vixenMade

Toddler Tool Belt Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:43:00 +0000

It seems my boys are no longer babies.

Well, that was a given since their 2nd birthday.

But they're sitting on a chair at mealtime, going to the potty, starting to dress themselves and playing nonstop with their tools and trucks (or 'chucks' as they call them). On top of that, if my husband's working in the garage.. they're there!

So it was time for their very own tool belts.

It was a quick project (since I was having to make two) with little supplies, that I figured I'd give you a tutorial.

Here's what you'll need:

roll of grosgrain ribbon (you won't need a whole roll)

old jeans or sturdy material

scrap of another material (can be cotton or denim)

velcro

First off, cut a piece from your old jeans. I actually used this pair for this project first.

My piece measured 8" long by 14" across the bottom and 11" across the top.

Lay your denim piece over the scrap piece, both laying right side down, with the top 1/3 off the fabric. Be sure the top of the scrap piece is straight (this will be the top of the front pocket).

Cut around the denim piece in the same shape.

Fold over the top of the cut piece and press with an iron.

Sew a hem just along the top.

Place the piece over top of the denim piece, lining up the bottom and sides. Pin it on and sew around the outer edges, leaving the top open.

Sew two more seams going down the front for pockets. Here you can choose to do two pockets as well or even a few narrow pockets.

Now fold over the edges of the sides and bottom of the apron and pin in place. You'll be sewing a hem around the edges of the apron. You can do the top or leave it like I did, either way it will be covered up.

Now press your edges with an iron.

Next, get your ribbon and cut a 4" piece. (You may want to make this longer, depends on your child's toys. Once I was finished, I noticed some of the toy hammers are too big to fit in the slot I made).

Fold in half and pin onto the side of your apron.

Then sew it on.

For the top, you'll lie the top of the apron over the ribbon leaving excess ribbon on either sides of your apron. I had about 6 or 7 inches on both sides. You may need to measure your child's waist to see how much extra you'll need.

Pin it and then sew your ribbon onto the apron.

For the edges of the ribbon, I burnt the edges with a lighter so they wouldn't fray.

Now take a 4 inch piece of velcro and pin them on the ends of your ribbon. Make sure you're sewing them on the right sides.

This is how it should look when you're done.

You now have a cute tool belt for your little handyman!

Try them on and play away!

My boys really are growing up.. they'll actually stand still for a picture now!

A perfect place to put all your tools.

Have a great day!

I link up here!

10 Delicious Smoothie Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:51:00 +0000

I'm kind of trying out something new. No, smoothies aren't new. Me drinking smoothies is not new either.
But I have not been getting in enough fruits and veggies lately. Anyone else?So, I've decided to try having a smoothie a day. Maybe more. When I want a quick breakfast.. I'll grab a smoothie. If I get a hankering for a sweet snack.. I'll make a smoothie. Night time snacking.. go have a smoothie. And maybe, just maybe, I might reduce my sugar intake and feel healthier.
This isn't a drastic change, obviously. But there are A TON of smoothie recipes out there that I really want to try and this is the perfect excuse to do so.To kick it off, I figured I'd share 10 of my faves!

Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie

Pineapple Enzyme Banana Smoothie

Ginger Berry and Oat Smoothie

Watermelon Frosty

Green Smoothie

Raspberry Orange Smoothie

Mocha Green Monster

Strawberry Peach Freezer Smoothie

Strawberry Date Smoothie

Mango Coconut Cream Smoothie
So... now that I've given you all a smoothie craving, who's off to make one (besides me)?
Thanks for stopping by!!

I link up here!

Guest Posting At Craftionary!

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:44:00 +0000

Hi friends!Just wanted to let you all know that I'm guest posting over at my friend, Hani's blog, Craftionary.I'm very honored and so happy to be over there today!I've created a fun and festive St. Patty's Day wreath.Come see for yourself!

I link up here!

DIY Polka Dot Shirt

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:42:00 +0000

I have a weakness for polka dots. They're simple and whimsical and adorable. Which is why I usually opt for polka dot for my daughter. Not me. But I've been seeing fun polka dots on shirts lately and I kinda wanted one too. So instead of going out and spending $20 and up on a tee, I figured I'd just try it myself.I had a few grease stained tee's in my drawer anyways (I guess maybe I should be wearing my apron in the kitchen..).

