Tulle and tissue paper flowers

This is a great blog I found for lots of different things I wanted to share.  One thing that really stood out was the tulle and tissue paper flowers.  I'll definitely be making some of these for my sister's baby shower!

http://diycraftstomake.blogspot.com/2011/10/greedy-for-colour-tissue-paper-and.html

Ruffle Skirt

I made this super easy skirt for Morgan today!  I was so proud of it.  I made her one the other day using a tutorial on another blog.  It was for a 5T size though and I didn't allow enough for the size difference and needless to say it didn't turn out well.  I used a pattern this time!!

Here's the pattern I used.  http://www.simplicity.com/p-7443-its-so-easy-girls-sportswear.aspx#

   Although, if you keep a check at Hobby Lobby, they sometimes have patterns for 99 cents!

Zipper Flower

I found this Zipper Flower Tutorial the other day and tried it out today.  Very pleased with the outcome!

I used a 36" zipper rather than a 7" zipper, but it's still basically the same concept.  And I also added the sparkle in the middle.  And I also hot glued an alligator clip to the back so it could be worn on a band or clipped to a jacket pocket.  

Hope you like it!  Use the tutorial, but make it your OWN!!

Jess

Pink Zebra Rag Doll Bow

This is another Rag Doll bow I made today.  Only this time I used a .99 cent bandana from Hobby Lobby.  I cut two 3" strips and sewed them together end-to-end before I began sewing up the middle longways.  From there, I followed the same steps I posted in my Rag Doll bow tutorial yesterday.

Hope you like this one as much as I do!!  Morgan loves it!!

Rag Doll

Rag Doll Bow Tutorial

**This is my first attempt at making a tutorial!!  I hope that it conveys the steps accurately, but if you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

What you'll need:  hot glue gun, scissors, needle, thread, sewing machine, 4" X 56" of your choice of fabric, felt circle, alligator clip (or you can alternatively use a headband...I like using the clips because you can always clip it to the headband or wear it alone).

Place the strip of fabric under your sewing machine foot and sew straight up the middle.  The fabric will automatically start gathering as you sew it but it's ok...that will be the less you have to pull and gather it by hand. 

Start by tying one end of the thread off.  Next, on the opposite end, hold the bobbin thread (the thread on the under side of the fabric) as you pull the fabric so that it gathers together more. Once it's all gathered, tie that end off as well. 

Fold the fabric along the sewn line and begin making hand-stitches every half inch or so as you wrap the fabric around itself to form the flower.

 Dab a bit of hot glue on the felt circle and place it on the back of your bow.

Likewise, dab the hot glue on the top of the alligator clip and place it on the back of the bow.

This is what my finished Rag Doll bow looks like.  It measures about 5 inches in diameter.  I can't wait to surprise my daughter, Morgan, with it when she gets home from school this afternoon.  Her new favorite color is turquoise! (Mine too!!)

Hope this Rag Doll bow tutorial has been helpful!!
~Jess

Tickled Pink Boutique

New girl on the Blog

A few friends of mine have discovered a love for blogging and I follow several great ones, so I thought I'd give it a try.  Mainly to share my crafts and creations through my hobbies.  I have an Etsy page and I thought a blog might be a great way to get the word out about my small business while sharing some of the tutorials that I use, helpful everyday tips and DIY info.  I might throw a little gardening in here to!  Although my husband and mother are the gardeners in my family, I've picked up a few things along the way...but my thumbs are far from green. :)

Just some background info on me...I married my high school sweetheart just out of high school, and we've now been together seventeen years and married thirteen of those years.  I can't imagine raising our three kids with any man more capable and strong, hard-working and determined, trust-worthy and loyal.  He's my anchor, my rock, and my calm in a storm.  I just love him, and I love that I know he loves me and our kids.

Speaking of kids...we have three amazing ones!
Logan in the oldest; he's 15 (going on 18).  He's in such a rush to grow up.  I keep telling him he's already growing too fast as it is.  Then I remember not too terribly long ago, I was that very same way.  Couldn't wait to move out and be on my own so I didn't have mama and daddy's rules to abide by.  Welp, if he learns like I did, when you move out, there's a whole new set of rules and things you have to learn and adhere to.  He's stubborn just like his daddy, but he's a great kid.  He's respectful and humble; which are qualities hard to find in teens today.  He loves football and has found a new love for texting since he's fell in love with his first "long-term" girlfriend.  Every chance he gets, he calls her, texts her or spends time with her.  She's a sweet girl, and I hope she doesn't break his heart one day.  He has definitely got it bad!  Logan was just a few days shy of five when we had our daughter.

