DIY Award Ribbons

One of my favorite memories from growing up, was a participating in a park district fishing contest.  I remember, at the end of the contest, I was awarded a beautiful blue ribbon with gold embossed lettering announcing my feat.  I can't remember what my ribbon said but I do remember how much I loved it.  

This year we've spent a few weekends in Wisconsin where Grace has stylishly discovered she loves fishing. 

In hopes of creating a similar memory for Grace, a fishing contest was arranged.  And, a fishing contest isn't complete without the much sought after award.

To make your own award ribbons, grab the following supplies:  thick ribbon, coordinating ribbon, scissors, felt circles, hot glue (or a sewing machine), card stock and glue.

 

Cut your ribbons.  The tails should be cut between 4-6 inches in length.  The ribbon that will be pleated around the felt circle should be cut between 12-14 inches in length.

Glue the coordinating ribbon (the tails) onto the circle of felt.  Using the hot glue glue, secure the wider ribbon around the circle of felt, pleating and puckering it as you go around.

If you aren't afraid of sewing, sewing your ribbon into place gave a cleaner look and finish to the ribbons. 

Decide what you want your ribbons to say and, either in word or PicMonkey, customize your awards.  Since these ribbons were for a fishing contest, the awards were for biggest fish, smallest fish and cutest fish.

Apply a layer of glue around the perimeter of your puckered ribbon and secure a second felt circle.  Then, glue the custom label into place.

When your award ribbons are complete, let the contest begin...

and then have fun deciding who wins which award.

Linked to:

{M} *One Sharendipity Place *Watch Out Marta Mondays *Pink Hippo Party  * Thrift Share Monday on The Apron Thrift Girl *Make It Pretty Mondays * Sharing Sweet Mondays * Busy Mondays at a Pinch of Joy  *Made Monday at Toastie Studio * *The Cure for the Common Monday  * Craftastic Link Party * Brassy Apple, Make it Monday * Made By You Mondays * Skip To My Lou *

{T} *From Dream to Reality Link Party ** Thursday Linky Party at Osie Moats * Be Inspired by Elizabeth and Co.   * Tutorials and Tips on Home Stories A 2 Z   * I gotta try that   * Off The Hook Link Party  * The Winthrop Chronicles  * Open Call Tuesdays on Salt Tree * Adventures of a DIY MOM * Take a look Tuesday at Sugar Bee Crafts * Blackberry Vine Tuesday To Do Party  *  Coastal Charm * My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia  * Tip Junkie   

{W}*Riverton Housewives Round Up  *Adorned from Above *Well Crafted Wednesdays *What I Whipped Up Wednesdays * Homemade by You Wednesday * Whimsy Wednesdays * The Fun In Functional * What I learned Wednesday * Someday crafts 

{TH} * A Glimpse Inside  *  The Crafty Blogstalker * Made In a Day  * A Little Knick Knack * House of Hepworth's  * 52 Mantels *
 

{F} * Pin Me Link Party*The Create and Inspire Link Party*Craftionary Link Party *  Financial Friday Link Up with The Grant Life *  Sharing Saturday  *  The Chic and Crafty Party *  Fab Not Drab Fridays *  Shine on Fridays with One Artsy Mama  *  Friday Favs Party at Nap Time Crafters *  French Country Cottage * Serenity Now  * Tatertots and Jello * Chic On A Shoestring *  Decorating

{Sat}*Your Great Idea, Or so She Says *Saturday Show and Tell *Saturday Showcase *Overflowing With Creativity *YOU Inspire Link Party *Be Different Act Normal * Nifty Thrifty Things * I heart naptime * The Sweet Talk Shop * Funky Junk Interiors *  Twigg Studios * 

{Sun} *  Nifty Thrifty Things Sunday * DIY Showoff * The girl creative * By Stephanie Lynn * My 1929 Charmer Blog * Embellishing Life Everyday * Alderberry Hill * Homemaker On A Dime * Delectable Home * Everything Under The Moon * 

This is Me - August Self Portrait Theme Reveal

The Self Portrait theme for the month of July is...

To take a picture you love and try and recreate it. 

My two favorite pictures taken since I started this self portrait challenge were inspired by photos I've pinned in my original photography board on pinterest.

Of course, your inspiration can also come from a family picture you love, a painting, an advertisement...anything at all. 

For me, there is a picture of my grandma that I love, doing what she did best, cooking for the masses (she raised 7 kids!).  A picture, I've been told she hated.  Apparently, she hated being in pictures too.

Ironically, that picture she hated is one that I love.  It embodies so much of what I remember about her.  No one that came to her house ever left hungry.  Even on a budget, she always seemed to be able to feed the masses. 

That picture also reminds me that I even though I am still critical of most of the pictures I am in, they shouldn't just be deleted.  Those pictures still tell a story, they still represent a piece of who I am.  Those pictures I hate, could one day become a picture loved by someone else.

So...

Anytime I am in the kitchen, I think of my Grandma and that picture AND I decided to try and capture my own essence in a similar picture.

