(iCandy) labeled canisters

I guess I'm nesting!

I haven't sewn one single thing for my new baby that is coming April 2nd...{that date is looming over me, mind you...I better get my booty in gear!}

But, I have been organizing drawers and tubs, re-arranging rooms, scheming, and painting random little things that have been on my to-do list for what seems like forever!

So, I thought I'd share my last little project, on which, I have a crush.

my labeled canisters.

 I've slowly been collecting these OXO air-tight containers for months...pretty much I bought one a month because I felt like it wasn't a necessity.  (I totally had enough canisters, they just didn't happen to match, and it really bugged me)

Anyways, I finally have a complete set that fit perfectly on my shelf in my kitchen.  and while I could have just busted out my good old labeler, I wanted these to be suuuuper cute. 

(yes, I ran out of vinyl before I could finish spaghetti! dang!)

and i have a crush!

(Cricut Cartridge font Sans Serif, 2 inch letters...3 inch paranthesis, using white vinyl)

(tutorial) Chair-Back Valentine Envelope Knock-off (PBK)

A couple of years ago, I made some PBkids knock-off chair-back Valentine envelopes for my 2 kids.  

Pottery Barn's are way smaller, and are lined with cotton fabric, but otherwise, they are pretty close.

Every day, for the first 14 days of february, I'd stash a little something inside the envelope: ingredients for a recipe, or supplies for a craft, a bag of fruit snacks, or whatever... and then on Valentines day, they each get a book, and some other random treat to make them smile.  

So, this year, I thought I'd post a tutorial on how I made my envelopes...I was making one for my new kiddo-to-be, anyway!  It's a super simple project, and we've loved them over the last couple of years!

I hope you enjoy!

(eyeCandy) Valentine's Bingo Games

Wouldn't these be the coolest Valentines to give out? 

Might be a bit pricey to make a set for each child in class, but how fun!  

I might just do it...

Go here for the free printable!

(guest blogging) {girly} Racer Tunic

Today I am posting over at 

Me Sew Crazy's 

Series:

Come on over!

(iCandy) 'duct'orated Razors

My niece, Sydney has been using these fun and fancy duct tapes to make us pen flowers for the last several months.  The flowers are really cute, and she's 9 and does a pretty good job.  It did get me to thinking to myself: what on earth are all these fun duct tapes for?  why on earth are they everywhere?

 I bet there are books on what to do with it.  I've heard of people making wallets with duct tape, etc, belts, probably...fun, right?  Well, we don't have a fancy duct tape book to tell us what to do with them, but I do have a fancy neighbor and bestie that let her kids decorate their razor scooters with duct tape, and Max has been BEGGING me to buy him some duct tape so he could decorate his razor.  

...begging...

it's actually been pretty handy...we live in a small are with a ton of kids, all of which have razors, that all happen to look the same.  So how do you tell everyone's apart?  I wrote Max's name on the bottom when we first got it, but that means my big-fat-pregnant self has to bend over and pick up the thing to see who's razor it is...times 5.  

Not doing that anymore!

Now we can tell at a glance, from afar, who's scootin' on who's, and who left theirs out!

awesome.

 So, Max had a fun time designing where which color would go, and what parts would look like.  and then deciding where to tag it with the fun decals that Jillonnie gave him.  (that's my genius friend)

and it's duct tape, for heaven's sake...it's rough and tough, so it won't just wear off real fast...and if it does, whatever, we'll peel of a patch and replace it!  

what do you do with the fun and fancy duct tapes?

(Giveaway) Fancy Nancy Dress

So I have another "Tomorrow Never Comes" giveaway for you today.  

I made this for Emily last year, in honor of 

No Big Dill's 

Once Upon A Thread Series.  

She wore it for the photo shoot and then never wore it again.

(though she did promise to wear it...ha!)

Click here to see more photos/the original post.

It is a bit fancy, and might not be everyone's favorite...

but I like it and thought 

that maybe, 

just maybe, 

there is a little girl out there 

who would love to be fancy in it.

