Season 3 Winner

Congratulations to Emilie of Emilie Handmade 

Season 3 winner of One Month To Win It

2nd Place:

Cami of tidbits

3rd Place:

Emily of Homemade{lovely}

I am so proud of all the contestants this month. They did a fabulous job. We'll be contacting you with prize information. 

Season 3: week 4 - Summer Picnic - vote for your favorite

Pull-a-Picnic Wagon

This summer we will be walking to the park for our picnics in comfort and style.

And grinning from ear to ear knowing our adorable blue wagon was made from our old recalled crib panels.



Besides being stinkin' cute, it is highly functional.
When it's not being used to haul the kiddos and picnic necessities, it can serve as a portable crib for the baby who needs naps several times throughout the day. That means no more need to rush home from our summer activities. And with all the comfy pillows, it's the perfect place to kick up your feet and relax.


I would love to have you check my blog after results are posted for more details!


Picnic Bag

I love picnics, everything about them. Needless to say I was really excited when I saw this week's theme. As I was trying to think of something to make my mind kept coming back to something to hold the plates, utensils and glasses because it seems like the picnic basket itself is always too full of food. I know they sell backpack things already stocked with everything you could ever need for a picnic and more, but one, I think those things are a bit tacky, and two, they are definitely a bit of an overkill. I don't know about you, but I have NEVER needed champagne glasses on a picnic. So I made this picnic bag designed specifically to hold the plates, utensils, napkins, and glasses.

Everything has it's own spot and is easy to find. There is even room to fold up the blanket and stick it right in the middle. Plus it is so cute, I just adore this fabric.

Now I am more than ready for our next picnic.


Picnic Play Mat

Picnic season is upon us, but what do you do with a baby who wants to put her fingers in the potato salad, squish the watermelon chunks and suck on the salad forks? Put her on her Picnic Play Mat!

I made this a circle because that's how babies play before they learn to crawl. And baby has 8 different activity blocks and three loops in the center for added, changeable toys so she'll never ever get bored.

This play mat is a generous size. It's 42 inches straight across the middle. And it's totally washable. I mean, barf is a part of life for the under 1 year old demographic, so the entire thing has got to be able to be thrown into the wash (but not the drier...don't press your luck!).

And when you're done, the entire thing folds up and velcros closed to store away until the next Summer picnic...which is next weekend, right?

Season 3: week 4 - Theme - Summer Picnic

For this weeks Challenge we've asked our contestants to create anything you would find at a summer picnic. It can be food, clothing, decor or something else.

Her are a few ideas we have:

At Second Street:

etched glass votives

striped maxi dress

kojo designs:

life's a picnic party

sweet summer dress

Sugar Bee Craft Edition:

4th of July outfits

fondant cake

Country Chic Cottage:

summer seating

4th of July centerpiece

Running with Scissors:

Rustic X Benches

Phoebe Dress

Season 3: week 3 - Results

WINNER:

Birdie Wings by Emilie of Emilie Handmade

IN THE FINALS:
(in random order)

Felt Car Play Mat by Emily of Homemade{Lovely}

The Princess Fortress by Cami of tidbits

LEAVING US THIS WEEK:
(in random order)

Upholstered, Tufted Headboard by Alexis of Persia Lou

Life is Sweet Wall Hanging by Jaime of Polka Dots on Parade

Chicken Wire Frame by Lois of Auntie Lolo Crafts

Please visit all the contestants for additional information. 

Season 3: Week 3 - Blogger Knock-Off - vote for your favorite

Upholstered, Tufted Headboard

I was hoping to make it to Week 3 because I was so looking forward to getting at least one tutorial off my to-make list. So, yay! The list is officially one project shorter!

I have been wanting to make an upholstered headboard for (literally) years. There are so many great headboard tutorials out there, but I ended up following the incredibly detailed and helpful tutorial from Centsational Girl along with some helpful hints from the tutorial at Green Your Decor.

This is the first time I have had a headboard in my adult life. It's awesome. I LOVE it.

AND. Did I mention that I only spent about $80 on a king-sized headboard? Because that totally happened. I am so pleased with our new, pretty, grown-up master bedroom. I hope you like it too!

Felt Car Play Mat

We have a little friend who is having a birthday very soon and loves cars and trucks. When I saw this tutorial for a felt car play mat that turns into a house on Cook Clean Craft I knew it would be the perfect gift.

