"Mock" tie

I've had this post over at Sugar Bee Crafts bookmarked for a while knowing that I might need this idea sometime! Well, after we got my daughter her Easter dress I knew I needed to make my 3 boys something to match~here's what I came up with!

For the ties here's what you need:

• fabric (I chose to have a felt back, cotton middle and tulle on top)


• sewing machine


• scissors


• elastic

I started by stacking my 3 fabrics in the order that I wanted the final product in:

Then I drew out the ties. I used another tie and just eyeballed these, making a separate knot and tie:

Then over to the sewing machine:

Zig zap stitch around both peices:

Then trim as close to the stitching as possible:

Next zig zag stitch the knot to the tie:


The last step is sewing on some elastic, measure the neck so it will be snug, but not tight:

I decided to take one more step add some dots to the ties (since their sisters dress had polka dots). For this step I took a random piece of fabric and sewed a circle, then trimmed as close to the stitching as possible:


Super simple way to let your boys have a special tie (and in this case match their sister!):

 

Blooming Branches

A friend and I (Thanks Ashley!!) were asked to create centerpieces for our LDS Stake Women's Conference. We were not told what we needed to make, only that it needed to be Springy! Here's what we came up with:

My house has been full of blooms for the last couple of weeks as we worked on making all 24 of them!

Here's what you need if you want to make your own.

• small branches


• tissue paper


• scissors


• hot glue gun & glue


• vase

We started with Dollartree vases and put 1 piece of tissue paper in vase.

Then we filled the vase with branches. Since these were going on large tables we used large/taller branches.

Then onto the blossoms.

You need a square of tissue paper (anywhere between 3-5 inches square):

fold it in half:

then fold one corner over 1/3 of the way:



the fold the other corner to the opposite corner:



fold that in 1/2



now cut a rounded piece off the top (the deeper the cut the deeper the petal):



here's what it looks like:



now fold it up from the center



and twist the bottom and you have your blossom!

put a small amount of hot glue on the end and CAREFULLY put it on the branch. I think I lost most of the feeling in my fingertips after doing these!

And the final product:









 

 

Hooked Entryway

Here is the wall just behind our front door before:

and here it is after:

Much better!

I used 6 packs of hooks (purchased at Walmart for about $2.50 per 2 hooks) for a total of 12 hook, 2 per person. Then I made some vinyl with our names so we would know where to hang our stuff! I used a square piece of scrap paper to layout the vinyl & hooks:

Then I marked a level line on my wall and evenly spaced it out. For each hook & vinyl- I rotated the layout and alternated top or bottom of my level line so they wouldn't all be in the same space:

and now I should find no more backpacks, coats, etc on the floor!

Ok, that might be wishful thinking. But now when I find them on the floor I have a spot to put them and the kids have a spot to go and find them!