Crafty Links - Babycakes Approved

It's the Tuesday after a long weekend so I'm happy to jump right in with some fun links-

• While I enjoy a good Jake Gyllenhaal movie from time to time, this cross stitch creation posted on CrossStitcher is for only his biggest fans!

• Unfortunately this Etsy auction is over but this adorable crochet sewing machine, and assorted accessories, might be the cutest thing I've ever seen (by skymagenta)

• I love finding new scents of reed diffusers at Pier 1 but rather than spending all that extra cash, why not make them yourself with this fun tutorial from re-nest.com.

American Flag Dessert

As we all wrap up the work week and get ready for a long, holiday weekend - here is a simple idea for a healthy & festive holiday dessert for your Memorial Day picnic. 

I made this using blueberries, strawberries, Cool Whip and homemade angel food cake. You could also buy angel food cake at your local bakery, which is naturally fat free. Either way, it's easy to create this fun American flag dessert dish.

Whatever your plans this weekend, have a safe and healthy holiday!

Babycakes Book Recommendation

It's been a while since I've done a book recommendation and this post is a little different because I'm suggesting a book that hasn't even been released yet. How can I do that, you might ask? Because it's been written by previously featured artist, Dr. Grymm and his better half, Mrs. Grymm!

You can pre-order this book through the Amazon link above. Pre-order price is guaranteed and this book is available for FREE Super Saving Shipping. 

"Steampunk is a burgeoning counter-cultural movement; a genre, community, and art form. The Steampunk movement seeks to recapture the spirit of invention, adventure, and craftsmanship reminiscent of early-nineteenth century industrialization, in part, to restore a sense of wonder to a technology-jaded world.

Packed with 1,000 color photographs, 1,000 Steampunk Creations features a showcase of stunning jewelry, fashion, accessories, headgear, artwork, home decorations, and curious contraptions."

Looking for more information about Dr. Grymm? Dr. Grymm's alter ego, Joey Marsocci, proprietor of Dr. Grymm Laboratories, has been a freelance designer of theme park attractions, toys, puppets, graphic marketing, film props, and private consignments for over 18 years. His custom contraptions and sculptures have been seen in Steampunk exhibits and publications around the world, including the Steampunk Exhibit held at the Oxford University History of Science Museum in 2010 and The Cosmopolitan Hotel of Las Vegas, NV. He also hosts an annual Steampunk art show, Steampunk Bizarre, which takes place in Hartford, CT and is the feature artist of the 2010 documentary entitled I Am Steampunk.

Visit his website at: http://www.drgrymmlaboratories.net

Happy Hump Day

Things have been pretty hectic around here which leaves me little time for crafting. While I get sorted out with some new project ideas, I just want to wish you all a happy Wednesday!

Updates coming soon, I promise! 

Crafty Links - Babycakes Approved

Every Tuesday, I love to share links to projects I have found throughout the weeks - here goes! 

• This is a great idea that would work for Father's Day dessert as well - Key Lime Cake courtesy of The Lettered Cottage, who was kind enough to share this family recipe.

• I always enjoying catching up with the Pretty Petal Handmade blog but I might love it even more knowing she is obsessed with cupcakes as me!

• This fun twist on an old favorite is perfect for Springtime or any time this baseball season...perfect for an afternoon activity with the little ones, thanks to Come Together Kids

• This Hide-a-Roller-Shade tutorial is no joke from Libbie Grove Design - such talent!!

Father's Day Gift Ideas

As you already know, Father's Day is the next gift-giving holiday and if you are a crafter, then you are probably thinking of ideas already. 

I find it can be tougher to make gifts for men but it can be done! One of my favorite ideas is anything edible - it's always appreciated and doesn't sit around collecting dust like a coffee mug. This year, I may try making some chocolate covered pecans and dried apricots. My dad loves chocolate and this combination should be interesting. You can obviously use any combination of nuts and dried fruits such as raisins, dehydrated bananas or as I mentioned before, apricots. 

