Show & Tell: Mesh Wreaths

I'm sure you've seen the deco mesh wreaths before.  They've been featured at craft shows, upscale home boutiques, and all over blogland.  The ones that I have seen are quite pricey, so I decided to try my hand at making them myself. 

This is the first one that I made.  I used a wire wreath form, some deco mesh, and some cute embellishments.  I was surprised how quickly it came together, but the deco mesh is a little tricky to work with until you get the hang of it.

I wish I would have wrapped the wreath form in red ribbon first because it shows through the mesh. 

Here's a close up of the embellishments and picks I found at Michael's.  I just glued them on with my trusty glue gun!

This is the wreath that I made for my sweet mama.  I decided to use a pine wreath as the base this time and really liked the way it turned out. 

A closer look!

I love these festive pick, but boy were are they messy to work with.  Glitter everywhere!

More embellishments. 

I love the way the wreaths turned out.  They look just as good as the $100+ wreaths (in my opinion ;-) ) at a fraction of the cost.  You can make them for any occasion or holiday by adjusting the mesh colors and embellishments. 

I think I just found my newest hobby!

Linking up with Skip to my Lou!

A Christmas Outfit

I've been doing a lot of sewing and crafting recently, so I thought I would share the Christmas outfit I made for Abby.  I know my sweet Mama loves reading my blog and seeing pictures of her grandkids and the things I make, so she will love this post.  Love you, Mama!

Abby in the completed outfit (minus matching hair bow).  Flash was on, not the best photo.  I really need to figure out how to use all the settings on my camera!

The shirt.  This was my first time making an applique.  I just found a template online that I liked, cut out the fabric, and adhered it to a paper-backed fusible web.  Then I cut it out and ironed it on.  I really wish I had an embroidery machine.  I used my sewing machine to do the thick stitching around the applique, but I really wish I would have just done a light zigzag stictch.  Next time!  I also made some fabric covered buttons to add ornaments to the tree!

Double ruffle jeans.  These were super easy to make.  I used a pair of jeans that were getting too short and just made my ruffles and sewed them on.  I top stitched around each one so it would lay right.  They turned out pretty cute!  (Wyatt decided he needed his foot in the picture too!)

Goodness gracious, it looks like Wyatt's shirt is getting a little too small!  It practically looks like a crop top in this picture!  I'm going to make Abby a matching bow for her outfit.  She's not super thrilled with these types of outfits because she feels like she is too old for them (at age 6?!).  I think her days of wearing applique shirts and ruffle jeans are limited :(.

One of the kids and me.  I honestly could not take a good picture if my life depended on it!

I've got some other neat projects coming up that I will share soon!

Our 2010 Christmas Card

Starlight Trees Christmas Card

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What I'm Loving!

It's Wednesday, so that means I'm linking up with Jamie for "What I'm Loving Wednesday!".  It's cold and windy here in Amarillo, so I'm going to do some baking today to warm the house up!

I'm loving that The Pioneer Woman is going to be on Throwdown with Bobby Flay this evening!  I read her blog everyday and have made many of her delicious recipes.  I can't wait!

I'm loving that the Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks is back!  When I do my big Christmas shopping
day(s), I always stop and get one first.  Yum!

Midnight Kiss by China Glaze.  It's part of the Holiday Collection, and I love it.  I got it a week ago and have yet to use it but I will soon.  Love how festive it looks!

Values Charm Bracelet from good works.  I stumbled across this site through another blog I read, and I am so glad I found it!  They make inspirational jewelry for young Christian women.  Check it out!

I'm loving that it's almost Thanksgiving!  I can't wait to spend time with my family and have a 5 day break from school and work!

I'm loving that the day after Thanksgiving, I'm decorating my house for Christmas!  I can hardly wait to decorate this year.  I have picked up so many cute decorations lately and am anxious to find a spot for them!

Happy Wednesday!!

Baby Shower Diaper Tower

Today my friend Bre and I made a diaper tower/cake for a friend from church.  We are having a baby shower for her this Sunday, and I thought I would share our gift for her.

The color scheme for the shower is brown and pink.  The top tier has baby lotion, baby shampoo, diaper rash cream, etc... and the topper is a Minnie Mouse "lovey".

We weaved receiving blankets and washcloths throughout the bottom tier and wrapped some of the diapers from the middle tiers in coordinating fabrics.

