Super easy DIY coasters :)

Alright so here is the quick and easy tutorial for coasters! Oh, and I forgot to mention CHEAP!! For these coasters I used cork, scrapbook paper, and Modge Podge!

I got really lucky and found a set of four cork place mats at IKEA for $5. Out of these place mats I was able to cut 40 coasters. I'm sure the amount varies depending on the size and shape you want. I just want square coasters with rounded edges. Another option is to use tiles which you can find at Lowe's or Home Depot for 16 cents a tile. If you go this route you will need to put something on the bottom of the tile to keep the tile from scratching your table. I would recommend felt!

After cutting the desired amount of coasters, choose your favorite scrapbook pages. Again, I lucked out because Michael's was having a sale 6 sheets for $1 :) awesome opossum! You have all the creative freedom in the world with these coasters! Use as many designs as you want! You can even personalize them, I used scrapbook letters to put the first initial of each girl on a set of coasters. I mean, what girl doesn't love that?!?

Once you've decided on your design, simply use a layer of Modge Podge to paste the scrapbook paper on the corn or tile.

To make sure your coasters have a finished look, brush the Modge Podge over the top of the paper giving that glossy look. And voila, there you have it! Cutest little coasters ever! Talk about a cheap and easy gift that everyone is sure to love :)

Baby "Shower" tutorials: Ruffled Umbrella

Cute umbrellas right?!? Talk about the cheapest way to dress up an umbrella, this tutorial is AWESOME! Even if you aren't using the umbrellas for a shower, there are so many options. Just think, photo shoot :) These make for great props, and decor... So here it is :)

I bought a $3 umbrella from IKEA to make the white, orange, and pink umbrella. Any cheapo umbrella will work, after all, it's going to get covered up with super cute ruffles!

For the ruffles:
Since I used three colors, I bought 3 plastic table cloths. 97 cents at the dollar store. When you open the package don't open the table cloth all the way. Just unroll the table cloth so that it is long and skinny. Then cut 2 cut length wise every 2 inches. Now it's time to turn them in to ruffles!! Set your sewing machine on 5 (that's the highest mine will go), pull the thread through the needle giving you a little extra thread to pull on after you've sewed the ruffle. Keep a hold of the thread, then sew straight down the middle. After you've sewn down the middle you should be able to pull the string to make it as ruffly as you like. Mine ruffled easily without having to tug too much! Do this for all the strips.

Attaching the ruffles:
There are two ways to attach the ruffles, either use strong double sided tape, or use hot glue (that's what I did). I started at the bottom of the umbrella and worked my way up. You want to make sure to put the ruffles close enough together so you won't see the original umbrella.

And there you have it... a beautiful ruffly umbrella :) I'm also pretty sure you can use the umbrella in the rain, since the table cloths are plastic :)

Check out the next tutorial to learn how to make super cute/cheap coasters :)

Baby "Shower"

I finally can post pictures from Laura's baby shower!!! I knew if I posted them before the shower she would be nosey and look at them all :) The theme of the shower was "shower" so Candace, Olivia, and I thought it would be super cute to use umbrellas, rain, and rain boots as decor. I made two ruffled umbrellas to use as center pieces. We used them on the dessert table and on the food table. Here are a couple pics :)

As I'm sure you can tell, we used pink, green, and orange for the colors. Laura loves pink and green, so of course we had to use that! I like orange and thought it would help for an accent! I made one of the umbrellas in pink and green and one in white, orange, and pink. I get a lot of ideas and want to do them all, and of course Pinterest doesn't help, lol. I realllllly wanted to do a color themed candy table, but shew, candy is super expensive! So we did it on a smaller scale. We had rock candy, m&ms, jelly bellies, swirly pops, candy melts, butter mints, and AWESOME cake balls made by Rachy :) 

The cake was ADORABLE! My sister ordered it from Confused Confections in Lexington. They did an awesome job, especially because there was a little "confusion" and when she showed up to pick the up the cake, they didn't have one.... eeeeeeek. Candace knows that I like things to be perfect. She had taken Chase with her to get the cake and the two of them decided not to tell me that the cake wasn't ready. Instead when she got to my apartment she said "the cake wasn't finished, I have to pick it up at two." At two, she went and got the cake that they made in 2 HOURS wowwww, then brought it home and filled me in on the "confusion." I'm totally not hating on the name, but it was super ironic! I definitely was happy that I didn't know this, I would have been pretty bummed. Luckily the cake was adorable and got soooo many compliments! Just look at this cute thing!

