AFTER....the Girls' Room

Since the new year rolled over, and we were painting the upstairs hall and stairwell on New Year's Eve to freshen up the place, we had to go to the paint store a few times. While there, I had hinted to the girls I might be doing their room soon, so I had them each pick a color they liked. Carly picked this soft lime green, and Jayna picked the hot pink. Brent and I decided to combine the colors and give them each their "own" walls and sides of the room.

So that's exactly what we did...we got a gallon of each color, and started painting last Monday. Well, I "cut in" around the trim earlier this week to prepare for Brent's Friday off from work -- when he would go over the whole walls with a roller. After I cut in the girls' room, I decided to look for comforters and such. At the time I went to Target, they only had one hot pink comforter with ruffles...which I decided looked "tween" enough for Carly, yet still frilly for a little girl. They only had one, though. But being crafty and not a brand-new seamstress, I decided I would make Jayna a matching one in the lime green color. So it went...and I also re-covered the little stool that goes with Carly's vanity in matching colors.

A lot of the little things we now have on the walls (the green tree; the pincushion wall hanging; the "C" and "J" letters on the shelves, and so forth) I bought at Hobby Lobby all 50% off on sale. The quote "Happy Girls are the Prettiest" is one I found on Pinterest...quoted from Audrey Hepburn. The doily banners at the end of their beds I made...also an idea from Pinterest. Some of the other things we already had and I recycled...the small white chest of drawers I altered with some adhesive fabric I found in the scrapbook paper section at JoAnn's. The purple curtains over the closet and the hot pink ones over the window were formerly in their room already and so I just put those back up.

I love the contrast between the colors and each girl has her own "print" on the walls. Carly loved it! Jayna, too! They both kept hugging us and telling us "thank you." We told Carly that is part of her birthday gift...the other part being that we'll host a small party for her on her birthday in February. But the room makeover and all the new things are her birthday presents from us. So, what do you think?!?! :) Thanks for looking! PS - Last thing up...crocheting a pretty rug to place between their beds on the floor from left over scrap fabric from Jayna's comforter, among other remnants I have laying around in the same colors......

BEFORE...The Girls' Room

I don't know what it is (maybe the lull of holidays from January to April), but at the first of every new year, I feel the need to re-decorate! I have to buy new things for the home (with funds from Christmas cash and gift cards received), rearrange furniture, paint,...whatever until I feel things are fresh and clean and inspiring again for a few months.

Well, I decided this January that Carly's room needed updated. Here's the thing: we have four bedrooms. One is for Brent and me; one for Adam; one for Carly and Jayna together; and one for "my craft room." My "craft room" is a space I gave to myself after living here for years, newly returned from across the country (far away from family), when I had a spare bedroom that was never used. Because even though my family wanted to complain that we lived in California and they lived in West Virginia for a few years, they still never came to see us much after we moved back. So I decided that that would be my space to leave things out -- projects I am working on -- and not have to worry about it with little kids running around the house. And at the time, we didn't have Jayna yet, that I can remember.....

So the reasons I picked Carly's room to update first this year are: 1. Her room was the first we ever painted and redecorated when we moved into this house 6 years ago; and 2. She does not like sharing a room with her little sister. Well, I thought maybe if I updated her room to a "tweeny" looking room, she would be more happy about sharing her room...because let's face it...she's nine, almost 10 years old, and has no need for her own room yet. And despite that, I have never had my own room my entire life...and I think she'll live to be okay. :)

When we decorated her room six years ago, we chose a pretty little girl pink (not the actual name on a paint chip) and then I took a "dry" paintbrush and lightly swished a soft purple all over the walls. I thought it was pretty cute at the time! She had a handmade comforter from her paternal grandmother, and bunk beds (in case there ever was to be another little sister -- not already there), and little homemade stuff I did here and there. I'll be honest and say it wasn't exactly what I wanted, but when you're a stay-at-home mother, you learn to live with a budget and accept that you can't afford everything you want. However, her room was really pretty and met my (and her) satisfaction at the time. But as with all rooms over time, it got dull, tons of holes in the wall, written on with a pencil, un-exciting, and as mentioned before, it was no longer solely her room. Here are some before pictures.

