Newborn Petti-tutu & Headband

I love how this Pink & Black Petti-tutu turned out.  I made it special for a sweet little newborns pictures.  It was tiny and adorable.  I used 2 tones of Pink with the Black and made a matching flower headband.  I used a little tulle in with the flower on the headband (can't tell much in the pic) but I really like how it turned out.  It just tied the whole thing together.  I can't wait to see the pics! =)

"Santa's Little Helper" Petti Tutu

Awwww...I just love how this Christmas Petti Tutu turned out. 

Interchangeable Bracelets & Necklaces

These are so much fun! 

Here are a few Personalized designs of my Interchangeable Bracelets & Necklaces with my Button magnet designs.

 Interchange them out with what you want to wear for the day.  Such a fun & Unique gift for girls.

*just for fun you can see more of my jewelry designs at http://www.sparklesspotjewelry.blogspot.com/

(watchbands & necklaces)

Cute Bottlecap Necklaces

*for fun you can see some of my other Jewelry (watchbands & necklaces) at http://www.sparklesspotjewelry.blogspot.com/

My AWESOME new product: Fun Gift Idea!

How fun are these?!  These are my button designs. I could make a million of these little things.  These make adorable magnets for fridge or lockers/office, hair bow centers, great for scrapbooking....so many ideas!  I can make any style, any name, initials...personalize however you'd like. 
But....something so cool that I'm pleasantly surprised how
Teens, Tweens and younger girls are loving them....Yay! 
Here is another idea with my interchangeable bracelets and necklaces.

Soft Sretchy Nylon washer bracelets...just snap on any design for the day.  So Cute!

Not the best pic of my Interchangeable pendant necklaces, but such a fun necklace.  Change out any snap you want to wear.  
A Fun and affordable gift for those girls!

Of Course I also have a ton of assorted bottlecap necklaces (not interchangeable) 

Tutu's of the Week

Ivory with red crochet waist and red and ivory satin ribbon sash

Pink BubbleGum with dark pink crochet stretch waist

Purple and light pink with satin wrapped waist

Flower Frenzy

I just cant get enough of FlowErS lately...I could make flowers all day! I'm just in a Flower Mood. These felt flowers are really my Favorite!  So Fun!  So Cute! Check out my New Etsy Store for a few more designs. 

 Here a couple cute little fabric flowers with small crystal beads attached to the center. 

I'm linking up with:

Do you ever feel like Miss Betty Homemaker???

Or just go ahead and call me Martha Stewart..haha.....I was just making all sorts of things yesterday!  Going from one thing to the next and I had a bunch of fun!

Finishing up my daughters Rock Star Costume accessories

Bakin' & Makin' goodies to give, to take and to eat!

a fun little accessory for myself

We were also carving pumpkins in the mean time

then it was time to get ready for the Spooky and Fun night!

Rock Star Costume

I just used some Sparkly Iron On letters I found at Walmart to add the "Rock Star" letters.  It almost looks like it was meant to be there....super fun!

A few Bottle Cap accessories, an interchangeable Magnetic bracelet and choker necklace.
I actually made these for 2 of my other kids as well, a Batman Bracelet for my son who was Batman (he kept calling it his Batman watch, he thought it was super cool =), and a Pink Batman Bracelet for my other daughter who was a pink Bat girl.  I'll be making plenty more of these as well, they are super fun to mix and match, trade and interchange....Love it!

 The Tutu and Tutu Hair bow also turned out super cute and she also loved the Sparkly eye makeup I put on her!  It all turned out better than I imagined it.

Just a Bakin' & Makin'...

Mmmm...milk please!  Just because I can on my FREE day from the 8 week challenge =)

 A little "Amish Friendship Bread."  Have you ever tried this?  It's really good and an interesting process while you wait 10 days before you bake it and then pass some more starters onto friends.  So today was day 10, I made some for us and some starter bags and recipes to pass on with a little sample as well.

I also made some "Chicken Bowtie Salad" today to take a long to our ward Trunk or Treat Dinner.  I love this salad!

Chicken Bowtie Salad

1 1/2 cups uncooked bow tie pasta
1 1/2 cups rotini pasta
1 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken
1 (20 oz can) pineapple, drained
1 cup red grapes, sliced in half
2 ribs of celery, diced
3 green onions, diced
1 cup craisins
1 cup cashews (if desired) or try slivered/sliced almonds
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup mayonnaise

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and cool pasta. To large bowl, add pasta, chicken, pineapple, grapes, celery, onion, and craisins. In a separate bowl mix sugar and mayo. Pour over pasta mixture and toss. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving. Mix in cashews just before serving.

{I actually don't add 1/2 of this stuff!  You can take out and add whatever you like in this salad. When I make it I only use a full package of Bow tie pasta, not rotini and usually only chicken, celery and grapes.  Just mix it up and change it every time you make it.} 

Felt, Tulle & a Bottlecap...what more do you need!!?