**It would fit a 3-4 year old.**

To enter this giveaway, you can do one or both of these things:

1. Be an iCandy follower

2. Follow us on Facebook

Just leave a comment (for each) letting us know! 

(You can leave up to 2 comments for 2 entries)

eye(Candy) Valentines Pencils

i loved this idea for valentines gifts from Scrap Matters!

So, Now I'm on the hunt for what to do for my kiddos class and friends for Valentines day!  What are your plans for your kids classroom Valentines?

(tutorial) My Favorite Tee Dress

I am slowly but surely making a dent into my striped fabric.  

I have this dark navy and oatmeal wide striped piece that I hadn't used any of, and decided it would make a cute dress.  So I got to work:

I have to admit, it turned out better than I thought it was going to.  Originally I planned to make it a little looser and have an elasticated/shirred waistline but it came out a bit more fitted, so that was unnecessary! 

I think it is more flattering this way. (Unless you are super skinny...)

The best part?  IT WAS SO EASY!

It is just a quick pattern using your favorite tee, with 4 seams and hemming.

The hemming was magically easy, because I used this technique!

The hardest part was dealing with the stripes.

**Linked up here**

(tutorial) i {heart} u blocks

 It seems crazy to me that Valentines decorations are on my mind, but they are, and the decs are all over the stores to ground the crazy of it!  So, I was trying to think of a simple and quick little v-day craft that I could do with stuff I had on hand!  I sort of can't wait to February 1st to set up some of my new Valentine's decorations!

Want to make some i {heart} u blocks?

(iCandy) getting organized!

I'm so excited!

we recently moved from a teeny 2 bedroom house to a bigger 3 bedroom apartment.  The best part about moving into our new 3 bedroom place is that our 'master' bedroom is huge!  We've never experienced a room so huge just for us, so, we switched out our big computer desk to be my 'craft desk' and took my little sewing desk and turned it into the computer desk (that lives out in the living room).

Anyway, even with our ginormous L-shaped desk in our bedroom, our King-sized bed, dresser, nightstands etc, we still had a big ole blank wall of nothing.  

You can imagine that by living a in a 2-bedroom place, we didn't have room for a 'craft room', or really even much of a craft area, so, for 4 years (ish) my supplies have been stuffed under my bed in tubs, out in the garage in drawers, etc.  

Not Anymore!

I've been sort of looking for a cute old china hutch to redo to store all of my craft stuff (like Lolly Jane has).  But with no such china hutches showing up on the streets near our house (where I find most of my random stuff) I decided that an IKEA shelf was a great option, so we got one! 

So, I emptied out the craft supplies from out in the garage, and got rid of the broken sterilite drawer systems that was storing my stuff, AND pulled all of my craft stuff out of my closet and out from under my bed.  It's so fun to have a one-stop shop, all organized for me to go to grab the things I need for any project!

Anyway, I just thought I'd fill you in on what I've been doing this week: filling tubs & re-organizing stuff!  I'm totally not done...and after I fill all of the holes, I have plans to make labels on each bin and clothespin them on (that's why there's a clothespin on the 'paint' bin.  

I'll update you when I'm done!  

I know not everyone is able to have a super cute and organized room just devoted to crafting/sewing...I'm jealous of those of you who do, but for those of you who have to just find space,

 how do you organize your craft & sewing stuff?  

(eyeCandy) pinafores & pinwheels

This week I was browsing the Project Run & Play Sew-along Flickr Group 

and came across this adorable pattern remix from

pinafores & pinwheels!

Go take a look at this cute blog for more pictures!

(Sponsor Shout Out) Handmade Lane

One thing in my wardrobe that definitely needs improving, is my jewelry collection.  I love fun statement necklaces, but I am a bit picky so ones I like aren't easy to find. 

Handmade Lane, one of our wonderful sponsors, has just begun to add jewelry to their shop.  Their newest addition is this super simple, classy necklace, which would be a perfect addition to so many outfits!

