Monogrammed Hair Clip: Part 2

Last week we had a family photoshoot with Angela Richardson from AMR Photography. She was amazing and helped me prepare for the shoot in every way, from make-up suggestions to wardrobe consultation. We decided on a yellow, gray and blue color palette including this little dress for Quinn. It was pretty on it's own but since it was store-bought, I felt it needed a handmade touch.


Love, love, love these shots

Coincidentally, I was also itching to play with my new Brother Sewing & Embroidery Machine, so I took the opportunity to update the DIY Monogrammed Hair Clip.

In the end it was a cold, windy and muddy morning (here is Quinn behind the scenes in a cozy blanket) so she wore a gorgeous little denim jacket belonging to the photographers own little girl. The clip didn't show in many of the shots but since Quinn will be wearing this dress for Easter, it will make a second appearance!

Read more to learn how to make this Monogrammed Clip.
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Super Last Minute Christmas Stocking

So... are you still holding out hope that you will finish that last Christmas stocking? The stocking for the now 20-month-old who will remain nameless (sorry Quinn,) going on their second Christmas without one? Jaime gave you one great last minute stocking solution. Here's another. I whipped this one up on Christmas Eve a few years back, before I had sewn a lick, so I know it can be done. Just cut your stocking shape out of a double layer of felt, stitch around the edge and embellish with felt shapes and trim. Mine are just glued right on there and have stayed through multiple holiday seasons and household moves! Sew on a ribbon for hanging. Super easy!

Keep your design basic. It will make the project quick and look stylish and modern... triangle pine trees... Christmas lights or mittens connected with a string of sequins... a snowman... or even just some stars! Trace a cookie cutter and blow up the shape, or use clip-art for reference!

Go super momma! GO GO GO!

Felt Gift Bows

Last year Jacinda whipped up some beautiful DIY Magazine Gift Bows from a tute she found at How About Orange.  I loved them so much, this year I thought I'd try to make a few out of felt.

Fun last minute wrapping trick, and it only took ten minutes to make three of them.

Find out How to Make A Felt Gift Bow after the jump...

What are you doing to wrap your gifts this year?  Share in the comments and you could win some pretty snowflakes!
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Adorable DIY Ear Warmers

How gorgeous are these ear warmers?? I love all the different styles you can make from one tute as well. When I spied these on Delia Creates I just had to beg Delia to share the DIY with you, and lucky us, she agreed! Take it away Delia:

With autumn here and winter right around the corner, it is the perfect time to make these easy ear warmers! These are so fun and quick to make, you may want to make four...like I did! All it takes is an old wool sweater or 1/4 yard of fleece, scissors, thread, and a sewing machine. Pretty simple. For this one I used an old wool sweater that got ruined in the wash and became semi-felted.


For this one I added some pleats up the side and added some flowers.


For this one I used a sleeve off an old thermal knit shirt.


And this one is fleece with a matching knit fabric sewn over it and a nice pretty recycled knit bow.


You're so excited now right?  And can't you see some cute mini-ear warmers for your tot?  You could totally make a boy version too.  Check out the full Ear Warmer DIY after the jump, and also visit Delia over at Delia Creates for a lot of other amazing tutes!

And remember to leave Delia a comment, because this week's favorite commenter wins those gorgeous embroidery patterns pictured up on the left!

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FREE Felted Wool Tree Tutorial

Here's an easy little tutorial for these adorable felted wool trees from Jamie of Little Nest Designs. I want a bunch for my mantel. Sounds like a sweater thrifting trip is in order!


Click here to get this easy & fun Felted Wool Tree Tutorial.

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Last Minute Costume - Easy Poodle Skirt

Wendy from Gurgle Turtle sent me this picture of her super cute poodle skirts she made her girls and I just HAD to beg her to share her tute with y'all.  It's crazy simple but with such polished results, you can totally whip one up before the friday school halloween parade!  Take it away Wendy from Gurgle Turtle...

So I wanted to make my little girls some poodle skirts without spending hours dealing with patterns or elastic waistbands. The girls would only be wearing these for a couple of hours, so why spend too much time making them? That's when I decided to make the poodle skirts in a wrap style. Super easy, super fast, and totally cute!

Get the full Easy Peasy Poodle Skirt Tutorial after the jump...

And remember, any comment you leave this week could win you some special secret mystery trim from Jacinda's stash, so show Wendy some love!

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Charlotte and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Rug

Jessica from Sew Homegrown is here with a fun tutorial to share.
Click here to learn how to make a Felt Play Rug!

And remember that any comment you leave this week could win you that sticky Aleene's goodness up to the left. So please share your thoughts!
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Portable Tea Party

This morning I surprised the girls with a tea party linen set... placemats, napkins and a tablecloth. The whole thing is reversible...


And the best part? The tablecloth gathers up into a tidy little bag to contain all those tiny cups and treats and spoons.

If you have a gal between one and four years old, you KNOW what I'm talking about. These tea parties can get wild and before you know it, you have this on your hands!

This is a FUN project for experimenting with trims and decorative stitches because you really can't go overboard. I mean, It's a tea set! What's more fancy than that!?!

Click here for the DIY Porta-Party (sometimes I can't help myself)

A few of you have emailed asking out our playfood, most of it is Melissa and Doug brand and we highly recommend it. The cake stand was from Pier 1 Imports a while back.

