Cuties for Cuties {or a free Valentine printable}

I try by best to feed my daughter a healthy, balanced diet. But what's life without some ice cream, right?

Valentine's day is a day filled with so much sugar, its crazy. While I find Conversation Hearts to be one of the most amazing things ever, all this candy isn't really easy or safe for a toddler to eat. Instead of sending candy to daycare with Emma that a parent will end up eating or throwing away, I decided to find another pun worthy treat.

My little miss thinks Cuties are a wonderful little treat. Cuties for cuties? Well that's a Valentine's day treat just waiting to happen!

Want to send your little cutie off to school with a candy-less treat? Go ahead and download this printable. You can re-size it however you'd like. I printed it on card stock and then used scrapbook tape {at least that's what I call it. Here's a link to something like the one I have} to adhere it to a ZipLoc bag.

I think three to a bag is a great fit. However, my little miss insisted on eating on when she saw me working on this! Two looks cute, too.


Thanks for the kind feature!

Come party with me!

C.R.A.F.T, Mommy By Day, Crafter By Night, Shwin & Shwin, Tip Junkie, Southern Lovely, Uncommon Designs, Somewhat Simple, Yesterday on Tuesday, House of Hempworths, 52 Mantels, The CSI Project, Serenity Now, Tatertots and Jello, Family Ever After, The Grant Life, Positively Splendid, I {Heart} Nap Time, It's Overflowing

Monogram Home Decor Tutorial

I shared this little guy last week at The Grant Life. I wanted to make sure you all got a chance to check it out.

A couple of weeks ago we attended the wedding reception of one of my husband's coworkers. They had a beautiful, intimate ceremony on some island off the cost of Mexico. About a month later, they invited extended family and friends to celebrate with them at a great little venue with a breathtaking view of downtown. We were honored to be included.

With the rush {and cost} of Christmas, I put off looking at their registry until far too close to the reception. By the time I looked over the list, it was picked clean. So, I decided to save a ton of money and make something personal.

A quick look around the bride's Pinterest and a survey of my own supplies and I was off to Joann's. I knew the bride was big on monograms and that they used muted colors in their home. So, I picked up about a 12 inch cardboard B {the couple's last name} and was all set.

I used some of a paint sample I had on hand from my kitchen wall stencil project. The color is Squirrel from Behr. Two coats on all sides of the letter and it was set to be decorated. I used my blow dryer on cold to speed up drying time.

Now, for jazzing up the monogram...

Felt has to be one of my favorite crafting materials. It's super affordable and it comes in tons of colors. I never seem to use up an entire sheet for a project so there's always a rainbow of felt hanging out in my stash.

Felt pom flowers are quick to make and only take a small strip of felt, scissors, and a hot glue gun.

Start out by cutting a strip of felt two inches wide by the length of the felt sheet.

Next, hot glue a very thin strip along the very bottom of the length of the felt. Then, fold in half {hot dog style}.

Use very sharp scissors to snip the loop of the felt down to the hot glue {but don't cut the glue}. Cut every 1/4 inch or so.

Now, roll your flower up and secure using hot glue.

For the cream-ish roses, I made felt roses similar to this post. I used the bottom of my water bottle and a roll of washi tape as templates to create my circles.

Use hot glue to secure your flowers to your letter and your set.

Depending on your stash, you could easily make this personalized present for just a couple of bucks. Even needed to buy all the supplies, you're still looking at less than $10 for a one of a kind present for the bride and groom {or your living room!}

Come party with me!

C.R.A.F.T, Mommy By Day, Crafter By Night, Shwin & Shwin, Tip Junkie, Southern Lovely, Uncommon Designs, Somewhat Simple, Yesterday on Tuesday, House of Hempworths, 52 Mantels, The CSI Project, Serenity Now, Tatertots and Jello, Family Ever After, The Grant Life, Positively Splendid, I {Heart} Nap Time, It's Overflowing

Over at The Grant Life Today!

I'm back over at The Grant Life today sharing this super easy, super affordable home decor tutorial. Stop by and say hi!

Car Seat Canopy Tutorial {or ric rac and giant fabric covered buttons}

I shared this fun tutorial over at The Grant Life. I wanted to make sure you all got the chance to check it out!

We moved from California to Texas when I was five months pregnant. We had our little miss in a strange city and away from family and friends. I was very blessed to have a couple of women bring me meals, get me out of the house, and keep me company during wonderful and hard transition into motherhood.

One of these sweet women recently had her second little boy. She asked if I could make her a car seat canopy to keep her little man warm on cold winter days. I was only too happy to oblige!

Want to make your own? You'll need:
1 1/4 yd outside fabric
1 1/4 yd inside fabric
4 1/2 yds jumbo ric rac
1 inch covered button kit
6 inches of velcro

Start out by prepping your fabric. You should wash and iron your fabric before cutting, as this is something that will be good friends with the washing machine.

I like to do all of my cutting at once. Start by cutting your two pieces of fabric down to 36 X 41 inches. Cut two 8.5 X 10 inch pieces the inside fabric for straps. Cut two circles of your main fabric for the covered buttons. Follow your kits instructions to make your fabric covered buttons. Cut a 6 X 8 inch rectangle from both the main and inside fabric for the flap. Also, cut your velcro into two 3 inch strips.