Here is a picture from Pelicangal from Oregan, courtesy of Allrecipes.com. She drizzled white chocolate over the top for a professional finishing touch. 

Another idea, which would perfectly combined with a case of imported beer or bottle of liquor, is coasters. You can make these using any number of materials. Tiles are an inexpensive starting point, that can be painted on or decoupaged, as long as you use sealer in case of beverage condensation. You could also try making your own from inexpensive back splash tile, available from Home Depot. I posted a tutorial recently on how to make tile coasters like these. 

Finally, you can find creative ways to pot plants or decorate planters for a cactus or bonsai tree. My mom and grandma love plants but I'm hardly going to buy my dad a tropical lily or hanging bleeding hearts hanging basket. 

This bamboo plants is available from Joe Bonsai, along with many other types of plants, in all sizes and prices. 

What are your Father's Day ideas and/or plans?

Farewell Macho Man Randy Savage

This might come as a surprise but some of my favorite childhood memories involve Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant and Randy "Macho Man" Savage competing in the wrestling ring. Today, sadly one of the last wrestling greats was taken from the world of sports so I want to dedicate this post to the Macho Man, who passed away in a car accident today. 

In his honor, I want to share this amazing wrestling cross stitch project from "KnickerTwist" on Craftster. 

RIP Macho Man.

Adventures in Sewing

Sometimes I find fabric and even though I don't know what I'm going to do with it, I have to have it. That was the case with this adorable cupcake fabric I found at Joann Fabrics. 

Since I'm trying to perfect my sewing skills, or at least get a little bit better, I bought a simple apron pattern and got to work. I used these fun, over-sized brown buttons that I saved from a ruined pair of corduroys, for decoration. Here is the finished product:

I am very happy with the way this turned out - so happy that I refuse to cook in it! Instead I will wear this when I go to craft fairs, especially since the front pocket will be very convenient to hold change. It's not exactly a difficult project but I'm proud of my novice sewing skills.

More Geeky Crafts

As I mentioned last week, May is Geeky Crafts month. Since I have a busy day ahead of me, I won't be able to work on any projects today so I wanted to share the work of some talented & crafty geeks out there. 

This amazing Pac-man pillow is a one of a kind creation from "talking trash and wasting time" that she was kind enough to share on Flickr.

In honor of my hubby, who loves to play Angry Birds - you can actually buy the pattern for these cute little amigurumi Angry Birds characters. Picture from GadgetSin.com

And one of my favorite projects, even though they have long been sold on Etsy by diffractionfiber, is a unique set of Control-Alt-Delete pillows. How fun!

Have you made any geeky crafts in honor of this month?

Crafty Links - Babycakes Approved

Another rainy day here in New England, so let me try to brighten things up with some crafty links!

• Here's a good way to bring some sunshine into your day - check out this amazing tutorial on How to Make a Sunburst Mirror by Jessica from Decor Adventures

• In honor of my dear friend Dr. Grymm, here is a Steampunk link - How to Make Easy Glass Eyeballs for Steampunk Projects from Craftzine

• I'm having a little "craft envy" lately - everywhere I look, ladies are creating amazing things with the Silhouette SD. Check out the adorable cards that RW Krafts created with hers.

• And finally, I've seen many decoupage shoe projects, all of which I am too chicken to try myself but check out this pair of decoupage pumps from The Diary of Dave's Wife. Amazing results!

Modge Podge Monday

It's been a while since I've done a Modge Podge Monday post but with all the wonderful creations you can make with Modge Podge, I thought it was time for another!

Let me start by directing you to the Modge Podge Rocks website where Amy is giving away a Modge Podge starter kit, with 5 different types of Modge Podge, from glitter to matte - you don't have to do anything crazy, just comment on the post. You'll want to visit her blog often as there are always fun projects and great tips!

This next project makes me glad that Bunch didn't throw out the extra roll of raffle tickets we had laying around the garage. There are a couple different variations but all you need is tickets, Modge Podge and a little free time. Most of the ones I've seen are red but this blue bowl is very cool - from Domestic in the City.

