Halloween Costumes 2011

I know it's only August, but if you're making your own costumes this year like me, you'll want to get an early start, especially if parties start at the beginning of October like last year! I must throw in that we're moving (again) across the country mid October, so you know I'm not completely crazy to start *this* early!
A couple weeks ago I finally made the decision on what we'd all be this year, within my costume-making capabilities. Lucky for my my 4 year old was on board!
Last year was my first experience in making costumes for my kids, and I was really pleased with how they turned out, considering I'm not the most talented in the sewing department. Skylee was a fairy and Parker was an owl.



This year I wanted to keep a theme for our family, this is what we agreed on; Ryan and I will be bakers, Skylee will be a fancy cupcake, and Parker will be a blueberry muffin. Sounds kinda silly, I know, but it looks amazing in my head right now!
I have all the fabric for Skylee's cupcake costume, just need two more things to get it started. I haven't gotten anything for Ryan or Parker's, but since mine consists of a cute apron and possible baker's hat, I thought I'd make it well in advance to get some use out of it ;) Here is how my apron turned outI used the same pattern that I used to make this apron for my Mom. I liked it so much that I wanted one for my own, that will double as my Halloween costume...it gave me a great excuse to make a cute apron!
Have you/your kids talked about Halloween costumes yet? Better yet have you started making any?

*Brittney*

Ruffled Apron

It's only been like, what, 5 months since the last posts?! I won't bore you with all that we've been up to... no posts, but I have been working on projects, I've just failed to post about them. This is one of those projects that I did a while back for Mother's Day. I was lucky enough to be with my Mom on Mother's Day, which hasn't happened in years! I wanted to make something nice, and since my Mom seems to have everything, I thought an apron would be something she could possibly use. I've seen so many cute ones, and have really wanted to try ruffles (I was intimidated by them before this project). I love this fabric (it's almost a vinyl, so great for kitchen use) and pattern, and I found this tutorial and modified it a little. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, and I hope my Mom likes it :)

*Brittney*
p.s. I promise I it won't take me as long to post again as last time :) I've got lots to show you!

Felt Flower Pillow

I consider each of my readers and followers my friends, so I need you to keep a secret. I'm pretty confident my husband doesn't really read this little blog of mine, at least I hope he doesn't read this post ;)
I love my husband, really, I'm very blessed. I won't tell you all he does, you'd be jealous, then we might not be as good of friends as I hope! haha. His job in the Coast Guard makes it so he's away a fair amount, especially at night. Before I found the wonderful world of craft blogging, and before I actually started trying to re-create projects I saw, I would sit at home like a sad puppy dog every time he left for a few days at a time. ( I know, I'm pathetic, even after years of it!) When he was gone, I would watch some t.v., stuff my face with something chocolate, catch up on my family blog (failing in that dept right now!), nothing really exciting or productive...Now that I have a craft to-do list, there are always things I'm trying to find time for and I've found that days and nights that my husband isn't here, make the perfect time for projects! Now, I'm still a sad puppy dog when he leaves, but I don't sit around anymore(usually) eating bon bons(not that there's anything wrong with that) I have things to do!
This is what I did this evening: A Felt Flower Pillow, I first saw it over at The Crafting Chicks
I've never had pretty pillows on my couches, but my world has changed, it adds more than I thought it would! I'm so happy with how it turned out, I feel like making 10 more but that would be overkill. One pretty pillow for my couches down, a few more to go :) Go check out the tutorial, it's great!!
2 post in 1 day?! Man, I'm chatty!
Have a GREAT 3 day weekend!

