Princess Baby Gift

 One of my good friends just had baby #4...and it was a girl.  She has three adorable boys, so we are all pretty excited they get a sister.  She also happens to be a Disney fan.  I went on a hunt for Disney themed gifts, and then made a few crafts to go with them.  I found this romper on eBay.  Her favorite movie is Snow White.  Then I made a little felt bow using this tutorial.  I also bought some elastic baby headbands from eBay.

 She named her baby Aurora Rose after Sleeping beauty, so I had to do a pink theme.  I made this name banner and a onsie with her name on it using my embroidery machine.

 I found a mirror rattle on Amazon and a little crown clip at Hobby Lobby.

I made a few other bows and sent this off.  Incidentally, this was the second package I've sent in less than three weeks...I'm all about the spoiling.  

Baby Numbers

One of my good friends is about to have baby #4.  She has not found out the gender of the last 3, but she wants the other kiddos to be able to talk to them/talk about them, so she always gives them a nickname-Peanut, Sweetpea, Pumpkin, and now Apple.  Sweetpea was my godson, so I made him some Disney baby countdown numbers when he was born (she loves everything Disney).  For brother #3 I made some pumpkin countdowns, and now for Baby #4 I was commissioned to make apples.  These are really simple to make.  I just use full sheet labels and then use word to create a circle, put a clipart and some text boxes inside and then cut in a circle.  I'm sure I could do it on my Cricut as well, but this was the 'get this done in a hurry b/c I have 456,345,234 on the to do list, but numbers can't wait way to do it!

Nautical Mobile

 Soon I'll be posting some pictures of this mobile hanging in it's nursery.  In the meantime, you get my overgrown yard last spring.

My friend, Amber, was expecting a baby boy....but she didn't know she was expecting a baby boy.  I did because I was assigned the task of decorating his nursery.  When she had her first baby (Charlotte) a few years before I knew that the nursery was going to be nautical if it was a boy, or ballet if it was a girl.  Well, ballet it was.  So, this go 'round, she didn't find out in advance, but they wanted a gender specific nursery, so I got the privilege of putting it all together.  I stuck with nautical.  I've made a few mobiles for different friends in the past, but this time I went a little different.  

 I usually use an embroidery hoop, but this time I found these sticks/balls ready to put together via aliexpress.  They also sold these little wooden anchors (I painted two red).

I found these little crochet whales via Etsy (the gal was really quick, and so sweet, she even threw in an extra narwhal...if she only knew how much I loved unicorns).  I used some jewelry string to tied each one to the sticks.  Very simple, but it works perfect with the nursery theme!

Copy Paste

A friend of mine recently had a baby.  She wanted to surprise her husband at the hospital with a new dad shirt.  This was baby 2, but the first little guy.  So....her idea was birthed thanks to pinterest.  I bought the shirt on Amazon b/c I could get a onsie and shirt from the same company, and I wanted them to be the exact same color.  I used my cricut to cut out the words and then ironed it down....ready for pictures.  :O)

Baby Burp Cloths

Here's an extra little nursery detail.  I'm posting (over the next few weeks) the details of a nursery I put together this fall as a surprise.  I was giving the name for both genders so I could add some personalized details.  I own an embroidery machine, so I decided to make a few decorative burp cloths to match the nursery theme.  I used some of the fabrics from other projects to embellish.  All the details and projects are following shortly!

Making Bows 101

I'm currently in a holding pattern.  I've been collecting some fun things to put together my dream craft room.  But...my brother is currently residing in said room.  I was going to try to up my youtube game this year, but....there really isn't a great place to record.  BUT here is a video I did....you'll see my issues....I ran out of storage room, I ran out of glue, and my dog saw her shadow or something and decided to express her feelings mid video.  BUT...I told a gal I'd teach her how to make a bow, but...it's been a little chaotic, so I recorded her a video for now and provided some supplies so I'm almost teaching her...and when we finally do get to get together for bow lessons....she'll be ready for Bow 102.  So...if you want to see a few ways to make some (almost) free bows.  You can find that video here.
I also refer to a bow pattern I have online (free).  That lives here.

Baby Gift-Sports Fan

 One of my college friends is bringing the next generation of Bears into this world.  I knew I wanted to put together a gift for her baby that represents our alma mater.  We bleed green and gold.

 I have an embroidery machine, so I made a bear onsie with his name.

