A Big 50th Birthday Party

We recently threw my mother-in-law a big 50th birthday party. My sister-in-law enlisted my help to do the party decorations.  That's part of where I have been lately, among the many other projects going on.

My mother-in-law was expecting a big over-the-hill party. Instead we decided to surprise her with a classier theme. Her favorite color is purple, so we settled on a purple and black themed party. We spent a lot of time browsing party decor online and didn't really like the stuff we were seeing in the stores. When we searched for party supplies for adults, we just couldn't find anything that fit our party plan. Most of it was for over-the-hill parties or just too tacky.

So we came up with our own party decor.

For the dessert table, I made a paper heart garland. I made a few extra too that were strung around the doors and windows. They are really simple to make. I cut about 9 hearts for each garland out of various colors of scrapbook paper. I punched two holes in the top of each heart with a hole punch. Then I cut 3 yards of black yarn. I strung the hearts on the yarn and knotted them in place.

We used a long piece of silver mesh fabric from Joann's and some purple and silver confetti to add some color to the table.

The paper medallions are popping up everywhere lately. I love them because they added so much color to the room. They are very inexpensive to make. Each one only takes 2 sheets of scrapbook paper. They are super easy too!

I made them using this great tutorial over at A Subtle Revelry. 

Everyone loved the candle centerpieces. The Ivy Cottage Blog shows us how to do these vases and some other great ones like it too. Each vase was placed on a sheet of purple scrapbook paper to help make it pop. And of course more confetti!

My mother-in-law's very favorite part of the decorations was the pennant garland. The pennants are all cut out from half a sheet of 12x12 cardstock. I made one triangle and used it as a template to trace the rest and then used a paper cutter to cut them all out. I used my Silhouette to cut the white circle centers and the black lettering out of cardstock, then glued the pieces together. I strung it all together on about 25 feet of yarn. I wanted to make sure that it could be spaced out to fit across the entire room. It was sooo big that I couldn't fit the whole thing in one shot!

Here's the family at the party. My sister-in-law (left), father-in-law & mother-in-law (center), and my husband & me (right). Doesn't she look happy?

We Have a New Look!

I've been toying around with changing the look of this place for awhile now and I finally found something that is totally me.

Hope you all love the facelift too!

The *Easy* Baby Blanket: Take 2

Spring is in the air around here and everyone I know is having babies. I have been a busy bee making all sorts of things for little ones. I think baby gifts are one of my most favorite gifts to make because they are so cute!

A couple of our best friends just recently had their first boy and I wanted to make them something bright and fun for him. I remembered The *Easy* Baby Blanket I had made awhile back and thought that something like it could be the perfect gift, so it was off to the craft room once again.

This time I decided to jazz it up a bit and make a 4 patch blanket. It is just as easy as the original and sews up so quickly!

Ingredients:

1 yard of backing fabric (I used flannel)
1/2 yard of minky
1/2 yard of coordinating fabric (I again used flannel)
Matching thread
Sewing machine

Helpful supplies:
Rotary cutter
Cutting mat
Ruler
Straight pins
(not pictured) safety pins

**Since the fabrics were all different widths, I cut them down to the following sizes:
Backing fabric: 22"x44"
Minky: 2 pieces each: 17"x22"
Coordinating fabric (stars): 2 pieces each: 17"x22"

I also like to wash and press my fabrics well before sewing to avoid shrinkage. Don't press the minky however because this will damage it.

 Step 1: With the right sides together, match up each piece of the minky with one piece of coordinating fabric. Pin the pieces together along the edge of the right side. I used the long edge of my piece.

Step 2: Using a straight stitch, begin sewing along this edge leaving a half inch seam allowance. Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam. Do this for both pieces of the minky and coordinating fabric.

After they have been sewn together, very carefully press the seam open with a hot iron. Be careful not to scorch the minky. It doesn't like to iron very well.

Step 3: Once the seams have been pressed, it should look something like this. Lay the two pieces of fabric right sides together and with the minky and coordinating fabric against each other as shown. Very carefully match the two seams up to each other and pin together. Then continue pinning along the rest of the edge of that side as shown in step one. Then sew together as in step 2.

When you open it, it should look like this.

Step 4: Take the backing piece and the now front piece and lay them right sides together.

Step 5: To help secure the minky while sewing, I used a few safety pins and pinned the front and back of the blanket together. Then I pinned around the entire edge of the blanket. I marked about a 5" spot in the middle of one side to leave unsewn. This will be for turning the blanket right side out.

Please forgive the lack of pictures right here. I think I just got carried away with sewing!

Follow Step 2 and sew a straight stitch along the edges of the blanket. Leave a half inch seam allowance. When you come to a corner, leave the presser foot down and use the wheel to move the needle into the down position. Then pick up the presser foot and rotate the blanket in the direction that you will need to be sewing again. Lower the presser foot and you can start sewing. This will help you get nice straight corners.

Be sure not to sew over the section that you marked off as the opening to turn the blanket right side out.

Step 6: Clip off all 4 corners but make sure not to cut too close to your seam. 

Again, carried away with the sewing machine and forgot to take pictures!