*Brittney*

Tutorial: Scripture tote

If you're scrambling for a last minute gift for your daughter, mother, sister, or friend, this is a simple but useful homemade one. The first one I ever made was actually for a boy, so if there's a guy in your life who could use one, give it a try using appropriate colors/ribbon(handle material) and embellishments! Sorry for all the super bright pics, I didn't have a chance to edit them and I knew if I didn't post this while I had the chance, it probably wouldn't happen :)
Materials Needed:
1 placemat
2 yards of ribbon
needle (or hot glue gun) and matching thread
flower/other embellishments
Directions:
1. Lay placemat horizontally and place your ribbon 2-3 inches from the side in straight line, and sew down both side of your ribbon.
2. Repeat on the other side, just make sure to use the same measurements.

3. Decide how long you want your handles and pin them on the opposite side (wrong side/inside) of the placemat. Turn under about an inch of the ribbon from the bottom to reinforce and keep from the ribbon fraying. Sew each side of your handles on. Make sure to reinforce or sew over a couple times so it's nice and strong! Nobody likes breaking handles ;)
4. Fold placemat in half, so handles meet, and sew a straight line down each side5. Fold your corners the opposite way so it looks like this: (kinda hard to put into words, or it's just late and I need sleep)
6. Sew a straight line across your corner, about 2 inches down from the tip.
7. This is what the bottom should look like after you sew the corners:
8. You're almost done! Sewing is out of the way, easy right?! Now turn your tote right side out, and add embellishments.

9. For silk flowers, I take them apart, completely discard the plastic parts, then reassemble the layers again. Hand stitch your flower on the front of your tote. On this tote, I added a pearl for the center which can be hand stitched, or hot glued on there. I've even hot glued my flowers on, but if you do that, glue each layer one at a time.
There are endless possibilities, have fun!
Merry Christmas :)
Linking up to:
Keeping it simple
Craftastic Monday- Sew Can Do
*Brittney*

Call me Martha...

Or something like that... She would probably have a cow if she saw how I made these and the details of them! I'm no Martha, but I'm so happy with how my stockings came out. This was my own pattern made up with my favorite method, "trial and error". I was kinda picky about the shape of my stocking (I know, I'm strange...it's just a stocking, right?!) so I drew out a pattern from newspaper, it seemed to work pretty well!
When I pulled out our Christmas decorations from the attic, I realized that I only had 3 matching stockings! Last year for Parker's first Christmas, we were in CA with our family and I never had to buy one for him, so this year he didn't have one here in our home. I figured I could manage a few stockings! I originally really wanted a red print, but when I came across this fabric that could be used on either side and resembles snowflakes, I knew it was made for my project. Only 3 are hanging in this picture, but I made 4 today...it's that darn 3 thing again...only so many stocking holders around here. I've got to fix that soon, SANTA is coming next week! If you're interested in a tutorial, leave me a comment, I'm planning on making a couple more. Merry Christmas :)
*Brittney*

*Brittney*
Linking up to:
Creative Itch
Someday Crafts

Skirt From Scraps

^My very serious model, Skylee^

Happy Monday :) Hope you all had a great weekend!
This project marks a couple "firsts" for me, sewing a piece of clothing WITHOUT a pattern, and it's also my first little skirt for my munchkin! As with any of my sewing projects, it's not perfect...but it does FIT :) I just started cutting and sewing, using fabric I already had from another failed sewing project and a pillowcase. With just some small embellishments of fabric flowers, and an elastic waistband, it ended up good enough to share. I think it's given me enough confidence to be a little more adventurous in my sewing endeavors, but still taking baby steps :) Now it's your turn!


*Brittney*

Linking up to:
Keeping it Simple
The Girl Creative
It's So Very Cheri
Between Naps on the Porch
Sew Can Do

Baby Booties

I know, I know...another baby craft! All this thinking about babies almost makes me want another one right now, better get crafting on other things! I've been eye-ing some cute baby booties for a while now, and since I'm some sewing kick right now I thought I'd give it a whirl. I'll admit that the first one seemed to take forever, but the second little bootie was super easy once I knew what I was doing and didn't have to look at the instructions every 3 seconds! Ugh... I'm glad I made them, and I'll be making more, since it seems like everyone I know is pregnant! So here is yet another suggestion for all you beginner sewers like me, looking for a cute baby gift that is simple, cute, and very inexpensive...LOVE that!
These are the last little part (I think) to this little baby gift, hope she likes it! Oh, almost forgot to tell you where to find this FREE pattern...Here! ;)

