Using What You Have

In our quest to become debt free, I have decided to do something different than my normal "spring shopping spree." John and I have finally paid off our credit card debt (left over from college and stupid young people spending) and now have just two car payments left to our names. We would have only had a single car payment left, but his paid-off-truck was totaled in a car accident in December leaving us with another car payment. 

SO...

I decided a long time ago we have too much crap. We move around a lot and, while I try to keep things to a minimum, my items have never counted in this. Last year I spent about $500 on some new clothing since I was nursing a toddler and not a new baby. I could wear some new things and, so, I decided I deserved it. The items I purchased last spring were from H&M, Forever 21 and one other place that I can't recall. All were items that were cute, fun, and inexpensive (as I have small children and any items would just be used as a giant wipe, anyway). Not a single item I looked at in my closet was wearable for this summer. It was either faded, tearing or was shrunk in the wash. 

Combining only tank tops I already had and other fabric or thrifted finds, I have started creating new summer dresses by using this tutorial. 

Grey tank + thrifted women's XL light blue button down shirt. (Yes, I'm
wearing jeans...I was cold!)

Blue tank + shrunken dress bottom (it was literally up to my undies!)

Pink tank + bottom part of a maxi dress that didn't fit right. 

yellow tank + fabric on hand (lined with some light muslin)

Navy tank + botom of a dress I bought in Mexico five years ago! 

This is the dress that started the whole idea! Not exactly like the dress I found on Modcloth,
but, made by me so even better! 

I'm happy with the progress, so far! I've got a bunch of dresses left to make. I also have more crafts and things to sew for the boys' super hero room so we'll see what I get to before the spring. 

Rationing Out Nana

My Nana was this ol' Southern Belle. She was sharp as a tack, sweet as pecan pie, and ever the "prawpah" (southern for 'proper') lady. She always carried handkerchiefs around, even when it was a hundred degrees out. When she passed away some years ago, I was allowed to go through her things and settled on some hankies and costume jewelery. I loved my Nana but wasn't sure how to display the hankies that was fitting of my style (if I have that) and I was always afraid they'd be destroyed in one of our many moves. For all these years they've been sitting in my underwear drawer; just squished in the back, never seeing the light of day.

A handful of hankies.

Enter the wide world of blogging. 

I ran across this tutorial for a necklace and I knew immediately that Nana would be a-ok if I hacked up her hankies! I just needed to be "allowed" to do it and this was a way for me not to feel bad about cutting up antique heirlooms.

First up was a bib necklace for my sister's birthday. I used Little Miss Momma's tutorial and added a few differences. I went for a straight across bib and also added two other types of materials for a more full effect. 

I cut circles out of a hankie I thought my sister would like. 

I left the chain long so the recipient could shorten it.

For interest, I added some black chiffon from an old target skirt and the pink
is actually pink (fake) flower pedals. 

Next was something for my cousin Samantha. She's always rockin' the headband and, after seeing all the cute rosettes and pom poms around the bloggy world, I went with this...

cut in to 1" strips

ends sewn together

Sam liked this arrangement! I was able to make two headbands (6 rosettes)
from one hankie.

I love how neutral this one is! 

I'm really happy with how the handkerchiefs are being used. They've sat for all these years but finally have a new life! 

T'was the Night Before Valentine's

Really. Turner is THAT excited about Valentine's Day. It's my fault, though. We haven't had much to do so the boys and I concentrated efforts in to paper crafts, baking and planning sweet nothings for tomorrow. 

We made treats for our friends and even delivered them. The paper purses, crayon boxes and teeny take out boxes contained candy and other treats for the kids while the chocolate sauce was for the parents.

 

Some of the loot we delivered to our local friends.

We crafted our hearts out, made each other things and we've given lots of random hugs and kisses. 

The weather has changed, for the better. Today it was close to 55 or 60. The kids LOVED being outside without all the crazy winter gear. It's so much easier to give them the boot without having to load on the jackets and hats! 

Enjoying an al fresco lunch.

Yikes. I look THAT good. 

Since I'm not exhausted or anything, I made these love bugs to hang above the boys' beds. They'll love waking up to the little surprise!

Target $1 spot mailboxes hold an incredible array of junk and Valentine's messages from Mommy!

Tomorrow we'll be enjoying heart pancakes with sprinkles (the requested breakfast), we'll play with rice boxes, make Valentines for Daddy and just try to enjoy the day together. 

I hope your Valentine's Day is great! It's the first time, in my memory, that I've looked forward to one so much. The world through the eyes of your kids is really the most wonderful part of parenting.

Valentine Crafts

This is the first Valentine's Day the kids have been in to doing crafts. Turner, especially, loves doing hand work. 

This is probably ruining the surprise, but here are a few things we've been working on. I'm not sure who's enjoyed the crafts more, me or the kids!

Felt hearts hand stitched on to card stock. I poked holes with an embroidery needle and then
let Turner stitch through with a blunt end needle. He thought he was hot stuff sewing!

Feet print to make "feethearts."

Tire tracks in paint for cousin Nelson's Valentine.

Keepin' it cheesy.

$1 spot mailbox from Target filled for cousin Nelson. The two items on the bottom
are balloons. Apparently, you hit them with your fist and they pop open. Hopefully,
it won't scare the crap out of the kid!  

Paper crafts a la The Shabby Princess (and my fabulous friend, Christine). The strawberries
have conversation hearts and went in Nelson's mailbox.
The box is filled with mints for my dad and a heart on the inside says
"Pop Pop, we were MINT to be together." 

These two were sitting and dumping trash (wadded up paper) from their trash trucks.

Ballentimes

I have been suffering from a serious sinus infection. It is extremely painful and I have NO idea how or why I got one. It's my first and I hope to avoid them in my future. I can't seem to get well these days!

Despite the crazy pressure headache I've had since Sunday, life goes on. The kids, especially Turner, get really emotional when John leaves now (apparently) so I've been trying anything in my power to keep the peace and keep them occupied. Turner has been really excited about "Ballentimes" Day so we made this giant heart countdown calendar. 

Two paper bags tape together, painted with pink white and red.

Behind each smaller heart is a small task to do for the day. Things like "give extra kisses to someone," "make Valentines for Noni and Grandma," "make treats for our friends" and the like.

Just something to do each day.

Double-Decker Car Garage

For some reason, I receive Family Fun magazine. I'm really not sure where it comes from: Christmas gift, perhaps? Nonetheless, this month, I flipped right to the page with this craft (I've tried to link several times, but something isn't working). 

Any way, you'll need:

two cereal boxes, 5 toilet paper tubes (I used a toilet paper roll and two paper towel rolls, cut),

glue and decorating items -like yellow construction paper to cover the tubes, markers

Cut all tubes to make 5 tubes of equal heights. 

Cut one cereal box so that you have an almost enclosed space with four sides remaining. 

Cut another cereal box so only one flat panel remains for the bottom. Glue the pillars in place

to the top level, glue to the bottom. Cut strips from one box to create ramps, then cut the top level to 

make an outlet for the cars to go down the ramps. 

Obviously, I skipped using any sort of creativity with the yellow construction paper. 

This would be a great craft for brothers gifting hand-made items to each other for Christmas.

Turner loves his garage and has played with it for days on end!