Wowzer Wednesday - Missing Memory Card...and a Valentines Rosette Frame

Last night I was working on a fun Valentines frame.  I took a lot of pictures as I working on the project.  Then as I went to upload my photos for this post I realized my memory card was not in my camera.  Having no clue how to get the photos from my camera's internal memory to this post (and having no idea where the cord is), I have no tutorial photos to show you.  Sorry!


But that doesn't mean my frame didn't turn out really pretty!

I used a piece of self adhesive felt to make the rosettes.  Eliminating the need for glue while rolling each little rosette was great!  I used the glue gun to attach them to the frame.

I hadn't decided if I wanted a picture or if I should make a print to put in the frame.  I went to my computer and got caught up in all the fun blogs I follow.  Amy from Positively Splendid had the perfect print for my new frame!  When my daughter was really little my husband would sing that song to her in a silly voice to make her laugh.  I instantly smiled when I saw the print and knew it was exactly what I was looking for.  Thanks Amy!

 

Christmas Dress-Wowzer Wed

When I was a child my mother ALWAYS made my Christmas dress to match my sister's. Usually different colors but the same pattern. It is a family tradition that I have carried on with my daughter.

I just love reusing things that others have forgotten about of left behind. Last summer I was going through my MIL's scraps and came across this wonderful black tulle with red polka dots. As it was in the scrap pile there wasn't a lot of it but I knew I wanted to use it for something. So I thought about it for awhile (like 4 months) before I decided to use it as a lining for my daughter's Christmas dress. I wanted something Christmasy but classic, and versitile enough that she can wear it past Christmas. I wanted something full and fluffy, a special dress for special occasions. I bought some of my favorite eyelet from fabric.com, fancy eyelet in black. This eyelet is so beautiful with a great design and just the right amount of shimmer. Here is the end result:
I started with the bodice creating a pattern from a t-shirt. Then I added a ruffle neckline from the salvage end of the eyelet. I lined the bodice with basic black cotton and used a button closure in the back. Then I took 2 yards of the eyelet to make the skirt portion (10 inches long). I gathered at the top to attach it to the bodice. Then I gathered the tulle and another hemmed rectangle the same length for under the tulle. I sewed all the layers together and attached the layers to the bodice. I finished it off with sleeves, two buttons down the front, and a red taffeta sash.

I am so happy with how it turned out. Exactly how I pictured it.
My son will be wearing a match black and red tie with a white collared shirt and argyle sweater. I just love dressing up for the season.

Adult Slip Skirt-Wowzer Wednesday

I have certain wardrobe standards that can sometimes limit my shopping choices. I often find myself looking at a dress or skirt that I love and realizing it is too short for my standards. So I came up with a solution for my leggy difficulties.

Now I admit I am not the first to come up with this idea but honestly most ideas are recycled through fellow crafters. I know there is a specific site that offers a solution to the "too short" problem. Vintage Hem. They have wonderful ideas and beautiful designs but lets be honest...who can afford $30 for a slip skirt?

Hence make your own.

For this project I bought a simple slip from Walmart $5. You could make your own slip which is simple but for $5 I will be lazy. I used some black eyelet that I already owned from a dress I made for my daughter. It is called fancy eyelet in Jet Black from fabric.com.

1. Measure the width of the bottom of your slip. I just measured the front side because the back will be the same length.2. Cut your eyelet, lace, etc the length of your slip and the length you need extended mine was 6 inches long. I made sure to cut on the scalloped edge so I don't have to hem the eyelet.3. Pin and sew your eyelet to the bottom of the slip, right sides together.4. Sew down the rest of the sides of the slip and back stitch at the end. My slip had slits so this part was easy I just sewed up the open sides.
5. Turn the slip right side out and press the eyelet. Now you are done.

Super simple, super cheap, and a great way to extend the length of any dress or skirt.

Dress: H&M $20, Slip Skirt: made by me $5, Shoes: Sheikh $20, Earrings: Burlington Coat Factory $3.99

Scrappy tutu-Wowzer Wednesday

If you are like me you have tons of scrap fabric. LOADS of them. I have an entire bind full of just scraps. Why do I keep them? Because I think I'll use them for something and honestly a part of me just can't throw them out. There are a lot of crafts out there that use your extra scraps but I never seem to make any of them because lets face it there are SOO many crafts and projects I want to do.

Then I got a great idea (again on Pinterest). Scrap tutu. Instead of tulle use your scraps. EXCELLENT! It took me about 3o min from start to finish and I love it. Elizabeth received so many compliments today on her fun skirt.

Okay here is how I made it. I cut my scraps 3 inch wide and 22 inch long. Now most of my scraps were not this long so I tied two strips together which makes a cute knot at the waist. Then I made a circle out of some thick elastic (at least 1 inch) that measured my daughter's waist. Finally I just looped the strips around the elastic pulling it tight underneath the elastic. I added a few ribbons just for fun and a bow to the front. I finished it off by trimming the scrap pieces to the length I liked on her and cut some of them at diagonals or points.








My only complaint is that the scraps get a little stringy with no hemming. I just trim them up when the fabric frays too much. I think you could fix this problem by using pinking shears which would make the scraps look super cute. Easy no sew project that your daughter will love.

Which One???-Wowzer Wed

I am currently in a quilt exchange. Sounds like fun right? A group of women from my MIL's ward are doing a quilt block exchange and they invited me to participate. Here is the idea: we all make 16 quilt blocks measuring 12.5 inches from the same fabric line. Then we give each women one of our blocks so everyone has a block from each other. All your blocks need to be the same design that way each block on the quilt will be different. The line they chose is Moda's Fresh Flowers (I LOVE MODA).It is a little bright but I still like it.

