Easy Baby Shower Decor

A couple weeks ago I had a baby shower at my house. I drew my color scheme from the baby bedding my friend was using.

I had seen this cute yarn balls made from wrapping yarn around balloons, and thought they would be so cute for the shower.

They were definitely a splash of color. I was WI rises at how long, and hard they were to make. I think my balloons were too big. It was hard to wrap the wet yarn around the slick balloon. It also took along time to dry. Some of my warn was still wet the next morning.






I used the left over yarn balls as decorations in my glass dish. This was on the present table, it made a nice back drop for all the lovely goodies for the new baby!



Then I made a door banner out of the color scheme.



I bought plates and napkins in the color scheme to eat all the yummy food off of!






Here we are playing a few shower games.
Here are some of the many presents.



The sock monkey was such a cute gift topper!




Very easy, and cheap too!

I would love to hear some of your party planning tips!

Happy Partying!

Amy


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Frugal Finds-Kid Addition

It is that time of year. Kids are going back to school and the weather is starting to change. What does that mean? New clothes for the kiddos.

I like to think of myself as a frugal shopper. I love a good deal! I mean who doesn't right?

Being a stay at home mom who is going back to school really cuts the family budget. I don't mind because I still get to have lots of fun shopping. I just don't shop in the same places I used to.

I know there are blogs dedicated to thrift store apparel, and I agree with those bloggers! You don't have to buy retail to buy brand name! Not to mention buying at thrift stores and yard sales is a true boost to our economy. That money goes straight in to American bank accounts! (sorry for the political side bar)

Anyway, back to shopping. Around the beginning of fall is when I start thinking about what ,y kids are going to need for the cooler weather. I go through their closets and see what they have. For instance I still have several outfits from last winter for Miss C. She is such a little skinny mini that some of last years clothes still fit in the waist. These will probably only last for a little while and then she will be moving up a size by Christmas. Mr. E has the same situation, except last years pants are too short and most have wholes.

After accessing the situation I start shopping. I love going to my local Goodwill stores. Kids clothes are $1.50 an item, and this includes coats! My town also has a local consignment sale. That just happened to be this weekend. I went Thursday night to shop with my Mom and we were able to finish stocking up on my children's clothing needs.

Here is the spread of clothes for Miss C.







I have a few more things that are already hanging in her closet too. This ate some things I previously scored on Goodwill visits.

There is a total of 16 tops, 4 pairs of pajamas, 8 sweaters/jackets, 14 pairs of pants, 6 dresses, 3 skirt and top outfits, 8 pairs of new panties and 9 pairs of socks.

Here are some of my favorites.

This white dress is a beautiful smocked dress I found at the consignment sale for $9. The red dress is from heartstrings that I found at goodwill for $1.50.



I love this mini Boden outfit! It was only $5.



This adorable brown jumper is handmade! I love the fall colors.



I also picked up a couple of pairs of shoes. The princess snow boots are Miss C's favorite item!





Now for Mr. E. I have been collecting for a while for him. I have a coup,e of friends with boys a little older and a size or two bigger than Mr. E. These friends have been gracious enough to let me go through there kids old clothes and buy some of their stuff!


Mr. E can still wear his winter jacket from last year, so that was one big item I did t Haney to worry about. I did find a cool pair of ski pants for winter play though! I stocked up in 8 pairs of jeans. The kid would wear them year round if I didn't hide them in the summer.

We also were able to find several church outfits with button up shirts. I have a couple of clip on ties for him to wear, and I plan on making a couple more out of some ties I found at Goodwill and some my Dad didn't wear anymore.

Lastly we got tons of tops! I got two brand new plain t-shirts at the Dollar Store. They were on,y a dollar, and both were brand name t-shirts. I plan on them to be layering items with summer t-shirts. I may go a head and do some freezer paper stenciling too. Not sure yet.

As you can tell my kids aren't going to be lacking in the clothes department this fall!
And when you total them all up it is about $200-$250 for each child. I really don't think that is bad for the massive quantity I was able to score!


If you have never tried Thrifting, then you need to give it a chance and see what deals are out there just waiting to be made!

Happy Thrifting!

Amy


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Makin' It Monday-Embellished Backpack

Mr. E needed a backpack for preschool again this year.  There is nothing wrong with the backpack from last year.  I just didn't like getting his school work back all crinkled from where he would cram it in his bag.  The bag was a little smaller than a normal sheet of paper, so he had to cram it to get it to fit. 

Can you blame me for wanting to preserve pristine works of art?  I mean 30 years from now (probably because it will take me that long) when we reminisce about the time Mr. E was in preschool I would rather see his work, than the creases and folds all over the paper. 

Thus enters the new backpack.  

