Have you seen Oz the Great and Powerful yet?  My family and I sat down to watch it last week and absolutely loved it.  I thought I had such a great message about overcoming obstacles and believing in yourself.

Any time I watch a movie I’m always inspired by the costumes.  I adore seeing the way  the costume designer in the movie puts together fabrics and colors to create the look and mood of the movie.

In Oz I fell in love with the character of the China Doll. She’s adorable and spunky.   Her  costume is equally adorable. A cute blue dress with a lace overlay and a blue striped belt. I decided that I would try to recreate the look of the dress but in a t-shirt for my daughter!

image source

Here’s how you do it:

You’ll need:

• - Fitted T-shirt
• - 1 yard lace panel
• - 2 yards small lace trim
• -needle and thread
• -ribbon for belt

To begin, lay your lace over your t shirt and pin.  Make sure that the bottom finished edge of the lace is even with the bottom of your t-shirt.

Use a fabric marking pen to mark the collar and sleeve seams on the lace.

With the lace pinned very well on the t-shirt trim the lace even with the sides of the t-shirt, the sleeve seams and the collar.  You’ll need sharp scissors, go slow.

Machine stitch up the side seams of the t-shirt catching the lace as you go. Hide your stitching line in the t-shirt side seam.

You’ll need to hand stitch the sleeve seams and the collar. Just do this with a simple running seam (trim off any extra lace when done).

If your lace trim is not already gathered, gather it  (that way it will go around the curve of the collar smoothly).  Machine stitch the lace to the collar.  This will hide your hand stitching lines around the collar.

For one last touch, tie the ribbon around the t-shirt to use as a belt.

You’re done!  Now you’ve got a lace trimmed t-shirt just like the China Doll in the Movie! Ready to go and kill the Witch???

Oz is available now on Blue Ray. We really did love the movie.

*Disclosure: This is a paid post through Blueprint Social. All opinions are 100% mine.

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A few weekends ago my oldest daughter graduated High School.  We wanted to invite our family and close friends to celebrate with her. I knew that I did not have time to make a lot of  decorations but still wanted something fun. After much thought I settled on a Cookie Bar idea for her Graduation Party.  Even though I know I’m biased, I think “Kari is One Smart Cookie” !

There are lots and lots of adorable cookie parties that have been shared on blogs in the last few years. I know the idea is not new but I thought I’d share how I pulled our party together.

I took 3 pieces of foam core and taped them together, then covered them will roll paper (from paper source).  I pushed my dining room table up against the wall then just propped the foam core against that.

I gathered some of my favorite photos of her and used washi tape to tape them up to the board (that way they are removable).  After I finished she promptly went and got different pictures that she liked better (she’s the independent sort).

My daughter has been a collector of elephants since she was little. When I saw the poster I knew it would be a fun touch to the party.  I just attached it with pins to the foam core.

My Mom came and baked cookies for days!  She was so sweet to do that we also had a few good friends donate cookies.  We ended up with a fun combination sweets!

One great idea my Mom had was to place some cookies in liners, this made them easier to eat and they looked pretty sitting on the table.

I painted a frame to use a chalkboard. The extra bonus being that she can take it to her dorm room to use as it’s really light and we can hang it up easily.

A few years ago my sister ordered Jones Soda’s for us for Christmas and I thought it was the cutest gift! I ordered a few to have out at the party.

For a last touch, I just put some store bought stickers on toothpicks to use as  cookie picks.  Easy Peasy.

The post One Smart Cookie! A Graduation Party Idea appeared first on The Polka Dot Chair.

Summer is upon us and it seems like we are running around as crazy as ever.  I don’t want  to spend gobs of time in the kitchen making a big meal.  With that in mind,  I thought that today I’d share with you one of my favorite dinners.  I’ve been making these for a few years now and they have become one of my “go to” FAST dinners.

These Caesar Salad Steak wraps feature crisp cool lettuce, with warm juicy meat and soft flour tortillas.  I have to make myself only eat one.

 Recipe for Caesar Salad Steak Wraps

Ingredients:

• 1 Flank steak
• 1 Bottle of Caesar Salad Dressing (our favorite is Newmans Own)
• Flour Tortillas, we love the uncooked ones at Costco
• Mixed Salad Greens

Directions:

Season flank steak with salt and pepper. Grill until the meat is firm but still has some give. About medium well. (or to you liking if you like your meat more rare)

Pull meat off the grill and let it rest for 10 min under a foil tent. Don’t skip this step it will help the meat be juicy when you cut it.

Cut the meat at a 45 degree angle across the grain.

To Assemble:

Take one warm flour tortilla, layer in lettuce and drizzle with the salad dressing.  Layer in the meat as desired.

Eat!

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