(tutorial and pattern) Summer Knit Cardigan

I love cardigans.  I have quite a few.  

And I could use some more.  

I decided that I would combine three of my favorite cardigans into one 

perfect lightweight cardigan for summer. 

So, earlier this week, I got busy making the pattern.  

Yesterday I sewed it up.  

Well... I made it too small! 

As my arms looked like stuffed sausages in the sleeves, I thought to myself, 

'Who is super skinny that would like this?'

I immediately thought of my good friend's daughter, Taylor.  

She is 12 years old and super cute and stylish, 

and I knew she would love the cardi and have fun modeling it for me.  

 How cute is she???

 She was so much fun to take pictures of!

 I love how lightweight it is, and the style is just what I wanted.  Just need it bigger.

Did I mention that this is a super easy, quick project? 

 It only took me about 2 hours to make. Love that!

So, if you are teeny-tiny,
here is a Size Small pattern (Scribd) or here (Google Docs)
just for you!  

Update: 
I made one for me! See it here.

Here is the size Medium pattern (Scribd) or here (Google Docs)

Want to make one?

(iCandy) Summer's Comin' Maxi DRESS

Remember this skirt?  My Summer's Comin' Maxi Skirt that I used the Elle Apparel tut for...

{click here} for more info.

well, I wasn't going to save my scraps because I had some diagonal cuts and it seemed like there was not much that I'd be able to do with what I had left.  Well, I had such a crush on it, I just couldn't part with the scraps...

...and it's a good thing I didn't.  I all of a sudden thought that I just might have enough for a little dress for Ives

 I cut the width to be about 1 1/2 her width.   I shirred the top, which is so fun to do and then added a little extra ruffle at the bottom to give it a little extra zip (I hardly had enough to make much of a ruffle, but i love that it gives it a little extra something.)

and, unfortunately, I threw the rest of the scraps away...I used that cut to the fullest!

(tutorial and pattern) Layers of Sunshine Dress

Scramble.

That's what my life has been like lately.  So busy.

We are starting the adoption process again, and are in the paperwork stage.  It is NEVER-ENDING.

I guess I understand why, but holy cow, it is so overwhelming how much there is to do to get approved.

I also just became bookkeeper for my husbands new(ish) business and we had a ton to sort out this past week.

Combine that with regular mom duties, this blog, and my other online business (Online Notary Institute) 

I am one busy girl. Staying up way too late every night trying to get it all done.

Typing this out feels scary...

But somehow, it works out.  Most of the time.  

Except last week, my weekly project just didn't get done. It was bound to happen sometime and I am trying so hard to get back on track!  

So here it is today instead. 

I finished it up late late Sat night and had one happy girl who got to wear it to church yesterday.  

She just loves ruffles so much! It is so funny.

The fabric I used for this dress was so fun! To look at, that is.  To sew on, not so much.  It stretches in all directions and drove me a bit crazy.  Also while sewing this dress, I decided that as much as Emily appreciates ruffles, I do not enjoy sewing them on.  Shame on me.  

On the bright side, this dress brings me a bit of sunshine just looking at it.  So fun.

Want to brave the ruffles and make one?

You can either download the size 5T pattern here or make your own!

(Sponsor Spotlight & Giveaway!) Raspberry Creek {2 Year Sale}

Guess who's turning 2?

One of our very first sponsor's, Raspberry Creek is turning 2 this week, and to celebrate, they are offering iCandy readers 20% off!

(runs now through Saturday, June 2nd)

just enter 2YEARS at check out!

Raspberry Creek always has fun and new prints from the outstanding designers like Riley Blake, Michael Miller, and Robert Kaufman (among others)

here are a few of my fav's from perusing just this morning:

Purple and Orange Chevron from Dress Up Days for Riley Blake

 Pink and Raspberry Polka Dots for Children at Play Meadow By Sarah Jane for Michael Miller

 Green and Blue Argyle by Zoe Pearn for Riley Blake

 Brown and White Chevron Cotton by Riley Blake

and now for the

giveaway!

