Cardboard Box Kitchen

Do you have a surplus of cardboard boxes or are you looking for an inexpensive and imaginative play idea for your kids?  That is how the idea of the cardboard kitchen was born.   You can use just about any size box and this is what I did. 




Found two larger boxes (approx 1.5' x 3' x 2') and found a file box bottom
I also had two shoe size Rubbermaid containers that I wasn't using
the Contact paper isn't necessary, but it helps hide the outside of the box and to provide a personalized surface.
Tape will hold the top 'hutch' in place
Cutting blade or knife.

 Cut a hole to inset the storage container as a sink         Attach a shelf (cut out of the file box bottom)                                                                                      adhere with tape.


Now you get to sit back and watch your kids enjoy their new kitchen.

Polka Dot bird mobile

For this project, you will need some scrap fabric, batting, ribbon, and a stick that is about 1" thick and about 2'-3' long (with branches and moss if you can find it)

I chose to sew the scraps of fabric into free-form bird shapes, varying sizes, 2 brown polka dot, 2 white burlap

Then, I made fabric rosettes and tied them off with scraps of fabric. 

Assemble and hang

Pics coming soon.

Altered Curtains

One of my favorite things is making something new out of something you have on hand. For this project, I up-cycled some plain off-white curtains and added a little scrap of ribbon and fabric... viola! Cute new bird panels for my friend's nursery. 

Pic coming soon.

Large tissue paper flowers

I wanted to make a focal point in my daughter's room (as well as decorations for an upcoming birthday party), so I decided to make some 24" wide tissue flowers to hang.  These look more like pom poms or peonies depending on how you trim the edges.  I used full 20" x 30" pieces of tissue paper from a 20 piece package.





1.Accordion fold the paper approximately 3/8″ – 1/2″ per fold
2.Fold the wire or ribbon over the middle and twist. I left the ribbon long so it can be hung from the ceiling.
3. I then trimmed the edged to be rounded in a semi-circle or into triangle points.
4.Puff flowers. Gently pull apart the pieces of tissue and make it pretty.

You can also attach smaller  pom poms onto a ball or wreath form for decorations for your next event. How sweet would these be at a baby shower?

Handmade Easter basket liners

Last week, I found two wicker baskets at our local thrift store and they were perfect for my little ones' Easter baskets, but they were a little lacking in style. I then made a pattern for the baskets following  tutorial:
Basket tutorial link

 I then used the zigzag stitch on my sewing machine to embroider my son's name across the front.  The stitches came out a little uneven on the 'M', but he loves it and I like having my two baskets with different sizes and finishes being tied together by using the same color off-white canvas.  Liam's name is in Royal blue and Macey's name is in Fuchsia. 

Spring is here!

I made this banner out of scrapbook paper, white card stock, ribbon (I heart ribbon) embellishments, ink and scalloped scissors.  It took about and hour to make and is simple to make and looks uber cute!

Directions: Cut out your letters on coordinating paper (I used a Circut with the letters at 5 1/2")

attach the letters to 1/2 a sheet of white card stock

scallop the edges

ink the edges

embellish the design

punch a hole for the ribbon and feed it through!

Nothing is better than a helper!

This is my very own Macey and she helps every time I have the sewing machine out.  This picture just makes me smile!