The shop is full of other cute accessories and handmade items, so go check them out!

(tutorial) Layer Cake Skirt

This year, I really am trying to focus on wardrobe needs.  

Emily fluctuates between wanting to dress "fancy" for school (she has a fancy friend there...) 

and wanting to just wear jeans/leggings and t-shirts.  

So this week, I made her some practical charcoal gray leggings using the Izzy & Ivy pattern, 

(they turned out awesome!) 

and came up with this (fancy-ish) skirt!

It is a double layered confection...I used a solid and a striped jersey from my stash.  

Emily helped pick out the color combination.

The design is loosely based on my Ice Cream Social Skirt, but this version is only a half-circle skirt.

Two layers of scallop trim at the hem were the icing on the cake, and finished it off perfectly!  

**Linked up here**

(Izzy and Ivy and Create HOPE designs) And the Winner is...

According to random integer generator:

#8 Alice S!

Alice, please contact us so we can get you this awesome pattern booklet...

get excited!

(tutorial) Wet Wipe Clutch

About 3 1/2 years ago, our family moved to California from Arizona.  I miss a bunch of things about Arizona that California just doesn't have...good fabric stores and quilt shops, and most especially, 2 stores: SAS Fabrics and Ribbons and Lace (a store chock full of ribbon, elastic trim for baby headbands and flower galore.  Lucky me, though, my in-laws still live in AZ and way back when, I bought the ingredients I would need to make a Wet Wipe Clutch, as seen as Ribbons and Lace. {and just got around to making it...grr}

 I had never seen a wipe case like it (though I've seen my fair share of cute wipe cases) and I haven't seen one anywhere since then.  So, for all of you crafters out there that don't live in AZ, and don't have the opportunity to go to Ribbons and Lace, I thought I'd document how I made their Wet Wipe Clutch with a pseudo tutorial.  

Oh, and ps...they do have an online store (which is new-ish...at least to me) so you can get all of your stuff in one easy spot...and, they do sell them already made in a bunch of super cute colors.  {click here}

but if you're a do-it-yourself kinda girl, here's what I did to make mine:

(tutorial) Petal Dress (Finally!)

After many requests...

It is finally here.

The tutorial for the Petal Dress 

we made for Project Run & Play last fall.

So this tutorial is a little bare bones...I pulled up the pics I took as I made it, and there aren't tons.  I also improvised as I went along, and I remember being in a HUGE hurry to finish for the deadline.  So there may be better ways to do things than I did.  So here goes!

(eye) candy: Tips and Tricks from 'In this Crazy Life"

check out In This Crazy Life's blog and all of her crazy tips and tricks...I've tried a few before, but there are for sure some new ones for all of us!

Check out their blog!

(tutorial) Lace Edged Scarf

So this Christmas, Santa (ok, me) brought several people handmade scarves.  I LOVE scarves right now.

I made several infinity scarves for people, and I thought I would try a new idea, inspired (of course!) by something I saw on Pinterest.

The Lace Edged Scarf:

Here's the inspiration, which is probably cashmere and Venetian lace:

(mine isn't that fancy)

Anyway, I really liked how they turned out.  I used a nice quality knit jersey for the red one, and the grey is a ribbed sweater knit.  The lace is stretch lace with a scalloped edge.

Want to make one?

(review and giveaway) create H.O.P.E. designs

When I was in Seattle over the summer, visiting my parents, I picked up a pattern from my mom's local craft store made by the cute designers at Izzy and Ivy Designs.  

The Pattern was called Sweet Polly's playclothes, and I immediately snatched it up because of those to-die-for ruffle leggings on the front cover.   see 'em?

And ever since then, I have been on a leggings blitz!

I've made a couple of pairs of ruffle leggings for my daughter, Ivy, and I can't stand how stinkin' cute they are.  I also made some for my nieces, whose mom's were kind enough to send me some cute pics of them rockin' them.  Aren't they darling?!?

