long time, no blog

So with the move, end of the school year & all the birthdays, I haven't been feeling too creative lately...but I have been inspired a bit by having the new, neutral space to decorate. I just want something that feels more like us. Anyway, this is Colin's bathroom (I'll get to the bathroom layout later). The lightning isn't very good (it is 10:30pm as I am finishing this!) But I painted the bathroom a light green, kind of bright color. For the dots I used self adhesive vinyl. It was so great & easy to work with! (even Jason helped!)

I found this patterned vinyl that had 2 shades of green, navy blue & orange & I matched the solid color vinyls to that pattern.

To complete the bathroom, I bought solid color towels in navy & orange (which made us look like Bears fans, which we are not!), a solid navy rug, clear toothbrush holder & cup & a white plastic trashcan. I used the rest of the vinyl dots to put some color on the toothbrush holder & trashcan.

More about the bathrooms...the new house has 4 1/2. The girls share one, Colin has his own, the master, the guest bath on the main floor & then the 1/2 on the main floor. I have painted the guest bath (its just yellow, not exciting, not even really sure I like it). The 1/2 bath is green stripes & as soon as the mirror & picture get hung, I will take pictures. Hopefully, I am going to start on the girls bath later this week. I have no idea when I will get to the master bath. First, I need to figure out what I am doing...I am starting to think I need to subscribe to a home decorating magazine, this is so out of my realm!

Any ideas?? send them my way!

-Jenni

disney outfits

This started out as basic pillowcase-inspired dresses. http://www.jenleheny.com/pillowcase-dress-instructions
Then I decided I needed to add something to the shorts underneath. So, I went to the Once-upon-someone-else's-child store & bought the girls jeans to alter. The older one, I decided was maybe too old for ruffles, so I took the hem band instructions from this tutorial http://houseonhillroad.typepad.com/photos/twirly_skirt/
and put them on her shorts.

I must have measured the little one wrong, because when I sent to put it on her, not only was it too small around the tummy, it was too short as well. I didn't have enough fabric to start all over, so I added same materials panels to the sides & then the contrasting hem band (also from the above tutorial). I almost like it better with the side panels, I think it hangs better, although you can't really tell from these pics.



These are the twirly skirts I made (tutorial linked above) I really liked them & once I made the first one, it was pretty easy to do. For the shirts I appliqued a Mickey head on the Old Navy tee. I think it turned out pretty cute.

(don't ask me about their faces- I have no idea) These shirts were really easy to do....got the idea from Susan's blog

http://chaosensued.blogspot.com/ I just cut the shape I wanted out of contact paper with my trusty Cricut & then painted. Sunday was A's birthday, so she got the Mickey head with a 3 (can't tell too well from this picture). C's turned out cute- its hard with an almost 8 yr old to know what he will think is okay & what he won't.

I have my last (for awhile anyway) rag quilt on the machine & I am trying to finish that up before summer!

I made a trashcan!!!

So, I have had the material to do this for quite awhile. I used my cricut cutter & vinyl http://www.cricut.com/ and my sure cuts alot software http://www.craftedge.com/index.html and a Star Wars font I already had on my computer (yeah, a little geeky I know. But I have a 7 yr old boy in LOVE with Star Wars! What are you going to do???)

All I had to do was cut the vinyl to mat size, hook up my laptop to the cricut & figure out what I wanted to cut. It was really easy & now I am trying to figure out what else to cut! I need some white vinyl so I can decorate my laptop!

More rag quilts

This is A's quilt. She LOVES nemo, so when I saw this flannel- I had to get it & make her a quilt. I couldn't find the right shade of green flannel, so I had to use a fleece. It posed a few problems, mainly the thickness under the sewing foot, but all in all it worked out okay.

This is E's quilt. She LOVES Hannah Montana...so I got this for her. I used the fleece for her as well. I think they turned out well- I love these owls!

Happy Valentines Day!!!

So, I got this idea from my friend Susans (check out her blog http://chaosensued.blogspot.com/ )

sister in laws blog (since I don't really know her, I don't think I should link her blog)

Anyway, this shirt was for E to wear to her Valentines party today. Its a good thing she goes in the afternoon, since I just started it this morning. But it was pretty easy. I drew the heart shape, cut it out & then fit the long sleeve tee under it. Using embroiery thread, (and my rusty hand sewing skills) I stitched around the heart.

Then I decided I wanted the backs of the shirts to also be sewn together. So, I wrote what I wanted and then stitched the lines using embroidery thread again.

All & all, I think it just took a few hours to get it all done.

Since we are heading out on the Disney cruise in March, I have a few projects in the works for the kids to wear. And I have another rag quilt in process......

Notes to myself for Christmas 2009...

I am tired of running around the month of December trying to finish up all the fun little traditions/crafts/things that I want to do. So, I have made a decision- this year is going to be different. I am going to enjoy Christmas time by preplanning- ALOT. I am talking crafts in July, cards in August & gift buying in October (Jason will be thrilled!)

This is my list, so in a few months, I can look at it & think about what I need to do.

1. Teachers gifts-- early fall
2. Matching PJ's for the family--maybe I should start that in August!
3. Making gifts from the grandkids to the grandparents
4. Helping the kids make presents for each other
5. Christmas card & letter-- to be sent out in early December. Maybe I should try & make a few this year.
6. baking, I should do it.

Well, that's all I can think of for now....any other thoughts?

wine lights & Thanksgiving...

These are the wine bottle lights we got together to make this weekend. The one in the middle (the one that is actually lit) I didn't make, but bought last year. Then decided I could make more on my own.

The other two are teachers gifts for Christmas (I think I am going to add a gift card too.)

They are really fun to make (with the exception of hot glue gun injuries!) and don't really take much time.

And since we are reusing wine bottles- its good for the environment too! (Ok- that may be a little stretch).

And these were my Thanksgiving craft this year. I thought the kids could help me make them, which they did- a little. But I ended up finishing them. Which Jason laughed at me for. They are little placecards for the table. We made them for everyone that came to our house for dinner. The girl bonnets are supposed to have white bows, but I can't find (or ran out of) my white ribbon- so I made due. Karen wasn't so sure the Puritans would have been that flashy with colored ribbon! :)

I actually have another project to post- I used reverse applique on E's jeans & it turned out pretty cute. But the little one is sleeping right now (in the room with the jeans) & you NEVER wake a sleeping baby!!

So, I will post later!

-jenni