Not to toot my own horn but one of my favorite Modge Podge projects is something that I use every week. Even though I have not sold any of these - I love my decoupage clipboard!

I love the vegetable fabric and it reminds me to make sure I buy healthy food when I'm at the grocery store. I used a clear clipboard and applied the fabric to the back, with the colorful design showing through. I've seen clipboards that are decoupaged on the front but that makes the surface difficult to write on. You can find clear clipboards like this at Staples for around $5. 

Do you have any fun Modge Podge projects that you would like to share? Please leave a comment or send me an email.

Fabric Decoupage Bangle Bracelet

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a tutorial on how to make decoupage bracelets with magazine cut-outs and with tissue paper. Here is a twist on that tutorial - using fabric strips instead. 

Here are my starting supplies - an inexpensive bangle bracelet (kids size), strips of flowered fabric, scissors, white fleece to add shape and Modge Podge (not shown).

I started by adding a strip of white fleece to the outside of the bracelet to give it some extra padding, so it won't require as much fabric to build it up. Don't worry about cutting too carefully, just make sure the ends meet up and the whole top of the bracelet is covered. 

I use my hands for the next part, even though it is messy - start covering the fabric strips in Modge Podge (in plastic cup above) and cover the bracelet. Smooth over the edges with extra Modge Podge and keep going until you get the desired look. 

When you are finished, you can cover any edges on the inside of the bracelet with a piece of 3/4 ribbon. I used a fuchsia colored ribbon and covered it in Modge Podge to adhere. You may have to run your finger along the inside a few times, to make sure it covers all edges and looks smooth. 

For a finishing touch, I added a few cloth white flowers, attached with Tacky Glue. 

I was very pleased with the way this project turned out - it would make a great gift and it's an easy afternoon project. If you are interested in this particular bracelet, please visit my Etsy store. 

The Streak is Broken...

As many of you know, and were inconvenienced by, Blogger was down for over 20 hours between Thursday and Friday. Which means that even though I've been doing my best job to post daily, the streak was broken.

While I was bummed, I guess the important lesson is that sometimes things will prevent me from delivering fun craft projects (both my own and others) but in the meantime, I realized that I really like writing this blog!

Even though I don't always have new projects, I like that I can connect with other craft-minded people for inspiration and for feedback. I also like sharing my projects with people besides Bunch. Although he's always supportive, I can't imagine it's interesting for him to hear about yet another decoupage project? ☺

This weekend, I'm hoping to have some time to work on new projects, as well as a tutorial or two for future posting. Between Easter, Mother's Day and all of the construction going on in our bedroom, I feel like I haven't had much time to work in my craft room so I'm super excited to have some girl-time (and to get some sleep!).

What are your plans for the weekend? 

Project of the Day

For some reason, I am beyond tired today so I will leave you with this hysterical cross stitch project of the dearly departed Billie Mays while I try to stop yawning! I found this on Craftster by Look What Emily Made.

Happy Hump Day!

Crafty Links - Babycakes Approved

I can't believe it's already Tuesday! Let's jump right into some fun links...

• Words I never thought I'd hear - Cake-filled Chocolate Covered Strawberries. I don't know if I'm brave enough to try these but YUM!

• Perhaps you are like me and have a ton of usable fabric scraps but you're not sure what to make with them? This wikiHow article may help you get some ideas...

• Since I'm knee deep in cleaning out our walk-in closet, these 5 ideas for Revamping a Tee-shirt from Dollar Store Crafts will certainly help me out (when I have the time, of course)

• I have no choice but to send you all to the Lucy Lou Creations shop on Etsy - this stacking doll pillow is just a teaser of all the cute things available!

Hope everyone is having a great week so far!

May is Geeky Crafts Month!

