Owl and Bird DIY Nursery Mobile

I looked and looked for a baby mobile I would love for the room and found that most are ugly or way to expensive, so here is my attempt and making one myself.

All I did was find a free PDF template of an owl and a bird and turn that into a stuffed animal and then I did a blanket stitch over the edge of each animal to give it a better look. I then hung them from a Quilters hoop. I did add some ribbon in between each animal to just hang there creating a whimsical look. I did add 3 more pieces of ribbon to create the part that will hang from the ceiling. I wasn't sure how it would turn out, but fell in love with the end result.

I am just so excited that the room is close to completion and can't wait to post pictures of how it turned out.

Owl theme Crib Quilt *The Beginning

I am working on the Crib quilt right now. I still have some more to complete, but here is what it looks like pieced together. I have never worked with applique, so this is fun for me. In fact, this is only the 3d quilt I have ever made. I always get nervous with quilts because I don't want to screw it up. I have a fear of failing a quilt silly I know. My mother was a great quilter. I would have sleepovers while our mom would pull an all nighter and come up with this awesome quilt. There cuts were perfect, their stitches amazing and straight and the whole quilt look like it should be in an art museum. Since I can remember I remember my mom behind a sewing machine, or on the couch hand stitching a huge quilt.

Uh Oh, an "I remember" story...

I remember one day I decided that I wanted to surprise my mom and sew my dolly a new dress, so I hid in my room and started my project. I carefully started to cut out two pieces of fabric in the shape of a dress and then BOOM there was blood everywhere. I accidentally cut the tip of my index finger off. I was so scared because I had never seen so much blood before. I tried to make it stop by holding anything to it, but what ever I held there, blood would be seeping from it moments later. Moments later I had to get my mom. Thank goodness we had a retired nurse as a neighbor and she help out.

Well it seems I am having lots of memories today. I am beginning to sound old, when in fact I am just 23. Not even 23 yet. My birthday is tomorrow. I am an almost 23 year old with a 37 weeks pregnant belly remembering the simpler time and wishing I would get off my ass and finish my babies quilt.

DIY Lamp Shade Cover

I was given this lamp to use in the nursery, however I hated the color. I am a big believer in reusing items, so I decided to use some coordinating fabric to reuse this lamp.

Here is how it turned out.

If you want to do it yourself. I have included my own little tutorial below.

What you will need:

1/2 yard of fabric (any cotton will do)

Gorilla Glue

A ruler

Some Scrap Paper

1.Tape together some paper. Make sure that it will fit all the way around the lamp. At first I had 3 peices of paper and then realized I would need 4 pieces taped together.

2. Find the start point and mark the lamp and paper. Slowly roll the lamp over the paper and trace the edge. Do not cut out yet!

3. Add an extra 1/2"in. to the pattern. This is so you can fold over and glue later on. It will look like this.

4. Cut out the pattern you just created and fold in half. Fold fabric to create a fold and line folded fabric along the folded end of your pattern. Pin and cut out your fabric.

>

5. Use Gorilla Glue to glue one end of the fabric to the lamp shade.

6. On the other end of the fabric glue a fold. Like shown.

7. Precede to glue the remaining fabric end to the other of the lamp. Pull to make sure there are no wrinkles or kinks.

8. Pin to keep in place.

9. Precede to one end of the lamp and start to glue the interior with the remaining fabric edge. Clamp shut to let dry.

10. Complete both sides and let dry.

11. Unclamp and enjoy your new lamp cover!

DIY Snuggly Burp Cloth Tutorial

When I made my snuggly swaddle blanket I had some remaining fabric, so I decided to make a couple of matching burp cloths. I also made a matching strap to secure the burp cloth when not in use. I find it great for space saving in my diaper bag.

What you will need

Print out the Pattern http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/2008/01/burp-cloth-tutorial.html
1/2 yard of fabric for front (I used flannel)
1/2 yard of fabric for back (I used fleece)
Like thread
Velcro 1" by 1" (optional)

1. Print and cut out the burp cloth pattern

2. lay your fabrics right sides together and pin pattern to fabric.

3. Cut out your pattern.

4. Pin fabric and sew right sided together using a 1/4" seam allowance.

5. Leave a corner unsewn and flip fabric so the right sides no longer face each other.

6. Fold in edging, iron and sew closed.

7. Sew the around to create a border using a 5/8 in. seam allowance.

The Rest is optional.

