Oh Deer!

Did you know that it was my birthday a month ago?  I know, I should have told you, its just that 31 isn't quite as fun to celebrate, ok?!  Anyways, I saved up some cash and with all my birthday money {thanks guys!} I was able to get a Silhouette.  Woot!  I love this thing!  I have been pretty busy so I haven't used it a ton, but I'm sure it will get broken in this month.  I've been dying to try the heat transfer, so I picked up some cute pink polka dot stuff from Hobby Lobby.

See?  Cute right?  Its even fuzzy which I love.  I  used a shape that Silhouette has in their library to cut the sweetest deer for Ivy's shirt.  

Ivy has a lot of white shirts.  Um, just like her mama.  My trick is to embellish them right there, down at the bottom.  That way she can still wear them under things and not have things like a pink deer head poking out of her dress.

Add in the cheesiest 3 year old around and,  

OH DEER! 

  I have one stinking cute shirt. 

{ BTW  I highly recommend the Cherokee ones from Target.  They don't stretch out like other ones and always have sweet little gathered sleeves. } 

SO yeah, I heart my birthday present.  Anyone want to come play with my new toy with me?!  

W is for Watermelon

Stephanie at Somewhat Simple contacted me earlier this week to let me know Ivy's watermelon tank would be featured today for her ABC: Create With Me.  Today's letter is W so head on over and check it out! {Just click on the picture below!}

{And please don't forget to enter the DW Photography Giveaway HERE!}

Watermelon Tuxedo Tank Tutorial

{oh my look how little she is!}

Crazy how time goes by so slow day to day but when I look back I can't believe its been a year.  I made this watermelon tank for my little lady last year because she is a watermelon fiend.  She just eats and eats until she is stained orangy pink.  Well its melon season again so I thought I would make an update on her favorite shirt for my BIG girl for her birthday. 

{she keeps reminding me how she used to be a little tiny baby but now she is 3.}  So here's how to make a watermelon tuxedo tank for your big girl.  No matter what her size!

  SUPPLIES

white tank or shirt {this would be great for a stained shirt}

scrap of red fabric

green fabric of choice, probably with polka dots, or not ;)

black buttons

coordinating threads

normal sewing supplies like a machine.

I took my scrap of red and traced the neckline of my tank just under that edging to get the top to fit in there perfectly.

Then fold it in half and cut the shape you want so its even.  Mine kind of angled out and then curved at the bottom.  It might be a good idea to use some fray check at the top.  Slide it underneath the edging if there is space, pin in place and stitch with red thread.  I am digging my stretch stitch for shirts but its not necessary.  

IMPORTANT NOTE!!!

I'm gonna remind you now.  Always make sure that you aren't sewing the back of your shirt to the front when you are applique-ing.  Of course I would never do that but just a side tip!

Ok moving on.  Cut a strip of green fabric.  This depends on how ruffly you want your ruffle, and the size of shirt you are making.  This time I cut it I think 2 1/2 inches wide?  And it was maybe 40 inches long.   Fold your strip in half lengthwise, right sides together and stitch it all the way down.  Turn it rightside out and press your seam to the back.   Then ruffle it by sewing a gathering stitch down the middle and pulling the bobbin threads.  

{ I'm assuming you know how to do that now, so just google how to gather if you need a refresher!}

Pin your ruffle right on your stitching line on the bib.  Last year I pinned it on the outside of the bib and after I washed it it there was a space between the ruffle and the bib.  So make sure they overlap just a bit.  

 Stitch in place right over your gathering stitch. 

Add three black buttons and your done!

Now go put it on your BIG girl and eat some watermelon!  Just make sure she wears a bib so she doesn't rip it off when she's done because her shirt is wet and can't stand it!

Ruffle Bum Onesie for Cate

My friend Michelle had her third baby girl a couple of months ago and I wanted to make her something and just kept putting it off.  I was in the ruffling mood on Saturday and got a onesie done.  It makes me want to go out and get some onesies for Ivy.

 

First I took a strip of this cute polka dot and pleated and pinned it in place.  I think my strip was 1 1/2 X 22.

Then I stitched it in place.

For my next ruffle I serged the edges of a black polka dot strip (2 1/2 X 42) then ruffled it down the middle.  I pinned it in place close to the seam of the first ruffle and sewed down the same stitch I used to ruffle it. 

 

Last I took a piece of zebra ribbon (1 1/2 X 20) and sewed a gathering stitch near the top and ruffled it up.  

Sewing down that same stitch I attached it under the edge of my second ruffle.  

It is so cute but I wasn't finished yet.

 

On the front I appliqued a "C" for cate and put a sweet little bow at the top.  

I don't know if Michelle reads this so hopefully its a surprise.  

Do you think Ivy would mind if I sewed ruffles to her big girl panties?!