Prudent Baby: December 2010

FRIDAY {SURPRISE} PRIZE

One of the crafty dreams that I found under the tree was a giant... GIANT!... box of vintage pom-pom trim from my sister-in-law. Does she know me OR WHAT? She works for a theater that received a warehouse-sized donation of such delights from a woman in Las Vegas. Can you imagine my glee upon opening this package? So here is the fun part, for this week's Surprise Prize, the winner will receive a yard of my pom-pom trim. Whichever color you like! So send in the comments ladies. Our favorite of the week is the winner. We will announce next Friday! Amuse us!

Labels: Giveaways

Link Love

Happy New Year's Eve, oh prudent ones! Here is some link-y fun to end 2010.

A sweet FREE DIY for this fleece Snowblossom Hat from Made By Rae.

Make tonight's gathering a bit more festive with these free Happy New Year Party Printables.

I'm feeling the turban look for post-baby hospital glamor. Can I pull off this look?
Here is a step-by-step for tying a scarf into a turban for those who can.

Is it too early to start talking President's Day? Love these DIY prezzy t-shirts from Dana Made It.

ALSO:

The wise and adorable Elsie has 5 simple tips for making your 2011 creative dreams come true.

Oh Dee Doh showcases the Best of 2010 DIY Projects. Part 1. Part 2.

I spotted these Clothbound children's classics from Penguin while doing a bit of post-Christmas shopping and thought they would make a beautiful gift for a girl of any age. Jaime gifted Quinn a copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass for her birthday and I thought it was gift-giving perfection.

One of my own favorite store-bought gifts under the tree was a few of these Pantone Mugs. If you know anyone who is into graphic design, these would be a home run. Trust me.

I've already mentioned that The Quilting Bug has hit. Love the DIY for these His&Hers Personalized Baby Quilts. Nice way to stretch some quality fabric. Like the new insanely cute Tammis Keefe Tribute Fabric.

And lastly, now that holiday madness has died down, why not enter Prudent Baby's Salt Dough Ornament Contest to be entered to win a $50 gift card to Bake It Pretty? Make some snowflakes or get a head-start on Valentine's Day with some pretty hearts. These cookies are real but you could easily recreate both looks with puffy paint and rubber stamps. You have until January 3rd at midnight to submit your photos. Click for details.

Oh wait but before I go, I have two very important mommy questions for you.

1. Does anyone have a free tutorial for a crocheted baby cap with ears? Or any adorable crocheted baby cap?

2. Has anyone bought a minivan lately? Which one? Do you love it? Why? We are deciding between a Sienna and an Odyssey this morning and could use your sage advice. PS. I'm sexy, I'm buying a minivan. Everyone promises I will never look back.

Labels: Link Love

Most Popular Posts of 2010

What a lovely year, I have to admit I'm a little sad it's coming to a close. But we took a look back at our most popular posts of the year, and that has cheered me up. Some of the news surprised us (white trash bbq anyone?) and some did not (Silhouette Giveaway, hello). Take a look at the most popular Prudent Baby posts of the year, and tell us, were these your favorites? Or was there another? We can't wait to read the comments on this one.

1. Snappy Toddler Top & Free Downloadable Pattern

2. DIY "Pillowcase" Baby Dress Pattern

3. White Trash BBQ

4. Adorable DIY Ear Warmers

5. DIY Nap Mat/Bed Roll

6. GIVEAWAY: SILHOUETTE DIGITAL CUTTING TOOL!!

7. How to Make Bias Tape

8. Decorating Royal Icing Sugar Cookies

9. Beginner's Bias Tape Bag with Free Downloadable Pattern

10. DIY "Pillowcase" Dress - Part 2: with Bias Tape

Also check out the Most Popular Prudent Advice of 2010 here!

Labels: Lists

The Quilting Bug

My sister-in-law made super-sweet quilts for Clare and her cousin Manning for Christmas. This was her first attempt at quilting and they are gorgeous! She bought a "layer cake" (a stack of 10"x10" pieces of fabric) for each and followed this simple yet stunning pattern that she found on the Moda Bakeshop website. This has totally inspired me to make my first quilt this year. How about you? Will you be quilting in 2011? Don't you love these beauties? I adore the way she wrapped the backing, a luxurious minkee, up and around the front to act as her binding. It makes it THAT much more cozy.

The new Denyse Schmidt from Fabricworm would work for a boy or a girl. Love the fresh geometric patterns.

