Vintage Jar Makeover

I love little pretties.  And I especially love when I can store my little pretties in more little pretties!  And I am particularly fond of {labeling} my pretties holding little pretties....which brings me to:

Vintage Jar Makeover

I am a crafter.  I am just one of a long string of women crafters in my family.  My mom sews {and she is fan.TAS.tic! I learned everything I  know from her, and I only can hope to some day be as good as she!}, my grandmother and aunts crocheted and knit, and who knows what my ancestors before them did {I seriously need to find out!!}!   And with crafting comes supplies.  You know what I'm talking about: thread, needles, buttons, beads, pearls, glue, spray paints, punches, crystals, twine, rules, cutting mats, rotaries, scissors, thimbles {wait. does anyone actually still use those?!?}, ribbon and lace, oh my!  Except, actually the list goes on even more.  But you get my drift, at any rate.

So the question becomes, just what do we do with all this stuff??!  Now, I am not claiming I know the answer to everything to this question {if anyone wants to come help me organize the entire craft room, please be my very special guest, and I'll cook and bake for you while you do it!!}, but I do have one small solution for some items...and that is transforming every day glass jars into ever-cute storage containers. The beauty is, you're not only recycling something you might have otherwise thrown away, but these are actually pretty.  So you won't mind them sitting out...in fact, I think you'll very much enjoy them sitting out ~ BONUS!!

What You Need:

*old {or new} jar {with a two piece lid}
*chalk board paint
*chalk
*spray paint {in color of choice; here I used ivory for its versatility}
*trim of choice {ribbon, twine, jute, lace, etcetera}


Okay, so this is so, SO simple!  Just spray paint the flat portion of your lid with the chalkboard paint, paint the outer ring of the lid with the spray paint in your choice of color.  Once dry, put it all together and label the top of your jar with your chalk, fill the jar with your goodies and embellish with trim of choice! Voila!  Like I said, so ridiculously simple, but the results are impeccable! These make for such fun containers for gift-giving, too, but I utterly adore them sitting around my house myself! {Gotta find me some more cute jars!}

Not a crafter?  No problem!  You can use these little gems for oodles of things!  Here are just a few ideas, but the sky is the limit! Get creative, and don't be afraid!! {Top left, working clockwise: pearls, beads or other pretties you just like looking at; candy or snack mix storage - perfect tokens of love to use as party favors!; herb storage - cluster herbal jars together in your kitchen - so pretty! OR give as "thank you" gifts; bracelet and/or necklace charm storage - now the container's almost as pretty as the charm itself!}

 

Need more ideas?
*place setting markers ~ write each guest's name on the chalkboard lid, and fill with a special goody!
*luminaries - just fill with your tealights....a bunch scattered on the table would look amazing {no lids, though!}
*note keeper - fill up with cutesy rolled up notes - these could be special sayings, special memories, or even more of an "advent calendar," where you choose one note a day, and then go out and DO it!


Have fun with these!  Hope you love 'em as much as me! :)

Have a product you'd like reviewed?

Contact me at adamsblankie@gmail.com

www.adamsblankie.com

Organize Your Grocery Shopping

So I used to purchase those long, narrow notepads to use as a shopping list.  I would always end up writing in my own categories all over it so that I could better streamline my actual shopping at the store.  But sometimes I wouldn't leave enough space on my sheet for a certain category, or the categories ended up being out of order with the grocery lanes, and it took too much time for this busy mama to write everything down.  Then it dawned on me...there must be a better way to do this!

So as I often do when looking for a great answer to my problem, I turned to Etsy.  {If you STILL haven't checked this site out, you MUST!!  Seriously, whenever I "google" something, it ends up eating up too much time, and directing me to the wrong place.  So, more often than not, I go straight to Etsy to do a search, and there I find what I'm looking for quickly and accurately}.

