i stayed home sick today from church with all three kids. i got bored and made some spring headers. do you like the one up top or one of these below better?

obviously i am into geometric and cool color palettes right now. used my trusty 10 minute blog header tutorial here.

spring wreath to christmas wreath!

so- the dollar store spring wreath ended up being a very nice, non traditionally colored, festive Christmas wreath!of course you could make it in the more traditional reds, greens, white and silver but this actually matched my Christmas decor!

and you can't beat $2 right?

no tutorial is really needed but here is the quick how-to.

flower tutorial here

10 minute blog header tutorial

like my new header?? i really liked my old one but needed a change for fall. want to know how to make a super duper easy 10 minute blog header too?

here are the 9 easy steps to having your own cutomized blog header-
* join picnik if you don't already have an account

* upload pictures. for my banner i googled "retro wallpaper" and this is what came up. if you want a plain and simple header without graphics you can do that too.

* once you have your photos uploaded go to the collage tab, pick the 4 horizontal squares layout. you can keep it the same size or re size it to fit your blog. for my blog layout ( minima lefty stretch) the way it is already set up is the perfect size.

*drag the spacing all the way to the left ( if you want it to look like one long banner) if you want it to be a collage you can play around with the spacing until you like what you see.

* your pictures should be in the bottom left corner. drag them to your collage. you can fill them all with the same picture, different pictures or leave some blank.

* if you want a different color click on the small box next to the spacing tab. you will be able to pick any color you want.

*when you are happy with the way it looks click done ( upper right hand corner)

* from there you go to the create tab. add text, add stickers, you can even draw a picture!

* save and use as your new header. it should be the right size for a header too. easy peasy.

here are some other ones i have made... hope that helps someone out! if you have any questions i'll try to help. i'm not a tech person at all and i figured this out all on my own. if i can do it so can you!

linking: be different act normal, tatertots and jello,  a little lovely, my repurposed life

hello there! i'm guest posting over at my friend megan's blog megitys handmade. head over to find the template and how to for this cute hedgehog applique.

spring hydrangea flower tutorial

supplies-

*felt ( wool or eco your choice)

*some sort of marking device ( i used a water soluble pen)

*embroidery thread

*metal clip if using for a hair accessory

*template

here is one on a headband i made awhile back

print template out onto cardstock.cut your flowers out of felt. you can do all of the same colors, a few different colors, or a whole bunch of colors. i chose peach and teal. cut your leaves and the circle out of felt.

start by hand sewing a flower on the edge of the circle. you can add a bead here if you want. i usually sew up two or three times to make sure the flowers will stay put. keep sewing your flowers. i bunch the flowers up and keep squeezing them in. i like a full look though. i just keep overlapping the edges and tucking others in until i like what i see. keep going until your whole circle is filled in with your flowers. fluff up the ends, tucking in some and overlapping others. now would be a good time to get the edges wet where the marker still shows up.( i obviously didn't do that before i took the pictures) you can either hand sew or hot glue your leaves on. attach a metal clip and add it to a headband if you like. this particular bunch will be used for something else. come back next week to see what!

linking...

somewhat simple, craftaholics anonymous, tatertots and jello, blue cricket design ,my frugal family

inspired by katie at matusake and her freaking cute hedgehog plushie.

raw edge headband tutorial

Giveaway below!!! Ends sunday nov 29th!!

raw edge headband tutorial- you will need- fabric for main headband contrast fabric for leaves and flower trim pdf headband file ( see below)

print out headband shape. tape the two smaller ends together place wide end of the strip on the folded edge of the fabric. trace with disappearing ink. sew a top stitch 1/4 inch away from raw edge all the way around the headband. trace leaves onto contrasting fabric. iron the leaves where you want them ( if you want you can fuse wonder under to the leaf fabric before you cut them out, or if you are lazy like me just ironing them into place will do.) sew around edge of leaves. now make some rolled roses like so. if you want to add trim you can. or how about making a couple of flowers in a cluster? done and done. now you have a cute headband that took you about 10 minutes to make. headband pattern here want to win this headband + another one? tell me what you favorite song by the cure is...mine are love cats, close to me and disintegration . just kidding you just leave me a comment and i will pick a winner sunday.

frayed rosette corsage shirt

frayed rosette corsage shirt tutorial-

you will need

pre-washed strips of fabric prepared in the same way as these ones vary the length and width for added texture and interest

a new or old tank, t- shirt, or whatever, i think it would even be cute on a cardi.

start by tying a very loose knot on one end of your fabric

pick a starting point for your first flower.

keep twisting. i like to vary between twisting the fabric loosey goosey and tight.

repeat, making some rosettes bigger and some smaller. i try to overlap a bit too.

keep going until you like what you see. i find that i have to try on the shirt to see where things need to go and if it needs more rosettes. i'm working on one other tutorial for today while the boys nap. we will see how that goes...

ps. i used black thread on these so that you could see what i was doing in the pictures better. i probably wouldn't use it for your shirt unless it went better with your fabric.

dollar store cupcake/jewlery stands

$2 cupcake stands-

*candle dish

*glass candle stick

* clear gorilla glue or e6000 or any other glass glue

*cute lace or trim if you so desire

the candle dish and stick were found at dollar tree! i found some small glass tea light holders at the DI the next day and used them as a base on some other ones.

glue these together...let dry overnight and you've got

these

stay tuned for how i used them for Halloween decor ( also using dollar tree finds!)

by the way do you know how hard it is to take pictures of glass???