 I also bought a bear cap from Etsy.  I WISH I knew how to crochet hats.  It's one of my New Year's resolutions, but....I'm also happy to support another crafter, so it's a win that way,, and motivation for the later.

I also made a second onsie with our favorite team, and I found an adorable football blanket from Mudpie...that just so happens to have that beautiful green.  Maxwell is just a few vocabulary lessons away from cheering on the old alma mater...and he's got his outfit ready for game day!

Baby Card

Whenever I CAN I try to make homemade cards.  I recently was sending a baby shower gift and decided it was time.  I like to buy the patterned card sets at Hobby Lobby and then add my design on top.  In this case, I cut some letters out with my Cricut and added some twine and a few embelishments.  Very simple, and...made with a little extra love.  I have a stamp I added to the inside, but....I forgot to take a picture of that, so you'll just have to believe me, until next time!

Rustic Pine Tree Mobile

 I have a friend who went with the rustic/camping-ish theme for her little guy's nursery and she saw a mobile made out of pine trees and asked me if I could copy the design.

I'll try most crafts once.  I bought an embroidery hoop (I only used the inside hoop), plastic rings...I have no idea what their purpose is, but the craft store had them near the yarn.  I got some string from the jewelry dept (I figured if it was sturdy enough to wear, it could hang this mobile up).  I found some unfinished wood trees online by searching.  They only cost about 5 dollars for 10, BUT....the shipping was also five dollars.  Oh well. I also got three colors of stain (which I had around my house):  Cherry, Walnut, and Oak.  

 I drilled a hole into  the top of each tree.

 ..and painted them with the different stains.  I actually used a paper towel to rub two coats of stain onto each tree (letting them dry in between each staining).

 I tied strings at different lengths into each tree.

 Then I tied the strings onto the hoop at different lengths, evenly around the hoop.  I tied several knots, snipped the edge, and then super glued it so it would stay.

I drilled four holes and then doubled up more string and tied those through and up towards the ring at the top.  

The hardest part of the project was trying to get a shot as the mobile swung in the wind....it's really not crooked, but...you take what you can get.  I put it all together for 16 dollars, and that's including the 5 for shipping I could have skipped if I had time to hunt down those trees at a nearby store.  

DIY Felt Baby Bow

 I've seen these adorable felt bows all over the net and in little boutiques.  I've been meaning to try them out for awhile.  My friend, Nicole, had a little girl and I made her an outfit....and I think it's important she understand my bow expectations....so.....it seemed like a good time to get started.  ;o)

 I bought some thin elastic.  You could add these to a bobby pin or clip, but....this was my prerogative.  Here is the measurement chart I used.  I then cut the two pieces (show above) out of felt.  Here is a free pattern I put together to make these.  The top one is the 'loops' of the bow, the bottom is the base.

 I added a glue dot to the middle of the base and placed the top on the glue dot.

 I then added more glue to the middle and folded in each side to form the bow's loops.

 I added MORE hot glue to the middle and pulled the little strip over the bow.

 Like this...

 I flipped it over on the back, where I glued the elastic, and I put MORE glue over the elastic and continued to pull the strip over to cover the elastic.

 I trimmed off the excess.

 I then used my fingers to press in the loops and make them fluffier.

 I paired it with this little onsie I made with my embroidery machine.  I bought a machine last summer and I haven't posted about it yet b/c it's sort of taken on a life of it's own.  It may needs it own blog....

Right now I'm just making gifts for friends, but I may try my hand at a few things for sale-emphasis on a few.  Stay tuned.  In the meantime...a girly outfit for a little girl in Houston.

Baseball Tutu

 Last year I helped host a couple's shower.  I knew the dad to be was a baseball fan, and so I decided I'd put together an outfit he could appreciate (I knew I'd be attending an all girls shower after that where there would be plenty of pink).  I found a cute little onsie on Etsy and ordered it, and then I went to work on a tutu and bow.  Conveniently, this tutu would work for the 4th of July too...when baseball is in it's prime.

To make the tutu I sewed a piece of elastic together.

Sizes:

Newborn=13 inches

3-6 months=14 inches

6-12 months=15 inches

1-2 years=16 inches

3 years=18 inches

4 years=21 inches

5 years=24 inches

I cut up two yards of tulle into 18 inch by 2 inch strips (make it longer for a flowing tutu).  Then I simply tied it in a knot to the elastic.  I tied about three pieces of the same color together so they would stand out more.

 Once I finished up, I scrunged it up to make it fluff out.
I also added this bow I blogged about making yesterday.