Snappy Toddler Top

Thanks to Prudent Baby for the free download and tutorial for the Snappy Toddler Top.
http://prudentbaby.com/2010/05/baby-kid/snappy-toddler-top-free-downloadable-pattern-2/
I made this version for my girl

Including a matching headband from http://thelongthread.com/?p=669
And a cute daiper cover from http://www.danamadeit.com/2008/07/tutorial-the-perfect-diaper-cover.html

cute full outfit.

Upcycled boys boxers

I love the idea of being able to reuse old Tees so although i am a bit afraid of stretch fabrics, I could try this idea because it is costing me nothing.
I came across this at http://www.sewastraightline.com/2011/03/lets-celebrate-with-underwear.html and thought why not give it a go.
And for the cost of a bit of elastic, this is what I came up with.

Not too bad for two (almost) free pairs of cute Big Boy undies for my little boy.

Now i just have to figure out how to make them in bigger sizes??

Beach Party Dress

I came across this pattern a while ago and made Paigee a Red Gingham version and its really cute.

Im not a huge fan of the tie neck but otherwise it is a great pattern.
Ive kept the dress to use as a top for next summer since the elastic back makes it adjustable.
The best news is that I revisited the site http://fiddlehead.blogspot.co.nz/2009/06/finally-let-beach-parties-begin.html and now there is a multisize pattern so Im gonna give it another shot as a dress for next summer too. Will probably make an adjustable elastic neck this time.
I will put up a photo of the new version when I get round to making it.

Thanks fiddlehead. Looking forward to my next version.

Superhero Masks

These felt superhero masks are fantastic. The kids love them and they are super easy to make.

Sorry about the blurry photos but the kids were far too excited to stand still for too long

Check these out at http://hazelnutgirl.blogspot.co.nz/2009/06/childs-felt-mask-pattern-and-tutorial.html

They are quick and easy and keep the kids occupied for ages.

The masks are now a staple in the dress-up box.

Lovebird Tunic

Im loving this tutorial by craftinessisnotoptional.com.
 http://www.craftinessisnotoptional.com/2011/10/lovebird-tunic.html
I have so far made two for my daughter

this one using a pattern i made myself but the armholes were not quite right and it is a snug fit...

The second (green) one is slightly larger. I just used the same principals but modified a size 3 paper pattern by extending the front to make the pleat.

THEN

I made one for my niece, for her birthday, using a size5 paper pattern

And one for my friends daughter for her Birthday...

with a matching belt made using this tutorial http://prudentbaby.com/2010/02/baby-kid/diy-fabric-belt-for-toddler-2/ again

I am sure that i will be using this idea many more times.

These tops look great with tights or skinny jeans which is why i like the matching belts.

It saves me from trying to find a belt to match.

Fleece Dino Hat

Thanks heaps to Pamela at http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/fleece-dino-hat for this cute Tutorial. My little man loves his Dino hat, especially when he wears it to chase his little sister around the house Roaring.

Doily Lightshade

I really have to say a huge THANK YOU to http://dosfamily.com/2011/01/lace-lamp/comment-page-8/#comment-75501 for the fantastic tutorial for this awesome doily lightshade.
It now hangs in my daughters room and she adores it.

I did a few things differently,
First, I couldnt find a fully round balloon so I used a beach ball.
I pulled apart one of those paper lantern lightshades (from the dollar shop) and kept the top ring and the centre wire part.

I marked out where the wire ring would fit then I coated the ball with vaseline so that the doilies wouldnt stick

then I pasted the doilies with a paintbrush and slapped them onto the beachball making sure that the edges met neatly and i could cut them off around my drawn circle at the top

I hung it on my front porch for a few days to dry.

I deflated the ball and pulled it out of the lightshade. Then cut off the doilies around my pen circle.

I persuaded the wire inside and sewed the ring into the top if the shade. 

I did use an Ecobulb as suggested in the tutorial because I dont want it to heat up and it works wonderfully.

And this is how it looks in my little chickens bedroom.

Beautiful!

Girlifying the boys bike

My little chicken needed a decent bike and happily this coincided with my sons fourth birthday so...
Nana and grandad agreed to buy the boy a "new" (second hand) bike for Bday and we handed the Dinosaur bike down to my little girl.
Of course the problem was that the bike was quite boyish.
I had seen this great tutorial for a bike basket at noodleheads.blogspot.com so i went to the shed and grabbed anything that would come off the bike and traced everything and replaced them.
The basket came out great using the heaviest iron-on interfacing i could find to give stiffness.
The whole makeover was a great hit and the bike is now called "My Pretty Bike". Success!!

Before - Dino boyness

After - My Pretty Bike

Pinnies

Soooo... Ive been busy busy sewing pinafores to sell on TradeMe.co.nz.
Ive finally managed to get enough finished and listed.
so here is a peek:

And finally, after asking weather every finished pinnie was for her, I have now made one for my "little chicken". I just have to figure out how to keep the nasty white fluff off the black corduroy!