It's Officially Spring...over my Dining Table!

My little house is slowly becoming more me. When you can't paint you have to look elsewhere for color.I was given this idea by an amazingly talented woman at church... 

...I forgot to take the boring "before" picture. Just imagine the lonely little light, naked and cold...

Can I just tell you how big of a difference this this makes! I love it!

It adds a little distinction to the dinning area (our floor plan is VERY open)

and  actually makes eating a little more intimate even for my family of seven!

 I started with a grapevine wreath form, wired in the ivy and bead garland, then added the individual hydrangea, Persian rose, red berry stems, and grass picks.I tied the wreath to the chandelier using burlap ribbon, leaving the ties a little long, and last used craft wire to add a handle to the glass globes and then tied those to the light with a green sheer ribbon. The tea lights are battery operated-I don't trust my 3 yr old with fire! And they are so fun. I'm thinking I need one more globe and a filler of sorts to hide the tea lights a bit. But aside from that, I'm a happy girl!(AND, my husband didn't even complain that it was in the way-success!!!) Happy Crafting. Wreaths and Door Decor...

Threads & Thrills Thursday...my list of must makes!

Remember a while back I told you about Favecrafts.com?

Well, I still love it. And I love getting their newsletter.

Look what it brought me today... 

Aren't those just about the cutest things ever?

I have 2 little girls that would go crazy for these.

These were designed by Maize Hutton.

You can find the tutorial HERE.

 Give me a second, I think my heart just stopped!I ran across these beauties while flipping through the pages of my latestPBTeenSo just YUMMY!!! I need several. You can check them out HERE And last, I picked up the Spring issue of Quilts and More the other day(purely for the hamburger pincushion on the cover! So stinkin' cute!!!) And found a few other things I loved inside as well...This one, they are giving away the patterns/instructions! HOOT! HOOT! for that... You can download this project HERE And this I just love, can't decide if  it's the ruffles or the colors but I know  I want one... 

The pattern/instructions are in the magazine.

(Sorry, can't give this one to you)

So many beautiful things to want and make...share yours tomorrow during the

T.G.I.F.Thank GOODIES it's Friday linky party.

Happy Crafting!

Threads & Thrills Thursday...

 I have a super brilliant project going on, {at least in my mind it is super brilliant}, but I think I'm going to end up using it for my challenge entry in the OMTWI contest, so I can't share it...yet. But I can tell you it requires a box for storage. I saw these last week and new it was the answer to my storage problem!  Aren't they awesome? And hello, made from a diaper box, so super thrifty and genius. Now while diapers are no longer a needed thing at my house {OOOOHHHH YEAH!!!!} I do visit Sam's Club enough to come across a good size box or two. The boxes shown above come from http://www.positivelysplendid.com/2011/02/lets-make-something-together-lined.html. She shares a fantastic tutorial, just click the link to find it.  And just for a litttle variation, how about this cutie... Same idea, just super fun and sassy! Becky too shares the how-to's of this projects creationover at Just Beckause. {I love that she actually uses it to store her diapers! Much cuter than the cardboard box.} And just because I LOVE THIS!!!and it's my blog so I can, check out this... Now as I wipe the drool from my face I will tell you this comes via another of my favorite blogsOopsey-Daisy. Oh how I love this blog...and this pillow!She has a link to the shop that supplied the fabric for this baby, {and a discount code!} Go check out a few fun blogs, make a few projects, and get ready for tomorrow's linky party.Happy Crafting!

Threads & Thrills Thursday...with Bubbly Nature Creations

Rachel from Bubbly Nature Creations linked this picture up to my T.G.I.F. party a few weeks ago and it hasn't left my mind yet!Isn't it beautiful?{Would you ever guess she made it using a toilet paper roll?}  She shares a fantastic tutorial {and some really clear, easy to follow pictures} on her blog HERE Once your done checking out that project, stick around and check out a few more of her tutorials. She really has a talent for putting them together! Here's a few I've added to my to do list: Vintage Beanie HatI've got 5 girls! We need cute hats...  Pom Pom Scarf...again, 5 girls, we need cute scarves! ...and this just might save my sanity......travel lap topsimple but BRILLIANT! Bubbly Nature Creations is full of great ideas, so go--be inspired to create something fantastic.And then bring it back here tomorrow and share it with the world, {well my little corner of it anyways}.T.G.I.F. Thank GOODIES its Friday #5 is open for linking at midnight tonight! Happy Crafting! 

Threads & Thrills Thursday...kids art and a borrowed tutorial!

