Mother's Day Photo Holder #2

I made a second frame last night.  Painted it white and distressed it...

Once I had the black vinyl on I was kind of wishing it was white vinyl...

I added some black ribbon, cord, twine, and white ribbon to help out the black vinyl.  Instead of inking the clothes pins, I just swiped the edges with white paint...

And then, of course, added the fun pictures!...

I love that you could use these for any occasion and swap out "grandma" for friend, sister, mom, brother, aunt, dad, ...the list goes on. 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

*Original idea comes from the "Grandma Blocks" over at I Heart Naptime (see below post for pictures of her cute blocks).

For a complete list of parties I've linked to click HERE!

Mother's Day Photo Holder

I've been crafting all day, and LOVING it!  It really makes me feel happy.  Does that sound crazy?  With Mother's Day and a couple of sister-in-law's birthdays this week I just couldn't resist making a few things. 

A few months ago I came across thee most adorable "Grandma Photo Blocks" over at I Heart Naptime.  I've really been wanting to make them.  I just couldn't figure out how to incorporate the umpteen grandchildren our family has.  Hers look so cute with her two adorable babies...

I thought about making several blocks to stack, or putting a picture on each surface of the block, but ultimately decided to use the saying and go with my own creation.  I had some wooden craft frames that I painted and distressed, then put some textured paper behind the glass, and cut the vinyl out with my silhouette to go on the glass.  I had some vintage lace that my mom had given me, so I put that across the bottom with some black ribbon.  I took miniature clothes pins, inked the edges, then glued them in place with E-600....

I love the texture of this paper!...

The three year old picked some flowers for me today, they made a great photo prop :O)...

And then, of course, I added a few pictures of my babies with room to add in the other grandkids of the family...

For a complete list of parties I've linked to click HERE!

Thrift Store Wall Decor

Awhile back we when we took a trip to the DI (local thrift store), I picked up these three frames.  The two little square ones were a $1.50 each, and the box frame was $1.00. 

I got them out over the weekend.  I started by sanding the globs of paint off of the box frame...

Then I primed it and painted it white...

My sweet aunt just gave me a bunch of scrapbook paper and supplies.  She works for a scrapbook company and often brings home freebies.  I found this adorable green polka dot paper.  I've been wanting to add one more accent color to this room.  I decided green is a great color to add to the pink, brown, and white alread in there.  I Mod Podged the paper to the front of the box frame...

I still haven't decided exactly what to display in it, for now it's her teapot...but she wasn't very happy about that...

The two little frames started out silver...

I primed, spray painted, and added the pictures and bows (the white ribbon is from the scraps my mom gave me last week and I used the same can of spray paint for 3 projects)...

It's fun to have this little wall filled....

I'm excited to add more green now!...

My total expense for this project comes to $4.00

Click HERE for a full list of parties I've linked to!

1st Pillow Case Dress - Kind of

This sweet little 2 year old is my 3 year olds best buddy!  We are blessed to have her in our home each day...

Of all the kids she seems most interested in what I'm doing with my sewing machine.  She often sits next to me and watches me sew....

With all of the Easter clothes I've been sewing for my girls, today was the first day that she asked if she could also please have a dress...

So, we went to my mom's bucket full of scraps and picked out some material she liked (this is where the "kind of" comes in...I didn't actually use a pillowcase, just cut the material like one).  I made my first attempt to sew a pillowcase dress (originally saw these on Sugar Bee), and of course made a matching folded flower headband...

Doesn't she look adorable?  She's so cute, she could wear anything and be completely irresistible :O).

Twirly Play Skirt - Tutorial

This is a more basic version of the Twirly Tulle skirts that I've been making.  This was completely made from scraps my mom gave me!  I always love FREE! 

It's loosely based on the Skirt Pattern that I posted the other day.  My daughter is 3, so the measurements I will give you are based off of her size. 

Start with one strip that is 36" in length and 7" wide (for the waist), and 2 strips that are 31" each and 9 inches wide (for the bottom).  As well as any trim that you would like to add to each...

I ironed and then hemmed the 2 - 31" strips...

Flipped them over and sewed on the trim...

Sewing both edges of it.  When I made the Twirly Tulle skirts I actually used Stitch Witchery for both the hem and the trim.  It causes the skirts to hang a bit more stiff, and I wanted this one to ruffle a bit more...

Then you sew both short ends together and iron the folds out flat...

With both short ends sewn together you will have a full loop...

Set the bottom pieces aside.  Sew the trim onto your waist piece in the desired place...

Then sew the short ends together forming your loop...

Go back to your big loop and ruffle the top edge to equal 35 1/2".  You will need it to ruffle to the size of your waist piece (you lose a 1/2" when you sew the ends together on the waist)...

Then you will sew a stitch that holds the ruffle in place...

Then with both pieces inside out, and right sides lined up inside, you will sew them together with a zig zag stitch....

So that when it is turned rightside out it will look like this...

Am I clear as mud to this point?!  Next, you will fold the top edge over by about 1/4" and iron it.  Then fold it over again to accommodate the space needed for your elastic and iron it again.  Then you are ready to stitch the casing for your elastic...

Leaving a 1-2" hole for the elastic to thread through (cut elastic 1" smaller than child's waist)...

Once you have it all the way through, overlap the elastic and sew it together...

Once you have the elastic sewn, then stitch up the hole, and stitch the elastic in a couple of places to prevent it from twisting.  Then you will have your finished skirt...

I, of course, had to make a flower to attach to it.  I cut my circles.  I'm getting pretty quick with these.  Now I just draw one circle and then fold the material for how many I want....

I was going to put it on a broach pin so that it could be removable, but it was too floppy.  I just stitched it on...

Remember the headband I made the other day out of this same material?  Well, she broke it in half, so I'll have to make another one :O)...

Click HERE for a full list of parties I link to!

Zebra Print & Yellow Twirly Tulle Skirt

After finishing the Spring Outfit for the 3 year old my 10 year old was so excited for me to make one for her.  We wanted it to coordinate, but not completely match.  We've decided these will be their Easter dresses!...

So, now I just need to make her a matching headband and shirt to go with her skirt like I did for the 3 year old...

I know I promised a tutorial, but honestly, I'm still faking my way through it and wouldn't know where to begin to explain it.  I'd say your still better off just purchasing the pattern from the below post...keeping in mind I shortened it both in width and height, as well as added belt loops and ribbon :O). 

Click HERE for a full list of parties I link to!