The task 'recreating a picture you love' was provided for inspiration but the theme is optional.  All self portraits are welcome.  Feel free to use one of our previous themes (simple moments, reflections, looking down, adding a quote) or come up with a new theme of your own. 

The 'Great Outdoors' July linky party is still open, so if you want to post a link you still have time.  If you haven't already, please go check out the brave women that joined the challenge to show them your support and encouragement.

Don't forget, non bloggers can share their self portrait pictures in the flickr pool OR add your self portrait via instagram.

I'll see you at the end of the month, Friday, August 30th, to see your latest self portraits.

Summer Showcase of Homes Recap

In case you missed any of the amazing 26 houses in the Summer Home tour last week, I put them all in one post for you to visit.
 
Enjoy!

Grace's Big Girl Room - A Work in Progress

Grace's room is making the transition from a baby's room to a big girl room. 

In the transition, though, I have to decide what to keep out and on display and what to pack away. 

My mom, the Queen of Quilts, had made this adorable sheep quilt for Grace.  This quilt covered her crib and toddler bed up until now.

Of course, both the crib and toddler bed are now gone, making room for a twin bed.  We bought this headboard from Goodwill for $14.95 with the intention of painting it white and adding a decorative wood applique that has a slightly vintage feel.

We found the perfect sheets for her new big girl bed from Home Goods.  Hillcrest Ballerina Princess Toile in pink for only $19.95.

Though her sheep quilt will still have a place in her room, it certainly won't cover her twin bed so The Queen of Quilts will be making her another quilt.  Grace and I got to go fabric shopping, finding the daintiest of patterns ranging in colors from pink to green and a touch of yellow.

The Queen of Quilts always adds a label to the back of each quilt she makes.  Something personal, something meaningful, something to mark exactly how special the newly made quilt is.   

For this quilt, I created the label myself.  I embroidred 'let her sleep for when she wakes She will move mountains', a quote I have seen on pinterest countless times.  A quote so fitting to be added to a quilt that Grace will spend many nights sleeping beneath.

A bed alone does not make a big girl room, so when I found this beautiful print by Laurel Denise, one that is so fitting for Grace, I didn't hesitate to buy it (especially when I found out it was only $15 with shipping).

And, we'll finally be adding a chandelier to our 100 year old house.  Home Depot has this sweet chandelier for just under $100.

 

Fortunately, I found a ceiling medallion at Goodwill for $1.99 a few months ago.  It will get a coat of white paint and will be hung along with the chandelier.

Grace's bookcase will be getting a coat of light pink paint along the back and the shelves will display more big girl items compared to baby items.  *And, yes that is a TV you spy.  When your husband says, as you are decorating the nursery, if there is a TV in the baby's room, I will help with midnight feedings, you add a TV to the baby's room.

And, there will be some homemade 3 dimensional pink butterflies fluttering around her room. 

Just like every other room in our house, this room will be filled with thrifted and flea market finds, home made elements and frugal finds.

I look forward to completing Grace's room and sharing every detail.

Watercolor Embroidered Mason Jars

With mason jar crafts and creations all the rage, I how have finally succumb to the craze...in my own way, through embroidery.

These watercolor embroidered mason jars were inspired by Cresendoh, you can see the full tutorial at their site.

I took their tutorial and made a few minor changes.  Where they stamped a mason jar onto fabric to act as a pattern, I hand drew my mason jar.

Into an embroidery hoop, I layered the following:  my hand drawn mason jar fabric followed by a layer of batting and finally another layer of white fabric.

*Using a stem stitch, I embroidered the mason jar.  I used dark brown embroidery thread for the jar, gray for the lid, red for the lab and dark brown for the word on the label. {These steps were not included in the tutorial by Cresendoh.}

When my embroidery was complete, I applied blue watercolor, using the technique described by Cresendoh.

After a few trials and errors, I decided to leave my mason jar untrimmed until I applied the watercolor and it fully dried.  I feel like it left the edge of the mason jar and batting beneath cleaner.

 

When completely dry, I cut my mason jar out, cutting around the embroidered stem stitch I made outlining the mason jar.

I applied no fray to the edge of the 'grace' jar.  No fray was not applied to the 'hope' jar and you can see, over time, some fraying did result.

Attach some floral wire to the top of the mason jar. 

And hang.

And, I am absolutely in love with the results. 

I hope you'll decide to make some of your own.

If you liked this tutorial, make sure to check out my 'Make a Wish' embroidery pattern and tutorial.

