Ashley Johnston

Make It & Love It

Ashley Johnston loves and blogs about costumes, decor, crafts, and sewing tutorials.

About Ashley Johnston

Ashley Johnston runs Make It & Love It, a creative blog where over a million annual visitors find step-by-step tutorials so that they can save money, make things, have fun. She loves helping people create with a sewing machine, a pair of scissors, and a glue gun. Ashley’s sister Robin also shares delicious recipes on the blog.

 

Experience

Featured Posts

DIY Sewing

Featured

Kids Clothing

Sewing: Clothing

Sewing: Repurpose/Upcycle

Turning Long Pants into Shorts (and making it look good)

  Oh my word, I have such a treat to share with you.  My newest sponsor, Kangaroo Care, is great little shop, filled with all…

Ashley

Baby Clothing

DIY Sewing

Sewing: Gift Ideas

Self-Binding MINKY Baby Blanket…(with applique)

When Chloe was about 8 months old, she flew with me to California for my grandma’s funeral.  Just the 2 of us.  While there, we…

Ashley

Baby Clothing

DIY Sewing

Kids Clothing

DIY Pacifier Clips…no more dropped/lost pacifiers

I know, I’ve been a little MIA this week but my head has been other places.  Okay, more specifically, doing a few things for the…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Guest Contributor Crystal

Kids Clothing

Sewing: Gift Ideas

Collapsible Fabric Play Tent…for kids!

I can’t say enough “thank you’s” for all the sweet comments on my post last week about our newest baby, little Oliver!  Oh, how we…

Crystal

Featured

Home: Decor

Home: Improvement/Renovation

How to Paint {{Super Straight}} Horizontal Stripes

Last week, while Steve had a day off and while Connor was at school, we completely emptied his room and decided to finally paint it. …

Ashley

Featured

Home: Decor

25 DIY Chandelier Ideas

We’ve been working on a few home projects this week, until late at night.  Sweet little Connor has asked for almost a year now for…

Ashley

Crafting: No-Sew

Home: Decor

DIY Tufted Fabric Ottoman ((…from an old table))

If you came here looking for the ‘No-Sew Love’ (+ other goodies!) GIVEAWAY….you came to the right place. However, you need to click over to…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Teach Kids To Sew

Teaching Kids to Sew, Part 1: Intro to Hand Sewing

Oh gee, where did that holiday weekend go?  Did everyone (here in the U.S.) enjoy their Memorial Day yesterday?  (A big thank you to past/present…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Kids Clothing

Sewing: Clothing

Women's Clothing

The Square Circle Skirt (20-ish minutes to make)

  Sometimes I buy too much fabric.  I admit it.  Just don’t you dare email my husband and tell him that I’ve admitted it. ;) …

Ashley

Accessories

Crafting: Miscellaneous

DIY Sewing

Featured

Kids Clothing

Women's Clothing

Make your own Balaclava (or ski-type mask)

Our Colorado skies have dropped several thick blankets of snow lately…..and my kids are in absolute HEAVEN!  Even if we don’t have time to head…

Ashley

Accessories

Baby Clothing

DIY Sewing

Sewing: Repurpose/Upcycle

Recovering a Baby Car Seat

.   Do you love your infant car seat……but hate the cover? Is the material scratchy or stained?  Torn or outdated? Well, then start picking…

Ashley

Accessories

DIY Sewing

Featured

Guest Contributor Kristin

Kids Clothing

Sewing: Gift Ideas

The Reversible Bag…for kids!

