Making things makes life better: Birthday Gifts

Jude designed these images for Charlie's birthday, cut them into squares and I decoupaged them onto wooden blocks to create a block puzzle.

I got the original Garanimals blocks at Wal-Mart for like $5 and then sanded down whatever they painted first, then I painted the sides red and yellow. You'd be fine with plain wooden blocks from Hobby Lobby, if you've got one... 

Evvy's the head of Quality Control

Will had a Cars 2 themed birthday party, so I created Sally's Cozy Cone Motel from the first movie so that Will could park his hot wheels safely overnight. I did a version of this. Good luck finding solid cones, though. I had to special order them from a nice old man in Columbus (long story). But if you've got a Target, I'm sure you'll be fine...

Making things makes life better: Birthday gifts

 I got the idea for these adorable stilts right here, I just jazzed them up a bit because, you know, I can't leave anything alone.

 Poor Joan, I always make her pose with other people's birthday presents...

And remember this dress? Well long before I made it, I thought I had seen a version of it on Make it and Love it, but when I went back to search for it, I didn't see one. I thought I was going crazy and then finally went crazy when I made this frock all on my own. A few days after I finished it, my friends were passing around this tutorial on Pinterest. A day late and a dollar short. Oh well. It's there if you need it at least...

Making Things Makes Life Better: Robot Limbs

I saw these robot legs floating around the interweb and thought they'd be perfect birthday gifts for the girls' friends Henry & Liza.

By now, you know the drill. I didn't really read the directions or buy the right supplies, but I think they turned out just fine. I even like the way they conform to the leg or arm better than the original design does.

And I just might've convinced Joan to be a robot for Halloween this year instead of the usual obnoxious requests for pink and purple lace satin. Still to be determined...

Also, I would have taken photos of Charlotte wearing the yellow ones, but you know, she's not really a fan of cooperation. c'est la vie.

 The backs just have adjustable velcro. Nothing fancy, but very handy.

Happy Birthday Henry & Liza! Enjoy!

Making things makes life better: Birthday Gifts

Make life better... Needing a little more of that these days.

I'm bogged down by a few different things, all totally unrelated and because I don't even have it in me to write a post touching on them, I'll just fake it and put up pictures of these little things that I made.

A tool belt for Ollie. This was really simple and had great instructions.

 I really need to get these girls some cars and tools.

Kaitlin, you might see this before Val strolls up in Florida tonight to give it to you... but I'm posting it anyway. Hannah turned one this week and I hope she likes this little piggy washcloth, a little something so she remembers she's missed. I think Martha Stewart has a tutorial for this, but her pattern didn't fit my washcloths, so I improvised.

Making things makes life better: The Men's Shirt.

Finally! My to-sew list just got a little shorter. I have successfully repurposed a men's dress shirt into a little girl's summer dress!

If you know me at all, you know I'm horrible at following tutorials. I usually give up, and figure it out myself. This is typically followed by grumpiness, cursing, a second (or third) Cherry Coke, and swearing off sewing for the rest of my life. Dramatic, I know.

But, typically following that, is an adorable handmade goodie that I'm quite proud of. I'm nothing, if not consistent.

This dress was actually made for the girls' friend, Grace, for her 2nd birthday, but my girls always test out other people's gifts...

First I started with this tutorial and bailed when the sleeves drove me to near tears. I mean, she actually wanted me to measure and draw out a pattern... the nerve...

 I decided to go sleeveless (telling myself it was a choice isn't as embarrassing) and used this as my guide. But I was too lazy to do a chest band or criss-cross straps. And then I realized it was going to be too short, so I added the band around the bottom.

 After these photos, I sewed the bottom band shut and left the top buttons alone, so it could be unbuttoned.

Cute, huh? And the best part? This shirt once belonged to Grace's father. Happy Birthday, Grace - you adorable little thing!