Showing posts with label create. Show all posts
Showing posts with label create. Show all posts
How To Create Awesome Tie Dye T Shirts
How To Create Awesome Tie Dye T Shirts
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy arts & crafts outdoors. Theres nothing better than to be
outside on a beautiful sunny day, making something creative while at the same time
keeping the mess out of the house! My boyfriend Duane is a tie dye pro, so when he
suggested we get some supplies and plan a day to make our own tie dyed shirts, I couldnt
have been more thrilled. Yay! Sunshine and art and kids and fun!
Collecting our supplies...
First we looked at thrift stores for t-shirts and other things that we might want to dye. I was
looking for a white cotton Boho style skirt. I didnt find one there, but I did find a
Philadelphia Phillies t-shirt for $1. Score! Next we bought a few 100 percent cotton t-shirts
at our local crafts shop for around $3 each, and a few white cotton bandannas.
I also found a lace-edged tank top and a nice silky v-neck top at Target that
I added to my "to-dye" stash, so I would have a little variety in my styles of tie dyed shirts.
I also found a lace-edged tank top and a nice silky v-neck top at Target that
I added to my "to-dye" stash, so I would have a little variety in my styles of tie dyed shirts.
For dyes, we bought a multi-pack that contained 12 plastic bottles that already had the dyes
in powdered form inside of each bottle. Since there were going to be five of us making
shirts (us along with our kids), we figured the big set with 12 colors was the way to go. The
dye kit contained 12 plastic bottles with one color of powdered dye already in each bottle, so
all we had to do was add water to the bottles and shake them up. The kit came with
a plastic table cover, but you can use any kind of plastic drop cloth or old plastic tablecloth
to protect your work space. The kit also contained a few pairs of plastic gloves, rubber bands
to "tie" our shirts up with, and some general instructions for how to prepare the dyes and
make a few different designs. We purchased a box of soda ash mix separately (in the craft
store where the tie dyes are located) and used our own plastic bucket to mix that up
according to the package directions. The first thing we did before we started was soak all of
our t-shirts in the soda ash and water mix for 20 minutes. The soda ash helps the dye
adhere to the shirt better and is supposed to help the dyes stay nice and bright. Check it out!
Soaking our shirts in soda ash and water - we had a lot of shirts and they soaked up all
of the water! We actually had to use two separate buckets. Next time if we again dye
a lot of shirts, we will have to use two boxes of soda ash.
a lot of shirts, we will have to use two boxes of soda ash.
Our work surface, an outdoor table covered with a plastic table cover, gloves,
and our directions.
Each bottle contained powdered dye in a squirt bottle. All we had to do was measure water
and add it to each dye bottle, and then shake them up until all of the dyes were dissolved.
Easy!
and add it to each dye bottle, and then shake them up until all of the dyes were dissolved.
Easy!
Duane shows how two spiral designs are created. He pinched the material in two places
with his thumbs and index fingers, and then twisted the material...
...and kept twisting until the material by turning his fingers until the material was all bunched up...
...and then he secured it or "tied" it, with rubber bands to keep the material bunched up.
Next comes the dye! You just squeeze it from the squirt bottle onto the fabric, saturating
the fabric. Once we had the dyes on, we set them aside on the grass for a couple of hours
so that the dye could soak into the fabric and really permeate it. If you look closely at this
photo you can see how his two spirals look like circles. You apply the dye in a wedge shape
or in a line through the perimeter of the spirals or "circles" to achieve the finished spiral tie
dye design (see below).
The end result!
To do a striped dye design with vertical or horizontal stripes, this bandanna was
folded lengthwise in an accordion or fan fold technique...
...and then she applied her chosen dye colors, one next to the other. Dont forget to wear gloves!
The end result
This shirt was made with same pattern technique.
Sorry for the blurry photo! This random dot shirt turned out great! To make this,
she just applied random drops of dye to the shirt and then laid it flat - no tying!
After a sitting for a while, the dye spreads out and blossoms.
The end result!
Deciding what colors to choose...there are so many possible combinations!
A t-shirt twisted into a spiral, ready to be tied with rubber bands and dyed!
Tying the t-shirt up with rubber bands before applying dyes. You dont have to tie the shirts
with rubber bands, but they will help the shirt to keep its shape.
Duanes shirt...he used green and blue and applied them in a wedge shape,
and then added a little yellow and just a couple drops of purple...wait till you see this one...
Awesome! To create this design, he twisted one spiral, beginning in the center
of the shirt.
We laid our shirts on the grass to give the dye some time to seep in and works its magic.
After an hour or two, we removed the rubber bands, opened up the shirts, and then laid
How To Create Awesome Tie Dye T Shirts
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How To Create Awesome Tie Dye T Shirts
Create Your Own Magazine With Flipboard!
Create Your Own Magazine With Flipboard!
Ill be the first to admit, Im an infoholic. I love reading, I love research, and I love that we are so fortunate to have the internet as a tool that offers us the ability to access information on any topic we can imagine - literally at our fingertips.
But for anyone who has ever looked up information on a specific topic on the internet, you will find that there are often too many search results that are not what you were looking for, or information that is inaccurate, and sometimes even articles that are poorly written. When I want to read about something, I want well written, factual content that comes from a reputable source. Cue: Flipboard!
You can do so much with Flipboard!
