A Skirt for Sparkles + tutorial

 My sweet girly girly sparkles found this skirt at target on a recent shopping trip.

she was so pleased with her find that she was jumping up and down with excitement. unfortunately mummy wasn't willing to pay the $22 price tag, knowing she could make it herself for a lot less.

So that's what I did...

This is my version! Total cost about $8. 

Made from memory, as I only really glanced at the
targets version. I went back to later, especially to get a photo 
to show everyone my inspiration. 
 

Here's the tutorial
Please note measurement are made to fit my 5 year old daughter.

You will need basic ingredients; fabric for main skirt, voile or similar for underskirt, Tape measure, scissors, cotton, shirring elastic and a sewing machine of course. 
In this tutorial I also use an overlocker/serger which is useful, but not essential

 I cut a 12cm ( 5") yoke, 2 x 25 cm (10") pieces for main skirt and a 22cm (8.5") under skirt. All pieces are cut to the width of the fabric (112cm/ 44")

Overlock/serge (or zig zag stitch) the upper edge of yoke, then measure and iron a 1.5cm (5/8" ) hem (don't sew yet).

Then pin, right sides together the underskirt to the yoke, sew (overlock/serge) and iron seam toward underskirt. 

Next pin with right sides together one side seam of the main skirt , sew a 1.5cm (5/8")seam and iron the seam open.

 then stitch a rolled hem with my overlocker/serger (sewing a small hem by turning under 5mm (1/4") twice would work too) the upper edge of main skirt.

Next, sew two rows of  gathering stitch along the top of the main skirt piece. 

Then pin matching centre and sides of main skirt to the yoke,

centering the lines of gathering over the yoke to 
underskirt seam, (creating a ruffle).

then pulled up the threads to fit the yoke, leaving about 1.5cm (5/8") at edge free from gathers for the
seam allowance (making it easier to sew side seams later). 

Once your happy with your gathering, stitch in place.

Now sew ten rows of shirring along the width of the yoke, with the first row 1cm (1/2") from edge stitching down the hem you ironed earlier. Lining up the presser foot with the last row stitched

We're almost finished! Pin with right sides together the side seam. Matching upper edges of the yoke, the shirring, etc and sew  a 1.5cm ( 5/8")  seam, keeping the underskirt clear (you'll sew this next) now overlock/serge (or zig zag) edges and iron the seam open. 
Next sew or overlock/serge underskirt side seam together.
Separating the main skirt and underskirt side seams, makes hemming the skirt easier.   

Now overlocking/sergeing the raw edge (turning under 5mm (1/4") will work too), then measure, iron and sew a 1.5cm (5/8") hem on the bottom edge of the main skirt.  And stitch a rolled hem on the underskirt with the overlocker/serger. 

I will swap this photo with a photo of sparkles wearing her skirt soon.

All finished.

Oh! And don't forget to remove your gathering stitches.

 Sparkle's loves her new skirt and told me its better than the Target skirt.

Please let me know what you think, I would love some feedback.
If you have any questions or would like measurements to make other sizes, please ask. I'm happy to help.

**Disclaimer: For personal use ONLY. Please do not use this tutorial for monetary gain. If you would like to share this on you blog, please link back to this post and/or give proper credit where credit is due! Thank you!**

Happy sewing 

Linking to these fantastic parties:
Tip me Tuesday/ Handmade projects @  Tip Junkie.
Crafty Soiree @ Yesterday on Tuesday
Feature yourself Friday @ Fingerprints on the Fridge
Friday link party @ Creation Corner
Show off your stuff @ Fireflies and jellybeans.
Make it wear it @ The Train To Crazy
Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts
Show me what ya got @ Not just a Housewife
Show and Tell @ Blue Cricket Design
Look at me Party @ It's FUN to Craft.
Making the world cuter Monday @ Making the world cuter
Talent Tuesday @ Vintage Wanna Bee
Take A Look Tuesday @ Sugar Bee Crafts
TOO Cute Tuesday @ Funky Polkadot Giraffe
Craftastic link party @ Sew can Do
craft catwalk @ Embellishing life
Sew darn crafty Party @ Sew Many Ways
K.I.S.S @ The Tattered Tag.
Weekend wrap up @ Tatertots and Jello
Sunday showcase @ Under the Table and dreaming
Sundae scoop @ I heart naptime
What ya got weekend @ Lolly Jane.
Free for all @ Young and Crafty
 I'm crafty Party @ SYTYC
Will see it Wednesday @ Fabric Bows and More.

Bag ID Tags!!!

 I made ID tags for my girls school bags today,   
 so she felt included, I made one for Little Princess too,

Here's my little Princesses bag.

I had planned to have them done and 

ready for when school went back, 

but ran out of time (Covering the girls books took forever). better late then never

The Girls love them..

Do you want to make some too? Here's how I made them 

Supplies needed:

Paper cutter, glue, various inks, alphabet stamps,

basil cardstock, cuttlebug and dies, kindy glitz and tags.

