A Brand New Prudent Baby!

No, not THAT kind of Prudent Baby. No one around here is with child. We are, however, about to bring our brand new bouncing website into the world. This week we will be debuting PrudentBaby.com with a new look, and navigation designed to help you find the perfect Prudent Baby project.

Don't be surprised when you stop by for a visit and find some changes around here. If there is a Saint of Blog Migration please say a little prayer to her for us tonight. We are hoping to be back with our pretty new face shortly.

Speaking of pretty new faces, we are loving the illustration that I Missy You created for us. We love it so much that we may never appear in a real photo again.
Yes, I was extremely jealous to learn that Jaime's eyes are Prudent Baby blue.

The new look for the site was designed in partnership with Freckled Nest. If you are looking to redesign your blog or simply to create a new ad (say to run on Prudent Baby) we can't say enough about their talent as designers.

And lastly, our brilliant developers, Sean Benham and Tina Lam, helped us bring the site to a computer near you. If you need to migrate your site from Blogger to Wordpress. They are officially experts.

So stay tuned! We hope you love the new Prudent Baby as much as we do!

Prudent Baby Favorites: Let's Hear It For Our Sponsors

Our many sponsors play a huge role in helping us out here at Prudent Baby and we want to give them a great big thank you. Behind each blog and website are creative and talented people that have used their many skills to help inspire others to not lose sight of their crafty side.

We still have ad space available so if you are ready to take your blog or shop to the next level, take a peek at our advertising opportunities. If you have questions about advertising, just shoot us an email or contact our ad manager, Amber at admanagers[at]frecklednest[dot]com.

Let's hear it for our sponsors...

Linen & Thread

If you are looking for a new blog to frequent Linen and Thread is a great place to start. This blog is full of tutorials, recipes and home organization tips. You should also stop by their Etsy Shoppe where you can find a gorgeous collection of handmade quilts. All proceeds for the shop go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The No Sew Heart Pennant is a perfect craft to do with the kids for Valentine's Day.

Thumpkin

Thumpkin is an adorable hair and accessory store created by our assistant, Colleen. It has the cutest hair clips and headbands for the littlest of ladies and even bow ties for the littlest gentlemen. Clare and Quinn have the Starry Night headband and Gordon sports this bow tie.

Luckycann

Luckycann handmade bags are made for function and fashion. There is a great variety of all different colors and sizes. This Carson in Teal bag would be perfect for Spring.

Storkie

Storkie.com is a one stop shop for invitations, announcements, you name it. They carry a wide variety of both classic and modern styles just to fit your taste. Make sure to check out their many baby shower invitations like this Gift Buggie Invite.

Leyton Smiles

Leyton Smiles carries a large collection of handmade baby blankets, bibs, onesies and much more. They have Valentine's Day items for both boys and girls like this Baby Onesie.

Zipit

Get all the zippers you could ever want without spending a fortune. Zipit is an Etsy store that carries a large assortment of zippers at wholesale prices. Along with these rainbow zippers, they carry invisible zippers and zipper pulls.

Ribbon Retreat

The Ribbon Retreat has a huge and I mean huge, collection of ribbons of all different colors and sizes. Right now you can get free U.S. shipping for orders over $45. You have until February 2nd to take advantage of this awesome offer.

Coupon Mall 247

Coupon Mall 247 is stocked full with coupons. Looking for deals on home and garden? What about clothes or music? No need to look any further when you can find almost every coupon right here.

Vista Print

I have a hard time, not remembering to write thank you cards, but forgetting to buy them. These Thank You cards are basic enough to be used all year round and for every occasion. Vistaprint has a huge selection of Thank You cards, invitations, calendars, tote bags, basically anything you can imagine.

Want to see your button up there too? Check out our advertising opportunities for February. Get in on our super low ad rates before they go up next month for new advertisers!

Superbowl Party Decor: How to Make Tissue Pom Poms

With the Super Bowl coming, here is a fun way to root for your team with very little time, money and effort. Make a bunch of tissue pom poms like I did for Gordon's Football 1st Birthday and scatter them around to show some spirit.

Read on to learn how to make simple tissue pom poms and then stay tuned to learn how to make a football jersey cake.