What you need:an old shirtfabric Paintcircle stamp (I didn't have one, so I improvised with the end of a corn on the cob pick)

My grease spotted tee. Sorry, the picture is a bit blurry.

First off, slide some cardboard or a few layers of newspaper between the layers of your shirt.

Squirt some paint into a small dish or jar lid.

Dab your stamp in the paint. Just don't get too much paint on your stamp.

And stamp your shirt. Continue in a random pattern all over the shirt.

My dots are spread out, but next time I might try to space them closer together. I also didn't dot the sleeves since they're rather short anyways.

Wait for the front to dry about a half a day or longer, then flip it over and do the back side.

Let the entire thing dry for a day before wearing.

And that's it.

You now have yourself a polka dot shirt! Easy peasy!

Have a marvelous Monday!!

I link up here!

Free Printable Friday: Potty Training

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:54:00 +0000

Maybe this is a weird theme for free printables, but it's appropriate for what is going on in my life.Two weeks ago, we decided to potty train our twin boys. Yes, they're 2 and yes, they just turned 2 (in January).But just like when my daughter was their age, they were showing signs of readiness.My one son was waking up with a dry diaper almost every night and they were both asking to sit on the potty sans their diapers.The week prior to committing, they were trying on my daughter's underwear, removing their diapers themselves (especially when they were dirty) and always wanted to watch when we were using the bathroom.
So I figured it was time.

We used the same technique as when my daughter was potty training. It was called "Potty Train Your Child In 3 Days Or Less" and I first discovered it here.I know what you're thinking.. they're completely different children, plus, they're boys! But I highly recommend you at least try it if your child is already showing signs of readiness.My daughter was using the potty herself by day 2.The boys.. well.. more like 4.So, things were going a little slower this time around. And I know. Every child is different and they may learn a different way. But it did work.We are diaper free (although my one son is still wearing them for bed).

And when all was said and done, I was in a bit of shock.I couldn't believe that we had did it. I figured for sure they wouldn't be trained until closer to age 3.Apparently, they decided to impress me. And I am SO okay with that.Diaper free home? I'll take it!

So, anyways.If you're interested in potty training charts and activities, here ya go! (source)
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Hope this helps!Have a great weekend!

I link up here!

Clothespin Magnets

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:23:00 +0000

Now the kids are all creating their own lovely artwork, I've found I need larger magnets.My button magnets weren't cutting it.
So I pulled out the clothespins, some paper and a roll of magnet and went to work.Now I have a way of clipping up the artwork and anything else that goes with the colors in my kitchen! Ha!Maybe not a statement, but they're cute enough for kiddos!

Ready to make something easy (and fun!)? And maybe they'd be cute as a little gift? Who knows, but here we go!
You'll need magnets (a roll or just the circle ones), mod podge, scrapbook paper, scissors, hot glue gun and, of course, clothespins.

First of all, trace your clothespins onto the scrapbook paper.

Cut it out.

I find that clothespins sometimes want to fall apart after some use (maybe their made cheap nowadays). So to hopefully prevent that, I added hot glue at the back and front of where they clip on.

See that little indent? Yeah, there.

Try to get the glue only in the crevice.

Once dry, add a layer of mod podge all along the edge.

Lay the paper onto it and smooth out.

Then add a thin layer over top and let dry.

Once dry add another coat of mod podge. I stopped there, but feel free to do 3 coats if you like.

Now you can cut a strip of magnet for the back.

The roll of magnet is adhesive, but I didn't think it would hold up.

So I hot glued that sucker on.

Press it on firmly until dry.

Then, to clean it up a bit, I trimmed off some of the magnet piece so it was a little more flush with the clothespin.

And they are done.

Try them out.

Hang the kids pictures, any announcements or reminders and you're good to go.

Plus, my kids like the novelty of opening the pin to clip on their picture.

Aren't they cute!? Now go make your own!!

Have fun!

I link up here!

Valentine Brownies

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:26:00 +0000

Yeah, I know, Valentine's Day is now over.But since I made these yesterday for our dessert, it's being posted today. And they were too good not to share!

