A Simple Apron & Birthday Gift!

Do you like this version? Hemmed sides, less seam binding?

Or this version? Finishing all edges with seam binding & added pocket.

Today I needed a birthday gift for a 6 year old girl's party tonight (totally forgot about it - do you ever do that or is it just me?) and didn't have to run to Target for my usual $10-$15 kiddo gift. Plus, Mommy had just treated herself to a couple new things at Anthroplogie and Ann Taylor (I am worth it, I keep telling myself...) so I needed to save a couple bucks somewhere!

So, I decided to make an apron as a birthday gift. I remembered these aprons we made last fall for our other sister in Denver. (There are 3 of us sisters.) She was planning a Ratatouille themed birthday party for her daughter and wanted simple aprons as the kid's party favors. She asked her sisters in Arizona to help her out. We had to make a bunch and they had to cost hardly anything.

Required:
22"x22" fabric - twill, print cotton, scrap from stash, whatever you wish (more if you want to add a pocket)
1-2 Pkg. Seam Binding (1 pkg. is 3 yards)
(2 1/4 yd required for hemmed version , 4 1/4 yd for the finished on all edges with seam binding version")

I made this "pattern" (probably, no, for sure, not to scale at all) quickly after making several aprons. Really we free-handed it, using another kiddo apron as a guide. Does this guide make sense? It is really finished measurements. If you plan to do the hemmed version, using less seam binding, cut overall width and length 1.5 inches larger. My daughter, the model, is 5 1/2 years old. Adjust your size up or down if needed but I think there is plenty of room to grow with it. My 7 year old has an apron the same size. We made them this size for the birthday party and that was for 3 year olds. it is really a versatile size.

We were making several for the birthday party and used the rotary cutter and mat to cut lots at a time.

If hemming (and we were for these - we couldn't use so much seam binding - it wasn't in the budget) turn under a double 1/4" hem on top, bottom and sides. Press and straight stitch.

Use the seam binding as the neck; the neck opening measures about 15" from point to point where it is attached, covering the curve and then as the ties. Pin in place and straight stitch. The seam binding will bend around the curve easily. Just make sure you catch both sides of the binding in your stitch!

We made 10, 12, I don't remember. I do know we ran out of red and had to finish with some purple I had in my stash.

And the version I made for the birthday girl. She is not a girly girl so I thought this funky graphic flower print from my stash I picked up on clearance at IKEA would be perfect.

What I did differently for this one:
*I cut to the finished size & used multiple scraps of seam binding from my stash to finish all edges
*I cut the bottom edge to curve
* I added a pocket to the bottom 6" or so and stitched down 3 straight seams to make 4 pockets. (Ok, I actually didn't measure this. I just cut it the same width as the apron and I think it is about 6". The gift is wrapped or I would measure it!

And really, Presentation is Everything. Recently at Ross, I had picked up a 5 pk of glittery body splash spray ($5 for 5 sprays) to use as an easy add-on to birthday gifts. I rolled up the apron, tucked the orange splash in the pocket, and tied it with a ribbon.

So, I am going to say this gift cost me $1.00 because I really don't count using stuff from my stash! But seriously, isn't it better than another set of Polly Pockets?

A fun wall art project

Meredith found a project and thought it would be perfect for my playroom. As soon as I saw it I totally agreed! Check this out:

Begin with a blank canvas. The one I used is approximately 20X24 and I decided to do two of them to flank a window.

Next choose some scrapbook paper. I found this fantastic set at JoAnn's for half price. The colors were perfect for my playroom. I also knew that I could use any of the papers and they would all go together if they came from the same stack!

Decide how many circles you want on the canvas and then trace circles to fit that size. Mine worked out to be 3X4, 12 circles total. I chose 12 sheets of paper and cut two circles out of each one.

The finished circles

Circles arranged on canvas

I chose a color in the scrapbook papers that I loved and mixed some paints together to come up with a perfect Martha Stewart blue. It was slightly lighter than the blue in the papers and looked great with all of the colors. I then painted the entire canvas.

The circles arranged on the blue canvas in the final order. On the second canvas I rearranged the circles in a different order. In order to have them evenly spaced I just figured out that there needed to be 1 1/4 inch in between each circle so I just measured as I glued them down.

Decoupage the circles on to the canvas using ModPodge. Hint: The best result I found for a smooth, even finish is to completely coat the back of the paper with mod podge, then completely coat the circle area on the canvas as well. Wait a few seconds and apply the two together. Smooth over well. This will allow all edges to lay very flat.

