Tie Key Chain

Ok - the teasing is over, here is the tutorial for the tie key chains.  Anyone who has been in my craft area in the basement knows that I have a thing for ties (not a 50 shades thing, I just love the colors and patterns).  I have had a bin of ties sitting around for awhile.  I have experimented with various uses for them, purses, jewelry, etc. but I have never quite found the perfect thing to make out of them.  Then, a friend of mine became pregnant with a little baby boy and my genius friend Adrea suggested that we do a tie theme for the shower.  The perfect opportunity to force me to find a use for the ties I had been hording for the last couple of years.  After thinking long and hard about what to make I decided that the first tie project would be tie key chains as favors for all the guests.  Once I sat down to start making them I was very pleasantly surprised to find that they were relatively easy to make (a double bonus!). 

You will need:

Handbag Hardware Latch (I got mine at Joann's)
Tie

 First, cut eleven inches off the skinnier end of the tie. 

Then, if there is one, cut off the little tag on the opposite side of the tie.

Next, pin the edge of the tie that you cut.

Sew up that end.  It doesn't need to be beautiful since this part will get folded over.

Thread the handbag latch onto the tie.

Fold so that the straight edge of the tie (the edge you have cut and sewn) is as close to the bottom without showing when the piece is flipped over.

Pin the two pieces together.

Sew up one edge, across the top (where the hardware is) and down the other side.  I do not recommend sewing up the bottom.  I tried this and it made the tie get a little lumpy.

Cut off any extra thread and you are done-so!

I have made several of these for my friend's shower.  Expect a couple more tie tutorials before the big day, I have lots of ideas in my head!

I think these could also be very fun for anyone who is a fan of the Fifty Shades of Grey series!!!

Hint, Hint, Hint!

I know, I know, I promised a new tutorial last week, but what's a girl to do when she gets insanely busy.  On Saturday we had a kids day at the shop (crafts and cooking) and I thought that I was pretty organized for it but as the week went on I became less and less confident that I had all of my i's dotted and t's crossed so I was totally focused on that project.  So - my next tutorial had to go on the back burner.  But, for those of you dying for a hint of what it is here are a few visuals:

I've been on vacay!

Wow - it's been a long time since I have gotten a chance to post anything.  I do have a good excuse though, we were on vacation and it was so great that I seem to have extended it further to other parts of my life i.e. this blog!  I am hoping to have a new post this week.  I have been working on some things for my friends baby shower that are turning out super cute and I can't wait to share them with you!  In the meantime here are a couple of pictures from our vacay just to make you jealous!  The hubby and I go to the same place every year, but we love it.  We love the people, the food and we love knowing where everything is so we can just concentrate on relaxing and each other.