Whats it all about? The attraction of Flipboard is two-fold. First, its an awesome tool that is all about finding and collecting content that you love. You can "follow" just about any topic you are passionate about, and Flipboard presents that content to you in a beautiful, organized, and easy-to-read Flipboard magazine. You can use Flipboard on your desktop or on your mobile device with the Flipboard app, so you can take that content with you wherever you go, and read it whenever you like. Flipboard is the one place for all your interests!
Here are a few of the topics I am following:
Once you start choosing some topics of interest to follow on Flipboard, it will offer you suggestions of related topics that you might be interested in. There are more than 25 million Flipboard Magazines on just about any topic you can imagine!
Here are two screen shots of some of the topics I am following:
This is what my main page "feed" looks like when I open it up on my phone:
Additionally (and this is the really cool part!) Flipboard gives you the ability to share your own content from your blog or website as well, giving your content an entirely new audience. Not only that, but everything is easily organized in an attractive Flipboard Magazine that can then be shared socially with friends and followers. "Flip", discover, share, and collect the stories you care about. Check it out !
Here is a screenshot of my Flipboard with five Flipboard Magazines I created using my own content from my blog:
Here is a screenshot of my Flipboard with five Flipboard Magazines I created using my own content from my blog:
Check out the magazines that I created with Flipboard!
Thats another one of the things I love about Flipboard - its beautiful! Flipboard Magazines are stylish and attractive. When you create a Flipboard Magazine, you are creating a visually stunning package of content. So not only does Flipboard give you one place to collect and share articles, blog posts and information, it allows you to add and share your own perspective on whatever it is that you are passionate about and then share it all - all in one beautiful package. Imagine sharing the things that inspire you with friends, followers, and customers. What an amazing resource! Here is a closer look at my "Craft Tutorials" Flipboard magazine:
Craft Tutorials magazine cover
Title page for article "How To Create Awesome Tie Dye T-Shirts"
Two example pages from article "How To Create Awesome Tie Dye T-Shirts"
View my Flipboard Magazine.Looking for a memorable present for your loved ones this holiday season? Give them Gift of Flipboard!
Choose from a range of 21 special pre-configured packages that cover a wide range of topics. From travelers to tech enthusiast, Flipboard is sure to have something for everyone!
Your Flipboard recipient can fill their feed with more of what you love by clicking the “Get More” button at the bottom of the app. Find out more information about the Gift of Flipboard here.
Here is one that I will be gifting this year!
Create Your Own Magazine With Flipboard!
How To Create The Perfect Meditation Space In Your Home
How To Create The Perfect Meditation Space In Your Home
But things that are tightly wound need to unwind, and even though there are a myriad of medications that you can take to help with anxiety, anyone who suffers from anxiety should know first and foremost any med-free ways that they could possibly help themselves. Deep breathing and meditation are two perfect examples. I probably could write forever about this topic (and I will probably write more about it in the future), but Im going to get to the topic of this post, which is how meditation can be beneficial to you, and how to create the perfect meditation space in your home.
The amazing thing about meditation is that it is for everyone. Anyone can benefit from meditation, no matter who you are, no matter your age, or what type of work you do, none of that matters. Meditation is for everyone.
"You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day, unless youre too busy; then you should sit for an hour."
- Old Zen saying
One thing thats great about meditation is that you cant fail at it. If you find your mind wandering to that grocery list, just try to refocus and get yourself back on track. Dont worry about messing up. Results are nearly instant. You should notice a difference pretty soon after you start meditating. Within a few weeks you may notice that you are calmer, you have more energy and greater clarity, and have better control over your thoughts and emotional responses. In your everyday life you may notice decreased anxiety as well as sharper thinking skills.
First and foremost, meditation should be accessible. There are great pros to setting up a meditation space in your home, but keep in mind that you dont want to create a barrier (too much of an attachment to one space) which could deter you from meditating anywhere besides your meditation space. On a beautiful warm day, meditate in a park, the forest, or your own backyard. Keep meditation accessible. But today we are going to start with creating a little meditation space in your own home to get you started. Once you are in the habit of meditating and become more skilled in your meditative practices you may then want to try meditating outside and in places other than your home.
What is a meditation space?
A meditation space is an area in your home where you will meditate. Pick a spot that is quiet and peaceful, and that you can personalize.
Do you need "things" with you to meditate? Absolutely not. All you need to meditate is yourself. As a matter of fact, too many objects can be distracting. But having a special spot, especially when starting out, can be inspiring for you and can give you that encouraging little nudge to make meditation a daily habit. A meditation space serves as a sanctuary, an inspiring reminder that meditation is a part of your daily life, and creating a space that is purposefully peaceful, comforting and relaxing can make your meditative practice even more enjoyable.
Check out these inspiring ideas, and use them for springboard to create your own peaceful meditation space. (click each photo for original source)
Mat, candles, mirror, plants...this looks like a tidy personal space
A cozy & colorful outdoor patio space
A peaceful companion - koi in a large jug with aquatic plants and river stones
Pillows and that window!
Peaceful candles glow
A breezy and open area with lots of plants
I love the scarves, curtains, and lights. This is a truly personal space!
Cozy and moody
Colorful bohemian style
Remember, there are no rules except for the ones that you create yourself! Here are some items that you may want to consider including in your space:
- A cushion
- A mat or rug
- Something from nature; plants, stones, crystals, sand, pinecones, etc.
- Candles
- Incense
Enjoy your day!
Love,
Laura
My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns
How To Create The Perfect Meditation Space In Your Home