The finished product hanging on the wall in my playroom.

The two canvases hung in the playroom

(Sorry the lighting in the picture is terrible but there was a bad glare coming through the window)

This would be an awesome project to do with your children. Mine are a little too young for that but I'm sure some kids would have a blast helping. I am contemplating making different pieces for each of my kids rooms!

Check out this link for our inspiration:
http://www.remodelingthislife.com/2008/08/29/diy-wall-art/

Headboard for the girls

Heard there was a "Painted Wood is Pretty" linky party - thought we show off a bit! Life in Grace first shows off her stinkin' adorable retro inspired kitchen re-do and I adore it. Check it out!

If you know me, I am constantly re-doing my daughter's room, currently 5 & 7 years old. Not because I am a design and decor schizo but more out of necessity. My friends think I am nuts. My 2 oldest share a room. We have tried it all. (Skip to end if you want to read my sad tale of beds and bunks and trundles...) I decided that since they almost always got in bed together, then sharing a bed was where it's at!!

Off to Craigslist I went in search of a full size bed/headboard/mattress set - whatever I could find and make work. I found this lovely 70's specimen and knew I could work with it.

A full/queen headboard - turned posts are wood. The middle part...not so much. A crummy veneer.

We sanded to knock down the shiny surface. We kind of goofed on the veneer and the sandpaper was too abrasive and scratched a bit too much. But it all worked out.

First, we sprayed with an appropriate primer. I think primer is usually a good idea, especially on a slick fake wood veneer surface!

Then lots of sanding. Spray. Sand. Repeat. I think I ended up with 4 coats of paint, sanding between each spray.

Here is the final project in their bedroom, dressed down.

Here is the bed all made up. Still working out the side table (currently a shelf from my laundry room), a makeover of the lamp shade, maybe one more pillow on the bed, and I am, gulp, painting a piece to go over the bed. The walls are pretty bare right now. Check out the cute white slipper chair to the side of the bed - inherited from my great great Aunt Irintha. I have been waiting to use this in a girl's room! We may slip-cover it, may not. It needs a killer pillow though.

I think it worked out perfect for what we needed and wanted. It will go the distance for us. Almost every night they fall asleep snuggled together. Love it!! And, whichever girls in our family are sharing a bed, (we have these two and a 1 year old baby girl) they will use this. My middle daughter wants to always share a room. My oldest would like her own. Baby currently shares a sewing room/nursery with me. We are good roomies but she may move in with a big sister some day.

Keeping it real...their bedroom from another angle. This is pretty tame! Note the crafty girls in training - they turned a box, next to the chair, into a two level dog house for their stuffed doggies.

Someone once asked me about the window seat - it is two over the fridge kitchen cabinets from Ikea. A lot of mis-matched throw pillows that don't exactly go together but the girls like it.

My sharing a room and bed woes...continued from top of post...

They have been back and forth between two bedrooms. They started sharing a room with a twin bed and crib. Then two twins - I made adorable white slip-covered headboards with embroidered initial a la PBKids. (Took up too much space in small room that also is a play space.) They are stored in the garage. sigh. We decided bunk beds were the way to go. Couldn't spend a lot at the time so I found a new set on Ebay and was reasonably happy. Well, I got what I paid for when a side rail split. (Plus I hated making the beds and the kids never made them either...) So, we decided to use the top half of the bunk as the top part of a bed/trundle combo and we built a trundle drawer. I really liked how it worked out but the girls usually ended up in bed together. Well, deja vous - a side rail split again and I threw in the towel. That was the end of it for me. I then decided they would share!

Nothin' a little spray paint can't fix!

Have you ever looked at something and thought it would look good if not for the horrible paint color? Meredith has helped me realize the endless possibilities with just a little bit of spray paint! I recently purchased this wooden "welcome" sign as I thought the size would be perfect above my refrigerator. The color however, seafoam green, was not what I was going for! This frame has been sitting in a box since I got married - oak is also not my thing. I decided to work a little magic and let Andy use it in his office for pictures of the family!

1 can of black spray paint did the trick!

The only tricky part is getting the inside of the letters, I sprayed my first coat with the sign laying down and went from there. I used a satin black spray and did one last top coat with chalk board spray paint to give it a nice even, matte appearance.

The finished product

This took about 1 hour start to finish, even with drying time in between coats!

Chalkboard Plates

If you are visiting from Chrissie Grace Designs Chalk Board Paint Party, then welcome!!