Our Valentine's Day was spent at home. Which is almost preferable considering how nuts all the restaurants probably were. So I cooked up my hubbies favorite meal and made some delectable brownies (which are also one of his favorites). We also snacked on some chocolate covered strawberries, but those went too fast to document!
To make the brownies more festive, I used my heart cookie cutter and made us each a heart shaped brownie.

As for the recipe, I found it here.

It was perfect. And easy. And quick. And delicious.

I definitely recommend you give them a try!

They were chewy and fudgy.

The way a brownie should be.

Well, it's off to take down all the lovely decor..Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!

I link up here!

My Valentine's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:31:00 +0000

Happy Valentine's Day!
To start off, I wanted to share on of my favorite love songs. I heard it first from the The Twilight Saga: Eclipse soundtrack. Yes, I'm a Twilight fan. But this song I would have loved regardless. So enjoy!
My Love - Sia
I also just thought I'd show you my collection of simple Valentine ideas that I never got around to this year. I've pinned each one on Pinterest and hope to tackle them next year.
DIY Valentine's Banner
Glitter Heart Picks
Felt Heart Pillow
Lace Valentine Cookies
Valentine Votive
Conversation Blocks
Easy Valentine Treats
Felt Heart Garland
That's it for today!! Have a great day.
I hope you are all truly LOVED today!

I link up here!

Repurposed Sheets

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:08:00 +0000

My boys moved into their toddler beds about 6 months ago and I needed more crib sized sheets.

I didn't want any babyish prints since these are now 'big boy' beds.

I also find that they don't make sheets in colors that I wanted (like a chocolate brown) to go with their bedding and bedroom colors. And if they do, the cost is a little high for my taste.

Well.. I had some sheets I no longer used. We upgraded our double bed to a queen size awhile back, so we had quite a few sheets that were no longer being used.

This brown set included.

Such a perfect color to go with the boys room. Soo.. I used this pattern to repurpose my old sheet to 2 NEW ones!

The fit great and since I had 2 pillowcases from the set.. they have matching pillowcases, too!

And I love how they look with their bedspreads! A true big boy bed!

What a great saver, too! I love free things!!

Hope all of your weekends were fabulous! Thanks for stopping by!

I link up here!

Free Printable Friday: Last Minute Valentine

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:38:00 +0000

Anyone else so very glad it's Friday today?It's been a long week and I'm anxious for some hubby help with the kids over the weekend.
Anyways, today I have a bunch of really neat last minute Valentine ideas.. and yes, they're all free printables!
You may have the Valentine's ready to go, but maybe you want to add something extra for the kids or maybe something sweet for the special someone in your life.
Like these adorable cup wrappers, from Eat Drink Chic, to wrap your hubby's coffee cup on Valentine's morning?

You could always include some cute Valentine jokes in your kiddos lunch bag. These printables are at It Is What It Is.

Or just some sweet love notes. From Sugarsticks Parties.

How about coupons? Valentine coupons are always a quick and inexpensive gift to give a loved one.These are small enough to tuck in your wallet or even a lunch bag for a surprise Valentine. Find them at Key Lime Designs.

Or just print out a book of coupons, like these two:This freebie is at The Frugal Girls.

This booklet printable is at Mommy By Day Crafter By Night.

Hope they help!
And while I'm at it, I'll show you my daughter's class Valentines. Preschool is pretty special, so I did something fun for her.
Candy dipped Marshmallows for each little person!

Pretty darn easy!Press a lollipop stick through your marshmallow, dip and let dry.Wrap each one in little candy bags (you can buy at any craft store or sometimes even a dollar store) and seal with some inexpensive ribbon (again, dollar store for me!).

I added a little tag, too. Just used my tag paper punch and stamped each one with a heart and wrote on the back.

Have a lovely weekend!!

I link up here!

The "Love"ly Rosette Headband

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:14:00 +0000

Valentine's Day is only days away now and the theme crafting is coming to an end (until Easter, that is).

My daughter and I noticed the other day that she had no Valentine hair accessories. So, I told her I would make her something pretty.

I decided on a headband because it's so easy for her to put on herself and plus, they're just fun to make!

So here it is.

Let's make one shall we?

What you need:

Felt scraps (red, white and pink)

Headband

Hot glue gun

Gems, beads and embellishments

You can find sparkling gems at the craft store, but sometimes they cost more than I'd like to spend.

I found these bobby pins at the dollar store.

They're really cute as they are, but nobody wears bobby pins in this house.

