Mad Tea Party!

So sorry to be late for the party!  This is a repost of sorts.  I thought I would share my own Mad Hatter with you!  My Grandson.

If you’re needing a costume idea, this is a great one!  Most of the items here were thrifted.

Then sponge paint was applied to the vest.  and fabric paint to the pants, which she cut off.

The hat and the wig were the only things that came from a costume shop! I sewed the extra lace on the jacket. All other embellishments were things that we found at home and crafted for our perfectionist little Mad Hatter!  He was in a big costume contest at school after all!

Everything was researched and is as close to the original Mad Hatter as possible.  He won first place in the fantasy category! 

Ah oh!  I think I saw Alice!  I must go visit some of the other parties and see if I can find her!

Have a fun fun party!

Denise

Lamp Shade Tutorial

Maybe I should call this the “tutorials when all of the things that I see and love come together in one crazy idea”…….blog. 

For instance this………

lamp shade image from my inspiration files.

Maybe from Anthro.?

Some inexpensive cotton fabric that I purchased for a little over $2.00 a yard at Hancock’s.

An old lampshade that I found in my junk closet.

This new tool that I was dying to play with………

It’s a bias tape maker!  So fun!  You just cut your fabric and slowly run it through this tool, ironing as you go.  EASY!

Oh……and an old brass lamp that I had spray painted BRIGHT turquoise.  I t needed a shade.

So…….

I rummaged around for a sharpie and came up with this…….

I drew in my leaves and vines all the way around the lamp first. 

Just free hand it.  You can’t mess this up!

Then added flowers.  I know you have probably seen many tutorials for these twisted posies on line.   They are easy and fun to make.  Then I glued rows of descending size buttons in several places and added the bias tape to the top and bottom for a finishing touch. 

The spray paint is by Valspar.  No priming or prepping of the brass lamp was necessary.  I simply used a glue gun for all of the fabric and to glue on the buttons. 

And to think that I almost trashed this old lamp shade!  It’s that simple girls!  Now hit those thrift stores.  This project took probably a total of 2 hours, tops!

Have a fun weekend!

Denise

button posies

So……what to do when your house is too hot to even think about sewing?  Make button posies!  I know, I know, this is nothing new.  Believe it or not though, I’ve never made any!

I was inspired after pulling out some of my old Mary Engelbreit magazines and thumbing through them and also from THIS BLOG.  She has some of the cutest tutorials. 

I love this little picture that she made with her button bouquet.

She also has a cute button flower tutorial.

Here are the bouquets that I made yesterday.

The neutrals are my favorite.  I tried to use as many vintage yellowed buttons as I could.  FUN!

And here are my brighter colors.  I put them in a vintage mini trophy cup.  I had to get right on top of it to get decent light for my photo.

I need to renew my button stash!!

Denise

Tote Bag-Part one

Well, as it goes that if it can happen it does, and on the wrong day…..today has been one of those.  Which is why this is part one, instead of the entire tutorial….and why I’m posting so late.  Sorrryyy…….

So……even if you don’t sew much, or haven’t sewn in awhile, this is an easy pattern.

In true “me” fashion, I always try to make things more difficult than they should be.  So it took me awhile to find an easy and fast to make pattern for a cute tote.  And it was right there under my nose the entire time.  Right in my closet, I had a little inexpensive tote bag that I used for the basis for this pattern.

Supplies You Will Need

A cutting mat.  Not necessary but it makes your work sooo much easier.  This is  a cheapie.  If you can, buy an Olfa, they’re the best. 

A cutting wheel.  LOVE this tool!  An Olfa with an Olfa blade is a MUST. 

A clear ruler.  These are great for using as a guide to cut your fabric and they are made to use with the mats.

Once you invest in these tools, you are ready to sew some great projects.  From tote bags to your own pillow shams, etc.!

Of course good scissors, and huumm, a seam ripper….yes I couldn’t sew without mine,  and long quilting pins.

Then I began to choose my fabrics.  I never throw away scraps.  They’re good for things like small pockets, etc.

Ms. R  doesn’t know it yet, but she’s donating that beautiful hot pink and chocolate brown fabric for the body of our tote!  THANKS Ms.  R!  They turquoise animal print will be the pocket, and the polka dot will be our ruffle.  Haven’t choosen the handle material yet.  Kinda forgot.  OOPS!  We’ll get to that tomorrow.

For the lining, I always use something less expensive.

Like this solid blue.  The polka dot will be the inside pocket.  And maybe the rick rack for the pocket trim?

And I may have enough of this for the outside trim.  Left over from my drapes on either side of the front door.

We’ll cut our fabric and begin sewing tomorrow evening.  See you then!

Denise

Helloooooo!

OH…..hey there you!  I  see you made it over to our new blog!  We are just over the moon and back again with excitement about our new blog.  This is THE place to come for sugary fun!

Who are “we?”  Well…..that’s me, Denise, on the left.  The short one of the trio.  And Heather on the right.  And the ever elusive Ms. R. in the middle.  She is SUCH a diva!  Insisting like she is to remain unknown.  HA!

Any who, here are the first few tutorials that we have prepared for you…….. and YOU get to choose which one you would like to see first.

How to make an easy peasy bed skirt/dust ruffle.  Forget that decking that goes between the mattress and the box springs.  You won’t believe how easy and fast it can be to make that skirt that you have been wanting to match your bedroom!

The bed skirt tutorial will include a tip on the easiest way that I have found to ruffle fabric.

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How to make a lined tote bag or purse similar to this one.  I finally came up with a super easy and fast way to whip these up.  AND you can size them and tweak them to  match YOUR personality.  I made this cutie right before we left for Round Top and have been carrying it ever since.  I’ve had tons of compliments on it. 

The tote bag tutorial will include tips on applying appliqués.  Like the little birdie above. 

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OR…….maybe you would like to see this tutorial first!  This is my scrim covered lamp shade with flower.  An easy way to give an old shade a new look.  And the light glowing through that sheer fabric looks so pretty at night!

This tutorial will include the easy to make little flower shown.

SO……..those are the first three tutorials up for grabs.  We have TONS more goodies to show you.  Which  of these three tutorials would you like to see first?  I’ve put a poll up on the top right side of our blog.  VOTE for your choice! 

Class starts a week from Thursday.       THURSDAY, MAY 26th!!!!!!

The voting is just for fun.  You’ll be seeing all three of these plus tons more fun stuff anyway.  Be here a week from Thursday for the first tutorial. 

Oh….oh…..and be SURE and sign up as a follower of Sugar Moon Girls!  We’ll be having giveaways in the very very near future that you won’t want to miss!

See ya  on the 26th

Denise