This is how the tags looked originally, I purchased 

them from lifeline (thrift shop) for 50c each

I measured the original card and

cut white basil to the same size of the original card.

I inked the edges. 

Please excuse my over used b plate

Cut three different sized flowers and a leaf using my cuttlebug. 

 Then inked the edges of the flowers and leaves, glued the flowers together and finished them off with some kindy glitz in the centre.

 Here's a close up of the flower.

Stamped their names on the front and contact details 

on the back of the card. I then glued the flower on.

and resembled the tags. 
I'm really happy with how they turned out.

Simple, pretty and girly!

Please note I have removed my girls names for privacy and added their nicknames with my photo editer.

**Disclaimer: For personal use ONLY. Please do not use this tutorial for monetary gain. If you would like to share this on you blog, please link back to this post and/or give proper credit where credit is due! 

Thank you!**

Happy creating

  


Linking to these great parties:
Not JUST A Housewife - Show me what ya got!
Vintage wanna Bee - Talent Tuesday
Tip Junkie - Handmade Project ~ Add yours. 
Todays creative blog - Get your craft on! 
Bouffee banbini - The handmade hog 
Yesterday on Tuesday - Craft Soiree.
 Night owl crafting - Hoo's got talent ?

Christmas Wreath

I finished this star wreath last night,

I love how it turned out!

Here's a quick tutorial.

1. Grab Kasiercraft BTP star wreath(no photo of packaging sorry)
separate pieces & sand to remove any rough edges. 

2. Gather your favourite supplies/tools
(paint, mod podge, paper,embellishments, 
ribbon & ink etc)

3. Paint backs & edges of the stars(I used Kaisercolor olive green) apply a second coat for a
deeper colour & allow to dry

4. Carefully cut paper (I used kaisercraft belle) 
& glue to stars

5. Sand/neaten edges of stars

6. Ink edges of stars to create depth.

7. Allow to dry completely

8. Arrange stars on wreath backing & glue once
your happy with their layout.

9.  Add Some wooden flourishes (I used peace, hope & holly). Tie ribbon & glue them randomly in between the stars.  Embellish as desired (I used kaisercraft pearls chino)

Patterns/tutorials are for personal home use only. Projects are not to be produced for commercial purposes, nor are they to be made into items for sale.

Linking to:
Not JUST A Housewife - Show me what  ya got!
Pinkapotamus - Pink hippo party!
Tatertots and Jello - Homemade gift ideas!
Embellishing Life - Craft catwalk! 
Vintage Wanna Bee - Talent Tuesday!!!
These Creative Juices - Letting the creative juices flow.
Free pretty things for you - Whatever you want wednesday
Sew Much Ado - We did it! wednesday
Blue Cricket Design - show and tell
My Backyard Eden - Make it yours day
Someday Crafts - Whatever Goes Wednesday.
Trendy Treehouse - Creative share blog hop.
Fireflies and Jellybeans - Show off your stuff.
Paisley Passion - Thrilling Thursday.
Fingerprints on the fridge - feature yourself friday.
My Romantic Home - Show and Tell Friday.
Paper Issues - Holiday hook-up
504 Main - tickled pink!
It's FUN to Craft - Look at me party!!!
A Vision to Remember -Check me out Saturday.
Young and Crafty - Scaptastic Saturday.
Be different Act normal - show and tell Saturday.
A little lovely - Saturday Soiree.
I heart naptime - Sundae scoop.
Under the table and Dreaming - Sunday showcase.

Christmas bauble tutorial

Look at what I made for my girls last night, Cute huh!

 Do you want to make some too?

Here's the ingredients you need.

 Paper mache balls, Scrapbook paper scraps, circle punch(medium), 

Mod podge, foam brush

 I also used  a spray bottle of water (this helped alot), my heat gun 

and sparkle mod podge (not pictured sorry)

 Punch lots and lots of circles...

 I sprayed my circles with water first, so they would 

conform to the ball easier.

 Start at the string and glue the circles on randomly, overlapping them slightly and painting mod podge over the paper circle as you go, until the ball completely covered.

I used my heat gun to speed up the drying process, just be careful not to

hold it in the same spot for to long. After leaving to dry for a while i did a final coat with sparkle mod podge to add a
little bit of girl glitter (not easy to see in the photos)

And here's the end result. You could also ribbon or embellish with

your child's name (that's what I'm going to do) the possibilities are endless.

This is my first tutorial, I hope you enjoyed it. 

Please let me know what you think, I would love some feedback.

**Disclaimer: For personal use ONLY. Please do not use this tutorial for monetary gain. If you would like to share this on you blog, please link back to this post and/or give proper credit where credit is due! 

Thank you!**

Parties I'm linking to
Market yourself Monday @ Sumo's Sweet Stuff
Weekend wrapup party at Tatertots and Jello 
Just something I whipped up - Holiday style at The girl creative 
The Shabby nest - Frugal Friday 
Paper issues - Holiday hook up 
Me Making Do - Your so very creative
It's Fun to craft - Look at me
Making the world cuter Monday
Be different Act Normal - Show and Tell Saturday