Now its time to get down to business. Place your main and inside fabrics right sides together. Make sure they are the same size and lined up perfectly. Use a bowl as a template to round the corners.

Sandwich the jumbo ric rac between your fabrics, pinning the curves well. Make sure you mark a four inch gap for turning.

Sew using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Turn and press, pinning your gap closed. Top stitch as close to the edge as you can.

Now its strap making time. Fold the strap hot dog style with right sides together. Sew using 1/4 inch seam allowance. Make sure you leave a gap on the long edge for turning.

Carefully clip the corners and then turn and press. Top stitch as close to the edge as you can. Sew your velcro as pictured.

Then, hand sew on your button on the part of the strap that will be on top. Repeat for the second strap.

Next its time to make your flap. Place the two 6 X 8 inch rectangles right sides together. Be mindful of print directions if you have directional fabric. Sew with 1/4 inch seam allowance, leaving an inch gap for turning.

Clip corners, turn, and press. Then, top stitch as close to the edge as you can.

Ok, now its time to cut out the window. Measure 14.5 inches in and 14.5 inches up on your main fabric. This is where you'll mark out your window. Using disappearing ink, draw a 2 X 4 inch rectangle. Then, draw a 3 X 5 inch rectangle around the small one. Draw a line connecting the corners of your big and small rectangle.

CAREFULLY cut out the small rectangle. Then, cut along the lines that connected the corners. Make sure you don't go past your outline of the large rectangle.

Turn the edges of the small rectangle in, using the large rectangle as your guide. Press well and pin.

Now, top stitch as close to the edge as you can.

Time to add the flap to your window. Center your flap over the window, placing it 1/2 inch above the opening. Sew down only the top. Keep in mind, whatever fabric you have on the bottom of the flap will be what shows on the canopy when you've got the flap open to peek on your sweet little baby.

Its best to use your car seat to measure where you'd like to attach the straps. I only had access to my giant Britax, so I more or less winged it. I sewed them about 20 inches up and 12 inches in. This seemed to work well both on my giant Britax as well as the more reasonably sized Graco car seat that this little man rides in.

Really, this is a great sewing project for a beginner. Mostly, your sewing rectangles. The hardest part is sewing in the window. I promise, it isn't hard at all!

Happy Sewing!

Come party with me!

C.R.A.F.T, Mommy By Day, Crafter By Night, Shwin & Shwin, Tip Junkie, Southern Lovely, Uncommon Designs, Somewhat Simple, Yesterday on Tuesday, House of Hempworths, 52 Mantels, The CSI Project, Serenity Now, Tatertots and Jello, Family Ever After, The Grant Life, Positively Splendid, I {Heart} Nap Time, It's Overflowing

Contributing over at The Grant Life {or car seat canopy tutorial}

Hi friends! I'm over at The Grant Life today sharing a tutorial for a fun Car Seat Canopy. I hope to see you there!

 

Hearts on a Stick {or baby shower decorations tutorial}

So way back in October I shared with you a cute little blanket I made for a baby shower that I co-hosted. At the end of the post, I mentioned that I would be sharing some tutorials for decorations and favors. That was October...this is January. Better late than never, right?

When it came to planning decorations, the other hosts were pretty set on the idea of a diaper cake. I was dead against it. I always thought they would be a pain to make or way too much money for far too little diapers. I wish I had met my new blog friend Liz before I made these adorable little hearts.

Liz is a momma business woman and the creative force behind ediapercakes.com. I just can not get over how beautiful her diaper cakes are! They are loaded with about 75 Pamper's Swaddlers size one diapers and decorated with books, toys, and other useful baby items. While I love these little hearts I made, I sure wish I had seen ediapercakes.com before I went to all this work!

These little heart decorations were a bit tedious to make but well worth the effort. One of these days I'm going to make another set for my desk at work!

I used both scraps and a couple of 1/8th yard cuts that the momma to be picked out to make these guys. You'll also need wood skewers, hot glue/gun, and polyfill.

Start by making a template heart and go to town cutting. I used pinking sheers to cut down on fraying. Plus, I think its a cute look. I may or may not have cut out  these things during a three day long crisis response training. It kept me sane as the instructor told horrifying stories about icky, icky things he had seen as a paramedic.

Hot glue about 2/3rds of two hearts, wrong sides together. Make sure you leave the bottom as part of the open third. Stuff with polyfill to your desired fluffiness.

Then, add hot glue to the open part, shove your skewer in, and scrunch everything together.

The assembly process happened on my living room floor, using a Costco brownie box as a desk, and while watching football. I really need to finish making my crafting desk!

The jars are upcycled pasta sauce and salsa jars with leftover fabric hot glued to them.

These little guys went home with the momma to be and other guests after the BBQ shower. I have a feeling these will become regular party decorations for me. Easy, cute, and different...my kind of decorations!

This post was sponsored by ediapercakes.com. All opinions and content are 100% my own. Questions? Check out my Disclosure page. 

Come party with me!

C.R.A.F.T, Mommy By Day, Crafter By Night, Shwin & Shwin, Tip Junkie, Southern Lovely, Uncommon Designs, Somewhat Simple, Yesterday on Tuesday, House of Hempworths, 52 Mantels, The CSI Project, Serenity Now, Tatertots and Jello, Family Ever After, The Grant Life, Positively Splendid, I {Heart} Nap Time, It's Overflowing