I got some metal snips and cut that sucker off. No, that sucker wasn't just glued on.. it was soldered on!

Get some circular shaped objects to trace such as jar lids.

And trace them onto the felt.

Once you've cut them out, cut spirals into each one, like this. These are to create the rosettes

Take the end of the spiral and start rolling while hot gluing every so often.

At the end, just glue the flap to the back of your rosette.

Pretty simple. Make some more.

I glued the gem to the middle of one of the rosettes.

Now hot glue the rosettes onto another piece of felt, arranging and clustering them however you like.

Cut around the felt so they're all attached.

Cut another similar shaped piece of felt.

Glue the rosette cluster onto your headband. Then sandwich the headband with the other felt piece over top.

I then added a small red feather with hot glue between the rosettes.

You're finished!

Try it on and admire.

It looks "love"ly on her! And most importantly, she liked it.

Have fun making one for yourself (or the little girl in your life!).See you tomorrow!

I link up here!

Shoe DIY's

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:31:00 +0000

I'm going to be optimistic here and say spring is on it's way. Here in prairies we've had a ridiculously MILD winter. It's expected to average a -25 degree Celsius temperature throughout the season and usually colder in January. Not this year. I'm pretty sure it was an average of -10 degrees Celsius this winter.. maybe even less. And the snow was slim to none. So bizarre.That aside, it's been feeling like spring is near for awhile. But.. it's almost mid February and according to the calendar... spring is almost near!
Like I said, optimistic.
So I figured I would put together a little round up of shoe DIY's for myself and, of course, you to enjoy and maybe feel inspired to refresh your own shoes for spring!Here we go.

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Aren't these transformations awesome!? I'm blown away by all the talent and creativity!! Well done!

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This last makeover was done by me. I'm just sad that my daughter grew out of them so quickly!
Time to go dig through your spring/summer shoes!Have fun!

I link up here!

Easy Orange Dreamsicle Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:28:00 +0000

So the other day, my daughter was bugging me to make a cake. I don't usually like to bake cakes. I'm lazy when it comes to baking. I don't have patience and cakes usually take up a little more of my time than I like. Maybe I'm just weird, but it just feels that way.But it was the weekend, so I had more time and I figured I'd do it just for her.
Her request: an orange cake. And it had to be orange in color, too.Okay... seriously?We settled on some sort of orange dreamsicle flavor, and after looking through a few recipes online and figuring out what I had on hand, this is what we made:

I couldn't even take a picture of the whole completed cake. The minute it was frosted, it was cut and we all dug in. It. was. so. good.I'm not a huge fan of boxed cake mixes, but this was delicious.Even my hubby took some with his lunch the next day. He never does that. (I don't think he actually hates my baking, he just doesn't want to sit down and eat it because it takes more time than he likes... he's the 'eat and go' kind of guy, I guess).So two days later and 1/4 of the cake left. For us, that's good. I eat cake once and I'm good for a month. My weakness is cookies. Ha!

So.. you're probably wanting the recipe now.Here ya go!
Orange Dreamsicle Cake
1 box white cake mix1 small box orange jello1 small box vanilla pudding1/2 cup oil1 cup milk3 eggs1 tsp orange extract (optional: I didn't have it on hand, but I think it would help to add more 'orange' flavor)
Preheat oven to 350 F degreesMix all ingredients on medium speed until blended. Pour into baking pans and bake for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Allow cake to cool before frosting.
Orange Vanilla Frosting (recipe found here)
1 cup butter, at room temperature4 cups powdered sugar1/8 tsp salt (I used salted butter, so I omitted this)2 Tbsp orange juice2 tsp vanilla2 tsp grated orange peel
Whisk together butter, half the sugar and salt on low speed until blended. Add juice, vanilla and orange peel and mix. Add in remaining sugar and blend on high until smooth. Add orange gel food coloring to obtain an orange color. Frost your cake.

Mmm.. enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by!

I link up here!

The Valentine's Day Skirt

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:28:00 +0000

Happy Monday, everyone!
Today I'm showing you my tutorial for my daughter's Valentine Day Skirt.I originally posted this on The 36th Avenue, but I wanted to share this with my readers, too!
I usually have a Valentine themed shirt for her every year, but she has so many tops right now (from her birthday, Christmas, hand me downs.. yeesh) I didn't think she'd make much use of it.And since she's into dresses and skirts lately, a skirt it was!Besides, the fabric was such a steal!
So let's begin shall we!?

