DIY Bobby Pins

No Place Like Chrome

 I can't get enough of this Essie color. It is great on it's own or an accent color. You don't have to keep the color strictly to your nails. You can brighten up boring bobby pins with nail color. It's SO easy. Put the bobby pins on a piece of cardboard, paper...junk mail works great too. Then paint the pin. So easy and you feel like a crafting Queen!

DIY Burlap Banner

 I wanted a banner for D's First Communion. I looked on Etsy. I saw a lot of cute burlap banners. Then I went to the craft store and decided I could make a banner for less than I would pay. Also it is pretty easy. Burlap is shabby chic so it doesn't have to be perfect. This project cost me $15. I already had the glue and a sponge. It took about 2 hours, counting drying time. 

 What you need::

Glue

Paint

Sponge

Stencils

Twine or ribbon

Burlap* 

*I found burlap paper. Burlap paper is great because you don't need to measure and cut the fabric!

 Step 1:: Place stencil on burlap. Using the sponge paint. 

 Let it dry...you might need 2 coats of paint.

The back of the burlap paper. You can peel off the paper. However keeping it on makes it sturdier. 

Step 2:: Measure the space where you want to hang the banner. Cut the string to the appropriate length.
Step 3:: Fold over the fabric and glue. I used a hot glue gun and Tacky Glue, they both worked well. I thought the Tacky Glue was less messy.

Teacher Appreciation Luncheon

 It's Teacher Appreciation week again. As always at my son's elementary school the PTA hosted a lunch for the hard working teachers. This year our theme was an English Picnic. We filled the library with simple flowers and bunting made of paper.

 Colored Mason Jar bouquet  

Keeping with the bunting theme we wrote the names of the food on banners.

Sewing

Fresh batch of scooter coffee cozies.

Queen Bee Market

 I had a wonderful weekend. I went to the Queen Bee Market with F.W. 

 F.W. stenciling a bag.

Fabric globe, cute idea for scrapes.

Here is what I got.

Toad &Toadette

 My sister and her husband went to a Sweetheart's dinner at their church. Each couple was assigned a table that had a theme. You dress up to go along with the theme. Their table's theme was Super Mario Brothers. They decided to go as Toad and Toadette. In case you are wondering who Toad and Toadette are here is a picture.

Toad and Toadette

My sister had an idea of how to make the costumes but she asked me to help a little. It was such a fun project! We made the mushroom hats using sombreros. We covered the top of the sombreros with felt filled with grocery bags.  

sewing on the bottom panel of the dress.

I was relived that we found a pink dress at a store so I didn't have to sew a whole dress. However the dress was too short so I added 6 inches of white fabric to the bottom.

Toad's vest
The vest was easy enough to make because we cut a shirt down the middle, chopped off the sleeves and added some gold ribbon.

The table decorations were awesome.

They looked so good they won the costume contest! 

DIY Canvas Tote

Big news in 2014!

The Hubby and I are going to Hawaii in a couple of weeks! I am super excited. I've been busy packing. One of the things I was having trouble packing was a suitable bag. Most of my purses are black and not  beach appropriate. I decided I would sew a bag but I couldn't find a fabric I liked. Instead I went to Michael's. I bought some tape, a $3.99 canvas bag and Martha Stewart all purpose paint. 

 I love the Martha Stewart paint. It is good on any surface even fabric. 

The hard part was picking a design…Should I stencil? Do polka dots? Finally I settled on classic stripes.

I was inspired by the Starbucks packaging.  I was originally going to paint the bag brown and rose gold polka dots. After thinking about it I thought rose gold and navy stripes was nautical and look better for the beach. 

 Taped up the bag

 2 coats of paint...

And Ta Da my bag is ready to fill with sunscreen and a book!

Queen Bee Market

This weekend I went to the Queen Bee Market in Oceanside with my sister.

Junk Art Gypsyz makes great signs. I got this one to hang over our fire place.

 I feel in love with Flea Market Sunday. They use vintage maps to make really cool wall hangings. I am  already regretting I didn't get the square vintage map of San Diego. 

 Award for cutest nativity set goes to Creme De La Gems

 I didn't purchase this but I love it.

My trusty sidekick who is always my voice of reason when I want to buy EVERYTHING at the Queen Bee Market. Last year had a lot of Christmas themed gift ideas…this year not so much. Great vendors and a great night shopping.

UNIQUE LA Spring Show

While my friend, Kristina and I were in Los Angeles for the EIF Revlon Run we went to a market. The unique LA's Spring Show. It was part craft fair, Art show, part local LA sellers and ALL hipster! It was near the fashion district on the 16th floor of a building. I wish I had an unlimited budget because there were lots of one of a kind jewelry and posters. It was a fun day of shopping but boy are my legs tired.

 Kristina got this chevron bow

 These were little shadow boxes. I wanted one but where would I put it??

 I'm going to eat you, cupcake.

 This scarf was so cool! However we both agreed it is a little heavy duty for So Cal. 

 That's a lot of alligator.

This is the canvas tote we got from UNIQUE LA.

state of unique has shows in New York and San Francisco.

If your in Los Angeles today you should check it out!

100 Days of School

Kindergarten is flying by. Today was the 100th day of school for D. His teacher had some great craft projects to celebrate being 100 days smarter. My favorite project is the gum ball machine. She set up 10 different paint colors. The kids used their fingers and dotted each color 10 times on a paper plate.

Christmas Bunting

 Over the Thanksgiving break I wanted to give F.W. a project to work on. I thought bunting would be a great sewing project for him. The pattern is simple. Just measure a triangle on paper. I wanted this to be something he could do on his own and be proud of. I took him to a nearby fabric store to let him pick the materials. He did it all except for the ironing. It was fun to sew with him.

I couldn't help but get a sweet picture of a sleepy Angus. I swear during the day he is part house cat...unless the Mailman comes then Angus is ALL dog.

Queen Bee Market

 This weekend I went to the Queen Bee Market in Carlsbad, CA. I took FW along for the fun. He is a good partner to bring to a craft show. Most of the time FW is able talk me out of overspending. The vendors had lots of original items to buy. I can't show any more pictures because I bought Christmas gifts.

Photo Both Fun