Fun Find Friday - Salon Effects Nail Art GIVEAWAY

Check out my toes! Not really. Focus on the cute nail polish. No comments on anything related to my feet or toes...both feet and toes actually gross me out but that's not the point of this post. Cute nail polish right?

I love pedicures. I also love frequent polish changes but unfortunately I simply don't have time (or $$) to go to the salon weekly. As a result I'm always painting my own toes in between pedicures. Sometimes they look awesome and sometimes they are boring. I was really excited when I saw an ad for Sally Hansen's Salon Effects nail polish last week.

In addition to looking cute, three benefits caught my attention:
1) they are supposed to last up to 10 days, 2) they are supposed to remove easily with nail polish remover, and 3) they are supposed to be incredibly easy to apply.
I was really hesitant to try the product because I was sure the polish strips would not be easy to apply. I found a coupon in the Sunday paper (because I'm a crazy coupon lady) and decided to try them. I wasn't set on a specific design but when I went to purchase them, the only package available was a floral design. I thought they might look weird but because of my coupon, I purchased them anyway. I'm so glad I did! Just as they were advertised, they were so easy to apply!! Now I have a fun and easy way to change my polish and get salon looking effects in between pedicures. The only thing I need to do now is decide which design to buy next! Look at all these fun options.



Wouldn't a giveaway on this product be great?? And just because I'm in a super good mood and already drank several cups of coffee this morning, I'm giving away two packages of Sally Hansen Nail Effects to one lucky winner. Just leave a comment on this post before midnight PST Monday, April 18. Winner will be drawn Tuesday, April 19 and will receive TWO fun designs picked by me. Yay.

 

Fun Find Friday-Patterns...Where to get them?

A lot of you have probably wondered where I get my patterns for the kids clothing I make. Yes, I admit it I do use patterns for some of my designs. My theory is try a pattern, the work is already done for you. If you don't like that pattern change it. That is what I do. I use a pattern as a base and alter it to what I like. I have tried tons of patterns. Patterns from etsy, patterns from blogs, patterns from fabric stores. Some were amazing, some were impossible. As I have grown in my craft I have started to make more and more of my own patterns but I wanted to share a few shops that have patterns I love.


Oh So Sassy
REVIEW:
Great style and inventive. I fell in love with the Daphne dress and have used parts of it in other projects. My only critic is the pattern has a few holes in it. This is definitely not for the beginning sewer or pattern reader. The sewing is simple but it is hard to follow in places.

Little Lizard
REVIEW:
Wonderful, simple designs. Step-by-step instructions. I have bought several patterns from this shop and love her designs. Great price for the pattern you get.

Heidi and Finn

REVIEW:
Very popular designs. Simple and chic. I loved the hoodie design and the tunic. Beware, the pattern runs small. About 2 sizes too small.

My DESIGN:

I saw a skirt with a large waistband and I thought that is adorable. I really want to make that. So I started with the skirt which was a simple flowing skirt with an elastic waistband. Then I created the top a semi-circle with trim along the top. I used heat-and-bond to give it some stiffness so it would stand up. Then I added straps to make it into a halter style and added the trim fabric to the bottom. So it went from a skirt to a halter dress. Sometimes that happens...you start with one idea and you end up with something completely different.

Really simple, clean designs. Nothing flashy. That is how to start creating your own. Simple designs, simple shapes, and clean lines. Get out there a design your own. What can you lose?

Fun Find Friday-Molds

I LOVE these molds I found on etsy. I know there are a lot of molds out there but I just love the style that MoldMuse uses. They are cleaver, versatile, and inexpensive. You could purchase just a few and create so many amazing projects. And they are so easy to use. All you need is the mold, some clay bought at any craft store, and your oven. I am definitely planning on ordering these ones just for fun. You can make necklaces, rings, hair clips...or just use as embellishments on other projects. I think they would be great on a mirror remake or as magnets too. Check it out and see what you can come up with. I would love to see your ideas.


MoldMuse

Fun Find Friday-Ruffle Shirt

I found this tutorial on making a ruffled front shirt on Tea Rose. I love Sachiko and her brilliant designs. She is so creative with her ways of making modern clothing modest. She has been featured on several sites as well as magazines for this specific design and I have seen so many mock shirts just like it. I thought it would be fun to make one of my own and the best part is I spent nothing making it.

Check out her blog, she has a ton of tutorials and original ideas. http://tearosehome.blogspot.com/





Here is her tutorial: http://tearosehome.blogspot.com/2010/01/tutorialruffle-shirt.html

FUN FIND FRIDAY - paisley onesie

I have been using foam stamps with fabric paint on everything lately. It is easy and fun!! I plan on dedicating an entire post to foam stamps soon but for now I'll just share a project I finished today. I recently saw this really cute paisley tee:

I am Momma Hear Me Roar provided the instructions to recreate it. You can find her original post here. Can you believe I actually found the same stamp at Hobby Lobby an entire year after the original post? Woo hoo. I had big plans to make myself a shirt but decided to try it on a onesie first. It turned out perfect!

The onesie was small (size 3 -6 m) so it didn't have a lot of room to stamp so I let it overlap the back a little.

I made a matching headband...

and bib...

to make a perfect little gift set!

We are seeing friends tomorrow that are expecting their second child in a few months. This gift is perfect!!

