Project Run and Play Party Dress Remix

Why hello! It's been a while. I've missed posting on this little blog. 

Life is finally settling down in our little household. Thankfully. 

And what that means is I have some free time to whittle away at my fabric stash. : )  Project Run and Play has started up again and I plan on sewing along for a few of the challenges. 

This week's challenge is to remix Lindsey of the Cottage Home's The Party Dress Pattern.  

This is a GREAT basic pattern.  With a little creativity you can do so much with a basic pattern like this.  I almost sewed up a plaid coat with the pattern but opted to go for this Brocade dress instead (Winters just aren't long enough in Texas!), and my oh my I'm so glad that I did.  I'll get to that coat soon enough... maybe.

                                            

The fabric is a brocade-type purchased from Joann's (purchased for around $10 with a coupon). It has a lovely aqua blue hue with gorgeous gold running through it.  It is a little itchy so I opted to line the whole thing with a light weight cotton.  I must admit, when I purchased this fabric from Joann's a few months ago, I told the lady at the cutting counter I was making a dress for my Little One. She looked at me and then looked at the fabric and said, "I hope it will be a costume."  I quickly and ashamedly lied and said it was indeed for a costume of sorts (no judging! haha!).  I did doubt my fabric choice for a while so in my fabric stash this sat for quite a while.  : )

The truth was as soon as I laid eyes on that fabric I knew it was destined for a short and sweet party dress.  So when PR&P had this challenge it gave me a great chance to sew the design I had in mind and to use that darn fabric. I love the finished product and so does the Little One. 

For those of you who care, I have detailed the changes I did to Lindsey's pattern to make this sweet little number.

I wanted a shorter waistline and a lower neckline then what Lindsey's pattern called for so I just shortened the bodice pieces and used a bowl to trace a larger neckline.

Lindsey's dress pattern is a sleeveless pattern, but I felt this design really needed short sleeves.  So I drafted some sleeves and sew that to the bodice pieces.

Because the fabric is so busy and ornate, I wanted a very simple narrow sash in the front that would widen to make a nice bow in the back.  I also attached the sash to the front of the bodice.  It was a pretty simple change from Lindsey's original pattern.

Also, for the buttons I decided to not use her technique for button holes. I will use that in the future, but for this dress simple was better.

The only other change was that on all my seams I used flat felled seams which gave this dress a professional finish from the inside out. 

That's it. : )  A party dress for the Little One, thank you to Lindsey from the Cottage Home, you rock!

Loves,

Amber

Quick Gift Idea..How to Make a Fabric CD or DVD Case

It's already the end of August. YIKES!  The holidays are on their way. Can you believe it? 

I feel as though I'm often scrambling to prepare everything. But not this year.  Yes, this year I'm starting early.

 During the holidays, my go to neighbor gift is a CD of our favorite holiday tunes.  

This year I wanted to improve the presentation of our gift so I searched online but didn't find anything that I loved. So I headed to the craft store and came up with this... 

 

This would make a really easy and amazing holiday gift, wedding party favor, or photographer packaging. Just slip a CD or DVD with anything  your heart desires and you're good to go.   

Despite the lengthy tutorial, it is a quick and easy project that can be done in no time! 

Click below for the instructions!

How to Make a Lace Crown. No Crocheting Required!

If you're a photographer, I'm sure you've seen some those adorable newborn crowns.  

Here's a quick and easy way to make one.. no crocheting required.  

Made larger, these would make adorable party favors for a big girl party or maybe even for yourself. : )  Oh.. the possibilities!

                             

                   

                             

Here's how you do it..

• You will need:
• Mod Podge
• A strip of lace (For a newborn, I used about 2 1/2 -3 inches of lace) 
• Fabric Paint and Paint Brush (This is optional. You will need it only if you want to change the color of the lace.) 
• Hot Glue Gun

1.  If you want your crown to be a different color then the lace, mix a bit of Mod Podge with your fabric paint.  I did about one part paint to one part Mod Podge.  Paint your lace.

If you are leaving your lace the color it is, simply paint Mod Podge onto your lace. 

2. Let dry until the paint is a tad sticky.  (You don't want it to be completely dry). 

3. Form a circle and hot glue the lace together; be sure to keep the lace pattern consistent. 

4. Let dry by placing the crown on a cup or something else circular.  

5. You're all done!

 Loves,
Amber

Cake Topper Love. DIY

Who knew a little paint and a dollar store nicknack could make such a killer cake topping? 

Love how this turned out!

Do you?

Here's how you do it..
First, pick up a nicknack, plastic toy animal, or other statue and some paint ( I used acrylic paint for the doggie and spray paint for the rhino below).  Make sure you get the right kind of paint for your cake topper. If you have a plastic animal, get plastic spray paint (you can find this at any home improvement store).  Paint or spray a thin layer of paint on your nicknack and let dry. Repeat, repeat, repeat until your nicknack is the perfect shade.

If using on top of a cake, place a piece of cardboard cut to size under the puppy so you don't get paint on your yummy frosting : )

Oh, and for a video on how to make the ruffled frosting check out this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHYX0qXDVy0 
It is way easier then it looks!


Loving this spray painted rhino bookend in aqua.

Up next:
a pair of elephant bookends in raspberry.
I can't wait!

Watch out dollar store, I'm head your way for more.

Hope you Enjoy!

Loves,
Amber

Tissue Paper Flower Tutorial

So I've recently discovered the pure blissful-ness (for lack of a better word!) of tissue paper. Tissue paper is inexpensive and found everywhere. What more could you want? : )
Here's a recent project:

The possibilities are endless with this quick and easy tutorial.
Wouldn't this make an adorable Valentine's wreath? Or a maybe a hanging flower ball? Oh, or a flower filled tree?

Here is how you do it.
You will need:
-Styrofoam ball, wreath, or tree (I did a Styrofoam ball cut in half that I stuck in a ramekin.)
-scissors
-tissue paper in color of your choice
-straight pins you know, the ones with the colored ball on the end (these will be the flowers center so pick a color that coordinates with your flower)

Cut tissue paper in small flower shapes. I folded the tissue paper and cut out a ton of flowers at once.


Layer three tissue flowers on top of each other then poke the pin through all three layers.


Poke the pin and flower into the Styrofoam ball or wreath. Repeat, repeat, repeat until desired fullness is achieved.

Now, wasn't that easy?
Here's an action shot: