Toddler Scarf

You know you're tired when you wake up and realize you were having dreams about sleeping....and it was so amazing. So you can pretty much guess how I feel this morning! I decided it was a 3 shot coffee kind of day. Luckily that usually turns it into an uber productive day. Today I have already watered the entire yard, fed and clothed the children, done the litter box, emptied garbages, done a load of laundry and paid some bills. Phew! And its still morning! Coffee is amazing.

Anyway! When we were in LA on vacation we went to this children's boutique that had the freakin cutest clothes I have ever seen. Being on a budget, unfortunately all I could do was look and dream, but it did give me an idea for today's project. Toddler scarves. This boutique had these adorable gauzy scarves  for kids and after trying it on the Princess I knew I had to recreate it. I wanted to make one that was coral with purple trim, but I wasn't able to find any coral gauzy material, so these colors were my second choice. It still turned out adorable and I am very tempted to make one for myself. I almost (almost!) wish Princess was starting school this Fall because this would be a perfect "back-to-school" item. Now she is going to be so stylish!

You will need:

1 yard of fabric (cut into 2, 22X48 inch pieces)

4 yards of trim

Sewing materials

1. Start by putting your 2 pieces of fabric, pretty sides together. Then pin the trim along inside edge of the fabric, making sure that the tassels are inside. Once you sew it and flip it, they will be right side out again. Pin all the way around, but don't sew all the way around. Leave a small opening so that you can flip it right side out.

2. Flip the whole thing right side out, then tuck and pin the opening down. Then sew all around the whole scarf. This will just reinforce everything and make it look a little more finished. Try to keep the seam about 1/4 inch from the edge.

 3. Then you are done! A beautiful boutique knockoff for maybe half the price!

Perfect with a pair of jeans. Look at that pose!

Can also be used as a shawl.

So trendy and she doesn't even know it!

I really hope that I can find some coral fabric so that I can make a coral and purple one. Until then, this one is super cute! And its really a very simple sewing project for any new sewers out there. I promise!

Note: The laundry room makeover is taking a little longer than expected......budget cuts...lol. So it will be another week or two. But it IS coming and its going to be amazing!

Brooke's 10 Beautiful Finds Under $40 August

So I know I promised you one of these every month. Well, in all fairness I think I said, "Every month or so"......But I couldn't get enough finds fast enough! Plus, I have been so busy with the party planning, road trip planning, crafting, etc. Okay, enough excuses. Here are your beautiful finds for August.

1. Ballard Designs Tote Bags

These tote bags are so classic and such a great Summer bag. I love that you can personalize them with your initials, name or even an icon. The largest one is $32.

2. Fashion Fairytale Memoirs

These are my favorite finds of the month by far. They are fairy tales mixed with the stories of famous designers. There are 3 different ones: Christian Lacroix and the Sleeping Beauty, Diane Von Furstenberg and the Empress's New Clothes and Manolo Blahnik and the Elves of the Shoemaker. I mean come on! Children's books mixing two of my favorite things (fairy tales and fashion) in one book! I want all three! For myself! $22.00 each.

3. The Homemade Pantry

I found this book in a cute little boutique when we were down in Oregon a few months ago and I could barely hold myself back from buying it. Amazon always has books for cheaper, so always wait to check their price first! This woman is amazing and shows you how you can MAKE pretty much anything you need on your regular trips to the grocery store. I love that it enables you to become more self reliant in the kitchen and less dependent on processed foods! $14.86 on Amazon.com

4. Travel Journal from The Recycled Library on Etsy.com

I know I showed these to you a while ago back when I made my Travel Journal, but I had to showcase them once again. They are just so cute! This shop recycles old maps and paper to make all of their journals and they can customize too! $30

5. Disney's Little Mermaid

Yes my friends, it is going to be re-released again very soon and Disney only releases their movies once every million years (otherwise they can run up to $50-$70 when they are not out). We are working on building our Disney collection for our girls and this one is a must! You can pre-order one now on Amazon for $34.00

6. Container Store Glasslock Food Storage Containers

I'm working on phasing out all of the plastic we have in the kitchen and this is one of the things that I want to replace most. I am always too lazy and microwave leftovers in our plastic food containers, but it is SO bad for you! Chemicals literally leach into the food you eat causing all kinds of health problems. It is safe to heat up glass and it won't do this to your food, so I want to start replacing all my tupperware soon! These come in circles, rectangles and squares. $6.00-$10.00 Container Store.

