REFASHION POST: Sugar Skull Tank Top

I am OBSESSED with sugar skulls. I found this image here

Refashion: 2 "New" Skirts for this Summer

I'll admit it. I have been a total slacker lately. I have a whole list of projects I want to get started on, but I haven't had the motivation.

I had 3 days off in a row this week and thought that I would have plenty of time to hippie it up. However, my first day off happened to be my bestie's birthday, so I spent the day preparing for that... making reservations, picking out decorations, etc.

ARTS AND CRAFTS: Kids Craftroom Redo on the Cheap (Finale)

Everything has pretty much come together, finally! I'm sure we'll be adding and adjusting, but here is the finished craftroom...

ARTS AND CRAFTS: Kids' Craftroom Redo on the Cheap (part 5)

All of the big projects are done now. The space is brighter and more defined. The Wigglets have 3 separate playhouses and a whole art wall. It's looking good, but I still have a LOT of boring blank space to fill; most of it is cold, hard concrete, too.

Off to the fabric store for inspiration...

ARTS AND CRAFTS: Kids' Craftroom Redo on the Cheap (part 4)

I still had my paint supplies out, but I was running low on my free paint. So I decided to paint a border around the floor. I figured it would brighten up the boring concrete a little and would also help define the space (play area versus craft area vs off-limits area). I started out just planning on making a sidewalk design around the outside. This would give them a path between their houses. Plus, I was planning on putting an area rug in the middle anyway. No point painting something that's just going to be covered up.

TEMPLATE: Make your Own Labels (Tattoo Motif)

Here is a template page for labels with an old school tattoo theme.

Just [Right Click] the picture and save to your photos or your documents.

Then, you can open in either "Paint" or "Word" and add your own wording to customize.

Either print onto adhesive backed paper, or print on regular paper and tape or glue to your bottles!

ARTS AND CRAFTS: Kids' Craftroom Redo on the Cheap (part 3)

My basement is fairly large. It runs the entire length of the house, but doesn't have any dividing walls. Like most basements, it's used as my catch-all storage. That being said, it's probably not a good idea to let kids have free reign down there. I couldn't put up actual walls, because as I said in my first post, I didn't want anything permanent or even semi-permanent, and I didn't want to spend a lot of money.

Also, I didn't want to box these kids in, I just wanted to define their space a little. So, how do I provide a barrier, make it fun and keep it cheap? PLAYHOUSES! Those are definitely fun. There's no point exploring the rest of the room is they have their own little world to play in. But, cheap? Hmmmm

TEMPLATE: Make your own labels (Art Nouveau Motif)

Here is a template page for some Art Nouveau style labels to use for your homemade products.

I LOVE This style. It originated in the early 20th century and had a resurgence in the 1960s and 1970s...

Just [Right Click] the picture and save to your photos or your documents.

Then, you can open in either "Paint" or "Word" and add your own wording to customize.

Either print onto adhesive backed paper, or print on regular paper and tape or glue to your bottles!

TEMPLATE: Make your own labels (Black and White Outlines)

Here is a template page of the simple Black and White labels that I use for my homemade products.

Just [Right Click] the picture and save to your photos or your documents.

Then, you can open in either "Paint" or "Word" and add your own wording to customize.

Either print onto adhesive backed paper, or print on regular paper and tape or glue to your bottles!

ARTS AND CRAFTS: Kids' Craftroom Redo on the Cheap (part 2)

Last time I posted about this project, I had just painted all of the walls in (FREE) white paint, gathered from a friend's house...

Seeing the room as a blank canvas gave me the idea to keep that theme for the kids. I would do most of the room in white with some black outlines, and they could use the entire space as a coloring book, when we weren't doing other activities.

REFASHION POST: Nightshirt to Casual Dress

Here is another item I picked up for $1 a pound.

I'm not totally sure if it was a night gown or a dress, but it was so close to being cute that I had to pick it up. It was super soft and comfortable, but it had NO shape. So, I started by turning it inside out and laying it out on my sewing table. I had a summer dress in my closet that fit perfectly, so I used that as a guide.

Don't waste your fat!!

In the last week, I posted 2 entries about making broth and skimming the fat off the top...

Don't worry. I'm not going to suggest that you eat it or that you render it down into soaps or candles

(although you could)

But why waste it? 

ARTS AND CRAFTS: Kids' Craftroom Redo on the Cheap

Disclaimer: I am not an expert on children. I do not have children of my own. I do not claim to know anything about kids. In fact, kids freak me out a little.

However...

Last fall, my boyfriends kids (AKA: the Wigglets), started showing an interest in art. WOOHOO!! What I lack in knowledge about kids, I make up for with knowledge about arts and crafts. Art was a HUGE part of my childhood. And I couldn't wait to introduce them to paint and glue and GLITTER!!

REFASHION POST: Sweater to Pencil Skirt

About a year ago, I went scavenging through one of those "$1 per Pound" thrift store outlets. I grabbed a few sweaters with the sole intention of turning them into scarves or hats someday. I threw them in my sewing room, and there they sat, waiting for a moment of inspiration (or boredom, but mostly inspiration)

This one had decent bones: 100% cotton, neutral colors, good condition. But the neckline was wonky, It was too wide to be a turtleneck, too narrow to be a cowl, and it had a these weird flaps to tie it down in front.