Dolly Donations...comforting orphans in Haiti...

I just couldn't let this rest & had to participate in the doll drive going on right now to send the cutest handmade dolls to an orphanage in Haiti. These kids could really use some comfort & handmade love.

For more info on this, you can click on the button in my sidebar to be directed to the dolly donations blog...or cut & paste this link into your browser: http://dollydonations.blogspot.com/2010/05/active-dolly-drive-free-kids-dolls-for.html

I'll see if the ladies at my church have any free time to whip up a few more. They are in more need of boy dolls than girl dolls & the deadline is fast approaching.

A little info about the craft experience. Each doll only took a couple of hours for me to make & I know they'd go by faster the more I work on.
The pattern is available for free on the dolly donations website.

The cost of materials was minimal. I bought the brown cotton for the doll's faces & arms, & found all the body & legs fabrics in the 'fat quarter' section at my local fabric store, but any fabric would do, I had the black fleece which I used on thier hair as well as the stuffing. It took not quite 2 bags of stuffing to stuff all 7 of these. I had the craft paint too, but if you didn't have anything to start with, this would easily be an under $20 project for one doll.

It was a lot of fun & I'm sure hoping each of these special friends brings a smile to a child that needs it the most. If you have a little free time & would like to try your hand at an easy & fun project, I encourage you to do so!

*oh, and please give Sarah Hanson credit for the doll pattern when folks ask about it...she is very generous to share it so freely!

Cheers!

One Birthday Down...and One to Go! Making Cake Together.

This is a busy time for us in planning the kiddos birthdays...especially with them starting school this year.
Last week was my son's birthday & we had such a fun time in making his cake together. This week he wants to be a chef. :)

He loves chocolate, so we mixed up a devils food cake in 2 9" round pans. I don't know a kid who doesn't like cracking eggs and mixing batter!

We put chocolate frosting in between the layers as well as on the sides of the cake. The cake was then topped with green buttercream frosting...yes... green! My boy loved it!
He loves anything that has to do with trains, so when I found that cute kitschy plastic train which as a bonus it had 6 cars...I knew it would be perfect for the cake. We tossed on some yellow nonperils & added a ferris wheel...along with some blue edible gitter & a merry go round to make it more carnival/circus themed.
Over the summer we went to a carnival & it was pure magic to the kids & this was a fun way to kind of relive that fun time together.

Finally we added the candles & a couple of sugar trains around the bottom & it was done!

I'd recommend trying to make birthday cake together with your kiddos. It makes a great memory, teaches them to follow instructions, and the quality time together cannot be measured...it's priceless.

Glittery Unicorn Wall Art for My Girl

My little girl will be 4 soon, so I made this extremely sparkly unicorn for her to decorate her room. She sees so many sparkly things come & go & will feel so special to have the biggest glittery resin thing I've made for herself!

I'll let y'all know what she thinks of it!

:o)

Amazing Mail Day!!! Craftster Swap Fun!

Hey all!

I just have to share what my super talented partner in the Friend of Craftster Wist Swap made for me!

She crocheted Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast at Tiffanys in pink and black & then quilted it with super fun colorful mushroom fabric!

Isn't it darling? I have to let the girlie know she can't keep it. This blanket is mommy's!



:o)

Gearing up for Hoop Up, Round 2! A fairy sweet cupcake embroidery pattern!

This is my latest creation for the hoop up round 2 swap on flickr...as well as a new pattern I just added to my etsy shop. I'm planning on making more of my designs available due to all the love they've received within the group as well as several anonymous inquiries.
I have fun stitching them & just hope other folks have as much fun as I do!

This pattern would look great done up in a variety of colorways!

Happy crafting!

The Simpsons Made it to their New Home!

Finally!


So the Simpsons Nativity made it to it's new home today & I can post photos for y'all to see!
It was the most time intensive swap I think I've ever done on craftster, but completely fun & totally worth it! I know my swap partner will enjoy it for years to come!
Here's a top view:

This is what they looked like after they were baked, but not yet painted. Part of me liked them white & could visualize them coated with glitter just like this...but I just knew I had to paint them up in the Simpson's colors! I did toss on some glitter during the clearcoating step at the very end though!

Now I'm on to a new project & cannot wait to share with you my 'fairy sweet cupcake' embroidery!

Photos & pattern soon!
:o)

Shhhh! It's a Secret!!!

I cannot wait to share with all of you dear readers my latest creation! I'm going to have to wait until my swap partner over at craftster gets her swap package before posting the entire project because I don't want to spoil the surprise for her.
I've sculpted The Simpsons as a nativity!
This is the biggest...most time intensive project I think I've ever swapped on craftster. It took me over 40 hours to sculpt the family plus their dog, Santaslittlehelper. I think painting was another 12 hours because you wouldn't believe how difficult it is to paint up to the edge of one colored area without the paint or bristles of the brush sneaking over on another part. I did a lot of touch ups. To finish it off & make it super festive, they're all clearcoated with a sprinkling of glitter. I love when I can work glitter into a project!

Now comes the really hard part... letting go. I've let them dry sufficiently & taken their 'glamour shots'... so now they're sitting on the kitchen table next to a box & roll of bubble wrap. I'll be mailing these out priority, with insurance, and signature confirmation.
I'm disenchanted with the usps right now...but that's another story & I want to be absolutely sure these reach their new home safe & sound!
I hope my partner & her family loves them!

Will post updated photos of the group after they get there...by Friday if all goes well!

How a Crafty Sewing Type of Person Can Make a World of Difference for a Child in Haiti

I need to participate in this super charity called "Dolly Donations" sewing adorable dolls for the children in Haiti.
Things are usually pretty crazy-busy around here...I've got kids starting school for the first time soon, we're refinancing the house, I'm running 2 etsy shops & handling the general everyday chaos & keeping the family glued together.
Somehow, some way I must block out some time to make a friend for a child to hug & feel the love they so desperately need.
You can make a difference too!
I believe they are accepting dolly donations until Nov 1.
There are free patterns on the blog with tutorials & tips!

Let's do this!

C'mon now...It will be fun!

:o)

America's Got Talent...

It's been my summertime guilty pleasure for the past few years & it's reached the point for me that summer wouldn't be summer without the tv show America's Got Talent on NBC.

It's starting to wind down & finalists are being chosen... America is voting for their favorites.

I voted tonight for the first time. It was weird picking up the phone to call in my vote...as if my measly vote would be the turning point for America's next big wonderful talent. I certainly hope so! I called in to represent middle America as they called it after my favorite, Prince Poppycock performed.

He's truly gifted & quite the showman! I think I could watch him for hours.
Tomorrow night the results will be in...and I'll be glued to my tv with my fingers crossed.

:o)

So who do y'all want to win. I promise to not get my knickers in a twist if you don't think PRince Poppycock is the cat's pajamas! Promise! Well, I'll try!

Now for something completely different...

I've been working on a custom order that doesn't include candy sprinkles or glitter!

I was approached by someone at my other etsy shop, As Luck Would Have It, to make a custom pendant using some plant pieces & sand grains that she sent to me.

I have to tell you this was one of the most fun & unique projects I've had the pleasure of working on in a long time.

'K' was a pleasure to work with giving me details of what she would like the piece to ultimately look like, quick to respond to my questions & updates, and I'm sad to say the piece is now made... so bittersweet that the fun has had to come to an end.

I think the jewelry came out very well. It's both modern and natural looking at the same time!

There are more photos on my flickr if you'd like to take a peek: http://www.flickr.com/photos/isewcute/sets/72157624508240421/