Crafty Mama

I haven't put a lot of detail on this blog about all the changes that are happening around here...to keep the story short, we moved from Oregon about 10 weeks ago, and now we are moving again! I know, we are honestly crazy. I just hung my last set of curtains about 2 weeks ago, and now everything is getting packed back up. I thought it would be at least a couple years before we booked a rental truck again, but here we are, becoming great buddies with the guys at Uhaul. Anyway, with all the changes and craziness of our life right now, I have not been in a huge project mood. I have been cleaning out and organizing like crazy! But that's not super fun to read about. My cute mom, on the other hand, has been crafting away all summer long, so I thought I would show you a few glimpses of what she's been up to!

This darling chevron patterned quilt she has been making by piecing together fat quarters. Are you kidding? So cute!!

Next up, she completely refinished this little cabinet...but I don't have a before picture! Let's just say it was not pretty. It lives in her front room, a beautiful room with a big grand piano. It houses all of the piano music, so it is a necessary piece, but it was a dark, dated wood with dated hardware...just dated.

So she sanded it down, spray painted it cream, then antiqued it.

She also added these feet, making it a beautiful piece of furniture!

She is also a master sewer (seamstress..er...obviously I'm not, I don't even know what it's called)

She made this skirt for my little gal

And with the extra, made a baby skirt and shoes. 

So there ya have it, folks! My super talented mama! Hopefully after this next move, things will die down a bit and I cane get down to business!



Jewelry Board

I saw this cute idea on 320 Sycamore and knew I had to make one! Moving twice in one year is really helping me get organized, and my jewelry is something that was NOT organized. So I used an old bulletin board I had bought at a yard sale last summer for 50 cents, sanded it and added a quick layer of paint, then started pinning all of my jewelry!

 Everything but my rings are on here, and I can hang it in my closet and have everything right there, easily accessible and totally organized!

2 wreaths, 2 dollars, 2 hours

Many of you may have seen these coffee filter wreaths floating around blogs and pinterest...I had to have one!!

I bought pack of white coffee filters and a pack of tan, they were a dollar each. I bought two styrofoam wreath forms at the dollar store, then went to work!

 Bunch coffee filter at the bottom, to form almost a "V", hot glue the bottom of the filter to the styrofoam wreath.

 Place coffee filters close to one another, wrapping around the front of the wreath form. Then do the same on the sides. I didn't put any int he middle, I think it would have ended up looking like a big ball instead of a wreath.

And there it is! A big bundle of fluffy goodness!!

 I liked it so much, I made a second one out of the tan colored coffee filters.

I made these during naptime...It took 2 hours to make 2 wreaths, and they cost 2 dollars apiece. Can't beat that!!!

A Thrifty Cupboard

My mom found this cute little cupboard for five dollars at a yard sale. My husband's parents brought it up when they came to visit in October, and hubby got straight to work sanding it down,




Priming it to get rid of that crazy reddish purple


Adding a few coats of cream paint and some red crystal knobs, and we have a new kitchen for Brynlie for Christmas!

I got a great deal on some Melissa and Doug play food, some stainless steel pots and pans, and my mom made her the most darling apron ever. I'll post pictures when it's all put together on Christmas morning! Can't wait!

Christmas Gift Ideas

With Christmas right around the corner, I have been crafting quite a bit. I love making homemade Christmas gifts (easy on the student budget, and they mean a lot too!) Here are a few ideas:

Square Table Runners

(I will post a tutorial on these someday!)

Easy Peasy Bracelets

(Just sew a tube of fabric, right sides together, turn right side out, add bead, tie a knot, add bead, tie a knot...if that doesn't make sense, I will do a tutorial on them as well!)

Felt finger puppets for kiddos!

Have you been making homemade Christmas gifts?