(fabric - Heather Ross, Mendocino collection)
(fabric - Riley Blake, Wheels collection)
(fabric - Lizzy House, Red Letter Day collection)
big butt baby pants for boys
It is high time I joined the sewing for boys fun this month, don't you think? Over the weekend I made four pairs of toddler-sized Big Butt Baby Pants - one for Oscar, and three for some of our best NYC pals.
I posted a few months ago how much I like this pattern (from Made by Rae), but I think I love it ten times more on a toddler. Oscar is a fan, too. Do you like his breakfast spot? He likes to perch high on a stool and eat his waffles on the dishwasher. We are the picture of safety over here.
I was even able to stretch the pattern to fit a slim 4-year old by adding several inches to the hemline. I cut the rest of the pattern to the normal 2T size and it is still a perfect fit.
Ok, this next pair is for a girl ... but the point is, this is a great pattern!
Also, I bought a box of gorgeous ranunculus this weekend to plant in our window boxes, despite the fact that I am a notorious plant-killer. Here's hoping I can remember to water them this go round!
L Letterpress Winner
Thank you for entering last week's giveaway!
Congratulations to lucky winner #803, Sarah, who said, "I love making custom invites to our birthday and holiday parties, so this would be SO COOL!! Thanks for such a great giveaway!"
You are going to l.o.v.e. the L Letterpress system! Thanks to Lifestyle Crafts for providing such an exciting prize.
baby ballerina slippers
Anyway, here are some baby shoes I sewed for Ruby recently using the Angelina Ballerina pattern from Sweet Pea Patterns. I have bought several pdf patterns from that etsy shop, and they always come out great.
I'm off to browse the Celebrate the Boy flickr group and get inspired for a boy project. If that can't get me going, I'm not sure what will!
"facebook" birthday photo wall
My sweet husband had a birthday over the weekend. He isn't into big parties, doesn't eat dessert, and generally buys himself the things he wants these days, so finding the right way to celebrate can be hard.
Jared woke up to a birthday greeting from everyone he loves. I wasn't thinking about it as I put it together, but Jared commented that it was like a real, live Facebook wall! Kind of fun, especially since he is not on Facebook.
For my family photos, I made some fun little party hats using the template at Oh Happy Day. I glued some pretty papers to plain white cardstock before cutting them out with the template. Very easy and festive!
One thing Jared does love is friends and family. So I asked them all to email me a photo of themselves holding a happy birthday sign, had the pictures printed in a large size, and stuck them all up on the wall in the middle of the night.
For my family photos, I made some fun little party hats using the template at Oh Happy Day. I glued some pretty papers to plain white cardstock before cutting them out with the template. Very easy and festive!
L Letterpress Giveaway (CLOSED)
Remember my fun new toy? Would you like to have one, too?
I am so excited for this giveaway because you can't imagine the fun I've been having with this simple machine.
The L Letterpress by Lifestyle Crafts is really easy to use - Just place your printing plates, apply the ink with a brayer, close the lid, run it through the Epic die-cut machine and ...
out pops beautifully letterpressed stationery!
Of course, I couldn't resist making something for Oscar, too. Who says toddlers can't enjoy a little letterpress? I used a circle die-cut to cut lots of little discs and then letterpressed them with numbers and flowers to make a number matching game.
Each disc is two pieces of letterpress paper, glued together with paper mod-podge, so they are nice and sturdy. Oscar calls them his "coins" and carries them around like little treasures. So far it is the only bit of "mama's paper" that I let his usually sticky fingers come anywhere near, so he is pretty excited.
Check out the Lifestyle Crafts website and blog for tons of creative ideas for using the L Letterpress system.
So ... you want one, right? One lucky winner will receive a prize valued at over $250:
If you would love to win, visit the Lifestyle Crafts website and leave a comment on this post by midnight (PST), Friday, February 25th telling me your favorite project or how you would use the combo kit.
Giveaway Rules:
The L Letterpress by Lifestyle Crafts is really easy to use - Just place your printing plates, apply the ink with a brayer, close the lid, run it through the Epic die-cut machine and ...
