LOFT Inspired Shoes

Prepare to fall in love...  I was out shopping at the mall on Friday and I came across these lovlies at LOFT.  Aren't they adorable?  With a price tag of $69.50, they were just out of my price range.

Caiti Feather Suede Ballet Flat

Well, you know what happened, don't you?  The "I can make that" syndrome kicked in, and well, I did!  :)

 Would you like a pair too?  Well, get out your glue gun because here's how to do it:

You'll need:  4 - 12 in. x 2 in. strips of tulle, 2 felt circles, feathers, 4 poly satin circles (2 big, 2 small), a rosette, 2 clip on earring clasps, scissors, needle, thread, glue gun, and a lighter.

Let's start by pleating a strip of tulle and forming it into a circle.  Secure the circle with a few stitches from a needle and thread (or hot glue).

Gather, pleat, and turn until you make a full circle.  I used two tulle circles per shoe for volume.

Next, take your poly satin circles and singe the edges with a lighter until they curl up and look like petals.  You will need one small circle and one large circle per shoe. I believe my diameters were approximately 3" for the large circle and 2" for the small circle.

Now it's time to layer.  Start with the felt, glue on your feathers, tulle, big poly satin circle, small poly satin circle, and then your rosette.  You could add a button to the middle of the flower like the inspiration, but I chose to keep mine simple and sweet.  NOTE:  I found my rosette in the remnant section at Hobby Lobby.

After you have assembled your flower, turn it over and hot glue on your clip on earring.  NOTE:  The end of the clasp might be uncomfortable on your toes.  You can put a little piece of felt over the back or use a different type of clip, like an alligator one.

I bought my ballet flats at Wal-Mart on clearance for $7.00!  Talk about taking a ho-hum pair of shoes and making them look like a million bucks!

And because we used a clip, we can take these beauties off and put them on a headband, on a sweater or jacket, or on a handbag.  I love items that serve double or triple duty!  Versatility is my middle name.  :)

This project was so simple, and affordable...not to mention adorable.  Isn't it great making your own version of something because you can custom tailor it for you.  I love my all black version of these shoes.  I will get so much more use out of them.  I have the black flats in brown too, so I'm off to make another pair.

Now go make yourself some LOFT inspired sassy shoes! :)  If you do, please send me a pic!  I would love to see your creations! :)

I'll be linking up to these super parties!

Face Lift

Well, what do you think of my new digs?  Okay, I admit it, I'm a little addicted to jazzing up some blogs. :)

I love my new look because it is so me.  I adore the gray and yellow color combo...so modern and chic, and yellow is my favorite color.  I thought stripes would be the best background so they could repeat all the way across the page, and scrolling down the page too.  I also made the text space bigger so I can use extra large images in my posts.

I created all of the images at www.picnik.com and used too many online tutorials to count. :)  You'll be seeing a few more fancy features appear in the coming days.

Blog Design

Hello, Gorgeous Blogging Ladies...and perhaps Gentleman!  :)

I apologize for my MIA status.  My life has been a little whack-a-doo.  I have a new job that has me traveling quite extensively for the next few months, so my posts may be rather sporadic up until October.

I've also been toying with blog design. :)  I'm by no means a pro, just playing...mostly for friends.  I updated a friend of mine's blog this weekend.  Go take a peek.  I think it turned out pretty darn cute. 

The Laughter Family

Other exciting things that are coming soon:

• a super cute, Halloween wreath giveaway
• a one year old's "3, 2, ONE!" birthday party
• eight weeks of Halloween and fall crafts
• a few organization projects

Have a super fantastic weekend!

Sutch a Lucky Girl

Hello and Happy Weekend!

I have to tell you about this amazing week I had...

It all started when I was visiting Mandy's Yellow Corner.  While I was perusing her wonderful tutorials like these

Sassy Shoes

Flower Bib Necklace

and her fantastically girlie and super affordable etsy shop where I found these beauties,

I stumbled upon one of her MANY giveaways...this week from Itz Fitz!  When I looked at this Etsy shop, I kind of started a little love affair.  Itz Fitz makes the coolest yarn and felt wreaths I have ever seen.  Just check out a few of my favs

I won a $30 dollar credit and I need some help deciding which one to get.  Help me out by going to Itz Fitz and let me know which one I should call my own.  :)

Next up on the super fantastic week, another giveaway win at {cowboy} phraseology.  I won this beautiful book page wreath!