8. Cut 2 5 1/2" by 2" strips of the flannel fabric.

9. Pin right sides together

10. Sew using a 1/4" seam allowance. Leave one edge unsewn.

11. Flip so right sides no longer face each other.

12. Fold in the unsewn edge, pin, iron, and sew closed.

13. Add velcro to the edge of the front side and the contrasting peice to the edge of back side.

14. Sew velcro to strap.

15. Enjoy your new burp cloth and matching strap.

Fuzzy Swaddle Blanket Turtorial

Today I decided to make a swaddle blanket and some matching burp cloths. My husband really wanted our baby to have a snuggle soft blanket to swaddle her in. I let him pick out his favorite fabric and decided to make a swaddle blanket that her daddy chose.

I started with the Swaddle Blanket.

Time: 15-40 minutes depending on experience

You will need:

1.5 yard of fabric for back (I used a flannel)

1.5 yard of fabric for front (I used a fleece)

Matching thread

Sewing machine

1. Cut a 2 39" by 39" squares

2. Use a small plate (or Cd, or tupperware lid etc.) to trace a rounded corner for all four sides of blanket. Trace and cut away.

3. Pin together right sides facing together.

4. Sew along the edge with a 1/4 in. seam allowance.

5. Make sure to leave a edge unsewn to flip fabric, so right sides are not facing any longer.

6. Fold in the corner edge, iron and sew off.

7. Sew a border with like color thread allowing a 5/8 in. seam allowance.

Love your new creation.

Cloth Diaper Baby

I have always wanted to cloth diaper my baby and when doing my research I found it to be quite expensive and something that would work better if I made them myself. Here are the finished products.

If you want to make them too, I used the Little Comet Cloth Diaper Pattern http://www.kingstondesign.com/optionalsoaker.pdf

I also used the directions to make them on http://makingitlittlebylittle.wordpress.com/category/little-comet-tails/

DIY Nursery Art Decor

Some Creations of mine.

I really wanted to have some nice artwork in the nursery but found it to be quite expensive, so I decided to make my own. I found an idea and decided to sketch the artwork myself. I hadn't drawn anything since high school but I think they turned out pretty well. All I have left is to mat and frame them.

I am no artist, and the still turned out pretty well. Don't worry about it being perfect, just put your heart into it.

Preparing the Nursery when your a cheap skate

We are cheap skates. Okay I said it. I love nice things. I actually have expensive taste, but have the hardest time spending high money. I am frugal at heart.

We have only spent $222 on the entire nursery.

If you would like to know how I will share our little secrets.

We found our Pottery Barn Crib on Craigslist and negotiated the guy down to $80.

We were given our dresser and since it was a natural color and needed to be refinished, my husband sanded it down and painted it with a lo-gloss lacquer and Wa-La our dresser matches the crib. We spent $20 at home depot to repaint it and on the Sandpaper.

We hit up Joann's craft superstore (my favorite store!) on a super sale day and loaded up on all the fabric and notions I needed to hand make the cloth baby diapers, some extra swaddle blankets, the bedding and room accents, and some extra fabric for burp clothes, baby towels, and a nursing cover. We spend $112.00 (but saved over $80 because of the sale).

We found some used children's clothing stores on there $5.00 a bag sale. Children's Orchard has a sale every new season where you can fill up a plastic bag and only pay $5.00 for all of it! We bought 2 bags and spent $10.00.

Now we did accept a lot of our stuff from family members and friends. Anybody who offered we accepted. I really wanted to get an expensive stroller, but we couldn't afford the luxury. My cousin actually decided to give me her Quinny Stroller. I pretty much fell over with excitement! I also found many great deals on craigslist. We accepted clothing from friends who had girls, as well as a baby swing and bouncer.

We also received great help from our parents. My husbands family bought us the crib mattress we wanted which was $150 on sale ($30.00 off). My family pulled together the money for the car seat that fits our Quinny Stroller.

The baby shower was awesome. I am having a second one after our little angel is born. I invited everyone I knew. Not only was the advice on becoming a new mommy helpful and the recommendations of other moms extremely helpful, but we received so many clothes, and care items for the baby. Many of the items we needed for the baby were covered by the baby shower.

Overall we have spent so little for just an adorable room. I have a few more things planned to tie it all together, but we are so close to being done and will have only paid under $400 on the entire room together. I am very satisfied with the quality of our nursery. We didn't have to sacrifice style and quality even though we we didn't couldn't spend a whole lot of money.