So excited to have Kristin from Grandma’s Chalkboard here again today, contributing these darling Reversible Kid Bags.  What child would not FLIP for one of…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Kids Clothing

50+ Great Homemade Kid Gift Ideas

  We are snowed in today.  HOORAY!!  Well, except for Steve.  He still had to ice-skate his car down the freeway to his job this…

Ashley

Featured

Home: Decor

Home: Improvement/Renovation

Home Improvement: Painting a Straight Line on Textured Walls (a Pro Painter’s Secret)

We have been painting and painting aaaaaaand painting lately.  I have stopped caring that there are always paint spots on my hands, in my hair,…

Ashley

Crafting: Kid Crafts

DIY Costumes

DIY Crafting

DIY Holiday

DIY Tutorials

Funny Costumes

Halloween

No-Sew Costumes

Round Up

Top DIY Tutorials

25 CLEVER IDEAS for “Wacky Hair Day” at SCHOOL!! (…including Chloe’s wacky hair!)

25 CLEVER IDEAS for “Wacky Hair Day” at SCHOOL!! | via makeit-loveit.com

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Sewing Tips

Sewing Tips: Basic Stitches (plus the Double Needle)

  . Sometimes all it takes is a visual picture to understand what some of these sewing terms and words are. Basting, stitch length, zig-zag,…

Ashley

Baby Clothing

DIY Sewing

Sewing: Gift Ideas

DIY Gauze Swaddle Blankets for Baby (…light and breathable!)

    When Chloe was a little baby (3 years ago, gasp!), I noticed that stores were carrying these lightweight cotton Gauze Blankets.  I remember…

Ashley

Crafting: No-Sew

Crafting: Vinyl Cutter

DIY Sewing

Sewing Tips

What is Freezer Paper?

. There were a  lot of great questions yesterday about Freezer Paper. So I thought I’d make an entire post about it. I used this…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Kids Clothing

Sewing: Clothing

Elastic Band Skirt {aka: the fastest skirt you’ll ever make}

As much as I try to convince Elli to wear the shorts/capri’s/pants that are in her drawer……….she only gives in about 15% of the time. …

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Home: Decor

Home: Improvement/Renovation

Home Improvement: Replacing Outdoor Light Fixtures (don’t be scared!!)

    We recently moved into a new home and have been busy re-vamping, tearing down, and re-constructing this/that in our new home.  It’s been fun……but…

Ashley

Crafting: Kid Crafts

Crafting: No-Sew

DIY Sewing

Featured

Kids Clothing

Round Up

40 Indoor Kid Activities & Crafts

Anyone else in the middle of Spring Break?  Yeah, me too!   It’s still pretty chilly around here so, I’ve been browsing for INDOOR ideas…

Ashley

Crafting: No-Sew

Featured

Home: Decor

Home: Improvement/Renovation

Home Improvement: DIY Board and Batten

Oh my.  Once again, I’m so surprised what a little paint and some measly pieces of wood can do.   We decided right after we…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Sewing Tips

Sewing Tips: Pre-Washing

. The holidays seem to have treated many of you very well. I have heard many of you say that you received new sewing machines,…

Ashley

Accessories

Baby Clothing

Crafting: No-Sew

Featured

Kids Clothing

Sewing: Gift Ideas

Simple Bow Hair Clips (with no-slip grip)

  When my oldest girl was a brand new baby (who is now almost 5 years old), I made bows for her head/hair. Lots of…

Ashley

Accessories

Crafting: Miscellaneous

Crafting: No-Sew

Featured

Sewing: Gift Ideas

Sewing: Repurpose/Upcycle

Holder for Charging Cell Phone (made from lotion bottle)

My husband and I both have cell phones.  And both of us have phone chargers.  And that means lots of obnoxious cords.  You never know…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Home: Decor

Top DIY Tutorials

Make your curtains BLACKOUT CURTAINS (simplified version)

  Since moving to our new home over a month ago, I have had blackout curtains on my “to-do” list.  And while waiting for those…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Sewing Tips

Sewing Tip: Shirring/Smocking with Elastic Thread

  Shirring is an old technique, I know.  (Shirring and smocking aren’t actually originally done with elastic…..but it sure makes things easier.  And faster.)  Sometimes…

Ashley

Crafting: Miscellaneous

Crafting: Teacher Gifts

DIY Crafting

DIY Home

DIY Tutorials

Home: Decor

Round Up

How to make a SIMPLE Rope Plant Hanger

How to make a SIMPLE Rope Plant Hanger….a great way to fill space vertically! | via makeit-loveit.com