Raspberry Creek Fabrics is offering 5 yards {holy cow!} of the new Riley Blake line:

Dress Up Days

Here's what you have to do to be the winner:

-Go check out Raspberry Creek's awesome Dress Up Days stash, and come back and tell us what you'd pick if you were the winner!

that's it!

Good Luck!

and thanks to Raspberry Creek for hosting this fabulous giveaway!

(Giveaway) Sassy Steals

Today we are excited to tell you about a 

cute website we have discovered called Sassy Steals.

Tori, a young mother of two, just started this new venture a few months ago

and is giving away a sampler of items from the site to one of our readers.

Sassy Steals brings you daily boutique deals and daily handmade deals right to your email inbox! Or you can just visit the website to see the deals every day.

Here is a sample of the types of items you can get amazing deals on:

Boy Rocker Ties

Ruffle Lace Rompers

Flower Footlets

Today, Tori is giving away a sampler pack of three fun items...

Purse Necklace

Summer Scarf

Ruffled Baby Shoes


***********************************
To enter the giveaway for this fun sampler, you 
must be an iCandy follower and 
do any of the following:

1. Like Sassy Steals on Facebook and leave us a comment.

2. Follow Sassy Steals on Twitter and leave us a comment.

3. Go to the Sassy Steals website and leave us a comment about what you would like to steal.

You can have up to 3 entries!

(Ellie Bellie Designs) And the winner is...

The winner of this adorable baby hat/photography prop

from 

Ellie Bellie Designs

is

ChelleMay 14, 2012 9:49 PM

Yes-Siree indeedy!! I left some LOVE on Ellie Bellie Designs FB!!! Thanks so much for the hook up!!! 

Chelle,

Contact us within 48 hours to claim your prize!

(iCandy and tutorial) Cupboard Birthday Countdown

So, I'm about to leave my 20's behind.  30 seems sooo much older than 29, right? But any birthday is just an excuse to celebrate, so I broke out yet another cupboard door to help our family countdown to our birthdays...I've got 3 days and counting until I'm no longer 20-something.

This is a pretty easy project to do and you can probably figure it out on your own, but even still, I did lay out a simple tut, just in case.

  I was trying to concoct a fun project to do with these long skinny cupboard doors that I had in the garage...this project seemed the perfect fit, but you could use any size board or cupboard door for this one!

(giveaway) Brookeshore Designer Stationary

We are so excited to share with you a new etsy shop dreamed up by our friend Brooke!

Brookeshore Designer Stationary is a fresh, fun style of design that adds a uniqueness, beauty and chic modern touch to the traditional note card.  Based out of Huntington Beach, California, this little stationary shop focuses on bright, modern designs for note cards, invitations, and custom designs.  The bold patterns and fresh colors just remind us of summers spent at the beach.!

I took one look at these bright and fun designs, and couldn't wait to order me a couple of sets.

Check out some of my fav's.  

 All note cards are designed and printed by Brooke.  These handmade cards make special gifts or the perfect stationary to add to your own personal collection.  All of Brooke's note cards can be personalized upon request.

Check out her website for the full collection!

and now for the giveaway...

Brooke has offered to giveaway a set of YOUR choice of cards...and get excited, they are even better in person!  They're so pretty, I'm almost afraid to use mine, and I'm hoarding them aside just so I can keep looking at them.  really.

So, if you want to win a set of your favorites, here's what you have to do!

-go check out Brookeshore's etsy shop, pick out your favorites, and then come back and tell us what you chose

-like Brookeshore on Facebook...and come back and tell us you did it!

that's it...you get a total of 2 entries per person, and make sure to leave us your email address so we can contact you when you win!

have a great week, and good luck!

(eyeCandy) Knit Pillowcase Nightgowns

I have had nightgowns on the mind lately... Emily needs some more. 