I originally saw this idea on Kari & Kijsa but the original version was on a silver platter. Love that idea (still will probably do it) but one day while shopping at Home Goods I saw some fabulous square dinner plates for $4.99 that would be perfect for the application! Guess what the teachers are getting this year???

The $4.99 plates. A little pricy for a quicky project but if you have other plates you could use those too, or check the thrift store. You know you never know what you will find!

Mask off the area you want to paint.

We did a few - 3 or 4 different plate designs.

For this we used the chalkboard spray paint. Brush on paint is available too but spray was quick and easy. It dries FAST, at least, in our spring heat!

It covers really well - we went with 3 good coats. You could prime ahead of time too. We didn't because the can said it would be OK on the surface but I don't think primer is ever a bad idea.

Peel back the paper. Inevitably some over-spray creeps in but it buffs right off.

Add a plate Stand

The Finished product announcing the baby's birthday at their party! (New readers - we have babies that are 3 weeks apart - cousin twinners!)

In use for a recent baby shower Meredith hosted at her home. (bad pic...)

A great gift and stunning addition to any corner waiting for a little pretty!

A Bathroom remodel...but not what you think!

So we are having trouble keeping up on our posting with all the nasties running through both of our families so I will borrow this post from Molly's personal blog to keep the momentum up a little bit! - Meredith
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Never, ever, in my wildest dreams would I have thought at 18 years old that this would excite me the way it has. You decide how excited you would be:

Together, Andy and I ripped out our Powder Bathroom and built a food storage room! It only took about 6 trips between 4 different hardware stores to get it done. Sealing off the toilet hole seemed to be the hardest thing. It was imperative that it be sealed off correctly so as to not leak sewage gasses into the room. This type of project is not something people do very often apparently. Start to finish, we were done in 6 days. That was with a 2 day break between finishing the construction and painting. I am pretty proud of what we did, we make a very good team!

A funny story... You'll notice in the above pictures that Andy is using a shop vac to drain the toilet. I, along with my oldest son, was standing behind the vacuum part when suddenly my son said poop water was coming out. Sure enough the vac was spraying our feet and legs and it stunk pretty bad too! Not sure what was up with that.

Painting in progress

The finished product, not perfectly organized yet, but it's a start. I didn't take a picture of it, but we put our freezer where the sink used to be.

This is my kitchen pantry which now has a lot more space than it did before. (Although I just realized this picture was taken during the reorganization so it doesn't actually have that much bare room but it is very organized now) I am so excited to have so much storage room. My master bedroom closet no longer has to serve as my second pantry as it did in my old house! It's a good thing too because our current master closet is quite a bit smaller.

Don't worry... we have another bathroom just down the hall, this one was a little pointless.

So... Next time you need a bathroom turned into a storage room, we're now experts!

What space do you have in your home that should be turned into something else so you are getting every penny out of your square footage?

Charging station for gadgets

No big Tuesday post this week - Molly's kiddos have been sick with strep so here is a project from my house I thought I would share!

I have no real place to keep cell phones, camera batteries, etc. charging. I had it on a counter, a desk...it was always a nightmare!! So, here is what I came up with after seeing so many cool charging stations at PB or online. I decided to convert the drawer in my front all hutch into a charging station. It is our junk/key/wallet/coin drawer anyway so I figured it would work out well.

Here is the hutch in my front hallway. It is Ethan Allen, was my Grandmother's and I inherited it about 7 years ago. I don't have a dining room so here it sits and I make the best of it. (Still has my Valentine Pennant Banner on it - I love it - it makes me happy!)

The drawer on the left usually looks like this.

It's a nice piece of furniture - dove tailed and everything. :)

Pulled out hutch to make sure there is indeed an outlet behind it so said brilliant plan will work. Why do I find purple feathers from feather boas EVERYWHERE?

Use a paddle bit, drill a hole through the back of the hutch that will fit the cord of a power strip. My bit wasn't quite big enough, that is why the hole is ugly.

Drill a hole in the back of the drawer as well and thread power strip power cord thru.

Run the power cord out the back and plug into wall outlet. I acutally needed to use an extension cord for the power strip because the existing cord wasn't long enough for what I needed. I did this all without going out to buy anything new and used what I had.

Plug in cell phones, battery chargers, MP3 players, whatever. Don't look too closely to see what kind of cool phone we have - they are both about to die and need to be replaced and it has not been a huge priority. The only thing we have that doesn't charge here is an iPod because that plugs into the computer, right? (Note the vacuum - I made a big sawdust mess.)