Reusable Swiffer Pad Tutorial

As I had mentioned before, I love my Swiffer Wet Jet, but really suck 

at keeping the soap and pad refills on hand.

So, after my success refilling my Lysol Soap Dispenser and Swiffer Bottle

from THIS post, I knew I needed Swiffer Pads.

After looking around online for a bit, I came up with the style above.

It is super simple, 4 pieces, and cost $1 for 2 pads.

Yeah, I did use the sewing machine, but it doesn't have to be perfect.

AND

If you can sew a basic line, believe me, you can do it too!

The Details

First, I picked up an auto Shammy (or Chamois) cloth from the dollar store.

Cut the cloth base to the same size as your Swiffer Wet Jet.

Next, cut 3 strips, 2 inches wide and the length of the base pad.

Take the 3 strips and position them on the base.

One in the middle and one on either side.

Then sew them to the base by sewing right down the middle of each strip.

Now take your scissors and make a snip every inch down both sides of each strip.

Feel free to fluff them up.  :)

The shammy material adheres to the velcro on the bottom of the Swiffer Wet Jet.

You don't need to sew pocket or anything!

Isn't that great!

I told you it was simple!

You can now Swiffer and then toss these guys right into the washing machine.

Make a bunch and you will always have a fresh pad ready.

I was again inspired to mop every hard surface in the house tonight.

I must really like this project. 

I had no issues with the cloth moving or slipping.

Hope you like it too!

XOXO,

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Tuesday - Tip Junkie * Sugarbee Crafts * Funky Polkadot Giraffe * My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia * Crafty Confessions * Home Stories A to Z * Homework * Not Just a Housewife * Project Queen *A Diamond in the Stuff * Cherished Bliss * Blackberry Vine * Uncommon * The Southern Product Queen

Wednesday - Someday Crafts *Sew Much Ado * Tea Rose Home *A Little Tipsy * The Thrifty Home * Fireflies and Jellybeans * My Girlish Whims * Gingersnap Crafts *  Raegun Wear * The CSI Project* The Stuff of Success * Lil' Luna * The Sasse Life * Fine Craft Guild * Embracing Change * Go Team Duncan

Thursday - Somewhat Simple * The Shabbycreek Cottage * The 36th Avenue * Thrifty 101 * A Creative Princess * House of Hepworths * The Artsy Girl Connection * Katie's Nesting Spot * Between U and Me * A Glimpse Inside * Christina's Adventures * Made in a Day * Adventures in Dinner * 52 Mantels

Friday - Thirty Handmade Days * Romantic Home *Tatertots and Jello* Simply Designing * Creation Corner * Blissful and Domestic * Young and Crafty * Delicate Construction * Happy Hour Projects * Sassy Sites * A Blonde's DIY Life * Whipperberry * Little Inspiration * Serenity Now * Here Comes The Sun * Tidy Mom * Raising Oranges * Happy Go Lucky * The Grant Life * Toys in the Dryer * Fingerprints on the Fridge * Bacon Time * At the Picket Fence * Miss Mustard Seed

Saturday - Positively Splendid.com * Be Different Act Normal * Family Ever After *Lovely Crafty Home * Lollyjane * Funky Junk Interiors * Too Much Time On My Hands * Six Sisters Stuff * Country Momma Cooks * Nutmeg Place

Sunday - The Girl Creative *The DIY Showoff * Nifty Thrifty Things *Petite Hermine * I Heart Naptime * Flamingo Toes * Cherished Treasures *My 1929 Charmer * Embellishing Life Everyday * Sunday Social * Sassafras Salvation

Beautiful and Quick Handmade Gifts

I wanted to share the last of my Christmas Handmade Gifts

these are very easy and 

SUPER CUTE!

You should keep them in mind for any gift giving opportunity.

Trust me.

First on the list were these adorable rosette bracelets.

I had first seen them via this Pinterest pin from Sew.Craft.Create.

She has the best tutorial for sewing these babies.

I opted for and different assembly technique.

And out came the hot glue gun...

I cut a circle of felt about the size I wanted the final rosette to be. 

Mine was about 2 inches.

I chose a complimentary color to the 2 fabrics I was using.

I love Green and Baby Blue.

Yellow and Baby Blue isn't bad either.

I then cut a strip of fabric approximately 14 inches long

I decided to leave the edges frayed since I liked the look.

Tie a knot at on end and then hot glue it to the center of the felt circle.

Then twist and glue until you cover the felt.

I then cut a rectangular strip of felt then width of the circle

I ran hot glue down both of the long lengths

and attached to the circle.

Take a length of chain and measure your wrist.

Cut to length.

Add a Toggle Clasp to either end of the chain with jump rings

Thread through the felt rectangle

Find where you would like to attach your charm.

Attach with a jump ring.

I made two for my friends. 

They both loved them.

The fabrics were bother very much "them".

************

Next up were another two tee-shirt scarves.

I've made one for myself earlier this year and love it.

Two of my friends commented on it so I figured they may like their own.

I used the same technique I saw on this great video.

The only difference is that I sewed my seam for the scarf.

I just like the finished look.

Just place both sides of ruffles together,

measure the length you want

and sew the seam.

************

Last up were more kiln fired bottles.

A blue cheese dish with glass beads and matching spreader.

A mini Corona bottle that makes the perfect spoon rest.

The guys LOVE these.

Turns out Corona paints the labels on their bottles,

so they stay intact after firing in the kiln.

Everyone loved their handmade gifts.

