Dollar Store Ruffled Umbrella

Here is my dollar store challenge for this week on CSI Project. I am really loving it now..not so much the night I made it. That's probably because I stayed up ALL night working on it. The final product...a ruffled umbrella!

I had no idea what I was going to do so figured I would just walk around the dollar store and see what I could find. I didn't know the Dollar Tree carried umbrellas but there they were...navy was the only color they had. I really wish they had white or a lighter color but being the dollar store I didn't get a choice.

I chose the umbrella and a light pink tablecover. Both a buck..both from the Dollar Tree. Pretty boring if you ask me.

Start with an umbrella and a tablecover.
Cut up the tablecover, ruffle ruffle ruffle.
Some double stick tape.

Tape, tape, and tape lots more and you get a pretty ruffly umbrella.

It's so much fun to play in the rain. It even held up after getting all wet!

Here is my secret...we had to fake the rain. Like I said...so much fun!

Linking up to

and to the link parties on my sidebar.

Anyone interested in a tutorial? I have it all ready to publish but it is kinda picture heavy. Let me know and I can get it on for ya. Also the skirt tutorial is almost ready...having a little trouble making sure my measurements will be right when it is resized.

J. Crew inspired skirt

Have you checked out the J. Crew shop lately? There are lots of cute things there but my goodness should a little girls skirt really cost over $30.00? I don't think so.

I fell in love with this skirt and thought to myself, I can for sure make that. It looks so easy. So here is their $32.50 version.

And here is my version. I just used an old tee that didn't fit my son anymore for the under skirt part and I bough 3 yards of tulle and already had elastic so this cost me maybe $4.00 to make. YAY for being cheap!

Reagan loves it and doesn't want to take it off. She has been dancing since she put it on for the pictures. SO so cute.

Is anyone else getting tired of seeing these same pink shoes in EVERY picture I take of her? These are her favorite shoes..I'm a little afraid of what she will do when she finally outgrows them. I need to go find another pair asap.

Front

Back

Would anyone be interested in a tutorial? It would be my first but I am working on it. Hopefully be done in a day or two. Fingers crossed.

I linked up with the parties on my sidebar!

Etsy Shop coming soon

I have been sewing up a storm around here lately. Trying to get some things made to open my Etsy Store. I'm a little hesitant to open it up until I get enough made to have a good start at it. This one with the birds is a halter style tunic. It's slightly shorter than the ones below (pillowcase style).

I'm hoping it goes well. I love this Steelers one.

John Deere dress. I already have a lot of interest in this one so will be making a few more tomorrow.

I think this would have to be my favorite so far. Reagan loves the pillowcase style dress. They are so comfy and lightweight.

There will be some other things in the shop besides just girls clothing. More on that another day.

I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend!

Happy Birthday

Today my baby turned 4! Every mom says this but time sure has flown by.

These are the pink cupcakes with purple frosting that Reagan took to pre-school today for snack.

And here is the banana cake she requested. I wasn't sure how I was going to do this and it isn't perfect but I love it and her expression when she first saw it was priceless. Love that little girl.

Reagan...you are the sweetest, loveliest little girl I have ever know and am so honored to be your mommy. You are always cracking us up with everything that comes out of your mouth. What a sense of humor you have...just like your daddy. I love you over the moon and back. Love mommy. :)

paint makes a big difference

I love garage sales...you can find just about anything. A few weeks ago I came across an old blue Samsonite suitcase. (this yellow one is just like it that I found last weekend) It was cruddy, just like the yellow one and decided to try to paint it and make it pretty again. I forgot to take a picture of the blue before I painted, hence the yellow mustard colored picture.

With a little paint this is what I came up with. I LOVE it. First I taped up all the metal parts, primed it, painted it, screen printed the chandelier then finished it off with a can of clear sealer. I love spray paint don't you?

I also added some ribbon around the whole thing where the grooves are...there was some ugly looking plastic in there that was falling out.

I really like how this turned out. Reagan is ready to go on vacation. I have to still gut it and figure out how to clean that all up but so far so good.

(The mustard yellow one will be redone for my sister in a navy blue with silver stars..pictures when I get that one all done)

March of Dimes t-shirt refashion

We signed up for the March of Dimes walk through my husband's work. We finally got the shirts Friday night for the walk Sunday. I was pretty happy with the sizes we got. I'm guessing my husband picked them but they didn't offer any little kid sizes so Reagan's shirt wouldn't fit her for another 5 or so years.

I could have just thrown it on her and let her swim in it all day or I could have left her not wear it but wanting us all to match and be comfortable I decided to alter it for her into a dress.

For some reason blogger isn't letting me post the picture I have of the front of the shirt before I cut into it. Here is the back before.

And here is the after.

I used a purple shirt I no longer wear for the top part and pockets. I think my new favorite thing is elastic thread and used that to do the shirring.

I used it for the straps too and I adore them! The hem is just surged and not hemmed. I love how the dress turned out. I got a lot of compliments on this dress yesterday at the walk and at the Pirate game that we all attended after walking. One of the management guys at my husbands work even came up and asked to take a picture of the "Hoechstetter Dress. Oh and the president of the company and his wife sat next to us at the game and both LOVED it. How cool to have the president say something to me. :)

We had a great Family Day!!

Little Drummer Boy

Being the best wife ever, I got Chris a set of drums for Valentine's day. They are so so loud and I thought they were a really bad idea when I first brought them home. Within a day I decided they actually weren't that bad. They can't be played real late, being in town we don't want to disturb any of our neighbors, and they are now in the 'man cave', not the living room anymore. Thank goodness. Lucas is pretty good at them for just beginning and told me tonight that he wants to take lessons.

I think lessons might be a good idea...this is the first thing he has really shown interest in besides video games and I hate that he wants to play the games so much. (plus I told Chris if Lucas does get the lessons that means I can put Reagan into some kind of activity...I'm thinking dance or gymnastics. VERY excited! )