DIY Ruffle Tree Skirt…

This tutorial has been floating around Pinterest, and my good friend made one and I just had to try it.  It was a tedious project, but totally worth it!  The directions in the tutorial are for a no-sew skirt, but I used my machine to ruffle the fabric strips first, then hot glued them down.   I imagined I saved myself from hours of gluing. 

To ruffle fabric: Set tension to the highest it will go (wheel dial about where you thread).
Set thread length the longest setting (mine is 5)
Remember to backstitch and away you go.
This will save you so much time when it comes to ruffles.

I then got to work gluing the rows of ruffles onto the base.  I LOVE IT!!!
Visit My Crazy Life for the tutorial.

Felt Stockings…

We have  A LOT of family coming to town for Christmas this year.  I wanted to do something for them, and figured since they were all coming from out of town stockings would be a good idea.  I searched around for something super cute, but decided for cost purposes that felt was the way to go (I made 18 of them).  Not only that, but it is super easy to sew.

Materials:
3/4 yard felt – red (I got 11 stockings (front and back) out of this))
3/4 yard felt – green
1/4 yard felt – White (top part of stocking)
Thread

Directions:
I found a stocking I liked on google images and traced it onto wax paper. I folded the fabric in half, and pinned the wax paper to the felt and used pinking shears to cut around it.Then I cut two pieces white felt (I guessed on the size…really whatever you think looks good).
Then put the white felt on the outside of 2 stocking pieces and start on one side, and sew all around the stocking.
When you get to the end stick a folded piece of felt and stick it inside the two sides of the stocking.
Then your done!
If you want, enlist a 4 year old who lost arts and crafts to help you decorate ;), then hang!

Merry Chirstmas!

Christmas PJ’s…

I found this super easy tutorial to make pajama pants.  I couldn’t pass up the chance to make them, and seriously they were the EASIEST things EVER!  I made a pair in about an hour start to finish.  The tutorial comes from My Cotton Creations.  I followed the tutorial exactly, but used a pre-ruffled fabric for the bottom.  That definitely helped speed things along.  I measured a jersey skinny leg pair of jams for the little pair, and ended up with really skinny legs with no stretch.  I tried them on my 19 month old, and they fit, but they were snug.  I’d definitely measure wider next time.

Halloween Treat…

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
My daughter had a Halloween party at pre-school today, and she had to bring treats to share with her friends.  Yesterday we got to work, and made this fun treat!  They are white chocolate covered rice krispy treats – ghost and jack-o-lanterns. 
Ingredients:
Rice Krispy’s
1 bag mini Marhsmallows
Butter
White Chocolate – I just used white Chocolate Chips
mini chocolate chips
Cookie Cutters

Instructions:
-Make rice krispy treats.  I followed the instructions on the box.
-Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
-Melt White Chocolate
-Cover one side of the Rice Krispy treat. 
-decorate with mini chocolate chips.
-note:  Once I added the orange food coloring to the white chocolate, it started to get hard.  I’d probably buy orange colored chocolate next time.

Felt Wreath…

I’ve seen these all over craft blogs and Pinterest that I decided it was finally time to make one.  I am in LOVE with it!  Run to the store to make this…you won’t regret it!  I chose cream, because it was functional for all holidays.  I can change the ribbons out, or add embellishments if I want too.

Materials:
3/4-1 yard felt color of your choice (make sure you buy it on the bolt. It is a lot better quality.)
Foam wreath
Straight pins

1. Start by finding a circle size you like.  I used a big mug.2. Cut out lots and lots of circles.
3. Fold each circle into 4ths.
4. Put straight pin in the bottom of the triangle.  The part that doesn’t open.
5. Pick a starting point on the foam circle and start pinning.
6. Pin felt circles 3/4 of the way around the wreath.  I left the back open, so it would lay flat on the door.
Here is half of the wreath done.  (the other half is from Daylynn helping me)
7.  Add any color ribbon to the wreath and hang. 

