Beach Towel Robe for kids!

I loved R's new Beach/Pool Robe SO much I made him two!  This is seriously a life saving GEM since my 2 year old cannot keep his towel on.  It was VERY easy to make too! I made the first one short sleeved with the partial tie option and a hood.  He normally wears a size 4T (yes I know, he's so tall!) but he is slim enough to wear 3T.  The dilemma was which size to make so I went for the medium sized 18mo to 3T and used the length of the large sized 4/5T.  Worked great!  Except on the first one I made the ties the size of the large, which ended up being way too long and I put them down too far. I then decided for the 2nd one he needed the full tie to help it stay on better and put them up higher.  PERFECT!  I also had a problem with the robe slipping off his shoulders so I added a button and some elastic.  Problem solved! (I went back and added that to his first one later so you don't see it in the pics.) If you can't tell by the pictures, break time at the pool is all about snacks with us!  

Beach Robe Pattern by MADE

Beach Towel Dress!

I love my new Beach Towel Dress! Yes, made from an actual beach towel. Actually, a $3.97 beach towel from Walmart! What I don't like is being my own model! Oh well.  I got the tutorial off Made, which if you haven't noticed is one of my favorite sewing blogs.  She uses a pattern to make hers but I just took my hip measurement and added 6 inches and sewed the top with elastic thread then sewed the side together.  I think when I do it next time I will add more rows of shirring..I got too anxious to finish, and I will cut a front and back piece, I like having two side seams.  I can't wait to use it!  It is so hard to juggle my towel and get R in one while making sure he doesn't run off while getting all our stuff together.  I am always soaking wet while everyone else gets a tad more dry.  In addition, I am usually holding him while he is still wet, but her newest addition will hopefully change that too. She also just added TODAY a beach robe pattern, which R totally needs! I think with a Cars2 or Thomas beach towel though.  So after nap we are off to the pool again!

Kids play tent for under $10!

R's new play tent!!

I fell in love with these A-frame tents I have been seeing on blogs and decided to make one for R.  They are SUPER easy!  I used Rubyellen's tutorial and added a few things of my own.  She explains everything you need on her site, but I had a few changes.  She used finished moulding and I just used 1x2 unfinished wood since I was wrapping mine in fabric (I did lightly sand also).  The moulding was between $3 and $8 a piece depending on the look you wanted (which cut in half gives you 2 pieces for your tent frame) The 1x2 unfinished wood was $1.12 for an 8 foot piece (which gave me 2 pieces also).  I used a $5 sheet from walmart for the tent fabric and hemmed it.  I would measure the frame top once you finish because mine was a tad shorter than her specifications, meaning I  just pushed my tent frame further onto the dowel rod.  For my frame covering I had some canvas/linen type fabric from an old ikea curtain sitting in the closet, which I just ripped into strips to give it a frayed look.  There was enough of the sheet leftover though if you wanted to wrap your tent pieces in matching fabric.

Now go make a tent to read, play, sleep, or in my case.... use as a train tunnel,

or steal mom's tablet to play matching games.

Happy events!

Hey blog friends.  Just wanted to share some happy events.  My son made the all A honor roll for the entire 5th grade year (with Gifted and Talented classes!)  Only eight 5th graders accomplished the A honor roll! He also got 4 other academic awards for having such high A's.  In addition, his class voted him "Most likely to become a doctor", which is what he wants to be anyways!  I am a proud momma!

He's the one on the very right, his certificate didn't print, but we did get it!

That's a smarty pants look if I have ever seen it! :)

 My stepchildren still have another week left of school! But they will both be getting the A/B honor roll! I am surrounded by smart children! (Which I am not sure is a good thing)  ;)

ALSO....my hubby and I just celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary.  Don't we still look so cute and in love??  If I knew how to make a bunch of little hearts around here I would.  :)

 I love my partner in crime!

 Should be back to sewing posts next week...not sure if I will have more or less time with the big kids home.  Here's hoping for MORE!
Have a good Memorial day weekend!

More Free Patterns (I love the word FREE)

I know if you're anything like me you LOVE FREE PATTERNS! Tutorials are great but the less work I have to do, the more I like it!! Here are some cool crochet and sewing patterns I have recently found and LOVE.

