taking a jean skirt break...

I finally finished our pillowcases from Disney. Instead of having autographs books, someone told me (or I read on the internet) to have the characters sign a pillowcase. I thought it might be a fun, different souvenir for the kids. And I, of course, couldn't just have them sign it. I needed to add my own touch!






Using Jen's big Cricut & my Mickey Font cartridge, I cut out a giant Mickey head to use as a template. I used the same font to cut out the kids names. Its a nice chunky font-- making it easier to applique.









I did Ella's first & thought it looked a little plain, so I added the ribbon (you may think that fabric looks a little familiar--well its left over from the girls room redo & same with the ribbon)











I originally bought this fabric to make PJ pants. I haven't made the pants yet, but I am sure everyone will be relieved to know that he will be coordinated with his pajamas!!









The backs of the pillowcases have the autographs, this one is Colin's... the girls have more since they got all the princesses too. (He actually refused to let the princesses sign his!)









I have a few ideas for the next skirt & am on my way to the storage unit to find my large stash of fabric (wish me luck!)

-Jenni

One jean skirt down.....

Yeah!! I got one down!! During the challenge, I have decided to also use materials I already have.

This material is left over from a project I did last year when I made these jumpers for #2, her dolls & my neice. Poor #3 was supposed to get one too, but I ran out of time/patience.





I think it turned out pretty cute. It was kind of fun to take bits of material & rick rack (I love rick rack-- very festive) and put it all together.

#2 is sleeping, so I can't have her try it on, but I think she will like it.






A few of the best things about these skirts are 1) they only take a few hours to make & I LOVE completed projects!! 2) By forcing myself to use materials I already have, I force myself into being more creative & resourceful & 3) when doing all this, I am distracted from the other things whirling around in my head!

Well off to bed-- and come up with another plan!

Happy Monday (almost!)

Jenni

My own challenge....

So, I was cleaning out #1 drawers, getting ready for back to school, (a chore I TOTALLY hate). And he had a pair of jeans that were too small. Had #2 try them on & they fit her (a little big), although the legs were too long.

I had seen a tutorial online awhile ago about turning jeans into skirt, so I decided to keep his jeans & try to repurpose them into a skirt for #2.

Today, I finally got a chance to sit down at my sewing table & discovered that the jeans were pretty easy to turn into a skirt.

When I was looking at some fabric I had, I found 4 more pair of jeans that #1 had blown the knees out of last year (before he outgrew them....BOYS!). Last year, I decided to try & do something with them-- they were too trashed to give away, but the waist/top part were in good condition.

So, here is my challenge-- How many different kinds of jean skirts can I make with these pants?? I have a few ideas, but we will have to see how they pan out....

Here is how the skirt turned out....

The pile of jeans....

Check out the holes in those knees!!! Good grief...I am reinforcing his knees in his pants this year!!

Anyone have any ideas?? I am totally open....

Have a good weekend!

#1 & his new room

So, his room used to have a sports border. We bought a new surfer bedding, so I painted over it with the yellow. And then added light blue where white used to be.









Here are his bookshelves that I redid. I tried to line up the stripes, but obviously failed. I really hate painting stripes.





















And the part he will be most excited about...the Star Wars floor pillow!









His furniture still hasn't come yet, hopefully it will sometime this week.

Projects in the works: currently I am wrapped up in my entry into the Memory Makers Masters contest: Masters contest
that has to be postmarked by July 31st, then I have some material for PJ pants, need to finish up the kids autograph pillowcases from Disney, another HSM tote & tutus, lots of tutus.

Busy days!

My first non-craft post {politics inside...procede at your own caution!}

Unfortunately, the presidential election is looming upon on us. I will just say that I hate this time of year. I hate the smear campaigns (from everyone), I hate the way our electoral college works, I hate the way the media makes me distrust everyone, I just hate it all. [I could really go on & on about my dislike of this whole process].

My inlaws sent an interesting article out & so far its the best political article I think I have ever read. I agree with everything the author had to say. For a brief synopsis: it basically says both of our choices suck. That both will run this country into the ground, although one will quicker than the other. I will say it comes from a far more conservative site than I consider myself to be-- but I still think it warrants a read...

None of the Above

This lead to me actually research the candidates & their views. Jason helped me find a site that side by side compares the candidates. It was nice to just read about their voting record & not the usual he said/she said junk that usually accompanies these sorts of things. If you are interested in doing a little research....

Select Smart


Ok, I will carefully climb down off my soapbox now.

We will return to your regularly scheduled crafting fluff!

#2 & her new room....

#1 is off in CA with my parents & #2 is in OH with Jasons'. We had decided awhile ago that they both needed new furniture (neither one had headboards or proper dressers). I thought it might be fun to get it while they were gone, so they can come home to new rooms.

Well, that lead me to #2 really needs new bedding, and it won't match the walls. I am not sure how many of you remember that the girls share the master bedroom (while we live in the basement...which always reminds me of [in my best Chris Farley voice] "I live in a vaaaannnn down by the riiiivvverrr" I digress.) Since we are looking to put the house on the market (again) sometime next year, I thought this was a good of time as any to paint it in a more neutral tone, to make it more like a traditional master even if a 5 & 2 yr old live in it. Anyway, this lead into a ton more projects (because I can never make anything easy on myself). We have the new dressers, but have to wait on the beds. The room isn't completely done, once the bed comes, I am going to hang up canopys over both of their beds. #3 got hers from Ikea (which matches her new big girl bed & bedding), I will probably end up making the other one. The ones I have seen are made of netting, which I don't like & I think I can make easily & cheaper-- at least according to the directions I found!

So this is what I have been working on this week, with #3 by my side-- she was pretty good, didn't get into much.






This is about 2ft. tall, I covered it my accent fabric.





I redid her corkboard to bring more pink into the room (I am thinking she is not going to be thrilled with the coffee colored paint)














The lamp I covered with fabric & trimmed with ribbon.











The bookshelf I redid. It started as one of those white shelves made of particle board that they sell as target. It needed some paint & fabric--I think it turned about pretty good.

The flower inside covers a slight mistake. Oh well. still looks good.

Her accent pillow, I think it turned out pretty cute. And the HSM pillow, its huge & meant to be a floor pillow. #1 is getting a yoda pillow & #3 gets a nemo pillow.













Well, thats all for now. Need to go clean up! I will post pics of the finished room when its all done.

Have a good weekend!
Jenni

We're your back yard friends...the backyardigans...

#3 LOVES the backyardigans. She spotted the ribbon at JoAnns one day & went crazy! So, I got it & altered jeans & a tee that she already had.



The whole outfit...










The hem of the skirt. I have 'ribboned' jeans before, and tucked the denim under, so that there was the rough edge. But I like the look of the rough edge on a skirt, so I left it.








I really like how the ribbon tee turned out.












She wears this outfit every chance she can.

So, thats all for now- hoped you had a wonderful 4th!

-Jenni