Wordless Wednesday

A plethora of plumeria

We Won a Giveaway!

So {exciting}! We won a giveaway at Hope Studios Tutorial Tuesday last week. $30 gift certificate to Acute Designs! Woo-hoo! 

Go check out her shop... {so} many cute thingies! (I want one {or two} of everything!)

I am especially LOVING these hairpins! I may order a set for Mz. "H" and one for Mz. "I"... for when she has hair.. :)

I am digging these vintage hairpins... do you think they'd look okay with red hair?

Thank you Jennifer Juniper @ Hope Studios, and Gina from Acute Designs! 

<3 AmberLou

Patriotic Tea Lights

My husband and I enjoy having BBQ's this time of the year (I'm sure many of you do as well.) And sometimes the sun goes down before we are ready to head inside so...

I made a cute centerpiece for our patio table that brightens up the table after dark and lets us keep gabbing until the wee hours.

It was super simple and can be done to match your decor. I painted {freehand} 3 mason jars with stars and stripes {leaving some of the glass unpainted so the light will shine through}and then added the raffia as a cute touch. If you decide to do your own you can use a stencil if your not comfortable free handing. I added tea lights inside but, if you have a problem with mosquitoes you could add citronella candles.

*unlit*

*lit*

[it wasn't very dark:/]

*Top View*

I had all these supplies when I did this project so it cost me $0! Use whatever you have at home to create your tea light centerpiece!

Amanda

I linked this post to:

 http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/

Suit Yourself! {and a GIVEAWAY!}

Happy {MONDAY} everybody!

I recently acquired an {old}, 

smelly men's suit. 

It was a men's size 42 that had been altered

to fit someone about 4'10". 

I liked the pinstriping though, and decided
it would make a FABULOUS newsboy! 

I made this hat for my son from 
this great pattern and just loved it! 

I washed the suit in the washer. 
On warm. 
{Explicitly} ignoring the tag instructions.
 It made the fabric nice and soft to work with. 
(And got out the yucky smell)

De-constructing a suit can be tricky. 
Here are a few pointers:

1) Get a pair of scissors
2) Cut that mother up!

I got quite a bit of fabric,

(I'm not loving this picture, but the material
is charcoal with burgundy and copper pin-striping)

And I got a nice chunk of lining

lovely, {shiny} polyester!

And I had more than enough fabric 
to make two newsboy caps.


Important tip: When you're refashioning or 
deconstructing an item, be sure to salvage all the notions 
you can! I got 14 buttons off of this bad boy!


{So}, my intention was to make two 
newsboy caps, but wouldn't you know it, 
there was enough material for three! 
That means {of course} that we're having a giveaway!

There are a few ways to enter:
(Please leave 1 comment per entry!)

A. Become a follower 

2. Tell me your favorite kind of {cupcake}

D. Link this giveaway to your blog. (Include the link!)


And lastly, tell me the name of the 1990s movie where I got my very special numbering system. 

The {winner} will be chosen via random number generator, 
and the giveaway closes at midnight MST on July 3rd.


Winner will be announced Monday, July 5th!


Good Luck!

P.S. I need to say a very special {Thank YOU!} to my friend Louise, who lent me her spare sewing machine while mine is being serviced. Thank you, Louise! You'll probably never get it back, because it is waaaaaay nicer than mine! I don't think I can go back to my Singer after using your White!!!

<3 AmberLou

I shared this link at these parties

Repurposed Patriotic Windsock

Idaho weather has been most unpredictable lately. All the wind made me want a windsock for the holiday. So here is what I came up with for the Independence Day display. All my supplies were things I had around the house. This is a great activity for tween-aged kids.


Needed Supplies:
Dark denim jeans
Red and White acrylic paint
2 foam paint brushes (1 for each color)
potato(for star stamping)
wire hanger (use wire cutters if necessary)
yarn or embroidery floss (I used red)
scissors and needle

To make this windsock… repurpose an old pair of dark denim jeans. Cut the legs off as shown below. Make two windsocks or save the other leg for another craft another day.

Lay pant flat and begin painting stripes. I chose to paint on the diagonal. Leave about 8 inches at the top without stripes. This is where you will paint stars.Leave 1 1/2 inches at top unpainted for the casing.

Don’t get distracted by cute son reading to cute granddaughter.

I suggest at this point – cutting a potato into a star shape and stamping on white stars at the top of the pant where there are no stripes. You can stencil or paint freehand if you want. I like potato prints so that is what I do. I waited to paint on the stars until the end due to my distraction, I don't suggest that – but it was well worth it. When I did finally paint on the stars with my potato stamp, I got so into it, I forgot to take photos, so sorry.

Next fashion a wire hanger into a circle that will fit into the top of the pant.

Pin hanger circle into place. Flipping about 1 inch of the top over the hanger. This forms the casing around the hanger.


Whip stitch hanger into place with yarn or embroidery floss ( which is what I used here…).


Leave extra yarn or floss and tie three floss leads up into a knot, so you can hang it from a tree. I ran out of floss so I used a ribbon. Cut up from the ankle into approx. 8 strips to make the streamers that will blow.

Ta-Da! You are done!

~jan









Hoo Am I...?
1. Do you have any siblings? I am the middle child of 3 and the only girl!
2. Do you have any children? I have 4 children, 1 great SIL and a beautiful granddaughter who will be featured on Thursday the 1st.
3. Are you a morning or night person? I am a night person, but I am more productive in the morning after I have leisurely woken up.
4.Are you organized or spontaneous? I CAN be organized, but lately spontaneous or actually, 'random'.
5. What is your typical 4th of July like? Laid back at home? Community celebrations? etc...? Last year we did a picnic in the park, whole family played ultimate frisbee, then we arrived home for the massive hail storm(SE Idaho). At dusk, in the wet slush, we did fireworks together and then went to watch the big community fireworks display. The 4th of July is my favorite holiday!!

Beautiful Blogger Award

Yay! We have been honored to receive the award...

This comes to us from Jamie at C.R.A.F.T!
Thank you so much for your kindness Jamie!

Now, to pass along the award...
Rules:
1. Thank the person who gave you this award.
2. Share 5 things about yourself.
3. Pass the award along to 5 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic!
4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.

5 things about ~jan
1. I enjoy organizing kitchen cupboards.
2. I love to create from stuff I already have at home.
3. I cannot whistle or snap my fingers.
4. I love to garden but complain continually about it.
5. I can pinch a penny and turn it into a dime... so I've been told.

My 5 blogs who are inspiring
1. Babblings from Brooke
2. Bags by Bre
3. The Magic Onions
4. Jellywares
5. Junkrestore

Thanks again Jamie... ~jan