Halloween Decor

We are so excited for Halloween! Especially me and Guy. I got some Halloween window clings for 50 cents and the kids enjoyed putting them up and taking them down for about 5 minutes.

                                     

 I wanted to make a Halloween wreath, so I taped together some drip system tubing I had in the garage. Guy used the extra tubing to roll marbles in and to ring and drag around his sister.

 Next, I tied strips of black fabric all the way around.

 Last, I added a wooden decoration I already had and I tied fabric onto my door hanger to cover the gold color.

 I used some blocks I already had and I taped off 'SPOOKY' letters. The paint isn't perfect, but that is OK. Guy loves the spider on top of the Y. I had to find him some rubber spiders so he would leave this one alone.

The kids helped me paint this candy corn garland from some burlap material I had. We had fun.

I am almost done with both Guy and Sloan's Halloween costumes and now Guy wants to be a Power Ranger. Too bad. He is still going to be Nacho Libre.

Making More Clothes

We actually went to church on Sunday. I substitute taught Guy's primary class again. Sloan tried out the new dress I made for her. She didn't really want to model it, but...

Guy wants his picture taken all the time.

In the DIY section of Instyle magazine I got the idea to use safety pins to add a little something extra to a plain shirt.

I only had 50 pins, but you may want more if you try this yourself.

I finally used the purple tulle I bought at a garage sale for 50 cents about a year ago. The purple tutu with black ribbon is going to be part of Sloan's Halloween costume. I am turning her into a Gothic fairy. The other two will probably be given to nieces as part of their birthday presents. These tutus are very easy. Type in "no sew tutu" on YouTube and you will find some great tutorials.

I love Halloween and I have been working on the kid's costumes already. Guy wants to be Nacho Libre which I think is awesome! I ordered a mask, but I am making everything else. Now I am working on Sloan's fairy wings (coat hangers and nylon). Fun for me!

Recycled Clothes

My first project isn't clothing. I took some felt and sewed flowers onto some small pillows I had already made for Sloan's bed. I used half circle pieces that I sewed around and around until I achieved the layered affect I was looking for. I can't take all the credit. I saw this idea at: http://www.vanessachristenson.com/2010/05/guest-blogger-tutorial-allison-of-cluck.html

 

 Next I saw some "Bike Bloomers" at: http://hisforhandmade.blogspot.com/2010/05/biking-bloomers-tutorial.html I gave it a try and they turned out OK. I bought some leggings from WalMart for $6, cut them down, and used the extra fabric to create the ruffle.

Then I ran to my closet and decided I was going to repurpose or recycle all the clothes that I never wear. I started with an over sized striped shirt I got at Old Navy for $1. It did not turn out well, so I am not posting it. Next, I decided to shorten some JCrew pants I never wear.

I want to add camo ribbon through the new bottom section.

We went to the Hurricane City Peach Days fair recently and I saw a "pillowcase dress" for sale for $15. I looked at some different blogs and made this one for my little Sloan. I also want different ribbon for it. I may make another just like it for my sister's little girl. Her birthday is coming up.

In Family Fun magazine I saw a little section about a mother who uses clothes her kids have grown out of to make new clothes for the next season. I took two long-sleeve shirts that Sloan has grown out of and I cut off the sleeves. Then I sewed them onto the short sleeves of two t-shirts my son has grown out of. I added some embellishments to girly them up. This project cost me nothing.

Guy wanted a new shirt too, so I used an old long sleeve shirt that was going to the DI. I sewed them onto a t-shirt he rarely wore, but is going to wear now.

Finally, I was reading through InStyle Magazine and saw a pic of a girl who redesigned some jeans she owned and I felt inspired. Below is a picture of me pinning some old Gap jean that were a little short, and turning them into skinny jeans.

I took out a cheese grater to try to roughen them up. That was OK, but a serrated knife was faster. I scratched them up and washed them to try to make them look more worn.

I am not the greatest seamstress, but I had fun. There are a lot of amazing people out there who have some fun blogs to look at.

Family Time

Dress up time

Snack time

Lizard time

This is our 3rd year attending Hurricane City's Peach Days. The kids love getting candy from the parade. The food is great and I got ideas from the craft booths for my own projects.

A Vietnam vet threw Guy a bullet cartridge after shooting his gun into the air during the parade. We went with my friends Harmony and Mary and their families.

Guy started Joy School yesterday. I was the first mom to teach. Sloan was a good student too.

We went as a family to Pine Valley to camp Labor Day weekend. Guy didn't catch any fish, but Jack dragged in a dead one.

The kids got new camp chairs that they love.

Guy and Jack slept in our tiny tent.

Sloan, Shorty (the dog), and I slept in the van.

In the morning Guy said he was "freezing."

This looks like a happy face, but really Guy said he does not want to go camping again. He was warm in the tent, but he said it was too cold in the morning.