yarn bow garland

Just a little christmasy garland I have been working on here and there the past few days. Inspired by this pin - some easy crochet bows, felted balls and bakers twine...as if I need another garland around here but you really can never have too many now can you...

to make a bow chain up 65 (I used a size 6 hook)
turn and add a single crochet into each chain
weave the tails back in and tie into a bow
string the bows onto some twine with felted balls and enjoy, simple as that!

Here's to a wonderful first week of December - I am still fussing with my decorations, how about you?

...ps at our house if you're christmas decorating you get to drink hot cocoa with homemade marshmallows, so I think I might be fussing for awhile! :)

Prairie Feather Necklace

I have a sweet spot for feather accessories this time of year they just feel like fall to me. I had fun putting together this easy pendant this week to celebrate the beginning of November and the holiday season. I think I will make another one with four feathers, one for each of my little baby birds - who are not all such babies anymore, sigh.

It was super easy - here is what you need to make one:

fabric scraps
spray adhesive
feather template (optional)
wire
chain
scissors
jump rings and clasp
jewelry pliers

1. For each feather you will need two small squares of fabric. If you want to use a template for your feather (I used this one and sized it at 75% before printing it on card stock) make sure to cut each square the same height as the feather you desire. It will make sense in a sec - if you don't use a template and just want to free form cut the feather this step doesn't matter.

2. Lay each square of fabric on a piece of cardboard or another surface that won't get ruined by your spray adhesive and spray each piece. Then place a piece of wire approximately 6 inches or so in the middle of one of the squares and lay the opposite one on top and firmly press to stick. Let dry briefly.

3. Cut the square into a feather when it is dry using your template. Make sure to lay the template on top so that the wire is running through the center of the feather.

4. Wire wrap each end of wire. If you need a tutorial for this HERE is a good one!

5. Using your jewelry tools add jump rings and chain to get the desired length for your necklace.

Simple as that and a fun way to use up the ever growing pile of fabric scraps too! I hope you guys have a wonderful day today I will be back later on with our first capturing our blessings set!!

Another fun feather accessory tutorial HERE!

make something monday :: patchwork pots {plus a ten on ten reminder}

I am over at Beautifully Rooted today sharing a simple tutorial for these fun patchwork pots I put together while brightening up a little corner of our porch. Come on over and say hello if you'd like you can find the full tutorial HERE!

I hope you have a wonderful day today and don't forget to charge your camera batteries tonight as well because tomorrow is the July installment of Ten on Ten!! Happy Monday everyboday!

make something monday :: beetle magnets

Once in awhile you just need a little brainless DIY to make you giggle. Today I am sharing these silly beetle magnets that did just that for me.

A little bag of plastic bugs + spray paint + small magnets + glue = bright colored beetles to make you smile!

Josie and Zeb have a fun vintage metal lamp in their room that was my Grandmothers. I thought it would be a cute detail to add the little critters to the lamp to match the beetle print I shared HERE...but trust me these guys have been known to wander off and find themselves stuck all over the house.

I really wanted to do some in florescent pink and orange but stuck to the paint colors we had in our garage...wouldn't those be fun? maybe I will do some more because you really can't have enough bright colored beetles around right? Well the plastic kind anyway. :)

Hope you guys have a fun week! What have you made lately that was silly simple? Happy Monday friends!

make something monday :: a happy birthday banner

Last year I put together this happy birthday banner for my sons fifth birthday party. It's bright and cheerful and over the past many months it has been fun to pull out each time someone else has a birthday to celebrate. Over the weekend we had Simon's sixth and it made another appearance at the party this time draped across our cheerful mantle. I thought I would share my process in making it with you today in case you were in the mood to make one too!

Supplies:

letters printed and cut out as a template in whichever size and font you desire (I used Oaklahoma)

fabric scraps for each letter

felt

scissors

sewing machine

fusible webbing such as wonder under

pom pom trim or ribbon to attach the letters for hanging

First choose a bunch of fun fabrics for each letter and then iron fusible webbing onto the backs of the small scraps. Once your letters are cut out trace around each one FLIPPED THE WRONG WAY this is important so that your letters are facing the right way on the front. I made this mistake myself and it was frustrating.

Then cut each letter out of the fabric and fusible webbing. Peel off the paper and iron all of the letters onto a piece or pieces of felt.

Then cut the letters apart to make it easier to stitch around each one.

Once I stitched around each one I cut them out again leaving a tiny border of felt so that they all coordinate really well.

I attached the letters to pom pom trim and it was ready to hang!

A happy little banner to use for years to come!

Happy Monday I hope you have a wonderful week whatever your celebrating!

make something monday :: fabric covered photo mats

Just before Zeb was born and I was still in that mad nesting phase and trying to finish up little odds and ends around the house. My sweet friend Nikole had sent me the prettiest bundle of vintage fabrics from her shop Happy Notions which I just love! I really wanted to incorporate some of the patterns into our nursery decor.