Linked to:

{M} *One Sharendipity Place *Watch Out Marta Mondays *Pink Hippo Party  * Thrift Share Monday on The Apron Thrift Girl *Make It Pretty Mondays * Sharing Sweet Mondays * Busy Mondays at a Pinch of Joy  *Made Monday at Toastie Studio * *The Cure for the Common Monday  * Craftastic Link Party * Brassy Apple, Make it Monday * Made By You Mondays * Skip To My Lou *

{T} *From Dream to Reality Link Party ** Thursday Linky Party at Osie Moats * Be Inspired by Elizabeth and Co.   * Tutorials and Tips on Home Stories A 2 Z   * I gotta try that   * Off The Hook Link Party  * The Winthrop Chronicles  * Open Call Tuesdays on Salt Tree * Adventures of a DIY MOM * Take a look Tuesday at Sugar Bee Crafts * Blackberry Vine Tuesday To Do Party  *  Coastal Charm * My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia  * Tip Junkie   

{W}*Riverton Housewives Round Up  *Adorned from Above *Well Crafted Wednesdays *What I Whipped Up Wednesdays * Homemade by You Wednesday * Whimsy Wednesdays * The Fun In Functional * What I learned Wednesday * Someday crafts 

{TH} * A Glimpse Inside  *  The Crafty Blogstalker * Made In a Day  * A Little Knick Knack * House of Hepworth's  * 52 Mantels *
 

{F} * Pin Me Link Party*The Create and Inspire Link Party*Craftionary Link Party *  Financial Friday Link Up with The Grant Life *  Sharing Saturday  *  The Chic and Crafty Party *  Fab Not Drab Fridays *  Shine on Fridays with One Artsy Mama  *  Friday Favs Party at Nap Time Crafters *  French Country Cottage * Serenity Now  * Tatertots and Jello * Chic On A Shoestring *  Decorating

{Sat}*Your Great Idea, Or so She Says *Saturday Show and Tell *Saturday Showcase *Overflowing With Creativity *YOU Inspire Link Party *Be Different Act Normal * Nifty Thrifty Things * I heart naptime * The Sweet Talk Shop * Funky Junk Interiors *  Twigg Studios * 

{Sun} *  Nifty Thrifty Things Sunday * DIY Showoff * The girl creative * By Stephanie Lynn * My 1929 Charmer Blog * Embellishing Life Everyday * Alderberry Hill * Homemaker On A Dime * Delectable Home * Everything Under The Moon * 

This is Me Self Portrait Link Party

The optional self portrait theme for July was 'the great outdoors'.

Last month, the theme was more of a 'task' were I asked you to take either a new self portrait or an old one and add an inspiring quote to your photograph.  This proved to be my favorite theme to date.

I loved all the quotes that were added to the pictures...

Ashlee from Two Baby Blue

And they stories they told.

Megan from Our Pinteresting Family

And the significance of the quote paired with the picture.

Janiene from A Bunch of Bishops

So, now it's your turn, come out from behind the camera and share your self portraits.

<div align="center"> <a href="http://whilewearingheels.blogspot.com/" title="While Wearing Heels" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnvvORsnwZfgA2wSfHxHbZ1YPUtCcVTVHuV01cKBzTC-q7ERQeucbVGOcFsjFcAtjm3K8GUu6_VHmUFDcl_Rp0DR4RigPdpuol1szkGPIEJbOUcZ3QGN_D9yOxbbuIXg5z_F-aQb7Hq2i/s1600/This+is+ME+-210.jpg" alt="While Wearing Heels" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Let's get this party started...here are our linky rules:

• There will be a link up here on the last Friday of every month this year, and the linky tool will remain open to your submissions until the last Friday of the next month.
• Please link back to the permalink for your *This Is ME* blog post or flickr image, not just the general url for your blog or flickr stream.
• Linked entries must be to a blog post or flickr image of your recent self-portraits, not just any old photo. Your photo does not have to relate to the optional monthly theme, but it does need to be a self-portrait.
• Please do link back here to my blog either through a text link, or with my button found below to help encourage others to participate and grow our community.
• And most importantly, be the encouragement you hope to receive and help build our self-portrait community! Please try to visit a few of the links of your fellow *This Is ME* participants and leave a nice comment--it only takes a few minutes and you may be inspired by what you see.

Well, that's it...now get linking everyone! I'll see you back here on Friday, August 2nd, for our August theme announcement, but in the meantime, keep showing us your stuff in the flickr pool.

Self Portraits - The Great Outdoors

The self portrait theme for July's link party (which starts tomorrow!) is the great outdoors. 

This summer, for the first time, I feel as if life is going by fast and time is passing quickly.  My sweet girl turned 5. 

 At the end of summer, she'll be going off to kindergarten.  

Kindergarten! 

More of her 'first' will be experienced without me.

So, when Grace wants to play fairy,

I'll proudly and happily put on a pair of wings and savor this time with her (even with a crazy dog photo bombing the picture).

I am making more of an effort to get in front of the camera and capture these moments with Grace.  I still don't like having my picture taken but I've realized, it's not about me.

This self portrait challenge, for me, is about Grace.  I want her to have plenty of pictures, that will trigger these memories of happy moments I cherished spending with her.   Life passes quickly. 

Even if you decide not to join the self portrait challenge, get in front of that camera and capture some of the moments you are making with those you love. 

Hope you see you back tomorrow.  Looking forward to seeing your self portraits.