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FABRIC FRIDAY

4, 3, 2, 1
Earth below us
Drifting, falling...

As soon as I saw Lesley Grainger's Rocket Royal fabric that 80's hit Major Tom popped into my head. This stellar fabric full of planets, stars and rocket ships is perfect for any little astronaut. If you are loving this fabric make sure to also check out the other space themed fabrics in Lesley's Launch collection.

To enter for a chance to win one yard of Lesley Grainger, Launch, Rockets Royal tell us your favorite 80s hit, listen to it and rock out! Leave your comment anytime between now and Friday, February 3rd. Tweet, Stumble, or share on Facebook and leave another comment letting us know. Come back every day for new entries. We'll randomly select a winner and announce right here next Friday.

Find out who won last week's Fabric Friday after the jump...

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Link Love

As soon as I saw this drape front cardigan tutorial for girls the wheels started turning in my head. I have to make one (or 10) for myself.

A last minute gift that is handmade is not always the easiest idea to come up with. These bowls are perfect for just that and they can be completely personalized.

For anyone out there who is a tea addict like myself, these handmade tea bags filled with your favorite tea would be a wonderful Valentine's Day treat.

My advice to all you this weekend, pamper yourself.

Our friend Cynthia from Fabricworm launched her new line of baby bedding and it's getting a bunch of press love. It's so cute.


Super bowl plays on a chocolate chalkboard? Go on...

This week Jacinda posted Gordon taking his first steps on our Facebook! Warning: This video contains complete cuteness overload.

A beautiful DIY play kitchen without the need for crazy tools.


10 Perfect Fabrics for Valentine's Day Sewing.


We are lovin' the Wee Pad. Completely made of wood and starts working as soon as you click on your imagination.

I'll leave you with our favorite Cross-Stitch Quote of the Day this week, Glitter is the Herpes of Craft Supplies -Jessica Shepard. Do you have any great quotes you live by or just make you smile? We love hearing them all.

Mini Me Top

One of the things I love most here at Prudent Baby is being able to chat with crafty mamas from all around the world. Even if we don't have the same first language we can still learn so much about crafting from each other. Citra from Innocentia is here from Indonesia to share her adorable Mini Me Top. So cute, right? You can also check out her posts on how to draft a peter pan collar, sew a basic balloon dress, and a super easy way to make hangers.

Get the full tutorial for the Mini Me Top after the jump...
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How to Make Fabric Yo Yos

Last week I showed you how my mom gave Clare's favorite dress a second life with some yo yo applique. Here is a little tutorial for How to Make Yo Yos...  just like my mama taught me and her mama taught her. Once you know how to make them, you can use them on anything from t-shirts to hair clips. You can even make an entire bedspread by sewing them together like my grandmother did here. Talk about scrap busting!


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Wooden Rainbow Arches

Lately I have been a total sucker for wood craft tutorials. I loved the child-size ironing board and when I saw these rainbow arches I knew I was hooked. Jennie and Allyson from Shape of a Spoon are two very talented women that find and create art in their everyday lives. Whether it is capturing the adventurous spirit of their kids through photography, sewing up a new dress or knitting the best sweater ever these ladies will try it all. Their Etsy shop 3Three is full of their handmade treasures where you can find such products as the Skirt + Satchels.

Enough of me chatting up a storm, let's get to learning how to make these Wooden Rainbow Arches...

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Cross-Stitch Quote of the Day

Jaime and I have been having some fun turning our favorite quotes from scholars, writers, celebrities, our readers, our friends and even ourselves, into little cross-stitch "patterns." We will be sharing them with you over the next few weeks.

For today I picked a quote from Jessica, one of our favorite Prudent Mamas. I can't remember when and why she said this but it amused me so much that I made a note of it. Now it is a cross-stitch pattern that we can all enjoy. Thanks for the laughs Jessica! You help make our day so fun.

#3. Glitter is the Herpes - Jessica

Previously posted quotes include:

#2. Be Where You Are - Jaime Morrison Curtis

#1. Remember This - Marcus Aurelius

Cross-stitch is pretty much the perfect little winter craft and makes an adorable Valentine's Day gift for someone sweet. If you need a refresher course, Martha can give you the low-down, of course.