She has these, but when I get behind on laundry, (which is often)

it is a problem because she doesn't want to wear anything else. 

Anyway, I just saw these
knit pillowcase nightgowns this week. 

Here is the tutorial at Everyday Chaos. 

 Gorgeous. 

 As all you long-time followers know, I have loads of knit in my stash. 

 Begging to be used up. 

 Don't these look SO comfy? And pretty? 

Now they just need to get MADE.

(tutorial and pattern) The Perfect Fitted Cap Sleeve Tee

A couple of weeks ago, when getting ready for this photoshoot, I needed the perfect tee.  Something fitted to go with the full skirt, with minimal cap sleeves and a scoop neckline.

I didn't have that perfect top.  I have a Shade Clothing tee, but the neckline is too high, and I feel like it is not flattering at all.  I also have a couple of Layers Clothing tees, but I don't have white.  I really like the fit and cut of the Layers ones, but they are no longer in business.

After the photoshoot, which were skirt-only pictures, I decided to make my own 

Perfect Fitted Cap Sleeve Tee.  

I used a Layers tee (size M) as a guide and slightly modified it 

(shortened the sleeve just a tiny bit, and added a band to the neckline).  

I am SO happy with the way it turned out.

Here is the free pattern (Scribd) or here (Google Docs) you can download.  Hand-drawn, sorry!

Print with no page scaling.

It is a size Medium.

(I just realized I forgot to include a 1" scaling box, 

but if you measure between the arrows on the fold symbol, it is 1 1/4")

(Oh Baby Baby Boutique) And the winner is...

The winner of the item of choice from 

Oh Baby Baby Boutique 

is

Jesica and Chris FowlerMay 2, 2012 12:33 PM

OH PLEASE LET ME WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My favorite shop ever!!! I already liked her on Facebook!

Jessica, contact us within 48 hours to claim your prize!

(mini-tut) Ann's ABC Frame

A year or so ago, I saw this pillow on NieNie's blog.

(her Homemade Christmas 2010)

I loved it, but I think I have an obsession with pillows, and just have too many around this place, so I decided to make it into a wall-hanging for my kids' room.  It's a good thing I did, because it turned out way bigger than a pillow should have been! 

I did post it on another personal blog of mine, back when I first made it, but recently, a friend of mine asked me if I'd make one for her.  She was redecorating her playroom, and wanted one that would go with her color scheme, which was red, turquoise with some yellow and green accents here and there. 

 The red sort of stood out a little too much compared to the other more mild colors (I love red and turquoise together, by the way, just my felt selection must have been lacking) so I decided that I'd only use the red to highlight the first letters in her two kids' names: Logan and Taylor.  I thought it was fun to put an emphasis on those two letters and make them stand out, to give it a little extra meaning to their family.  

 I love how it turned out (wish I could see it hanging up in her playroom myself, but she stinkin' lives in TX!)

If you want to make one of your own, here's what I did

(giveaway) ellie bellie designs

I am really really excited for our giveaway today!
Recently, my husband had a business meeting with the husband of
Lisa, the HUGELY talented lady behind

Somehow, the topic of wives and crafting came up, and the rest is history.  

And so now I have a new friend who makes and sells the most adorable baby hats you can possibly imagine.

Perfect for a newborn shoot, or just for your baby to wear!  

Or for that perfect baby gift.

Prepare to Oooohhh and Aaaaahhhhh.....

 

Are you drooling? Amazing, huh.

OK...Here is what she is giving away to one lucky iCandy follower:

I can't stand how cute it is!

So if you want to win this adorable little hat...

You must be an iCandy follower and do one or both of the following.
You can have up to two entries.

1. Like Ellie Bellie Designs on Facebook (Leave a comment here telling us you did)
2. Go to Ellie Bellie shop and choose your favorite! (Leave a comment telling us what you love!)