I found this awesome Nautica backpack at my local Goodwill for $3.00!!!  It is totally cool just the way it is, but I felt the need to add a little more to the bag.  First of all Mr. E's name has to be on the bag somewhere, so why not add the name and a little boy bling at the same time. 

Since Mr. E is crazy about tractors, especially John Deere tractors I decided to applique the John Deere Logo on the front and use some John Deere fabric for his name too.  How appropriate for my tractor lovin' baby!

I ironed my fabric to some Wonder Under and then traced the letters for Mr. E's name.  Then I cut out and ironed the letters to the backpack.  To add some extra detail, and support I used yellow embroidery floss around the letters and the logo. 

Mr. E is pleased with the outcome and the extra details make it easier for him to find his backpack in the line of backpacks at school! 

Hope you find some good deals on your next thrifting visit!  Maybe even some you can spruce up a bit too!

Happy Crafting!

Things to Try Thursday on a Friday- Bermuda Shorts

Okay, another clothes refashion, hope you don't mind too bad.

I have a pair of denim Bermuda shorts that I bought last year at Target, but when I put them on they loom like "Mom" shorts. I know I am a mom, thus all my shorts are mom shorts, but these just don't look like what I would like them to.

On one of my Good will shopping visits I went specifically to look for wide, straight leg jeans. In other words a pair of jeans that were as wide at the thigh as they were at the hem.

I lucked up and found a pair that fit me! This was made easier because length didn't matter. I have ling legs, so buying jeans can be a bit complicated.

Originally I was gonna wack the jeans of and hem them myself, but I found this great tutorial for altering the hem of jeans over at Make It and Love It.

So, that's what I did for my shorts. They still have the professional Jean hem, which let's face it is a hard thing to duplicate.

Here is my final product. I have enjoyed wearing these shorts in the hot smoldery weather that we called summer. If the temps don't rise, I may have worn my new shirts for the last time this year :(.






If you have jeans to alter, this is definitely a tutorial to check out!

Happy sewing!

Amy


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Things to try Thursday - altering jeans

I know skinny jeans have been in style for a while now. I was really hoping they would be quick fad, but I am afraid they are gonna hang on for another season or two.

I haven't bought any skinny jeans because they are just not that flattering on me. They are skinny in all the places, including the places I am not skinny So we haven't gotten along in our previous dressing room visits, we both leave feeling bad!

My feelings on skinny jeans changed this summer when I tried Holy Craft's skinny jeans tutorial.

I started with a regular pair of jeans that fit well. These happen to be a yard sale find from a couple years ago.



Then I followed the tutorial and ended up with a new pair of skinny jeans. These jeans literally fit me!



Here I am feeling like a cool kid!



If you don't like the fit of commercialized skinny jeans, or just wanna save some dough this is an awesome tutorial. It only took about 30 minutes from start to finish.

Happy sewing!

Amy

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Thrift Find Friday- Belvah Purse

The other day whole perusing my local Goodwill the other day I found a new purse.

I really like quilted purses, and this one just called out to me.



I love the color and the pattern. I like the purple and orange colors mixed together in the paisley pattern.



When I got home I decided to look up the brand name and see what I could find out about the purse.



Belvah makes quite a few quilted purses and diaper bags. Most of the bags are one color and a tote bag style. I like the hobo style of this bag. It actually holds a lot of stuff! From what I could tell this bag retails for around $30, and I got it at the bargain price of $3.

Happy Thrifting!

Amy




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Fabulous Finds-Farmers Market

I love the summer. Yes, I love to the warm weather, the smell of fresh cut grass, and all of the fresh fruits and vegetables.

One of my favorite things to do is visit our local farmers market. They have really expanded all of the homegrown/homemade items.

My family and I went to Farmers Market and really racked up on the goods.

We got a couple dozen ears of fresh corn, some locally made cheese, and homemade bread.



We have been enjoying our food all week.



Another reason I like going to Farmers Market is because it helps support people in my community. The Farmers Market we go to is all Kentucky products! And I know several of the people set up selling their goods. So I known I am getting quality items!

If you have a Farmers Market you attend I would love to hear what you enjoy looking for the most.

Happy Shopping!

Amy

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Makin' It Monday-Swimsuit Refashion Part 3

I hope you don't think I am beating a dead horse with my swimsuit refashions.

Anyway, I took the skirt off that old ugly swimsuit and made a new cover-up.

I started by measuring my waist and pinning the skirt together to so that it was the correct length around.  Since I had cut the skirt up to use in other projects I needed to add an extra seam down the front.

Just like with the bottoms I made I needed to sew a casing (1/4 in) to put in the elastic waist. 

I used the same procedure as the bottoms by turning the top over and pinning in place.  I cut the elastic to the same length as the waistband of the bottoms. 

After sewing the casing I ripped out the side seam and started feeding the elastic through.

