Ten on Tuesday - and FREE Printable

1.  I got the best email on Saturday!  Someone looking for cake ideas came across Lincoln's Car Cake and followed my tutorial to make one for her son.  She couldn't get the wilton tip for the grass, so she used sprinkles instead.  Doesn't it look uber-professional?  I was so thrilled she took the time to let me know!  AND that she gave me credit for the inspiration! 

2.  The livingsocial deal today is $10 for $50 to spend at VistaPrint.  I bought it, and you can, too!    If three people use my link, I get it for free, but check it out regardless.  I've ordered from them before, and I was really happy with the service and quality.  I'm excited to get some postcards with a picture of the boys to send out.

3.  I really want to make this scrapbook paper tree.  Just add it to the list I'm getting farther and farther behind on.

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4.  I got a root canal last Thursday.  It was my third, but I think my worst.  Never had a root canal?  Read about them here.  It's a pretty clinical description.  See me for a more vivid account, if you're interested.  As my husband described it, when I was wondering if the pain was normal 3 days later, "a great violence has been done to your mouth."

5.  Am I the last one to hear about dot painting for kids?  It's like using bingo markers to make dots to fill in a shape.  Clever!  Here's a roundup of free printable shapes and a link to kid-specific markers (rather than actual bingo markers).

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6.  I started a quilt for Mason while I was preggo, but I got such terrible carpal tunnel syndrome in my last few months that I had to stop for a while.  Then when I got the sewing machine back out, I kind of burned out on other more pressing projects.  Now I'm starting to get the quilting bug again, but that simple quilt for Mason just seems daunting now that I realize how much further I have to go - I keep seeing even simpler ideas!  I need to just suck it up and finish.  And I will.  And I'll post a picture when I do.

7.  I am seriously coveting this iPhone Rangefinder and lenses.  It turns your iPhone into a slightly more robust camera.  Not quite DSLR, but I'm afraid I'd get one and then leave it on Auto.  This way I get some lens options AND ease of use AND portability.

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8.  My FAVORITE author, Lois McMaster Bujold (she wrote the first sci-fi series I ever read, and I have reread MANY of those books upwards of 5 or 6 times), is going to be the Guest of Honor at Deep South Con 50 here in Huntsville in June.  (Is my nerdiness showing a bit?)  At first I balked at the registration fee, but then I got a friend to agree to tag along with me and make an outing of it, so I'm thinking I'll be getting those autographs (one for my sis) after all.  It'll be my first con (is that the lingo?), so let me know if there's some secret handshake I need to learn.

9.  I roughly followed this tutorial (http://www.thesoutherninstitute.com/2011/03/super-hero-cape-and-power-cuff-tutorial.html) and made Lincoln a cape this week.  The changes are that I used a too-small shirt (rather than too-big), so I left the neckline in tact.  And I cut up the middle (rather than the sides) and then just cut off the front corners to leave it as full as possible on the bottom.  Does that even make sense?  It took approximately 3 minutes, and that includes getting the craft scissors out and then (safely) away.

10.  And finally, here's that Alabama printable I mentioned last week.  If you don't like the colors, tough.  War Eagle! 

 

(Just kidding.  I'll customize the colors; within reason.  But I define "reason." Just leave a comment.)

Still Preoccupied with Fabric Flowers - Felt Flowers Edition

One of my very first blog posts is a list of fabric flower tutorials that I want to try. That was almost a year ago, and I'm not sure I've tried even ONE of those original tutorials. (I've done some other things, but there are still not enough fabric flowers in my life. I'm sure of it.) So since it's taking me longer to get back into the blogging groove after my trip than I had hoped (don't worry, I have things to share! I just haven't gotten around to organizing my photos in any coherent manner to make a post!), I would like to share with you some of the wonderful FELT flower tutorials I've come across in my blog-walking the last few months.
I am completely smitten with these simple circle felt flowers from eighteen25. I completely agree with one of the comments that they remind her of Mary Englebright flowers. And since my blog header is inspired my Mary Englebright flowers, I am obviously a fan.


I love the sweet simplicity of these felt flowers from A Hoot and a Holler. She gives some great ideas for using them, and her tutorial has wonderfully clear instructions and step-by-step photos.
I used these felt flowers like eighteen25 used (not from their tutorial, but one from Creative Jewish Mom) for my Spring Wreath (and also for a brooch I've never bothered to take a picture of and share), but I couldn't think of a good way to incorporate them into a headband. Until now. I think this grouping might be the answer to making this look work for me. (Side note - how can I get my hair to photograph like that? Mine is always frizzy and weird even if it doesn't seem that way in the mirror right before snapping the pic.)


This beautiful rose from Molly's Sketchbook uses a similar rolled felt flower for the center, but then adds some simple pieces to the bottom to transform it into this gorgeous rose! With the provided templates and clear instructions, this would be a wonderful project with a lot of potential!


This hydrangea felt flower from Made by the Mama Monster is simply enchanting, and I can't wait to finally make one! I think one with light purple and blue blooms would be simple fabulous. She has a wonderful template you can download and very clear instructions.


Part of the magic of this rolled felt flower at Wee Folk Art is the simple flower juxtaposed with the blanket stitch around the leaves. I'm usually too lazy for such details, but I think I could make an exception here because I absolutely love it.


I can see so much potential in this beauty from Epicurean Style. The instructions are very clear and require only the smallest amount of hand stitching (my kind of project). I've loved this look ever since I saw this elegant wreath at Christmas time. The idea of making ALL of those circles just made my head ache, though, so I only half-heartedly flagged it. This flower gives you that look on a smaller (and much more doable, in my book), scale. Also it's much more versatile.