7. Seattle Onesie, Landofnod.com

I'm sorry, but this is just too cute! I found it while shopping at Landofnod.com one day and fell in love. I totally want one for Peanut! It comes in different cities as well. $26.00

8. Toddler Sheet Set

Princess just recently turned 3 and we decided that for her birthday we would take down one side of her crib so that she could be in a "big girl" toddler bed and as a special treat I wanted to buy her some new sheets. But the only thing that sucks about having the 3 in one crib, is that no one makes a full set of sheets for the crib size! Except Land Of Nod. They have several different options including this adorable set. $24.95 (Most other sets are $39.00)

9. Zoya Nail polish

As everyone knows, I am obsessed with the Robin's Egg Blue color. It may be a little more "Spring-y" than "Summer-y", but oh well. I like it! Zoya is one of my go-to brands for nail polish because they are all formaldehyde free. $8.00

10. Method Spray Fabric Softener

This is not as "green" as I would like it to be, but I have been needing my laundry to smell good for so long that I finally caved and bought this in the Lavender-Lilac. It is so cool, because you just spray your wet laundry a couple times in the dryer and it activates as soon as it gets warm in the dryer. I'm loving the way my laundry is smelling. $6.49 on soap.com

Happy shopping!

Fabric Wrapped Hangers

Good morning friends! Today I have a super, fantastic, amazing, FREE craft. And.....you probably have all the items in your home right now (It won't quite be free if you don't have all the supplies, but it will still be cheap!). So what are you waiting for? I have been a little busy bee lately, working on redo-ing my laundry room and I am really excited to show it to you all. I just have a few more finishing touches in the works so you'll have to wait on seeing that for a few days; but until then I have a craft to show you that I did as one of the finishing touches. These fabric wrapped hangers are so easy and cute. I made them so that I can hang wet laundry in the laundry room, but they would also be perfect for your closet! Its such an easy upgrade! So shabby chic! Now if only I had the patience to wrap every single hanger in my closet.....

You will need:
Plastic hangers
Long strips of fabric (about 1.5-2 inches wide)
Craft glue or fabric glue
Scissors

 First start by glueing the inside of one strip of fabric.

 Then start wrapping the fabric around the hanger at an angle.

Then continue to wrap and glue, wrap and glue until it is all covered (Note: I broke off those tiny little hooks on the inside of the hanger, so they wouldn't be in the way. They just snap right off). You will need to do a little tucking and adjusting to get the end to finish just right. You should aim to finish at the top of the hanger. If your strip of fabric is not long enough, don't worry. Just finish it off with glue and then start another piece right over it. I maybe used 5 or 6 strips of fabric per hanger.

Let dry and voila! Beautiful customized hangers for your closet or laundry room!

Psst! You'll be seeing this room soon!

Easy Charm Bracelets

When we were in Whidbey Island a few weeks ago I bought a set of cute little charm bracelets for Princess. She loves them, but of course a few of them broke and a few of them were lost within days. I thought they were the perfect jewelery pieces for her, because they were stretchy (easy on, easy off) and of course, girly, pink and "princessy". Since her birthday was coming up, I wanted to make the set complete again and include it in her "Dress Up" present. A princess needs her jewelery, you know. I actually had all of the beads for this from a project I did years ago, but I got the threaders, stringing and charms all at Michael's. They have a crazy jewelery selection. I could spend days looking at that stuff. Seriously, if you ever have a broken chain for one of your necklaces and you need a cheap fix, just go pick one up there. They have everything! All kinds of beads, charms, pendants. I think they have like 3 aisles just for jewelery making. You can make these charm bracelets for yourself or for your little one, all you need to do is adjust the sizing.

