dollar store apron revamp!

My boys both earned enough gold stars to visit the dollar store! Hooray for them! While wondering through the aisles of cheap and what I like to call "2 minute toys" (they break in that amount of time) I spotted a semi-cute, full of potential apron! I grabbed it and immediately started planning what I could do to make it...well you know...CUTE!

Forgive me for putting my 4-year-old boy in a pink apron with a butterfly on it.

Basic 1st layer to cover the up the butterfly.

Overlap with another layer to form a pocket.

Add some rick-rack to finish the edge and throw on a hand made flower for

even more added cuteness. Finished with a bright yellow button!

My cute model, Maggie!

Luggage revamp!

So. Here I am, Saturday afternoon and I have to leave on my "trip" on Monday. Its raining and I don't want to go shopping for luggage. I had the most adorable matching set of pink luggage that we bought when we went to South Africa 3 years ago, but in the grand tradition of dirty cargo space in the bottom of our 3 planes- when I got home the luggage was BLACK! I was so sad! Since then, I have just used my husbands really nice, sturdy luggage he was given from a company he used to work for. I love the luggage, I HATE the branding on the front.

So this was my husbands suggestion to me today. "Just cover it up with some of your flower thingies."

Thank you Jason! Problem solved!

Swimsuit revamp #2

It is amazing to me, what you can do with a dollar and some scraps. I recently revamped my own inexpensive swimming purchase- Swimsuit revamp #1. And loved how it turned out. I thought this was worth a try as well.

I found this simple purple (looks pink from my phone camera) at the Dollar store. It is a 18-24 month, perfect for my cute niece having a birthday! I started out by adding a ruffle, much like the first swimsuit revamp, but on a much smaller scale.

I then made 3 small metallic yo yo's. I had some of this fun fabric in the big bags of fun I got from my grandmother. I'm certain it is from 1987. If you are curious what the yo yo makers look like- here ya go.

Top side of the Yo Yo makers (http://www.nancysnotions.com/)

Bottom side

Add the 3 small flowers to the neckline and the suit is ready for some serious fun in the kiddy pool!

Rick rack and felt flowers

This was one of those "I have no idea where this is going..." ideas.

I just kept making flowers and eventually added them all to one simple, brown shirt.

I love it. It is simple enough, no tutorial needed. Just make some flowers, add some buttons and you're done.

Necklace makeover

A long, long time ago I purchased a cute necklace at a yard sale for $.10. It traveled with me to the beautiful island of Hawaii and I wore it once. It had the feel of the tropics and looked great with my hibiscus print dress. I would recommend wearing this to a luau, but probably not anywhere else.  That poor necklace has been hidden in the shadows of my jewelry box for quite some time.
But no longer...

NEEDS: Old necklace with no purpose. Double the length in a fun fabric and have enough to wrap around the necklace twice. Some thread that matches the fabric.

Begin by rolling the necklace into the fabric and pin it to hold it in place. Start wrapping thread around each ball, starting at the middle and working out. Tie double knots to ensure durability. Continue alternating from one side of the center to the other until the necklace is finished. I think it's pretty cute. It kinda has a Wilma Flinstone vibe... I think it would be adorable paired with a silk flower just like this one.  

Instant message!

I still wish I had a place to wright down the important mind flashes I get- i.e. "get some lettuce, call visiting teachee's, Alice's number is 801.555.1234, Remember you LOVE your children!" Without having to scribble on my perfectly neat and organized desk calendar (cough, not really). Here is my solution. It's so easy it will make your head spin.

You will need: Desired size frame, cute and funky paper folder, dry erase marker.

The one I snagged at K-Mart was on clearance for $.69! It even says "NOTES!" Score.

Cut to dimensions of the frame, I used the little insert and traced around it.

And you're all done! Its cute without being all, "HEY I'M A MESSAGE BOARD!" It's portable, wipes off easily and can be personalized however you want! My head has finally stopped going round and round.

Little boys can have cute shirts.

For Easter, my mom gave the clowns super cute striped tee's. They are definately cute enough on their own, but I saw some hidden potential in those duds. I started first with the blue shirt. I was coached on the design by the expert himself. He wanted a "super-awesome-cool-spaceship." With directions like those, how could I go wrong? I drew the shapes of the rocket on a basic sheet of paper and then pinned them in place. With my sewing machine on a simple stitch, I traced each piece and then placed the black piece on the shirt.

Shirt #2

This is an obviously easy pattern. 3 diamonds with cross-stitching through each. I love the cute argyle pattern it created. I think we took these to the next level of cuteness!