Josie and Zeb will eventually be sharing a room and since I wasn't sure yet if we were having a boy or a girl I didn't want to go super crazy with the florals but thought a few touches would be really happy and bright.

I decided to try my hand at covering the photo mats for a few of the prints on the walls. I was shocked at just how easy it was and how fast it was as well. I am pretty hooked on making these now so I thought I would share my process with you in case you wanted to make a few too!

Supplies:

plain photo mat

fabric

spray glue

scissors

First lay your fabric out face side down. Give the front of the mat a good spray of glue and then lay it down on the fabric and press it making it as smooth as possible.

Trim the corners and the middle like I did above and use some more spray glue on the back.

Fold all of the fabric up and around the mat and smooth it out.

It's really that simple but is one of those little details that can make a big impact. I am now currently restraining myself from covering every single photo mat in the house. But seriously there are so many options with these I can help it!


Happy Monday everyone I hope you have a wonderful day today!!

*the beetle print is from Small Talk Studio and the you are my sunshine and turtle prints are both from the Wheatfield etsy shop. Vintage fabric from Happy Notions.

June 1st and some silhouette plates....

So wow is it really June 1st today?? Holy smokes folks that last month was a blur for me. Was it for you too? I am getting all prepped and ready to make a re-entry on the interwebs next week. My long break was much needed but I am missing this space so I will be here monday with a new craft to share...just something easy of course.

I can't believe my oldest is going to be six in a few weeks and my baby will be one month on sunday. Time is flying, summer is coming and I feel my shaky legs learning the ropes of how to manage a household as a mommy to four little ones.

I am making a brief appearance today too over on the Beautifully Rooted blog sharing this super simple and fun project for silhouette plates. If you would like the full tutorial head over HERE.

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend! xoxo

paint chip easter egg treats

I have a silly little last minute Easter craft to share with you guys today. I will confess I have a bit of an addiction to the free paint chips found at every hardware store I visit and so my colorful collection has grown. I wanted to find a way to use them in my Easter basket making - these eggs are so quick and simple and a fun quirky twist on the traditional candy eggs! 

Paint Chip Easter Eggs

Paint Chips

Egg Template

Scissors

Glue

Exacto and Ruler

Tape or Stickers

After cutting a front and back for each egg score the center of just the top piece with an exacto knife and ruler being careful not to cut the entire thing in half. You want to create a slit or pocket into the egg.

Next glue the two pieces together and let them dry completely.

Stuff the eggs with jelly beans, little notes, gift cards and goodies.

I added some decorate tape to hod them closed but it's not necessary. Hand them out to all your favorite people they are sure to make them smile!

I also wanted to thank you guys for indulging me to expose my heart a bit to you in my last post. Sometimes it is hard to know how to share more than just the pretty things but you always know how to encourage me and I am so blessed by you - so thank you!

easter bunny in the grass vase and a giveaway! (*closed*)

The girls at Oh My Crafts were so sweet and sent me a little package of fun things recently. My most favorite was the Martha Stewart fringe scissors. I could not wait to get my hands on them and instantly wanted to cut everything in sight into the perfect fringy mess.

I have a few fun projects in mind with these but couldn't help but whip together this silly and whimsical Easter project using a recycled soup can and simple tissue paper. I thought these would be a great way to present a friend or your kids teachers with some pretty flowers this Spring. 

Ingredients:

1. soup can

2. pipe cleaners

3. tissue paper

4. fabric stripes

5. fringe scissors 

6. double sided tape

7. packing tape

8. doily or other decorations

9. flowers

Make some little bunny ears using two pipe cleaners and then tie a knot at the bottom with the fabric scraps and wrap up the entire length of the ears covering the entire thing.

Next measure out a folded piece of tissue paper to fit around your can and using the fringe (or other) scissors cut fringe along the top to make the grass.

Tape the tissue paper down and then add a bow with more fabric scraps or a doily and bow like I did in the finished project.

Lastly I taped the bunny ears inside the can with some heavy packing tape to keep them secure and protect them a bit from the water.

Fill the can carefully with some water and pretty Spring flowers and your all set. Could be a cute center piece for an Easter brunch too - just a silly little Easter craft to get your juices flowing today.


And as an added bonus Oh My Crafts also sent me a $25 gift certificate for one lucky reader to purchase some fun crafting supplies too. To enter you need to "like" the Oh My Crafts facebook page HERE and sign your name in the comments below. Extra entries given to fans of A Bit of Sunshine so let me know in a separate comment if you "like" my page too or if you follow via google friend connect or reader. Contest will be open through the end of the week and a winner chosen and announced on Sunday April 1st! Good luck everyone and happy Spring!

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