Labels: Baby, Quilting, The Season of Cozy

Pretty Potholders

Potholders are superfun scrap busting projects, so customizable and great for a bit of fabric you want to see every day but don't want to like, wear.

I made this one with a little pocket for your hand, just because I prefer being able to grab a hot pan handle that way. Umm, I have old lady hands. Don't look.

I said don't look!

Sigh. Learn How to Make A Potholder after the jump...

Make one yourself and enter it into the SEWING MACHINE DOUBLE DOWN CONTEST for your chance to win a new Brother Sewing Machine!
Read more »

Labels: DIY, Gifts, In One Evening, Kitchen, Quilting, Sewing, Under $5

The Tape Trick

Does your kid have a hard time staying in his/her room at bedtime? Mine does, and it was making me crazy. Like insane, haven't-slept-through-the-night, can't-remember-where-my-glasses-are-when-they're-on-my-head, sleep-deprived, newborn crazy. This stopped working when she stopped being a baby: I needed a new solution.

I had read about this trick somewhere, a long time ago, maybe in Heathy Sleep Habits, Happy Child? I really don't remember, but it popped into my head one night last week, and it has worked so well I HAD to share. Though the tape trick is not very crafty, if even one Prudent Mama gets a good night's sleep because of this, it will have been worth it. Get the full details on The Tape Trick after the jump...
Read more »

Labels: Tips

Manly Laptop Sleeve Part 2: All Girl

When I saw Jacinda's Manly Laptop Sleeve Tutorial in the queue I was beyond excited! Umm, maybe I should have made one for Carleton Curtis first? Alas, I did not. This Anna Maria Horner fabric was calling out to be by my side every day!

I used a snap instead of velcro because I'm obsessed with snaps (and I didn't have any velcro) and some fun gold bias tape. Does it look too old-fashioned? I hope not, because I kind of love it.

I even did a little piecing and some diagonal quilting using fancy metallic sparkly gold Kreinik thread. Since I know you'll ask, the gold fabric is Anna Maria Horner Innocent Crush Quilt Cotton Loves Me Loves Me Not in Golden, and the flowers are Anthology Fabrics High Society Silo Dahlias in Gold, both from Fabricworm.

Ok, your turn: Get the Laptop Sleeve Tutorial here.

Labels: Accessories, All Things Boy, Christmas, DIY, Father's Day, Gifts, In One Evening, Quilting, Sewing

Winner: Signed Copy of Prudent Advice

Ah yes, back to business, there are prizes to be awarded. So, loved reading all of your holiday advice and tried very hard to take it to heart. And the randomly selected winner of the signed copy of Prudent Advice is...

Em from Everything Old is New Again who said: Start your own holiday traditions, as well as honouring the ones you grew up with. Oh, and if you want to make all your Christmas gifts, start in July.

HA HA! So true lady. Use the contact form to send me your address and let me know who you'd like your book made out to, and I'll send it off. If anyone else really wants a signed copy, go ahead and contact me, if you send me a copy I will sign it and send it back.

XO

Labels: Giveaways

FRIDAY{SURPRISE}PRIZE

We hope that everyone had a very merry weekend with friends and family! Alas it is Monday and we have some business to take care of. The business of awarding prizes. It's very serious work that we do here at Prudent Baby.

We have 5 silver vinyl snowflakes that I made on my Silhouette Digital Cutting Machine. (which I love so, thank you Silhouette!) I put mine on the windows for a little White Christmas in Texas but you can use them as a stencil for glass etching or whatever you wish!

And the winner is... Stacy, who said...
I saw your snowflakes and thought they would be PERFECT for my sweet baby girl's first birthday party. We are planning the theme of a "Winter 'One'derland" and I've been searching for all things wintery- like snowflakes! I would LOVE to have them as a keepsake for a baby girl's FIRST birthday celebration.

We would love to help make Stacy's sweet baby girl's first birthday a little more winter-fabulous and also because we can't resist a good pun!

Send us your email address using the contact us form and we will get the ball rolling. You have 5 days to contact us before your prize is passed on to a new lucky winner.

And if you didn't find a Silhouette under the tree, maybe it's time to just treat yourself with their latest promotion, running from December 26 through January 1. Purchase a Silhouette for $175(!) with a commitment to a monthly subscription to the online store by using the promo code "prudent" at checkout.

And believe me, you will want an online subscription. It is awesome. Here is a glimpse at some of the lovelies which I plan to acquire for upcoming projects.