Made it: Valentine Card Wreath

I wanted to make a Valentine wreath for my door (which, by the way, was only just recently stripped of the Christmas wreath). All of the ideas I liked were full of yarn I don't have or felt flowers I don't have much time for.

That's when I remembered a box full of Valentine's Day cards I bought last April for $1. There are about a million of them and they are Victorian inspired and pretty (albeit a tad too tacky to actually give to someone). 

I also had a grapevine wreath sitting around so I got to work on my vision of a V-Day card wreath. 

I cut the cards in half since I only had use for the front. Then I just punched some holes in them and tied them to the vines with ribbon. 

30 minutes later, I was hanging it on my door.

Yeah, I love it. 

I keep thinking this would be fun with all of the character Valentine's that kids take to school too. Maybe I'll hang a One Direction one on the back of Scott's chair at work. I'm really good at showing I care.

Also, in the spirit of making over my "front room," I am forgoing "Made it Monday" because I didn't like feeling restricted to a specific day. For now on, it'll just be "Made it" whenever I post about something that... well... I made. 

Made it Monday: Pinecone Gnome Ornaments

I made this little trio of gnomes for my mom's annual ornament party. They were pretty simple/easy to make and I think look adorable. The hardest part was finding wool felt (had to travel to Idaho to go to Craft Warehouse) and decent pinecones that weren't covered in crap. In the end, I chose some that had some silver glitter, but a little glitter looks good on a tree amIright?

Here are a few more I made for my mom with pinecones I found at a Craft Warehouse...

You can find the original BHG ornaments and instructions here. 

Made it Monday: Chocolate Chip Cookies (that are perfect every time)

Last night as Scott and I settled in to our new apartment, Scott mentioned inviting people over for chocolate chip cookies and milk. It was such a sweet and simple idea. In a world of Pinterest, all the cookies I see are stuffed with this and that or elaborately decorated.

So I went into my (larger) kitchen and whipped up these bad boys who have never failed me. Seriously, I have made them at different elevations and they have turned out perfect every single time.

Dad's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

1/3 cup butter, softened

2/3 cup shortening (we use coconut oil instead)

1 cup sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

3 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped walnuts 

Directions

In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, salt and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. 

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls unto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 10-11 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to cool on wire racks. 

Yields: 5 dozen

No one ended up coming over, but Georgie followed Scott's lead in dunking her cookies in milk.

I just love cookies.

P.S. Don't forget to enter the Tickled Peach Studio Giveaway :)

Made it Monday: Tulle Hair Bow

While getting Georgia dressed, I discovered that I didn't have any white hair bows. Seems like the white ones ALWAYS get lost. I dove into my craft disaster in search of some white felt or fabric and discovered I didn't have any... which was so odd. What I did have, however, was a bunch of white tulle.

Anyway, I thought I'd try my hand at making a hair bow out of THAT and I was pretty pleased with how it looks and how easy it was. I love when that happens- it's a rare thing over here.

I took a piece of tulle 6" wide by 15" long. Folded it in half length wise, then folded it length wise again. Then I folded it in half "hamburger style." Then, I folded it so the two ends met in the middle. I pinched it with my fingers and took a long piece of tulle (about 1" by 15") and wrapped it around the middle. Added a dab of glue on the back and threw in an alligator clip. 

I had a hard time deciding between leaving it nice and folded or cutting the ends to look fluffy.

No matter what, you can't go wrong once you put it on a cute baby.

Made it Monday: Leopard Infinity Scarf

Good leopard print fabric is surprisingly difficult to find. Luckily, JoAnn's came through for me again!

I wanted to make myself a leopard print infinity scarf for Fall. It's a little too short for me to wear as a fashion scarf, but it's perfect with a coat for outside.

I made Georgia one, though and I'm kind of freaking out about it.

She loves wearing like she loves wearing necklaces and I think she looks so trendy and cute.

And look, I know to WATCH her while she wears this so she doesn't choke and die. I know not to put her to bed in it*

I followed this tutorial which is by far the best one for infinity scarves (complete with a little video)

I also have to mention that I hate trying to take good pictures. I don't have sunlight in my apartment and I don't have a baby who will sit still and smile. These pictures were taken over a course of 3 days and they were  the only decent ones I got- and the last one was with the 30second help of Scott before he went out the door and caused a 35 minute melt-down tantrum in honor of him leaving. If you come here wanting to see blog posts with photography a la Rockstar Diaries... I highly suggest you go check out Rockstar Diaries.

*Something I may or may not have done and then remembered and then freaked out about and ran to take it off of her sleeping little self... 

Made it TUESday: $8 Toddler Witch Costume

I made this little costume for Georgia's friend, June, but it was so cheap and easy I couldn't resist making one for Georgia too. All of the little witch accessories added up to 8 bucks.

I got the hat at Hobby Lobby (with a coupon), threw on some ribbon I had on hand and some elastic to fit Georgie girl's head. $1.