>Just made up these too! These will be going to a little boy expected this week, I can't wait to meet him :) I decided to try my first "refashion" project with this old (but new with tags) khaki jacket I never wore, and a random black pleather piece I had on hand for the sole of the bootie. This cost me $0! NOTHING :)

Materials Before:

After:

Still needs a little bit of touching up, but not so bad for a struggling sewer ;)

*Brittney*

Linking up to:
Keeping it Simple
The Girl Creative
It's So Very Cheri
Between Naps on the Porch
Sew Can Do
Mad in Crafts
Creative Itch
Tip Junkie
Today's Creative Blog
A Silly Little Sparrow
I'm Topsy Turvy
Women Who Do It All
Someday Crafts
Blue Cricket Design
Me and My Bucket
Frou Frou Decor

Boppy Slipcover

I actually pulled out my sewing machine yesterday, started AND finished this little project all in ONE sitting! Aren't you proud?! I'm a sad little sewer, but it's a goal of mine to get better, so this is great for beginners like me :) Here is the link for the free pattern I used. Just print, cut, and tape it together...then you can use it. It's a little tedious for a pattern but hey, it's FREE!

All you need is 1 yard of fabric, a 24 in zipper, thread and a machine :) Easy-peasy!

Every mother needs a Boppy, heck if you don't have one, make your own version with this pattern (skip the zipper and stuff it!) so I made this for a girlfriend who is expecting any day now! It's great to have a couple of these slipcovers handy with messy little ones. The nursery decor is adorable, it's rock and rock musical instruments/themed, with a blue and brown color scheme so hopefully these brown musical symbols will fit right in. I'll be making more for her little guy, so stay tuned...


*UPDATE*
Just made this one this evening for another friend who I think will have her little girl tonight! I'll be working on baby things here in the next couple days! Fun, fun!!! Cute right?!


*Brittney*

Linking up to:
Keeping it Simple
Just Something I Whipped Up
It's so very Cheri
Sew Can Do
Mad in Crafts
Creative Itch
Tip Junkie
Today's Creative Blog
Women Who Do It All
Someday Crafts
Blue Cricket Design
Me and My Bucket
Frou Frou Decor

Happy Memorial Day!

There are a couple really good reasons to celebrate today,
1) Memorial Day. It's so important to me that we take time to reflect on those who have gone before us, and those who continue to fight for our safety and freedom. I have always been patriotic, and I feel even more privileged now as a wife, sister, and sister in law, of members of the United States Coast Guard. Hope you are all having/had a wonderful day, remember those who fought for, and gave their lives for our freedoms and continue to do so :)
Happy Memorial Day!
2) I now have 60 followers! This is still a "baby blog", just one month old and I have LOVED it so far. Getting to know some of you, and checking out your blogs has been so much fun! This last week was super busy and exciting at our house(hubby advanced in rank and Parker, my little guy started walking!), which made it hard to find time to craft but don't you worry... May seem silly, but THANK YOU for supporting me :)

Just about the only thing I made this week was another little guy tie:

He's thrilled!

Stay tuned for upcoming projects!

*Brittney*

Little Guy Tie

Having a little boy is so much fun! I ordered this pattern from Make It and Love It because 1) I need a step by step pattern for sewing and 2) I couldn't resist anymore! I love little boys in ties! Here is how my first one turned out. I seriously can't wait to make more! I think it's hard to find cute/fun/handsome clothes for boys, girls are MUCH easier, but this was just too cute to pass up :) You only need a 1/4 yard of fabric, and the pattern is easy enough for anyone, even a really rusty sewer like myself, can follow!

*Brittney*