First off, I found this fabric for cheap. How cheap? One was a cotton remnant (one dollar) and the other huge heart tulle roll? The dollar store. Can you believe it?! I snatched it up because it had SO much potential for Valentine crafting! And it still does, because I have tons left over.So you'll need broadcloth cotton fabric, tulle fabric and black elastic (white is fine, too, just keep in mind, the waistband is exposed).

Before you start, measure the waist of whom you are making the skirt for. My daughter has an itty bitty 19 inch waist. So I cut my elastic piece (with an extra 1/2 inch).

This skirt doesn't have too much fluff, it's pretty straight, so I used a 26" wide piece by 12" long. For a 4 year old, this hits her at just above the knee.

Next, you can measure the tulle fabric. I added more, since I wanted it a little more flowy on top. So it's 32" wide (6 wider than the cotton) and I added an inch and a half to the bottom.

Go back to the cotton material. I used the selvage end for the bottom of the skirt and folded it under once, pressed and hemmed. No double folding or serging!

Now you can pin the tops of the two pieces together. You will need to do some gathering here.

Now sew them together. I used a zigzag stitch since I don't have a serger.

Now meet up the ends, right sides in, and pin together.

Then zig zag stitch (or serge) the edges.

You're now ready for the elastic.

Sew your ends together using a zigzag stitch.

Pin onto the outside of the skirt. Once again, gathering your fabric.

Now sew it on.

And that's all there is to it! Easy and cute for Valentine's day.

I'm loving the look of the two different layers.

Here's my little model showing it off!

She loves dressing up in a skirt, so she enjoyed herself!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Have a great week!

I link up here!

Free Printable Friday: Classroom Valentines

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:03:00 +0000

Anyone else so over commercial or licensed Valentine's?Ick. So boring. I don't think I could handle letting my kids pass them out. Ha!Okay, sorry, to offend those of you who like them. But here are some much better options! These are way cuter. Check them out!
I love anything from Free Pretty Things For You, these included!

Owls are my weakness. These are so sweet! Find them at J. Bell Studio.

Loving the modern look to these Valentine's. Pumpkins and Posies has the download.
One Charming Party has these lovelies. Love the conversation hearts!

Kids will adore these animal Valentine's, or at least, I will. See them at Kate.net.

These are so unique, too. Check them out at A Fanciful Twist

And these are so fun and colorful! Secret Agent Josephine has the download.

Well, hope that gives you little more to choose from. It's easy enough to press print and cut them out! Enjoy!Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend.

I link up here!

Heart Pot Holder Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:36:00 +0000

I love to doll up my kitchen for a holiday!Especially with fun oven mitts or dish towels. Which is why I decided to make a heart shaped potholder to add to my kitchen this year. And since I added blue to my kitchen colors, the red and blue is so perfect for Valentine's!I love it! I'm sure some heart garland will be going up next.
Anyways, so this is my Heart Pot Holder. With, of course, a tutorial to make your own!

Let's get right to it.

Here's what you need:

18" x 24" piece of fabric

9" x 6" scrap piece of coordinating fabric

jumbo ric rac ribbon (I believe I used 1 & a half yards of it, or 1.4 meters)

heart template (I found one here)

18" x 24" piece of insulated lining

iron

sewing supplies

Start by printing out your heart template. I made my heart as big as it could fit on a sheet of printer paper, you could make it larger (just print half the heart twice and tape together) or smaller, your choice.

Fold your fabric in half widthwise so you have two layers and pin your heart onto both layers and cut around adding about a 1/2 to 1/4 inch.

Do the same with your insulated lining.

Fold your heart in half and lay it on the smaller piece of fabric.

Pin and cut around adding 1/2 inch all around it.

Taking that half heart piece, finish the inside edge with a serger or a zigzag stitch.

Now fold the edge over and press with an iron creating a 1/4 hem.

Using your ric rac ribbon, pin it onto to the underside of the hem. You'll want about half of the ribbon showing, like this.

Now sew it on going fairly close to the edge.