Ashley

Crafting: Miscellaneous

DIY Sewing

Featured

Home: Decor

Sewing: Gift Ideas

Fabric Storage Boxes (per your request)

Okay, the fabric storage box tutorial is here.  (Sorry for the little tease last friday and no actual tutorial.  We were trying to get on…

Ashley

Accessories

Crafting: Miscellaneous

DIY Sewing

Round Up

20+ DIY Backpack Tutorials (child and adult styles)

My kids just went back to school this week……and I feel like I wasn’t able to do everything I wanted to do this summer.  I…

Ashley

Kids Clothing

Sewing: Clothing

Sewing: Repurpose/Upcycle

Women's Clothing

DIY: Turn Jean Pants into a JEAN SKIRT

I think my 8 year old Elli has been eating extra green beans at dinner or something because this girls’ legs are on the fast…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Home: Decor

DIY Pleated Bed Skirt

**By the way, did you notice the new re-design?  And the new “kitchen” side to the blog?  Check back later today…..something yummy will be shared…

Ashley

Baby Clothing

Featured

Sewing: Clothing

Sewing: Gift Ideas

Stretchy Baby Hats…with Top Knots (template included)

I think being pregnant with a little boy is making me a little crazy.  Since my current youngest is a girl (Chloe, now 3), I…

Ashley

Crafting: Miscellaneous

Crafting: No-Sew

Crafting: Vinyl Cutter

Sewing: Gift Ideas

Top DIY Tutorials

Glass Etching

    Have you ever done any glass etching?   Well, neither had I before today.   But wow.  Such an easy, yet sweet little…

Ashley

Accessories

Crafting: Miscellaneous

DIY Sewing

Featured

Sewing Tips

Sewing: Gift Ideas

Tip for Sewing with Vinyl (it sticks!!)…..Making Clear Vinyl Pouches

  Thanks for the camera tips from yesterday.  Hopefully my camera will be fixed right away. . . . But today…….we need to chat about…

Ashley

Home: Decor

Round Up

Sewing: Gift Ideas

25 DIY Painted Flower Pot Ideas…you’ll LOVE

Things have really warmed up around here and when the sun is shining for so many hours during the day…it makes me crave having more…

Ashley

Baby Clothing

DIY Sewing

Featured

Sewing: Gift Ideas

20+ Handmade Baby Gift Ideas

OH MY!!!  Love, love, love!  Check out these personalized buttons from Pick Your Plum today.  Holy Toledo…….how cool would it be to add your name,…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Home: Decor

Envelope Closure Pillowcase (for bed pillows)

I like at least 2 pillows while I sleep.  One for my head and one for my knees/arms.  It all started with my 2nd pregnancy. …

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Sewing Tips

Sewing: Clothing

Sewing Tips: How To Sew a PARTIAL BUTTON PLACKET

Wait, are you totally confused by what a “button placket” is?  Not to mention a “partial” one?  Well, let me explain……button plackets are that thicker…

Ashley

Baby Clothing

DIY Sewing

Featured

Kids Clothing

My Favorite DIY's

Sewing: Clothing

Sewing: Gift Ideas

Sewing: Repurpose/Upcycle

Super Simple Leggings: {only 2 fabric pieces}

Chilly weather keeps creeping in.  And what does that mean for my girl’s wardrobe? Leggings.  Lots of them. Leggings are such a simple way to…

Ashley

DIY Costumes

DIY Sewing

Girl Costumes

Kid Costumes

Kids Clothing

Sewing Tips

Sewing: Clothing

Top DIY Tutorials

Women's Clothing

A HOOP SKIRT (…a sturdy and inexpensive version)

In case you didn’t see yesterday’s post, I shared my version of a Dorothy Costume.  And yes, Chloe is in ABSOLUTE LOVE!  (And takes her…

Ashley

Dinner

Recipes

Seafood

How to Clean and Prepare Raw Shrimp

This post was written by my foodie sister Robin, who is now sharing all of her favorite recipes and kitchen tips regularly on the new…

