Easy Burlap Candle Holder (or vase)

I love decorating for fall. Pulling out the pumpkins, candles and leaves each year makes me so happy. If you're looking for some new decor but don't have the budget, you could do this project for FREE with things you have around your house. And if you don't happen to have everything, you can pick these supplies up at your local dollar store or thrift store.


Supplies Needed:

• Two glass cups or candle holders (one needs to be small enough to fit inside the other)
• Burlap scraps. Cut yours into strips if they aren't already.
• Candle - fake or otherwise

Three Super Easy Steps:

Step 1: Insert small cup

Step 2: Add burlap in the gap

Step 3: Add a candle

or add water and flowers:

That's it! Now sit back and be impressed with your frugal fall crafting self.

This project was featured on Thrifty 101

I'm also sharing this project with...

* AKA Designs: Fall Link Party * The Artsy Girl Connection: Pin-spirational Thursday * The Shabby Creek Cottage: Transformation Thursday * Thrifty 101: DIY Thrifty Thursday * Yesterday on Tuesday: Crafty Soiree * House of Hepworths  *

How I Made a Wedding Dress for Less than $15

Ok, so I'm already married. But I did make the wedding dress I'm wearing in the pictures even if I didn't actually get married myself in it. My husband and I took some time to get away to the Oregon Coast as a bit of a second honeymoon/family vacation and I wanted a pretty dress to wear on the beach commemorating us re-choosing each other.

Buying a new wedding-type dress was out of my price range (my price range being a mere $20 or less). Luckily ThreadBanger has a great video tutorial for how to make a wedding dress for $10. Check out the video below because it's important to understanding how I made mine. It's only about six minutes long:

Seems pretty simple. I am not a great seamstress by any stretch but I figured I could probably pull this off. 

I wasn't able to find a six pack of white shirts but I did find a five pack of 3XL shirts for $13.69 and I picked up a spool for white thread for $1. I wasn't a huge fan of the hanging bit in front on the inspiration dress so figured I'd just do without it and could pull it off with only five shirts.

To get started, I cut open all the shirts and ironed them. Then I sewed four of them together down the long sides and pinned them together around my dress form just like in the video:

I decided I liked how the back fell and made a bit of a train. I still followed the instructions about marking the pin line (I used a purple disappearing marker) but did NOT cut off the extra fabric.

When it was time to work on the wrapped part of the bodice, we ran into an issue. I am about a size 16 - and my bust is probably twice as big around as the model's. In the video, Corinne wraps the fifth piece of fabric around the model twice with enough leftover to tie a knot. I barely had enough to wrap around once and tie a knot.

So I decided to improvise.

I had all the material from the tops of the shirts left and figured I could use that to make a cool ruched top. And this is where I diverted from the ThreadBanger tute.

How I made my dress top:


Step 1: Cut the sleeves off three shirt tops

Step 2: Cut across
Cut straight across the front right under the collar and straight across the back right under where the printed tag is.

Step 3: Sew the short sides together
Split the pieces up into sets of two. Pin them right sides together on the short side and sew to make three strips with a seam in the middle.

Step 4: Sew the long sides together
Now, matching up the seams, match right sides together and sew them down the long sides.

Step 5: Iron and trim
Iron the pieces, pressing seams in the same direction. Trim off any extra material from the edges or seams.

Step 6: Make channels for ruching
Now we need to make channels for the straps to run through in order to gather the material for the bodice. To make sure the opening stayed large enough for the drawstrings, I used a dowel as my guide. I laid it on the seam that runs through all three pieces and then folded the material over and stitched as close to the dowel as I could get (I slid the dowel along as I went).

Then I folded the little pocket I made down onto the main part of the fabric and stitched really close to the fold to make two channels (on the right you can see there is a dowel in each channel).

Now join the ends of the fabric strip (the short ends) and sew together to make a big loop.


Step 7: Make strap
To make the strap (which will also be used for ruching), cut across one of the strips leftover from the bottom of the tshirt. Then use a safety pin to turn the strip inside out, making a long tube.

Step 8: Ruch top
Using the safety pin, thread the strap down one of the ruching channels and then back up the other one.

Try the bodice on your dress form over the dress base (ignore the blue bit and the pink straps there...they're just part of my semi-DIY dress form). Gather the material, arranging it as you like it.

I originally thought I would just gather one side but decided I wanted to do the other side, too. If you want to do the other side, mark the placement with a pin and then sew another set of 2 channels as before then thread the ends of the strap through. Sew the ends of the strap together once they are threaded through the second set of channels.