I don't crochet but I have found a lady with some ADORABLE patterns that make me want to start! Plus, they are mostly only around $3 each! BUT..today if you "Like" her fb page Creations by Sasuga you can get this TOO CUTE FOR WORDS baby mobile pattern FREE!

 A couple of her other patterns I like are these sweet turtles,

and this Noah's Ark blanket that I could definitely see as a hand me down treasure!

Visit her Etsy Shop The Trendy Yarn Studio for more.

Now moving onto MY area of expertise...sewing! I came across this pattern for a dress made out of knits, which seem to be on the harder side to find patterns and tutorials I have noticed.

Cute stuff! Fellow blogger The Train To Crazy gives away her pattern for this fun little dress. I love the attached sleeve, although I will be altering the sleeves to short sleeved because, well, I am in Texas.  Bonus- it's even a multi sized pattern! 12mo to 5yr! Thank you for your pattern. I can't wait to try it!

Lastly is a purse/bag! It actually doesn't have a printable pattern, but she's really good at giving exact measurements and it's pretty simple to draw.

Plus when you check out her blog Delia Creates you will be getting a LOT more tutorials and possible patterns from the Color My Summer series they have going on.

Have fun with your free patterns!!

Automatically have facebook and twitter upload your new blog posts on your pages! Here's how!

Every time I did a blog post I would copy it over to my personal page and my SweetStuffCreations page on facebook.  This was annoying.  Recently, I found an application on facebook that will automatically check blogger and put your new posts on your wall for you! I really like the way they make it look also.  It looks more professional than it does when I just copy and paste the link.  The application is called NETWORKED BLOGS.  Now here is the difficult part..as with anything on facebook it seems, there is a lot of going back and forth and between your personal and business page because for SOME reason facebook doesn't want everything to go only though your business page.  I am going to try and run you through most of it, hopefully I don't forget anything since I have already done this.  First, you will sign up and register your blog.  (I have added in pink where to click) Don't click the syndication button for options just yet.

Your screen should then look like this:

Fill that out..then it will lead you to how to verify your blog.  The easiest way to do verification is to add a widget to your blog so it links the NetworkedBlogs App to your blog (searches for the posts, etc).  (In Blogger you go add a blank HTML widget and paste the code they give you)  Then you will go back to the NetworkedBlogs app and click on that Syndication options button I showed you (in pink) in the first picture.

Your screen should then look similar to this.

Pull down your blog name from the menu.  Click add facebook target(or twitter) and connect your pages to your blog!  Now.. here is where I suggest writing a blog post, something quick and easy.  You will then wait and notice nothing shows up on your facebook page! LOL.  There is a reason for that.  The more followers you have..the quicker networked blogs goes and pulls your blog posts.  Because we are new, it takes 24 hours... OR.. you can just run over to your NetworkedBlogs page and make them go pull your posts.  Here is how you do that.

Click on your profile tab in Networkedblogs then when that opens, click on your Blog name, as pictured below:

 There is a button that says PULL NOW...which is the hardest button to find! But I have shown you in pink below:

Now you will see your new post show up on your facebook pages!! Here is what mine looked like! 

I hope this is helpful and explanatory for everyone! If you need any more help or I missed a step just let me know and I will see if I can remember or find it for you!  Happy blogging!

#1 on my list

I follow a lot of crafty/sewing blogs, and those blogs feature other blogs, and those blogs have guest tutorials from other blogs.  Needless to say I have a HUGE list of things I love and want to make.  There is a list of the "someday ones"..and there is a list of the.."have to make it this week ones"!

Looking at my ever growing list, I keep coming back to this..so this will be my Top Priority, numero uno, #1 thing to make asap (or soon anyways)!

We seriously need a new duvet cover.  We have a  Ralph Lauren comforter that I got about 4 or 5 years ago at the Polo outlet in Hilsboro.  It is still sooo comfy and in great shape...except..I bought it in a solid cream color.  After the last couple of trips to the dry cleaners, I realized that sucker is not going to come back perfectly cream anymore.  So, I plan on making a duvet cover for my bed using an Anthropologie type tutorial using just bed sheets and sewing skills!

I will either do the gathered one pictured above, click here for tutorial.

 or this one with added ruffle below, click here for tutorial.

I will NOT be using white or cream, most likely gray or navy.

I'll take pictures along the way and give little tips and tricks if I find anything that makes it easier.  Overall it should be a pretty easy sewing process..just time consuming.  Wish me luck!