My First Knock-Off!!

I am following along with the Crafting with the Stars competition (and the Crafting on the sidelines competition) and was therefore challenged to do a knock-off.

The necklace is also a knock-off, seen something similar at Anthropologie

It could be anything, I mean ANYTHING. Really, you can knock off pretty much anything. I decided to not only knock-off but also upcycle as well. That scores me extra points....right??
I can pretend :)

Goodbye ugly mom sweater, and HELLO cute toddler sweater dress

Anyways, being the uber-proud Canadian that I am, I decided to rip off some GapCanada dresses :) My version is kinda a hybrid of two dresses (taking the parts I liked best about each) and will get ALOT of wear this fall/winter.
Dress numero 1 has a sweet little hood which I love and I really like the simpleness of the second ones shape.

My sister made the Owl Hat, works perfect with the dress. Think this may become a go-to outfit :)

Love the length and the hood, and who doesn't love pink zebras??

It looks so comfy cozy. I'm a little jealous.

Go to Northeast of Eden to vote for your favorite project of Crafting on the Sidelines (Oct 4th). Please vote for the side competition at Sew Dang Cute as well (that'll be up for votes on the 5th of October!)

Thank you muchly :)

Happy Thought #1

Happy October Everyone!!!

31 Happy Thoughts : A new series

Alot of blogs do series. Just small simple little things, that they do regularly. I would like to do the same. So I thought to myself...hmmm...

Happy Thoughts

So everyday, for the entire month of October, you will be given a tiny tidbit to make you smile. It might be a funny joke, an uplifting quote, a silly story, a picture, anything.

*Bear in mind- these will be things that make me smile. Sorry if you don't.*

Just a little pic to start us off :) This is totally me lol



Get your Craft on...deadline's comin'

Hurry hurry hurry!! October 3rd is coming quick, and that is the deadline for your submission to Crafting on the Sidelines (a knockoff/we wish we were you version of Crafting with the Stars). SewDangCute is also hosting a side competition with a chance to win PRIZES!!!! We will offer the winner each some mad props and respect (that counts for something right-everyone wants mad props!!)

*******disclaimer: I mean mad props like the kids would say (it means respect and kudos)

 not actual angry prop items**************

Anyways link up your projects as you crank 'em out so we can all revel in your crafting awesomeness!

This weeks theme is KNOCK OFFso copy, improve upon or be inspired by something already made in stores or online! {I sound like a commercial}

It'll be a nailbiter for sure!

Here's where to go to link up- and to get a better explanation than I gave :)

We partied like we were turning 3- and recipes

I gave you all a sneak peek of the invites last week for my daughters 3rd birthday. She settled on a Fancy Nancy theme (love love love those books). So I have pics to share of the best part....the FOOD!!!

The sweets table-yum yum yum

Petit Pastries or Fairy Crunchies

5 marachino cherries, 8 vanilla wafers, 4 jumbo marshmallows, 2/3c white chocolate chips, 2tbsp butter

Cut cherries, marshmallows and wafers into tiny pieces and put into a large bowl. Melt butter and chocolate together. Mix with cherry,marshmallow, cookie mixture and form into balls. If desired top with candied cherries or more marachinoes.

Makes about 15.

White Chocolate Truffles
1 cup white chocolate chips, 2 tbsp butter, 15 vanilla wafers, 4 tbsp shredded coconut
Melt butter and chocolate. Crumble wafers into small crumbs. Mix all together. Form into balls. Roll in coconut.
Makes about 15.

Meringues
2 eggs (room temp), 1/2 cup sugar
Line baking sheets with parchment (I used wax paper that I greased just to be safe). Preheat oven to 225 degrees F. Seperate the egg whites (discard the yolks- or save 'em for something else) and whisk until they form peaks. I used my electric mixer. Add a tbsp of sugar at a time, continuing to whisk until stiff peaks are formed. Scoop a tsp of meringue onto baking sheet, and bake for 40 minutes. Turn oven off, leaving cookies in the oven for 15 more minutes. Remove from oven, and allow meringues to cool on baking sheets.
Makes about 30

Cupcakes- sparkly sprinkles make them fancy :)

My lovely attempt at zebra fondant. I am still learning the fine art of cake decorating- and am teaching myself using the power of the internet. Gotta love you tube and google. How did people ever accomplish anything without those??

My daughter is hiding under that mountain of balloons.

We have a little tradition that on your birthday, you can have WHATEVER you want for supper. So the birthday girl decided on hot dogs, chicken fingers, green beans and salad. A strange combo- but her wish was my command. And pretty easy too. My son is hoping for a full turkey dinner....yeah...I've got a month to convince him otherwise!

Anyways, thats our birthday weekend. It was tons of fun. And I'm still tired. Eleven 3 year olds is alot! Happy Birthday to my little Cayleybear. Now quit growing!!!

So I didn't make it...

Bummer.

This is the little cardi from my entry piece for Crafting with the Stars. See the little bow on the pocket- cute right?!

I could probably just leave the post at that. Buuuuut that would be feeling sorry for myself and we won't go there. I will turn this frown upside down {and be happy as my daughter always insists everyone should be}. So I didn't make it onto Crafting with the Stars- congrats to all who did- I'm not a sore loser, just a little jealous lol!
But look, just over yonder....whats that?? Is that light? Light at the end of the tunnel. Yessss! A less pressure version of Crafting with the Stars? And they want me???
Yes!
So I may not be "Crafting with the Stars" but I am Crafting from the Sidelines. And I am excited :)

No revelevance- just like it. If interested on a tute for this flower- just ask or google. What ev's lol.

Bummer no more. Have a great day everyone :)

And this just makes me smile. Everytime.



Namaste Beee-otch!!

Yes. I know. Not the most polite title out in the blog-o-sphere. Also not the worst though :) Gotta count for something!
Anyways, I seen this bag on Pinterest awhile ago and my sister pretty much demanded it. Since her birthday was quickly approaching, I thought okay, this is doo-able. You know, some freezer paper (I haven't tried it yet, but according to the many tutorials out there, its easy enough), black fabric paint and a bag = done. Riiiiight. Because apparently Canada does not believe in freezer paper. Grrrrr.
But a promise is a promise is a promise (as I tell my kids) and this bag needed to be done. So I thought to myself that I could jazz it up and do it applique style. Yes. Awesome. And its a bag so I shouldn't need to stitch around everything once I've heat &bonded the letters. Riiiiight. For whatever reason my glue did not stick that well. But what/evs, I've got a great sewing machine, easy peasy. Riiiiiight. Bag was too big, too bulky, and my skills could not handle it. Okay, so I'll hand sew. That can't be that bad, right?? Right?? WRONG! It probably took me 4 or 5 hours (thats right, HOURS) to hand sew each stupid letter!!

But now my sister will get a lovely new bag, that is absolutely one of a kind, that I think is better than the inspiration bag. Made completely by hand (literally) minus the bag- it was a clearance buy ($1.97 sah-weet).

With kinda wonky stitching to showcase all the love that went into it lol. Thats totally what I was going for, totally wasn't going for perfection....(I suck at handsewing, probably why it took 5hrs!)

I really like the lotus though. Inspiration bag didn't have that :P Anyways, there it is. Happy Belated Gillian, your present is only 10 days late :) Not too bad, not too bad at all.