Cute Kid Cameo Wall Art

This is a project that I have been wanting to do for a long time.  But, I do not have a Silhouette.  I know right, get with the times.  For me it would be just one more hobby/craft thing that my hubs does not know why I need.  Anyway, I had to decide on the best way to do this fun project.

I've been on the hunt for the perfect vintage frames.

Not too matchy-matchy, but I wanted them to be able to look good together.  Good news, I finally found some!

Aren't they terrifically kitschy?

And I love the washed out images!

The very best part about them is the low, low price tag!

$1.99 for the one on the left and $1.49 for the one on the right!

Cheap! Yay!

 There are lots of different ways to make the "cameo" image.  From all my years working in daycare, this is by far the easiest.  I took snapshots of their profiles.  Super easy!

(My daughter was very easy, I took about 15 of my son because he kept moving)

Then, if you have a printer, you just print them out in a size you need.  I don't, so off to the one hour photo I go.

(I order them online so all I have to do is pick them up.)

So far I have spent $4...

The frames are plastic remnants of the 80's, so I want to make sure the paint will stick and look good, so I got Krylon Spray Paint for Plastic.  It is the coolest invention ever!

No sanding, no priming, and it lasts forever.  I spray painted some of those cheap plastic patio chairs about 5 years ago and they still look amazing! Even after being left outside!

I chose basic satin black for the frames,  it is a timeless color and goes with everything right?

Now here where the fun begins...

I took the pictures I had made, and cut around the profile.

Then I traced each image on the back of the scrapbook paper.

Using very sharp scissors,  I cut out each "cameo".

Then I glued them on white background paper.

I used archival glue sticks, and spread a very thin layer..

I trimmed the pages to fit the oval frames, and Voila!

Super Cute Kid Cameos!

So I can remember my babies when they were (somewhat)small.

I think they turned out very special.

:D

Pretty Monogram Wall Art

My daughter and I finally decided what color to make her monogram wall art.  (You can see the original here.)

So we finished it today.

I let her paint the R.  She was really excited to be able to help.

She did a great job on it too!

While she worked on that I worked on the canvas.

Use your staple gun, and be sure that you iron the fabric so that it looks pretty.

By trial and error, I learned how to staple the fabric so that it stays straight and does not pull.  You do the short ends first and then kinda wrap the sides like a present.

For the ribbon hanger, I hot glued and stapled it on!

It shouldn't be going anywhere!

You can make the ribbon hanger as long or short as you want it to be.  She is so excited to finally have hers done.  Now all I have to do is find some nails so I can hang it in her room.

It turned out so spring-like and pretty!  It matches her bright yellow room perfectly!

*Sigh* Music

My hubs recently gave me over the use of his MP3 player.  (I got it for him for Christmas, so I guess I did pay for it)  Anyway, I put all my loud dance beats and girly power songs on it and let me tell you, it is PHENOMENAL!

I forgot how easy it is to lose myself in the sheer act of working out to music.  I might actually be able to run again.  Listening to it reminds me of when I was younger and I had a(haha)Walkman, with a mix tape!!

Boy that sure takes me back!  Anybody else have one back in the day?  :)

Right now I'm listening to

Karmin~Brokenhearted

Katy Perry~Part of Me

Kelly Clarkson~Stronger

Selena Gomez~Like a Love Song

LMFAO~Sexy and I Know It

David Guetta ft Usher~Without You

Jessie J~Domino

Maroon 5~Moves Like Jagger
among others...

What songs inspire you to work out hard?

Exellent Easy Easter Egg Garland

This is almost as easy as the Shamrock one that I made.

(this one is actually easier)

All you need are store bought eggs,

(I actually got mine on clearance last year)

Pretty ribbon that you like,

& hot glue!

All I did was measure how long I wanted it to be, glued the eggs evenly spaced to the ribbon, added loops on the ends to hang and that's it!

I actually kept the ribbon flat and glued the eggs all to the same side, for continuity and a cleaner, less-messy look.

I really love the way it turned out!

Think of all the fun kinds of eggs they make nowadays!

Sports balls, and shiny, and printed ones.

I think these would look really fun with glitter eggs!

I have some somewhere, but I've long since forgotten where I bought them.  Oh well...

Happy Crafting!

:D

Easy Peasey Fabric Hairbow

I've recently discovered that creating stuff is A LOT easier than blogging about it afterwards.

I made this super cute dress and bloomers for a friends kid and she asked me if I could make a bow to go with it.  I'm not real good with the ribbon bows, unless it is simple, so I opted for a fabric version!

The best part...

it's sew easy that I could make tons of them!

(too bad Ry won't wear them anymore!)

So, all I did was use a scrap pf fabric left over from the dress.  I'm also working on one that has no sewing involved!  That will be awesome!!

This is a picture tutorial, so not a lot of typing for me

(except on the pics)

 This was actually taken before I ironed.

It did look better after.  :)

 When I fold it, notice that I always face the top and bottom seams to the back.  It just looks better that way.

 Be sure to cover the end of the fabric with hot glue, so it won't fray.

Thanks for reading and happy creating!

:D

I link up to 

                       Bowdabra Bows Link Party

                       Sugar Bee Crafts Take-a-Look Tuesday

                       Mommy by Day, Crafter by Night Ta-Da Tuesday

Stress Exercising

I went to the gym as usual yeatserday, but I was very frustrated.  Things just aren't going as well as they could right now.  Boo.  So I wanted to try and forget my problems...