If you haven't been introduced to Katie's blog, please go check it out for some instant inspiration.  It is filled with perfectly pulled together casualness with a Pottery Barn flair!   :)  Here are a few things you will find at {cowboy} phraseology. 

Love a little?  Um...yes!  :) 

The lucky streak did not stop there!  I reached 200 followers this week!  :)  I'm so thankful to all of you that come to visit my little piece of blogland.  I'm forever inspired by all of your talent, and you keep me busy! :)

In honor of winning two wreaths and reaching 200 followers, I think I need to do a little giveaway myself.  I'm thinking a wreath!  :)  LOL!  ...a Halloween wreath?  I absolutely love Halloween and decorating for fall, so I think I have just the thing for a fantastic giveaway.

Stay tuned...

3, 2, ONE!

I simply cannot believe my little guy will be one next month!  Where has the time gone?  Well, of course being the uber planner that I am, I've already decided on a theme, designed the invites, and started buying some of the decorations.  :)  I'll be posting each stage of the prep, and then a finale post after the big day.  :)

Here are the invites that I made at picnik.com.  If you haven't checked it out, it is too much fun, and FREE!  It's got all of your basic photo editing features and some extra fun little tidbits to make super cute birthday invites, buttons for your blogs, etc.  

The theme for the party is an outer space/rocket/3, 2, ONE blastoff theme!  :)  I set the dimensions for the invite to be 5"x7" so I can have them printed up at Wal-Mart.  Easy peasy with a professional twist! :)

Here is the invite:

(click on the image to see it up close and personal)

What do you think?  :)  I found the invite lingo all over the web so if you helped to contribute, a big, giant thank you to you!

P.S.  These invites are going to be sent out in brown paper envelopes with "Top Secret" stamps on them.  :)  I'll post a pic when they are ready.

Baby Shower Banner

Here is our last baby shower project!  A beautiful banner to use as a decoration at the shower and then hang above baby's crib in the nursery. 

I started by staining six wooden discs and drilling holes on each side for the ribbon.  I Modge Podged on the letters of the baby's name and finished the banner off by tying it all together with super cute plaid ribbon.  Tada!  :)

I hope you enjoyed all of this week's baby shower themed projects!  I had too much fun making them.  :)  Have a super weekend!

Baby Shower Welcoming Wishes Frame

Another cutie shower project for you!  :)  Remember our inspiration bedding?

I love, love this project because it is such a sweet keepsake for the new little one.  I bought a frame at Hobby Lobby 50% off (I never, ever buy anything from HL unless it's on sale).  I also got a mat 50% off! :)  I made sure that it had room for people to write welcoming wishes for the new arrival.  I added a band of ribbon across the bottom and a letter P to personalize it for baby Peyton.

Have the frame out at the shower so guests can sign it when they come in.  Be sure to provide an archival pen in a coordinating color.  :)

Such an easy and affordable project that means so much!  Come back Saturday for the last installment of our baby shower week projects!

Baby Shower Diaper Wreath

I hope you all had a great Monday! :)  Remember the inspiration for baby Peyton's nursery?

Here is another easy project you can make for a baby shower!

Hang this adorable diaper wreath on the door to greet your guests!  This one is super easy!  Just unfold a diaper, wrap it around a wreath form, and tie it with a ribbon (I alternated yellow and green).  Attach a long ribbon to the top to hang from the door.  I put a large, scrapbook paper covered letter P in the middle of the wreath and glued a little, wooden palm tree to personalize the project.  I thought the P would be super cute on the outside of the baby's nursery as a door hanger! :)

Stop by on Thursday for more baby shower fun!  Have a happy day!

Baby Shower Diaper Cake

Hello!  Happy weekend!  The next few posts will be a series of projects I created for a friend's niece's baby shower.

Here is the bedding for the nursery.  It's a jungle theme, which was also the theme for the shower.  I used it for color inspiration so some of the projects could actually be used as decor in the baby's nursery.

The first project I made was a diaper cake.  I wanted to keep this one super simple.  I rolled the diapers so only white showed, and then wrapped each tier with a coordinating ribbon.  I found some jungle themed painted wood decals at the craft store and hot glued them onto the ribbon.  I added a few scrapbook paper stars for a little flair, and topped it off with a "P" for Peyton!  :)

I love the simplicity!  It turned out perfect!  You could always jazz up a diaper cake more with little baby goodies...travel sized baby body wash and shampoo, socks or booties, hair bows, pacifiers, wash cloths, etc.  :) 

Have a super week and come back Tuesday for another fun baby shower project!