I am alive, I promise!

I have been very lazy about updating my blog lately. I have a million things to post about, so I need to get myself motivated. I guess once you get so far behind, it feels impossible to catch up.

But I have made some pretty neat stuff, at least I think so!

So check back soon!

Carol

Pillowcase dress

I finally got around to some sewing and made my daughter a pillowcase dress. It is called that because a lot of people make them out of an actual pillowcase, but I haven't seen any with cute prints, so I stick to the fabric. It was so easy and I think it took me about an hour to cut, pin and sew. I had a yard of fabric and I have enough left to make her a skirt or purse out of it.

Then I made a matching bow for her hair that can clip onto a headband like in the picture or just in her hair.

Here is the link I used to make the dress: http://www.maubys.net/2010/06/fat-quarter-fun-pre-toddlertoddler.html This website has some cute stuff that is pretty easy to make.

I think it turned out pretty cute and I can't wait for her to wear it. The nice thing about a pillowcase dress is that when it gets too short, you can throw some leggings under it. So this should be in her closet for a while!

The white ribbon is my favorite ribbon. I have been able to find it in various colors and in two different sizes. I think I have bought everyone I have found.

I picked my vinyl!!!

So I picked out some cute vinyl from Staker Sensation. Shannon even customized the vinyl I ordered so it would be the perfect size for my space. She was so sweet and fun to work with. I am so lucky to have been chosen for the giveaway.

Thank you Shannon and Staker Sensation. I put her link on the sidebar so check out her store, she has some really cute stuff at AWESOME prices. She is quick to answer your questions and return emails.

Stay tuned for pictures when I get my new vinyl....

I WON!!!

Check this link out. I entered a drawing to win some vinyl from Stalker Sensations at Sisters Stuff and I WON! I am so excited. I love Sisters Stuff's blog so check it out.

http://sistersstuff.blogspot.com/2010/06/new-vinyl-winner.html

Have a Bosch Mixer?

Last night I made homemade bread, rolls and cinnamon rolls with my mom and sister. Making these things is SOOOO Easy when you have the right tools.
And by right tools I mean a

BOSCH MIXER. These things are amazing but I unfortunately do not have one. My mom and sister so, so that is why I entered to win one free from Deals to Meals.



Check out their website, they have tons of great tips, recipes and other info.
http://dealstomeals.blogspot.com/2010/05/free-bosch-mixer.html

You can accomplish a lot when your children sleep!

Today during nap time I decided to put the vinyl and paint away and get out my fabric and ribbons. I have seen a ton of these cute headbands and flowers floating around blog world, so I gave it a try. They are super fast and easy since they are suppose to look messy.

This isn't attached to anything yet. I am thinking of putting a pin on the back and using it to embellish a purse, coat or shirt.

This one has a clip on the back for a nice hair pretty.

I once is actually glued onto a headband. I put twisted the flowers a little tighter on this one. Sometimes I like having things lay flat on my head and not stick up so far.

So what do you think? If you have any ribbon or fabric laying around, give it a try. I didn't take step by step pictures because I was too busy using my mouth and both hands to twist my ribbon! SHHH that is my secret, I used my mouth, but just a little bit!!

Another project done!!

Well, I finally finished this thing!

BEFORE:



AFTER:

It fits nicely right by my craft table. I love the way it turned out!

I painted it black and then distressed it. I thought about distressing the knobs, but I ended up liking them untouched better.

Normally something this small wouldn't take me so long to do, but I redid it and just let it sit for awhile. Once I came back to it, I loved the results.

I can't stay focused

I have been a slacker lately. I have a million projects going right now and can't seem to get one done. I work on one here and there and before finishing, I start another one. The curse of a busy brain I guess.

Good news, I finished one project!! Woo Hoo!

We were just using one of the walls in the kitchen but since I repainted my kitchen, those measurements are gone. So I decided to make something that wouldn't get painted over in the future and something that could go with us if we ever moved. I have seen different ideas here and there on the Internet and this is what I came up with.

The black is vinyl done on my circuit and then I decided I had a million hours in the world and hand cut each of those little lines from vinyl.

Hair bows

I found some ribbon that I LOVE at Hobby Lobby and took a little time off from my painting project to make some new bows for my daughter. She has always called them pretties instead of bows, so here are her new pretties:

They aren't fancy and kind of plain, but this way they can match a lot of different outfits. I usually make a bow for a specific shirt but this time I just wanted to make something that I could use more often.

