Design on a Dime - Headboards

Just for fun, I thought I'd share some ideas for headboards that I've found while looking for something to do in my daughter's bedroom.  She is about to graduate from the crib into a big girl bed, but I'm still trying to decide whether to buy a traditional bed, or just get a twin sized bed frame for now and make our own headboard.  I'm leaning toward the latter because I'm not ready to commit to a bed for her that she'll use forever (style, size, etc?) so instead, it may be more fun (and frugal!) to just come up with something to use as a headboard. 

Will and I did actually did this ourselves for our own bedroom  When we got married, we were unsure of what style bed we wanted, so instead, we just purchase a bedframe from Pier One.  I saw the idea to use a fireplace mantel in a Southern Living magazine, and my dad actually had an old one from our family's property at the cabin at his hunt club.  He brought it home for me and it was PERFECT.  I didn't have to paint it or anything...just wiped it clean with soap and water!   

I found the picture (which I LOVE) at TJ Maxx on clearance for $15.99 and the glass containers are just from Wal-mart ($1.50 each) with sea shells inside.  My grandmother found the lamps on the side of the road in Columbia while walking one morning.  They were BRAND NEW with the tags still on them (Martha Stewart!)  Then our bedding is also from TJ Maxx and the pillows I made with some fabric I found in Charleston.  Last, but not least, our bed skirt is made from a king size kahki sheet that I found in the clearance aisle at Ross for $2.99.  The whole look for under $100, but it works for now and we've enjoyed it.   

 

This paisley headboard is the forerunner right now for AC's bedroom.  I think if I could find some cute girly fabric, I could get Will to cut out the shape from some wood and then just cover it in batting and fabric.  You could easily recover it when she was older and wanted to change the look of her room.  

I also LOVE this idea, of using old window frames.  You just pop out the glass and in it's place use coordinating fabric to tie the headboard together with your bedding.  I even have the window frames stashed away in my parents' basement that Will helped me rescue one day from the side of the road in Columbia when AC and I met him for lunch.  They looked like they could be used for something, and this may be just the thing!  However, it doesn't look like a it would go in a little girl's bedroom, but more like a guest bedroom. 

Then, last but not least, there is always His House.  My friend, Katie, was a His House junkie when they lived here in Lexington and she always found fabulous furniture finds there for very little money.  We actually found her headboard from there several years ago.  I know she paid less than $20 for it, and I want to say it was more like under $10.  But it was the coolest piece of furniture that had several shelves and she repainted it black and filled it will all kinds of cool accessories.  I wish I had a picture!  I could always check there for a bed to repaint for AC's room.  

So what do you think?  Anybody have any other ideas that would work? 

Winter Wardrobe

  We have a problem in our house.  I have been unsuccessful in finding any clothes to fit Busy Lizzy (what AC is more affectionally known as around our house) for this winter.  She is petite and although she is 17 months old, she still can't wear most 12 month old pants.  It doesn't help that she wears underpants and most 18 months clothing is sized for children wearing diapers. Because there is no "bulk" down there, her pants just slide right on down her little bottom.  So what am I to do to dress her this winter?  

My solution:  the Jumper.  These dresses are super super simple to make and don't require much fabric at all.  All I need to do is stock up on cute tights and turtle necks and make a few of these little dresses and she will be set for cooler weather!  

I found this fabric in the remnant pile at Hobby Lobby for less than $2.  It is brown corduroy with pink polka dots.  It took about 45 minutes to make.  I just used a Simplicity pattern from I purchased from Wal-Mart last year.  

The whole purpose of this blog is to encourage others and to show you how easy it can be to make your own stuff (and save money at the same time!)  I promise you...if you have a sewing machine and know how to operate it, this would be a great project to start with.  I do not like to follow a pattern and have little patience for complex sewing projects, but this one is super easy.  The end results look much more "complicated" than what the actual skill involved takes, and you can make the cutest clothes that look like you purchased them from an upscale children's boutique.       

Now all I need to do is convince my mom to learn to use her new monogramming machine to put her initials on the dress.  Now how cute would that be? :)

Goodies for Sweet Ava

A couple of weekends ago, I had the honor of helping give a baby-shower for a very dear friend, Ashley, who is expecting her first daughter (Ava) in January.  I was in charge of making the corsage and something to use as a "centerpiece" on the food table.

  Instead of the traditional corsage, another of our friends suggested that I make a large fabric flower that she could wear for the shower and then later pin on her diaper bag.  I'm going to have to steal this idea of other showers because it turned out super cute!  Thanks for the idea Carrie! ;)

Ava's nursery colors are green and pink, so I found some cute scrapbook paper at the craft store to cover the letters of her name.  We used this on the food table as a decoration and then Ashley can use it for decor in her nursery! I also used some of the paper to cover a wooden frame (also from the craft store) to make a coordinating frame for her nursery.   

Then last, but certainly not least, I sewed some pink and green fabric to the bottom ends of cloth diapers to make the most stylish burping cloths!  They were so cute I wanted to keep them for myself, even though I have absolutely no use for burping cloths right now.  Ashley and Ava got so many fun and girly things...she is going to be one stylin' baby!! :)

Thrift Store Find

Before

Another Christmas present checked off my list!  I found this baby-doll high chair at Goodwill several weeks ago for $2.  It is in perfect condition, but I wasn't too excited about the Disney princess theme.  I used some fabric from my stash to make a new cover and ta da!  It turned out really cute! And the pink perfectly matches with her little kitchen set we refinished for her this summer.  Now I just need to find a good hiding place to keep it until December!

After

DOLL KIT SALE

I'll be running a SALE in the shop today through Sunday on the doll kits!  You'll get the doll pattern & TWO dolls kits all for just $12.00!! 

You can mix and match the hair, eye, and skin color to customize the doll just for your someone special!

Please Note:  If there is a particular doll you have in mind, you may not want to wait until the last minute to purchase it.  Some of the doll kits I have unlimited quantities of.  However, there are a few that I only have a few of, and once they are sold, they will be discontinued because I no longer have a source for the fabric.