This time I just didn’t have time to make a full princess dress, who does when the kids are little? So last minute I used a plain tutu dress that actually has paint stains I couldn’t get out on it! Don’t worry, they get covered up!
Then I ordered a special mermaid appliqué with the number 5 for my daughters birthday off of Etsy. I also had some leftover sequin fabric I wanted to add to the dress.
I used the sequin fabric and sewed it all
Around the bottom inner layer of the dress. Then I added the patch and wow what a difference with that easy change! I was going to add some puff sleeves but the weather was warm so I ended up keeping it sleeveless.
Purchased an assortment of gem heart stickers and used fabric stitch glue to place them on the dress!
This can be done easily and quickly and you have a birthday dress! You can add sleeves, bows, a sash or belt!
My daughter loves painting! However, she was growing tired of painting paper. So this year, we made cookie cutter Easter shapes! Actually, we had a duck and used a half of a plastic egg as a cutout. I also used a knife to create bunny faces and baskets.
First things first, you have to make the salt dough! This is super simple. all you need is salt, flour, and warm water. You can knead the dough by hand, or use a mixer with the kneading attachment like I did.
So here is the recipe I used:
*this made a lot more than I expected! So you may want to make only half!
•4 cups all purpose flour
•1 cup salt
•1 3/4 cup warm water (add more of its too dry)
Combine the ingredients and knead for about 6 minutes. If it’s not forming into a nice soft ball add more water (or if it’s too sticky add more flour).
Then it’s time to roll out the dough! Just like you would for sugar cookies! Beware, your child may think you are making cookies! My 19 month old just kept pointing yelling cook-ies!
This is a great activity for your toddler to help you with. Next, get out your cookie cutters or Easter shapes and start making those eggs! I used a half of an Easter egg that opened sideways, a duck mold, and then made a couple baskets and bunny heads using a knife. **one thing I forgot to do was to use a straw to make a hole on the top of the eggs for the string to go through. So I ended up hot glue gunning ribbon.
Put your oven on 200 degrees. Place your salt doughs on a cookie sheet and place them in the oven for 2 hours (depending on the thickness you may need a little less or a little more). Once they are done they should be rock hard.
Then the fun, painting time! We used a combination of acrylic paint (which is best but hardest to come off and not non toxic) and water proof fingerprint. My son attempted to paint and did decent for his age, but when he kept trying to eat the painted cookies we had to end the painting time.
my daughter likes to squirt the paint in an old egg carton that way the colors stay separated.
Once we finished painting she sprinkled on some glitter. Unfortunately we don’t have any mod podge or clear finish to put on top right now, but we still love them!
If you have any clear finish or modge podge this is the time to coat it in that for a nice shiny finish!
Since we forgot to make the holes for the ribbon, I used the hot glue gun to attach the ribbons. Then we hung them around the house (high enough that my son couldn’t reach these “cookies.”
Hello! Guest writer here! I am the blog founder’s twin sister, Jessie, and I’m here to share my decorations and ideas from my little girl Madison’s first birthday party. You can use these decoration ideas for anything from baby showers, birthday parties, to graduation parties depending on what your theme is. If your theme involves stars, pink, or gold then you are in luck!
The dessert table before the desserts!
Let’s first start with the pink and gold theme. All of the tablecloths, plates, napkins, and containers are from Walmart. I wanted a good deal, but also wanted it to look good and found the best deals there. Michaels was another store I frequented for ideas and supplies. All of the numbers, letters, and banner supplies were purchased there.
Okay, before we dive too deep into how each decoration was made, let’s check out some pictures!
The birthday girl’s chair!
All of the banner pennants in this article were purchased from Michaels. The letters on all of the banners are stick on letters from Michaels too. However, they don’t stay on the thick fabric of the pennants so need to be glued on. I used a hole puncher to make 2 holes at the top of each pennant and put string through them. I purchased some glitter foam sheets from Walmart to make the stars and used a cookie cutter to trace them.
The happy birthday banner hanging above the food table.
Again, I used the materials I purchased to make this banner and it was fairly easy because everything was cut out besides the stars. This banner was definitely worth the time to put it together, it was super cute and personalized to her party. I moved the pictures that were originally above the banner and replaced them with picture frames of Madison.
