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…