Now you can start to layer all your pieces. Have your two heart shaped fabric pieces facing in, but lay your half-heart piece between the two first. You want the ric rac side to line up in the middle of the heart. Sorry, I didn't get a picture of this.

Add the lining on top of those layers.

Now you can begin to pin on the ric rac ribbon.

Start at the bottom of the heart, like this, pinning every 2 inches.

Be sure to leave an opening to turn, I double pin to mark out where I don't want to sew.

Now sew around your heart. You will have to do this a little slow to be sure your layers are staying in place, that you're going through ALL the layers and your ribbon is going where you want it.

I left a 4 inch opening.

You can trim any extra bulk if you like, just don't cut the ribbon or too much fabric. Now turn your heart right side out.

Pin your opening closed, folding under your raw edges and lining up your ribbon the way you want it.

Now sew away. You can sew close to the edge like I did, or sew 1/2 inch in.

You are all done!

Your half heart provides a little pocket for your hand.

Isn't it cute? I'm such a sucker for a 'retro' look.

Enjoy your new pot holder!Have a great day!

I link up here!

How Much Spray Paint Do I Need?

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:56:00 +0000

Before I started delving into the wonderful world of spray paint, I always wondered, "how much am I going to need?" The paint can gives you an estimate of square footage or something or other.That was useless to me. When I'm thinking of what I'm painting, for example, two lamps or a picture frame, then a square footage doesn't help me out. Actually, there's some brands that don't even give you an estimate.

Anyways, so I thought I'd give you an example of what one spray paint can might do for you. Remember, this is just what I used. There are also some variables such as the conditions you are painting in (outside or inside), what you are painting (fabric, ceramic, wood, etc.), whether you primed prior to painting or not and, of course, what brand of spray paint. But that aside, this will give you a better estimate than square footage. Unless of course you are painting something large like a floor or a wall.
For use of a can of Rustoleum brand spray paint, like this:

{As you can see, there are many different brands. I use all of them, though I really do prefer Rustoleum coverage. Although, the Tremclad (which is oddly, owned by Rustoleum.. I think it's a Canadian brand of Rustoleum, but I honestly don't know) seems to go on thicker, therefore, less coats!Oh and the Krylon H20? Amazing stuff. Totally washable and more durable. Although, sadly, they don't have much for variety.}
I was able to paint all of this. Each item was primed thoroughly. Most of them only needed on good coat of paint.

Ceramic owl.

Plastic ornaments. Only 5 were painted the blue color.

Ceramic vase. On a side note, this vase was a $4 purchase, in an ugly purple shade that was chipped in numerous places. But it is a beautiful addition to my red and blue kitchen. I love it!

Ceramic vase. This one used a light coat because it was painted a light blue (which didn't look right), so it didn't need much of the bright blue. I then coated it with a glitter spray paint since I wanted it more festive for Christmas decorating.

Wood frame. This took up the last of the glorious bright blue. I love this blue.

Looking at the items painted now and it seems like it covered a lot. Again, that's not always the case.

My brass lamps? Almost 2 cans for 2 lamps.

I dislike painting brass. But the result does make it worth it.

So if you've never spray painted before, here are some staples. Primer and clear coat. Aside from the obvious of course: spray paint.

Other items I use: plastic gloves (not necessary, but makes clean up WAY easier)

dust masks (if the area is not well ventilated)

Also, don't fear the spray paint.

The before and after is always fun and inspires you to paint more!

Before:

Always prime!

After:

Before:

Now.. have I mentioned how much I love spray paint!?

My spray painted projects.

If you have any other inquiries about spray painting, just ask! I am NO professional, but I enjoy doing it and I do it a lot.
Have a good one!

I link up here!

Crafting With Bleach

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:16:00 +0000

Today I'm going to share some pretty cool projects that are used with bleach. Yep. Bleach.
I love the idea of using something household, like a cleaning product, to create something new!Here's a little round up of bleaching projects.Some using a bleach pen, others a spray bottle or other means of applying bleach. Check out these fabulous ideas and projects that are both easy and unique!
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Hope you are inspired!!Have a great day!

I link up here!

Dino Hoodies

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:57:00 +0000

I'm sure you've seen these around. They're called 'dino hoodies' or 'monster hoodies'.

My tween niece is really into them, too.

I haven't seen much in the toddler size though. Which is a bummer since I love to put something cute on my boys. So of course, I KNEW I had to make some of my own.

