Cute Crafts for Easter and A Weekly Link Party

Hop into the season with some fun Easter crafts! This cute collection of crafts includes eggs, bunnies, pom poms and more! Featured below you'll find crafty ideas that the whole family can enjoy together this spring. Which would you want to try?

1. Chalky Easter Eggs / Lolly Jane
It's amazing what a little chalk paint can do for plain, plastic eggs! These eggs are the perfect pops of pastel color for spring!

2. Stuffed Easter Bunnies / Grandma Ideas
Here's a sewing idea that quick and easy--my favorite kind! And the bunnies at the end are oh so cute!

3. Easter Bunny Banner / Of Faeries & Fauna Craft Co.
The pom pom bunny tails on this garland are absolutely adorable! The best part about this craft is that the banner pieces are all ready for you to print out. Just click on over, print, cut, and put it together.

4. Easter Candy Topiary / Lolly Jane
I'd have a hard time not eating the candy, but the end result of this topiary would be worth it! It's the perfect table decoration for the Easter meal.

5. Easter Basket Tags & MORE! / Just Measuring Up
Here's a super fun post! It's 12 Easter crafts--including these sweet tags--that can all be made using the same bunny template. Click on over to see them all!

6. Coloring Page Decoupage Easter Eggs / The Country Chic Cottage
Turn boring plastic eggs into an adorable keepsake decoration with Mod Podge and coloring pages. This is such a creative idea!

7. Easter Wreath / All That's Jas
I love a good yarn craft! And this one is adorable! It's a yarn-wrapped wreath that's perfect for Easter.

8. Easter Egg Ornament / The Life of Jennifer Dawn (right here!)
These 3-dimensional paper ornaments are super cute and super simple to make. Add a few pony beads for added cuteness!

Now it's time for...

Top Crafts, Recipes, and Activities for Kids

I've been doing this little blog of mine for eight years. Eight years! And in that time, a lot of life has happened--some good and some...well, not so good. There have been babies, miscarriages, celebrations, birthdays, holidays, beautiful moments with the kids, hard days, job changes, devastating losses (my dad and sister), new adventures...the list could go on and on. It's been the good and the bad all muddled together into a beautiful, messy journey. Yes, the last eight years have taken some BIG twists and turns. Life--the very heartbeat of it--seems to happen not in the BIG events of our lives, but in the simple, ordinary moments though. Leaning over the sewing machine to stitch together a blanket for a much prayed for, new baby or crowding around the kitchen counter with the kids to whip up a handmade treat... Those are the moments that are the makings of beautiful, delicious memories!

With all of these life changes there have also been a lot of changes to the blog. It's evolved from essentially an online journal only read by two people--my mom and sister--to a place for me to come and share recipes, crafts, DIY projects, and the life lived in between all of those creative outbursts. It's my place to share things with you, sweet friends. The pictures are a little sharper. The camera equipment is a whole lot better. My blogging knowledge is a lot wider. But one thing has not changed.  In the midst of all life's chaos and tragedies, I've always wanted the blog to be a colorful, happy place for you to come enjoy and leave inspired.

I'm am not a master cook or an expert seamstress. I'm not even some "supermom" who "does it all". Those don't really exist. I'm just a mom who finds great pleasure in cooking, crafting, and creating for and with my family. I also enjoy sitting down with you and sharing all of that. I know my posting can be a bit inconsistent with lapses in between posts. In fact this post was supposed to go live two days ago, but between one of my boys turning five, a church cookout, and the family dog going missing (he's been found now), I just couldn't get it out on time. I'm excited to sit down with you today though. And I'm honored when you stop by to spend time with me, read about a family recipe, comment on a craft, or e-mail me about your own creative endeavors. Thanks you, sweet friends, for following along.

Today I've complied a list of the TOP 24 POSTS that have gone live over the last eight years. They are your favorite recipes, crafts, and kids' activities (at least according to stats). I'm also sharing a little "inside information" about each one. Pour yourself a glass of sweet tea (or any beverage you prefer), take a seat, and enjoy taking a little trip down memory lane with me...

6 Amazing Sewing Projects to Try Today and A Little Bird Told Me Link Party #164

Welcome to...

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I'm so glad you're here! It's link party day, and I'm sharing six amazing sewing projects. Get out your sewing supplies and prepare to try these unique crafts. Whether you're looking for something to make for yourself or as a gift for someone else, you're sure to find the perfect project!

1. Sewing Scroll Saw Sign

This first one is not a sewing project with fabric and thread, but this cute scroll saw sign from Virginia of Fynes Designs would look fantastic in any sewing space!