I used the same ribbon to finish the cape. The cape is 1/4 yard of satin-ish fabric from Wal-Mart that ended up being about a dollar. I couldn't find any super simple cape tutorials online... I basically just made a pillow case, gathered the top, and add a ribbon over the raw edge (like bias tape). $1

The little broom was in the deal bins at Target and I about fainted when I saw them. I bought a natural colored broom, painted it black and added glitter. It is PERFECT $2.50

The leggings were from a pair of thigh-high Halloween socks. I measured from the top of the sock to the length of Georgia's leg, cut there and hemmed. Bam. The pair of socks was $5, but since they were thigh-high I got 2 leggings out of them which means Georgia's leggings were only $2.50.

I had the onesie and the tutu (and those rockin' shoes) on hand and all of which can be worn when it's not Halloween. You can always decorate the onesie, make the tutu (for about $3) or find fun shoes but I like this simple little costume.

... and the insane girl who refused to pose for a picture in it.

P.S.I had this all ready to put up yesterday- I did! But I could not for the LIFE of me get a decent picture of Georgia in her witch costume. The girl is impossible. I tried again today and I just ran around yelling/singing at her to smile. I tried everything but she ran away with her head down. I don't understand bloggers with children who smile for the camera. How do they get them to do that?!

Made it Monday: Tote Bag Etsy Shop

Listen. I may be working for my in-laws over at Little Treetops designing baby onesies, but I got other ideas ok? And sure, maybe they're not t-shirts and maybe they're pretty simple, but I just spent a good chunk of time designing a few tote bags and thought they were worth sharing (selling).

All of them are $10 (with $2 shipping) and if you click caption under each picture, it should take you to the listing. Thanks for humoring me today!

If you're like me and you have a weird obsession with Mean Girls 

You know who you are

My friend Nathan would/will say this and it makes me laugh

For Peter Pan fans. 

Namaste

Get it? Because it's on a TOTE?

Because I have felt judged at Whole Foods

Maybe because I really like Halloween, maybe because I'm not a nice person when I'm running errands

Demands

-Andy Warhol 

Made it Monday: Clever Receipt Bookmark

So my 16 year old brother had a clever idea. He bought a book, highlighted the book name on the receipt, used my new laminating machine (happy birthday to me) and made a durable bookmark! 

I thought it was very cool.

We did learn that receipts do get a little darkened going through a hot setting, so be careful. We tried to do it on a cold setting but it didn't work. 

Made it Monday: Book Page Nightstand

It's been weeks since a Made it Monday feature but the end of the summer is crazy for everyone right? RIGHT? Someone relate to me! (wink at Brandilyn)

Listen. I have been in search of nightstands forever. FOREVER. Scott and I really needed a place to put our bedside crap but didn't want to pay at least $100 for it. So I searched, and searched and searched. Finally, one day- I found two wooden filing cabinets at the thrift store that ended up being $5 a piece. I could have fainted, I tell you.

I instantly loved them but after my trauma with my coffee table, was not looking forward to ever spray painting another piece of furniture.

In the end, I chose to cover them with book pages* and spray paint only the drawers.

Please excuse the blurry photos. I don't know what happened. I'm a blogger, not a photographer. 

I used modge podge, but I DID NOT put the glue all over the cabinet and THEN put the pages over it. I found that that process made getting bubbles out a billion times harder than it had to be. Instead, I put the glue on the back of each individual page, THEN placed it on the cabinet and smoothed out the bubbles with an old gift card. 

I spray painted the drawers with Krylon Black Satin Finish and used Krylon Nickle to paint the hardware. Also, I lost 4 screws in the grass and felt like the parents in Honey I Shrunk The Kids looking for them.

I have not yet finished the second but am planning on it. Pretty much love it.

*I usually have some weird moral issue with using books for crafts, but I have these two HORRIBLE books I don't think anyone should read that I have been crafting with for what feels like ever. Weird issue, though right?

Georgia's Nursery

My best friend is this really amazing photographer. She is also a poet. When we were pregnant together (!), she did this beautiful photography project that incorporated her poetry kind of as a gift to herself and her baby. And I thought- dang. I wish I had some sort of displayable talent to show how excited I am for my daughter to come...

Then I realized that I had worked really hard on her nursery. We are renting, so we can't paint the walls, and since Scott and I aren't rolling in the green we had to be very conservative. I scored all of the furniture on final clearance or a garage sale (rocking chair + ottoman = $15, windows = $5). My mom and my aunt were kind enough to get the crib bedding that I wanted, and all the rest I had on hand or made myself.

 

I'd say it was a labor of love. And sure, it's not totally crazy and elaborate, but now, over a year later, Georgia's nursery is still my favorite room in our little apartment. 

I made the book clock (a sort of tutorial is here)

I decided not to get a dresser, so for now, her clothes are folded up in these baskets in her changing table.

I always wanted a reading nook- but there wasn't much room for a big bookshelf. Instead, her books are in the cupboard by "Bo" the bear and we cuddle up with him to read. It is Georgia's favorite spot. I love watching her walk in, get a book and flip through it on Bo's lap.

There are all sorts of small details that I love. 

I made this frame while I was pregnant. It has my favorite poem about motherhood on it.

And, at night, there is a soft glow from the lamp and the chandelier to say "nigh-night"