Dollar Store Tiered Party Trays

As I have mentioned, we are getting ready for Miss M's Garden Party 1st birthday coming up this weekend.  I'm really hoping to be able to have the party outdoors (fingers crossed for good weather).

I have been working on some of the decor for her party and wanted to share these fun tiered party trays that I made from items from our local dollar store.

Now I cannot take credit for this idea.  I saw the tutorial for these trays by Julie on Joy's Hope blog and knew I HAD to make these!

These are made from silver dollar store trays that have been spray painted to match the party decor.  They are attached to one another using dollar store super-glue and each tier is a dollar store crystal candle stick holder turned upside down.

Julie at Joy's Hope spray painted the candle stick holders which looked super-cute.  She also used a rainbow of colors that made them look so fun and happy.  I decided to leave my candle sticks clear to up the elegance factor - I like the way the crystal looks.

I made three different sizes.  All of the candle stick holders are from the dollar store, except for the tall one which I just happened to have on hand.

Joy's Hope has a great tutorial and will show you everything you need to get started making these pretty tiered party trays.  I think these would be so fun for the holidays - can't you picture black and orange for a Halloween party or red and gold for Christmas?  For $4-$6, why not make them for all the seasons!?!

Cottage Mama's Note:  Now if you plan to serve food on these trays make sure to put down some decorative paper or a paper doily - these are not considered food safe due to the spray paint that was used.  These would also make a great place to store your jewelry or in a girls room for all her hair bows and accessories. Pin It

My Little Baby and My New Baby

I just feel like things have been go, go, go around here lately - I mean, seriously, where does all the time go?  I have all of these projects that I would love to get done, but there never seems to be enough hours in the day.  Maybe someday, I will get to everything........

I'm trying to stay focused, which is very difficult for me - I tend to move in five different directions all at once but somehow get most of it done.  And honestly I LOVE to accomplish things.  Yes, I enjoy sewing and creating, but my favorite part is seeing the end result.  So this weekend my plan was to focus on sewing some custom orders (which I did) and working on my baby girls 1-year birthday party (coming up this next weekend).

But meanwhile, while trying to stay focused, I had a VERY exciting distraction come my way.  I have been wanting a new camera for a while and yesterday my hubby said that I could get my birthday present early (my b-day is July 15th) - eeeeeekkkkk!!  I couldn't believe it.........so check out my new baby:

image via canon.usa.com

Yes, that's right - I got a new Canon Rebel T1i kit with an additional lens as well!  I hope you don't mind me bragging, but I honestly can't believe I own this camera!

So this afternoon, I wanted to shoot some pictures of my youngest daughter Matilda in one of my "The Cottage Mama" dresses and I got to try out my new beauty.  My intention was to shoot pictures of my dress for the shop, but my darling little lady just captured my eye and this little photo shoot ended up being more about her than anything else.

This dress has been my top-seller in the shop. It's such a fun dress with all the different patterned fabrics and makes a wonderful twirly dress for older girls.

The dress is made from Art Gallery fabrics "Girly Girl" line.  I am in love with everything Art Gallery lately - you should see the new fabrics due out this Fall!

Sometimes you have to stop for a cheerio break mid-photo shoot!

My favorite part about this dress is the piping in the round-neck collar and the fabric covered button closure.  I've thought about doing a piping tutorial if people would be interested.  I think piping is a great way to add a traditional finished look to any garment.  Did you know you can make your own piping out of any fabric?

Well, that's all!  Thanks for letting me share some pictures of my little Matilda Jane (and letting me brag about my b-day present) - would you believe she is sick in these pictures?  Such a happy girl!

Cottage Mama's Note:  I did not adjust any of these photos with photoshop, though I am dying to learn all about it.  We have the program (CS4) on my hubs. work computer, but I have no idea how to use it - if you know of any online tutorials for the program, please let me know!  I'd love to learn how to use it!!

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Individual Pecan Bread Pudding

We spent this past Sunday celebrating Father's Day at my in-laws.  We had a fabulous dinner (shrimp, chicken and steak) and my mother-in-law made my father-in-law his favorite dessert (fruit soaked in Grand Marnier) and I made my husband a new recipe for Pecan Bread Pudding.

I'm usually not a huge fan of bread pudding, but this turned out great!  This is my version of a Paula Deen bread pudding (let's just say mine has a whole lot less sugar.....if you can believe that).  The pecans and brown sugar on top added a lot of extra crunch - serve it with vanilla ice cream and you've got heaven on a plate!!
 

Pecan Bread Pudding

Serves 8-12

Ingredients:

3/4 loaf french bread, cut into 1" cubes or 4-5 cups

5 eggs

1 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup light brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans

1/2 stick butter, softened

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, sugar and cinnamon.  Add bread and toss to coat.  Allow the bread and egg mixture to sit for 10 - 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine brown sugar, chopped pecans and butter.  Mix together to make sort of a crumble.

Get out a muffin pan or pop-over tray.  Coat with cooking spray.  Stuff the egg soaked bread pieces into each muffin holder.  After you have filled all of the muffin holders, sprinkle the brown sugar/pecan mixture on top (divide evenly among all 12).

Place muffin tray on top of a baking sheet (just in case any of the brown sugar spills over).  Bake for 20-25 minutes, until top is golden brown and bubbling.

Serve with vanilla ice cream.  If you really like sweet stuff, take it over the top by drizzling caramel sauce on top and sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Enjoy!

Cottage Mama's Note:  I didn't have my camera at my in-laws so this is not the actual picture of my bread pudding that I made this past Sunday, but I promise it looked VERY similar!

