Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Fixing a swimming suit

My pile of "fix it's" grows too fast too often.  One I've had in the pile since after summer is my daughter's two swimming suits. She has a couple with clasps like this:   

However those clasps don't seem to hold up too well with my little fish.  You can see the crack, and once that little piece of plastic breaks, the swimming suit no longer stays up! 

So....I went to Wal-Mart and bought this kit:
I cut off the ends of her suit, 'cause the snaps I got were not heavy duty, and would never make it through all that fabric.  Doing this will cause you too loose some length in the neck hole.  So you may need to get heavy duty snaps to go through the thick part,  if you don't want to loose any length.  My daughter is actually very small through her shoulders, and neck line so I choose this option as it will end up fitting her better anyway.
Make sure you cut it just outside the hem line so you don't have to sew anything.  It will leave two raw edges, but once they're trimmed they look fine :)
Then follow the directions on your snaps to properly apply.  The pack I got required you to hammer the pieces together once to tool was in place.  I found out however that my cropadile fit perfectly over the tool so I used that instead.  I did everything else according to the instructions.  If you want to use your cropadile too, here's how I set it.

The bottom of the cropadile is the "base" I just used the flattest setting on there. And it worked great.
Then on the top, there was a blank side available, so the top was completely flat, and the base was almost flat.
Here's the tool (with the pieces inside ready to push through the fabric) and my cropadile fitting over it nicely.
Do it to both ends and then you'll have a new, sturdy, snap for her to keep swimming!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Mistletoe


My friend found THIS cute tutorial. And I thought it would be a fun way to hang some mistletoe in my house.  I originally tied it with red ribbon, but I didn't love it.  So I found some baker's twine in red and white and used that.  I LOVE it now.  I was able to use all materials on hand, so it didn't cost anything and it was really easy and quick.  

Friday, December 23, 2011

Merry and Bright

My friend designed this vinyl on her Gypsy after seeing a similar version.  I fell in love and had to make one.  I found some scrap board in my basement and adjusted her measurements to fit my board.  I painted it classic red, distressed it a bit, and viola...another cute decoration for my home.   

I just LOVE how it turned out.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Noel

I got this board a few years back, and have been using it in my decor even since.  But the negative space to the left of "Noel" has always bothered me.  So I decided it needed some sprucing up.  

Here's the "after".  I bought some fake holly and berries at Hobby lobby for $0.60.  I cut the stem to the length I wanted.  Then I wrapped the stem in jute.  And hot glued it right on the board.  I like it so much more now!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Felt tree

My cute neighbor was so excited to show me her latest craft, and as soon as I saw it I was so excited to make it!  It's a beautiful tree made from wool felt.  I used supplies I had on hand (and on her hand:) so it didn't cost me anything.  And I JUST love the detail. 



Saturday, December 17, 2011

Glitter nativity

I got this beautiful glitter, vinyl Nativity a few years back, and had not done anything with it yet.  I had some extra board in my basement and took it to Lowe's to be cut.  I painted it a couple of different colors. The vinyl either disappeared on the lighter tones, or looked weird.  I finally settled on black, even though I wasn't totally happy.  I think I want to distress it up a little bit, and I'll like it more. 

Just look how beautiful the detail is...

Friday, December 16, 2011

Circle garland

I love making these little garlands.  Mine was inspired from THIS.  I use three punches.  1 3/4, 1 1/2, and 3/4.  Then I grabbed some free paint chips, and scrap paper.  A LOT of punches, and a little sewing later, I had these.  





So fun, easy and cheap. 

Monday, December 12, 2011

Button wreath art

I love button art, and as soon as I saw THIS, I knew I would make it. 


Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Baby gift

My husband's cousin is expecting her first baby.  She's out of state so we couldn't throw her a baby shower.  I thought a care package would be fun.  I made her a sleeping sign that will match his room. So she can hang it in there when it's not in use on the front door.


Some pee-pee tee-pee's
A burp cloth
Taggie toy
With matching card.  It looks so cute all together.  Hope she likes it!

Saturday, November 26, 2011

My sister's wedding

My sister got married, and I had lots of fun helping her with everything.  First, I threw her a shower.  

I made a ton of pom pom's to hang as a focal point, and around different areas.
I made these cute labels for all the food and desserts.



I made little tags with a "K" for Kelsey, to add to the apples.

A wishing tree, I cut some branches of my tree, sprayed them cream, and stuck them in a jar with white navy beans.
I employed my Husband to make all the cranes.
"pin the boutonnière on Guy", with a little banner.
Cute ladder I embellished with fun photos and love quotes.
Table runner made of vintage sheet music sewn together, and tiny flowers made from tissue and more sheet music.

Favors using tissue paper and ribbon.
Vinyl on my door of an antique key and the words "please come in"
I made most of the accessories, including her hair pin, and his boutonnière.  Instead of a pearl in the center of his poppy, he wanted a "k"
I made their wedding cake topper

More table runners for the reception, and I helped with the book vases and poppy centers.

Their entrance table:
teeny tiny pennant garland
the wishing tree again

The cranes being made from vintage sheet music also.
poppy pens for signing
Cute "instruction" printable
random framed pictures, and loose flowers
"CARDS" , and a peek of the "love is all you need" art I made her for her birthday earlier this year.
I covered this frame (that I got at the D.I.) with more sheet music, and put some chalkboard in it.
I made all the hair accessories (you can only see about half of these, and these are only about half of what I made) for the wedding party and children.
Boutonnières
The toss bouquet, and wedding bouquet.
Vinyl for the back of their car.

Also a garter, her veil, mom and grandma corsages,  and a few other things!  Whew!