Sunday, March 29, 2009

Spring Break Dollar Store Crafting Challenge

Ok, so, my first college Spring Break has officially come and gone, and what did I do, do you think? If you're thinking Cancun, you'd be VERY wrong. I went home, where I hung out with my family, did some shopping, and of course, did some crafting (and a little bit of homework, too...)

Well, like I said, I was planning on doing the dollar store crafting challenge listed on living with lindsay (link to the challenge in the sidebar...and probably here, too, later, once I get some more work done :) )

Well, I did like I said I would, and here's my entry for the Five Dollar Challenge:
A nice, springy, decorative doormat...after all, what better way is there to welcome spring than by meeting it at the door with a nice welcome mat?
From 2009-03-29 Dollar Store Craft Challenge

I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, and I did it on the cheap, as the challenge specified. My materials were obtained at my local Dollar Tree, and consisted of two coordinating placemats in bright colors/patterns (a nice spring green in my case), a roll of rubber shelf liner, a package of decorative buttons, and a stem of "silk" flowers, all of which are pictured below:
From 2009-03-29 Dollar Store Craft Challenge


After I procured all of my materials, I got my hands dirty with a little floral stem massacre:
From 2009-03-29 Dollar Store Craft Challenge


I also sliced the placemats into three inch strips using my handy-dandy rotary cutter. I ran the strips through my sewing machine, alternating placemats, and when I was done, I had a nice doormat size. That whole process took maybe thirty to forty-five minutes, but could even be faster, as I did it while watching TV.

Once that was done, I ironed out the fabric to make a nice flat doormat. Then I grabbed my needle and thread, and began to sew the buttons and flowers onto the mat where I wanted them. I used a stack of (in this order) 2/3 of a leaf piece, two staggered petal pieces, and finally, the button.

Once everything was all attached, I grabbed my slip-proof shelf lining. I cut a piece to the desired size (In my case, I cut out two pieces for extra padding.) and attached it to the back of the mat. I used hot glue for this, but the mat could just as easily be attached with a needle and thread.

Then, finally, I stood back and admired my handy work. I think it turned out pretty nice for only about an hour and a half of work, and FIVE dollars. Hope you like my mat, and if anyone else tries it, I'd love to see some pictures of your handy work!

Best Wishes,
Kim
(Nerdfighter reference, w00t!)

12 comments:

  1. Now that was thinking outside of the box. What a great idea! It turned out really pretty.

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  2. $5(DT)+E!=QT(pi)

    Nice job, fellow math girl!

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  3. Oh, yeah, my blog is: http://casapetrie.com/blog/

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  4. What a totally creative idea. I love the colors you used. They worked really well together. So bright and springy! Amy :)

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  5. I wish my dollar store had such nice colorful placemats!

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  6. GREAT idea! love it, it turned out so cute!

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  7. I love idea of the flowers on the placemats turned doormat. It does make it look very cheery.

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  8. Oh, wow! What a great idea!! Love it!

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  9. Kim! You have 10 comments! I suggest we read one of John Green's books for recreation. What do you think? Love You, Pam:-)

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  10. That is ADORABLE!!!! I am so making one!!!

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