Robin

Baby Clothing

Featured

Kids Clothing

Sewing: Gift Ideas

Girl & Boy FABRIC DOLLS (pattern pieces included)

Whew.  I am finally done.  And I have to say, these dolls were a TON of fun to make.  Every time a little eyeball, a…

Ashley

Crafting: No-Sew

Featured

Home: Decor

Home: Improvement/Renovation

Top DIY Tutorials

Home Improvement: Trimming a Window (replacing the sill & apron, adding side/top molding)

Home Improvement: Trimming a Window (replacing the sill & apron, adding side/top molding)!

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Sewing Tips

Sewing: Clothing

Women's Clothing

Altering Jeans: Shorter (with Identical Hem)

Can anyone on this planet find the perfect pair of jeans?  There are so many things to look for in a perfect pair of jeans. …

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Sewing Tips

Sewing Tips: Defining & Using Interfacing, Fusible Web, Fusible Adhesive

    Did you catch my most recent sewing tip for all of you just starting out on your sewing adventure? (or maybe you just…

Ashley

Boy Costumes

DIY Costumes

DIY Holiday

DIY Sewing

Girl Costumes

Guest Contributor Crystal

Kid Costumes

Sew an Easy Parrot Costume

To kick off a REALLY fun couple months of HALLOWEEN COSTUMES, Crystal from Stitched By Crystal is sharing an absolutely darling costume that she made…

Crystal

DIY Sewing

Guest Contributor Cami

Kids Clothing

Sewing: Clothing

DIY Tulle Skirt…with Wide Elastic Waist Band

So excited to have Cami from “Tidbits” back today, sharing her darling Holiday Tulle Skirts that she made for her little girls! The fluff is…

Ashley

Baby Clothing

Kids Clothing

Sewing: Clothing

Sewing: Repurpose/Upcycle

Women's Clothing

The 10-Minute Skirt (re-purposing old shirts into skirts)

My little Elli (who is 7 years old and just started 2nd grade today…..ack!) is a skirt fanatic.  Well, a dress fanatic too.  I know,…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Sewing Tips

Sewing Tip: Making and Attaching Gathered/Ruffled Fabric

  Do you want to know what some of my favorite emails are to get?  The ones from some of you that tell me that…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Sewing Tips

Sewing Tips: Practicing your Sewing Stitches (including the back-stitch)

Ooooh, okay, so many more of you told me that you received a new sewing machine for Christmas. Or a serger.  Or some new sewing…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Sewing Tips

Sewing Tips: Attaching Snaps

. Sometimes I forget that not everyone knows how to do something or is familiar with a technique. Like attaching snaps, for example. Snaps are…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Sewing Tips

Cut a CONTINUOUS strip of BIAS TAPE (from one square of fabric)

Cut a CONTINUOUS strip of BIAS TAPE (from one square of fabric)   Ooooh, today I have a sewing tip for you……and it’s pretty darn…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Kids Clothing

Sewing: Clothing

Sewing: Repurpose/Upcycle

The QUICKEST Toddler Play Dress…you’ll ever make!

Can I tell you about another blogging friend, whom I totally adore?  I’m sure you’ve heard of her or seen her sewing creations online, many…

Ashley

Crafting: No-Sew

Home: Decor

Sewing: Gift Ideas

Wooden Phone Amplifier/Speaker (no cord or batteries needed)

Wooden Phone Amplifier/Speaker (no cord or batteries needed)   We listen to music all the time in this house.  Most of our music is on…

Ashley

Featured

Home: Improvement/Renovation

Home Improvement: How To REMOVE Hardwood Floors

 We recently moved into a new home and have been busy re-vamping, tearing down, and re-constructing this/that in our new home.  It’s been fun……but a…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Sewing Tips

Sewing Tips: What is Selvage, Bias and Grain?