How to Make Hand Stamped Cookies (the Lazy Way)

Last December I shared the Hey Baby Shower I threw for my BFF Mary. She's since had her lovely baby (a girl!) and all is well in the world. One thing I made for the shower were these stamped cookie pops. It was so easy and fun to do, let me show you how...

Oh, and let me show you that fresh new baby!
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FABRIC FRIDAY

Happy Friday! Now that we went back to basics last week let's spice things up a bit with a pretty print this week. I was immediately drawn to Rashida Coleman-Hale's Washi Floral Cream because of the color combination. This past year I have been all about red, teal and mustard yellow (throw in some coral and call it a day).

To enter for a chance to win one yard of Rashida Coleman-Hale, Washi, Washi Floral Cream tell us your favorite color combination this past season. Grey and yellow have also been at the top of my list. Leave your comment anytime between now and Friday, January 27th. Tweet, Stumble, or share on Facebook and leave another comment letting us know. Come back every day for new entries. We'll randomly select a winner and announce right here next Friday.

Find out who won last week's Fabric Friday after the jump...

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Link Love

I started a tute on painting leather bags like two years ago and never finished it (sigh), but here's a great one at Crown Hill. It's so easy!

Loving the round up of best stationery DIYs at Design Sponge.

Make a friendship bracelet watch strap at i try DIY.

Adorable Valentine's card from vintage music sheets, with free printable at Merriment Design.

This is the best parenting article you are going to read in a long time. Just trust me.

Anyone who brings any of these is for sure, most definitely, undeniably and eternally a good house guest.


Adorable lantern hand embroidery pattern just in time for Chinese New Year at Wild Olive.


Jacinda had an awesome photo lesson with Kristen Rae, I can't wait to get the details in an upcoming post. How cute are they? I'm jealous of all the fun they had, but Jacinda is coming to visit me next weekend so nanny-nanny-nanny.


I spent the week in Folsom, CA with my wonderful family-in-law. Aren't they all so lovely? I found some amazing milk glass, fed the baby lots of "shut up sticks," and watched as men hurled children into the air, then posted about all of it on our facebook group and twitter.

Here's 25 Ways to Teach and Celebrate the Year of the Dragon for Chinese New Year.

And an awesome wooden ipad toy handmade by the husband of a Prudent Mama.


25 Valentine's Day Gifts to Sew for Your Little Gal and...


25 Valentine's Day Gifts to Sew for Your Little Guy!

This week I will leave you with this awesome picture of my daughter at the zoo.


Kisses mi amors!

Applique: The Ultimate Stain-Fighter

When my mama was here for Christmas, she took pity on poor Clare's favorite dress. You know the one? The one that mysteriously disappears from the hamper and reappears on your kid's back? It's covered in soup stains but you can't quite toss it because she just loves it so? Yup, that's the one. So Grammie pulled out some fabric scraps, ric-rac and a needle and thread and fixed that little polka-dot number right up. Grammie decided some yo-yo flowers were the way to go and Clare and I could not agree more. Clare is so happy that her dress is allowed in public again!

Did your mama teach you how to make fabric yoyos? Do you need Prudent Grammie to show you the ropes?

Cross-Stitch Quote of the Day

Jaime and I have been having some fun turning our favorite quotes from scholars, writers, celebrities, our readers, our friends and even ourselves, into little cross-stitch "patterns." We will be sharing them with you over the next few weeks.

For today I picked one of my favorite quotes from Jaime's book, Prudent Advice: Lessons for My Baby Daughter (A Life List for Every Woman). Ahhh, I need this one on my wall.

#2. Be Where You Are - Jaime Morrison Curtis

And in case you missed the cross-stitch quote from yesterday...
#1. Remember This - Marcus Aurelius

Cross-stitch is pretty much the perfect little winter craft and makes an adorable Valentine's Day gift for someone sweet. If you need a refresher course, Martha can give you the low-down, of course.

Shirt Sleeves into Toddler Harem Pants

Melissa, from Needle & Nest, is an upcycling connoisseur as you can see from the DIY Sleeves into Harem Pants project she is here to share today. Inspired to turn more trash into treasures? Check out Melissa's upcycled t-shirt into harem pants, lace tablecloth into skirt, and the adorable doily vest project featured on that sweet model above.