Easy Headband Tutorials

I've seen a couple of tutorials for fancy-shmancy little girl headbands...and I decided to try them out today since I already had everything on hand (and because I was up until 1 a.m. canning garden food last night...I deserve some craft time! ha!). I used the following tutorials if you are interested...and tweaked the vintage rosette one a little more to my daughter's "princess" style. http://www.u-createcrafts.com/2011/06/creative-guest-budget-beautiful-diy.html and this one: http://www.u-createcrafts.com/2011/06/creative-guest-budget-beautiful-diy.html I'm definitely going to make more of the frayed headbands...they are just too cute in person and you don't have to be all dressed up to "dress yourself up." Know what I'm saying? Thanks for looking!

Crocheted Green Dress

Hey, everyone! It's been a while since I've made a post of something I've crocheted...so here you go! I actually have had this dress done for a few months...but it didn't fit Jayna until now. I can't even remember where I got the pattern -- a book or magazine maybe? All I can remember at this point in time is that it took me many hours and at first I didn't like the results,...but now, seeing her wearing it, I am in love with it! She wore it out of the house last week on a cool day and she received many compliments. Carly and she share a room and the nice purple curtains are what covers their closet, so she had a lot of fun modeling her new "princess" dress for me. She even gave me a kiss when she realized I had a new dress for her to wear! :) Thanks for looking!

Handmade Princess Crowns

These are some of what I made for the craft show I did last weekend. I sold about half of them -- my favorites are gone, and before I got to take pictures of them, too, dang it! Anyway, the ones pictured here are in my Etsy shop. They are $10 each. It might seem pricey, but I did everything by hand. Lots of sewing, ironing, pinning, embellishing, etc. And handmade in America! ;) These are great for birthday parties, tea parties, dress-up, or to make your little girl feel so special and beautiful...like a princess! ;) They best fit 3T and up and are adjustable with the ribbon ties in the back, so no sliding off or falling off the head as the little girl moves and plays. And they are totally comfortable, unlike the cheap plastic ones you can buy at the store. Thanks for looking!!!

Princess Birthday Crown

I recently tried my hand at another princess crown from scratch. This is my second one to date, and I think it turned out markedly cuter than the one I made for Carly's birthday. This one if for a little girl that I babysit occasionally. She just had her 4th birthday, and she's so spunky and full of life! So I knew I had to use some bright colors and a fun, whimsical pattern for her. I found the fabric at JoAnn's. The diamond accent trim along the bottom is also from JoAnn's. The yo-yo accents, frilly fringe, and ruffly border were all handmade by me. I super enjoy the end result of this crown so I am really looking forward to getting more time to make another. Thanks for looking!!!

It's All in the Details

Today's birthday celebration for Carly will be "all in the details." We decided since we are taking a Summer vacation this year, we won't be having all of the kids' really big parties with friends. Instead, we'll try to make them each feel unique at home with a smaller family celebration. So for Carly turning 9 this year, I wanted to make it big in an elegant, homemade kind of way. Does that even go together? Elegant and homemade??? Well, I tried to pull it off, and for the most part I think I did. For starters, I found this tutorial here: http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2010/08/blog-post.html a couple of weeks ago and began making some flowers. I already had EVERYTHING on hand and didn't have to purchase a thing. Score! These I laid in the center of the table, kind of random, like a table runner. (The tablecloth I borrowed from a kind friend willing to share for Carly's celebration. Score!) I also altered an old tin watch box for Carly's gift from me -- a glass heart pendant and necklace. I think everything I used came from Hobby Lobby on that...except the purple gems were from Target, and the scalloped circle and #9 I cut with my Cricut using the Simply Sweet cartridge. But again...I already had all of that on hand...except for the necklace! That's new for Carly! :) So score there on keeping it cheap! To make the large tissue paper flowers (pom poms) hanging from the ceiling I used this YouTube tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDAgjtScFpU. I think they add a nice touch to the room! And the tissue paper was cheap...I think I spent maybe $5 to make those. Score! To add a little detail to the dining chairs, I tied bows in netted tulle around the back tops and it did dress them up. The picture doesn't quite show it! But cheap...cause I have some left over and the chairs were dressy! Score! For the crown, my daughter loves purple so I used purple fabrics; purple felt; and Star Dust Stickles glitter glue. The lace came from Hobby Lobby. And I made those rosettes -- tutorials are on lots of different craft blogs for that. Anyway, all of it was really fun to make (ESPECIALLY THE CROWN)...spending nights while the kids were in bed, and I was watching my favorite t.v. shows. Carly will be home in a matter of minutes, and I can't wait to see her reaction to the way the dining room is set up...just for her!!! And a lot of it she can recycle and use to decorate her bedroom for an updated look. (PS - I am linking up to Lil Luna this week to share! I hope someone likes some of the ideas and can use them for baby showers, birthdays, parties, etc.)