2. Owl Stuffies

Sew adorable owl stuffed animals with Lynda of Lynda Creates. I love the different expressions on these little birds' faces.

3. Fabric Mug Cozy

Coffee never looked so cute! Whip up a few mug cozies using this tutorial from Bev of Flamingo Toes. Wouldn't these make fantastic gifts?

4. Embroidered Pendant Necklace

What a lovely and unique piece! I can't wait to try this embroidered necklace also from Bev of Flamingo Toes.

5. Modern Jelly Roll Quilt

I'm loving this gorgeous quilt made by Leslie of The Seasoned Homemaker. From beginner to expert, it looks like the perfect quilt to try.

6. Origami Dress

Lisa from Mabey She Made It shared this beautiful dress. The lace trim on the bodice is perfection. Want to know the best part? There's a free pattern included in her post!

Amazing posts, ladies! Now...

Sewing Tips and Tricks

"Put the thread in here and then pull it down through there." Momma first showed me how to thread a sewing machine when I was just a little girl. I'd watch as the foot of the machine pulsed rhythmically up and down stitching the fabric pieces together that she had carefully cut. She sewed a little bit of everything--clothes for my sister and me, costumes, patches on the knees of worn out jeans, buttons on daddy's shirts, rips along the seams of treasured stuffed animals...

It was years later before I had an interest in trying my hand at it. My sister actually picked up the craft first. When my own passion for sewing struck, it was momma who bought me my first machine. Now I'm turning pieces of fabric into creations for my kids and home just like momma used to do.

Lydia Grace is already showing an interest in wanting to learn. "Can I press the pedal, mommy?" I must have asked my momma that same question dozens of times when I was around her age. So under my watchful eye, I let her glide the fabric through the machine and try out the pedal. I've also been passing a few tips down to her. They are ones that I learned from my momma or have picked up from personal experience. And I'm delighted to share them with you too...

Top Blog Posts of 2014

Wow! It is hard to believe that 2014 is coming to a close. As we end each year, I like to take a little trip back through to blog to reminisce. It's fun to not only look through the pictures and recall some fantastic memories but to also see which posts were your favorites. So here they are! The ten most popular posts, as well as, several of my personal favorites from 2014...

Sew Your Own Gift Card Holder

Gift cards get a makeover when tucked inside a cute gift card pocket! This sewing project is so quick and easy, you'll be able to sew several at once. And they can even double as business card holders. Ready to start sewing? Here's how to make these handy gift card pockets...

Quick Guide: Basic Sewing Supplies

The first step to any successful project is having the right supplies. A sewing project is no exception to that rule. If you are just beginning to learn how to sew, you may be wondering what supplies you even need to get started. Or perhaps you're a seasoned seamstress wanting to cut your plethora of supplies down to just the basics. Below you'll find a quick guide on the supplies every sewing box should contain to keep you well-stocked and organized...

Pumpkin Appliqued Tees and Onesies

I love making my own appliques and turning a plain tee or onesie into something cute. For fall, I recently made these cute pumpkin tops for my three kiddos! The fabric for both the pumpkin and the leaf came from Raspberry Creek Fabrics! Here's Lydia Grace in her tee...

Craft for Kids: Finger Puppet Monsters

It's Friday and day 5 of the Halloween Bash Blog Hop--a fun collaboration between 110+ bloggers! If you are looking for Halloween ideas, this is the perfect stop! You'll find costume ideas, recipes, crafts, treats (not tricks), and more! For my part, I'm sharing how to make these cute monster finger puppets with the kiddos!

Onesie Dress Tutorial

I started making onesie dresses when Lydia Grace was a baby. They were the perfect outfit--girly and cute while still being comfy and casual. Through the years, I've made ruffle adjustments, perfected the measurements, and added the pinwheel flower. Although I've shown a few people how to make them, I hadn't created a tutorial. Until now...

Several variations of the onesie dress are floating around the internet. Here's how I make mine though...

Coloring Book Pillows

You may remember seeing Lydia Grace in her new school outfit from FabKids. We truly love their clothes! Did you know they also have a blog? I was honored by the invitation to whip up a post for them. Visit me over at FabKids Blog to see how to do this fun craft with your kiddos...

See the full tutorial here!

Happy crafting!

Back to School Lunch Ideas

It's back to school time which means many of you are are searching for school lunch ideas for your kids! Even though we will be homeschooling, we'll still need a packed lunch and snacks for co-op days. Here's an easy way to make those lunches a little more colorful and eco-friendly...