{Tutorial}: Felt Labels

I love to label things.  Well, I guess I should make myself more clear...I love to organize things. From all my canned goods' labels facing forward {I know, I know....} to everything having its own place, I strive for organization in our home.  Admittedly, I don't always prevail.  But, alas, a girl can try, right? :)

So this past week I decided to make some labels.  I had originally made some of these a few years ago, when my son was born, in an effort to organize some of his toys.  I used them on his baskets of blocks then, and I'm still using them for this now.  Although, of course, these could be used for multitudes of things - from boxes of pictures to drinks with "name tags," these are handy to have around.  The best part?  Once you make them, you can keep them forever because they're made to be interchangeable.  As in, you can swap out the label and put in a  new one.

So anyway, I decided to redo my son's labels {just because I wanted them in a different color!}, and thought, "Hey! I gotta put this on the blog so that everyone can have some of these!"  So here we are. :)

What You Need:
*felt {1/4 yard...more if you want more squares, of course}
*cardstock {one piece of paper will do}
*sewing machine {or needle and thread}
*scissors {one for paper-cutting, and one for fabric-cutting}
*twine {or ribbon}
*stencil {optional}

Cut your felt into 8 pieces that are 4x4 inches each. Cut your cardstock into one square that's 4x4 inches.

So now you need to decide on what shape of an opening you're going to put on each label.  You could just do circles, ovals or hearts, for example.  For mine, I chose stars.  {You want to keep the shape/design simple, because it's just a silhouette}.  Now, I could have gone online to search for a "star silhouette" in Google images, but since these are for my son's room, I decided to just freehand them and make them appear more child-like.  Once you know what shape you're doing, go ahead and draw {or trace if you're using a template} it onto your piece of cardstock.

Take your scissors, and poke a hole through the center of your design. Cut out the shape. {NOTE: for shapes with lots of points {like my star!}, it's easiest to cut out toward each point with your scissors first.  Then cut out the whole shape.

Take your cut-out shape and pin it, centered, onto one of your felt squares.

 

Fold the felt square in half, and use your scissors to cut a small slit in the middle.

Now, using the same technique I referred to earlier, cut out the star shape from your felt square.

 

Repeat these step on 3 of your other squares, so that you have 4 squares with stars {or whatever shape/design you're doing} cut out of the centers.

Take your remaining 4 squares and cut 1/2" off one of the sides of each of them.  Then take one felt square with a star and pin it to one felt square without a star.  Be sure the felt piece with the one shorter side now is matched up to the top of your felt design.

{front and back of how it looks when your pieces are pinned together properly}

Sew your 2 felt squares that are pinned together. Use about a 1/4" seam, and be sure you backstitch when you start and stop to secure your seams.  **NOTE: You are going to sew along the BIGGER square, that is, NOT the one we cut down an extra 1/2 inch.  {If you sew along the edge of the one we cut down, you'll end up sewing your square shut and won't be able to put your label inside}.

Repeat this last step you did with all your squares (Pin them all together, and sew them all together).  Once sewn together, take your scissors and trim off any excess felt on the sides that may have slid around and isn't perfectly aligned any more {this will just even up all the sides}.

Cut two little slits near the top of each your completed squares, just below your stitchline. {These are for threading through your twine to hang your label}.  One slit will be just to the right of the center of your label, and the other, just to the left of your labels.  Each slit needs to be only about 1/4" - 1/2" in length. {It's easiest to fold over the fabric a bit to make your slit - see below}.

Go ahead and slide your 4x4 inch squares into each label's pocket.

Write whatever label you want on each of your pieces of paper.

Cut your twine - you'll need one for each label, of course.  Cut them anywhere from about 5-10 inches in length each.  Then thread each one through your slits you cut earlier.  Start poking the twine through from the front of your square. Then go around the back and poke from the back up through to the front again. 

Tie them onto your item you label, knot it, and you're set!

Have a product you'd like reviewed?