So ... you want one, right? One lucky winner will receive a prize valued at over $250:
- The Epic Combo Kit
- 2 Letterpress Inks
- Letterpress paper and envelopes
- 2 additional printing plates
Only one entry per person. If you accidentally enter more than once, please delete your duplicate comment(s).Contact information must be provided. Either your profile must link back to a public blog, or you must include an email address on your comments. Anonymous comments will be deleted.One winner will be selected via random.org and announced on February 28th.This giveaway is available to U.S. readers only (so sorry international friends!)
making wall art using vinyl - two ways
As a renter, I'm always looking for temporary ways to add color to my apartment. In the past, I've even pasted fabric to the wall. The easiest solution, though, is just to add some bright artwork. I love taking blank canvases from the craft or art supply store and making something unique.
I'm not a great artist, so using vinyl has really stepped up my homemade artwork. For these blue prints, I cut the vinyl design (using my Silhouette) and applied it to a blank white canvas to use like a reverse stencil. Then I painted right over the top of it. When the paint was mostly dry, but still a little tacky, I peeled the vinyl away, leaving the white space underneath. The edges of the canvas were painted brown to add a bit of contrast.
I propped the pair up on top of a bookshelf to add a pop of color to an otherwise boring corner.
For this dandelion, I cut the vinyl and applied it to the canvas once again. And that was it! Talk about easy. I also cut strips of vinyl and adhered them to the edges of the canvas to give it another dark border.
Check out my past posts to see canvases I covered in tissue paper, and another set I painted for Oscar's nursery.
Pin It
I'm not a great artist, so using vinyl has really stepped up my homemade artwork. For these blue prints, I cut the vinyl design (using my Silhouette) and applied it to a blank white canvas to use like a reverse stencil. Then I painted right over the top of it. When the paint was mostly dry, but still a little tacky, I peeled the vinyl away, leaving the white space underneath. The edges of the canvas were painted brown to add a bit of contrast.
For this dandelion, I cut the vinyl and applied it to the canvas once again. And that was it! Talk about easy. I also cut strips of vinyl and adhered them to the edges of the canvas to give it another dark border.
Check out my past posts to see canvases I covered in tissue paper, and another set I painted for Oscar's nursery.
Pin It
I heart Santa Barbara onesie
Ruby likes to wear her heart on her onesie, and we are madly in love with Santa Barbara.
I used the ol' Silhouette to make these onesies with the Heat Transfer material. It is fantastic, and yes, it holds up well in the wash.
Coming up on the blog ... home dec projects. I've been working on artwork and new pillows and stuff. Fun!
happy valentine's day!
I hope you feel loved today!
Over the weekend I whipped up some easy flower hair clips for some of my favorite church ladies, made with the same fabric I used for last week's Party Skirt. I've recieved a lot of questions about that fabric, but sorry to say, I'm not sure what it is. That fabric is from my mother-in-law's stash - it feels like a heavy linen-ish cotton, but I'm pretty sure she bought it many years ago. It has been great for valentine projects! :)
p.s. how excited are you that Celebrate the Boy is starting again tomorrow over at Made and Made by Rae?! I've been looking forward to all the delicious boy-themed projects all winter. It has been a little too pink around here lately, don't you think?
(spoils of the church cookie party)
Over the weekend I whipped up some easy flower hair clips for some of my favorite church ladies, made with the same fabric I used for last week's Party Skirt. I've recieved a lot of questions about that fabric, but sorry to say, I'm not sure what it is. That fabric is from my mother-in-law's stash - it feels like a heavy linen-ish cotton, but I'm pretty sure she bought it many years ago. It has been great for valentine projects! :)
p.s. how excited are you that Celebrate the Boy is starting again tomorrow over at Made and Made by Rae?! I've been looking forward to all the delicious boy-themed projects all winter. It has been a little too pink around here lately, don't you think?
my new toy: the L Letterpress
Are you a fan of letterpress stationery? Me too. I love the look, the texture ... it just feels luxurious. This week I've been playing with the L Letterpress combo system from Lifestyle Crafts and it is kind of rocking my world.
The L Letterpress is actually a plastic system that you run through a die cut machine to simultaneously ink and deboss the paper, which creates the look and feel of real letterpress. I love that this system gives the at-home crafter the opportunity to experiment with letterpress - you don't need a studio, or a 1,000 pound machine (although that sounds dreamy, too). While it won't replace the ancient method, it sure is a lot of fun. You can learn a little more about the L Letterpress by watching these demo videos.