I love this little lovely I created as a last minute hair clip for my Vampire Costume....I was going to make the bottle cap say somthing spooky like, "I want your blood"....haha, but I figured my girls could wear this later on too!

 I put a French clip on back just because that's what I had on hand, but these have a nice secure hold.  You could also add an alligator clip or pin back or snap clip...whatever you choose.

 I love how simple and cute it is....I'll definitely be making more!

Yah, I can never make a spooky face....haha.

Yummy Potato Soup...Mmmmm

I really love this recipe, I got it from my sister in law. It's actually cooking on the stove right now.  It will be super nice & easy for my hubby to heat it up tonight for dinner while I'm teaching Music class.  I try to make things ahead of time that he can warm up or stick in the oven because I don't have time to make dinner a few nights out of the week because I'm teaching.  So, this is a great one....especially this time of the year!

Here ya go...let me know if you try it out.

Potato Soup

1 Cup Diced Onion

Diced Carrots

Diced Celery

3/4 Cup Butter

3/4 Cup flour

4 tsps chicken buillion granules or 4 cubes

3 Cups water

4 cups diced potatoes

2 Cups half & half

2 Cups Milk

16 oz velveta cheese (the recipe actually calls for 12 oz, but I never find 12 oz)

Mix onion, carrots, celery & butter in stock pot and cook till onions are clear.  Add flour and stir in then add bouillon then water and stir good.  Add Potatoes, half & half and milk.  Cook slowly with lid on till potatoes are tender then add Velveeta cheese and cook short time longer.  To keep warm use crock pot on low or warm.  (Do not let boil or soup will look curdled, although it won't affect the taste :) Can add more milk or half & half as needed to thin down. 

{A few things...sometimes when I don't feel like chopping an onion I just use the onion flakes.  I'm not a big onion person anyway and I really don't like cutting onions....any tips on that??  Also I usually add 5 or 6 buillion cubes, I like a more salty taste.  It's just me...I sorta love salt, yes I know...not good :)  My husband likes it with more potatoes, so I usually add about 5 cups or so, until it looks potato-ey enough....haha.  Enjoy!  It's so yummy!}

Another Fabric Flower Tutorial

This is another good Fabric Flower Tutorial.  I used the same fabric as the ones in the last post.  I really love the design of these ones! I'm excited to make a lot more!  Here is the great tutorial.  Try it out!  You can add a pin back to add style to an outfit or a bag, an alligator clip or french clip for your hair or put it on a headband.  Super Cute!  I added a non slip alligator clip for these specific ones for my girls. 

Fabric Flowers & a Great Tutorial

I enjoy playing around with fabric and making little accessories.  Here are the latest ones I have made.  I followed this tutorial.  There are so many different ones you can find online and different styles to try!  So Fun!

White Tutu and Matching Headband

I made this Tutu as a Custom Order along with the matching white woven headband.  I love the "all white" and I am loving how it turned out!  Both of the Hot Pink flowers are removable. 

When life gives you lemons......

Make Lemonade!  Or Pink Lemonade =)

Doesn't this one just make you smile?  It's so Sunny & Cheery!  One of my favorite color combinations is Yellow and Pink.  

This Simply Yellow Crochet waist tutu is made with 2 tones of yellow and just a splash of Hot Pink with the removable Satin Sash.  I Love it!! These Crochet Waist tutus are great to grow with your child through the years and so soft on their waist.

Looks like Christmas....Red & White Infant Tutu



The Crochet Waist Tutu is perfect for newborns and it will actually stretch to about 5 years old...maybe more, all depending on the size of the child.  But, It's a great "Grow with me" Tutu!  This Christmas Red & White turned out adorable. 
Can add flowers at waist for some extra pizzaz, but super cute as is. 

A Few TuTu's


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Pumpkin/Harvest Petti Tutu
Dark Brown, Cream & Orange