View the full tutorial here!

More Lunch Ideas
Dinosaur Lunch
Homemade Lunchables
Learn Colors with Food
Budget-Friendly Bento Boxes
Packing for Five Days at a Time

Happy packing!

Ombre Paint Chip Garland

I'm over at See Vanessa Craft sharing the tutorial for this fun, colorful garland. Grab some paint chips and come visit with me there. See the full tutorial. Happy sewing!

Two Easy Ways to Sew Pillows

I love to keep our home beautifully decorated, but since we are a family on five on one income, our budget calls for creative ways to accomplish this. Toss pillows are one of the easiest and most affordable ways to add interest and color to an area and to freshen up a room's decor. Sewing your own toss pillows is even better because you can choose the style, fabric, and size that you want. It's also less expensive than buying pillows from the store especially when you get creative with the materials like I did for this first pair of pillows...

Stitchwerx Designs Blog Tour: Ainsley & Aiden Baby Collection

A BIG thanks to Stitchwerx Designs for providing me with the pattern featured in today's post.

I am thrilled to be participating in the release sale, blog tour, and giveaway for the Ainsley & Aiden Baby Suite I collection by Stitchwerx Designs. Look at how cute this pattern collection is...

Slumber Party Bundle: Sew a Tote and Pillowcase

Have you seen the Baby Bundle or the Naptime Bundle I made using flannel bundles from Raspberry Creek Fabrics? After having made a bundle of items perfect for babies and a bundle of naptime items ideal for toddlers/preschoolers, I decided it was time to make something for my BIG girl who will start kindergarten in the fall. That's when I came up with the Slumber Party Bundle! I love sewing things with the flannel bundles from Raspberry Creek, but for this handmade collection of sleepover essentials, I felt like cotton fabric would work best. Here's the cotton fabric bundle I used...

It's Riley Blake Designs "Madhuri" by the Quilted Fish. Isn't it gorgeous?! I love all of the collections that Raspberry Creek Fabrics carries. The pre-bundled fabrics are especially great for projects like these where coordinating fabrics are needed. The bundles really take the guesswork out of having to piece together different fabric designs yourself. Ready to complete the Slumber Party Bundle? Grab some fabric and let's get started...

Fabric Garland for Spring

I recently received a position as a contributor on See Vanessa Craft. For my first post, I shared a tutorial on how I make the fabric garlands I added to my shop last December. I've see a lot of scrap fabric garlands floating around the internet. Being a bit of a perfectionist, I wanted to make mine more intricate than just sewing snipped scraps together. The process I use makes them reversible and more durable. I also love using the coordinated fabric bundles from Raspberry Creek Fabrics when sewing these. It takes the guesswork out pairing fabrics together and allows me to create a garland with a cohesive look. You can click here for the full tutorial.

Flannel Stuffed Animal

Move over Easter Bunny! How about some Easter elephants? {laughing} I actually didn't make these because of Easter. Last June I made a Naptime Bundle for one of the boys. I loved the little elephant with it so much that I decided to make one for each of my kids. I used flannel for them which is actually a fabric I didn't like to sew with until I discovered Raspberry Creek Fabrics. This shop has a beautiful selection of soft flannel. Many of the designs are sold in coordinating bundles that inspired me to make both the Naptime Bundle and the Baby Bundle. If you haven't ever tried sewing with flannel, take a look at some of the options that Raspberry Creek Fabrics has and try one of my tutorials. This would be a great one to start with...

Paper Garland made from Pink Flamingo Ephemera's Paper Circles

Here is my newest garland creation! I made it with paper circles from Pink Flamingo Ephemera--a lovely Etsy shop with a wide assortment of vintage craft supplies. The shop sells "paper ephemera for all your crafty projects", and I have certainly found some crafty uses for these vintage supplies.

Pink Flamingo Ephemera

Shop   /   Shop's Facebook Page   /   Blog   /   Blog's Facebook Page   /   Twitter

I'll be sure to share all of the crafts I've made with the supplies pictured above, but I want to start with the garland...

Felt Flower Garland

Spring always gets me in the mood to craft! That is why I was so excited when Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores contacted me to do a craft using one or more of the spring trends--floral, geometric, radiant orchid, and nautical. I've already shared a floral craft and got the kids involved with a geometric craft, but I have been so inspired to create that I decided to make something else.  Lydia Grace loves this creation because it's going in her room. It's a felt flower garland with pops of radiant orchid, teal, and raspberry.

The internet and Pinterest are filled with inspiration for felt flower garlands. Here's how I made mine...