Balloons were purchased at the dollar store. I used the cork board from the kitchen to put pictures of her from the first year-a simple and affordable decoration. The 12 month banner was also made from the pennants. I simply traced the star cookie cutter and cut out stars instead of using the pennant shape. If you don’t have a cookie cutter you could print out a star from a computer and trace it! I found little pink clothespins at Michaels and hot glued them to the stars so the pictures could be added below the banner. This could also be a cute idea for other types of parties. You could write someone’s name and have pictures of them beneath it or for graduation with pictures from each school year. The options are endless!
Again, I cut out stars and added the stick on letters with glue. These stars were cut from glitter foam paper.Stars, stars, everywhere!
I made the twinkle banner, the stars hanging from the chandelier and the star wands on the table that I used as party favors and a centerpiece. For the stars hanging from the light, I cut out stars from the foam paper and attached it to felt pink cloth I had. I cut the outline of the pink cloth around the gold star so it looks like an outline for the stars.
As for the wands, I purchased gold straws from Michaels and they were very sturdy made from cardboard and didn’t bend. I decided to use the foam paper to cut out two stars and stick them together around the top of the straw. I also included 2 cut pieces of ribbon on the wand. I put one on each side of the star and pushed the stars together (they have sticky backs, but you could easily glue them). They were a hit!
Yum! I made chocolate covered pretzels with pink chocolate melts and gold sprinkles. I also made the sugar cookies with star and number one cookie cutters!No, I didn’t make this beautiful cake. However, I thought the stars sticking out of the top were so cute and easy to make! They simply used some wire and cut out stars they hot glued to the wire! Pictures, pictures, everywhere! Super cheap decoration-pictures on string! I used pink string and taped the pictures. For a twinkle twinkle theme you could also use string lights around the house for decorations!A giant number one made with pictures!
There are great tutorials online about making the number one with pictures for your baby’s first birthday. Most people recommend using cardboard from a large appliance box. I didn’t have any available, so used regular printer paper. I simply cut pictures and fit them on the paper with glue, then laminated the paper. I am a teacher so I happen to have a small scotch laminator at home that worked perfectly. I lined up all the papers to make the number one and adhered it to the wall with tape!
You might be wondering about her outfit and this wonderful sign. I’m sorry to tell you that I didn’t make them. A local woman made them both for me. My sister (aka the blog writer) made her beautiful dress and headband. Hopefully there will be a post on that coming up soon! Yes, Madison wanted the cake.
If you are a very busy person with many kids, making all of these decorations might be too time consuming. However, even making a small amount of them is very rewarding. It not only adds a personal touch, but can be used as a keepsake or for future parties!
Thank you for visiting this blog and YOU can make these decorations too with a little time and effort!
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My daughter has recently developed an interest in princesses and playing dress up. I decided to take on the challenge of sewing a princess dress. I’ve made many dresses, including the princess-like 1st birthday dress, but I wanted to make something different, so I did some research and then bought fabric I thought she would love, and designed a dress. I made several adjustments during the process and added embellishments.
Since I did this all during the process of making it, I decided to take pictures instead of video like I usually do.
There is no pattern for this since I designed the dress as I went. I used one of her regular party dress to eyeball the correct sizing for a 3t dress. (This is what you can do too!)
So below are pictures and some steps. If you want to design a similar one just use a dress to get an idea of the sizing. I don’t work with a lot of tulle sewing, so it didn’t turn out the best, but I’m proud of the end results, and she loves it too!
So I first made the front and two back pieces. You can copy these shapes from the picture and use a dress for sizing.
I ended up making another three pieces (another front and two back pieces) and using it as the inside of the dress. So I took pattern facing pattern for the front piece and left a 3 inch space to pull it right side out. Then I sewed this shut and ironed it all. I also used sparkly elastic and pinned it in between the pattern facing pattern (this is what I should have done but forgot and ended up just sewing it to the top).
I also added a tulle happy birthday and two pieces of silver design on the front. You can add or not add as many embellishments as you want.
Next, I used interfacing ironed on both back pieces and then used white hair ties cut in half. I pinned the half hair ties facing inwards in between the pattern facing pattern pieces then sewed all the way around except a 3 inch area and pulled it right side out and sewed then ironed it.
Following that, I placed the two back pieces on the front pattern piece and sewed the sides and then folded them back to have the top finished.
I then measured the skirt by measuring from the top down to the right length for my daughter with a measuring tape. I used the soft fabric of the top for the under-skirt and then cut happy birthday tulle and tulle for the skirt. i made the white tulle width three times the width length since I will gather it to make the skirt more “poofy.” I then gathered the tulle using the easy method of dental floss, on top of the soft under skirt. With this method, you use a large zigzag over the floss and then at the end you pull the floss out and it is gathered!