Basic Tutu with Flower at Waist



Block Pattern Tutu with Pink, Dark Pink & Dark Brown



Two Layer Tutu with Ribbon Embellishments



My New BEST FRIEND & Our Family System Revisited

I want to tell you about my new Best Friend...the Fly Lady!  Many of you probably already know about her.  I heard about her a couple of years ago, but didn't pay much attention at the time.  Recently I found her again and I Love, Love, Love Her!  FLY stands for Finally Loving Yourself.  She helps you to keep an organized and clean house to finally love yourself and keep the CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Sydrome) away.  I'm sorta a born organized person.  I keep a strict calendar, Many lists, I like things orderly.  But, sometimes getting things that way is hard especially with 4 kids to get things all out of whack.  But, the fly lady is helping.  I feel it's okay if somebody drops by without calling, my house isn't perfect but I'm finally loving the way it is everyday. It's more peaceful and....hmmmm, well clean & orderly I guess you could say.  I'm not overwhelmed by loads of laundry which is a big giant plus.  The Fly Lady is helping me do little by little everyday and create new habits to my morning and night routines so it's now a habit and I'm not spending the day cleaning for hours and hours.  My kids are getting into a great routine too Just in time for school.  Check out the Fly Lady's website here.  Don't get overwhelmed by all the info there.  Start wih the The Getting Started Section & Baby Steps and Flying Lessons.  It really does work.  She has some great tools as well.  Make sure you sign up for her emails.  You will get an email each day of what you need to do that day to stay on track.  I'm loving it.  It's so exactly what I needed.  Let me know if you are already FLYing or if you try it Let me know how it goes! I promise you'll be feeling so much better!  I also like the ideas from JOY over at Just Organize Yourself.  She uses a lot of the Fly Ladies system and might give you some other ideas as well.  This resource might also be worth checking out!  How to do develop that morning routine, how to actually get out of bed in the mornings..haha!
 I also love this for our family Calendar, shopping lists, to do's, etc. on the computer.  I also think it's important to have a calendar for everybody to see other than just on the computer.  If it's not on the Calendar, it doesn't happen!  Fly Lady has a great wall calendar.  We did an FHE lesson on "House of Order" to kind of kick off our routines.  I'm also using the idea of the House Fairy to keep my kids a little excited to stick with their chores everyday.

We are still going strong on our Family Board System.  I made some new magnets w/ pics of what they should do with a morning routine, aftershool routine & before bed routine. So that can start to get in more of a habit of what they should do during those times. I also made me some that I keep on a different magnet board.  I'll take some pics soon and add here.  I switched up how we use our points a little bit.

Basic Points per day

good behavior faces= 3 pts/day if on good face
chores & schedule complete= 3 pts/day
eating all or most of food at dinner= 2 pts
trying a new food= 1 pt
Choose extra chores = 1 extra pt each chore
Help make lunch or Dinner= 1 point
*other things get them points too, only Mom or Dad can decide to give points out, for doing an extra good deed, helping somebody out, etc.

Points Taken Away
hitting
yelling
bad words
being mean
whining/crying for no reason
talking back

Can pay mom or dad points
a sandwich at dinner time instead of what we are eating= 3 pts
30 minutes computer game time after chores & homework are done= 1 pt
30 minutes DS after Chores & Homework are done= 1 pt
30 minutes TV= 1 pt

**extra rewards given by parents= weekday movie night,

wii play, date w/ mom, date w/ dad, etc.

*can trade in pts for money at the end of each week, money goes in our family bank binder, pay tithing on fast Sundays and they can save up money to buy things at school, a small toy at the store or save up for something bigger*
5 cents per point (cheap I know..haha, but the points add up)

**The kids got a Special Letter from the "House Fairy."  She's the one that comes to Inspect their rooms and to see how good of job they are doing.  This created some excitement for them and anytime they see a little sparkly fairy dust around it reminds them of her and that she is stopping by each week to make sure they are still doing thier jobs well.  They'll get other letters and little trinkets from her in the weeks to come.

It's important that kids know what you expect from them, for our Family Night we also established some basic family rules so they know for sure what is expected in our House.  These are rules for everybody, mom and dad too!! =)

Talk Nicely to Each Other
No mean or bad words
If you Get it out You Put it away
If you make a mess you clean it up
Do your Chores
Trash goes in the Garbage Can
No Food or Dishes in bedrooms
Do your best in School
Do your best in Church Callings

Whew!  I guess that's it for today!  Let me know if you have any questions of specifics of our system.  Are you as crazy and me and have to have a totally organized system in your house.  What's your ideas, what do you do?

My obsession: TUTU'S

Okay, I have made many tutu's before, but lately that's all I want to do.  My girls love to dance and twirl and I'm so sad they are growing too fast and aren't 2 anymore.  I told the hubby I'm gonna start dressing up the boys...haha, um, that's a No Go!  What do I do wih all the Tutu's that are filling up the house? 

 

This one turned out really cute.  It's a double layer tutu with pink and orange and I embellished with some cute ribbon ties.  I made the onesie to match using the lovely Cricut Expressions and some fabric I had on hand!  I made it for a Baby shower gift and I'm so happy with how it turned out!  I can't wait for more baby girl showers.  I think this is such a fun gift to give!

Painted Shirts and Tulle Bows

I know it's been a while!  I often feel the need to create everything!  LOL!  But Lately I just haven't had the time and also trying to enjoy the summer doing fun things with my kids and maybe getting the whole house organized..that has been a huge project in itself....LOL. 

 But, I ended up making these ADORABLE shirts for the 4th!  I just love how they turned out!  I saw THIS blog and used the idea.  I think it would be fun to paint some shirts for many other holidays and things as well.  On some of the shirts and on the backs I used good old fabric and the cricut.  Just use Heat and Bond, Iron on to your fabric shapes or letters and then Iron on to the shirt.  So easy and I think it turned out good.  

I also made the girls' Hair bows.  I made them out of Tulle.  I'm addicted to Tulle....LOL, just one of the many things. =)  Just tie the tulle in knots onto a french clip, it's so easy.  After I tied all the tulle on I then tied a few ribbons on as well, just to complete the overall look!  I love them.   

Some Link up Love....