I worked myself so hard I almost blacked out on the elliptical.  My eyes went fuzzy and I was breathing too hard, and my heart rate was well over 150.  Then I jumped off and ran around the track as fast as I could.

That was stupid.

My muscles got real tight and I thought I was going to fall down.

I didn't.

Afterwards I was sick to my stomach and felt dizzy the rest of the day.

But the best part?

I forgot about my stress for a bit.

...and I guess that was my intention.

:/

St Patricks Day Parade

We all went to the St Patty's Day Parade yesterday in downtown Peoria.

It is always lots of fun!

The parade is for my kids...the rest of the day is for me!

But here we are looking cute!

It was a beautiful 80 degree day and the sun was a'shining..

or is it o'shinin?

Who knows!

Hope your St Pattys Day was as fun as mine!

:D

Sparkly Shamrock Garland{tutorial}

I made this last night after work, and it turned out so great!

In total it cost me $1.30!

How's that for a deal?

It was as easy as 1, 2, 3...

Supplies Needed

1.  Foam Shamrocks(mine are from Dollar Tree)  $1

2.  Green Ribbon(with a coupon at Joann's)  $0.30

3.  Hole Puncher & scissors to cut the ribbon(on hand)

All I did was punch 2 holes in each shamrock and string it on the ribbon!  I alternated a glitter one with a plain green one.  Super easy and super cute!!

Sorry for the funny lighting in these pics, I do a lot of my creating at night after the kids are in bed!  :)

Easy peasey-lemon squeezy!

Now what to do with the other package I got?!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

(or as I like to call it  The No More Snakes in Ireland Day!)

I really need to move there!

:D

Reasons for Cheesecake

I was at work yesterday and I realized something...

As soon as I got there they called a code blue overhead...

Usually that is a bad thing (it still was)  but it helped me to realize something,  all my hard work is(finally)paying off.

I was able to run all the way there and I didn't even break a sweat, or get winded!

Imagine my surprise when I realized it!

It made the rest of my work day go so much better!

I'm unbelieveably proud of myself!

Which is why I can eat this...

My mom made me some cheesecake today!

But don't worry, I only ate half...

It was yummy.

:D



Shabby 'Chick' Ruffle Crossbody Bag {tutorial}

Finally, I promised a tutorial...so ta-da!

This is most likely an intermediate sewing project, it is best to have some experience. Here is a supply list.

1 yard material for bag

1/2 yard for lining(can be contrasting, but not necessary)

1/2 yard interfacing to make the bag sturdy

Thread, scissors, measuring tape, etc.

Cut out all pattern pieces as measured in picture.

     The outer, lining and interfacing.

Then cut out the ruffle pieces.  Use the fold and cut 2 peices that are 6 inches long and go from one selvedge to the other.

The pic says to cut 3, but that is wrong you only need 2 because you will cut them in half on the fold.

After you get them cut out, sew them together tube style, turn right side out and iron.

Ironing makes for great crisp lines, and it makes your stitching tighter.  :)

Then pin the ruffles onto the front of the bag.

It is waaay easier than it looks.

I start with the ends, then I pin the middles, then the middles of each side.

Does that make sense?

I also pin the ruffles through the front and the interfacing.  This makes it more sturdy.

Then I sew on the ruffles.

(I forgot to photograph this part)

All I do is stuff the material under the presser foot as I sew.  You can do the ruffles any way you like!

Next you construct the lining and the bag.

(Interior pocket instructions here. )

Place the peices face together and sew the sides, then the bottom.  (fyi: I use 1/4 inch seam allowance) I also serged to make it that much sturdier, but there is no need to, because all exposed seams are hidden.

Remember to leave an opening for turning on the lining piece (or seam rip it later like I did.) ha!

Now here is the tricky part.  The corners...

I'll let the pictures do the talking here.

Do this for both corners, for the lining and the bag.

Then turn the bag right side out.

It should be looking pretty cute at this point...

Put the right side out bag INTO the wrong side out lining.  Be sure to match up the side seams, and sew it all the way around the top.

After that, go find the hole you left in the lining and turn your bag right side out!

You are so close to being done!!!

Tuck the lining into the bag and you are ready to attach your strap.

(Again no pictures, sorry)

My strap is made from the leftover ruffle piece.

I cut it in half, and sewed it together to get a piece that was 4x45.  I used a 1 1/2x45 piece of interfacing to make it sturdy.  I folded it in half right sides together and sewed down the long end, I turned it right side out and ironed it.  Then I fed the lining through with a safety pin(kinda like elastic).  After that I tucked the ends in and sewed them shut.  It was kinda time consuming, but it worked for me.  Do yours however you want.  :)

I sewed the strap on with a square and an x to give it strength, because, let's face it, I put a lot of crap in my bag.

There it is, all finished.

I love this bag, now I have all kinds of ideas on different variations.  I already made another one, with interior pockets and no lining peeking out!  next up is a flannel version for my daughters friends birthday next month!  It is going to have raw hem ruffles and strap!  Can't wait!

I love to create!

Thanks for reading this!

:D

Linked to Mommy by day Crafter by Night Ta-Da Tuesday

                           Jillify It