Giveaway: Hello, Cupcake!: WINNER

And we have a winner of the fantastic book, Hello, Cupcake!

Anu said: "aww, i can't help it - fave cupcake memory was my wedding!" So Sweet.

Enjoy you're new book Anu, and be sure to send us a picture when you make some treats!

Prudent Project Round-Up

Eva at Handmade Beginnings made these shoes for her toddler using an old pair of jeans and our DIY Recycled Denim Baby Shoes Tutorial. See how she sized up the pattern and added trim?  Love!

Rebecca at Happy Baby Designs made these using our DIY Doll Diapers tutorial.  Little girls and boys love these toys!

Katerina at Thoughts at 350 Degrees made this stripey Simple Snuggly Baby Blanket!

Melissa over at Naptime Crafts sewed this adorable bib using our DIY Pocket Bib tutorial as well as a burp cloth using our DIY Burp Cloth tutorial.  One of her first sewing projects and it turned out great!

Happy Crafting!  And remember to send us a picture!

Prudent Baby DIYS: Hot Mess Mommy Round Up and Tips

Jacinda and I both work/craft/mom from home and we know the challenge of trying to look decent or even, say, taking a shower.  We've tried to create some simple DIYs to make you look/feel a little better. So here's a list of our "Hot Mess Mommy" DIYs for your crafty pleasure.  And in the spirit of that I've also added my top five Hot Mess Mommy tricks for quick ways to feel more put together, and I sincerely hope you will let us in on your secrets in the comments!


DIY Flannel Scarf Mommy
Crochet Neck Cuff / Scarflette
Crochet Ruffle Scarf
DIY Feather Hair Clip
Crochet Headband
Braided Fabric Headband
Freestyle Tunic Dress
DIY Checkbook Cover and More Versions
DIY Eye Mask
Closet Organization
DIY Nursing Cover


Jaime's Top Five Hot Mess Mommy Tricks
Caveat:  I am not actually that "hot" and more of a "mess" but these are my go-to tips for trying to appear human most days.


1.  Baby Powder

It works.  When you don't have time to wash your hair... it's like day three and you're looking a little greasy... a sprinkle of baby powdereats up the oil and your hair looks decent again.  Try it, you'll be glad you did.


2.  Big earrings.

Listen, I know big earrings aren't for everyone.  I never used to wear any at all. But I've found that if i throw on a pair, even if my hair is a mess and my shirt is stained, I look 50% more "dressed" and my husband might say i look cute.  I think because it makes it seem like you're at least trying, even though it really only takes five seconds.  Also, you can get all sorts of cute earrings for cheap if you dare to venture into Forever 21.  These earrings were $3 and i get compliments every single time I wear them.


3.  One great pair of flat boots.

I have a whole closet full of gorgeous heels I never get the chance to wear, there's no point in pretending they will ever be a staple of my wardrobe again.  I've realized that a cute pair of boots makes you look "done" even thought they're flat.  Throw some dr. scholls or whatever inserts in there so they are extra comfy and banish the slippers and flip flops, even around the house.  These boots were $29, again from Forever 21.  This length isn't the most flattering though.  My husband gave methese knee high bootsfor christmas and they would look good on pretty much anyone, for $70.


4.  Scarves.

Scarves keep you warm, you feel cozy, and they allow you take your jeans/tee shirt look to the next level.  They can also hide any stains acquired throughout the day, wipe baby noses, and cover little breastfeeding mouths.  In the summer, replace with a cute necklace:

5. Beauty Tubes

I've said it before on Prudent Advice, I'll say it again now.  Mascara is the ONE cosmetic that really makes you look the most prettiest.  If you can get into the habit of putting it on every morning, your eyes look brighter, you feel cuter and the hubby will notice.  I am a HUGE FAN of L'Oreal Beauty Tubes because it doesn't smudge and it comes off with only water. Don't listen to Jacinda diss it she's crazy.

Ok, that's what I've got.  What are your tips? I want to see some serious commenting on this post ladies because I NEED these tips. Are there any Hot Mess Mommy DIYs you'd like to see?  We'll try to create them for you...

Recipe Binder - MORE COLORS!

Isn't Jaime's newly made-over Recipe Binder pretty?

By your request, we have a bunch of new color options available for you to make your own Recipe Binder. Check out our Free Recipe Binder Artwork in a rainbow of magical kitchen organization fun!

Modern & Comfy DIY Booster Seat

The phone book is a reliable tool for helping "big girls and boys" sit at the table with the grown-ups, but I think this handmade booster seat is way cuter. I hope you make one, if only because I sewed right through my finger making this (through the nail and out the other side - impaled) and I'd hate for that to be in vain.

Get the full DIY Booster Seat Pattern and How-to after the jump...
Read more »

Felt Cookies Part 2

When I saw these cookies from Petite Planet, I just knew that I had to make some for Clare's kitchen. Since I'm all about projects I can do in bed, they made it to the top of the to-do list. Here are our Chocolate Chip Cookies! Clare thinks they are pretty cool, mostly when I'm trying to take a picture of them.



Mmmmmm, felty!

Crochet Vase

Here's an easy and simple way to spruce up a vase: crochet a cover for it.  I had actually crocheted this tube to make another Crochet Hot Water Bottle Cozy, but I used a wool yarn that was just too scratchy for that purpose. Then it occurred to me to slip it on this vase. I love the crafty vibe it gives the living room.

The super-simple Crochet Vase Cover pattern is this:  chain your yarn until it fits right around the vase snuggly, slip stitch into first stitch to join, ch 3, DC into third chain from the hook, DC in each chain across, slip stitch into first stitch to join, and repeat until your crochet vase cover is the length you want.  Coziness!