So power outages and blogging don't really go together so well! Can mother nature just not understand that I have a schedule to keep, and go a bit stir crazy without access to my computer? I mean really! In all actuality, I'm elated to have not only power, but HEAT again. It was a long, cold, scratch that- FREEZING day yesterday!{ 9 degrees- in SOUTH TEXAS?} Okay, I'm done and moving on to much warmer things, like talk of irons! I mentioned on Wednesday that I had challenged myself to bring color into my house. This is an extension of that challenge. My girls rooms are also very white-walled and in need of decor. I want to add a photo frame collage onto the main wall of my 7 yr old's room, but wasn't sure how to fill the frames until she brought me a few of her drawings.She has plans to be an astronaut and own her own spaceship when she's older. This is what it's going to look like...

 

 This is very important to her and so I wanted a way to make sure the picture lasted for as long as possible.I had her color the picture with regular crayons and then I ironed the image onto a piece of cotton muslin. 

 The image transfers easily onto the fabric and leaves a reverse print of the original picture.I then backed the fabric with a thin piece of felt and using black embroidery floss, back stitched around the entire image, being sure to follow her lines and details.

 

 The result is a permanent work of her art that we framed and will add to her room. She loves it, and it so proud that her picture is on the wall. I love that I don't have to hang on to every piece of paper that she colors on. And here's the sappy mommy moment:when my little girl is one day off, soaring through the stars to Jupiter, I'll be able to look at her picture and still have a piece of her close by... No budding artist in your home, or are they dead set on having Dora on the wall and you don't draw?Problem solved!I ran across a fantastic tutorial earlier.Nora from over at Handmade and Heavenly shares how she got some of her son's favorite cartoon characters onto their pillows.A similar process to what I did, but a lot more details and pictures!Check out her tutorial here... Don't forget tomorrow's T.G.I.F. linky party! I feel the need for your inspiration...{and I like to visit your blogs!} The link opens at midnight just in case you don't like sleeping.  Happy Crafting!

More Threads and Thrills...Rolled Rosette Pillow

*** 9/09/2012 I just received a comment on this post that I can't decide if they were joking or not. It was kind of mean, but either way, they asked that I let you know that this project isn't quick. It took me several hours to complete one pillow so if you need to have this done in an hour here you go...it's not going to happen, sorry. But then too, I did mention that in this post. I removed the comment, it makes me sad, hopefully your pillow will make you happy!***

I've been pining for pillows lately, today I finally got around to making a few. I am elated and tickled pink with them, so much so, I feel the need to share the story of their creation...

In my efforts to come up with a few examples for my Valentine exchange, I found myself at my local Goodwill. I gathered a few fantastic treasures and headed to the register to pay. Then an odd and super terrific thing happened... The cashier wrapped all of the glass items I purchased in white t-shirts! What? Seriously? So much better than old newspaper! 

I got home, unwrapped everything, and sat staring at a pile of white t-shirts. I felt super guilty at the thought of tossing them, but what to do? Then the light bulb started glowing. I ran across a beautiful pillow last week that was covered in crocheted flowers-I wanted one badly. Two problems though, one the pillow was $70 and  two, I don't crochet. I thought I had solved the problem by resolving to make the flowers from ribbon, would have worked but would require A LOT of ribbon. So what if I cut up the t-shirts instead? OH YEAH! Thank you Goodwill lady!

 I tore the t-shirts into long strips about 1 1/2 inches wide. The nice part was because I tore instead of cut, the edges rolled on their own, saving me a ton of time. I gave the strips a bath in a mix of warm water and baby blue paint. {I knew this would last due to the countless #of shirts I've ruined while painting}

 I rinsed the strips out, gave them a twist to remove the water and threw them into the dryer.

Then I started rolling, and rolling, and then rolling a little more. Once I had the flowers rolled and stuck together, I sewed them onto a pillow square.

And ta-da...

...my baby was finished!

Just in case you're wondering, I used approx. 60 rosettes per side for 3 pillows, and I used 12" pillow forms.

The ironic part, I was trying desperately to finish these to enter them in a contest. They took a bit longer
(like several hours...) than I thought they would, and I missed the link!

But that's okay cause these babies rock!

And thanks to the awesome Goodwill  lady, only cost me the price of the pillow forms...

Happy Crafting!

I've linked this post to these great sites: My Romantic Home Someday Crafts Tatertots and Jello Bubbly Nature Creations Fast Daze I {HEART} Naptime

Threads & Thrills Thursday...baby gifts and Girl Boy Girl Inspired!

I realize that the idea of an appliqued/printed t-shirt or onesie isn't a new thing. But have you noticed how much cuter and easier they to produce now a days?Thanks to crickets, silhouettes, and the like, you can make anything, almost without scissors. I have baby gifts on the brain lately! I think almost everyone I know is either pregnant or just had a baby. {I just found out I'm going to be an aunt again! Wahoo!!!}With so many gifts to come up with, I have to have something practical. I bought three 5 packs{yes, that many!} of plain white onesies and 4 receiving blanket sets to make matching gifts of a blanket and onesie each, and then set out to find some inspiration... This is an older post, but I LOVE it. I have a few friends that this suits to a "T", {or onesie as the case may be}there is a super tutorial for it over at I Heart Naptime,my favorite part is that she attached everything with velcro so you can have a new outfit just by changing the flowers!  

