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Friday, March 30, 2012

Episode 89: The Felt Flower Blossom


Flower Week at PYL continues today with the Felt Flower Blossom.  Check out the blogs that helped me figure this flower out (The Fickle Pickle and Keeping Life Creative), although  my process is a little different.  The Fickle Pickle blog instructions are here.  And, the Keeping Life Creative blog instructions are here.

Check out my version of the Flower Blossom:



The next two show how you can replace bling or buttons for the middle two petals.



And here is the video:



Thanks for stopping by!  Take time to "Prettify Your Life"!


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Thursday, March 29, 2012

Episode 88: Product Review of Accuquilt Go! Baby Fabric Cutter

So, one evening while surfing Pinterest for felt flower instructions, I came across a blog that had used the Accuquilt Go! Baby Fabric Cutter to cut out perfect felt flowers.  I was intrigued.  I have seen this machine before but hadn't really figure out a use for it since I don't sew.  But, my curiosity was so great, I ordered one off of Amazon.  BTW, it is cheaper to order the machine online.  Jo-Ann's sells it, but like with all typical craft stores, coupons aren't allowed on this item.


The technology is very similar to manual scrapbooking paper cutters.


The sides fold out, and there is a crank arm.


Here is a fabric die called "The Rose of Sharon" that I purchased for my felt flower project.  Sold separately of course.


And here is the infamous cutting mat.  Check out my video review below to see what I'm talking about.



My Video Review:




So, what do you think?  I'm making this the PYL Featured Product.  Give me a shout out in the poll.

Thanks for stopping by.  Take time to "Prettify Your Life"!

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Episode 87: A Felt Flower Marigold

I'm back!

Let's kick off Flower Week here at PYL with a Felt Flower Marigold Tutorial.  I got the original idea and instructions from www.apumpkinandaprincess.com.  To check out her tutorial, click here.

Supplies Needed:
Felt (I used polyester.)
Fabric Scissors
Hot Glue Gun and Glue (on the high setting)

I used a strip of felt 3 inches wide by 36 inches long.  Here are a couple of pics of the final result:



Now check out my instructional video:


Thanks for stopping by. Take time to "Prettify Your Life"!

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Saturday, March 24, 2012

Last Bit of American Girl Doll

Hi Everyone!

This week was Spring Break, so I took some time off. 
I just wanted to show you a few more pictures of the American Girl Doll Party, and then I will be closing the book on this theme.  Check them out below:

I've discovered it's tough to find ADORABLE placemats and tablecloths.  I wanted colorful placemats, and when I didn't find what I wanted, I improvised.  If you are a regular at Hobby Lobby (or HL as my FB Group calls it) then you've seen these baskets on the party aisle.  I decided to snip off the ties and make them placemats.  They worked out perfectly!

No, I didn't make the banners.  I bought them at a local store.  They are designed by Lisa Frost.

I used flower charges from Hobby Lobby underneath basic white plates.  If you don't have basic white plates for tablescapes, buy some!  The American Girl Cootie Catchers are a nice accent in the middle of the plate.  Not sure why they are called Cootie Catchers though.  We never called them that when we were young, but I digress....


Here are some super cute napkin ring holders I found at a local store.  LOVE!


If you've followed my blog long enough, then you know I totally love RAZ Imports products.  Here is one--an adorable birthday cake centerpiece!


CANDY everywhere!

I got these little lunchboxes at Michael's and used my Cricut and some white vinyl to personalized the party favors.

Inside the party favor boxes were doll pajamas (because it was a sleepover), AG stickers, doll sunglasses or bows (depending on what they picked for their AG bingo prize, the polymer clay AG doll donut they made, and some candy.

Thanks for hanging with me while I took a little break.  As always, I appreciate you stopping by!!!
Take time to "Prettify Your Life".

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Thursday, March 22, 2012

Thanks SO much!