Or at least said they did...  :)

Make something from the heart.

XOXO

Featured on:

Linking up to these fabulous parties.  Also check out my Wanna Party page.

Monday - Craftomaniac * Kristens Junk Drawer * Sarahndipities * Dittle Dattle * Skip to my Lou * Mad in Crafts * Keeping It Simple * Sumo's Sweet Stuff * C.R.A.F.T. * Making The World Cuter * Alderberry Hill * So Very Creative * Singing Three Little Birds *Ask Anna * Get Outta My Head Please * Three Mango Seeds * Lisa's Craft Blog * Polly Want a Crafter * DIY Home Sweet Home * Sew Can Do * Debbie-Debbiedoos 
Tuesday - Tip Junkie * Sugarbee Crafts * Funky Polkadot Giraffe * My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia * Crafty Confessions * Home Stories A to Z * Homework * Not Just a Housewife * Project Queen *A Diamond in the Stuff * Cherished Bliss * Blackberry Vine * Uncommon
Wednesday - Someday Crafts *Sew Much Ado * Tea Rose Home *A Little Tipsy * The Thrifty Home * Fireflies and Jellybeans * My Girlish Whims * Gingersnap Crafts * Creative Kristi * Raegun Wear * The CSI Project* The Stuff of Success * Lil' Luna * The Sasse Life

Thursday - Somewhat Simple * The Shabbycreek Cottage * Thirty Handmade Days * The 36th Avenue * Thrifty 101 * A Creative Princess * House of Hepworths * The Artsy Girl Connection * Katie's Nesting Spot * Between U and Me * A Glimpse Inside * Christina's Adventures * Made in a Day * Adventures in Dinner * 52 Mantels

Friday - Romantic Home *Tatertots and Jello* Simply Designing * Creation Corner * Blissful and Domestic * Young and Crafty * Delicate Construction * Happy Hour Projects * Sassy Sites * A Blonde's DIY Life * Whipperberry * Little Inspiration * Serenity Now * Here Comes The Sun * Tidy Mom

Saturday - Positively Splendid.com * Be Different Act Normal * Family Ever After *Lovely Crafty Home * Lollyjane * Funky Junk Interiors * Too Much Time On My Hands * Six Sisters Stuff * Country Momma Cooks

Sunday - The Girl Creative *The DIY Showoff * Nifty Thrifty Things *Petite Hermine * I Heart Naptime * Flamingo Toes * Cherished Treasures *My 1929 Charmer * Embellishing Life Everyday * Sunday Social * The Foley Fam

Luna's new sweater

Have I officially introduced our little lady?  No??  

Allow me to present our crazy, Boston Terrier,

Luna!

Isn't she precious!

She is 6 months old, weighs 7 lbs, and has oodles of personality

 (ie, she's nuts, like certifiable, don't let the doe eyes fool you).

She joined our family 4 months ago and she is a perfect fit. 

We have never been dog people,

but she stole our hearts and makes us do crazy things like buy/make her clothes...

Being a little bitty thing, she gets really cold, she has a coat and jammies, but needed a sweater.

So to test out my novice sewing skills, I decided to make her one.

Don't laugh.

Ok, you can laugh a bit. I'll wait.........

Ok, on to the tutorial.

I bought this child's sweater for $3 during one of my Goodwill trips. 

It's hard to make out in this pic, but it has red metallic thread in it, very festive.

  

I had already pre-measured Luna, so I knew the length and width I needed to fit her. 

I turned the sweater inside out, transferred the measurements on to the sweater, and got prepared to sew a new seam from the top of the turtle neck straight to the bottom of the sweater.  

Luna checked my measurements.  Isn't she thoughtful?

Once I wrestled the sweater away from her, I was able to hit the sewing machine.   You can see the sparkles and the new back seam I created.   Cut away the excess fabric



Then I tried it on her, for fun.

Tee hee.

Yes, I need to do more measuring.

I planned for her legs to come out of the one remaining arm sleeve opening.  So I removed the sleeve at the seam.  I also cut the bottom of the sweater to length.  Set both of these pieces aside,

as you will need the hem of each to finish the sweater.



     

Luna was happily removing items from the bedroom trash can, dragging them under my bed and ripping them to shreds while I was completing the above.

I extracted both her and the trash for an other trial fitting and measurement.

Much better, just a few tweaks. 

Like shortening the length a bit more and adding the hems.

... and getting a new tape measurer.

I took about 3 inches off the end of the sweater to shorten it a bit

and to compensate for the hem. 

I used the previously cut bottom hem, cut it to fit and reattached to the

new bottom hem of the sweater.

I also cut the hem from one of the arms to attached to the arm hem, same as above.

****When attaching the hem YOU MUST turn the sweater right side out, then pin on the hem, right side to right side and sew.  ****

Believe me, it sucks having to undo an incorrect hem....twice. 

I told you I was a new to this sewing thing.

Notice the hem is pinned WRONG.  Big old fail for me.

Here is the sweater after I pulled out the incorrect hem, repinned and resewed the correct way.

Here is Luna modeling her new sweater!

and Jaime's legs.

I realized I forgot to add an opening for her harness so I opened up about 1 inch of  the back seam

and just sewed the edges open.

Again, newbie here.

She loves being all toasty warm in her sweater and I think

she looks adorable and stylish. :)

Jaime says this looks like her Senior Portrait. 

Do you have a faithful friend that needs a bit of warm style? 

If I can do this, you can too.

Try it!

You'll like it!