Contact me at adamsblankie@gmail.com

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Organizing the Craft Room {Oh, the horrors!!}

Lately I've had this annoying little bee in my bonnet {as my husband often touts!} about getting my craft/sewing room organized.  Ugh.  The horrors!  Sooo many small things, I cannot even begin to tell you!  From fabric and buttons to lacey trims and fringe to envelopes, bubble wrap & tape {and then some!!}, the list of things goes on and on in my humble little office! So, of course, I've been poring over the internet in search of organizational pieces....and I've found some!  BUT.  Man oh man, does a lot of it cost a pretty penny!  I'm going to share with you some of the gems I found...but I'm BEGGING YOU ~ please, oh please, if you are a crafter or organized person, could you do me a little favor?  Could you pleeeeeeeeeease offer up where you've found some organizational pieces {furniture, accessories, etcetera}, or even give instructions {tutorials} on how to make some you yourself have created!!??  If so, I'd LOVE it!!! Love, love, LOVE it!!  Also, while we're on the topic, I'd like to find a really tall, slim basket for organizing purposes....any tips for where to get some good deals on baskets??

Okay, and one disclaimer here:  if you know me at all, it's gotta all be cute, okay?  Funky, mod, shabby chic...I'm for it all!  I'm an eclectic girl who loves a good mix & some fun & funky designs, but please, oh, pu-lease...no ugly plastic.  There. I said it. :)

Cubby Organizer from Pottery Barn - $129

Daily System Organizer - $399 on sale - Pottery Barn

Magnetic Storage Containers from organizeit.com - $12.99

Kids Art Display Hanger from organizeit.com - $8.99 - I'm thinking this could work for ideas, pictures, current project info..I'm lovin' its versatility!

Glass Spice Bottles from organizeit.com - $0.99 each!

Bedford Project Table from Potterybarn - $1,099.00

Corner Desk from Pottery Barn - $799.00 {does NOT include hutch imaged}

Hutch from Pottery Barn - $199.00

Have a product you'd like reviewed?

Contact me at adamsblankie@gmail.com

www.adamsblankie.com

www.gourmetplay.etsy.com

{Designer Label Gal} Review & GIVEAWAY! *CLOSED*

Don't you just hate it when you give your child a cup to take to Sunday school or preschool, and then they forget it, and then you never get it back? Or the same for clothing pieces? You just KNOW Johnny had it at that last playdate, but it goes MIA forever?

Designer Label Gal understands this, and has created a functional, yet also adorable & stylishly mod, way to remedy these situations! She offers labels that can be applied to just about everything your child owns and uses. From waterproof labels for their sippy cups and snack cups, to fabric labels for ironing on to their clothing and bag tags for the backpacks, she just about has them covered from head to toes!

Not only does the Designer Label Gal have labels for about everything you use, but there are also many choices in size, shape and material! There are clear labels, brown kraft labels, high gloss, matte white, etcetera...not to mention hundreds of font choices. Like I said, she about has you covered in every labeling aspect you can think of {Just not sure when she fits in all the time!}.

Now, you may have seen other products like this before from big box companies, but just simply not with the amount of customization and uniqueness as these from Designer Label Gal! Not only does she have thousands of graphics to choose from, you can also design your own for complete customization! And what I particularly love is that the kids' stuff
isn't all "kid-themed" - you can use a mod damask for your little girl, or modern shapes for your boy, or simply create your own theme or design!

adorable choices for boys...love them.

I received a "Combo Pak," for each child (well, baby #2 isn't quite here yet, but close enough) which included 2 bag tags, 10 gift labels, 20 waterproof labels, & 30 iron-on fabric labels. I chose the playful & stylish boardwalk dot pattern for my son's labels & the bit sophisticated & classy pink damask 4 for our daughter's labels ~ both totally modern and "couture" ~ a huge plus for me.

My favorite items received were the waterproof labels. Why? There are so many items my son takes with him everywhere he goes, and it is so important to label them, if I ever want to see them back again! The fact that I can do so in a stylish way is just the icing on the cake. So after letting the labels "rest" on the items for 72 hours, per our instructions, we washed a few items by hand first. I let them soak in the sink for a few minutes, and then scrubbed a little, and they stayed on perfectly. The next more stringent test was washing them in the dishwasher, and they stayed on perfectly after their nice "hot bath." I did have one that was placed on a rounded and indented surface that didn't quite stick to the edges, but considering they stayed on everything else, it was just that it didn't properly fit this particular item. That being said, I would suggest getting your waterproof labels in a smaller size (maybe the smaller rectangular shape versus the bigger circular shape) to maximize the number of items you can use them on.

