Rainbow birthday - all the rest!

You've seen the craft and the decorations. Here's what else we did to help little E celebrate big FIVE!

Coloring pages (from here)...

...rainbow scavenger hunt: balloons of each color were hidden with coordinating stickers.  The kids had to find each balloon and sticker their paper.  When they found all six colors...

...they received a little bag of gold (and silver) at the end of the rainbow!

Fabric party hats (found here), rainbow-style...

...twirl rainbow pops...

...rainbow relay: the kids lined up in teams of six.  They had to put on the rainbow wig, run to the other side of the room and color in one color of the rainbow.  When done, they ran back to their team, pass the wig and the next child runs down to color.

 

The rainbow cake (recipe here), but we didn't make it for the kids' party because a certain five-year-old didn't like it. We made sugar cookies with frosting and rainbow sprinkles instead.

...a rainbow of fruit..

...the dress (handmade by me, am loving the finished look of the double needle!).

I think it was a successful party.

The five year old looks pretty happy!

A little intense...

The doll clothes sewing continues.  I found two books with lots of 18" (read: American Girl) doll clothes patterns.  Little Chloe here almost fits those, with a little tweaking. 

This wrap dress jumped out at me and I thought it looked fairly simple.  Ha!  I'll say the good news is that I learned A LOT about clothing construction making this dress (and the pattern is well-written, don't get me wrong).  However, in the time it took me to make it, hubby thought I made a matching one for the doll's owner too!

Wrap dress from here

The bodice is lined and handstitched from the inside - not a strongsuit of mine. But, I'm happy with the end result. It's cute and hopefully easy for three-year-old fingers to put on.




back detail

  A much simpler option is the Popover Doll Dress from Oliver+S.  I've had this fabric in my stash for at least a year and finally dared cut into it.  I'm glad I did!

Popover Doll Dress from Oliver+S found here

The matching pants are from a self-drafted pattern using the doll's pajama pants (remember she was here for a sleepover?).  I will say I made a bunch of these for our smaller baby dolls and didn't cut the straps on the bias.  It made a big difference.  Look how happy Chloe is! 

strap detail

Fabric is cut for three more items that I just could resist!  Really, the doll clothes are slightly out-of-control.  I don't know if I would spend this much time/detail on my own kids' clothes!  But, it's somehow very fun (and makes me giggle) to sew up these patterns and fit them on the doll.  Look for the rest soon!

Hope you are finding something to make you giggle today!

A little sunshine for a rainy day...

If you are a New Englander, you are probably tired of rain and gray skies.  Maybe that's what prompted me to pull out this very bright, floral knit this past Saturday and sew up a dress for little E. 

The pattern was based on this and this, but I shortened the sleeves and added an elastic edge to give the sleeve a little poof. 

As with the other versions, I'm left thinking I could do something more with this pattern.  Although I'm all for simple, there is something lacking (despite the overstimulating print).  If I can pry it from the four year old's hands long enough to figure it out, I'll let you know.  For now, hope this brightens your day a bit! 

New life for an old shirt

From this...

to this...

courtesy of this, with a few modifications (1/2" wider, kicked out the sides for the skirt, lengthened by 4 1/2", used existing hem of shirt).

Like the headband?  Pop over here for the how-to.

Happy weekend!

Party Prep

Last Thursday, little E turned FOUR!  In some ways, she has seemed like a four-year-old for a while, and in other ways, she seems suddenly so grown up!  Either way, we had fun planning and scheming for her birthday party. Here are the highlights of the party prep.  Photos of all this in action to follow soon. 

1. It all started with this book.  I love that she isn't a Disney Fairy Princess - just a spunky, creative, opinionated girl (sound like anyone we know???).

Alice the Fairy by David Shannon

2. The "farty pavor" collection: a wand, tattoos, stickers, pixie dust, a fancy ring, and a frog.

 

3. All wrapped up.

 

4. Decorate your own crown.  Sure, I could have put out paper crowns, but where's the sewing stress in that?  (I only had to sew ten!) 

 

5. A close-up of the crown - made out of simple muslin.

 

Dress-up Crown tutorial from The Long Thread

6. Create your own magic wand.  Thanks to my dad for cutting, sanding and drilling holes in the dowels.  And, try as I might to undo my pack rat ways, I had to smile to think those jingle bells are at least 5 years old.

 

Magical Wand from Angry Chicken

7. Felt broccoli and strawberries for the food toss game.  In the book, Alice is convinced broccoli is poisoned and strawberry jello would make a good bath.  I thought it would be funny to throw these into a cardboard cut-out of her mouth.

 

Felt Broccoli and Strawberries

8. Finally, the dress to sport at the party.  I actually had this fabric in my stash and was so happy to find a good use for it.  Little E wanted short sleeves, but I didn't want to rush the alteration.  And...even with glittery fairies all over it, I think it still need a little something.  Maybe a red ribbon sash, or trim at the bottom? 

Everyday Dress by ManiMina Studios

As you can see in the blurry dancing shot, she didn't seem to be missing anything! Love the pink tights with silver hearts to complete the ensemble!


 

Hope you have lots of reasons to celebrate and be happy today!

Popping in




"Too many project ideas, not enough will power to say no!"

 

It feels like ages since I've posted anything.  While I haven't been blogging, I have been busy - scattered, actually.  The holidays may be over, but that means birthday season in upon us in our house, and I can't resist the temptation to make things for birthdays. 

So, in the works are:

 - felt broccoli and strawberries for a party game

 - fabric crowns for kids to decorate

 - beaded fairy wands to put together for kids to make

 - party favor bags

 - cookies to decorate

 - a party dress

 - finish my aunt's birthday gift (just a few weeks late)

 - Valentine's for little E's class

I really don't know how "real" craft bloggers do it all - the creating, picture-taking, photo editing, blogging, etc.

Happily, there are a few completed projects to report:

 - bibs for a friend's niece-to-be

 - new bag for me (oops!  how did that happen?)





"For Pleats Sake" bag courtesy of U-Handbag

  

 - birthday gift for friend





Another "For Pleats Sake"

  

 - same bag (different fabric) for sister-in-law (no photo)

 - new dress for little E - I actually made this first one from old fabric b/c I was worried about the fit of the pattern, but the fit was perfect and little E was soooo happy - you can just tell how good she felt in her new dress.

 Thank you, Ruby, for sharing a dress pattern even I could make!  ha ha

Hope to be back soon with photos of more completed projects (preferably the ones listed in the above "in the works" section!).
Happy weekend!