Next I decided to use the happy birthday tulle and sewed it on as well. Then, I put the layers together and I put pattern facing pattern and sewed it all together.
I ended up sewing on a bead embellishments on ribbon in between the top and bottom.
I decided it was time for the classic romper tutorial to come out. I decided to make my first one with a free pattern of dinosaurs for my little cute nephew for his first birthday! Now the size is 2-3t since he is not so little. But you can easily adjust the pattern to your little ones size, just size it up with one of your little one (or big ones) outfit and adjust! Easy Peazy!
Here are the parts of the free pattern..this is a 2-3t however just hold up a onesie or romper to the pattern and adjust for smaller or larger!
Also see the photo with the pieces cut out or the tutorial to see how they go together if you can’t tell!
Here is the written one besides what is written on the tutorial:
What you need:
Fabric choice 1-2 yards depending on size. I used flannel fabric
If you want an alternate color/fabric for for neckline and bottom (a stretcher fabric is best)
Snaps/buttons/or velcro depending on what you want to use
Steps:
Cut out fabric pieces as written out on the pieces.
Take one main body piece and find the center by folding in half and one neckline piece (and fold it in half and mark the middle) and place pattern facing
pattern and stretch and sew. Look at the pictures below to see how you need to stretch it and sew (it is not easy if you are a beginner but it just takes practice! Also, if the neckline is a stretchy fabric it is much easier)
Line center to center
This is the end result, do for both main pieces
Turn to the backside of the main body piece and fold up and iron the seam line as shown below. Then fold the top down and iron to make it easier to sew and pin.
Turn it right side and either change pins to the front or be careful and take pins out as you sew bottom of collar
Sew both necklines like this then we will create an envelope neckline.
You are going to line up your front and back body piece with finished necklines and measure from the top of each side 1 to2 in down and this is where the top of one side touches the other side and you pin together (this may not be true if you need a bigger opening or smaller based on head size, adjust opening based on head size). Pin this on both sides
Fold sleeve piece in half and line up middle of sleeve piece (the curved part facing outwards as shown) and where the collar intersects with pattern facing
down and stretch and pin (see pics)
Then sew using a zig zag stitch (which keeps it strong). Do this for both sides and it will look like…
I then added double sided bias tape, for convenience and time saving, to the outside of the sleeve edge.
19. Body pieces and sleeve pattern facing pattern, pin around sleeve and down straight to bottom again I used the zig zag stitch. Then I trimmed the sides. Then you can iron it out.
20. Turn your project to the backside and take your football piece and fold in half and line up middle of football with middle of opening pattern facing pattern, pin middle and stretch and pin around then sew. Make sure the front piece is pushed out of the way (you don’t want to sew it shut! Just sew onto the back piece
21. Take two of your leg banding strips and line up pattern facing pattern and sew the outside 1/8th straight stitch and then do this for the other two as well and turn right side out and iron.
22. The binding piece ends up in the inside and it is used for the buttons or snaps (you can alternatively use fusible interface)
23. Next take your one banding piece and line it up with the front bottom with the fold on the inside and then stretch and sew (see video if this is too confusing!) You pin the outside and sew 1/8th zig zag around
24. Now you will sew 1/4 inch around (the white part as shown will now be in the inside after you do step 23.
25. Next (phew we are getting there- keep going!) is the back banding strip, Same method for the back piece, except you just sew the one time and not the second sew around as in setp 24 because of the flap (you will see what I mean after you do the first sew.
26. I hemmed the bottom leg openings and then did my snap buttons using the hammer method! I used thick material for the banding which I regret (also that it was not stretchy!) I had to use bigger than normal snaps to get it through the fabric!
My daughter loves running around in her cat mask saying she’s Cece cat. She also wanted to be Cece dinosaur, cece giraffe, and many other cece animals. So I had a couple extra crafting materials nearby and we created these easy masks! Also, masks are great for parties or as a craft at a party!
There are many ways to make many different masks, the first way is simply with
1) popsicle sticks or tongue depressor sticks (or you can use elastic or string)
2) construction paper
3) scissors and glue
4) crayons, ribbons, stickers or any other decoration you would like to add
I absolutely love this new glue I got from crayola, it is so easy for my toddler to use herself and its washable!
I simply held the construction paper up and estimated where the eye holes needed to be and cut them out then made my own design and let her glue the pieces together and decorate! Such a simple and easy project for your little one.