And remember that the "best" comment of the week will win you that adorable train fabric!

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Quinn's Farm-tastic First Birthday: The multi-use DIY hair clip!

I had every intention of making some of THESE hair clips for Quinn's Birthday party a few weeks ago but just ran out of time. When I mentioned this to my mom, she had a great idea for an easier version that used less fabric. SO clever, those moms!

Get the DIY after the jump and start clipping you DIY Hair Clips everywhere... to plants and cakes and even to hair! (But not at the same time, that would be disgusting.)


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Farm-tastic First Birthday: DIY "First Place" Door Bow

My color palette inspiration for Quinn's party was a piece Anna Maria Horner Little Folks Voile Coloring Garden - Dusk. In fact, I made everything that uses this print from a single yard of fabric, including this "First Place" Door Bow. You know you're in Texas when you show your husband a 3 foot tall Door Bow and he exclaims... "HOW IS SHE GOING TO WEAR THAT??" Love it.

After the party, this will be used as a hair clip holder in Quinn's room!

Get the DIY "First Place" Door Bow/Hair Clip Holder/GIANT CORSAGE after the jump.

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Fabric Silhouette Garlands

Here is another take on the ever popular garland as decor for a party or a bedroom. This is super simple - you don't even need to know how to sew. Of course ours are elephant themed but you can make any shape you want, and the whole project comes in under an hour.

I can imagine butterflies, or owls, or trains, or butterflies AND owls AND trains. Or silhouettes of your whole family lined up in a row! Get the full Fabric Silhouette Garland tutorial after the jump...
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Crinkle-bots

We came up with these little crinkly robots especially for Smaller: A journal of inspiration and ideas from the editors of Small (Magazine, that is.) And we are kinda geeking over it because we are huge fans of Small and everything else these gals touch. But back to the 'bots. Click through to find out how to make your own little crinkly robot with loads of ribbon-tag goodness.

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Felt Black & White Cookies

These are for all my crafty jewish brethren and anyone who appreciates a good black & white.  These cakey cookies remind me of New York and my dad.  After all you gentiles went felt-sugar-cookie mad, I got the idea to make some for Scarlet.

Get the full tutorial for Felt Black & White Cookies after the jump...
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Porcupine Pin Cushion

I thought that I was pretty clever when I came up with this. Come to find out, people have already made porcupine pin cushions. But have they mistakenly filled them with disgusting artificially pork-flavored dried pinto beans? I think not. So here is Porc&Beans, the unofficial Prudent Baby mascot. The best part about Porc&Beans is how much my 2yr old wants to play with him even though he is stuck with 100 sharp objects. So fun.

Learn to make your own Porc&Beans Pin Cushion after the jump.

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Dollhouse table

Clare got this amazing dollhouse for Christmas. Not an eyesore, lots of bright fun furniture, pretty easy to assemble, we were impressed. Until now it had been sitting on the landing in our kitchen, which meant that Clare had to lay on the floor to play inside the bottom level. It also meant one more toy in our kitchen area with LOTS of little pieces to be strewn about. I had been looking for the perfect short, square table for it and last night had an idea! I turned two of this type of cube shelf back-to-back on their sides, covered the exposed surface with some green felt and added a "swimming pool" for Ariel (or Marielle, as Clare calls her.)

Now the whole dollhouse drama has been moved to her bedroom. She actually wants to play in her BEDROOM!! At least for the first day. We'll see how it goes.

Quick tip: Add pretty sheets of paper to the inside back of your shelves before assembly for a little pizazz!

Sewing with Patterns

Since I've mentioned my irrational fear of my new sewing machine here, I thought that I would share my first little project. Baby steps, baby steps. But let me tell you, auto needle threading has already changed my life!

I made this little wool felt doggie using Vogue Pattern 7760.

If you are having trouble getting started with sewing, we highly recommend using a pattern. A pattern will include detailed instructions, which will usually challenge you to try new techniques that you might not have even know about otherwise. You learn alot! This one is especially fun because you don't have to worry about the item fitting when you are done, as Jaime said, "Guaranteed results!"

With his little heart patches, this little guy would make a cute Valentine's day gift!

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!

ribbon necklace

I'm back with more felt hair clippies! This time it's a monogrammed hair clip for your stitching pleasure. Quick and easy and a wonderfully personal gift for a baby or little girl. Get the DIY after the jump.

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DIY: Homemade Felt Cookies

Check out these adorable felt cookies! The full DIY is over on Petite Planet today. I totally have to whip up a batch as Clare has been playing "bakery" non-stop in her new kitchen. Such a sweet gift for any little girl or perhaps a favor for a Valentine's Day party... right? LOVE!

New Years Fancy Feather Hair Clips!

Scarlet, myself, and Grandma (who had kindly volunteered to babysit tonight) have all come down with a cold, so we're staying in. I thought I'd spice up our cozy new years with some fanciful dress-up.  Scarlet loves anything that matches mommy (see the mom and daughter aprons) so I made us up some easy peasy bright and fancy feather hair clips.

Totally fun, you just need some fabric, feathers and hot glue.  And personally I would totally wear this on a regular day to like the dry cleaner and grocery store as part of my hot mess mommy get up, why not.

Get the mommy-daughter feather hairclip how to after the jump...
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