Once the elastic was all the way around, and the skirt waist smoothed I sewed the ends of the elastic together securely.

Smooth the elastic into the waist and then sew up the side seam and you have yourself a new swimsuit cover-up.

And to think I have one of these that I paid full price for at a Department store.  This one works just as well and was only fractions of the price!

Who new you could do so much with one thrifted swimsuit!!

Happy Sewing!!

Fabulous Find Friday-Water Slide

This past fall I spotted a COOL deal at my local Aldi's. 

This puppy was over 50% off the original summer price.  I snatched it up...well I grunted and groaned while struggling to lift it into my shopping cart.  Then I grunted and groaned some more while lifting it and shoving it in the back of my car.  I am sure everyone around me was amused at the sight!

Anyway we busted the water slide out the other day.  The kids had so much fun going down the slide and then spraying each other with the water canon.

At nap time the hubby and I played on it!!  And we had a lot of fun too.  There is a big slide that you crawl up top to go down.  Then there is a smaller slide that goes through the middle.  It is fun to run and slide through on your stomach!! 

This was definitely a great purchase!! 

Happy Summer!!

Fabulous Finds Friday- Four Wheeler

It is the summer.  I think we all know that means that it is YARD SALE season.  My Mom, the kiddos, and I hit a bunch of yard sales a couple of weeks ago. 

We found some good stuff.  The best of which was this...

I know it isn't that obvious from the picture that Mr. E isn't totally in LOVE with his new four wheeler. 

He got a little four wheeler for his 2nd birthday.  He loved it, but soon grew too big to ride it.  I had had it in the pile of stuff to sell.  Once I found the new four wheeler I knew we would be keeping the original one.

Now both kids have a four wheeler to ride around.  We have been charging the batteries everyday! They absolutely love riding all over the place!

Oh, and did I mention the best part...the new four wheeler was only $30!!! 

Happy Yard Saleing!!

Frugal Find!!

Well, last week we had our semiannual consignment sale in my area.  I LOVE going and shopping.  I have found tons off cool clothes for my kiddos, and some toys and accessories too. 

This year one of my sons favorite things is the winter coat from Gymboree.

He wants to wear it all the time.  The other day we had  a couple of errands to run and Mr. E insisted on wearing his coat. I told him he could wear it in the car, but when we went into stores he had to take it off.  Did I mention that it is still 80 plus degrees outside in our area?  Yeah...it is still pretty warm here.

So, we got to our first store and Mr. E was stuck in his jacket...he was sweating and I had to pull the jacket off.  He was okay not wearing it the rest of the day. 

Anyway, I don't think that I will be having any trouble getting him to wear his coat this winter!

Happy Frugal Shopping!!

Frugal Friday-Momma gotta new shirt

We need some new lamps for our bedside tables in our bedroom.  I have seen so many cute lamp redo's out in blog land...I thought I could try one.  Well I can't seem to find any cute lamps to redo...not to mention none of them even remotely go together. 

So yesterday I went to Goodwill trying to find lamps...which I didn't find.  But I did find this cute DKNY top...for $2.50. 

I think the colors are gorgeous, especially for this late summer, early fall season.  I can't wait to wear it with some jeans. 

Happy frugal shopping!!

Frugal Friday-Children's Books

I have many addictions.  Thrift Stores is one of them.  One of my addictions while at Thrift Stores are Children's books.  This is one of Mr. E's addictions.  I guess I learned it by watching him...(on a side note, does anyone remember those commercials from the 90's..."I learned it by watching you", sorry for the attempt a humor). 

Whenever we go to one Thrift Store in our town Mr. E always rushes to the back of the store to the bookshelves.  He would spend all day there if I would let him.  I have to limit him to one book.  The books are only $1.00, so it is hard for me to say "no". 

Lately while at Goodwill Mr. E has discovered their bookshelves and has been picking out $0.50 books.  Once again, hard to say "no". 

We have to stop on the book buying spree, he is proof of this...

This is the bookshelf in Mr. E's room. 
Each shelf is crammed with books.

Even on the side of the bookshelf.  These are the books that are too tall for the book shelf.

Pretty bad huh?  I don't think we can fit even one more tiny paperback on these shelves!!!

Here are the books we have gotten at garage sales, thrift stores, and Goodwill in the past couple of months.

Yep, there are 40 books here...and then this beauty.

My Grandmother found this book for Mr. E at a yard sale...it is really old...has that old book smell.  But this is such a great book...Mr. E loves it all ready.

Mr. E is almost four and he LOVES books!!  I know it is hard to tell by looking at all these books, but he can spend hours looking through them and studying the pictures.  I can't wait for him to learn how to read.  It will change him forever!  In a good way of course. 

So do you or your kids like to read?  I didn't start to enjoy reading until a couple of years ago when I discovered I could read things besides text books. 

Happy READING!!