Boho Skirt, Grown Up Version.

I finished it!  

I made the Boho skirt para mi..  : )

And I just love it! I haven't sewn many things for myself but that is going to change really soon. I can't believe how quick and easy this was, and using only a yard of fabric (that was on sale) this skirt cost me less than $7. Can't beat it, yeah?  It's casual enough to wear with a tee and skinny belt; or with a little dressing it up, it'll be ready for a hot date night with the hubs. : )

To make it, I followed my  Boho Skirt Tutorial.  I added a lining and sewed some darts in the back to make it more polished.  Tutorial on adding a lining to your Boho Skirt coming soon! Even with the darts and lining, this skirt took me less than an hour and a half from start to finish. Score.

So in 1.5 hours (or less) you can have a new summer skirt like the one below (pasty white legs or children not included).: )

 What are you waiting for, get to sewing!

Loves,
Amber

The Boho Skirt with Tutorial! {Quick and Easy Elastic Waist Skirt Tutorial}

I adore everything about this skirt, the fabric, the ruched waist, and especially how easy it is to make. My only complaint is that my little one refuses to wear it everyday. Darn kids! : ) In fact I love it so much that, I will be making one for myself.

Want to make one for yourself or your little one?
Grab some fabric and some wide elastic, and let's get sewing! You'll have a new skirt in no time. Promise.

(The glasses were all her idea!)

Click below to expand the entire tutorial!

This is Why I Sew.

As mentioned before in this post, I am choosy with my craft projects. With three active little ones, I don't have the time or energy to sew a play shirt (or anything else) that I can buy for $3 on the Old Navy clearance rack. Know what I mean? : )

I have a love affair with designer kids clothes but I just can't bring myself to spend $$ on something my kids will outgrown in 6 months.

So instead I choose to sew.

While searching through my favorite department store, Nordstrom I came across this lovely little number.

It's the Marie-Chantel Rah Rah Skirt. And it's $110. (gulp!)

About a year ago, I sewed this exact same skirt for my little one. Navy gingham included.

I love how the feminine ruffles contrast with the more masculine gingham fabric.

 And the best part, my version cost $2.

Saving me $108.

Not too shabby.

That is exactly why I sew.

Beautiful clothes for way the heck less.

Makes me ever so happy.  : )

So the question is, why do you sew?

Ps. There are tons of tutorials on sewing ruffled skirts online so I opted to not rehash what's already out there, but if you would like a tutorial on making the above skirt, let me know. I'll see what I can work up. : )

Loves,

Amber

Stretch your Dollar. From Onsie to To Tee in 3 Minutes.

I'm guessing you have a ton of onsies that your little one grew out of, right?

Yeah, me too.

You can stretch your dollar by turning your too small onsies into a t shirt in just 3 minutes.

Here's my 24 month onsie that just doesn't fit my 3 year old anymore. : (

Now that old onsie is a perfectly fitting tee!

Long Live the Onsie!

Here's how you do it.

Cut off the bottom of your onsie. Do this as close to the bottom as you can.

 

If you do not have a serger, turn your shirt inside out and fold up 1/4 of an inch.

Fold up another 1/4 of an inch to hide the raw edges.  Pin in place.

Sew the hem down.

If you have a serger, serge around the bottom edge of your shirt.

Pin in place.

Sew the hem down with your sewing machine.

You're Done!!

Long live the onsie. : )

Loves,

Amber

J. Crew, Eat your Heart Out.

Hey there readers!

Check out the newest addition to my wardrobe.

I just love this polka dot top.  And the best part is it so. very. affordable! (Read on!)

If you follow me on Pinterest, you know I am a fan of this eerily similar top found here at J. Crew. 

They are so very similar, yeah?

Honestly, I had plans to purchase this top from the local J. Crew, but while out grocery shopping, yes I said grocery shopping I found my fabulous knock off.

If you love this top as much as I do then I'll give you one good reason to head  run to (drum roll please) Walmart (GASP!).

You heard right, Walmart carries the top that is ever so similar to the J. Crew top for just $12.

Now the Walmart top as is was quite big and boxy on me(see below):

But with two seams down the side of the shirt, I had a perfectly fitting blouse that I adore.. all for the mere price of $12.

Pair it with some skinny jeans and a blazer or a belted pencil skirt and you're good to go.

