My New Tattoo

I got a new tattoo! Is this controversial? I don't know, but I love it and wanted to share it with you.

What do you think? My friend Alice, her world-renowned tattoo-artist husband Lewie Hess, and their 3-year-old son (Scarlet's future husband) all came to visit a few months back, and they brought along all his fancy gear to give me my tattoo in our backyard. I took pictures of the process... wanna see? Don't click "read more" if you are faint of heart...
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How to Make Your Own Chalkboard Paint

You may have seen me mention on facebook and twitter that I'm contributing to Soleil Moon Frye's new online show Her Say. Here's a fun clip where I teach you how to make chalkboard paint in any color you like for just a few bucks. We use it to whip up some little vases you can use as table settings and a travel chalkboard tile. It's so easy! Let me know if you try it. And you can check out more of my hersay videos here.

Personalized Nursery Art: The Easiest Handmade Gift Ever.

We've been busy playing with our new embroidery/sewing machines from Brother and we are even giving one away! I love how easy it is to make something personal with embroidery. This is a little piece of art that I made for Gordon's room in less than 1/2 hour. What a perfect gift for a brand-new baby! This would be beautiful hand-embroidered but you definitely wouldn't have it done in 20 minutes! Do you need a step-by-step for this one? Probably not but I'll give it to you anyway, just so you can see how simple it is to make!

Remember the Crochet Pennant Garland That was one of our first DIYs!

What is your go-to quick handmade gift for new baby?  Leave a comment and you might win the fun party supplies from Bake it Pretty!

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How to Sew a Crayon Roll

The crayon roll may not be a new idea, but it is a good one!  I whipped one up during nap time as a birthday party gift, delivered along with a coloring book.  I made a few more as little stocking stuffers for the nieces and godchildren in my life.  Easy-peasy.

In a different set of fabrics, one of these babies would make a perfect boy gift as well.

Get the full Crayon Roll Tutorial after the jump...

And remember to leave a comment for another chance to win this week's surprise prize, that Alexander Henry fat quarter!
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Crayon Apron Tutorial

Oh my, could this be any more adorable?  I know Scarlet would LOVE one, I can't wait to sew it up.  This tutorial is so clear and cute that I just had to ask Samantha of Bobaloo Kids to share it with you!  Take it away Samantha:

Hi everyone!  I’ve made quite a few of these super-cute crayon aprons for the little artists I know and they’re always a big hit.  They’re also available in my Etsy store – stop by and take a look!  

Get the full Crayon Apron Tutorial after the jump...

And remember to leave a comment, you could win that cozy Bamboo Ewe yarn!
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"Curtains"... Kinda

I have this window in my house that has been sitting naked for over a year, as I refuse to accept that I am never going to sew a curtain for it. I've been planning and planning to create a DIY Roman Shade tutorial for you, but there really isn't a super simple way to do it. So the window has sat bare. I even have the fabric! Anyway. Scarlet just started pre-school and every day she comes home with another awesome new piece of artwork. I needed a place to display them all, so this is what I came up with! It's just nails, string, and tiny wooden clothespins. After school everyday she picks a spot and we pile the artwork on. It's working pretty well at hiding my disgusting robe-clad self from the poor unsuspecting neighbors while I'm making coffee in the morning, too.

What do you think? Ghetto? Or cute?

And remember leave a comment and you might win that purty Sandi Henderson fat quarter pictured over on the top left!

No-Sew Powder Bath Makeover

Last night I used a few of my favorite Prudent Baby DIYs to give our powder bathroom a little personality. First I stretched a piece of Lourdes Sanchez Botanica Leafy Stripe Dove over a store bought canvas for a quick and inexpensive piece of large wall art (click for Wall Art DIY). And as I've mentioned before, I don't nail a hole in my wall for just anything.

Then I whipped up YET ANOTHER of Jaime's Mod Podge Stools, this time with Lourdes Sanchez Botanica Large Floral Cream fabric (isn't this entire collection gorg?!). I can't get enough of these stools. I still want like three more. Apparently I love to torture myself by enabling Clare's mischief. But I guess she is going to find her way on up on the counter regardless, so it might as well be on a pretty stool, right?

