Tutorial to make a Kindle Cover

Do you know anyone that has a Kindle?  well, I do know someone (not me, darn!)....and i happened to run across a tutorial to make a cute Kindle cover!  HERE it is....

Quick projects tonight!

I went out shopping earlier in the evening while Daddy took the girls to the mall to play in their play area.  I found these pre-cut black and white letters on clearance for $3.  My 2 middle girls - the Athlete and the Underdog currently share a room and have decided on a black & white theme paired with the solid colors of their choice.  So....I've been on the lookout for decor on the cheap!

I purchased a foam board and used scrapbook paper I had on  hand.  Throw in a little modge-podge and there you have it!  Name plaques for their room.....

I think they are cute and will add a personal touch - still have lots to make for them though!

Dinosaur Shirt

Well...my little Dinosaur Girl wanted a Dinosaur Shirt.  We went looking and all we could find was ferocious, meat-eating dino shirts.  I wanted a little girl dino shirt.....so here's what I came up with - 

We had the white tank top, I traced a felt dino we have onto some pretty pink fabric, ironed some medium-weight interfacing to it, then machine stitched around it (a fancy stitch, don't know it's name).  I used a couple different ribbons to make a bow and sewed it on her pretty dino head, then sewed on a black bead for the eye.

Dino girl LOVES it....and it matches her pink pants!

Thrifty Easter Crafts

A milk-jug Easter basket

Wee Folk Art shows us how to do Tissue-paper Easter eggs HERE 

and Soy Egg Crayons HERE.

Find Easter family projects HERE.

Some crafts and stuff I'd like to do

Make a preschool sewing basket - see this idea HERE

A sewing basket for older kids - see this idea HERE.  I've also found burlap to be a good material for first sewing experiences.

A "wardrobe clean-out wreath" - see this idea HERE.  Using old Tshirts to cover a wreath - super cute idea!

A t-shirt scarf - HERE.  We have sooo many old team and tournament/school Tshirts!  Great Christmas idea for older kids/teens.

OR....a T shirt pillow!

Make a mosaic headboard for hubby and I - if only i could find papers that i REALLY REALLY like... 

HERE is an interesting wreath re-do, not sure if i really like the wreath but I like the ideas involved...what else could I do with it?

Hair bows!!!!  thank heavens...i cannot figure out how to do these!

Korker bows - would never have imagined you create these using the oven! Another way is HERE.

A cute Easter egg project - it'd probably turn into a basketball at my house...but would be a cute gift!

Re-doing my bathroom vanity is on my list - HERE is a great way to do it!

A salt dough valentines topiary.....I think i would use a clay pot, and change the colors a bit...

This cute hands - on chore chart idea....

A "Whirl It" lampshade - would be cute in my girls room.....maybe with white Christmas lights in it?

A pom pom lamp - love this one!

Recovering a lamp shade

Our kids share rooms.  It's just a fact.  The Athlete and the Underdog share a room.  I'm casually trying to re-do each room, one room at a time.  At least the basics - curtains, etc.  For their room, they could not agree on a color scheme.  So...we decided to go with black & white, allowing them to each accessorize in the solid color(s) of their choice.  I haven't made the curtains yet, but I did recover their lamp shade.  See below:

 

Here is the lampshade - a little too "little girl" for a 10 & 13 year old

 

Step 1:  I laid the lampshade on its side and traced it onto brown craft paper - rolling it as i went.

 

I used that pattern to cut out the fabric - cut it about a 1/2 inch larger to allow for wrapping around the edge and gluing

 

I started at the seam of the shade and hot-glued along the seam.  I then proceeded to cover the shade with the fabric, hot-gluing at the top and bottom edge.  Go slowly, do a little at a time to keep things even.

 

Here it is before I wrapped and glued the edges of the fabric.

 

After hot-gluing the edges over (my sewing table is a mess...)

 

Another pic of the edges....

 

I then hot-glued the beaded trim around the inside of the bottom edge.  I started at the seam of the shade, just like with the fabric.

 

Voila!  The finished product.  I did not repaint the base as it was white and in good condition.  However, if the girls want, I think any solid color would look good (I am actually thinking of red...but they'll never agree to it! )

What talent!!!

 

These CUTE pictures were DRAWN by my daughter, The Queen's BFF.  We'll call her Artist Girl.

The pic on the left is her rendition of Pony Girl, who seems to be perpetually upset with everyone because we fail to recognize that she is a zebra, horse, kitty, dinosaur, or whatever on any particular day.  The expression drawn on her face, matches EXACTLY!  Artist Girl knows her well and captured her perfectly!

The pic on the right is her rendition of The Baby, who forever looks innocent but is always up to something!  So cute!!

I now have to find a couple frames to hang these in their bedroom.  I just LOVE them!!

A baby doll crazy quilt

 

I recently asked the Long ladies at Marie-Madeline Studio if they would be willing to sell any of their scraps because I LOVE the fabric they carry and sell.  I just like to have neat fabric around, even small pieces......plus, I'm trying to teach my girls to sew (and not having much luck!).  I thought pretty fabric would interest them more.

I also like to just pick up a piece of fabric and start creating....it almost always comes out "funky"...but I like it!  Well, they made me a great deal and I got a 2 gallon zip lock bag filled with GREAT scraps!!! Love them!

Last night, I did just that and created this cute little doll quilt.  A crazy quilt if you will.  I haven't finished the binding yet - I am really BAD at binding and will likely put it off.  Not sure if I'll finally open an Etsy shop ...or if we'll give this as a gift.  But, I LOVE the fabrics!!!

Another notebook

Another one....not as happy with this one, but i think it is cute too!

Notebooks!

A "Monkey Business" notebook!  Created by me.....think i'll try to sell these.  Been debating about opening an Etsy shop.  Do you think anyone would buy them?