I came across these two sites that had a DIY version. At The Sasse Life and at Oh! Crafts.

So I made these for my boys. They actually opened them up at their birthday. And that was the only time I saw them NOT wearing them. HA!

They don't really let me take them off of them without a struggle. But they're so stinking cute in them that I don't mind.

I actually bought the hoodies a few months ago not knowing what I was going to do with them. The were $7 bucks a piece at Wal Mart, so I couldn't pass it up!

They had a weird stamped number on the fronts, though. Which I covered up with a quick felt circle decal. Pretty much just a circle sewed on with stitched lines criss crossing over it. It's kinda graphic and fun.

At least, that's what I was going for.

The spikes are felt too. Just check out the two sites above for the tutorial.

But trying to get a picture of them in their hoodies is another story. These were the best that I got!

Aren't they fun!? The hubby wants one now.

Thanks for stopping by!!

I link up here!

Free Printable Friday: Circus Party Invite

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:44:00 +0000

To finish off the week, I thought I'd share with you all the invitation for my boys' Circus party.I created it myself, again, because I was on a budget and knew I could make something fun myself.

I wanted it personal with their picture on the invitation. Also, they have such a love for balloons, so that was included and I used the fabric that we created for the dessert table backdrop for the backdrop for the boys little photo shoot.

The balloons came in handy to keep them still since I can't get them both in one place for a shot normally. And of course, the hubby was there to make them laugh!

So no printable invite for you all. But I found this one if you're at a loss!

(source)

And if you'd like to try to make your own like I did, here's some awesome Circus themed fonts to download! I love these!

(source)

Enjoy! Have a great weekend!

I link up here!

Circus Party Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:44:00 +0000

One of the best perks of the circus is the food, right? Well, I'm no pro at cooking or baking, but I came across some delicious recipes that I thought I'd share from our Circus party.

Sugar Cookies.

It's not a party without them, really.

I tried a new recipe this time. I found it at Brown Eyed Baker, with the recipe for the Royal Icing too. I'm not a great cookie decorator (as you can tell from the pictures), but they still tasted great!

The other recipe was for this incredible ice cream. We almost got rid of our ice cream maker this summer at a garage sale. Last minute, my husband told me to wait. So glad we did. We were able to mix up this Blackberry White Chocolate ice cream especially for the party! It was a hit!

I loved it, too. So rich and creamy and the perfect mix of sweet and fruity. Definitely will be making it again.

Only difference is we used white chocolate chips instead of cut up chunks.

We even had some left over for another day! Love that.

Thanks for stopping by!!

I link up here!

Circus Party Details and Printables

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:53:00 +0000

If you are wondering about some of the details about my Circus party, I`d love to fill you in! So today, I`m doing just that. As much as I can, that is.
I`d actually like to start with a few of the FAQ`s I`ve received.

How did you make your backdrop?I really wish I made a tutorial for this one. My husband built it, and I sewed the scalloped circus tent that covered it. Sorry, guys, no how to. We didn't know if it would even work until it was complete.

Where do you get those glass bottles?I've been asked this question ever since I did the Pinkalicious party for my daughter.I got this tip from my sister who blogs at Candy & Cake. Purchase the Starbucks Frappuccino glass bottles, drink them, remove label, wash them, done. I actually buy them at Costco because they have the 12 packs on sale every so often.

I didn't purchase any printables for the party. I try not to because ~~I'm cheap~~ I can usually make them myself.

As I did for this one. And I'm gonna share! Here's the printables for the labels I made.I created blank ones for you to fill in yourself, or pre-made ones.
Labels 1

Labels 2

And the photo booth printable:
Photo Booth

Lastly, the party hats. To make the party hats, I used this printable.

Enjoy the printables! Remember to come back tomorrow for the recipes.Have a wonderful Wednesday!!

I link up here!

Guest Posting At The 36th Avenue!

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:39:00 +0000

Hey everyone!Just wanted to let you all know that I'm guest posting over at The 36th Avenue today. Eeek.. I'm so excited to be there! Desiree is SO sweet and she has an awesome and inspiring blog!! Go check her out and me too, showing you how to make a sweet little girl's Valentine's skirt!

Have a terrific day! And remember to come back this week for details, recipes and DIY's for the Circus party!