But before you do, see the Upcycle Shirt Sleeves into Harem Pants project after the jump...
Read more »

Cross-Stitch Quote of the Day

Jaime and I have been having some fun turning our favorite quotes from scholars, writers, celebrities, our readers, our friends and even ourselves, into little cross-stitch "patterns." We will be sharing them with you over the next few weeks.

#1. Remember This - Marcus Aurelius

Cross-stitch is pretty much the perfect little winter craft and makes an adorable Valentine's Day gift for someone sweet. If you need a refresher course, Martha can give you the low-down, of course.

Make a Football Jersey from a T-shirt

Last weekend we had Gordon's First Birthday. It was a football themed party so, of course, he needed a tiny #1 jersey. I took to a plain white t-shirt with a pair of scissors and crafted one up quick and cheap. With the playoffs this weekend, it's the perfect time to show some spirit without shelling out big bucks for team jerseys. Here's how you do it!


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FABRIC FRIDAY!

Let's get back to basics with Robert Kaufman's Yarn-Dyed Essex Linen Flax. With all the adorable printed fabrics you always seem to be adding to your collection it's easy to forget a basic linen. Save yourself a trip to the store and enter for the chance to win a yard of your own.

To enter for a chance to win one yard of Robert Kaufman's Yarn-Dyed Essex Linen Flax tell us your favorite go-to basic to wear. My Levi jeans take the cake on this one. I always seem to try to branch out to new jean styles (skinny, trouser, straight leg) but my good ol' fashion bootleg wins every time. Leave your comment anytime between now and Friday, January 20th. Tweet, Stumble, or share on Facebook and leave another comment letting us know. Come back every day for new entries. We'll randomly select a winner and announce right here next Friday.

Find out who won last week's Fabric Friday after the jump...

Read more »

Link Love

I Heart Math Platonic Solids Garland tute. I love everything about this. At minnieco.

These ladies are doing all the of the Project Runway challenges... on dolls. Awesome. At JustCraftyEnough.

Chocolate dipped sugar cubes would be adorbs at a tea party, at Cute Food for Kids.

Cool DIY for a light up paper village. Kids would go crazy. At fellowfellow.

I can't tell if I love these or hate these. I think I love that they exist but might not wear them. Who am I kidding I would totally wear them.

Oh pinterest. Thank you for this trick of using spice racks to turn the sides of a dresser into a bookshelf. And these potato head cookies. A lot of work, but so cute.

On Facebook and Twitter I asked if any of y'all were currently pregnant, so there are at least 200 or so of you about to pop any minute! Then I got all kinds of emails and such asking ME if my asking YOU about your pregnancies was a way of indicating that I, too, might be pregnant. While I am not entirely opposed to the idea, my uterus is currently unoccupied. I'll let you know if that changes with lots of tutorials on how to make ginger lollipops and ginger tea and DIY barf bags.


25 Inspirational Ideas for Decorating with Burlap, so pretty! so scratchy!

And here's 25 beautiful night lights you can make.

25 Ways to Bring MLKs Message Home with fun craft and books.


This is a cool tute for making string and nail letters. Kinda like the DIY yarn sun I made a few years ago.

What's your go-to baby gift? Here's 25 baby gifts that never go out of style.


I rounded up some of my favorite affordable artworks for the nursery. I love these so much they make my heart buzz.

And i will leave you with the awesome words of Brianne, who posted this on our facebook page: You know you're addicted to sewing when you sit down at your computer desk and your foot automatically starts searching for the sewing machine pedal.

It's a Marshmallow World

Guess the very first thing that I did in 2012. Yes, I made marshmallows. Heavenly, delicious marshmallows using Jaime's marshmallow recipe. At midnight. Ya know how people say the Grand Canyon is majestic and amazing but you never really know what they mean until you see it for yourself? Trust me. Make these marshmallows.

Substitute 1 teaspoon almond extract for the coffee (or vanilla) extract listed in the recipe. Pop one in your morning coffee. Eat them straight. Taunt your brother with them. All delightful options.

If you want to go fancy for the kids, see this post for DIY "peeps."