Next best, I love the bag tags. They are totally durable and will absolutely not tear, I am confident. They have the name printed on both sides of the tag, too, which is so convenient since the tags can flop around, and people don't have to be flipping it one way or another to actually see whose bag it is. They come complete with the "tassle" for attaching to your bag and match all other (waterproof, regular, & fabric) labels in the pack.

I also easily applied the fabric labels to a few of my son's shirts {I also plan to put a couple on some of our newborn's blankets soon, too!}. It was a brief, simple process. Just put a thin piece of fabric between the iron and label, and "presto!" after a few seconds, it's on. I do recommend using a rag for your fabric you use between the label and iron, however, as part of the color from the label did transfer onto that middle fabric {no colors bled onto the clothing or iron, however}. I also chose to stabilize one of the items with some quick sewing around the edges {I did a zig-zag stitch}, but this step is optional and not required. I wanted to compare how they each held up after being washed and dried {regarding reinforcing the label with stitching or not}. And as far as the results went, both the pressed only and the pressed and sewn-on labels held up beautifully. I have only washed and dried them once, though, so not sure if the pressed-only label will hold up as well as the stitched on one in the long-run. That being said, if you have sewing machine and a few extra minutes, I'd suggest throwing a quick stitch around the label's edges on the fabric, just as Designer Label Gal also recommends.

BUY IT! Visit the Designer Label Gal to buy some labels of your own - beyond kids' items, you can also get some address labels for yourself, some kitchen labels or even some business labels amongst many others! This link will take you to her Etsy shop, where you can also find links to her other .com and Ebay store in her welcome at the top of the page.

WIN IT! Designer Label Gal is generously offering one lucky Haute Tot & Baby Couture reader their own Kids' Combo Pak IV, which includes one bag tag, 1 sheet of regular labels, 1 sheet of waterproof labels, and 1 sheet of fabric labels in your choice{s} of design!

Mandatory Entry:

You must be {or become} an HTBC blog follower on Google Friend to enter! Then visit Designer Label Gal to let me know what product AND what design you'd choose (or if you'd create your own!). Come back here and comment on your choices (1 entry). Be sure to leave your email address in the entry so that I have a way to contact the winner! If there is NO EMAIL left, another winner will be drawn. Winner will be chosen via random.org and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize or another winner will be chosen. Entrants can enter through March 31st. Winner to be chosen April 1st, 2010. {Open Worldwide - Internationally}.

Additional Entries!
Once you've completed the mandatory entry, do any of the following for more entries! {Again, please be sure to leave your email address in each entry!}

*Follow our blog publicly on Google Friend (right-hand column, 1 entry)
*Subscribe to our blog (2 entries possible; via google - 1 entry, via email feedburner - 1 entry (must be activated to count as entry)).
Subscribe to the Designer Label Girl's blog (bottom of page - 1 entry).
*Include our blog in your blog roll and include URL (must leave link to
your blog in comment - 1 entry)
*Become a fan of Adam's Blankie on Facebook (1 entry).
*Follow Adam's Blankie on twitter AND tweet about this giveaway with the following tweet (copy and paste), (1 entry - can be done daily):
"Win a Pak of Kids' Waterproof labels, bag tags and more from Designer Label Gal @adamsblankie! Enter at www.hautetotandbabycouture.blogspot.com!"

(Be sure to leave a link to your tweet/s!).
Follow Designer Label Gal on twitter (1 entry).

*Post our blog buttons on your blog and include link to blog. (6 entries possible - 3 for Adam's Blankie Etsy shop button and 3 for Haute Tot Couture blog button).
*Blog about this giveaway and include the link to your post (3 entries).
*Enter any of our other giveaways for one entry each (up to 3 entries possible) and leave a comment letting me know which giveaway/s you entered.

Please note, I was not paid to do this review.
Opinions are strictly my own, and no one or nothing else has influenced me in my review.

