Fun in the Shade {just for you Karen!}

My friend Karen is doing Relay for Life in a couple of weeks and for her fundraiser she managed to get a few hundred pieces of Shade clothing.  The cool part.  Everything was $5!  I got there too late to get some of the cutest stuff, but like Karen said, I was basically there shopping for fabric.  These green shirts caught my eye and so I snagged two.  One for wearing and one for material to embellish with.  

{TIP: get one shirt in your size and the other in the biggest size you can find-more material to work with. }

I know nothing too exciting right?

I didn't know quite what I was going to do, so I cut my fabric a couple of different ways.  I cut some strips, circles, and some scalloped circles with my Big Shot.  I also cut some tulle circles for some texture.

One option was to place the strips on the shirt, pin it down and sew.  Which actually looks really cute, and I'll probably do it some other time.  

But I liked those scalloped circles so I layered the tulle on top,

pinched it up like this..

 and pinned it to the shirt.  I think I used 12.

After carefully trying it on and moving a couple circles around I stitched it down.  I used the stretch stitch on my sewing machine and just sewed a random swirly line to get a kind of messy effect.  

Wahoo!  In 20 minutes I had a fab shirt.  For 10 Bucks!

I love the texture and shimmer that the tulle adds.  Try it!  It is so fun and easy, I promise!  The clearance rack is an awesome spot to score two shirt for super cheap for projects like this.

Karen said she expected a tutorial sometime this week on what I did with my shirts.  So here you go!  I hope you like it ;0)!

And how awesome is it that when I ask Darin to take a picture of a shirt I just made I get this?! 

And the Rose Goes To...

Ok so I got a little distracted by watching the Batchelorette and painting my fingernails yellow with my sister.
I'm not so sure about the yellow nail polish but the show was ok.  But don't worry I didn't forget about you!
 The winner of the Perfect Pear necklace is....

AMY! of nikonikobaby

Yay!  Thanks everyone for playing.  And Amy send me your info so I can get you your necklace!

Getting Scrappy With It

Darin had a photo club meeting this week and has been asking for camera straps to take and sell.  So I pulled out my basket of scraps and used some of my favorite fabrics to make some.  They turned out super cute in all their scrappy splendor!  It was great practice for not being so match-y.

 I added a ruffle to this one and then realized it would make a cozy little pocket for a 50 mm lens cover.  Pretty snazzy eh?!

Darin forgot to take them to the meeting so. . .

Want a way to dress up your camera strap?!  I'm selling my scrappy straps for $20.  I'm pretty sure it helps you take better pictures ;0).  Just leave me a comment or send me an email or whatever way you want to contact me.  

Also don't forget to enter the Perfect Pear giveaway by becoming a follower!

Sponsor Giveway with Perfect Pear

At Greenies we carry a local gal's jewelry.  Karen lives in Richland and makes some super cute stuff.

Its all organic inspired and awesome.  She make earrings, hand stamped necklaces, 

 beach glass...

and her more recent line of Alice in Wonderland inspired jewelry.

.

Karen has so graciously offered this fab necklace to give to one lucky follower.  

Isn't that key SO rad?  It is from an antique store in Seattle.  And that vial that says "Drink Me"?

I would pretend it really would take me away on a bad day.  

Want to win?  

Its super easy.  Become a follower of my little blog.  If you are already a follower of Making It My Own you don't have to do a thing.  If you aren't a follower its almost as easy.  See over there on the left where it says "the cool kids ;)"  Click on the follow button and follow along!  See easy. 

I'll draw a name out of the hat in 5 days, that's Monday May 24th at 9pm PST. 

Good Luck!

Beach Chic

Here is the dress and shirt I made for someone's wedding.  She is getting married in Mexico (lucky!) and has 4 year old twins.

She had seen a market dress{also known as a pillowcase dress} in Greenies and wanted that style in plain black with some bright ribbon embellishment.  We decided on linen since that is like the perfect beachy fabric right?!