Step 7: Turn the blanket right side out using the hole you left for opening. Use a dull pencil or something similar to poke the corners of the blanket out. Then lightly press the seams of the blanket with your iron. I ironed on the back side of the blanket where the flannel was to avoid scorching the minky. Be sure to press the seams of the hole you left for turning the blanket so that they line up with the rest of the seams.

Step 8: Finish the blanket by sewing a 1/4" border around the entire edge. This will close up the hole you left for turning. I did this in a contrasting color to give it a little more pop.

All packaged up and ready to go.

I'll be linking up to my favorite parties.

Playing Catch-up

I've got so many things waiting in the wings that I need to post for you all! I really need to get them up but I can't seem to catch a free second lately.

I have been running around like crazy trying to get decorations made for my mother-in-law's birthday party this next weekend & working on presents for my sister's baby shower. More to come on those soon. Then working on blankets for Project Linus. And we took a long weekend in Cambria.

This was the gorgeous view from our hotel! A whole weekend right on the beach. Plus we got to spend some time with some great friends while we were there.

My husband has been working non-stop these last few weeks and we haven't taken any time for ourselves, so we finally got a chance to spend some time together. It was absolutely wonderful. I am fully recharged and ready to get back at it!

Budget DIY: Cleaning Foggy Headlights

For awhile now I have been very frustrated with the look of my car's headlights. Not to mention the fact that it makes it very difficult to see at night. They were completely yellow and fogged over. I was about at the point where I thought I needed new ones.

I can't take all the credit or in fact any of the credit on finding this incredible trick. My good friend Carol posted on Facebook about this neat trick and as soon as I read it, I went running to the garage to give it a try. I figured that it couldn't make them any worse and I had everything on hand.

Supplies Needed:
Clean rag or two
Toothpaste (any kind should work)
Not pictured - bowl of water

Step 1: Apply some of the toothpaste on the dry cloth

Step 2: Rub the toothpaste on the headlight in a circular motion until the grime starts to come off. This takes a bit of elbow grease and may take a few applications.

Step 3: After it appears that the grime has come off, use the cloth (or another clean one) to rinse the headlight clean. If it seems that it is still a bit hazy, do another application with the toothpaste and rinse again.

Step 4: When it is completely clean, buff it dry. Admire your nice shiny headlight!

Other than a bit of cropping and text, I didn't retouch my photos at all. I am completely shocked at the difference between the before and after. And I can't wait to test out my night driving!

I'm linking up to these parties.

St. Patricks Day Roundup

As seems to be the case with almost everyone around me, I've been down with a cold most of this week. Boo! So that explains the lack of posts. But in my down time, I've been browsing all sorts of other pages.

I'm totally loving all the St. Patrick's Day inspiration I'm finding. If I can manage to kick this cold, I may manage to get Valentine's Day stuff put away in time to get up some St. Patty's stuff. My husband would sure love that. He comes home every day and reminds me that we still have a heart wreath on the door!

He would probably love if I replaced it with something like this beautiful wreath from Crafty Six.

I would love to bust out my new Silhouette interfacing and give this lucky pillow from Infarrantly Creative a try. It's just so festive and would be a great replacement for some of the other Valentine's decor!

After getting all the buttons sorted in my craft room, the Shamrock Button Art from Oopsey Daisy would be a fantastic way to put them to use.

I am totally in love with the St. Patrick's Day Banner from Simple as That. It's so beautiful that I may have trouble taking it down after the holiday.

My sister-in-law just mentioned the other day that there are no cute shirts for St. Patrick's Day this year. I think this ruffly tshirt from Thirty Handmade Days proves her wrong and I think I may end up making it for her. It's just too cute!

Gluesticks has totally awesome St. Patty's Day party ideas for kids. This rainbow looks so delicious!

And over at Let's Go Fly a Kite, they are making some really fun leprechauns. Now I know what I've been saving all those toilet paper and paper towel rolls for!

A big thanks to all of these blogs for the amazing inspiration! Be sure to stop by and tell them hi.

DIY: Crochet Hook Clutch

At the end of January, a bunch of us signed up for C.R.A.F.T's Package Pal's Party. It's a fun way to make a new friend and exchange really awesome (crafty) goodies with them.

My package pal is Tres over at Tres Chic Nails. She also runs another great blog - The Inked Hooker. I was super excited when I found out that we were matched up because she can crochet! As I may have mentioned, I am totally incapable. She was super excited too because I can sew. We couldn't have been matched more perfectly! Her package to me is in transit and should arrive any day.

Since she is an avid crocheter, I knew just what to make her. I came across this lovely little Crochet Hook Clutch over at Little Birdie Secrets. They give a great tutorial on how to make it, but it does take some patience.

Tres mentioned that her favorite colors were red and black and while I was hitting up one of the local quilting stores, I fell in love with the gorgeous fabric

I picked a contrasting inside fabric for the hook pockets and made a small pocket for her needles. I used the measurements in the tutorial as guidelines for where to sew the hook pockets. I also sewed a bigger pocket that could be used for small scissors or a wider hook.

The whole package included the hook clutch, a hook sizing ruler and a cute California postcard.

I heard back from Tres recently and she just loves it, which makes me soooo happy!

If you get the chance to do the Package Pals, you definitely should. It's a ton of fun!

I will also be linking up at these parties this week.