BUT I couldn't stop with just the ruffle legging's, their 'skinny leggings' pattern is perfect for knit fabrics, and we've been on the hunt for some darling knit stripes around here (Jen and I are both obsessed with striped knit!)  Anyways, remember these leggings from our Project Run and Play (Roxy Redo) Challenge?  I made them with this pattern.

 oh, and I have plans for more...obsessed much?

I love them! (especially the leopard ones on the far right)

Anyways, Sweet Polly's Playclothes has patterns from size 1 to size 14 (like a 1 year old up until size 14)

AND doesn't only have leggings patterns buried inside, but ruffle tanks, cardigans, flare pants, etc...seriously, this has become my favorite little pattern booklet, and I am super excited to share it with some lucky reader this week!

But before we talk more about Izzy and Ivy Designs, I wanted to tell you a little something about them...

Have you ever heard of Create H.O.P.E Designs?

  When I contacted the girls at Izzy and Ivy telling them how much I loved their playclothes pattern book, they introduced me to this amazing charity that they are dedicating their whole hearts to!  This is a group of designers that desired to make a difference with their talents.  They design PDF downloadable patterns (so they can operate 100% overhead free) and 100% of the funds generated benefit designated foundations serving orphans and their communities.

Please visit their big cartel shop and their website for more information and to peruse their adorable selection of patterns!

They have darling patterns to choose from, each benefiting children around the world.  I was lucky enough to be able to try out one of these patterns: Lucy's Little Flower Tunic and Dress. 

oh my.

My Ivy wore her new little dress to church on Sunday, and i thought she was so stinkin' cute.  They pattern was simple, but original.  I love the rolled-hem sleeves and neckline, and with just a little bit of a ruffled bottom, it's the most darling little dress...and it'll fit her for a while, as it'll just turn into a little summery top when winter blows over.  I'm in love.  The directions were fabulous (believe me, I need straightforward and simple directions to function without help)  I can't wait to make a couple of more of these for Ivy to wear in different colors.  Isn't it darling?!

So, while I'd love to tell you we were giving away one of the dress patterns, as it's a fav,  but giving one of those patterns away would be one less child that Create HOPE designs could benefit.  So, if you're interested in this dress, the pattern is here!

HOWEVER, Izzy and Ivy (who are whole-heartedly involved with Create HOPE designs has generously offered to giveaway my favorite pattern booklet like I mentioned before...seriously get excited for Sweet Polly's Playclothes!

leggings, cardi's and tanks, oh my.

to enter to win this book of patterns, all you have to do is:

-go visit the Create H.O.P.E. designs etsy shop, peruse their catalogue of patterns, and come back and leave us a comment telling us which one is your favorite! 

Please also make sure you're a follower of iCandy {or you won't know if you win...)

that's it...ready set go!

we'll announce the winner Next Monday!

New Years Resolutions

Source: Pinterest

I love the beginning of a new year. 

It is a chance for a fresh slate, a time to make goals and review last years goals; 

what we were able to accomplish, and what we can improve upon.

Source: Pinterest

Source: Pinterest

This year, I am sharing my 2012 goals with you, 

and hopefully by making them public, I am more likely to accomplish them!!

Well, here they are, in no particular order:

1. Have a better work/family balance.  
      *  Quality time with both children every day
      *  Quality time with husband at least 2 nights a week
2. Improve (drastically) my time-management skills.
      *  Reduce procrastination! (and therefore stress)
      *  Wake up earlier
      *  Less internet browsing
      *  Consistency
3. New Exercise Plan (and eat healthier!)
      *  Build up to running 5 miles (2-3 times a week)
      *  At least 2 events (Ragnar, etc.)
      *  Weight Train or Pilates (2-3 times a week)
4. Create multi-sized children's patterns and open a shop
    *  Overcome intimidation! and just get started.
5. Sew (more consistently) wardrobe needs
      *  Write list of needs and get started sewing.

What are your New Year's Resolutions?? 

Please share!