WINNER, WINNER!

The winner of the envelope full of fabulous estate sale/thrift store finds is none other than my Sis, mamaTAVE.  And to prove it's not rigged....

Actually, it's a good thing, because I have a little somethin for Princess A!

Baby.Got.Craft.

BEAUTIFUL Monday! Award and GIVEAWAY!

My Monday was made a little bit less Moday-ish this morning, when I received this...

...from Joy at Mommas Kindacrafty!  (Boy, is she ever!)

Thank you, Joy!

Here are the rules for accepting this award:

 

1. Thank the person who gave you this award.

Check.

2. Share 10 things about yourself.

1. When I am homesick, I cuddle with my blankie from my Grandparent's house, eat ABC's & 123's, and drink Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Juice.

2. I {heart} catalog shopping!

3. I check the mailbox frequently, hoping for special surprises!

4. I really do have the taste buds of a small child (see #1).  I love Mac N Cheese, Spaghetti O's, PBJ's, Grilled Cheese...

5. I'd choose shopping at an estate/garage sale over shopping at the mall...any day.

6. Sometimes I buy things at said estate/garage sales just because my grandmas have them!

7. Every once in a while I need a cup of highly caffeinated AWAKE TAZO tea in order to fall asleep.

8. I HATE olives and mushrooms, but I love the flavor of olive/mushroom juices after picking the olives and mushrooms off of an olive and mushroom pizza.  Just ask my husband about our third date (almost our last date), where I told him I would be good with anything other than mushrooms or olives, then promptly ordered a mushroom and olive pizza.

9. I love to get a good cry from a sad movie (by myself, witha cup of coffee, box of tissues, and blinds closed).

10. I'd spend my last dollar at a thrift store...okay, that's probably not a little-known fact.

3. Pass the award along to bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic!

This was REALLY tough - there are SO many!

But, I am passing this Beautiful award to the blogs below.  I STRONGLY encourage you to check them out!  In fact, I will reward you (See below.)!

Tavia @ mamaTAVE 

Jen @ Just Another Day In The Lives Of...

Mama Lusco @ Mama Lusco Handmade

Cheri @ I am Momma-Hear Me Roar

Sarita @ Missippi Mud Eclectic Designs

 

4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.

Check.

And now, for the GIVEAWAY!  By looking at my list of 10, you know I love scoring vintage sewing/craft items at estate/garage sales, and thrift stores.   So, I am giving away an envelope full of some of my more recent finds!  If you have won a giveaway from me before, you know I am a post office procrastinator...so rest assured, this envelope is already packaged (fabric, ric-rac, ribbon, buttons...), and awaiting YOUR name!

This post is getting ridiculously long - so, let's keep it simple.  Check out the blogs I am awarding (See #3 above), and let me know your favorite blog post found on one of these new Beautiful Blogs! Second optional entry for becoming a follower, or being one already. Leave a comment for each - That's it!  I'll use random.org to pick the winner on Friday 6/25.

Baby.Got.Craft.

Tie One On

This is my LAST (I think) Dad's Day craft for this year.  Having used some of my late grandfather's ties in theis project, it turned out to be one I will be happy to get out every year.  And, my sister will be happy to know that there MAY be a few ties left over for her...

So, I started with my pile of ties (from Rummage Sales, Grandpa, and the Dollar Tree), and a spool of white ribbon.

Then, I cut the ends off of the ties, and stitched to a strand of ribbon (taking the lazy easy route, NO PINNING!), like so....

Until you get....

Then, stitch another ribbon on top (I used a zig zag stitch).  Hang up on your mantle (or if you live in a mantle-lacking shoebox of a condo - your entertainment center)...and be sure to add in your DAD is RAD decor found HERE!

"

Baby.Got.Craft.

Quick Dad's Day Decor

With Dad's Day right around the corner, and this being the first year that Willie really understands it, we have had a lot of fun making items to help us celebrate.  I am really running with the tie theme. (See yesterday's Tie T-Shirt HERE.) WHERE? you ask, are we getting all of these ties?  I have been picking them up here and there, waiting for the "right" project.  I got all of my Grandpa's ties when he passed away, and wanted to make a lasting decoration using them.  (That will follow later today.)  I also picked up a TON at a few church Rummage Sales during those coveted "Fill A Bag For $X" hours.  And finally, I filled in the rest with some great patterned ties from Dollar Tree.  That being said, all of these projects could be made with Dollar Store ties.

So, here we go.....I started with an old shirt of Hub Dub's, a Dollar Store picture frame, and iron-on leftovers from yesterday's project.

I cut the shirt, and ironed on the letters....

And....here it is all put together, with scraps of a Dollar Store tie.  I really love it!

AND....Check me out over at DOLLAR STORE CRAFTS!

Baby.Got.Craft.

Dad is RAD

We think DAD is RAD, so we used a few Dollar items to make a shirt for Willie, fitting for the Preschool Dad's Day Party.

Here's what we started with: Hanes shirt (Dollar Tree - worth the bin digging required); Necktie (Dollar Tree); Iron-on letters set ($1 from Big Lots, but get two for all the D's required!).

I used the back side of the tie, for the skinny tie look.  Place it on the shirt for letter placement, then iron away!

Stitch on the tie...I used a messy stitch.  Add tie top (at slant), and stitch.  I also added on a couple of embelishments to the sleeves with tie scraps.  And, here you have it!

(Hurry up, Mom!)

Baby.Got.Craft.

Princess A's Ice Cream Shirt!

Cute.  'Nuff said.

Baby.Got.Craft.

I Scream...You Scream...

We all scream for ice cream!

This past weekend, we celebrated my Grandparent's 85th birthdays with a good old fashioned "Southern Ice Cream Social."  OF COURSE, Willie (and his cousin, Anastasia [photo to come - hint, hint]) needed a themed t-shirt!

Luckily, my sister mamaTAVE stepped in when I ran out of time to stitch on my felt appliques!

For the shirts, I bought the usual cheapie TARGET or WallyWorld plain t-shirts.  I applied alphabet stickers, then used fabric spray paint to cover the letters.  Let dry (almost completely), peel off letters, and voila!  Then, I left mine on the dining table, with the fan on over night.  Appliques were (of course) applied at the last minute!

"

My Birthday Gift

If you have never made a memory quilt, I strongly suggest it!  After my Grandpa passed away, I made them out of his old shirts for several family members.

My sister surprised me with a great one for my birthday.  I love it!  Of course, I did spend a great deal of time explaining to little Willie why it is that Mommy didn't go to thr prom with Daddy!

You can check it out over on her blog, mamaTAVE.