Headboard Makeover

I have always always always wanted a really cool bed.

My husband has never never never wanted to pay for one.

So... when my sis-in-law asked if I wanted a king sized head and footboard (for free), I was ecstatic.

I also had no idea what it would look like.

When it came (thanks again, Risse), I realized it was not exactly what I would have picked out myself:

It sat in my house for weeks, as I debated over just putting it together or trying to redo everything.  Mostly I debated over the amount of work it would take.

I finally just took the plunge.

After tearing it apart, stripping it down, putting it back together again and giving it a fresh coat I came up with this:

Pretty cool, hu?

I really wanted a tall headboard, and didn't really care for a footboard.

I loved the straight top of the fb, but hated the curved hb.

So I decided to turn the fb into the hb.

Here's how I did it:

 I started by unscrewing the molding from the top of the hb, and chipping away the design in the middle of each bow.

Then I took the fb, and broke the legs off.

This is the fb without legs:

Then I broke the legs off of the hb as well:

And it was left looking like this:

The top curvy piece was removed next:

I then took the fb, and put it on top of the hb, so I could see what it would look like (tentatively), like so:

It was going to have to be repainted or stained from all of the demolition, so that came off next:

Once the stain was removed, I sanded everything, and had my brother and cousin put the pieces together and install the new legs.

 

I decided on cream.

Some day I will (maybe) get around to putting a few coats of black glaze on it to bring out all of the cool lines.

But that will have to be when I have my own garage, instead of using my parents.

Even so, it is pretty amazing to me.

I absolutely love it!

Simple Shirt to Skirt Tutorial

Here is a super quick transformation from a woman's shirt into a child's skirt.

This is a really simple idea, but it does require a specific type of shirt, like the one below:

It is really cute, but was one of those shirts that makes you look prego.  Which is bad, if you aren't expecting... so I cut it up!

First, cut the top portion off, just above the elastic.

If you have a little girl (which I don't), then strap it around her waist and see if you need to take it in at all.

It seemed pretty big, so I took an inch off the side.

Just sew a straight line an inch away from the seam that already exists.

Cut off the excess...

Now wrap the elastic down over itself, wrong sides together, so you'll have a nice finish all the way around the inside of the waist.

And that's it!

Sorry no modeling photo's - I didn't have a chicka with me at the moment, and I wasn't about to strap it onto one of my boys...

The entire project took me less than 30 minutes.

I'm going to use the top portion of the shirt to make a matching flower, but that will be another post for another day.

one Old Shirt becomes one Toddler Sun Dress

Ready for a cute and easy makeover?

 

I got a bunch of clothes from my friend (thanks Brigitte!)

In the pile was this:

It looks like it was made for a little girl, right?

Wrong!  It totally fit me.

Only... I'm not 10, so I couldn't pull it off.

I made it into a cute little sun dress for my friend's daughter, Cami.

Do you have an old shirt like this?

Want to make your own?

Here's How:

Start by measuring the bust of the girl you want to make it for.

I ended up taking mine in about 1" on each side.

Sew a straight line through the elastic portion.

Then cut away the excess.

Take the 'L' shape and fold it over.

Sew it in place (this will make a little pleat).

Now work on your straps (you'll have to measure on your little girl again).

I ended up just unstitching one side,

And then crossing them in the back.

And that's it!

I had Cannon's favorite little gal Melayna model it for me...

Pretty adorable, hu?

The dress isn't that bad either...

Leak Proof Bibs

For all of those who know me and my family you know that Lincoln is a compulsive drooler.

Now that he is approaching his 2nd birthday, I have given up on the hope that it is just 'teething'.

Oh well.

We have gone through a LOT of bibs - and he always manages to soak through them and get his shirt all wet.

So I fianlly decided to make him some leak proof reversible bibs.

And they were all made from things lying around the house!

Here's How I did it:

I took some of his old bibs that were stained and weren't very thick...

And I cut off the finished edge.

I was left with two pieces.

Then I took some of his old shirts that were stained or torn,

as well as some old levi's (because I hear they don't stain very easily).

To make them leakproof I used some 'waterproof material' that I made by fusing plastic bags together.

I used the old bib as a pattern and cut the fused plastic bag, levi and old t-shirt to match.

** One piece of fabric I made larger than the other so I could wrap it around and make a border for one side.

Then I layered them:

Levi, old bib, waterproof, t-shirt.

I sewed around the edge, then folded the t-shirt over and sewed around again to make a border.

I ended up sewing some sort of design in the center of each so it would hold all of the pieces together better.

I finished them off with snaps, since I dislike the kind that tie, and I HATE the ones with velcro (they always stick to everything else when I wash them...)

The levi I let fray, because I thought it would look cool.

I also wanted to prove that these are completly able to survive the washer and dryer.

I think they turned out perfectly!

And so far they have managed to do their job!

No leaking!

So if your child is always soaked like mine USED to be, I would highly recommend these!