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Summer Garden Birthday Party - Fabric Invitations

So I'm in the planning phase of my daughter, Matilda Jane's, 1st birthday party.  Rather than doing one gigantic blog post after the party, I thought I would just share things with you as I go.  Luckily I got her invitations in the mail last week, so I can check that "to do" off of my list! 

The theme for Matilda's birthday is a Summer Garden Party and is inspired by the fabric I used to make her birthday outfit.  So I've already shared her birthday dress with you.......remember this.........

I really feel like the invitations set the tone for the party before it even starts.  For my daughter, Savannah's 2nd birthday the invitations were more casual and fun since it was a huge Elmo Dance Party.  But for Matilda's birthday we are doing something more intimate outside in The Cottage Garden (our yard), so I wanted a little more class and elegance with the invitations.  I am a HUGE fan of sewing on paper - I think it is so different and unique and super-easy to do!

I took blank, cream colored, folded note cards and used the two fabrics from her birthday dress for the invites.  I used the floral fabric on the front and the polka dot on the interior.

I applied single-sided fusible interfacing to the back-sides of both fabrics.  I find this helps the fabric to lie very flat when stitching it to paper.  I placed a little piece of double-sided tape to the fabric to hold it in place while sewing.

I used a zig-zag stitch in coordinating blue thread to sew the two fabrics to the card.

For the inside portion of the card, I simply printed the party information onto paper and cut it to size.  I used a straight-stitch to attach the paper to the card (again, I used a little tape to hold it in place).

I used InDesign software to layer the digital images of the fabrics and place the text on top.  I'm sure you could use something like photoshop or maybe even Word to achieve the same effect.

Don't you just love with something turns out how you envisioned it?  I love these little invitations - they are so sweet - just like my sweet Matilda Jane!

Cottage Mama's Note:  The fabric I used is from designer Heather Bailey's, "Nicey Jane" fabric line. Pin It

Dress Shirt Sleep Sack Tutorial

I'm not sure if you all were able to make it over to luvinthemommyhood to check out my Dress Shirt Sleep Sack tutorial, so I thought I would bring it right here to you!

I don't know about you, but for the first year or so of my girls life they spend most of their time sleeping in a sleep sack.  I never have enough sleep sacks - they always seem to be in short supply, but they are pretty expensive at $20 a pop.  So that's where today's tutorial comes in........Dress Shirt Sleep Sack Tutorial.

I have seen so many tutorials for men's dress shirt refashioned into little girls dresses, which are SO adorable and I've been meaning to make one (or two) for my girls.  But here's a new twist - make your little lady or little man a sleep sack out of their Daddy's shirt.  Use a 100% cotton dress shirt for a light-weight, summer sleep sack and use a flannel, button-down for a cozier winter sleep sack.

The idea of my little baby Matilda all cozy in her crib, wrapped up in her Daddy's shirt, just warms my heart.........can you feel the love?

Supplies:
1 Large Men's Dress Shirt
Bias Tape
Scissors
Thread
Sewing Machine
Iron
Baby Sleep Sack (to use as a pattern)
Rick-Rack, ribbon or other trim (optional)
Fabric for applique (optional)
Fusible Interfacing - I like Wonder Under (if doing applique)

Directions:

Grab a men's button-down dress shirt - preferably from your little one's Daddy or Grand-Daddy.  But if your hubby doesn't have an extra one, just pick one up at your local thrift store.

Lay your regular sleep sack on top of the dress shirt.  Line the zipper of the sleep sack up with the buttons of the dress shirt.  A large men's shirt is the perfect size for a 6-12 month sleep sack.

I am a big fan of using hardware-store washers as pattern weights.  Place your weights onto the sleep sack to ensure no slipping during cutting.

Cut around the sleep sack leaving 1/2"-3/4" border.  I always use a rotary cutter because I am usually very short on time - makes for much quicker work!

You will leave this border to allow for your seam allowance, which is 1/2" in this case.

Cut all the way around the entire sleep sack - through both layers of the dress shirt.

Here's what the sleep sack will look like after you have cut it out.  I left the pocket, but feel free to remove it with a seam ripper.

Sew the top of each shoulder - right-sides together.

Stitch away.

Press your seams with an iron.

Now cut out the neck (only cut the top layer).  Use your sleep sack as a guide.  I just free-hand drew mine with a water-soluble fabric pen - approximately 3" wide by 3" deep.

Here is the sleep sack with the neck removed.

This part is TOTALLY optional.  I wanted my Matilda's sleep sack to be a little more girly so I added some trim.  Get creative with this and use whatever trim you have on hand.

Stitch your trim to the sleep sack.

Pin your bias tape around each arm hole.  Open it and pin it to the RIGHT side of the garment.

Stitch the bias tape.

Now fold over your bias tape and stitch again on the RIGHT side of the garment.

Do the same thing around the neck opening, but make sure you fold over the edges as this will show and you do not want any raw edges against baby's skin.

This part is entirely optional as well.  I cut out a flower from some fabric (Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane) and used fusible interfacing to adhere it to the sleep sack.  Follow the manufacturers instructions for interfacing to do this step.

Then stitch around your flower.  I used a straight stitch, but if you do not like the frayed look, I would suggest using a tight zig-zag.

Now to finish.  Pin the sides and the bottom - right sides together.  Stitch the three sides closed.  Turn right-side out and press.

And there you have it - A Dress Shirt Sleep Sack

And here's my sweet baby girl wearing her new cozy sleep sack.

Checking it out, making sure Mama did it right.

Yes! I LOVE my new sleep sack!!

Time for a nap!

Cottage Mama's Note:  Please, please check all of the buttons on your shirt and make sure they are sewn on very securely.  I suggest reinforcing them, just to be extra cautious.

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