Summer Crafting

     If you’ve been reading for any length of time, you probably know that 99% of my crafts or sewing projects are done for my niece.  My most recent is surely no exception.  This week I made an adorable outfit for Della.  I’m not going to do a full-on tutorial because y’all know that I am no kind of fancy.  It’ll take about two sentences to explain the outfit…

The outfit is Garanimals from Wal-Mart, and the fabric is just what I had on hand.

     I love using the Garanimals shirts because it can be so hard to find simple, plain t-shirts (or any clothes really).  The skirt I just love.  It reminds me of something I would have worn when I was little, and it has lining sewn in so it won’t ride up.  That might be one of my biggest child clothing pet peeves (how sad that I have to distinguish from the regular ones) – skirts that have ridden up to underneath the armpits.

I didn’t sew on the edges of the green on purpose…

     I think that this is probably the tidiest one of my shirts has looked since I started making these.  I did not fight with my machine at all – it actually behaved itself!  There aren’t any crazy ugly knots on the opposite side either.  I didn’t use any Stitch Witchery this time either.  Even though it is so helpful for holding the design in place, the fabrics I used were pretty thin and it has a tendency to bleed through.  That being said…so proud of myself.
     Della said that it was a green cupcake with a button on it…close.  The buttons I just sort of fell into.  I have this little sewing stand with two cute little drawers that came from my grandmother’s house.  When I got it, I kept everything in it, and I knew this little vintage button would be the perfect cherry on top!

How cute is this?!

     I don’t have a picture of her in the outfit yet, but as soon as I do I’ll post it!  I made another little adorable for her to wear, but I didn’t even take a picture of it…lame.  I’ll post when I have one of those too.
     In totally unrelated news, I took my very last Praxis test today!  Of course I won’t find out what I made for another month, but at least I’m done.  Now all I have to think of relating to school is student teaching…and then graduation.  In six months I will be a college graduate and an almost real-live grown up. 
     Last little bit…beach countdown is officially on!  Nine weeks until  I am on my way and totally checked out for seven days!

Where I’m Partying This Week:
    

Happy February!

    Last night I did my first “big” craft of the year!  I love making fake applique shirts (for my niece, of course), and Valentine’s Day is an easy one to do. 
     Originally, I was going to do one exactly like the one from last year.  Of course, I couldn’t find a red Garanimals shirt…I thought all hope was lost, until I found one stack of three purple shirts (with one in the right size!).  I love purple, but I couldn’t use the black and white fabric from last year.  As luck would have it, our Wal-mart has gotten much better as far as fabric selection goes, and I found some adorable pinky-flowery fabric (for a whole $0.38 for an 1/8 of a yard).

     I’m almost embarrassed to write a “tutorial” for this because it is so easy, but here goes:
        1.  Find an adorable shirt, pattern (I just Googled “heart” and picked the one I liked best), and fabric.
        2.  Cut the pattern out of the fabric.
        3.  Attach to the shirt with Stitch Witchery.
        4.  Sew around the edges. (I went around several times, and it made it look kind of frayed…which I’m loving.)
    That’s it…simple, I know.  I don’t do things that are too difficult – ever.  I’ve done this a few times, and I always think they turn out so sweet-looking without being too fussy!

    …and this is what you get when you ask a two-year-old to smile…
    I love that this is Valentine-y enough to wear on Valentine’s Day, but not so much that she can’t wear it other times.
    I am so looking forward to making more of these!  I already found some ADORABLE Christmas fabric for $0.97…I need ideas on what to do with it!
Allyson

Pre-Beach Craftiness

So we just got back from the beach…it was incredible.

I was on an extreme craft kick right before we left.  In addition to the bazillion bows, I made the perfect “riding to the beach” outfit for Della.  Of course it was outrageously simple like all of the other things I make, but I’ve never thought that took away from the cute-ness.

No more waiting…I can’t wait to show you!

Adorable right?! Just wait!

I love rickrack!  Still not totally done though!

Matching bow! 

I think this is my favorite thing I have made so far!

So, not only did Della look adorable in her shirt, but she absolutely LOVED the beach!

I know this wasn’t the most literarily satisfying blog…but that last picture makes up for it in spades!

I hope you all had a spectacular summer.  Get ready for some serious fall crafting!

       Also, I’m on Pinterest now – follow me “Allyson Butler”

Hearts and Happys

y latest project is a completely adorable Valentine's Day shirt for my completely adorable niece. Because I love simplicity, I found some fabric that I love for less than $2 and used Stitch Witchery to "applique" it onto a red Garanimals shirt.

Afterward, all I did was stitch pink thread around the edges!

So easy, but my niece will look precious in it...of course!