simple {reversible} tote bag

This tote was really fun and easy to make. This was my second sewing project since high school, so you know it's easy :P  Click here for the step by step tutorial.

I love that it's so customizable.. If you want it bigger, just cut bigger pieces. On the reversible side, I added a pocket.. I am always digging for my phone and chapstick :]

You could also add some embellishments if you'd like. I can't decide what to put on mine yet..

Easy Birthday Card

 You'll need:

-cards & envelopes (25 pack $5.49 @Michael's)
-glue stick
-scissors
-stamp ($1 @Michaels's)
-ink pad
-scrapbook paper

What I love about this is you can use up some of those paper scraps :) For added detail (if you have a sewing machine), sew a border!

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

photo + a bunch of kisses = Valentine's Day card!!

{lollipop tree}

I am SO happy this {RED} topiary tree is finished... started it five years ago.

Ran out of "seasonal" red berries, and

even moved twice since then. Picked it up again before Christmas 2009...

completed just in time for Valentine's Day 2011. (Seems to be the story of all my PROJECTS.) Inspired by Pottery Barn's holiday decor.

Just LOVE lollipop trees.

Topiary Tree Tutorial [w/out photos]:

SUPPLIES

+ styrofoam ball (I used 4")

+ red berry cluster Christmas floral spray (8 or more, different colors of red)

+ stick/branch (from yard)

+ floral foam (green)

+ clay pot

+ green leaf cluster

+ hot glue gun & glue sticks

STEP 1: Cut berries off the floral spray, leaving an inch or so of wire to stick into the foam ball.

STEP 2: Stick berries in foam, covering completely and overlapping some berries.

STEP 3: Add greenery sporadically. (The leaves I picked worked perfect for this project... pulling them off the stem left a hole between the 2 leaves. Place the berry wire through hole before putting it into the ball.)

STEP 4: Place the floral foam block(s) into the clay pot. Trimming foam down to size. Want it to fit snug. Hot glue together if needed.

STEP 5: Place the stick through the bottom of the styrofoam ball, leaving a space without berries. Push stick in an inch or so. Hot glue once in the "perfect" place.

STEP 6: Push other end of stick into the [clay pot] floral foam. Make sure your topiary tree stands straight/the way you want it... before hot gluing it in.

STEP 7: Cover the floral foam with the remaining green leaves. I think spanish moss would work too.

You're done! You could cover ball with just about ANYTHING. (Hot glue it in place... if it doesn't stick on its own.)

Lovely Art

This post should have been posted weeks ago, and I really have no excuse :P I hope everyone has a splendid Valentines Day tomorrow!! <3 <3 <3
The 3D art ideas came from Brassy Apple and the subway art is from eighteen25.

Diaper Cupcakes

Diaper Cupcakes + Wrapped Onesies

I'm always looking for cute baby shower gift ideas.. Snagged this idea at a craft show last summer. The fun part is you can use anything you want!

Diaper Cupcake Tutorial:
What I used
- newborn diapers (my sister also used socks for variety)
- ribbon
- paper baking cups
- clear elastics
- wash cloths
- confetti strips
- hot glue

1.  Fold diaper long ways and roll up into cupcake shape. Secure with an elastic (little girl hair elastics worked well).
2.  Then grab your folded wash cloth and wrap around cupcake bottom. Secure that with ribbon and a dot of hot glue.
3.  Tie some ribbon for the cupcake topper.
4.  Put confetti strips in baking cup and place finished cupcake on top.

Wrapped Onesie Tutorial:
What I used
- onesies (again you could use burp cloths, blankets, etc)
- ribbon
- elastics
- cellophane

 Pretty much the same as above. Fold long ways and roll up! Secure with elastic. Wrap in cellophane and tie sides with ribbon. Cute, cute!!

I found some cute pink bakers boxes at a cupcake store to put them all in.

 Amber- You can post your pics too!

Dipped Strawberries

Fun fact: Chocolate covered strawberries are super easy to do yourself! I recently made these for my friend's baby shower.

Ingredients I used
-Strawberries
-Guittard Old Dutch (chocolate chips)
-Vanilla Drops (white chips)
-Red food coloring

First wash and dry your lovely strawberries.

Then melt your chips. I found these at "Kitchen Kneads", but I'm pretty sure you can find some at a craft store or even walmart depending on the time of year. I just used a regular cereal bowl (microwavable) and melted the chips in the microwave 30 sec at a time. For the pink, I just used some white chips and added a drop or two of red food coloring.

Now for the dipping! Pretty self explanatory.. cover the strawberry. Might be useful to have a spoon to help cover. Near the end, I had to tip my bowl to get good coverage. Place in the fridge for a few min before moving on.