Now if you are looking for a particular pattern or don’t know how to make an animal let me suggest a couple tutorials I found:
Animal masks by Hoosier
These cute masks are perfect for your little fall creature! There’s a pattern for them too!
Next are easy felt masks that are perfect for Halloween costumes!
Once the drool starts it doesn’t stop! I saw an adorable bandana drool bib in a store and thought, I could easily make that! And you can too! It is a simple 5 to 10 minute project that makes a great gift and a fantastic accent and cute and functional accessory for your little one.
As always, there is a youtube tutorial and the written steps on here! Hope you enjoy!
This is for size 6months to 12months.
What you will need:
1) Two Fabrics (one side needs to be absorbent). I used a cute flannel fabric and then a yellow fleece material for the back.
2) Velcro or snaps to hold it shut
Fold your fabric in half. Cut out two triangles, one with each fabric (you can use my measurements or compare to your bib size for your little one) . I used the measurements of 9in long and 7 1/2in on the fold.
Next, you are going to make a cut for the neckline about 3 inches in from the side
and 2 inches down the fold.
Cut the little triangle off the very end, abut half an inch, this is where the velcro will connect.
Take pattern side facing pattern side and sew all the way around leaving a small
opening around 2 inches (this is where you will pull it right side out)
Now pull it right side out and hand sew the hole shut and VOILA! drool bib
complete!
Iron press it! You can also go around the whole outside and sew it if you like for the design look!
Next you want to attach either your velcro or snaps. I have iron on velcro I used.
Hope you enjoyed this tutorial, if you have questions just post! Thanks
This lovely summer spaghetti strap dress was suppose to be made in time for my sister in laws baby shower in June. However, I was unable to finish it due to my water breaking early and being hospitalized. I finally finished it and love how it turned out! I free handed the design and sizing. I meant for it to end up as a 2t size, but as you can see it’s a bit big! This works out great since its winter and not summertime! She can wear it this upcoming summer. I can’t wait for the warm spring and summer to come! Bulbs and flowers emerging and gardening time, but let’s get back on track.
As always there is a youtube tutorial and this written one. I do not have a pattern as a freehanded it and designed the pattern myself as I went. I used one of my Cece’s dresses to size it and make part of the pattern to guess the sizing.
Unfortunately, a lot of the video tutorial was accidentally videotaped over with my baby boys arrival home (sorry more important anyways!). So I videotaped again trying to explain the best I could. If you have questions please let me know! More great videos to come soon!
What you need:
Chose of fabric colors and types (I chose three colors
1/4 inch elastic (for gathering of the top of back of the dress)
Bias tape (or you can make your own like I did)
First you want to cut out your fabric pieces. I looked at another dress I have for my little one and based the main front and back piece by measuring and estimating the sizing. Then I cut the bottom piece I needed which ended up being about 40inches long and 4 inches wide (for the ruffle on the bottom). I ended up added another color (black) on the two sides of the dress. Then I also cut out fabric to make bias tape (here is a good tutorial on making bias tape if you’ve never made it before..BIAS TAPE TUTORIAL. )
Take your strap (black piece) and sew it to the top piece and bottom piece. Pattern piece to pattern piece (facing each other) sew the bottom to the strap
then the top.
I made my own bias tape by cutting and ironing the fabric. Then you proceed to use it to line the top of the dress (sew it on!). Then sew up the armholes and long to tie…estimate how long you want the straps to be to tie behind the neck (longer the better!)
Take the back side and sew two black (or whatever color you choose) by sewing
facing pattern sides together
I decided to add a small piece of fabric above the black strap to make it higher . If you want, sew and connect. Then place from and back piece facing each other and sew to connect from and back.
Add elastic to back piece if you want it ruched and tighter.
The last part is the bottom ruffled part.
Hem the bottom first about 1/8inch
To gather your fabric put your machine on the longest thread setting make two
straight lines (Do not reverse!). Roughly 1/4 and 1/8 inch away from the top.
Leave long threads on the ends.
Next you knot the bottom of the back side of the threads so you can gather, just the two in the back (not the front).
Pull the bottom threads from the other end and slide the cloth along the threads toward your knot making small folds. When your cloth has been
gathered the way you want it, knot the ends securely with each other.
Sew pattern side to pattern side all the way around. Then you can zig zag around (or you can zig zag before attaching (this prevents fraying).
Then you are finished! Great Job! Have fun! Post your pics!