I used a different layout and a few different buildings than the original, but overall I didn't stray too far from her example. The biggest difference would be that I sewed everything down instead of gluing it. I love that it folds up nice and neat into a little house for easy clean up and travel.

I am really pleased with how the play mat turned out. I hope our friend likes it too!

Life Is Sweet Wall Hanging

http://oh-write.blogspot.com/2011/05/you-are-my-sunshine-canvas.html

http://www.patchesofpink.com/2011/02/cupcake-picture-frame-what-to-do-with.html

And this SWEET piece of art came together!!

 

I used some favorite scrapbook papers, threw in a super-sweet quote, mixed it all up with modge podge, and crowned each confection with jewel buttons for cherries!

I'm in love with this wall hanging!!

Hope you like it too!!

The Princess Fortress

Does any body else secretly hate it when dad and kids fill the living room with every blanket, chair and broomstick in the house in efforts to build the most space consuming fort they can? Not to mention it "has to" be left up for at least a day making any other purpose for the main living area unattainable.

Because I do secretly hate all that, this idea from Design Sponge was very appealing to me. It's a semi-permanent, out of the way, and much more glamorous fort to satisfy the needs of the children. Not to mention, it was a rather genius way to fill an empty corner of the princess room.
And I have to tell you, I haven't had this much fun playing with loads of luxurious fabrics since I was a little girl raiding my grandma's stash.
So I suggest you check out the design sponge how-to and make a princess fort for yourself! I've so loved the tea parties and piles of books we have already enjoyed in here.
Wouldn't this also be dreamy under a shade tree, or glamorous over a bed. I also love how design sponge used it as a romantic escape.
Finally, for you fabric hoarders like me - this too can cost you nothing!

Chicken Wire Frame

This week's theme is my favorite! I love finding great tutorials from crafters and following them! I decided to make a Chicken Wire Frame and I followed The Project Girl's tutorial. Not only is her tutorial really easy to follow but she has free printables for this project as well! The cost for this project for me was free! I already had a frame that I wanted to re-purpose, spray paint & staple gun and I used some of my grandpa's chicken wire. I am thrilled with how it turned out and it makes me want to make more of them! Here are my before and after shots (it's a pretty big change!)

And here are some up close and personal shots I took so that you can see how cute the printables look on it!

Birdie Wings

Inspired by Llevo el Invierno

I cannot remember how I stumbled on Ari's blog, Llevo el Invierno. She lives in Mexico and her blog is written in Spanish, which I don't speak at all, but some things are universal. Like crafts. I saw these amazing wings and fell in love.  I always planned on making my own and this week's challenge was exactly the push I needed.  Ari has very minimal instructions on her blog post, so I had to figure a few things out, but I got her permission to write a step-by-step tutorial after this week's voting.

I made a few changes.  Ari had ribbons attached as thumb loops and around the neck to attach the wings to the child.  I knew my kids could not tie those themselves, so I made my thumb loops from elastic and put Velcro on the neck sash so my little birdie could get winged herself.

One of the very best parts of this craft? I did not purchase any supplies.  I used up fabric scraps, leftover ribbon and other sewing bits and pieces I already had on hand.  Bonus!

Season 3: Week 3- theme- blogger knock-off

Almost every blogger has a bucket list of tutorials they've seen but don't have time to make. There is so much focus on being creative with new ideas, but sometimes the best crafters are the ones who are good at using others ideas.
This week the contestants are using other blogger ideas to make their own amazing projects.

Here are a few Ideas We've Used:

At Second Street:

Sadie Shirt Dress by Craftiness is not Optional

Stuffed Owl by Toad's Treasures

Country Chic Cottage:

Raga Muffin Garland by The Shabby Chic Cottage 

Ballard Knock-Off Vases by Frugal with a Flouish

Running With Scissors:


Summer Ruffle Scarf by Dana at MADE

Fabric Cubby Organizer plans by Ana White

Sugar Bee Craft Edition:

Floor Cushions tutorial by Living with Punks

Painted Rug by Tatertots and Jello

KoJo Designs:

Backyard Puppet Theater inspired by Country Living

Wall of Ribbon inspired by Amy Atlas

Come back tomorrow to see what the contestants have made.