Necklace T-Shirt…

What I’m still crafting???  Shocking I know!  The last year has been a little crazy with 2 little ones that my crafting has gone down the drain.  I’m slowly working my way back into it, and looking forward to all the fun things I’m finding on Pinterest (My new favorite site).  About a month ago, I made some of these t-shirts for an auction and decided to make a tutorial to go with it.

Materials:
t-shirt.  I buy mine at Target for $5.00
Fabric Paint
Ribbon
2 paintbrushes – different sizes
cardboard to put between the shirt - I cut up a cereal box.

-Start by putting paint on a plate and putting the end of the paintbrush in the paint. Just make sure the bottom is covered (not the sides).  It will make a much cleaner circle.
-Press end of paintbrush on the shirt, and continue until you have a “strand” of beads from one side of the shirt to the other.  I usually just eyeball it.
-The second strand I use the bigger paintbrush end, and add a glitter paint to the pink for some contrast.
-Continue until you have three strands.
-Add a ribbon bow (or any embellishment would be cute).  I just put it on whatever side needs it…usually the one I’m trying to hide a mistake.
It’s done!
And another in purple.

Bustle Skirt Part 2…

Here is the second bustle skirt I made from Simple Simon  & Company.  I used the same measurements as she did, and love it! I probably could have used another row, but I ran out of fabric.  I only bought 3 yards, and could of used 3 1/4.  We’ll just make sure to wear longer shirts from now on ;)

1st Birthday Skirt and Necklace Shirt….

So I couldn’t let the opportunity pass to make by baby big girl a birthday outfit!  I was searching on-line for something fun, and this is what I came up with.  I’m sorry I didn’t take step by step pictures for this project, I was just too busy sewing and trying to get it done in time for her big day.  For the tutorials you’ll have to visit the websites of the original creators (they’ll do a better job explaining then I would anyway!)
Skirt
I used a thicker white muslin as the base of the skirt (I bought a 1/2 yard, but it was WAY too much!)
Tulle.  I used dark purple and light purple (the middle layer was one dark piece and one light piece).  I made 3 inch circles and layered two pieces of tulle for each triangle.
Elastic (you need 2 inches less than your waist size)
Follow directions at Simple Simon and Company to make your own!
Next is this adorable necklace shirt (sorry one of the “strands” is folded under). 
Shirt
$5.00 t-shirt from Target.
2 colors of fabric paint (I used lavender and a silver glitter that I had to mix with the lavender b/c it wouldn’t stick very well)
foam paint brushes (I used two different sizes) – you dip the bottom end in the paint to create your beads.
Ribbon for bow (or you could add a flower or any other embellishment)
Follow directions at Living Craftily Ever After

Candle Makeover…

I have been looking for new candles for awhile now.  Since my husband painted our walls to sand, these candles blended in.  I did NOT want to spend a fortune on decoration candles.  It was hard to find a good color for under $8.  While at JoAnn’s, I saw a candle decorated in paper.  My first thought was, “why would you do that?”  Then it hit me that I should find a really fun paper to wrap around my candles!  That exactly what I did. 
Start by measuring the height of the candle and circumference (around) the candle.cut your paper to those measurements.  (I ended up cutting mine smaller before gluing it on)
Center your paper in the middle of the candle.Hot glue the ends together.

The full look.  (Notice the red wall gone!)

*Sorry for all of my pictures being crooked.  I guess I can’t take a straight picture, and I don’t know how to fix it

Frame Makeover…

I’ve been introduced to the world of spray painting and it is addicting!  Here is one of the many things I’ve spray painted over the last week (others include candle sticks, bookshelf, and a metal star).  In my attempt to brighten my house, I thought it would be fun to change these picture frames.  They worked well with the old décor, but were a little dark for the new look. 

So after buying cheap spray paint, I went back and got Krylon.  It works great!  After one coat.  If you look closely, you’ll notice the paint really isn’t adhering to the frame very well.  It took several coats for them to look nice.  Later we (a friend and I) learned that we should have used primer first.  It makes a HUGE difference!
I filled the frames with some fun fabric!  My husband says he still prefers picture (a nice way of saying he doesn’t love it), but I’m going to keep it to see if he warms up to it :)A close-up.