***I'd like to add (after our homemade steak dinner with vegetables; Sprite with gummy worms in the glass [hey, my kids love that!]; and homemade strawberry cake with vanilla icing, that the family party turned out great. Carly even wore her crown all evening!

GO VOTE, PLEASE!!!

Hi, all! Please go vote for this lady at The Cottage Home! She entered an adorable dress into a contest and if she wins, she will share the pattern. I LOVE THIS DRESS!!! http://thecottagehome.blogspot.com/2011/01/week-1-project-run-and-play-winter.html. I really want to have the pattern...I can even crochet the neck piece for my daughter's dress myself. But sewing doesn't come naturally so trying to mimic this dress on my own would be disastrous. And wasteful. Please vote for Lindsay so we can all enjoy her awesome talent! http://projectrunandplay.blogspot.com/2011/01/winter-wonderland-submissions.html. Thanks!!!

Ballet Slippers

I recently came upon a pattern through Etsy from Holland Designs (pattern here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/61920495/toddler-boho-ballet-flats-pattern-pdf), and I fell in love with the cuteness of the slippers! Her instructions were relatively easy-to-follow, and I might purchase the adult slipper pattern soon. (I love wearing slippers around my house and hate to go barefoot. Even in the summertime, I have to at least wear flip flops all the time around my house.) Anyway, I chose to use up some yarn I already had on hand. The off-white slippers are Cotton Tots yarn (100% cotton), but the yarn is sort of bumpy, and I wasn't sure I liked the outcome of the slippers with it. So next I tried a smooth and shiny acrylic yarn (Caron?) and I like the detail of it a little better. The color is alright, but I didn't want to have to run out and get new yarn when I have aplenty laying around. All of the buttons were purchased from JoAnn's, which I also had on hand. I used the largest toddler size instructions in the pattern to fit my 2 1/2 year old, but she is in the 90% percentile and wears 3T and a size 7 shoe. They fit her well, and she enjoys wearing them. Thanks for looking!

New Year's Eve Party Clothes

Yesterday, my girls wore their new outfits. Carly had received a gift card to Justice from her Mama Helen and decided to get all blinged out for New Year's Eve! She loves dressing up; being fashionable and in-style; and even designs her own stuff! She is so pretty -- and I let her go with it because she thinks it's so fun to dress it up from time-to-time! Though we've discussed that outer beauty is not the only beauty we should try to attain.
Jayna's outfit was handmade by me following this tutorial: http://www.etsy.com/listing/59638540/bubble-skirt-pattern-pdf-reversible?ref=em and it was super easy to do. The large patterned fabric came from Hobby Lobby and the reverse side was from JoAnn's. Then I took leftover fabric and made her this bib necklace that seems to be so popular lately. She actually wore it around most of the day and didn't try to take it off, although at first she balked at wearing it. I am pretty sure I am going to sew her a bubble skirt in every size as she grows until my pattern runs out at 5T. You can make it as dressy or casual as you like depending on what fabrics you pick. Thanks for looking! PS - Carly was telling Jayna how to pose! Too funny!