You will need:
Small (teeny tiny) glass beads (or really any you like)
Charms
A "needle" threader
Elastic stringing
Scissors

1. Size the wrist to which the bracelet is going with the stringing and cut. Cut a little bit extra so that you can tie a knot for the end and then tie the ends together when you are finished. Remember you can always cut off extra, but you can't add more!

2. Tie a knot in one end; nothing too fancy. Then thread the needle into the other end. 

3. Start threading the beads onto the string. Make a pattern, make it all one color, make no pattern at all. Whatever you want!

4. Then when you reach the end (double check to make sure the size is right), slide on the charm (I maybe forgot to do this a few times) then tie both ends together tightly. A double knot should be fine. Trim any excess stringing. 

Little hummingbird to remind her of her Auntie in LA.

I made 3 with charms and one without. It made quite the cute set don't you think? I have to say also, although its time consuming, its kind of relaxing threading all those beads on. The concentration you have to have forbids you to stress. Perfect craft for nap time!

Fairy Bower

Happy Friday everyone! I am really excited for this weekend because my husband and I are celebrating our 4th anniversary! I can't believe that so much time has passed since our wedding! How does time fly so quickly? (kids.....that's how). I don't know that we'll do that much, (lack of funds. Our 1st anniversary was like that too. My sweet mother made us dinner and watched our month old Princess) but no matter what we do I am so thankful to be married to the most incredible man who makes me feel so happy and loved, who adores our two little daughters and who motivates me to be the best version of myself. He is my very best friend and I don't think every couple can say that. He has exceeded my expectations of what I always dreamed my husband should be and I know that makes me very lucky. I love you very much my sweet, husband. I can't wait to share the next 80 years with you!
And now for the Fairy Bower tutorial! I love this because it can be used for kid parties, or you can hang it over your little one's bed or in a corner of the playroom. Its a very fun play fort! You know those expensive play tents from Pottery Barn Kids? This is basically one of those, but much cheaper.

You will need:
8 yards of white tulle
4 yards of purple tulle
2 lengths of ribbon (62 inches each)
Long strips of muslin or other white fabric
A hula hoop (preferably without water in it!)
Fake flowers
Glue
 

1. Start by wrapping the hula hoop with muslin and glueing as you go. Plain craft glue works just fine. Wrap until it is completely covered.

2. Tie the 2 lengths of ribbon to the opposite ends of the circle, so that it makes an X. 

3. Cut your 8 yards of white tulle into 4, 2 yard segments and your purple tulle into 2, 2 yard segments. Then connect the tops of the 4 white lengths of tulle by sewing and rouching as you go. (Its better to just rouche as you go, as opposed to pulling the thread after, because its so much tulle that the thread breaks).

 

 

This is folded in half. But see how it makes a half circle at the top?

4. Then attach the purple tulle to the two opposite sides of the white tulle, again, rouching as you go. The following picture should show you what I mean. 

 

5. Then sew the two top ends closed, so that the top forms a complete circle. Slide the X of the ribbon through the center of the tulle circle. Spread the tulle around the hoop.

6. Sew or glue a few points of the tulle to the hula hoop base. Make sure that you hang or hold it up first when marking your spots.

7. Then you can leave it as is, or embellish with fake flowers and more tulle. I used rubber bands to secure the flowers to the hula hoop and safety pins for the tulle. Ready for playtime! 

Here it is hanging from our dining room chandelier.

Note: The hula hoop I bought had water in it, which turned out to be a slight problem because the water would pool in one side of the bower and it would tilt. So, if you come across the same problem (and you can only find water hula hoops) just screw a hole, carefully into the hula hoop and drain the water out.

To hang, screw a screw hook into the ceiling where you want the bower/ play tent to go and then hang the X of the ribbon on the hook. This bower ends up being 72 inches tall, so if you want it to be taller, you will need to get more yardage of tulle. You don't have to use tulle either, you can use a lightweight cotton also, but it will make it look a lot different, so you may need to change a few things. Good luck! 

 

 If anyone has questions or comments they are more than welcome!