I'm not sure how I've managed not to mention it, but I am more than a little obsessed with topiaries lately. I haven't made one yet because I'm still debating inside/outside, size, function, etc (I'm a little OCD...), but this one from lemon crafts has moved to the front of the queue. It just makes me smile. She provides a very clear tutorial, and since you're putting flower pins into styrofoam, once the flowers are all cut out, I imagine it goes together VERY quickly.


I love how I Am Momma modified this tutorial from V and Co. to creat this great felt corsage. I loved the original tutorial (of course), but since I'm focusing on felt flowers today, I thought I'd show an example of modifying the flower tutorials you find in blogland to suit your purposes, tastes, and materials.


My jaw absolutely dropped when I saw this gorgeous felt dahlia corsage from NotMartha that was featured on Holidash. She used fabric glue (and shared some great tips, after making several more, on her blog), but I still think I might try sewing the leaves. Hmm. I've seen some others around that other people have done using this tutorial, and they ALL turn out beautifully. A wonderful tutorial, and it has a clever suprise in the back that you might want to check out. :)


I know I've mentioned Lolly Chops before, but she really does have some of the most amazing flower tutorials I've seen. This one, for instance, is just such a clever blend of hard and soft lines, and I love the way that the layering and folding make it so that the shadows add depth and color to the flower. The layered buttons are the icing on the cake. (She credits someone else with the basic idea, but I haven't found more of a tutorial that what she gives.) This is just one of the little gems found inside her Wall Flowers Week (March 22-26, I think I flagged every day!), so please go see what other wonders await.


And finally, how wonderful are these felt posy's from Polka Dot Pineapple? I know, there's fabric on there, too, so I suppose it might be cheating, but I couldn't pass it up. She uses a punch for the original shape, but she shows such a clear picture of it that I think you could just trace it from the monitor if, like me, you don't have a similar punch. She then has a wonderful tutorial for making your own.

If you girls have some other felt flowers I need to know about, please leave a comment with a link! I really will make some one day. I just know it. :) Or if you've made some of the ones I've mentioned, show us how yours turned out! And I'd love to get some feedback on the tutorials and any hints or tips y'all have for making them easier! Also, please leave some love if you flag any of the links to make yourself! I know I love to get feedback, and I bet these girls would as well. ;)

**I've tried to give appropriate credit, but please let me know if I'm missed up a link or not given proper credit for the ideas.

May Flowers and My Wreath

(This post has three unrelated thoughts which will come together to make sense by the end of the post. Promise.)

Thought 1: Remember my Spring Wreath?

I've had it for about a month now, and that's about as long as my attention span can handle. So I've been thinking of changing it, but I wasn't sure what else I wanted to do with it.

Thought 2: I LOVE fabric flowers. In fact my second post on this blog was about fabric flowers. But I haven't done anything with them. The only flowers I've tried so far are the kind on the spring wreath. So with May coming up, I was toying with the idea of doing a May Flowers feature this month and showing (or more likely referencing) a new flower each day of the month. I even came up with a button for it:


But trying to get a new post up every day is more than impractical, it's impossible, so that idea never really took flight. Which is sad, cause I thought a month of May Flowers would be a lot of fun.

Thought 3: Then today I was flipping through my reader and came across this post over at LollyChops. And I absolutely fell in love with this new wreath she's done:


Check out the close-up. Isn't it incredible?


She even has a few flowers similar to those on my spring wreath (see the white one below?).


Combining the thoughts: I think I'm going to take the flowers I already have on my spring wreath, make up some more of the others that I've been wanting to make (a LOT being from Lolly Chops, in fact) and revamp my wreath LollyChops-style. Since I'm still in the middle of about, oh, 5 projects, we'll see how this turns out. I'll try to update as I try new flower tutorials, as a compromise on a new May flower post every day. I would LOVE if you would leave me links to some of your favorite flower tutorials that you think would work for this new wreath-vision. Wish me luck!

Preoccupied With Flower Brooches

When I found out I was pregnant a little over a year ago, I was CONVINCED it was a baby girl. No doubt in my mind. I started looking for tutorials on-line to make those cute flower headbands that look so adorable on baby girls. I found a LOT of tutorials for various fabric flowers. Then it all came crashing down when I found out I was preggo with a BOY!
But the bug was planted, and I've still had to click over every time I come across a tutorial for a fabric flower. Because now I really want to make flower brooches. I think the right flower brooch could make a bland outfit pop or pull a slightly eccentric outfit together. I think a fabric flower brooch in every color and combination of colors MIGHT help make my life more complete. So on Sunday, of course I noticed that one of the contestants of HGTV's DesignStar wore a flower brooch in every scene. And I loved them. So here, in no particular order, are some of the fabric flower tutorials I've come across in the last year. One day when I finally find the time to MAKE one, I'll share that...

Peony Flower from Yoonie-at-Home
Rosette from Bored and Crafty
Fluffy Flower from Artsy-Craftsy Babe
Scrappy Accent Flower from Fisk-A-Teers
Organze Flowers from Reese Dixon
Ribbon Rose from Inspirational Tips, Techniques, and Tutorials
Haute Couture from Oh So Crafty
Fabric Flower Bobby Pins (could put on a brooch!) from Martha
Kanzashi Flowers from Mookychick
Ribbon Flower from M&J Trimming
Another Ribbon Flower from NynaeveAS
And More Ribbon Flowers from The New New Blog
Felt Flowers from How About Orange
Fabric Flower from Boutique Nutmeg Designs
Fabric Flower from Wise Craft
A List of Fabric Flower Tutorials compiled by Tip Junkie
Fabric Roses from DuhBe
Couch Flower by Heather Bailey

When I find the time for my own constructions, I might combine some of these ideas, and maybe I'll EVEN try my first tutorial.