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I didn't know May was Geeky Crafts month, being that I am both a crafter and a geek ☺

Here are a few of my favorite geeky crafts to celebrate this fun month -

Digitalsoaps on Etsy created this XBox controller out of soap! Also available in Playstation controllers, with multiple colors and scents. Be sure to stop by their store for more...

This Dr. Who scarf pattern is so popular that it has its own website! 

This set of amigurumi Firefly cast dolls is too cute for words. Made by artoo1121 - featured on Craftster.

And finally - adorable little ball mittens to turn your baby into a real-life Wii character. Find out how to make them from Knitty.com.

How are you celebrating Geeky Crafts Month?

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day from Babycakes Crafts!

To all the moms, grandmas, great grandmas, moms-to-be, step-moms and all the wonderful women who are celebrating today - enjoy!

Deal of the Day

Today has been a blur of errands and Mother's Day crafting. I picked up my bridesmaid dress for the July wedding of two of our close friends - luckily it needs no alterations and it's beautiful. The bride was kind enough to let us all pick our own style dress, in a gorgeous Horizon blue. 

Of course, David's Bridal is so close to Joann Fabrics that I had no choice but to go in! Actually I needed some elastic ribbon but for anyone who knows me, I had to stop by the 50% off remnant bin. 

I found some adorable cotton monkey fabric, a green & blue light flannel checkered fabric, cotton blue vine fabric, shiny brown see-thru with turquoise flowers and a shiny black, purple and pink polyester blend with sequins. 

The friendly cashier even pointed out what good deals I got. For about $5.20, I purchased all this material - saving approximately $25.50 (regular prices). I told her "sometimes I buy fabric for a particular project and sometimes the fabric picks me." So while I'm not sure what I will be making with these pieces yet, I know I'll be happy to have them around.

Back to my Mother's Day gifts, I have a second coat of paint to work on and some hand scrub...

Crafty Weekend Plans

It should come as no surprise that my weekend crafting plans involve Mother's Day gifts! I will be attempting to make the following projects, hopefully with fabulous results. 

Since we usually buy plants for our mom's, I thought it would be fun to make a knock-off of these adorable planters from Amazon: 

These little guys are $120 but I'm guessing that with some chalkboard spray paint, a few inexpensive Terra-cotta planters and chalk - I should be able to make 2 for less than $12. 

And I've bought all the ingredients to make some yummy hand scrub too. Hopefully mine will come out half as cute as this jar by DIY Beauty. 

Lastly, I would like to bake something fun and special (if time should allow) but I'm not sure what yet...

Is there any chance I can come up with anything this cute though? These fancy cupcakes were shared by The Caffeinated Globe. 

What kind of fun & crafty projects are you working on this weekend?

Embellished Wood Picture Frame

Here is a fun and easy tutorial, a follow-up to the gift basket I delivered this week, on how to make a customized frame as a gift for just about anyone. 

I went to my happy place - Joann Fabrics - and found a fun, inexpensive frame to start with (always remember to bring your 40% off coupon!) and a wood cutout of the word "Angel". You can use any cutout word that you like or buy single wood letters to spell anything you want. 

I started by going to a well-ventilated area and spray painting the Angel cutout in a light purple. 

Before

After

While that sat outside and dried, I went to work on the actual frame. I used just a bit of fine sandpaper to make sure it was nice and smooth before painting. 

 

Once the frame and cutout was dry, I affixed them together with wood glue and decided that the frame needed a little something extra, without going overboard. Yes, I have the tendency to add a ton of glitter or colorful gems to whatever project I am working on. But in this case, the recipient was described as a little less flashy so I went with a very simple angel in the corner. Using a purple gem for the head and drawing the wings and body with a white paint pen, it looked exactly as I had hoped!

And finally, the finished product...

Today is the birthday of the girl that I made this for so I hope she enjoys her gift basket and has a wonderful day!

Bedroom Decor Wish List

For those of you who have been following along, I have been talking about the improvements we've been having done to our bedroom. The popcorn textured ceiling has been replaced with a smooth finish ceiling, we added a fun, blue accent wall, repainted the rest of the room in a calming, muted cucumber color and had new carpet installed yesterday.

