Flower Box Challenge

So remember the flower boxes I posted awhile ago? Well Kelli, over at WhimsiKel has been telling me about some flower boxes at a house near her in-laws...

Yeah- those are vintage windows with flower boxes hanging from them! These are similar to the pallet flower boxes but if you have a porch you might be able to actually do these! Head on over to Kelli's blog to see more pics and send her some blog love! Thanks Kelli!

Flower Box

I've got flower boxes on my mind, mostly because I have a great balcony that is practically begging for them. I know exactly how they would look and what flowers I would put in them- if I weren't moving in three weeks.

So, because I can't do my own flower boxes I will show you a picture of the best flower box I have ever seen. If you can top these babies, leave a comment with a link to the flower boxes I gotta see them. These boxes are outside a shop just off Dickson Street in Fayetteville.

Talk about reduce, re-use, recycle- these are just amazing!

Spring Garland

Spring is finally here in Arkansas- despite 7 inches of snow on the first day of spring- and we are loving it even if I have to sing "popcorn popping" EVERYTIME we drive somewhere... What better way to declare that spring is here than this banner! Go check out Sweet Something Designs- make sure you have time to sit and read all her old posts though... great great great ideas!

Alphabet Art

I LOVE this project! These alphabet balls are everywhere but have you tried to buy some? EXPENSIVE. This project is so great that it even got a "wow that's cool" from the husband- that's impressive. Head on over to Red Heads Craft More Fun for the tutorial and other fabulous projects.

Dress Up Box

If your house is like my house, the dress up clothes are starting to take over. This is a great solution that is practical, cheap and CUTE! I can't wait to see the box she makes for her girls! Head on over to (you're going to love her blog name) A Girl and a Glue Gun and look at all the cute things she has done!

Fabric Flowers

Fabric flowers are everywhere you look these days- go here for a fresh take on this idea. Sew 4 Home has some great ideas. Pretty sure I'm going to have to make some of these... after the spring craft show- there are only so many hours during the day after all...

Lucky Star Lane

If you know me somewhat well or are in my immediate family you know that I LOVE bingo- not just like but adore! You can win prizes and the games are short enough to keep my attention span- but mostly I blame Rick and Stacey for my obsession- you know what you did....

Anyways, I found this GREAT project on Lucky Star Lane (which I LOVE) where she used vintage bingo cards. Ah maz ing! Think I might need to see if I can track some of these down- somehow I don't think my dollar general bingo cards will have the same effect.

Beaded Frame

I guess I lived in a blog cave before because I had never heard of Ruffles and Stuff. What?! I know. I found them though and I LOVE them. Check out this awesome

Beaded Frame Tutorial- Really going to have to do this...

From shabby to Fab!

The day we bought the stroller- it never stood a chance....

Isn't the Internet a wondrous place? Lil A has a doll stroller we bought at a yard sale for a buck- best dollar I've even spent- and I've spend a lot throughout my life... Anyways, the seat was ripped when we bought it so I tried to stitch it back together and that worked for a while but that only lasted for so long. I've been thinking about recovering it for a while ... when I found this at Sew Dang Cute!
I don't know if all doll strollers have the same measurements or not- the tag on ours says Toys 'R' Us if that helps.

Materials:

3/4 yd. fabric

1 pack wide bias tape
Thread

Total Cost: $3.75 plus tax

Plus I have enough leftover fabric for two other projects, a luggage tag for someone who knows maybe me and a skirt for lil A.

Old cover, totally destroyed BEFORE I picked it apart.

Lay old cover onto new fabric (all I can say is thank heaven she liked this more than the DORA and Princess fabric). My old cover was one layer of fabric- do these toy makers have kids?! I doubled my fabric so my new cover would be two layers- which should last about three months....

Here are some measurements in case you don't want to pick yours apart.

Middle of the cover.

Top.

Bottom piece- most destroyed piece.

Bottom width.

Cut our new pieces, I just cut around the old pieces- I'm not a perfectionist.

Stitch layers together.

Pin on wide bias tape. I had never used bias tape before- LOVED every minute of that! It's so easy.


Stitch bias tape. To do the corners, I just folded under and kept going, the less seams the better- right?


Measure new loops to hold the seat up. I just kept using my bias tape to keep the project as cheap as possible.


*Tip* I am a novice sewer and I novice before sewing thinker- it would be best to pin these under the bias tape and just stitch them on when you stitch that.* Pin straps on and stitch.

I tried to reinforce it as much as possible without making it look too messy.

Now take the bottom piece that you have already stitched around and pin it to the top piece and stitch.

Then add bias tape to all exposed edges and you guessed it... stitch.

Wahoo. Sigh of relief.

Measure out more bias tape for new buckle straps. *Tip* these can also be sewn on when you do the bias tape on the top section- didn't think that far in advance.*
Feed ends through buckles and stitch then stitch to sides.

Forgot to photo journal this last part. Fold the edge of the bottom over and stitch both sides- my fold was about two inches. Really reinforce this seam- this is where they tend to break.

One happy Baby! and one happy Lil A. She sat right by my side the entire project asking me when it would be done and relaying all progress to "baby".

I'm Linking to:

The DIY Showoff Parade

Making the World Cuter

The Girl Creative

Skip to My Lou

The Persimmon Perch

Between Naps on the Porch

Keeping it Simple

Sumo's Sweet Stuff

It's So Very Cheri

My Petite Purse

If you're like me- you like to find ways to save money- anyway you can! I found a great blog to help with this- My Petite Purse (cute name huh?). Tiffany compiles great gift ideas that are great for the wallet too- she also offers her own tutorials as well. Stop on by and show her some blog love.

I LOVE her Raggedy Ann doll.

Dinner table eye candy....

Have you been to It's Fun to Craft yet? Her blog is great, she has lots of fun ideas and a lot that I really want to make. She swapped blogs with Melanie from Crafty Cupboard and Melanie made these darling place mats. So many options and so cute! Go on over for the full tutorial.

Gift Box Wall Art

If you haven't seen these boxes yet- you're in for a treat. I found these over at Sumo's Sweet Stuff they are made out of gift boxes! What a great collage to cover a big bare wall! Go on over and check our her tutorial!

Quiet Book...

Oh WOW.... I have been thinking about quiet books for about a year now- but all have seemed too daunting to approach- or not as cute as I pictured in my head. This is the perfect blend- darling and pretty easy. Everyday Celebration has the cutest color book and a great tutorial! Go on over and check it out!

Butterfly Inspiration

Okay, are you thinking what I'm thinking?! This is awesome! It has all the elements I LOVE in a craft: fast, easy, cute and CHEAP! Julie over at Less-Than-Perfect Life of Bliss, made this beautiful creation for her daughter's room. Go on over to her blog to follow her great tutorial.

She found the idea at This Is Not a Rough Draft. (Whose daughter's room is amazing!)