I heart Hobby Lobby

I found a new reason to love Hobby Lobby.  Their Porject Inspiration pages!  They have "Inspirational Sets" which basically just show you a bunch of ideas using one of their products, but they are very cute ideas!  My favorite, though, are their "Project Sheets."  Everything on there comes in PDF format (it basically looks like they scanned in their free pamphlets) that can easily be printed, and these Project Sheets are actually instructions to the crafts!  I want to make one of these, these (at Christmas time) and some of these (much cuter than the ones I made the other day)!
(And here's a pic, just to spark your intereste!)

I made a Tie!

So, I have been searching and searching for a necktie for Evan to wear to church.  We had one that we got from the church bookstore, but it quickly got torn up and untied.  The ones at the department stores are expensive and either too long or too short.  So I started looking for patterns.  I found some fabric months ago in the discount bin at Hobby Lobby (I think it was about $3 for almost a yard) that I had been dying to make a tie out of, but I was not willing to pay $15 for a pattern.  That's almost the same as just buying a tie.  So the other day (again, after I finally got my craft area clean) I searched online for a pattern and tutorial that looked do-able.  I found this post on The Purl Bee blog (which is fabulous!) and thought it looked easy and fast, and it was!  I think I worked on this for 4 hours total (including trying to teach myself how to do a slip stitch and then doing it veeeeeeerrrrrry slowly and stopping to check the blog every 5 minutes to make sure I was doing the right thing), start-to-finish.  I want to try another one for Christian (which you can do by reducing the size when you print it apparently...duh!), and I'm sure it will go much faster now that I know what I'm doing.  It was really fun, and I love the result!

Wasn't sure how to tie it...

My little model... in full Batman attire, naturally

I looked up how to tie it real quick, but I'm not very good!  :)

A New Project!

So I FINALLY have my craft area re-organized, and I love going into the room now.  It has totally renewed my crafting spirit!  Now, I don't have a lot of funds right now (my piano lessons haven't started back up yet), so I'm mostly crafting with just what I have laying around.  Here's what I did the other day: votive holders!

It's not the most magnificent thing I've ever made, but I think they're pretty cute.  I used some empty cheese dip jars (my hubby's favorite), took off the labels, and Mod Podge'd on tissue paper.  I wanted to try a couple of different things for embellishments, so I wrapped a scrap of lace around one and a simple ribbon around the other.  I think the music one will look cute on my piano.  :)  I like the blue ribbon on the lace--it gives it a more casual accent (as opposed to, say, pearls, which I also considered putting on), and gives it a little extra color.  It only took m about an hour to make both, including mod podge drying time, and there are sooooo many things you could put on them!  I just used what I had on hand, but you could do different papers, ribbons, charms, jewels...even feathers and paint!  I can't wait to get more supplies so I can try different things!

Mother's Day Gifts

Here are a couple of projects Evan helped me work on for his grandmothers for Mother's Day.  For my mom he helped me paint a birdhouse that he picked out from Michael's.  He is quite the good painter.  :)  When the paint was dry I cut the shapes out on my Cricut and decoupage'd them on to the sides of the birdhoue.  Here's what we got...

Next we made letters for Evan's other grandmother, whom he calls MiMi.  The letters we found at Michael's came with a base that held up to 4 letters, so it worked out perfectly!  I wish I had had matching purple paint to paint the base, but I still think it turned out pretty cute.  We traced the letters onto paper, cut out the shapes, Mod Podge'd them on, then cut out long strips to wrap around the outside and inside edges.  Super easy!  Gotta love Mod Podge!

Mod Podge

I think I'm addicted to decoupage.  Here is my latest project.  It's just a wooden serving tray from Michael's, and I painted it white and Mod Podge'd cute paper onto the tray part.  Very easy, very fast, and cute!  It could be done in sooooo many different ways, with any colors or paper.  Love it!

Hair Bows!

So this past week my sister and Mom and I got together several times for big craft days.  We did everything from scrapbooking to sewing to bow-making.  This was the first time I have ever made bows.  Since I have boys, I haven't really had a need.  But having all 5 of my nieces around inspired me!  So, here is the collection of bows that I made.  :)  Some are the twisted rosettes, some are just the folded little bows, and some have giant flowers!  All of them are glued onto alligator clips wrapped in coordinating ribbon.

What I've Been Up To Lately

Here is a peak into what I've been working on lately. I had a baby shower coming up and saw this cute idea over at Living Craftily Ever After and knew I had to make one. I have future plans to make one for Addison as well. Aren't they adorable?!

Also, for the aforementioned baby shower, I decided to make some wall letters. Here is how they turned out. I used chipboard letters from Hobby Lobby (which were $0.99 on sale), scrapbook paper, and Mod Podge. Super easy, and I think they turned out pretty cute.

Last but not least, I decided to make a tag blanket. I didn't have any minky fabric on hand, but I did use a soft flannel.The birdie fabric is so cute! I think I purchased it from Hancock Fabrics last year. Oh, and see the little iron-on initial? I wanted to make a bit more personal, and it was obviously super easy to apply. All you need is an iron.

Addison was invited to her first birthday party today. I've been inspired to use my Cricut more and more lately and was able give this bucket from Target (in the dollar section, which cost $2.50...hmmm not really a dollar) a spruce with some vinyl love. Functional and cute. My favorite combination. 

Here's a peak at the back.

I'm tempted to make one for Little A with polka dots. Actually, I think I will. We can always use cute and functional storage buckets. Right?