As Bunch and I start moving back into our bedroom, I thought today was a good day to daydream a little, if for no other reason than to take my mind off the rain. Here are a few luxury items from my faux wish list that I would love to own, to add some style to our new set up...

This Pottery Barn bench wouldn't match because our headset is brushed nickel but how cute does it look at the foot of this bed? ($399)

While I don't know if Bunch would go for this, this room divider is perfectly chic & funky! ($100)

And it's double-sided! 

(Oriental Furniture) 

I guess now is a good time to admit that I adore Pier 1 - all seasons, all the time - I just do. And I've been on the hunt for a storage trunk like this one... ($249)

But only if I can use it to store this adorable hippie throw blanket.

 

And finally, because I just can't help myself - I think this little ivy side table/stool from Home Infatuation would match the arch picture on our accent wall. ($399)

So there you have it, if money and matching were of no concern to me, one or more of these items might have ended up in our new bedroom. Luckily, I find more joy out of a good bargain hunting session but it's still fun to see some of the unique home furnishings out there.

Crafty Links - Babycakes Approved

It's Tuesday so I won't waste any time - here are your fresh & hot crafting links!

• This might sound weird but I have been looking for a stand-up coat rack for some time now. I have found that I either don't like the style or they are far too expensive. I'm not sure if I'm handy enough to make this wooden coat rack but voila - problem solved, thanks to Stephanie@Home

• Here is an idea I never would have thought of; turning one of those red Dixie cups (oh, the college memories I have) into a fun and completely original necklace tutorial by Rhonda at Dollar Store Crafts

• I love finding a fun and easy 'knock-off' tutorial, like this one that shows how to make a Ruler Growth Chart, similar to one you would find at Pottery Barn., from 517 Creations. Even the numbering was exactly like a real ruler!

•  And finally today, I would like to share a picture of these amazing MOM cookies I saw earlier, courtesy of Mega-Crafty - just in time for Mother's Day this weekend:

Don't you just love this idea? Her instructions were very easy to follow. I hope you all are having a great week so far!

Craft Fairs vs Flea Markets

Even though I normally love Mondays, today has just beaten me up! It started off well enough but when I opened my washing machine after the first load of clothes this morning - I realized that the brightly colored place mats I had recently salvaged from my Nana's house had run all over each other. No longer looking like fun fiesta decor, they now looked like I had let a small child near them with a box of markers.

My day didn't necessarily get any worse so that's good. I delivered the birthday gift that our subcontractor had ordered and he was thrilled with the results. His girlfriend's birthday is in 3 days so I can't wait to hear what he says after that!

Here's my question for all of you today - it was suggested to me that I try selling my crafts at a flea market. I've thought about it before but usually talk myself out of it thinking that everyone will try to haggle with me and I'll see my hard work sell out along with my spirit. What do you think? 

Have you sold your crafts at flea markets? How are they different than the average outdoor craft fair in the spring/summer? Do you have any tips or suggestions? Please let me know in the comments section - I'm going to post this question on Twitter too and I'll update with any great advice I get...

Personalized Angel Birthday Gift

Sometimes craft orders come from the strangest places - recently we've been doing some work on our house and the subcontractor asked if I could make a birthday gift for his girlfriend. He mentioned that she liked angels and asked me to create a pillow to match this Amazing Grace plate - 

I didn't include any tutorial tips with the pillow because I figure those are easy enough to come by.

A view of the embellishments from the top.  

He happened to mention that her favorite color is purple and her nickname is Angel so I created a personalized frame for a picture of the cute couple. I am going to post a mini-tutorial of this soon. 

Trying to think ahead, I decided I should take of the gift wrapping for him as well. I managed to be done way ahead of deadline (tomorrow) and I think he'll be pleased that the wrapping is done. 

I hope this Babycakes creation is a hit - I'll be sure to let you know how she liked it!