Step 9: Attach top to dress
Once you have your channels finished and threaded, put the main body of your dress on the form inside out. Put the top back on the dress form inside out being careful to place the channels where you want them to go and keep the straps in between the bodice and dress.

Pin around the dress until you get to the center back. Cut the bodice up the center.

So the you can sew the bodice back where it belongs, mark the pin line you already marked on the body with an X where you want the bottom of the bodice to be.

Sew around the top using a zigzag stitch, skipping the opening of the channels where the straps are to leave them free moving.

Once you're done, flip the dress right sides out.


Step 10: Sew dress together
First we have to pin the back of the bodice down where it belongs. To help gauge where to pin down the bodice along the center back seam, I first pinned the bottom edge to the X I made above. Then put dots down the line to divide the section in thirds. I gathered each bodice section between the seams and then pinned it down along the line between the dots.

Do this on both sides. Now pin the dress back together along the purple pin line you drew earlier and sew along line with wrong sides together.

I could get away with doing it this way because I stopped sewing where the tail/train ended and so when it falls on the finished garment, it covers the stitching. If you were to want to sew beyond the train, you may need to flip the part below the train in and sew them right sides together.

A big thanks to ThreadBanger for the inspiration and tutorial. Hopefully this will help you if you have some curves but are still looking to make an inexpensive wedding dress that works for you.

Shared with:

* Today's Creative: Get Your Craft On *

Pinterest Scavenger Hunt

I'm excited to announce my participation in a fun new project that will be fun for you and will give you a chance to win some great prizes as well. Read below for how to participate and check out the Rafflecopter entry form as well. Good luck!

Now without further ado, I introduce.....

Welcome to the Fall Pinterest Scavenger Hunt and Giveaway! Pin to Win one of five prize packages with a total value over $275!

Hosted by ArahBellas, All Done Monkey, and Just a Little Creativity

Here's how to Play-

• Create a new Pinterest board specifically for this Scavenger Hunt
• Each day, a new clue will be revealed on the Host blogs as well as the Rafflecopter entry form. With the clue, a link will be provided to the blog with the photo to be pinned.
• To be eligible to win, you must pin a photo from each clue provided
• There are also many additional ways to earn extra entries, so be sure to give them a try!

You Could Win One of These Five Prizes-

One Grand Prize Package

$40 Target Gift Card courtesy of MyArtsyBaby

Artistry Essentials hydrating skincare system or an Artistry balancing skincare system from Chris & Niki's Online Store (ARV $50.45)

$50 Gift Certificate to Bowdabra

{Total Grand Prize Value $140.40} 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One Week 1 Sponsor Prize Package
 $20 Gift Certificate to Cherished Bliss 
One Week 2 Sponsor Prize Package
Coilbound Documenting Book from Paper Coterie (Up to $32 value)
  One Week 3 Sponsor Prize Package
Blog Header Redesign from Simply Klassic Blog Design Ad Space on CherishedBliss.com {Total prize value $56}
  One Week 4 Sponsor Prize Package
Partridge and Pear Stained Glass Kit from Suzy's Sitcom Store
  Cotton Whale Toy Sewing Kit from DIYFluffies a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

More about our Grand Prize Sponsors-

MyArtsyBaby

Quality, hand painted art for your little one. Specializing in custom wooden and canvas growth charts and canvas wall art. Each piece is affordable, and 100% handmade and original, no prints or giclee reproductions. Made to order to your exact specifications. Any design you imagine can be painted on either wood or canvas charts, as well as gallery wrapped canvases.

Chris and Nikki's Online Store

If you enjoy finding new products that fit your lifestyle, you’ll love what’s “in store!” Chris and Nikki started their online store with a belief in their products and potential of their business. With the flexibility they have as entrepreneurs, they are able to spend more time with their two amazing kids.

Bowdabra

Bowdabra bow and craft tools... are unleashing creativity all over the world, from beautiful bows for gifts to elegant bridal accessories and home decor, the crafting possibilities are practically endless with Bowdabra. Bowdabra bow and craft tools...With its simple-to-use "goof proof" design, Bowdabra is for people of all ages; even children. Families seeking fun and affordable activities can spend some quality time together using Bowdabra products to create unique crafts and wonderful memories. Bowdabra bow and craft tools...Bowdabra products come with a VIP Pass to the membership site, containing craft articles and videos presented in an easy to follow style.

 

  This blog is not responsible for prize redemption, and was not compensated for participating in this sweepstakes.

Superhero Birthday Party!

Are you as excited as the rest of the movie nerds about the DVD release of The Avengers next week? My son and I were invited to a birthday party for a Captain America loving four year old recently and what better time to tell you about this awesome party than right before the DVD release? Of course, if you are really excited, you could duplicate a lot of these ideas for a great DVD launch party - no birthday necessary!

