5.20.2013

Stamped Polka Dot Toddler Hoodie Tutorial {or cute-ing up blah}



Here is a quick, simple way to dress up a boring old hoodie. This stamping method is a quick, super easy nap time project. If you have older kiddos, they could even help out!


I love the look of toddlers in dresses styled with leggings, cardigans, and adorable headbands. However, I haven't found this to be terribly practical. My little miss thinks that things on her head are pure evil. She is also always on the move. So, its much more likely that my little miss is running around in leggings, a t-shirt, and a hoodie.

But, there's no reason that hoodie can't be absolutely adorable. On a recent trip to Target I snagged a plain grey hoodie on clearance. While it fit the bill for what we needed, it was just so blah. So I decided to jazz it up using only paint and a pencil.

You read that right. All you need is fabric paint or regular old acrylic and a fabric medium {I got mine at Joann's} and a pencil with a brand spanking new eraser. Ok, you also need an iron, a work space, and some wax paper/cardboard, too.


Start out by putting down wax paper or kraft paper to protect your work space. Then, mix your paint up according to the bottle's directions.


Make sure that you either have wax paper or cardboard between the fabric anywhere it overlaps. You don't want your paint seeping through! I used waxed paper because it was easier to manipulate and shove into the random corners of places like the pockets.


Now, go to town with your dots.

A couple of tips. Make sure you don't have too much paint on your eraser. It will bleed everywhere and make a funky shaped dot. Press down firmly when making your dot. You can always add a bit more paint and go over the dot a second time if you need to. This doesn't have to be perfect. There's a lot of character in the less than perfect dots!

I  used a blow dryer on low heat to help the drying process along. This let me finish doing all the dots in one sitting.

After you finish up, you'll want to heat set your paint. This makes it so they won't fade in the wash. Follow the directions on your bottle. For me, I had to wait 24 hourrs before ironing the hoodie. The bottle also says to wash inside out.


Givne that this hoodie is for my dirt loving little miss, it's already been through the wash three times. The paint still looks good as new. I'm sure it will fade a bit with the excessive washing that a toddler demands. I think that adds character and will give the hoodie a nice vintage vibe.


This quick and easy technique can be used on a variety of items. You can also get super creative and carve different shapes into the eraser.

What's you favorite toddler look? 

5.16.2013

$75 Target Gift Card Giveaway over at The Grant Life

The beyond wonderful Kelley over at The Grant Life is celebrating two years of blogging. Not only is she one of the sweetest women in blog-land, she is also kind enough to let me stop by her great blog twice a month to share projects.


To celebrate two year of blogging, Kelley and a group of her friends{like me} got together to offer a $75 Target Gift Card Giveaway. Man, I know I could sure burn through $75 at Target in no time!

Hurry on over to The Grant Life to enter. Or, use the link bellow. Be sure to enter daily now through 5/24/13!


5.15.2013

Ribbon Medallion Tutorial {or decorating another wreath}


It's Michaela from Covered in Mod Podge again. I'm here to share a tutorial on how to make a fun little Ribbon Medallion.

I rarely decorate for holidays or seasons {Christmas aside}. So to keep some changing decor in my life, I try to change out the wreath on my front do every month. Sometimes I make a new wreath and others I recycle ones form the past.


For May's wreath, I decided to make something new. I wanted a lot of texture, so I used ribbon, felt, and fabric and went to town making different kinds of flowers.

My favorite part of this wreath are defiantly the ribbon medallions. This fun hounds tooth ribbon was very affordable at Joann's.

Want to make your own medallions? 

You'll need:
1/2 yard of ribbon
Thread
Needle
Hot glue/gun


Start out by threading your needle with a double thickness of thread, knotting the end. Run a gathering stitch along one edge of your ribbon. You'll want your stitches spaced out about 1/2 inch. Don't knot when you get to the end.


Pull your thread to start to gather the ribbon. This will help the next step.


Starting from the end where you ended your stitches, accordion fold your ribbon. You'll want to keep pulling your thread tighter as you pleat the ribbon into accordion folds.


Keep pleating until you reach the beginning of the ribbon. Keeping your thread pulled tight and your ribbon stacked, triple knot the end of the thread right up against the stack.


Let go and your little stack should fill out into the medallion shape.


For finishing off your loose ends, there's two ways to go. You could always hand stitch the ends together. Or, if you're anything like me, you'll want to quick and painless way. Run a strip of hot glue down one end of the ribbon. Carefully line up the other edge and gently press together. Keep pressing until the glue cools a bit.


The sky is really the limit with these little guys. You can add buttons or jewels to embellish the centers. I made a fabric yo-yo to jazz up one of my medallions. I left the other one naked {hehehe...naked}. These would make great bows for presents, look awesome on hair clips or head bands, or be the perfect touch for your summer wreath.

Do you decorate for every season? What's your favorite to decorate for?




Come party with me! C.R.A.F.TMommy By Day, Crafter By NightShwin & ShwinTip JunkieSouthern LovelyUncommon DesignsSomewhat SimpleYesterday on TuesdayHouse of Hempworths52 MantelsThe CSI ProjectSerenity NowTatertots and JelloFamily Ever AfterThe Grant LifePositively SplendidI {Heart} Nap TimeIt's Overflowing