Friday, June 8, 2012

Patriotic Trash to Treasure

I so hope everyone is in a patriotic mood because I am on a roll!  I made this fabric ball in less than 30 minutes out of something I had in my hand and was about to throw in the trash!
Pin It
This is the first fabric ball I've ever made and I sure hadn't planned on it.  I was getting ready to create another project and it required straight pins.  Now I had received a brand new handmade pin cushion from my friend Loy in the Package Pal Exchange and I decided now was the time to use it.  So I got out my old pin cushion and transferred the pins to my new cushion.
Isn't that cute green pin cushion much better than that old tomato one left-over from high school home-ec class???!!!  So after I got all of the pins out of it I was just about to put it in the trash when, well you guys are crafters, so you know........I asked myself "Can I make a craft out of this?"  I turned it over in my hand a couple of times and it hit me.....it's a great base for a fabric ball!  Sooooooo...
I went to my fabric drawer to see what kind of red, white and blue fabric I might have and look what I found:
I bought this fabric at least 13 years ago from Ben Franklin's in Montana.  (I don't even remember what I bought it for, but I never used any of it!)  I made some 1" snips in each piece and ripped them into strips.  This was super fast, maybe took me 4 or 5 minutes to do all of these:
Now I already know that I have way more than I need for this little ball, but I also have another project in mind that uses fabric strips so I made extra.  Now all I had to do was grab my ball, wrap a strip around it it, pin it with a straight pin and cut off the excess.  This took all of like 5 minutes.
Now all I needed was something to finish off the top.  I went to my old stash of fabric stars.  I just used some of these on my wreath I showed you the other day.  They are just made from fabric that I covered with mod podge and then cut out.  You can read about this technique HERE.
Now of course, you probably don't have a stash of stars, but you could use anything really, a button, a bead, a circle of  fabric or felt.  But I used a star and a bead and fastened it with a straight pin.
Didn't that turn out just too cute?  I have to say that like my wreath, because it's all pinned and no glue, I can take it apart in about 1 minute and use that ugly tomato pin cushion for another seasonal fabric ball.  I'm thinking Halloween would be fun or maybe Christmas.  I'm so glad I didn't throw it in the trash.  It's perfect sitting on top of that old electrical insulator up on my fantel with my patriotic wreath and that other thing I made today...which I'll show you tomorrow.
Now if I could just stop whistling Yankee Doodle Dandy........

Linking Up to these great parties:
TutusandTeaParties



23 comments:

  1. How adorable. I love that you were able to re-purpose your pin cushion. I can't wait to see what you make with the rest of the scraps!

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  2. What a great idea! Are you getting afraid to through anything out? What if inspiration hits? lol ~ Maureen

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  3. Replies
    1. And thanks for linking up to the All Star Block Party!

      Holly

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  4. I love that you can revamp it with minimal effort as well because it's pinned. That's just brilliant.

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  5. I'm w/ Terry again on this one!!! BRILLIANT. I love it!!!

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  6. That is fantastic Danni - and you have given me a great idea - I have some polystyrene balls I was going to throw out...and I have some beachy fabric - I'm so excited now... thanks hun xxx

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  7. Love this! I have to go rummage through my fabric scrap pile! Thank you for entering in the Craftastic Competition.

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  8. A bowl full of those would be So cute!! Great job Danni!
    <3 Christina
    http://igottacreate.blogspot.com

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  9. Wow you are going to be so ready for the 4th of July. Such a clever idea. Now you have me buying Mod Podge to make some fabric cut outs. Sure would like to come play with you. Can't wait to see your next project.

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  10. Repurposing and stash busting all in one project??? Be still my heart!Not to mention it's seriously cute. What a great start to your holiday decor!

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  11. Wow, this is so great! Terrific upcycle & super simple!

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  12. This turned out so cute! Great way to re-use your trusty little tomato :) Thanks so much for sharing this at the {what's shakin' link party} this week!

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  13. What a fun idea! I have a sudden urge to make a whole bowl of them!

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  14. Adorable and what a great fun idea. Great way to recycle. Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration with Sunday's Best!

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  15. Absolutely adorable, I have some fabric strips lying around I think I'll have to do this tomorrow!

    Happy to be your newest follower from the blog hop!

    Hope you get a chance to check out my blog :)

    xo, Jersey Girl

    hairsprayandhighheels.blogspot.com

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  16. Had to feature you on Facebook tonight!
    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Igottacreate/100573240032625?sk=wall
    Thanks again for linking up!
    <3 Christina

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  17. Great ideas! Love that you used what you already had for this project and for the wreath! So clever!

    --Katie

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  18. So clever!! I love that it is pinned in place ready to be changed out for the next holiday. I have been on a huge 4th of July kick too.:) Thanks for partying with us girlie!:)

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  19. Great idea, I'd have never thought of that, but it's perfect! Thanks for sharing the how-to!
    I'm stopping by from the Craftastic Competition, thank you for entering.
    -Molly
    www.justalittlecreativity.com

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  20. Well how darn cute is that!

    ~Bliss~

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