 

Fun Find Friday-Zipper Flowers

I know, another flower tutorial. What can I say, I am a girly girl and I LOVE flowers and ruffles. These flowers are a little more edgy which I really like. And I love the contrast of the fabric and the metal. It is a really creative way to use some old zippers as accessories. I like to collect zippers (among other craft items, don't get me started on my button obsession) when I go to craft fairs or the flea market.

material girls
snips and spice
craftaholics anonymous


Here is my take on the idea.



I would like to offer a few words of advise.
1. It is not as easy as it looks. Take your time and practice.
2. Use upholstery zippers. I tried using a coverall zipper and it was not thick enough. I had nothing to grab onto for the gluing. Which brings me to my next point.
3. BE CAREFUL. I know all of us have hot glue wounds but this was an excessive hot glue burn project. I swear between cooking and crafting I have burned myself so many times I think my nerves have lost feeling in my finger tips.

I am not totally happy with the way my flower turned out but I think with more practice and the right size zipper I could really make some beautiful zipper roses.

FRIDAY FUN FIND - Cat in the Hat Bunting AND a tour of Heather's Playroom

I'll start by telling you I love Dr. Seuss. Prior to moving into our new home last year, we didn't have a home large enough to have a designated play room. Our new home has a formal dining room that I was lucky enough to be able to use as a play room. The day we looked at the model for our house (six months prior to actually moving), I ran home to plan my daughter's Dr. Seuss play room! I'm very excited to show you how the room has turned out. But first, I want to share my Friday Fun Find. I saw Kojodesigns' super cute Cat in the Hat bunting last week. I knew I needed to make one for our play room! Look how awesome she made hers:

You can see the full tutorial here.

Instead of going to a book store (and because I'm ridiculously impatient), I purchased a used book from Ebay. The total price was less than $3 and included shipping! I cut the pages...

...and sewed them together. Instead of adding a ribbon to the top like the original, I used a zigzag stitch across the top of the paper. Why? To be honest, I didn't have enough of a matching ribbon and I didn't want to have to go shopping for supplies. I really like the way it turned out!

Now I can give you a tour of our play room! I would love to declutter and make this space nice and tidy but that would defeat the purpose...it is a PLAY room and should be scattered with toys! Here's the view from our living room. I mostly added this picture because our cat Hercules wanted to make his big debut on our blog.

I originally thought it would be fun to hang curtains across the entrance but my daughter is a big climber and I imagine she would be up to the ceiling in no time!

I put the new bunting on the largest full wall in the room.

This wall also houses some Cat in the Hat art I made last year.

I used a sponge to apply yellow paint to the canvas for a distressed look. I cut pages from an actual book and used modge podge to apply them to the painted canvas. Another coat of modge podge and I was finished. I love these!



There is a hallway to our kitchen off this room so the other wall isn't too big. I used my Cricut to cut the red vinyl for the wall quote. Here you find a toy box, books, blocks, big cars, a Tinkerbell poster my daughter loves, dress up clothes, silly mirror, and balloons. My daughter loves balloons. We blow them up, play with them for a few days, pop them, and go to Party City for more.

The last full wall has a big window with a great view of the block wall. The blinds are usually open for light but I kept them closed for these pictures. Here you see where Barbie hangs out, doll stuff, and a dry erase Tinkerbell table.

This wall also has the Friends canvas I made. I planned to change the pictures regularly but these pictures have yet to see a rotation...I guess I really like the ones currently hanging.

I had red curtains but they were a little too short for this window. Instead of buying new curtains, I simply sewed on some fun Dr. Seuss fabric.

The rug came from IKEA a couple of years ago. We had it in a different room in our previous house. I think it fits perfectly in our new play room.

I think I'm pretty much done with this room for now. If I come across a good deal on Thing 1 and Thing 2, I would love for them to be hanging from the light fixture! It's a little boring now!

 

Fun Find Friday-Comfy Hoodie?

I love hoodies. I don't think there is any piece of clothing more comfortable than a worn in hoodie. However, they are not always the most attractive piece of clothing to wear. Well that is until now. Thanks to See Kate Sew I have a new outlook on an old hoodie.

http://seekatesew.blogspot.com/2011/01/diy-ruffle-hoodie-self-portrait-style.html

Here is my take on the design.

I bought the premade ruffle but it wasn't ruffly enough so I did a basic full length stitch and scrunched the fabric to make it more ruffly. Other than that I pretty much followed her instructions.

Then I decided to try something different and add a lace ruffle instead of plain fabric. My sister wanted to learn how to make one so I instructed her using Kate's steps (my sister has like no sewing experience) and it looks amazing. Plus she was really proud that she made it herself.

So go to See Kate Sew and make your own hoodie remake.

FUN FIND FRIDAY - stained t-shirt to cute shrug

Last summer I saw a post on one of my favorite craft blogs, Make It and Love It, about repurposing a stained t-shirt into a cute shrug. To see the original post, go here. Her little shrug turned out adorable!

I knew I would make one someday but that post was buried in my "craft to do" folder until I cleaned out my daughter's closet this week. I loved my daughter's hooded Old Navy top until it was covered in stains. I'm so glad I didn't throw this out...it was perfect for this project!


I didn't have enough fabric from the shirt leftover after I cut away the stains to make a big ruffle like the original but I think ours still turned out cute. Thanks for the inspiration Make It and Love It! I took my final picture with the shrug hanging over a tank because it just looked silly up there by itself!

My daughter was happy with her "new" shirt too! She had fun modeling it for me!