the lamps, I painted them a base coat of chocolate brown and after that dried, I used this new paint I found called "Stone" by Rust-oleum in a brown color as well.  I found its definately better to paint whatever your redoing a base color because this stone paint in itself will not cover very well.  I topped it off with a clear coat to set everything. 

The shades were covered with the fabric using elmer's spray adhesive.  And this is the final result..man are they stunning!!

And while this is totally letting the cat out of the bag, I must share this final project with you guys as well since I was going to anyways sooner or later (this is just sooner)..but I made some really cute headbands for my blog friend Callie's sweet baby girl Gwen with some felt flowers I made (I learned how to do these a little while back and just can't stop making them!!).  If your reading this Callie, I hope you like them!  I have yet to send out the little care package I whipped up for her but its to go out in a day or two since I just got it wrapped up and addressed this afternoon!

So thats what I've been up to around here lately..what projects have you been working on lately?