A view of the back.  Bre painted some clothespins brown and pink, and we used them to clip on pacifiers and baby socks. 

Bre made the cute little decorative "picks" (not sure what word to use here!).  She found brown floral wire stems and added pink pacifier and silver "It's a Girl" charms.

Here's a closer look at a pacificer charm.

A closer look at the silver charm.

Thanks for all your help, Bre!  I had fun making it!

A Rant & A Rave

Let's get the rant out of the way, shall we?

This is Rockaholic Dirty Little Secret by Tigi.  It is a dry shampoo spray that I bought from Ulta a few weeks ago.  I even listed it on my "What I'm Loving Wednesday" list.  Well, I take it back.  I'm not loving it anymore.

Mornings can get pretty hectic around the Tolliver house.  Casey leaves for work around 4:00AM, so it's just me left to get the kids and myself ready and out the door by 7:45AM.  Most mornings I get up around 6:00AM to take a shower and get ready.  Other mornings, however, don't run as smoothly.  I bought this dry shampoo for those mornings when I don't have time to shower before taking Abby to school.  I don't to look like the Creature from the Black Lagoon when I walk her to class. 

To the point:  I used this product ONE time.  It actually worked really well and did what it was supposed to.  The problem?  I picked it up to spray it in my hair this morning (yes, it's been one of those mornings!) and it was EMPTY.  What happened?!  Apparently the product leaked out after one stinkin' use.  And this stuff is not cheap.  I started reading reviews this morning and found out this has been a common problem.  I wish I had known before I bought it.  I'm so mad!  I feel like a took a handful of money and flushed it down the toilet.  Anyway, if you have ever thought of purchasing a dry shampoo spray, don't waste your money on this one. 

Now for the good news!

This is a Pedi-Scrub Foot Buffer by Spongeables, also purchased at Ulta.  (I like Ulta!)  It's a gel filled sponge with an exfoliating pumice on one side.  It works great!  It leaves my feet soft and smooth, and it has a wonderful fragrance (I bought the Lavender-Tea Tree Oil).  Good stuff.  Just make sure you rinse your feet really well so you don't slip in the shower.  Not that I almost did or anything.  I'm the epitomy of poise and grace.  NOT!!!  I was pretty much slipping and sliding all over the place, so just be careful!

So that's my personal product review.  When I see something works or doesn't work, I like to share the info.

Happy Monday!!

Award Ceremony

When I got on the computer tonight to do some blogging, I found out that Sarah @ ButterflyChic awarded me with the Stylish Blogger Award.  What a wonderful surprise!  Thank you so much, Sarah!!  I've only been blogging for a couple of months, so it means a lot to me that you have taken the time to read my blog and give me this award!  Thank you again!  (If you haven't already, go check out Sarah's blog because she ROCKS!! )

The Rules:

*Thank the person who gave you the award :)...

*Tell 7 facts about me...

*Give the award to 7 great bloggers

*Leave a comment to let bloggers know I am giving them the award

Here we go....

7 Facts About Me

1. I have been with my husband for 11 1/2 years...married 9 of those!  We have 2 beautiful children:

Abigail, 6 and Wyatt, 2.

2.  I refuse to eat raw cookie dough or cake batter.  I know, I know, everyone loves it but I am too

scared that I will get salmonella.  I even deny my kids the opportunity to lick the beaters for

said reason.  

3.  I got bit by a rattlesnake when I was 3 years old.  Not fun stuff, people.  I will always hate snakes!

4.  One of my favorite movies is Urban Cowboy.  Don't judge me.

5.  My favorite flowers are Stargazer Lilies.  Oh, I love them!  They are so fragrant.

6.  After being a stay-at-home mommy for the past 6 years, I'm about to begin a new career as an

elementary teacher.  But being a mommy will always be my most important job.

7.  My biggest pet peeve is people going out in public with barefeet.  There is absolutely nothing more

gross to me than shopping for groceries and having to see some stranger's dirty feet!

Here are the wonderful bloggers I am giving this award to:

Susanne @ a simple life

Rachel @ An Extraordinary Simple Life

Kathleen @ Simple Silly Life

Summer @ Summer's Story

Molly @ The Fuschia News

Jamie @ this kind of love

Mag @ Craft with Me

Enjoy your award, ladies!  You deserve it!