Last thing.. the drizzle! Melt a few more chips of all the colors you'd like to use (unless you have some extra from the dipping). Place in a ziplock baggie and cut the corner. Drizzle over opposite colors. Note to self: the vanilla stuff comes out a lot faster than the chocolate, so be prepared :P

See, that wasn't so bad! Happy dipping!

Pin the..

My friend and I recently threw a shower; we came up with this spin on an original game :]

Pin the sperm on the egg

-Poster board
-markers
-yarn

Color/Cut out shapes that resemble an egg and some sperm. For these I traced a bowl and a cookie cutter. Then paper punch a hole and tie some yarn for the tail ;] Pretty easy and funny!

Cake Bites

Just in time for the holidays! Everyone has heard of the adorable cake pops.. here's my twist.

Bake desired cake mix as directed. Let cool, then crumble into a bowl. Mix in 1 16oz tub of your fave frosting, then put in the fridge. After at least an hour or so, take out and form little bite size balls. Then dip them in chocolate and add sprinkles. YUM!

add on {fabric flower}

  Here's a fun and easy flower that you can add to just about anything.

  Start out by cutting desired width of fabric the entire length of the ream. Keep in mind that the size of your flower will be double the size you cut. For this one I did 1 inch. For a less "fluffy" flower, do a shorter piece of fabric.

Thread your needle and tie a knot at the end. Then do a running stitch on one side from end to end, lightly pulling as you go.. it will start to curl up as you go.

When you get to the end, stitch through all layers so it holds together. For the middle.. You can use whatever you'd like: button, jewel etc. I used some leftover fabric to make a ball, then wrapped/sewed more fabric around it (so it makes a little pin cushion thingy). To each her own :]
 Lastly, decide what you want to attach it to.. pin, clip, headband, pillow, whatever!

There you have it! Here's a bigger one that I did with a shorter piece of fabric. Let me know if you have any questions :]

 

Credit goes to V and Co 

{Christmas Advents} Magnet Board

 All this snow has got me excited for Christmas! This cute countdown was brought to you by my good friend Romney. She invited me over to craft it up at her place :]

Romney found this cute Christmas themed paper at the craft store. All she had to do was cut and laminate them. Then we attached magnets on the back of each one.

Then she printed off some fun Christmas/winter activities.. We cut them into little strips; folded them and placed one activity behind each magnet. Starting with December first, you and your family can enjoy fun activities as you countdown to Christmas! Some of the activities that were bigger, or took more time could be placed behind the days that fell on the weekend.

If you don't already have a magnet board.. they sell some at the craft store (usually unfinished).

For some other cute {Christmas Advents}.. Click here and scroll down the page.

Rose Cuff Bracelet

The credit for this one goes to my awesome sister, Amber :] A few months ago, my sis and I were trying to come up with something cute to make for my brother's wedding.. This was our "no sew" take on these adorable rose cuff bracelets. You can find the original tutorial here.

 We used ribbon instead of felt, and just folded and hot glued the ends so they didn't fray. We also used the adhesive velcro. All the girls in my family wore these for the wedding.. even the little girls had some :] Super cute and super easy!!

 
Amber- Sorry I beat you to posting this.. You can add your pics to the post :]

Pine Cone Swag

 What you'll need

-pine cones

-paint

-ribbon

-copper wire

Directions

-First, bake the cones on a foil-lined cookie sheet for about 45 minutes to an hour at 200 degrees. This kills any bugs or spider mites that live in them. This also allows the seeds to fall out and sap to dry up.
-Paint your pine cones
-Wrap the wire around the bottom of the cone, slipping the wire between the open scales.
-Tie staggering ribbon lengths to pine cones and tie all together at the top.

Credit goes to familyfun.com
Love that magazine/website! 

Switchable Rosette Headbands

 Headbands are the best; and when you make them yourself, they're even better! First- start out with a plain headband; metal or plastic (whatever works for you and is comfortable). I scored these metal ones here. Hot glue some velcro+felt (same size as the velcro on the backside). You might want a mirror handy to make sure you attach the velcro where you want it.

 Second- make your rosettes (or whatever embellishment you want). Click here for the super easy tutorial. The thing I love about these is that they don't have to be perfect ;) For these I used hot glue, but fabric glue also works very well.

 Then attach the fuzzy side of the velcro to your flowers.

 There you have it!

You can make others to change out. For these I just glued one flower slightly on top of the other one.

Here's another example of what you can do. The possibilities are endless!! Have fun :]

 Amber and I made some of these while I was visiting her.. She will have to post some pics of her variation.. hint hint ;)

Swamp Creatures

 Found this cute Halloween recipe here, but don't laugh too hard at how mine turned out nothing like theirs HA! I used cream of spinach instead of sautéed spinach and black olives instead of green. My only advice is to cook them in the muffin tin as long as it says.. I got a little impatient and I think that's why they kinda fell apart. Still cute and fun nonetheless!