I would like to personally thank the PYL Community for your diligent voting in the Circle of Moms Top 25 Creative Mom Blogs of 2012 Contest.  PYL came in 2nd!!!!  Here is a link to my Circle of Moms Interview:  http://www.circleofmoms.com/blogger/prettify-your-life?blogroll_id=50

Thanks again for you amazing support!
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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Vote for PYL!


This is it!  Voting for the Circle of Moms Top 25 Creative Moms Blog ends tomorrow evening at 6pm PST!!!!!

Please remember to vote for Prettify Your Life in the Circle of Moms Top 25 Creative Moms of 2012 Blog contest.  Click the Circle of Moms button in the top right-hand column of this blog, then find Prettify Your Life in the list of blogs and click on the orange thumb on the right to cast your vote.  I really appreciate your support!   

Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out my blog and the creations that I personally create!  
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Pinterest Project: Mason Jars with Chalkboard Labels--EASY

If you're on Pinterest, then I'm sure you've seen one of the latest crazes in children's birthday parties--mason jar glasses with chalkboard vinyl labels.  I recently made these for my daughter's birthday, so I thought I would share with you how EASY this project is.

Supplies Needed:

~Mason Jars~
 (Thx to my awesome FB group of crafters and their knowledge, I was able to find a package of 12 mason jars for $7.25 at Big Lots.  Each jar is 5 inches tall, perfect for little hands.  You can also find them in grocery stores and sometimes Wal-Mart, although one WM I went to had none and said they were seasonal items.  Yet, another WM 10 miles away had a TON???? WhatEVA!)

~Chalkboard Vinyl~
(I used Hexis brand chalkboard vinyl purchased on a trial basis from Pick Your Plum.  My FB group asked me months ago what I was going to do with it.  I didn't know until this project, and now I can see myself getting hooked on the stuff. To purchase Hexis Vinyl from Sign Warehouse (my vinyl supplier of choice), click here.  The super nice gentleman I spoke to at Sign Warehouse also stated that they have another vinyl in a slate gray that is non-toxic made by R-Tape.  Check it out here.  I panicked and asked if what I used was toxic.  He said that anything made with PVC (like stickers) when consummed or chewed on a bunch can be toxic.  So apparently the vinyl brand, R-Tape is less toxic?  I'm not really worried about this since I used the vinyl as labels and the kids used straws to drink from.  And hello, they handle stickers all the time.  But, it's good to know, right? )

~Crop-A-Dile II Big Bite~

~Cricut Expression, mat, and a Cricut Scaper.~
If you don't have a Cricut Scraper, get one!

~Cricut Cartridge Lacy Labels~
(Why did I not get this cartridge before?  Purchased at Wal-Mart.)

~And fancy straws~

How-To:

1.  Place the vinyl on the Cricut mat and load it into the machine with the Lacy Labels cartridge already loaded.

2.  I chose the label I wanted and set the size at 2 3/4inches.  I had the blade depth at 5 and the speed and pressure at max.  I also pressed the "Auto Fill" button so that the Cricut would automatically cut out as many labels as would fit on the page.  When I tell you the vinyl cut like butter, I'm serious!  Super easy.

3. Then simply peel away the excess vinyl and use your Cricut scraper to remove the labels.  

4.  Remove the backing and center the label on the flat surface of the jar on the opposite side from the mason jar logo.  Get it right the first time because this chalkboard vinyl is STRONG.

5.  Then use liquid chalk to write the guests' names on the labels.



6.  In order to punch holes in the lid, use your Crop-A-Dile II Big-Bite-Punch on the largest setting.  Thanks Janie for the tip!  Or, as Cheryl said, you can also use an awl.



7.  I then added some fancy dancy straws that I purchased from Polka Dot Market.

Ta Da!  Easy

Now, if you don't have a personal cutting machine like a Cricut or a Cameo, it's ok because Martha Stewart has come out with some chalkboard labels at Staples!  Check them out here.  I went to my local Staples today, and yep, they have a bunch of FABULOUS Martha Stewart Office supplies, including the chalkboard labels. Templates are available online.



