The 5 Minute Tu-Tu

My daughter has a couple of cousins that are just 3 years older, and also the only girls in their families full of boys.  Therefore, they are the perfect source for great hand-me-down clothes.  Both of the cousins really love the "princess" type dresses.  You know the ones, lots of frills and ruffles and chiffon.  We love these dresses too, but every so often we'll get one where the frills just don't hold up to the active life of a two-year-old.  We just so happened to have had one of these dresses hanging out in her closet for a few months now.  My previous attempts at mending these types of dresses (especially this particular type of wear) has been less that satisfying, and I was afraid I was either going to have to cut the offending organza over skirt, or just pass on the dress completely.

Sorry I don't have pictures of all of this.  Sometime my brain fails to remind me that I do own a camera.

Anyway, to continue on with this incredibly long story...I ended up cutting of the over-skirt, and the dress is adorable and much more functional now.  I hated to see all that pretty organza go to waste though, so after trimming of some of the raw edges (where it was pulling away from the seams of the dress) I ran it through the serger, cased in a waistband and...Ta Da!  A perfect dress-up skirt that didn't cost me a thing. 

It looks especially good when paired with the Tinkerbell swimsuit. ; )

The Command Center

This is my new favorite wall at my house:

I call it my command center.  It is around the corner from my calendar, and has a big magnet board, our summer fun chart and summer chore charts for all the kids.  I laminated all of them, so they can be used with dry erase markers, and they were very inexpensive so I won't feel bad about changing the theme out in the fall.  I'm also planning on adding a small dry erase board over the light switch for notes and such.

I'm fairly new to the world of digital scrap-booking, but I really love it.  I use the Stampin' Up! My Digital Studio software.

I had so much fun making these charts, and am really excited to come up with more great projects to share.

Kim's House Needs Help - Part 1

We moved into our current home about 5 months ago.  Unfortunately, it's taken me that long to feel like I can really start decorating.  It really needs some help - it's very beige (floors, walls, ceilings, etc.).  But, I've made a goal this summer (yes, summer just started for us, the kids got out of school just last week) to get the house looking good.  We are renting this place, so I won't be making any drastic alterations (maybe a little paint, otherwise it will all be non-permanent upgrades).  So- be on the lookout for more posts in this series in the next little while.

Today we have some vinyl words for my living/great room area.  All are cut with my silhouette (love that little machine).

It's hard to read, but this is a quote from the last LDS general conference about temples, and the picture of the Salt Lake was taken (by me) during our recent trip to Utah.

It hangs over my shiny (all the better to show fingerprints with) piano.

I painted over an old sign that I didn't like, and cut new vinyl to match the rest of the room.  Works well with these pictures.

The photo wall.  The wall space in this house lends itself towards lots of photos, so photos it is. With a little more word art to tie it all together.

I'll warn you now, you're going to see a lot of vinyl art here.  I'll just admit it - I love Vinyl.  It's creative, expressive and fun, and easily changed when I get bored (which has been known to happen).  It's also very inexpensive (especially when I cut it myself).  Don't worry though, I'll make sure to add in some other projects to keep the series interesting.

Happy Crafting!

Diaper Clutch

So you haven't heard from us in a while...Sorry about that.  Life sometimes gets in the way of crafting.  But there will be more great stuff to see on here soon.

In the meantime:

A diaper clutch I made for a friend of mine.  Tutorial found Here.

Hair Clippies

So, now that I've given you more skirts than you could ever ask for....Here are the hair clips I made to go with them. ; )

Fun Little Felt Flower - I wish I would have done other colors too, you just can't see much detail with the white.

Giant Daisy - Almost too big for her head.  Almost.

Red Polka Dot "Piggie" Bows

Another Shot of the Satin Flower That goes with the Easter Dress.

I've been kind of obsessed with learning how to make hair bows since I found out that after my two boys I was finally getting a girl.  When she was little, it was the great big bows on headbands, but since she's gotten older I've moved towards more functional, smaller clips.  Maybe I need to make a few big bows again....just for the sake of sharing them here.

Drop Waist Skirt

I kind of just came up with this one.  I had the idea in my head, and it came out close - but not quite right.  I think it's cute still, but I'll probably keep tweaking until I feel better about it.

I started out by cutting the bottom tier (about double her waist measurement) and the ruffle (3x the bottom tier).  I serged a rolled hem on the tier, and along both edges of the ruffle, then ran a gathering stitch down the middle of the ruffle.

 I gathered the ruffle and attached it to the bottom tier of the skirt.  I'd recommend lots of measuring and pinning here - the ruffle can slip easily (not that I'm speaking from experience or anything ;) ).

 I gathered the top of the bottom tier and attached it to the top tier (her waist measurement + a few inches), then sewed the whole thing into a tube, made a casing and added an elastic waist band.
 

Yeah, tucked in isn't the most flattering look for her cute little root-beer belly.  Still like it though.

TIES

Fabric ties for my son. I got a pattern from a friend, and totally love it. there is lots of  super cute fabric out there and I love that it only takes a little  bit of fabric.

Cards For April

Keri

Keri

Keri

Keri

Keri

Keri

Kim

Melissa

Candy Cane Skirt

I wasn't sure about this one when I started putting it together.  The idea came from a friend of mine, while we were looking through my fabric stash.  I had these cute coordinating fabrics, and she told me about a skirt she found on etsy that was made by sewing strips of fabric together and then making a simple tube skirt out of them.  I still wasn't sure, but I wanted to use the fabric so I gave it a try.

Honestly, I think this is one of my favorite skirts now.  It just came together really well, and she looks so cute in it.

I started by cutting strips (more like rectangles) of the fabrics that were 4" by (the length + 1" for waistband.)  I serged the strips together until I had around 45" then turned my big strip into a tube. I added a casing for an elastic waistband, and a small ruffle on the bottom, and that was it!  It was much easier than it looks.

Another Tiered Skirt

I've been in skirt mode lately...If you couldn't tell.  My girlie needs spring clothes, and skirts are easy (and comfy).  It's as simple as that.  (Plus, I think she looks too cute in a little skirt with tights or leggings).

 

This one is a variation on the tiered skirts that I've posted previously.  The tutorial and formula that I used are from "Crap I've Made" and can be found here.

Ava Tie Top Dress (part 2) - The Easter Dress

When I originally planned this dress it was just going to be another dress in The Girlie's collection. But as I started putting it together I fell in love with it and the hand-me-down that was going to be her Easter dress got moved to the back of the closet so this could take it's place.

And of course, no Easter dress is complete without a matching hair clip.

Yep, I'm happy with it.  

The dress fabric is Alexander Henry (I believe) From JoAnn's, and the pattern is the "Ava Tie Top Dress" by Izzy & Ivy Designs. (More info in my other post Here) The clip is made from some matching yellow satin, and red mini grosgrain ribbon.  The Center of the flower is from Stampin' Up! (Antique Brads).

Ponytails

My youngest daughter got invited to a birthday party for a little girl who always has braids in her hair.  I decided I needed to make something on a ponytail holder.  Here's what I came up with...

Fabric Covered Button Ponytail Holders

Fabric Covered buttons have been my favorite thing since Christmas, when I used them for the first time.
Now I try to find excuses to make things with them.

Ribbon Bow Ponytail Holders

These are just traditional ribbon bows that I attached to ponytail holders.

Crazy about the ponytail options.
I'm thinking it's my new favorite hair accessory.

My new stamp I got to use.
(Stampin! Up)
Keri sells it, btw

Happy Creating!

Melissa