This giveaway is now closed (winner: strawberrykids).
Thanks to all who entered!

Have a product you'd like reviewed?
Contact me at adamsblankie@gmail.com
www.adamsblankie.etsy.com
www.gourmetplay.etsy.com

Baby Girl's Nursery.

So I've just begun trying to figure out how to decorate our baby-girl-to-be's nursery. Which is late for me, considering I had our son's all ready to go by the time I was 5 months pregnant with him. Amazing what a pint-sized toddler wreaking havoc on your day can do to your effectiveness (or the lack thereof, rather)! So I plan to post pictures once the room is complete, but for now I'll just give you a sneak peek at some of the ideas I plan to implement into the room. I plan on doing a pink, black, cream & green theme with paprika accents. That might sound like a bit much to you, but I think it will work well (the inspiration comes from the bedding I will be making from Amy Butler's luscious Lotus line!).

here's a frame I just made this past weekend...love the rhinestone accents & distressing around the edges...

a little bird art...can't go without an adorable birdcage...

one of the many fabulously fun paper flower balls I plan to hang from the ceiling

I'm thinking I'll use this cute egg crate (from {Anthropologie} ~ get one while they last!) for jewelry or hair bows/pins or something of that nature...

this chandelier is just for inspiration, as I have yet to find an old chandelier to spray paint and redo myself...anyone for ideas on where to find such a piece besides hitting a lucky garage sale?!

And below is a picture of my son's nursery (it basically looks the same now, except that he has a different dresser and toddler bed instead of the crib ~ that's the beauty of using "non-baby" themes for a nursery, I guess!). You may recognize it, as I had posted an image of it before, since the bedding was put on the Etsy Baby Gift Guide earlier this year!

Chunky Chocolate Diva Dots

As I'm sure you know by now if you follow this blog at all, I am a huge advocate of sophisticated, mod & ultra-stylish products for babies and toddlers alike. Having a background in the field of interior design, I truly believe what you surround yourself with will affect you, your attitude & behavior.

That being said, I found these deliciously "chunky chocolate diva dots," as I've affectionately coined them, by Dwell Studio, and I think they're utterly fabulous! The simple yet sophisticated chocolate dot pattern comes in a plethora of items, so you can get just a few, or go crazy and buy a wide assortment. Here are a few of the items I think are quite posh and would make lovely gifts (not to mention they're ultra versatile in their gender neutral pattern & palette):



Diaper Tote - $144.00


Bottle Holder - $18.00


Soft Blocks - $28.80

Giraffe Pillow - $28.80

Soft Ring Stacker - $32.40


Storage Bin - $72.00

Labels to Customize (and not lose!) Your Children's Personal Items

So a huge pet peeve of mine is losing any of my son's cups, books, clothes...you name it! After losing the 3rd or so cup from the church nursery, I decided enough was enough, and I was going to purchase labels for all his things we took everywhere on the go. I've listed a few different options below, depending on your own budget, need or preferred style. I think they're all spectacular ideas, and REALLY helpful on the budget, not to mention keeping germs away by making sure little Johnny doesn't use your kid's cup in school.

FREE address labels - just make a donation to any organization that sends out all those address labels for you, but give the donation in your child's name. You can not only feel good about receiving a bundle of free labels in the mail sporadically, but also feel good about helping out a beneficial organization (e.g. wildlife, diseases, animal rescue agencies).


Labels for every occasion from stuckonyou.biz. I ordered some labels from Stuck-on-You for my son and absolutely love them. They have lasted over a couple years now, and have been through the dishwasher umpteen times and still look brand new and haven't started peeling at all! Stuck-on-You even offers shoe dot labels & iron-on clothing labels, not to mention you get to pick the shape, color & image to go along with your child's name!


BumpyName Orbit Labels - these are non-adhesive and reusable labels you can use for cups, bottles & sippy cups. You just stretch and release to apply around the cups. They are also dishwasher and microwave-safe. You can purchase from inchbug.com.

So go check these labels out, and may you never lose another one of your child's personal belongings again!