DIY Vintage Plate Cameo Hanging

We've given you the Cameo Silhouette Plaque DIY and the Cameo Silhouettes 3 Ways DIY, but now that I'm in love with mod podge I think I've created the easiest silhouette tutorial ever.  The vintage plate makes for a beautiful frame and the whole project took about 15 minutes.  This project falls into both our Under $5 and Under an Hour categories, and I think it would make a great gift, do you agree?


Get the full Hanging Vintage Plate Cameo DIY after the jump...
Read more »

DIY Cake Stand

Just a quick shout-out to Hostess with the Mostess for sharing one of Prudent Baby's very first DIY's today, Our DIY Cake Stand! Hop over there to check out their amazing blog & site. Sooooo many brilliant ideas.

DIY Children's Bathroom Step Stool

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Well, I didn't make the stool itself.  I bought it forever ago, I think at Target, for under $10.  But it was plain white, so after the fun I had with the DIY Matryoshka and Owl Coasters I decided to spruce it up with some mod podge and pretty paper to match the bathroom!

Make your own kid's step stool personalized or give a gift stool that will be the hit of the shower by using their name, their favorite words, or just some pretty paper.  It's SO EASY and has such fun results!

Get the full DIY Kids Bathroom Stool tutorial after the jump...
And thanks for the post OhDeeDoh!
Read more »

Recipe Binder

I'm not very organized by nature but this recipe binder system works very well for me and a few others, including Jaime, so we thought we would share. My husband started this binder before we were even together (he's a keeper) as a way to store all the random recipes that he collected here-n-there but I have taken it over and added a few features.

Click thru to read more about our Recipe Binder and Free Recipe Binder templates.

By your request, we have a bunch of new color options available for you to make your own Recipe Binder. Check out our Free Recipe Binder Artwork in a rainbow of magical kitchen organization fun!

Read more »

New URL and Buttony Goodness!

You may or may not have noticed, but we are super excited to let you know that we've moved our dear website to a new URL...PrudentBaby.com! Your old links and feed subscriptions will still work, so there's no need to bookmark the new site unless you really want to. However, if you were using one of our badges, you'll need to update it for some behind-the-scenes reasons I won't bore you with. They're always down there on the left, but I've included them here as well. To add them to your blog just copy the HTML code below the badge you prefer and paste it into an HTML widget! And THANK YOU!

Crochet Neck Cuff / Scarflette Pattern

My best GF's and I implemented a $10 or less holiday gift policy about 5 years ago and it's been entertaining to see what we come up with every year (Malice got me a Barney's leather wallet for under $10!!  so what if it's a weird size that can't accommodate a bill, it's gorgeous!).  Anyhow, now that I'm learning to crochet I decided to make some of these neck cuffs/scarflettes for them over the holidays, and to share the crochet pattern with you.

I even found a crazy button store on my street - all kinds of wild vintage buttons that wardrobe people from the studios use to make sure Angelina Jolie has just-the-right-time-period button on her coat in The Changeling - and the owner gave me a whole button tutorial!  Did you know about backing buttons?  Do you want to?  Get the neck cuff pattern and some mad button knowledge after the jump...

Read more »

Prudent Project Round-Up

Kbriggs at Sew Much To Love created this beauty using our DIY Nursing Cover Tutorial and I have to agree with her, the third's time's a charm!  Love it!

Erin at Happy Paprika used our DIY Hooded Baby Towel Tutorial to create this "Epic Fantasy Baby Towel"!  Love it and the matching hand towel she made to accompany it.

Jordan at Blueprint Crafts made these cuties using our DIY Burp Cloth Tutorial.  She also made some great bibs and a changing pad to match!

And Emi created this flannel blanket (only her second sewing project ever!) using our Simply Snuggly Baby Blanket tutorial!

We get so many emails and comments telling us you made a Prudent Baby project!  We love it!  Now send us some pictures using this contact form!

All New Clean & Printable DIYs!

We went ahead and did some fancy-schmancy coding to our site so you can now PRINT OUT our DIYs without all sorts of unnecessary web-pagey stuff AND save a few trees in the process.  Here's a preview of what a post now looks like when you hit print:

See, no more sidebars and pictures of me and JC (I know, you're sad, right?). Also, at the bottom of each full DIY post page there is now a link to "PRINT THIS POST" right under the comments link.  Click that and you'll get an instant, clutter-free print out!  Here's what it looks like:

Enjoy!  Oh, and if you want a link to the perennial favorite DIY featured in the pics, it's right here: Jacinda's Hooded Baby Towel.

Giveaway: Hello, Cupcake!

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for entering!!
Hello, Cupcake! has been around for a few years but it is SO GOOD that we just had to do a giveaway. In fact, it's SO GOOD that there is going to be a follow-up to Hello, Cupcake! called What's New, Cupcake? which is due out on April 1st, and is available for pre-order.

Although I am addicted to collecting cake decorating supplies, what I love about this book is exactly what they say about it on their website...

"We don't believe in hard-to-follow techniques or hard-to-find ingredients for cupcake decorating. That's why our cupcake designs use candy and snacks available at your favorite convenience store or even the gas station. So go bake a batch of cupcakes, grab a handful of your favorite candies, and let's get this cupcake party started."

And all that money saved on decorating supplies might leave a little cash lying around for a few of these beauties. But I digress.

Please leave a comment letting us know your fondest cake (or cupcake) memory to enter. Ok, and get this, since we already have the book, we are going to splurge on shipping and open this bad boy up WORLDWIDE! YEAH, PRUDENT BABY INTERNATIONAL! WOOT!

A winner will be selected at random on Saturday, January 30th.


Photos are from the Hello, Cupcake! website