Puddles & Pictures

Last year I made a fall ensemble for <$10 that Livy loved and since I made it a smidgeon big, she was able to wear it again to church this past week!

I picked up some new pink tights (Lands End clearance) and found some gold sequin shoes in our favorite resale shop to update her look...rather like some of those myself:)

She was so happy to play with her "ferris wheel" flower (it spins on the attached snap) and sport her "new pink tights" with her "sparkly shoes"!

It was raining so we ducked outside for just a moment to try and snap a picture, which she didn't mind...

...until she got hit with some sprinkles...

...and then she was ready to go back inside:)

I'm so happy to see this little ensemble, made with much love, getting a bit more use:)  

Thumbs up for learning new skills (still a novice seamstress) & for handmade goodness!

Thanks for stopping by,

Tiffany

Olivia's Birthday Dress

Several months ago the sewing machine was stashed at Gramma's house while we de-cluttered our home for sale purposes- 2 weeks ago I informed 'Ricky' that I was bringing home the sewing machine since we had sold the house:)

I had a hankering to make a dress for Peanut, and not just any dress, a party dress:)  I saw this tutorial and began hatching a plan for my 1st dress project, including clearance fabric from Hobby Lobby, just in case I botched it! 

 

Livy liked the "Purpur" aka "purple" fabric with flowers & helped to find appropriate buttons so off I went!

Since this was my first proper dress adventure, I read through the tutorial + comments several times ( & even then, still made a few boo boos!) and worked on this once my little Ms were slumbering:)  A bit more sewing experience would have been helpful but I figured this was the perfect opportunity to acquire some!

After 2 evenings I had a lovely dress intact and was just missing the sash- I made a rather large cutting boo boo which took a chunk of time to remedy:(

I wish I could've captured when Livy first tried on her new dress- she grinned from ear to ear and quietly, in awe, strode to my full length mirror & began to twirl, admiring herself:)  Even with the dress not being perfect, she was elated!

So, finally Livy's birthday rolled around and she was able to show off her new dress at church- she'd been pining to show Gramma & Granddaddy all week:)

 

Livy commandeered one of my necklaces, insisting that she needed it for her new dress!

I made a simple coordinating yoyo hair clip- the button & fabric covered brad are from Stampin' Up! & match perfectly:)

  

There's a peek at the massive bow that tied in the back- neglected to get a proper pic of that feature...grrr...

FYI, if you choose to try out this great dress tutorial, be sure to measure your child- I made the biggest size offered (5) and it fits well with some room in the bodice to hopefully extend Livy's twirling escapades:)

Plotting more dresses to come...Livy informed me tonight, "Mama, I need new dress pees."

Thanks for looking,

Tiffany

Buttoned Up Valentine!

 

It's been a long week as my little Ms and now Ricky & I battle through virus terrain...the really hard part is being sequestered at home...for days...and days...sigh...

So today, I determined that sniffles & coughs would no longer keep us from having some fun...thus we started on Valentine crafts:)

Cut a piece of medium weight wire, long enough to make a heart shape...

For another craft using Wire Works (or alternate wire) check here- this can easily be themed for Valentines too!

                                  ...then choose buttons...                                              

 ...and begin stringing onto the wire...

...shape into a heart & twist the ends, curling down to protect little fingers.

Olivia loved her heart!

 

Next, attach some ribbon of choice to be hung on a Valentines tree, around a decorative candle, jar, door knob etc...  

Finally, tuck your button heart into a Valentine box for a friend:)

Enjoy & thanks for looking,

Tiffany

Model to a T

Back in the fall I made a little ensemble for Livy for under $10 and was quite proud of it, especially it being my first:)  However, the sleeves were a bit long & then by the time I added cuffs, they were way too long!  So it has sat in Livy's dresser...






 And then I finally remembered to shorten the sleeves- this worked like a charm but I didn't like how the new seam looked with the existing top stitching etc... so I added some yellow grosgrain and coordinating hot pink buttons for beautification:)

 I also added the ribbon to the hem of the skirt and around the large flower adorning the shirt...and now I really love it!  And best of all, so does Livy:)

Livy wore this to church and seemed quite pleased with herself and has since taken to bringing me her play scissors and saying, "Cut my dress, Mama" aka 'Make me another dress'!!!

On to the next!
Tiffany

Candy Cane Lane Couture

I have loved sharing some projects featuring the Candy Cane Lane fabric from Stampin' Up! and hopefully you're not tired of these fun prints yet!  We're just getting into the holiday season so there's plenty of time to squeeze in a few more fabric projects:)

These little hair accessories came together in a snap and Livy loves them!

I made fabric circles using the Big Shot and circle dies but you could trace around a drinking glass or anything round in a pinch.