I still have some bathroom accessories to Mod Podge and trimmed hand towels on my to-do list for this space but I was too excited not to share my little decorating project. Both DIYs are so quick and easy with high impact! You should totally make some.

La Petite Mag Launches with a Prudent Baby DIY: Yarn-Pin Wall Art!

The first edition of the beautiful online children's magazine, La Petite launched today!

Rachelle from Kenziepoo is at the helm of this venture and she asked us to contribute a DIY, and we were so excited to oblige. I created this sun from yarn & pins as wall art for Scarlet's Nursery. It's a super simple way to jazz up a space, even a non-crafty person can do it! Get the full DIY in La Petite Magazine here!

Nailed it

My husband is so pleased. I finally took a deep breath, nailed a hole in my beautiful new wall and hung a picture. Whatever. it’s only been ONE year in the house. HA!

How good do those little birdies look with my new shams!? (insert self-congratulatory pat on own back.)

Adding color? Hanging pictures? What’s next, unpacking boxes? These adorable prints are from Eleanor's Push Me Pull You Design.

Here is another from her Aesop's Fables series above the fireplace!

Quick tip: Wall Art

I fell in love with this dessert paper the last time that I was in Paper-Source and thought it would be cute to frame for my treat loving toddler's bedroom. Sweet dreams indeed! Imagine my delight when it fit absolutely perfectly in the 19.75" x 27.5" RIBBA frame from IKEA. Custom framing is just not in our budget. Paper Source has so many brilliant papers from $1-$3 each, you have some amazing and affordable artwork! These robots would be great in a boys room and this yearbook paper would be fantastic in any room in the house. Just don't get this one or this one, it might cause permanent damage.

Snow Day Fun

Have y'all caught on to the fact that all I post lately is stuff I'm doing with Clare? Me-n-Clare, we do alot of stuff, and then we go to sleep, and then we wake up and do more stuff.

Today, it has been snowing like Ca-Razy, so Clare was introduced to the wonders of finger painting. She didn't really like getting that messy but I think I have some artwork to make some coasters! Then we made some heart-shaped chocolate chip and dark cherry scones. They are AMAZING although ideally I would have used dried cherries, but in "snowstorm baking" you use what you have. Chocolate chip and orange zest would be pretty fantastic too. Just be careful not to overwork your dough when using a cookie cutter to shape scones. They don't like to be over-handled.

If it's snowing where you are (or even if it's not) I highly recommend some baking today. cozy!

Color-in Valentine's Day Cards: Free Download!

My friend Asia at The Design Pocket created these insanely adorable valentines that you can print out and have your kids color in!  I had to share them with you because they would be perfect to send off to the family, the right combo of high-design cute and kid-made loveliness, AND they make a great kid-mom activity, which is always a huge bonus.

There are four per page and they say adorable things like "Owl be your Valentine!" Get the Free Downloadable Valentine's Day Coloring Cards here.

And the free downloadable Valentine's Day Coloring Book is available here!

DIY Birth Announcement with FREE downloads

I can't believe Quinn is 9 months old. Crazy! To celebrate her 3/4 year birthday, I thought that I would share her birth announcement, complete with the artwork files. Funny story, The announcement I sent to Jaime came back to me (return to sender) like 3 months after we sent them out. She never got one and was feeling neglected but never mentioned it. AS IF I would leave Jaime off the list!

Find the details on this easy DIY Birth Announcement and the Free Downloads after the jump.

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DIY Gift: Kid Art Trivet

Here's a gift I think even the coolest childless Uncle would appreciate: a trivet featuring your kid's artwork!  It's kid-cuteness in a modern and useful package.  And just as an aside, Scarlet is obviously so talented, right?  You thought I bought these at the MOMA didn't you?

But no, I made them from some of her paintings to send off to her three grandmas and two grandpas for Valentine's day.  And she's so proud of them, the look on her face was priceless when she saw the finished product!
Get the full Kid Art Trivet How-to After the jump...
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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...
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DIY: Watercolor Silhouette

I took the girls to the zoo this weekend and I had some fun FINALLY experimenting with my zoom lens. It was cool to take some photos of something other than the kids for once. So, I came home with some cool animal shots and I was trying to think of something to do with them here on Prudent Baby. Here is a DIY for these little watercolor silhouettes that I made.

FULL DIY and FREE animal images for download after the jump.

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