A project in the works

Here is another little treasure I found at Goodwill. I am busy transforming it.
STAY TUNED!

Easter Decorations

Project 1:

This year I added Easter letters to my decor. I found the wood letters at Hobby Lobby for 50% off so I couldn't resist. I then found some cute scrapbook paper, got out my mod podge, xacto knife and got busy. I decided to put some embellishments on the papers that were plain.


Doing this project reminded me that my xacto cutting is very rusty and I need a lot more practice and a better camera!

Project 2:

I like to find decorations at the thrift stores. This year I found this cute little stand. It was only a couple dollars! I love finding little treasures. I got the bird at the dollar store and had the yellow grass and when you put them together, you get a fun Easter decoration.

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Favorite from Last year:

Last year I found a blog that had made these beautiful eggs and I had to make some. I wish I had the link to give you, but I don't. If anyone finds it, please leave me a comment so I can include it and give that person the proper credit.
I love how they sparkle!

To make the eggs you need:

1. beads (these can be found in the craft section at Wal-Mart)

I would grab a couple of bags, its amazing how many of these little things will cover 1 egg.

2. plastic eggs

This is how it works: glue the egg shut and then start at one end and just start gluing the beads on until you have the whole thing covered.

The eggs you see in the background are ones I had to re-glue beads on. Some of them came off from last year and I think it's because I didn't use a high temp glue gun and I stored them in my garage, so some of them just fell off when I touched them.

This year they are going in the closet and I am going to invest in a high temp glue gun!

My favorites around the house

Here are some of my favorite projects I have made that can be found around the house. I realized when I was doing this post that I have got to learn to take better pictures. The lighting just doesn't do some of them justice, but I will show them anyways.

This is probably my favorite one. These family blocks are so easy and fast, so I have made quite a few of these. They also make great gifts.

This was a project I worked on with my sister.

It originally was suppose to have handles on each side and be used as a serving tray, but I like it better without. http://livingwithlindsay.com/2009/07/old-cabinet-door-turned-serving-tray.html

So it sits on top of my cabinets in the kitchen. It is door to a cabinet that I painted blue. The rest of it is scrapbook paper that was then Mod Podged.

This one took a while since each piece of paper and color is a separate layer and had to be cut out and glued on one at a time. This project was before I had my Cricut!!

This is the back of the board

I made these little flowers out of some material and glued a button in the middle. I use them to cover up the nails that hold my pictures. I put double sided sticky Velcro on the top of the nail and then on the back of the flower. They are much prettier to look at then a nail, don't you agree?

When my third child was born I wanted to paint something on the wall. So knowing I am not an artist, I had to settle with finding these little animals at Micheal's and gluing them to the wall. I did paint the sun and the letters that spell his name. Oh, and the grass that is there if you look real hard.

This is a cork bulletin board that I covered with fabric and then lined the edges with two different colored ribbons to match. I spray painted the frame black and put a ribbon on the back to hang it up. It holds pictures of my Husband and I from over the years.

I make all my daughters bows. I keep them small and simple since her hair is fine and not to long. I took an old picture board and recovered it with some extra fabric I had and added the ribbons horizontally instead of criss crossing them. I feel like I can get more on there this way.

These are my favorites out of all the bows I have made.

I couldn't leave my laundry room out, so I made a little sign that hangs above my machines.

This is vinyl I cut from my Cricut using the Home Decor cartridge. They are in my kitchen next to the arch.

Instead of having welcome on the front door, I saw a friends door that said hello and I loved it. So I just had to put one on mine!

St. Patrick's Day

This is my first project for St. Patrick's day. I like to make a new little something for each holiday. It is a way to get rid of some of the old ones that I don't care for anymore and to make my collection grow. I LOVE decorating for holidays so I guess it is a good thing I like to make stuff.

I found a piece of wood in the garage, painted it white and then used a paint brush to paint it green. I liked the look of the green all streaked, so I left it alone instead of putting on another coat. I used my Cricut to cut out the letters using the Alphalicious cartridge. Then I used my Mod Podge the Shamrock and finished it off with some buttons. I love buttons and like to put them on lots of things!

The beginning

So I know this really crafty person that has great ideas and she inspired me to start this blog. Instead of putting everything I make up on my family blog, I though I would start a craft blog. It is more for me to just display my stuff and show those that want to look at it. I am an amateur crafter and sometimes I make things up in my head and other times I see an idea, tweak it and make it mine. I will link my projects back to the original ones I see to give that person the proper credit.

So, enjoy and maybe you will be inspired to get your craft on!!