Of course if this $12 look a like shirt is not enough to convince you to grace the aisles of the big box retailer, Walmart, you can always pick up the $88 J. Crew version.  : )

Loves,

Amber



Easy Breezy Shirred Summer Shorts Tutorial

It's summer time so the Little One is in need of some shorts.  When I saw these at the local Gap, I new I had to make them.

Off to the sewing table I went. In under 30 minutes I had a new pair of darling shirred summer shorts that is sure to please.  

  

 The Little One loves how they are so light and airy and I love how quick and easy they were to make!

Ready to make your own?

Click below to expand the entire tutorial!

10 Minute Pants to Rolled Hem Shorts Tutorial.

Roll up shorts are back in. : )

(Check out these from Gap Kids)

I'm so glad that they are back in style becase now all the Little One's pants with holes in the knees can be put to good use!

So an old pair of jeans will turn from this..

To this..

Here's a ten minute tutorial on how to knock off the above Gap shorts (with an added ribbon detail) with a pair of jeans you have on hand. 

Ready?

What you'll need:

• Pair of Pants
• scissors
• Ribbon (about 6-7 inches), cut in half
• Sewing Machine
• Thread 
• Iron

First, cut the pants about three inches longer then your desired length.

Next, we are going to pin the ribbon to the outsdie seam of the wrong side of your pants. Turn your pants inside out. With your pants inside out, pin your ribbon on the outside seam of your pants. Place the raw edge of the ribbon on the raw edge of your pants. (Ignore the serged edges in the photo below, I did this out of sequence!)

Stitch close the edge on both sides of the ribbon. Your ribbon should only be about 3 inches long (I hadn't cut mine yet)

Next, serge or zig zag stitch the raw edges.  You don't want any fraying.

  

Turn the pants right side out and fold the serge edge up.  The fold should be about an inch deep.
Press in place.

Fold again so the serged edge is hidden.
Press in place.

  

Now stitch a few stitches on just the  side seams. I just went back and forth and back and forth until it was strong enough to hold in place. You can also hand sew this if you want.

You're done!  Wasn't that easy?


Pair with a simple tee and you're Little One is ready for summer.

Check out the nice ribbon detail:

Loves,
Amber

5 Minute Tank to Toddler Tunic!

So, I have about a million tanks lying around that I never wear.  I decided to put those to good use.

In under five minutes I turned an old tank of mine to a tunic for the Little One.  

Here's the finished product:

So I went from this..

To this in no time flat.

My little one was ever so happy to have a new addition to her ever growing wardrobe.

 Here's how you do it. Ready? This is super tricky! ; )

Take in the sides to fit by sewing a seam down both sides of your tank.  You can serge the sides for a finished edge or use a zig zag stitch for knits.

 Cut the straps off in the back. Measure to find out the proper length for the straps (you don't want the tunic to fall off your little one!)
Fold under the strap so the raw edges won't show and stitch.

 Now go have your little one try it on!

Wouldn't this make an adorable dress or swim suit cover up?

Humm.. I'm off to make more tanks to tunics!

 Loves,
Amber

Peek into my home. Letter Wall

A peek into my home..

This letter wall was a cinch to make and cost me under $20. Score!

And I also just happen to LOVE the look.

  I bought a ton of wood, Styrofoam, and chipboard letters from Hobby Lobby and went to work.

Most of the letters I left as is; they coordinated nicely with my muted color scheme but a few of the letters I spruced up a bit.

Here is my favorite one of the bunch..

For this one, I just gathered small twigs, trimmed to size with scissors and hot glued the twigs on.  To soften the dark brown color of the sticks, I painted a thin layer of cream paint and gently wiped some paint off.

Pretty easy, wouldn't you say?

Here's another letter from the wall.. 

I just hot glue dried beans onto my letter for an interesting texture. 

I also picked up some silver thumb tacks from the dollar store and stuck them into a Styrofoam letter for a cool metallic look.

You can decoupage with fabric or scrapbook paper, paint, wrap yarn (have you seen those? - adorable) or glue just about anything on your letters to make your letter wall just right. The possibilities are endless.

Add an adorable baby and you have yourself  an instant photo background. : )

  I would LOVE to make an entire feature wall filled with letters in my entry.  Perhaps one day.

 Loves,

Amber