Morgan is 10, and she's in that "not sure if I'm a little girl, not sure if I'm a big girl" stage (not gonna use the term 'woman' here, just because...well just because).  She plays on her swingset and rides her bike outside one minute in pigtails, then she's wanting to redecorate and "design" her own room the next.  I love that she can be so mature one minute but silly the next (and if you know me, this would be the part I'd say, "remind you of anyone?").  She still tries to be "little" mama to her little brother, even though he is beginning to outgrow her.  She's not gotten to the "I love boys" stage just yet, and, believe me, I'm not rushing it!  I'm not sure who I feel for worse (her or her daddy) when that time comes.  Her because her daddy is an "I'm just gonna sit over here and clean my gun while 'Romeo' visits" kind of father, and her daddy because she is his angel, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that it will rip his heart clear out of his chest the first time she leaves this house with a boy.  Morgan had just celebrated her second birthday when we had our youngest son.

Jarrett is 8 years-old now.  He's the baby of our family and reminds me so much of his daddy with his quick wit.  He can come up with the funniest one-liners I've ever heard from any kid.  I always thought Logan would be the comedian of the family, but Jarrett would give him a sure-run for his money.  He keeps me laughing, and I just love his silliness to pieces.  He's tenderhearted and wears his heart on his sleeve just like I do though.  Sometimes I wonder (for us both) if that's a blessing or a curse.  I say that just because (in his case), I know kids can be mean and hateful sometimes.  He's the most easy-going, laidback, do-anything-he-can-to-help little guy (and every one of his teachers have pointed this out to me before I can to them), so he has a hard time not letting his emotions get the best of him occasionally.  Even though he'll always be my "baby", I know I have to let him grow and mature but I struggle with the thought of him losing that little bit of me that he has in him.  Ok, ok...almost a tear there!  (sniff, sniff...regain composure!)

I love my little family with my whole heart, and they are the very best part of me (yes, I'm a huge Sparks fan!).  I feel like I grow as a mother and wife little by little everyday.  I think back to when Jason and I first got married when I was eighteen.  I was such a kid!  Although I was extremely mature for my age and already had the responsibilities of a wife and mother, I don't think I'd want any of my children to get married so young.  It worked for me though, only because I found the guy.  Not everyone could get along like Jason & I do (and believe me, we are by no means 'perfect', we fuss and have WW3 from time to time).  What I mean is, we both know we both have bad days.  We disagree sometimes but we're ok with that.  I forgive his faults because he doesn't even see mine..not that I don't have plenty.  I can't even imagine myself not being married to him.  I guess I want to live vicariously through our kids one day and have them travel and see the world before settling down.  I want them to "live out loud" and experience more living than I can ever dream of.

Although I've had a few dreams along the way....
I've been in the process over the last two years (with almost another two to go) finishing up my Education degree.  I'd went to college for a few semesters after high school, but quickly realized, motherhood was calling (loudly!).  I wanted babies and lots of them!  So, how many ever years later, here I am, back in school.  I've started part of my practicum these last two semesters and, although I enjoy being around the kids in the classrooms, I'm afraid I've become antsy.  Let me explain.  I want to TEACH!  I've done more observing and watching and case studies and reflections than I can count.  I just want to teach.  I'm so very impatient when it comes to doing what I want to do.  I'm that same way about making something.  When I see something (like for instance on Pinterest) I think is neat or crafty, I try to take it apart in my head and put it back together.  (It's just a bonus if there's an actual tutorial.)  I would rather make something my self and have my hands on every piece of it's construction than go pay someone double to make it.  I figure if I'm capable and have the means and supplies to make it, then why not?  I just love creating something new.  Even though it's maybe inspired by someone else's idea, I can make it my own with my personality and expression.  I don't really think I'm an artistic person though.  I do think it's one of the best feelings in the world to make a craft and have someone say, "Wow! That's amazing!"  But an even better feeling than that is the feeling of contentedness if no one says a word.  I guess that's where this blog comes from.  I kinda want to share places I find that have tutorials and ideas and pass them along to anyone (if any, I guess) who read this.  And in the process, maybe share a story or three.

-Jess