. Sometimes fancy words are used in an online sewing tutorial or in store bought patterns. And unless you’ve heard them used before……they probably sound…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Sewing Tips

How To: Clean/Oil Your Sewing Machine

  I know it’s not spring, but it’s time to “spring clean” those sewing machines.   Not sure how to to actually clean up and…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Kids Clothing

Sewing Tips

Sewing: Clothing

Women's Clothing

Adding Hidden Side Pockets to Anything (skirt, pants, shorts, etc.)

  A friend asked me a few weeks ago how to add side pockets into a skirt that she had. I tried explaining in words…..but…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Sewing Tips

Sewing Tips: How to Make & Use Piping

  Remember to check out my review of the Withings scale, that measures Weight, Fat %, and BMI.  Yeah, it does it all……and will keep…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Kids Clothing

Sewing Tips

Sewing: Clothing

Sewing Tips: making pants LONGER

I swear if I just sat and stared at Connor’s little legs long enough, I would actually see them growing longer.  I don’t know what…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Sewing Tips

Top DIY Tutorials

Sewing Tips: Installing a Basic Zipper

Sewing Tips: Installing a Basic Zipper | via makeit-loveit.com

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Sewing Tips

Blind Hem Stitch (with a sewing machine)

First of all…….thank you, thank you for all of the help, advice, personal experiences, etc. with the PC vs. MAC debate (here).  We weighed the…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Kids Clothing

Sewing: Clothing

Top DIY Tutorials

Little Boy Bowtie: the QUICK and EASY version

I mentioned earlier this week that I completely ran out of time to make the kiddos’ Easter outfits this year.  Bummer.  I really enjoy making…

Ashley

Crafting: Miscellaneous

DIY Crafting

DIY Home

DIY Sewing

Guest Contributor Jacquie

Home: Decor

Knitting/Crochet

My Favorite DIY's

Sewing: Gift Ideas

Sewing: Home

How to Crochet a Chunky Blanket (…an affordable beginner project!)

How to Crochet a Chunky Blanket….an affordable beginner project! | via Make It and Love It

Jacquie

DIY Sewing

Sewing Tips

Top DIY Tutorials

BIAS TAPE: what is it, how to make it, and why you NEED it! (VIDEO included)

Bias Tape is a wonderful thing.  In fact, it’s something that I have used from the very beginning of my sewing adventure…and is not something…

Ashley

Home: Decor

Home: Improvement/Renovation

Top DIY Tutorials

How to Stain OAK Cabinets…the simple method (without sanding)!

I know, I know…where have I been?!?!  Well, finishing up house projects.  Lots and lots of them.  We have put off finishing the last bits…

Ashley

Accessories

DIY Sewing

Round Up

Sewing: Gift Ideas

Top DIY Tutorials

30+ DIY Fabric Flower Tutorials

I have a lot of fabric scraps.  I mean, a LOT.  I have a hard time throwing them away because there just *might*  be a…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Featured

Home: Decor

Top DIY Tutorials

Make your curtains BLACKOUT CURTAINS (simplified version)

  Since moving to our new home over a month ago, I have had blackout curtains on my “to-do” list.  And while waiting for those…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Sewing Tips

How to Cut Fabric PERFECTLY STRAIGHT…and Square It Up!

Want to join the Make It and Love It CREATIVE TEAM?? Find out how you can share your project ideas right here, with readers from…

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Home: Decor

Sewing: Gift Ideas

Top DIY Tutorials

DIY Bed Pillow Cases: 3 sizes and 3 different styles (including the “burrito” method)

DIY Bed Pillow Cases: 3 sizes and 3 different styles (including the “burrito” method) | via makeit-loveit.com

Ashley

DIY Sewing

Round Up

Sewing: Repurpose/Upcycle

35 Clever Projects from OLD DENIM JEANS

35 Clever Projects from OLD DENIM JEANS |viw makeit-loveit.com

Ashley

Home: Decor

Home: Improvement/Renovation

Top DIY Tutorials

How to Stain/Paint an Oak Banister (the shortcut method…no sanding needed!)

Our house was built in 2000.  I’m pretty sure that was right at the height of using orange oak for trim work, kitchen cupboards, and…

Ashley

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