And really, can you go wrong with this for your little man?

This one is from Sew Dang Cute, but you can find them everywhere.{just fyi, if I had a boy, I'd totally hang over at I Am Momma, Hear Me Roar, she has the boy thing down!} These are what I'm currently loving... Almost makes me want to have a baby! {Kidding, honey you can start breathing again...}I love that you can keep track of how old your munchkin is just by getting them dressed, and seriously, what a spectacular gift! Most of the sets I've seen have 5 shirts age o, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.I found the tutorial for this set here*note-these are iron on transfer patterns, not appliques! And last, time for a shout out!!! In my searching for inspiration I saw this... As the momma to 5 girls,  I'm a sucker for pink. I contacted the maker of this sweet outfit and found an amazingly talented and super sweet lady! And well, I absolutely have to share her with you...Meet Brooke Douglas from Girl Boy Girl Inspired and Bella Boo's Bowtique"My name is Brooke Douglass. I currently stay at home, run my Hair Bow and Accessories business online (Bella Boo's Bowtique), and I am getting ready to help my husband take over the family Heating and Air business. I have 3 great kiddos and my 2 girls are the reason I make all the girlie things I make. I have now started getting into some boy crafts and have been inspired to make my son some great items! I absolutely love what I do and do not plan on stopping. I plan on doing big big things with my business!!!!"

She makes fantastic hair accessories and shares a lot of the tutorials on her blog 

but her custom designed outfits,

 to me, are what sets her apart...

{take a look}

...so spunky and fun!

I have no words, I just want one...

...this one too!

Brooke does custom orders for birthdays {the sweet little pink #1 outfit was one}

as well as custom orders for special occasions, like say a trip to Disneyland...

{I LOVE the earring! Makes me giggle!}

 and she also specializes in photo props, you know those one of a kind little somethings that make a picture magic, like this...

Talent! nothing but talent!

Thanks Brooke, for letting me share you, I am "thrilled" to get to know you...

Happy Crafting!

   



Threads & Thrills Thursday...FaveCrafts.com

 Haven't had any time to sew. Haven't had time to search out that great new super trendy thing-then I opened my inbox...TA DA! Inspiration!Have you heard of FaveCrafts.com?Forgive me for sounding like a salesman here, but it really is a fantastic little tool when your creative juices are running low. I was turned on to this little gem by Abby from A Feathered Nest over a year ago. {And I'm SO glad she did.}So what is it? It's a website chock full of AMAZING craft ideas. Everything from playing with clay to crocheting an entire wardrobe, and everything in between-all with the tutorials and patterns included!If you're a needle wielding kinds gal, this might be your heaven.My favorite part is the newsletter you can sign up for-great ideas right in your inbox.Here's a few pictures of what was there this morning... 

this came from a post titled 29 ways to up-cycle a t-shirt... 

 not only can you get instructions for the afghan, you can get the template for the throw too!  

how hip are funky scarves right now? this came from another 29+ways...post.

They really do have a bit of everything, even a blog! If you like your inspiration delivered to you, it might be worth a look, if not, hope you enjoy the pictures!

Happy Crafting!



Threads & Thrills Thursday...my need for pillows

I definitely have PILLOWS on the brain. I love how a bunch of fun colors, different textures, and sizes and shapes can make such a BIG statement. I have plans to {finally} get around to decorating this place I now call home. I’ve been stuck under a “NO PAINTING” clause in our lease contract that has had me scared to do anything-but no more! I am determined to bring color back to my world. And I’m starting with new throw pillows.{Brave, huh?}

I have an idea of what I want, but sure did peruse the net to find a few more ideas.

 Check out what I found…

These little cuties were made by Felt So Cute, {I’m loving the rhinestone heart one!} I have a bench on my front porch that would benefit greatly from some friends like these.

                                 

She shares how she whipped these cuties up HERE.

I was strongly leaning toward ruffles for the pillows in my family/living room, this made my decision for me… Caroline from Artfully@ Atelier Caroline crafted this amazing cloud of fluffiness…

  

And how about these beauties from Brassy Apple? I want to run and jump right in…

 She shares the tutorial HERE.

...and last, I’m dying to  try something like this…

Jen from Tatertots and Jello put these together before Christmas. I loved it then, love it now. I think it would be fun to use my last name across the top and then a few words that describe our family on the bottom. She posts the how to’s HERE.

Have pillows you want to share? I’d love to see them, I have a lot of pillow friendly places that need to be filled in my house and anyideas are welcomed. You can link them up tomorrow to my T.G.I.F.-Thank GOODIES it’s Friday! Linky party-or anything you’ve been working on. The link opens at midnight CST.

Happy Crafting!