Anyways, I am suppose to be done with my quilt blocks by Sept. and I have really been dragging my feet. When I agreed I thought what a fun idea and a good opportunity for a master bedroom makeover. Now the summer has gone and the deadline is creeping up on me. And now I am thinking maybe this wasn't such a great idea. (Have I told you I have a little problem with commitment? Not to my spouse but in regards to appointments, deadlines, that sort of thing). I am really having trouble deciding which quilt block to do. I want something simple and fast. I am not the best quilter so simple is good. Here are my two ideas:

1

2

This one has a strip of straight, then a ruffled, then straight, then ruffled, then straight.

I should probably mention that I bought a jelly roll and that is what I am planning on using to make either of these blocks.

Here are my arguments for each:

I like the first one because it has a lot of colors which will incorporate well with the other blocks I receive.

I like the second one because the ruffles will really add some dimension to the quilt. Plus it is a lot easy than the first (less cutting and measuring which tends to be my downfall).

So what do you think? HELP ME PLEASE!

Rubber Band Jar-Wowzer Wed.

WOWzer Wed, a simple solution to an everyday problem. Actually this was a several times a day problem. In my kids bathroom I put all their toiletries in the drawers of the vanity. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, hairbrushes, etc. Most of the stuff the kids don't touch or I don't mind if they touch them; in the case of the tooth brushes I encourage them to use them often (it doesn't happen).

Anyways, the newest addition is colorful rubber bands for my little lady's hair. It is finally long enough to put in pony tails. The kids love the rubber bands. They get them out of the drawer every day and spread them all over the floor. So annoying!

Hence the rubber band container. A decorative container that belongs on the counter out of reach but still is aesthetically pleasing in a guest bathroom. Very simple.

A jar (this one contained paper flowers that I got from Hobby Lobby)
Ribbon remnants
Paper scrap booking flowers
Colorful rubber bands

Piping-A Wowzer Wednesday Addition

Wowzer Wednesday is back! This week I was working on this Blackbird Tunic by Shwin&Shwin, I was really attracted to the neckline which is great for summer. I love the open neck and big button closure. The tutorial is amazing, however my sewing skills are not up to par on this particular project. The circle neck is fairly simple the tricky part is the piping around the neckline. I have some experience in piping on baby bedding but never so small and never on clothing. I love piping on clothing. It just adds a little touch and trim that can really show your craft.

However piping can be tricky. The key is getting your seam as close to the pipe as possible without going on top of the pipe. Normally I use a zipper foot to make sure I get the seam nice and tight. Bigger pipes are obviously easier to get tight. However this project used a very small piping, the size of a shoelace. I had a lot of trouble getting the seam tight enough on the piping. If you don't get it tight enough the piping is flat and uneven. Needless to say I need some more practice.

Here is my end product. I think it turned out really cute, even though the piping isn't perfect. I really like the big button and the bright colors. The pockets are really fun too. I think that when you are creating a one of a kind piece the details like the perfect button or adding pockets are where you can show your personality.




I'm linking up HERE

Wowzer Wed-Block Dress

This Wed. wowzer isn't so much of a wowzer as it is leftovers. I had this pack of onesies that I bought for my daughter that are 24 months. I usually don't mind that old wearing a onesie but honestly Elizabeth is such an advanced little thing I feel silly putting her in baby clothing. Even though she is only 19 months. So I decided to take one of those onesies and make it into the top of a dress. And since it is BLOCK WEEK we are making the bottom of the dress out of blocks of fabric.

So here is what you need:
-a onesie or t-shirt top
-3 strips of stretchy fabric, like jersey or t-shirt material
-1/2 inch elastic *measure your child's waist where you want the skirt part to start and cut your elastic to that size

Instructions:

1. Cut your fabric into strips. Mine were 16 inches long and 4 inches wide (except the bottom strip which was 5 inch wide). Make sure you cut 2 strips of each piece, one for the back and one for the front.
2.Pin and sew your strips together. I sewed them with wrong sides together because I like the look of the rolled seams but that is up to you.

3. Sew the two pieces together with right sides facing. Now you have a tube.
4. Sew a long stitch across the top. This is for gathering.
5. Cut the onesie bottom half off. I cut it about 3 inches under the armpit.

6. Use the bottom half of the onesie and cut a 2 inch piece. (It should be a tub shape. This will be the casing for your elastic).
7. Take your elastic piece and sew the ends together. I like to layer then to get a smooth seam but that is up to you. Now you should have a tub elastic piece.
8. Place your elastic inside the onesie tub piece that you cut (the casing).

9. Pin your casing to the top of the onesie with raw edges matching. Then sew the casing to the onesie top and try not to sew on the elastic.

10. Gather the top of the skirt so that it is the same size as the elastic part of the top. Pin it in place on top of the elastic (with the wrong side of the skirt on the right side of the top, does that make sense?) This way you will have a cut ruffle where your top and skirt meet. Then sew directly on the loose stitch attaching the skirt to the elastic.

And you are done now you have a cute play dress made out of leftovers. No need to hem the bottom because it is jersey fabric and doesn't fray. If you want you hem the bottom you can.


Sorry about the pictures, Liz wasn't willing to cooperate for pictures today. AAHH toddlers.

I tried to bribe her with the pig but all she wanted to do was kiss it.

**I was going to post WIWW but my new camera is not cooperating and the pictures are really bad. So You will have to wait until next week to see my wardrobe.