I don’t know about your little one, but mine sure does love to read! Well at this age, it is more like browse through the pages and pictures! She sits by the book shelf and pulls out book by book looking at each page.
At first I thought maybe I should purchase her a bean bag chair, and then I thought, well lets just make one! This can also be a great gift for anyone! I actually sometimes sit in it too (shhhh!)
So of course I have the video tutorial on youtube below and then the written and picture tutorial below that. Let me know if you have any questions!
What you need:
Fabric (you can use two or one color) 2 yards total of each color (or 4 yards of one color)
A 24 inch zipper (or you can use velcro or buttons)
4 yards of muslin or cheap fabric
Bean bag filling (100L) (I couldn’t find a large bag at my local craft store so I bought mine on amazon with free shipping)
Make panels of 40×16 inches. You should do 6 outside (3 of one color and 3 of the other color) and 6 inner panels.
Take one of your panels and fold once long way and once width. Have your fold on top and side when measuring to cut. Measure bottom to 6 inches (the long side) and start a curve and cut right up to the right corner. See picture below.
Line up two inside pieces and sew up and down one side. I did this twice for more strength. For the outside you will have the patterns facing inside towards each other and sew.
Once sewn open the panel up. Then place another panel on the original piece and sew the opposite side (you will end up with three pieces sewn together)
Then sew the other 3 inside pieces together and you will have two sets of three.
Take the two sewn together pieces and face pattern side in (doesn’t matter with the inside bean bag layer) and sew all the way around the outside leaving a couple inches hole.
Turn right side out. Then you will put the bean bag filling it! Ah what a challenge!
Note: I did not completely fill and sew this until I was sure the outside would fit over properly. I waited to finish this until the end of the project.
Take one of your outside panels and face the zipper down on the pattern. Line it up on your machine and sew the zipper on.Take one of your outside panels and face the zipper down on the pattern. Line up the right outside part of the zipper to the outside of the panel (as shown) and sew the zipper on.
See the video for more of a demonstration on how to attach a zipper
Sew pattern and right side of the next panel to zipper right sides facing each other (inside) and sew together.
Line up the part below and above the zipper with patterns facing each other and sew
Then sew your 3rd panel on…complete another 3 panels together as done with the inside pieces.
**Open your zipper all the way. Take each 3 piece panel set and place them facing each other (inside) and sew all the way around the edges. Do not leave a hole this time, you will pull it out through the zipper opening!
Next you will place your inside bean bag that is partially full inside. If its full then you are done! However, if you partially filled…continue to fill all the way and sew the inside bag shut.
Congrats you are done! Enjoy! Post your pics below!
What’s an easy gift that can be personalized and made in 15mins? A sock snowman of course!
A what? A Sock Snowman? What is that????
Well, let me tell you. A sock snowman is a snowman made with rubber bands, rice, men’s socks, a hot glue gun, and personalized items. It is easy, fast, and I love that you can personalize it any way you want for any time of the year! I made 10 of them for Christmas gifts. You can see the harry potter and eagles one above. I also made a hunter, patriots, and princess snowman. Then I made the usual Christmas snowman for decorations as well. I even got most of my supplies at the dollar store!
As usual, there is a youtube video tutorial and the written instructions below. These make great gifts for any occasion and are quick and easy! Enjoy!
What you need:
-Hot glue gun
-Crew socks or longer
-Any type of rice
-Rubber bands
-Decorations such as eyes, stick ons, felt, buttons, bows, pins
Take your crew sock and cut below the ribbed area (the bigger the snowman the lower you want to cut (the bottom part will be the hat of the snowman).
Turn the top ribbed part inside out and place a rubber band tightly on one end
Turn it right side out and pack with rice. Make sure you continuously pack it down with your hands to give the snowman a fuller shape. Leave a small area on the top and then close it with another rubber band.
Put a rubber band on the top then 1/3 of the way down place another rubber band as tight as you can and adjust the rice to form the body and head of the snowman.
Now time for the fun part- decorating!
The scarf can be made out of felt, scrap fabric, or even a crocheted or knitted scarf! I did this with camo yarn for a hunter snowman.
I used the hot glue gun to make sure everything stayed in place including the scarf and hat!
Take the bottom part of the sock and fold top of it and place on top of the snowman’s head for the hat! Feel free to decorate the hat as well.
I made my sister a harry potter snowman. I also made a hunter camo snowman, princess snowman, patriots snowman, soccer player, and Christmas themed
snowmen.
my daughter likes to squirt the paint in an old egg carton that way the colors stay separated.