The Circus Party

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:18:00 +0000

This weekend was the big event. My twin boys' 2nd birthday party! I can't believe they're 2 now.. it flew by even faster than their first year. I want to share some (or a lot!) pictures of the party with you. The boys had a lot of fun (especially since they have such a love for balloons) at our mini Circus-at-home! We went with the colors blue, yellow and red and had accents of other colors too, since the Circus is so bright and colorful!Anyways, enjoy! I will elaborate some more on the party details and DIY's later in the week.
I'll start off with the dessert table. The funnest and yummiest part of the party, am I right? Candy!You can't have a Circus party without candy.

The snacks on the table included freshly popped buttery flavored popcorn, shelled peanuts, jumbo candy dipped marshmallows (which we named 'Elephant Feet'), sugar cookies, Twizzlers licorice, M&M's, chocolate covered pretzels, homemade blackberry white chocolate ice cream (mmm...), big foot candies, lemonade and of course, the amazing Circus themed cake made by my oh-so-talented sister from Candy & Cake.

I created some bunting with clearance ticking fabric and leftover ribbon to adorn the front of the table.

The candy jars marked with labels designed and created by me.

The gorgeous cake. One layer was chocolate, the other was white cake, with orange buttercream. So good! And isn't it amazing! I can't seem to get it through to my sister how talented she is, so maybe you can check out her blog (and her cakes) and tell her yourself!!

We rented a tabletop popcorn machine that decorated the dessert table for next to nothing. Such a perfect prop that made some fresh and tasty popcorn.

After finding the backdrop fabric for a great deal during Halloween (used for costuming), I knew I had to create something to mimic a circus tent. And it turned out just how I hoped!

Homemade Blackberry White Chocolate ice cream. It was sooo good, will definitely be made again!

We rented a cotton candy machine (it was a must) to create fluffy blue clouds on sticks. The kids loved and it and even the adults enjoyed it!

Shelled peanuts. It's one of the first foods I think of when I think of the circus.

We did some face painting and temporary tattoos for when the kids first arrived.

The drinks table had extra cups, lemonade, coffee and more cotton candy.

Although I never did get any pictures of it, we served hot dogs and veggies and dip for supper.

The kids craft was decorating clown hats that they could wear and take home.

We decorated with helium filled balloons that scattered the ceilings and added this centerpiece in the livingroom area.

What's a circus without a little photo booth. I cut out the props with my Silhouette, then glued them to wood dowels. Props included different mustaches, a bow tie, star shaped glasses, and big lips. There was also a fluffy boa, clown noses and a clown wig.

The backdrop was also clearance fabric that just happened to work perfectly with the colors and theme!

I made the framed photo booth sign by spray painting an old frame and printed this out.. stay tuned for the printable!

My daughter loved the photo booth best!

My birthday boys! It was so hard to have them sit still for a picture or two, so I didn't get many of them, unfortunately.

My hubby joined in the fun, too!

And me.

We played a fishing pond game (I was going to do a duck pond, but had such a hard time finding ducks at a reasonable price.. so odd.), I just used baby food jar lids with foam fish glued to the tops and with a handmade magnetic fishing rod, they were able to capture their fish!

And the kids also played a bean bag toss game. We made our own board and painted it and I whipped up some coordinating bean bags, too.

Lastly, the goody bags. I found them at Michael's for 50 cents each and attached a clown nose to the top of each one.

The goody bags consisted of a box of Lucky Elephant popcorn, Circus paint sheets, a bouncy ball, animal ball and paddle toy, and a lollipop!

So that was it! I hope you are inspired to do your own circus party (since it was crazy fun to plan) and come back to check out some of the extras to do with the party.Thanks for stopping by!

I link up here !

Free Printable Friday: Preparing a Circus Party

noreply@blogger.com (Vixen) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:12:00 +0000

I don't have too much today, because I am busy, busy, busy with the circus in town tomorrow afternoon. My twin boys, who just turned 2, are celebrating it with a Circus theme. Clowns, bright colors, cotton candy.. it'll be a blast!
Here's a few sneak peeks...

But I won't leave you hanging. Since the theme is the Circus, here are some cute free printables I found! Enjoy!
Smitten Blog Designs
One Charming Party
Have a fabulous weekend!!

I link up here!