TuTu(torial): DIY Fabric TuTu

 
I recently shared this project on The Wiegands. It’s so fun and pretty. So I HAD  to share it with all of you who who missed it. This fabric tutu is very easy to make and you can do it all, start to finish, in ONE nap time. BONUS: If you even semi-regularly sew, you’ll have everything you need.


What you’ll need:

• Scrap fabric
• Elastic
• Scissors to cut fabric (pinking shears if you have them)
• Sewing machine to make waistband.

 
Making the TuTu:
As you can see from the picture, your strips do not need to be perfect, or even the same length. It adds character to your tutu. Some of the pieces we’re not long enough so I pieced them together with the sewing machine. My strips measured 20-22 inches with a few 17-19 inch strips thrown in. The width of my strips were somewhere around 1.5”.  (I did not use a ruler or measuring tape to cut my strips… all of them are uneven.)
Tip: If you have pinking shears, I would recommend using them to cut your strips, as it will keeping the fraying to a minimum


For the elastic waistband, I used 1/2” elastic. The length of the elastic should match the measurement of your child’ waist.

Now the only thing you have left to do is to tie your strips around the elastic band. (My daughters waist measure 18” and I used 42 strips)
I also added a few places of scrap tulle for fun. Make sure when you’re double knotting, you’re getting the knots some-what close to the center of the strip.

After your all done, you can go through and trim up the super long strips and make the whole thing even.
Adelyn loves it. I love it. I hope you love it!


You could use just a few different fabrics with matching tones and I’m sure it would be even cuter! Or add more tulle through out it to make it more “tutu”ish.






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Note: The strips will fray, but it adds more character. Like I said before, cutting the strips with pinking shears will minimize that fraying. I would NOT recommend washing this in the washing machine.
I’d love to see pictures of your finished fabric tutu’s.

# kristanlynn
xoxo  

DIY: Post Card Journal

Ever wonder what to do with all those Post Cards you purchase while on vacation and never send? Or maybe you have a friend that travels a lot who is always sending them? Whether it’s one of those, or the fact that you just like to collect vintage postcards, here is a great way to put them to good use.

This table top journal is a super easy way to document your daily life and find joy in the simplest of things. Whether you needed an extra shot of espresso in your morning latte or your little nugget took his/her first step. All your memories will be at your fingertips.

I don’t imagine the first year or two would be as exciting as, say, 10 years of doing it. But you have to start some where.

What you need:

1 McDonalds Happy Meal box.
2-3 pckgs 5 x 8 Index cards
12 Post Cards
Date Stamp and Ink Pad
Cardstock
Embellishments

How I did it:

1. Carefully peel apart the seem of the McDonalds box. Cut off the top of the box (handles and what not).

2. Lay the now flat McDonalds box onto your cardstock and trace. After cutting out your traced image, adhere (I used hot glue) to the outside of the box (which will become the inside of your box).

3. When your cardstock is completely dry, fold the box the same as it was before, only inside out. (Cardstock on the inside.) Adhere the flap that you peeled apart in Step 1.

3.  Take your 5 x 8 index cards and cut them all in half. If you have a scoring board, I’d use it for this step.

5. Go through and stamp the date on top of each index card (remember not to stamp the year). This is a bit time consuming, but I promise, it’s worth it.

6. Add whatever embellishments you want to the outside. I added some lace, twine, a few buttons and a clothespin to hold a photo.

7. Put the index cards in the box. Separate the months with your post cards. and VOILA.

You could also staple little mementos to the index card for added “awe” factor. Maybe a movie stub from your first date or  a picture that highlights your day.

It will make an fun conversational piece on the coffee table or end table. What a great way to reflect on your days and  remember to enjoy life’s little moments.

The possibilities really are endless. Have fun with it.

 

# kristanlynn
xoxo   

This post is sponsored by MyPostcardPrinting.com, a company that provides affordable postcard printing services.

DIY Clean eyes!

Eye make-up remover is so darn expensive!
Here is a quick and cheap DIY Eye Make-up Remover recipe.

If you have kids, you’ll have the materials!
If you don’t… and you have to buy ingredients,
well, you’ll spend less than 3 dollars!
And get at least 30 bottles of remover.

Ingredients:
1 C water
1½ TBSP Baby Shampoo (tear free)
⅛ TSP Baby Oil (Cocunut Oil or Olive Oil) EDIT! Due to the overwhelming response to my use of Baby Oil. Please Note: Some say you should not use Baby Oil on your face, others say you should not use it period. If you are worried about it’s effects, just use Coconut Oil or Olive Oil. I will say that I have super duper expensive eye cream, that has mineral oil in it… andddd I don’t see a problem with it, BUT that’s just me. =) I mean c’mon… it’s like literally a DROP of oil you’re using. LOL. To each his own. Next time I make it I’ll probably try the coconut oil.

Materials:
Mixing Bowl
Measuring cup/spoons
Bottle to put finished product in (I used an empty medicine bottle; an empty baby oil bottle would work GREAT)
Small funnel (or improvise like me)

Combine ingredients.

Stir

Pour
I didn’t have a funnel.. and didn’t feel like messing with a  make-shift one.
I poured the mix from the bowl into a plastic cup (I guess I could have just mixed it in the cup?!)
I squeezed the top of the cup into a point and poured. Worked just fine.

I didn’t have enough room in my little bottle.
So I’m storing the rest into little glass jars.

Verdict:

It works PERFECT! Actually better than some super expensive brands I’ve tried!
It doesn’t leave a greasy film like most, and takes off the make up in one swipe.

WAIT!
Don’t put that Baby Oil away just yet… there are soooo many uses for it!
My favorite:
Stick it in your shower.
Rub it all over right before you get out next time.
Let the water rinse it away for about 30 seconds.
And VOILA, your skin is as soft as a baby’s bum… and has a glow to it too!
Edit: AGAIN… use Baby Oil AT YOUR OWN RISK.

What are some of your favorite uses for baby oil??

Hope everyone’s having fantástico weekend!

# kristanlynn
xoxo      

P.S. Fantástico?? Thanks Dora!


** for those that have inquired, my handmade dolls are available @ stitchedvintage.com

REUSE, REPURPOSE, UPCYCLE

My three favorite words lately.

REUSE * REPURPOSE * UPCYCLE

Thanks to the lovely Heather Leigh, I’m loving all things repurposed! If you do not follow her Repurposing board on Pinterest… you really should! She pins the neatest ideas!

Like this one:

Repurposing a laundry detergent bottle into a watering can!
(first seen here)

Can you say LOVE!
I hadn’t bought a watering can for the garden yet, because…
well, because they’re too darn expensive,
and I knew I could somehow make something to do the trick.

I actually had an 8 dollar one in my cart the other day,
then put it back before heading to the check out line.

The very next day, Heather pinned this Upcycled DIY Watering Can!
The best part about this: I just threw out TWO detergent bottles!
I instantly went and fished them outta the garbage!

It’s super easy too.
Just rinse out the detergent bottle until there are no soapy suds.
Take a drill with a tiny drill-bit, and start making holes in the cap.

Don’t forget to put a hole or two in the handle for air.

All my temporary planters are upcycled too!
I feel it makes my little garden even greener!

It works just as well as a store-bought watering can!

TIP:
You don’t need a million holes like I put.
Making the holes was the most time consuming part of this mini project, and while this one works GREAT, I do believe it would have worked just as well with less holes.
Thus, making this little Do-It-Yourselfer even faster.

How about you, what have you repurposed lately??

# kristanlynn