Or, you could even buy the vinyl and use my trusty method of making a template out of a file folder, tracing around the template on the back of the vinyl and cutting them out my hand.  That would certainly work too! 

I hope this tutorial has helped.  Give it a try.  It also makes me feel better to have glasses with lids on them, even though they are GLASS and still have a little HOLE in the top.  I guess the word "lid" makes a Mommy feel better.  :-)


****Special Note:  To clean the mason jars, I ran the labels under the faucet and the liquid chalk came right off.  Then I put them in the dishwasher.  Yep, the dishwasher.  If it doesn't go in the dishwasher, it's likely not to even make in my house...unless it's antique jadite. (LOVE)  Not a single label came off.  Far from it.  A couple of jars had a bubble or two underneath, but nothing that couldn't be squeegeed out with your finger.****

Please remember to vote for Prettify Your Life in the Circle of Moms Top 25 Creative Moms of 2012 Blog contest.  Click the Circle of Moms button in the top right-hand column of this blog, then find Prettify Your Life in the list of blogs and click on the orange thumb on the right to cast your vote.  I really appreciate your support!  

Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out my blog and the creations that I personally create!  
I hope you do something to "Prettify Your Life" today!!!


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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

American Girl Birthday--Part2

Today I thought I would show you a fairly quick and easy project I did for my daughter's birthday party.  I wanted the color scheme to be varied and vibrant and to carry up from the table to the chandelier.  So what better way to do that than to change out the chandelier lamp shades.  Easy!

Supplies Needed:

Self Adhesive Chandelier Lampshades (Hobby Lobby)
Ball Fringe (Jo-Ann's)
Felt flower cutouts (Jo-Ann's)
Buttons (Jo-Ann's)
Ric Rac ribbon (Hobby Lobby)
Flower ribbon (Wal-Mart)
Hot glue gun and glue
Scissors

Here is the before shot of my chandelier:


And here is the after, ready for the party:


I simply unwrapped the lampshades and took the protective sheet off.  Now the lampshade's sticky surface is exposed.  I hot glued the ball fringe to the base of the lamp.  Then I adhered the ric rac and flower ribbons, just hot gluing them at the ends and allowing the adhesive of the shades to keep the rest in place.  Then I hot glued the felt flowers and buttons.  And Ta-Da...done!  Here are a couple of close up shots:



Please remember to vote for Prettify Your Life in the Circle of Moms Top 25 Creative Moms of 2012 Blog contest.  Click the Circle of Moms button in the top right-hand column of this blog, then find Prettify Your Life in the list of blogs and click on the orange thumb on the right to cast your vote.  I really appreciate your support! 


Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out my blog and the creations that I personally create!  
I hope you do something to "Prettify Your Life" today!!!


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Saturday, March 10, 2012

Episode 86: American Girl Doll Birthday Front Door!!!

Well the American Girl Doll Birthday sleepover was a success.  I want to share it with you.  I will break it up into a couple of posts.  Let's start with the front door.  Decorating your front door is a great way to set the mood for the party, kind of like a fabulous invitation.  Make your guests EXCITED about coming in and celebrating!

Supplies used:

Christmas tree garland (left up most of the year...To see how I attach my garland, check out a Episode 57.)
Hot pink basic mesh
2.5 inch deco mesh ribbon in red, aqua and purple
White ribbon from Hobby Lobby
American Girl tape from Michael's
American Girl boxes (ebay)
Birthday picks (local store)
Duct Tape
Floral Wire
Party Yard Art--The Roundtop Collection

Check out the pics and video:


Check out the video:




More Pics:














Please remember to vote for Prettify Your Life in the Circle of Moms Top 25 Creative Moms of 2012 Blog contest.  Click the Circle of Moms button in the top right-hand column of this blog, then find Prettify Your Life in the list of blogs and click on the orange thumb on the right to cast your vote.  I really appreciate your support!


Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out my blog!  
I hope you do something to "Prettify Your Life" today!!!


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