Last night I devoted the evening to my tube of pink ink and made lots of valentines. For this first card, I did a blind deboss (no ink) for the words "I" and "you" using the Scholastic Plate. I also pressed some matching envelopes with my last initial on the back flap.
I used the Blossom printing plate to create this all-over blink debossed card, and a die cut to add the love tag (the word love comes from the Twigs and Sprigs printing plate).
More love cards ...
And finally, a little something for Ruby's wall. Now I just need to find a frame.
Can you tell I love that Blossom all over print? It is one of my favorites. I also can't wait to get my hands on the new plates that have just been released - the Botanical and Wooden printing plates are calling my name. And don't get me started on the custom plates. I see glorious Homemade by Jill letterpress in my future.
If you want to get in on the letterpressing fun, Lifestyle Crafts is offering you a 20% discount using the online code: LC2011BLOG02. The code is valid through Friday, February 18.
Check out The L Blog for more eye candy and inspiration.
The L Letterpress is actually a plastic system that you run through a die cut machine to simultaneously ink and deboss the paper, which creates the look and feel of real letterpress. I love that this system gives the at-home crafter the opportunity to experiment with letterpress - you don't need a studio, or a 1,000 pound machine (although that sounds dreamy, too). While it won't replace the ancient method, it sure is a lot of fun. You can learn a little more about the L Letterpress by watching these demo videos.
Last night I devoted the evening to my tube of pink ink and made lots of valentines. For this first card, I did a blind deboss (no ink) for the words "I" and "you" using the Scholastic Plate. I also pressed some matching envelopes with my last initial on the back flap.
I used the Blossom printing plate to create this all-over blink debossed card, and a die cut to add the love tag (the word love comes from the Twigs and Sprigs printing plate).
More love cards ...
And finally, a little something for Ruby's wall. Now I just need to find a frame.
If you want to get in on the letterpressing fun, Lifestyle Crafts is offering you a 20% discount using the online code: LC2011BLOG02. The code is valid through Friday, February 18.
Check out The L Blog for more eye candy and inspiration.
valentine cookie bags
Tonight I am having a little Valentine activity with the ladies at church. We are decorating heart shape cookies and making these little cookie bags to go with them. Nice and simple.
The bags are just a white lunch sack that is punched along the top using a Martha Stewart scalloped edge punch (decorative scissors would work, too).
Do you love my background today? I have a new craft tool. :) It is fun, easy to use, and makes beautiful things. Check back tomorrow and I'll show you more.
In other news, I was diagnosed with shingles yesterday. Boo hoo for me. I am accepting all forms of pity. :) Pray for me that it will pass quickly? Thanks.
The bags are just a white lunch sack that is punched along the top using a Martha Stewart scalloped edge punch (decorative scissors would work, too).
I cut the tags on my Silhouette. It is a two piece tag that I designed myself (although, I'm being liberal with the word "designed" - the software is so easy to use). If you want a copy of the files, just email me! homemadebyjill@gmail.com
In other news, I was diagnosed with shingles yesterday. Boo hoo for me. I am accepting all forms of pity. :) Pray for me that it will pass quickly? Thanks.
sewing for me
I did sew this skirt for myself last week, using the Party Skirt Tutorial at Creative Spaces. The directions are very easy to follow, and the only changes I made were to sew two side seams and sew the sash into the waistband. It turned out really cute! I should sew for myself more often.
baby shower cookies
It's been a few years since I've broke out the old onesie cookie cutter. I'd almost forgotten how much I enjoy decorating sugar cookies (despite hours of icing turning my hand into a decrepit, arthritic claw). For my friend's baby shower, I stuck to the classic white onesie because she doesn't know her baby's gender.
The Blonde Designs Blog has a really good cream cheese sugar cookie recipe. It is tasty and holds its shape really well while baking. I used Wilton's Royal Icing recipe using meringue powder for the icing. The basic recipe is the perfect consistency for piping, and you can add a little extra water to make "flow" icing, which spreads nice and smooth for the base.
Yum! Or so I heard. I'm still temporarily gluten-free, so I couldn't even eat one. How sad is that?
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