First off, I want to make sure you know that I can take ZERO credit for the awesome ideas that came together at this party. The party was planned for and crafted by my super talented (and blogless) co-worker, Bailey:

Hi, Bailey! Bailey has mad crafting and cupcaking skills and is too busy being super talented to have a blog but she did give me permission to show off her great party to you guys!


First Impressions
The party was held in her in-law's backyard. When we first arrived, we were greeted by a table full of super hero crowns and masks so the kids could dress the part to be their super selves.

Games
We played four different games. The thing that is genius about these isn't just that the kids LOVED them but that they were easilly adapted for kids of all ages to play together. This party had kids ranging from 2-10 and they all loved the games and played well together.

Game #1: Super Ring Toss

For this game, two hula hoops served as targets and kids threw balls made from left over t-shirt material and dried beans. Easy peasy and inexpensive. How far away the kids stood depended on how old they were.

Game #2: Kryptonite Pick Up

"Kryptonite" was made out of crumpled balls of foil that had been painted green. Kryptonite had been spread throughout the yard and kids had to use shovels to pick up the kryptonite and put it in their team's bucket.

Game #3: Super Villain Moving Piñata

This game wasn't just a blast for the kids to play but for the grown ups to watch, too. Max' dad dressed up like a "super villain" (left). Kids were handed water balloons (in the pool in the middle pic) and had to chase the villain around the yard. When they hit him (right), he would toss candy and prizes out the bag we was carrying. Kind of like a piñata. But way more fun and with some more skill involved.

Game #4: Superhero Ice Rescue

For this game, a variety of plastic super hero action figures had been frozen into blocks of ice. In order to free the superhero and claim their prize, kids had to spray the ice blocks with spray bottles to melt the ice and rescue them. The birthday boy (center) even had a full size Captain America figure as one of his birthday gifts....but he had to work for it! This game was my son's favorite and he will tell anyone who will listen about his superhero who had to be rescued out of the ice.

Of course when the kids were done rescuing the superheroes the adults took over and had a water bottle fight!

Food

There was a variety of superhero fuel (AKA snacks) set up on the table. Bailey used red and blue plates and buckets from the dollar store to hold snacks. Also check out those fabulous red white and blue strawberries that were dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with blue sugar!

Cake Table
The cake table also served as the gift table and a place for some more favors.

Left: Lollipops were made "super" by taping superhero logos onto the wrappers and then giving them little "capes" by wrapping felt strips around upside-down small paper cups. There were also superhero taffy and superhero pez dispensers

Right: A tower of superhero cakes topped with a Captain America pez dispenser. Bailey used fondant to make star badges and to spell out the birthday boy's name at the top of the tower. The cupcakes were red, white and blue. My favorite ones had blueberries in the bottom.


You think the birthday boy liked it?

You betcha! Look at that excited little face!!

Thanks for letting me show off this great party. Hopefully you found something to inspire your future Avengers or Superhero celebrations.

Styled by Tori Spelling (and Carissa Bonham!) Necklace

This necklace cost less than $10 for me to make!

I'd heard about the Styled by Tori Spelling DIY jewelry line a few months ago and how it was SO easy to make fabulous looking stuff with it. I love the idea of fab handmade jewelry but my brain just isn't wired in a way where I can see plain beads and then figure out how to assemble something awesome looking. SO when I saw some Styled by Tori pieces on sale at Jo-Ann's a few weeks back, I decided I needed to try them.

This necklace is only made from 4 components:

• The bottom piece (which is the styled by Tori piece, you can get it on Amazon as well. It stretches from the cool broach, all the way to the far right circle where all the bottom strands join
• Antique gold chain
• Black grosgrain ribbon
• A clasp

To put it together, I just attached two short lengths of the antique gold chain to the ends of the Tori Spelling piece. Then I wove some black grosgrain ribbon in and out of the links. And added a clasp.

Easy peasy! It took maybe 15 minutes and that's because I spent so long figuring out the best way to weave in the ends of the ribbon.

If you're a jewelry clutz like me, this line is totally for you! Grab your Jo-Ann's or Michael's coupons from the newspaper and go forth and grab a piece to try!  

I also really like the Styled by Tori Spelling Facebook page because they upload cute inspiration pics from around the web or both jewelry and non-jewelry way to use her stuff.

Wondering if this is a sponsored post? It's not. I bought this product with my own money and liked my end result enough to share it with you. BUT word on the street is I may have an opportunity to do a sponsored post some time this spring showing you more fabulous ways to use Styled by Tori Spelling. Stay tuned.