Sew a basting stitch around the perimeter, draw it up and secure- add buttons and embellish!
TIP: Stampin' Up! rhinestones can be colored with a Sharpee to make a colored gem:)

These were hot glued onto some hair clips (that I really like) from Family Dollar- Livy doesn't mind these as they're very flexible and soft so no pinching of my Peanut's locks:)



Livy wore one of these to the Wolfson House craft show yesterday and received some lovely compliments- made Mama feel awfully proud that I took the few minutes to whip these up for her:)

Thanks for stopping by,
Tiffany

Candy Cane Lane Wreath

As promised, here is another lovely fabric project featuring the Candy Cane Lane trio of fat quarters- a wreath, made for Sweetstamper in honor of her birthday and another year of crafting success:)

The full instructions are included on the illustrated foldout provided by Stampin' Up! when you order the fat quarters- I just made mine super duper big!

 You'll start with lots if strips- sew a basting stitch down the middle of each, ruffle and pin all around the wreath form, overlapping slightly.  I just love how the ruffles look like little petticoats, all piled together:)

Then you'll cut a bunch of circles using the Big Shot or tracing around a glass, like I did...TIP: since I was making this wreath larger than the original, I upped the size of my embellishments to compliment the overall scale:)

Then grab your handy dandy hot glue gun and plop a dot in the center of the circle and fold in half.  Do this again, folding into quarters and here's what you get:

After whipping up a bunch of these little petals, they're arranged into 'flowers'- I did add some extra glue & twisting action here and there to make my 'flowers' fan properly:)

 

 Next are the yoyos, topped with buttons- I have a pet peeve about buttons not being threaded.  The end result is ALWAYS worth the time so get that thread ready!

 And here it is, all done!  I loved making this!  I hadn't ever attempted a fabric wreath before & discovered it was way fun, but I especially reveled in making something unique & special for my Mom:)  Should look pretty in her stamping studio:)

Thanks for stopping by!

Tiffany

Quilted Flowers

A few months back, I snatched a long sleeved T-shirt & vintage denim jumper from GAP to put away for Livy...when I tried them on they weren't nearly as big as I thought they would be so I opted to go ahead & get them ready:)

I dithered & went round and round about how to embellish this neutral ensemble...and finally decided to keep the ensemble neutral, where it could work for any season.  Still, it needed some kind of personalization...and then I saw them...

 

...these gorgeous quilted flowers, resting on one of Sweet Stamper's studio shelves!  The colors were perfect & fit so well with the vintage feel of Livy's denim jumper!  These flowers were made from running quilt remnants through the Sizzix Big Shot using the Fun Flowers Bigz L die- easy!  Gramma graciously relinquished these treasures and I set out to add some Stampin' Up! chunky buttons to finish off my ensemble embellishments.

 I attached the larger flower to a safety pin (like the efficiency of this!) so I can remove the flower for washing and to change the look vs sewing it in place.  The smaller flower I thread onto a basic hair clip and it sits on Livy's head perfectly.  I love the thickness of the quilt on these pieces!

My little model was thrilled to try on her new outfit and insisted on wearing her pink boots (only 4 sizes too big!)- they've barely left her feet all week...best $5 I've ever spent:)

I love being able to personalize the kid's clothing with creative embellishments, taking something ordinary & transforming it into something "boutiquey" & unique:)

 "Livy, say cheese!"  "Theez!"










Thanks for stopping by,

Tiffany

Anchors Away!

Happy Patriot Day!  During our recent Labor Day jaunt to Kid to Kid, I picked up a basic black & gray long sleeved T-shirt ($2) for Jonah in hopes of adding some applique- I've been dying to try some applique so here's my first effort.

I spent all of 2 minutes googling my desired applique template, printed it out with my handy dandy printer and cut it out:

Then I pinned the template to some red felt that I snagged from Sweet Stamper (handy dandy Mother!) and cut out- this was accomplished with my eyes half closed as the kids ate breakfast, so imagine my surprise when I saw that it looked decent!

Next I top stitched the anchor with some doubled black thread- I didn't use any fusible stuff as it's a smallish piece, wasn't going to experience a lot of wear/washing and the felt naturally 'sticks' to the jersey:)

My stitching was a bit messy ensuring that Jonah's shirt would have that 'homemade' feel- Olivia had commandeered one of my arms to snuggle with while I was trying to stitch:)

 Next I found these cute metal buttons at Hobby Lobby (for a whopping $1.35)- they came in a 3 pack so I opted to just use all three:)

Here is Jonah's completed 'Anchors Away' T-shirt; I love how it turned out, especially as this was my 1st try with applique!  My top button shifted a bit while stitching but oh well...I'm learning to embrace the imperfections of my efforts to actually get things accomplished:)

And Jonah loves posing for pictures in his new 'designer' T-shirt, just like the 'Cuban Ham':)

Let me know if you have any questions & stay tuned for more applique:)

Tiffany