How To Make a Modern Silhouette

{I'm re-posting this project from last year for Mother's Day! This is a fabulous gift for anyone who's looking for something easy, crafty and personal to do last minute!}

Happy Mothers day to everyone! I made this simple silhouette of Lula for both of her grandmothers for Mothers Day. It turned out so cute that I plan on making a larger scale one for Lula's bedroom.  Here are the instructions for making one:

Materials:

Decorative paper (I just used some scrapbooking paper from Hobby Lobby)
Exacto knife or scissors
Profile photo of your child printed on cardstock
Spray adhesive
Picture frame
Black acrylic paint
Paintbrush or Sponge brush









First, I outlined the profile with a black marker, simplifying it as much as possible. Don't forget to add in an eyelash and neck!

Next, I simply cut it out with an exacto knife.

Next, I flipped the photo over and painted the backside black.  I did about 2 coats to eliminate any streaking:

After it dried, I sprayed some spray adhesive to the back of the silhouette and attached it to the scrapbook paper.  DONE! So easy!

There are so many options and variations for this project. You could do the silhouette out of the decorative paper on a solid background. Or you could make the silhouette white on a printed background...you could probably do it on fabric, or just do the traditional black on white.

DIY Wooden Picture Frame

If you are stopping by homemade ginger for the giveaway, you still have time to enter.  If you don't know about the giveaway, head over there now!

Here's what I've been working on lately:

As I was brainstorming for some craft ideas for my MOPS group, I came across several tutorials on  making these wooden frames using scrapbook paper. We ended up doing it in MOPS and I even had a craft night with some friends where we made more.

We used these $1 frames from Michaels

And some matte finish Mod Podge

Brush on 2 coats of Mod Podge, don't be afraid to use quite a bit.

While it's still wet, lay the frame face down on the paper. I used a vintage dictionary page for this one:

Flip it over and smooth out any bubbles and wrinkles. I just used the card that came inside the frame to do this:

After it has dried for a few minutes, use an exacto knife to trim around the edges. This does not  need to be perfect.

See how ragged mine looks?

Now you can sand down the edges so that the paper is flush with the frame.

Now you can brush a few more coats of Mod Podge on the front.

Once it's dry, you can add any embellishments. I did my new favorite felt flowers on this one:

I added some ribbon and a simple flower to this one:

And some fun ribbon and a flower to this one:

What a fun and personal way to give someone a picture of your family for Christmas!

100th Post Giveaway!

Yes, it's Homemade Ginger's 100th blog post! To celebrate, I'm hosting my very first giveaway.  If you enter, you could win 3 handmade fabric cards made by me as well as a mug rug donated by my mom (a.k.a. Carla) from lollyquiltz. 

Here is a little preview of the prize!

Card #1 - whimsical leaves in some of my favorite fabric on an aqua background.

And there is even a little lone surprise leaf on the inside.

Card #2 - This one is made with vintage sheets. Perfect just for saying "hi" to someone.

Card #3 - this retro inspired blue and orange card is my husband's favorite of the three. Maybe you can send it to him if you win...or not. :)

And here is the mug rug made by Carla from lollyquiltz.  She made it from fabric selveges...isn't that clever? It would make a fabulous gift, or just a fun thing to keep for yourself.

The back of the mug rug is a cheery aqua and red fabric, so cute!

So...here is how you can win this fabulous handmade prize!

You have the chance to enter up to 3 times if you wish.

1. leave a comment on this blog post.

2. Become a follower and leave a comment telling me you did so.

3. "Share" this post on facebook. (you can click on the Facebook share button on the top right of the blog). And leave a comment letting me know you did that.

I will draw a name randomly on Saturday, December 18. and announce it on the blog. I will also email the winner to let them know! 

Good luck!

giftcard pillowcase

Here's a cute idea when giving a gift card.  To keep it from feeling "ho hum" and impersonal, make a tiny pillowcase to put your gift card in!

I did not take step by step instructions, but you basically take a rectangle of fabric, fold one edge over twice and stitch down (to make the open edge).  Then, fold right sides together and stitch, leaving the first folded edge open. 

Pair it with a handmade card like I did!

vintage floral card

Remember when I participated in a vintage sheet exchange? Well, I put some of them to work to make this fun card. I used 4 different sheets for this one and love how it turned out. Can't wait to make more! 

I sewed the strips of fabric with the machine and then hand stitched on the individual flowers.

I decided to add one button on the large flower for some extra texture and interest.

To see some of the other fabric cards I've made go here and here. And then go make some of your own!

More Fabric Cards

I made a new card the other day for my mom's birthday (Lolly is her grandma name if you are curious). 

 

I decided it would be cute to make letters this time around.  See my previous post of instructions on how to make a fabric card. This one is pretty much the same except you are cutting your fabric into letters and sewing them on.

Scrap Doll Quilt

Lula is getting a new baby doll for Christmas along with my old doll cradle that my dad made which I will be re-painting. Every baby doll needs her own quilt, so I decided to make some with some scraps! I found this great little quilt tutorial on sew mama sew.  I haven't made a quilt in a very long time, and this was so easy, anyone could do it!! My mom was nice enough to let me use some of her fun scraps since I don't have a lot. I think it turned out super cute!

I basically just randomly cut scraps into squares and rectangles

Then, I just pinned them on top of the layers of the quilt. (See the sew mama sew link for a better tutorial!)

detail of the back

 

Handmade Fabric Cards

I have so many people tell me that they are impressed with something I've made because they are just "not crafty or creative" and "can't do it". Well, now there are no more excuses because I will be showing everyone the things that I make and that they really are easy! I rarely come up with an idea on my own, it's usually something I've seen someone else do and I just modify it a little bit! Here is one of those ideas--fabric cards! I saw a version of these on a blog and decided to try it with my own twist. It's a great way to use up those scraps!

first, I take some scraps and lay them out on a card or folded piece of cardstock until I acheive a composition that I like:

Next, I literally sew the pieces onto the paper. I don't worry about backstitching or making my seams perfect. I prefer a more ru

stic look:

Then, I trim off all the edges:

I love the look of the stitching on the back of the card, but if you did not like this, you could glue a piece of pape

r on top of it:

The finished product!

here are some others that I love:

My next idea is to use all handmade wrapping paper for Christmas gifts this year! I am sure I will do a post on that in the near future!

Happy card making!