Halloween Tutus! Part 1 - A Darling Devil

Last year my sweet 8 year old wanted to be a devil. At about that time I was introduced to the world of TUTUS. And oh my ...

So I decided that I could totally make one, scoured the internetz for tutorials, and ended up getting completely HOOKED on them. I found a way to work them into each girl's costume and about 50hundred more ideas :)

The tutu's I make are the super fluffy double layer ones. I probably use more than tulle than most but I like my tutu's POOFY lol

I'm going to attempt a tutu-orial on this but I have no measurements and can't seem to think good (lol) but I have pictures so I'm gonna throw something together. If this isn't enough info here are a few links that helped me :)

How to Make a Tutu
Quick and Easy Way to Cut Tulle

Now on to the Tutu-orial :)

1) I use 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch elastic. Measure your elastic around your victim model. Subtract an inch for stretching.

Sew your elastic together either with a machine or by hand several times back and forth.

2. Use the link above about cutting tulle and cut you strips. How many depends on how big and long and poofy your tutu will be and I find it hard to guestimate so I just cut like 20 strips at a time.

3. To make a poofy tutu, take 2 strips and criss cross them, making an X shape.

4. Take the X and hold opposite sides together. It helps to have something to put your elastic around so it stays taut.

5. Feed the tulle through the elastic either from bottom to top or top to bottom, either way will work.

6. Wrap tulle around finger and pull back through tulle loop. Pull tight.


7. Pull down and tight but not TOO tight that it wrinkles the elastic.

8. Keep doing that until you hate the sight of tulle and your elastic is covered :)

*Now depending on what look you're going for you can do solid color, stripes, stripes with on color dominating, several color stripes, or one color on top and one on bottom. They all look great!

Another finishing touch is adding a satin ribbon top. Very simple, just weave the ribbon over and under between each strip of tulle. Then tie a bow in the middle :)

My little devils costume turned out BEAUTIFUL!!!

I found a cute head band and pitch fork at JoAnns to go with it, and freezer paper stenciled her a shirt :)

She absolutely LOVED it and I just can't tell you how happy it made me!!

My Darling Lil Devil :)

Tune in next for Part 2 - My Witchy Woman ;)

Linking up to these awesome parties!

Lil Summer Break

So lately I've mostly posted my WIWW posts {IF that} and it seems harder and harder to craft these days let alone POST anything!

We've been SO busy this summer and the days that we're not busy I'm totally enjoying doing absolutely NOTHING LOL.

So I'm {totally late} taking an official SUMMER BREAK from posting. I'll be back after they go back to school {16 MORE DAYS!} crafting and posting my heart out.

16 MORE DAYS UNTIL ... THE.BEST.YEAR.EVER :) All the kids ... in school ... ALL DAY :) I can hardly freakin believe it but yes ... after almost 14 FREAKIN YEARS it will finally happen. I will be ALONE for 6 HOURS EVERY.SINGLE.{week}DAY.

*THROWS CONFETTI*

Not to say that I haven't enjoyed the summer with my crazies kids, I HAVE! But I'm also ready for the BEST.YEAR.EVER. to start!

So I'll see ya'll in a couple{ish} weeks! And if ya'll miss me I'll {HOPEFULLY!} still be posting over here :D Enjoy what's left of this lovely summer ... I know I'll be trying ;)

Old Frame to White Board Calendar

I've been needing a white board type calendar to use just for ME. Things *I* need to do, make, cook, that kind of thing.

Supplies:

Old frame
spray paint
sharpie
white board pens

So I had this old framed picture that's just been filling up space in the hall way since we moved here. I didn't really LIKE the picture (or the frame color) and it totally didn't go with anything anymore so I decided to put it to MUCH better use :)

1. I took the frame apart and cleaned off the glass and frame.

2. Then I spray painted the frame, 2 coats.

3. Once it was dry, I reassembled the frame with the ugly picture BACKWARDS so the white backing was facing out.

4. Then I experimented, using my white board pens, what I wanted the board to look like.

I tried out a few different styles

even looked on Pinterest to see if I could find some inspiration there.

eventually I came up with something I liked so I took the back off again and prepared to write it for real on the white paper.

5. I measured out where I wanted the lines and used a ruler to make sure they were {mostly} straight. Then I wrote in, with sharpie directly on the white paper, the days of the week and the column headers since I figured those wouldn't be changing.

The best part about writing that on the paper itself is that I don't have to worry about wiping it off or rewriting it all the time.

6. Finally I reattached everything again and she was ready to use!

Easy Peasy! I LOVE this calendar! I use it ALL the time and it's in just the perfect place. I write down all the things I need to get done in the week and then decide when to do them based on what else is going on in a day. It's helped me stay more organized and focused and it looks pretty too :D

Linking up to these parties!