The little guy got a white linen shirt.  Nothing too fancy but it was my first time making anything like it and my first time sewing sleeves.  Nothing like easing those sleeve seams to make me realize how great it is to sew for girls where ruffles and little pleats make things cuter! 

Summer Lovin'

Today I'm  inside all day working at the Kadlec Caregivers Appreciation Bazaar.  Luckily there is Wi-Fi and I get to sit by the windows and see the gorgeous blue skies taunting making me happy!  And since I'm sitting here daydreaming about being outside, I put together some of my summer must haves to share.

 image via LIME RICKI

This swimsuit is calling out to me!  Nothing says summer like red white and blue right?!  Its cute AND modest.  And we all know thats a magical combination. 

This bike is my bike.  Isn't it gorgeous?!  It is the Electra Tree of Life (Alexander Girard series).  I seriously ride around with a smile on my face.  

{of course you can get your bike at Greenies and join my new bike gang ;)}

 I'm seeing a stripe trend going on.  I just wish that Payless actually had the shoes I see online in their store, and in my size when I went in there!

This is my FAVORITE sunscreen.  I love how it smells, how its thick but not heavy, and especially how it doesn't give me a rash.  Ivy and I blow through this stuff when its sunny so its a good thing I know a great place to get it!

{image via Electric Sunglasses}

Since Darin worked for a sunglasses company I was completely spoiled and had all the glasses I could want.  Downside is I learned how bad cheap sunglasses are for your eyes, so I can't ever go back.  Luckily I still have a bunch of glasses, but if I was going to buy a pair these would be it.  Black and white without being too flashy.  I heart them.

What are your summer must haves?  

*one more must have*
    I have been using an Aquasana decanter for a year.  I love it because it holds almost thirty ounces which means I only have to drink 2 per day.  I take it everywhere and even get teased about it.  But recently I found a new water bottle.  Its awesome enough to make me break up with my old one.

Its the Klean Kanteen 20 oz INSULATED water bottle.  I love that I can have cold water all day. 

So now you know what I'll be doing this summer... riding my bike with some sweet shades to the pool to hang out in my new swimsuit and drink my cold water.  Care to join me?  Just don't forget your sunscreen.

Pushing Myself

Its really hard once you stop doing blog posts to get back in the habit I'm learning.  I promise that I haven't been ignoring my little blog, or put away my sewing machine or anything.  I've actually gotten quite a bit done late, I'm just slacking on taking pictures and posting stuff up.  I've tried a ton of new to me things and have really been pushing myself.  

I've been in love with all of the printables out there for gifts and parties and cupcakes {like the ones I used on my Mother's day cupcakes}so I've been teaching myself how to make some!

Here's my first birthday circle!  It was basically practicing all of the stuff I just spent hours trying to learn.

Kind of fun huh.  I'm super excited that I did it all (with the help of Google of course) on my own! 

Plus Darin is super impressed and I didn't even have to bug him for help...  eh,  more than 2 times!

Happy Mothers Day!

(ignore the valentines cupcake wrappers, it was either that or halloween.)

 Lemon Meringue Cupcakes from How Does She?.

Mothers Day printables from HERE and HERE

I wanna be a billionaire so freakin bad

Have you heard that song?  I love it for some reason. But wouldn't it be nice to be even a millionaire around Mothers' Day?  Want to know what I would ask for if money (or space) wasn't an issue?!  We can all have wish lists right!

First up the Cricute Cake.  How fun would that be to have?  I would throw birthday parties for everyone I knew just to use it.  The cake is the hardest part for me.  But of course getting one of these would come AFTER I got a Cricut Expression which I am seriously saving my money for.  I was hooked after my mom got the SCAL program.  (Which is also on my list and yep it works with both Cricuts.)

Ehh.... alright.  Thats all that is on my list right now.  I guess I would have to use the rest of the money to get a house to hold all of the random craft contraptions.  Geez, why can't they make ONE machine that does everything?