33 cent nylon headbands

nylon baby headbands- a quick sloppy how to:

i had no idea to make these and couldn't find very much info on the interwebnet. i knew i wanted thinner fabric then the knee highs i had seen ( and they were too wide anyhow) so i bought these nylon knee highs from walmart, in the gumball container for 33 cents.

they were pretty wrinkled so i ironed them on low heat.

then i folded them in half.

these ones are for a newborn baby so i sewed them about 6 inches from the fold. then i trimmed the fabric about 1/4 inch away from seam and flipped it right side out.

add your flowers and your done. sorry no action pictures my boys would not oblige. there you go 2 minute headbands... and at two for 33 cents, you too can make buttloads!maybe you all know how to do this but seeing as how i have 3 little boys and haven't been able to find the info i needed i thought it might come in handy for someone.

frayed rosettes

see i'm not totally worthless... frayed rosettes tutorial-

supplies needed-

-fabric,you can use basically anything silk, cotton, jersey i prefer to use the cheap cotton broadcloth, it's cheap ( like $2 a yard) frays really easy and comes in lots of cute colors. trust me the cheaper fabric is better for these little pretties. This is also a great way to use up your scraps!

-hot glue gun and sticks ( i use a little tiny one because it is easier)

-scissors

take you fabric and lay it out so that that selvage edge is facing you. snip into fabric a bit to get it started.

take your fabric and start ripping, i prefer to rip because the edges fray up perfectly.

rip until you get a big pile of fabric. then take your fingers and run them all the way down the sides of your strips to fray them up more. vary the length and width to make it interesting.

take your strip and fold it in half, tie a knot right smack in the middle. try to make the knot lay as flat as you can. see how you have a knot with two long ends?

now start twisting the two ends together and then start twisting that into a circle. get your glue gun and dab away. be careful not to get globs of glue on the front side ( like i did). it helps to apply glue closer to the back of the flower

keep on twisting around and around. i try to vary it from a really tight twist to a looser twist so that it looks better. you can kind of go up and over in some areas for visual interest too.

keep going until you have about a half in of fabric left. dab some glue on the back and twist it around so that the end is tucked away nice and tidy like.

make buttloads more while your kids sleep because it's fun, easy and fast and doesn't require you to move much when all you want to do is take a little break. you can even watch days of our lives if you so choose.

can you guess what these are going to be? a little hint at another tutorial perhaps... any questions???

nursing cover tutorial

while pregnant with my second boy, my husband and i attended a REAL salt lake soccer game. while there i noticed a cute lady nursing her baby with a really cool nursing cover. this unique cover had a stiff top so that she could see her baby. it was lightweight, hip and convenient. it was also $35-50 -- something that i could easily make myself.

i am definitely a big time pro-breastfeeding gal but i also don't like my chubby belly or muffin top hanging out for all the world to see. a boob is no big deal but i'll be damned if anyone is catching a glimpse of my belly! it is also nice because unlike a blanket, the straps tighten as little hands try to rip if off.

i hope you enjoy the tutorial, please let me know if something is unclear. i am a very visual person so i tried to take alot of pictures.also if you are not a sewer or don't have the time, i make and sell nursing covers for $20.

you will need :

1 yard of cute fabric

1 16 inch piece of boning

2 metal d rings

thread

water soluble pen

step 1.

from your fabric cut:

--one rectangle 26x 38 inches ( for the main body) --one strip 4 1/4 inch wide by 38 inches long. then cut off 12 inches from that, leaving you with two strips . these will be your straps. sometimes if i feel like it i will make the straps out of a contrasting fabric.

step 2.

on the main body, fold over the short sides 1/2 inch. press and fold again. do the same for the long sides ( top and bottom). first, sew up the short sides,then the bottom. save the top edge for later so that you can thread your boning through. step 3.

lets work on the straps shall we? ok ... take your shorter strap ( 12 inch) and press in half with right sides together. sew 1/4 inch away from raw edge. turn tube right side out. maneuver the seam so it's going down the middle as depicted in the photo below. press ,then top stitch both long edges.

now fold the shorter strap in half and slip it through the 2 d-rings. sew a line across the strap, right up next to the edge of the rings to keep them in their place. step 4.
press the long strap in half ( with right sides together)and sew 1/4 inch away from raw edge. when you get about 3 inches from the bottom of the strap, start stitching inward curving like so...
this allows the d ring to fit around the strap properly without coming lose. in fact the more you pull,the tighter it becomes. trim the curved seam to 1/4 inch. turn fabric right side out and press the same way as you did the other strap ( with the seam in the middle). top stitch all the way around.
step 5.
it's time to go back to the main body. fold over the top edge 1/2 inch, press and fold over again, press . on the wrong side of the fabric ,at the top edge, mark 10 inches from each side with the water soluble marker. with the wrong side together pin the long strap to the mark on the left mark, lining up the center of the strap to the mark .do the same with the short strap on the mark to the right. make sure that the raw edge of the straps is tucked snugly into the future casing. ( enlarge the picture to see what i mean) step 6.
sew a perpendicular line across the casing, where you drew your mark at the shorter strap. this keeps the boning in place. make sure that you back stitch.
step 7.
sew the top casing like you did on the previous 3 sides. thread your boning through the open end of the casing ( left side). making sure that the curve of the boning is facing outward. then at your other mark ( the left mark) sew another perpendicular line through the casing again, securing the boning between the straps.
step 8.
flip the straps up now and top stitch around the whole top of the casing. don't worry about sewing on the boning, it is sewable.

step 9.
thread longer strap through both d-rings, then back though one.slip ever your neck and adjust as needed.
tada! enjoy your nursing cover you can even embellish it to your liking. i have done some with rick rack and a pocket on the outside. you can also do a pocket on either of the inner corner, made of terry cloth , to use as a burp cloth.