I always feel like guests need to leave with a little somethin' somethin', so I recruited my sister to help me make a set of coasters for each girl along with umbrella boxes filled with m&ms. Candace was a huge help doing this, but I learned quickly she's not the best cutter :) That's okay though, our joint effort on the coasters and boxes was a success. Don't ya think?

Everything was so much fun! Like I've said before, I realllly wish I could plan parties for a living.... it's my calling ;) Now, for all you looking for a tutorial on the umbrellas, coasters, and umbrella boxes.... that will be in the next post :)

Going to the chapel

I wasn't sure in my last post if I was allowed to mention the engagement of my sister and her long time bf Amit. She was busy trying to tell everyone before it went Facebook official for all the strangers to see. Luckily, she have me the okay :) I promised her almost two years ago that I would make her an apron and since the wedding news I decided it would be a nice little gift. It was my first time making anything real with my sewing machine so I was definitely skeptical! It took me all morning to cut out the pattern and material. I visited Hancock fabrics 3 times in one day due to my lack of knowledge on what materials I actually needed. Not so much fun :/ I spent basically the entire day working to finish the apron, and although it's not perfect, I definitely think it's not too shabby for a first timer :)

After completing the apron I really wanted to do something else. I decided I'd see if I could make a little outfit for baby Harper. I really wanted to make a ruffled diaper cover because they are just too too cute! Then I realized it needed a matching top and headband, so I did that too.

It obviously was a long weekend of crafting followed by a really long clean up/organization session (totally not fun)

The best part of the weekend, though, was having my boyfriend Chase ask me if I could make him a quilt with both our high school t-shirts. It's little, but it meant a lot! He's super enthusiastic when I complete projects and it makes me feel so good :) I love it, and him of course!

Here a couple views of the first of many projects on my machine! You all can be the judge :)

This past year has been full of crafts! I've always loved having projects and, thanks to two of my best friends, I have had so many this year. I have been super lucky to become great friends with my friend Sheldon, and lucky for me she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl a short 4 months ago. In preparation for sweet baby Elliot, I began trying my hand at making things for little girls. I'm becoming a master maker of tutus, hair bows, and baby booties. Elliot is the cutest little girl, and I feel so proud that such a pretty little girl sports my creations :) I'll have to post pictures later of the things I made for her, unfortunately they are all on my little brother's computer!

Midway in to Sheldon's pregnancy, I found out one of my lifelong best friends was pregnant also. Needless to say, I was kind of hoping for a little girl (I don't know how to make anything for boys, yet). When Laura found out she was having a girl, the crafting began! Baby Harper isn't here yet, but I love her so much already :) Laura is the cutest little pregnant thing, and I mean little. Her baby belly is most peoples' "I'm full" belly. That may be a little bit of an exaggeration, but seriously she is small to be 9 months pregnant! Anyway, I have tons of pics of things I have made for her and I can't wait until she arrives to wear them all :)

Here are a few things...

My sister and I are having a baby shower next weekend for baby Harper and I absolutely cannot wait! I have been in party planner mode since the day I found out Laura was engaged. Her wedding took over my life (because I wanted it to, not because she forced me :)). After her wedding I was a little bored. Now that Harper is on the way, I'm no longer bored. I have spent the past few weeks looking up tons of ideas for Laura's shower, and it is going to be awesome! I realllllllly cannot wait! I will post tons of pictures, and tutorials for some of the things I have made, because they are just too cute not to share! I've decided now that my dream job is to be a party planner, so we will see how this goes ;) I really don't know what I'm going to do when Harper gets here and I have nothing to plan for, but that's okay because Harper being here is way too exciting!!!!