The New Wardrobe Staple – Pink "Super Hero" Boots

August 9, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 5 Comments

I didn’t think it could get any worse…..

The New Wardrobe Staple - "Super Hero" Boots via lilblueboo.com

….but today she insisted on wearing them* in the pool.

The New Wardrobe Staple - "Super Hero" Boots in the pool via lilblueboo

*These are actually Croc rain boots…..but they should have marketed them as “super hero” boots. I picked them up at Marshall’s recently in the clearance section for $4. I would have bought every color if they had more!



Filed Under: Friends and Family, Life, My Picks, Toys and Accessories Tagged With: , , ,

Wagon Cover Tutorial

August 7, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 17 Comments
We love our classic red metal Radio Flyer wagon….but it gets SO hot in the summer and TOO cold in the winter. I made an easy reversible cover for it (the cover is much cuter than the old towels we were using for a while….and I needed to finally use this fabric for something).
Wagon Cover Tutorial via lilblueboo.com
You’ll have to measure your own wagon since they come in so many sizes, but I use my own measurements in this example:
Wagon Cover Tutorial step 1 via lilblueboo.com
Step 1: My wagon measures 36 inches long, 18 inches wide and 5 inches in height. Based on these measurements, I cut two large squares of coordinating fabric with the following dimensions: 51″ x 33″
X = length of wagon + (3 x height of wagon) = 36″ + (3 x 5″) = 51″
Y = width of wagon + 3 x height of wagon) = 18″ + (3 x 5″) = 33″
Wagon Cover Tutorial step 2 via lilblueboo.com
Step 2: I pinned the two pieces right sides together.
Wagon Cover Tutorial step 3 via lilblueboo.com
Optional step: If you want to round your corners to match your wagon shape, fold your pinned fabric in half and then in half the other way and cut all four corners slightly rounded so they match. Notch the edges to reduce bulk when it is turned right side out.
Wagon Cover Tutorial step 4 via lilblueboo.com
Step 3: Then I sewed all the way around the edges using a 1/2 inch seam. I stopped 4 inches from my starting point to leave a hole to turn the cover right side out. (Note: I drew a line all the way around using a disappearing ink pen to give me a line to follow…..I’m an impatient sewer so it lets me go fast!).
Wagon Cover Tutorial step 5 via lilblueboo.com
Step 4: Turn your cover right side out and iron all of the edges.
Wagon Cover Tutorial step 6 via lilblueboo.com
Step 5: Set your sewing machine to about a 6 or 7 stitch length and top stitch your cover 1″ from the edge ALL the way around. I draw this line with the disappearing ink pen as well. It just helps me keep all my lines REALLY straight.
Wagon Cover Tutorial step 7 via lilblueboo.com
Step 6: Measure the circumference of your wagon bed and multiply by 2/3. This is the length of 3mm elastic or elastic cord you will thread through the casing you just created.
For example: My elastic measurement was: 2 (Length + Height) x (2/3) = 2 x 54 x (2/3) = 72″
Wagon Cover Tutorial step 8 via lilblueboo.com
Step 7: Sew the elastic ends together when you get it pulled all the way through.
Wagon Cover Tutorial step 9 via lilblueboo.com
Step 8: Then top stitch your opening closed!
Wagon Cover Tutorial step 10 via lilblueboo.com
And you are done! If you want it a little more padded you can add a layer of cotton batting in between your two layers. The best part is that it is reversible too! When one side gets a little dingy I just reverse it.
Wagon Cover Tutorial finished via lilblueboo.com
It is kind of like a big fabric wagon shower cap!
Radio Flyer….are you listening? I’ve just invented your newest accessory.
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Filed Under: Kids Projects, Sewing, Things I've Made, Toys and Accessories, Tutorial Tagged With: , , , ,

OCD, my Coke Rewards, and I am SOOO NOT perfect…..

August 6, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 14 Comments

For example, today I was working on the cutest project and THEN I found an ant crawling around….THEN I found some juice spots on the floor…..THEN I remembered I missed my workout this morning to take the dog to the vet. So time stopped, I couldn’t function anymore. So for the last two hours I have been mopping, putting everything in its place, labeling some stuff that needed labeling, cleaning toilets and I won’t be able to get back to normal until the house is spotless and perfect, I am showered, finally eat some lunch and then my daughter will wake up from her nap. So….my cute little project tutorial that I was going to post will have to wait. (By the way, if you don’t have a Magnet mop, you are missing out….I actually enjoy mopping.)

OCD, my Coke Rewards, and I am SOOO NOT perfect via lilblueboo.com

I thought I’d share this so I don’t give a false impression. Yes, I get a ton accomplished during the day, but some of it is out of necessity to keep my life in order. I have some attention issues and I have very obsessive tendencies. It drives people nuts when I am adjusting the volume on the TV and I can’t stop until it is on an even number or on a multiple of 5. Mathematics and numbers rule many parts of my life. I clip coupons and sometimes spend 2 hours at the grocery store making sure I get every discount I can….then I keep a spreadsheet and do analysis on it. Then other days I won’t even think about coupons. AND…..when I mop the floor, I mop in a precise pattern of “quadrants” ;)
But every so often I’ll amaze myself with the details. I started collecting my coke rewards a few months back. So here is my question, which is worse: 
that I have enough magazine subscriptions to supply a doctor’s office
OR
that I drink enough diet coke to renew all of these magazine subscriptions with Coke rewards?

Filed Under: Life, Misc Tagged With: , ,

Hand-Sewn Ribbon-Top Curtain Tutorial (and using ribbon to pull a room together))

August 4, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 13 Comments
These are as easy as curtains get. I used ribbon to hang simple square curtains and then used the same ribbon throughout my daughter’s room to tie everything together (no, Sienna does not have a mural yet). I’ve also used this ribbon technique for shower curtains. Sienna doesn’t have an overhead light in her room, so I made her curtains so light would show through. In this tutorial I also include an option for adding a liner or blackout fabric.
Hand-Sewn Ribbon-Top Curtain Tutorial via lilblueboo.com
Here are some curtains in Sienna’s room, the lighting makes it hard to get a good photo.
Hand-Sewn Ribbon-Top Curtain Tutorial 2 via lilblueboo.com
Materials needed:
Fabric
Fabric lining or blackout layer (optional)
Coordinating thread and sewing needle
Ribbon
If you’ve never made curtains or drapes before, here is any easy tutorial I put together for the main curtain piece, I made it a download so you can print it off easily. You will need to create this piece/pieces first.
I like to hand stitch the sides of the curtains with a slipstitch like I show in the download. For me, the slip stitch looks nice and I think it is relaxing to do in front of the TV while I am catching up on my taped reality shows! Make sure to have some quilters beeswax (I use Dritz) on hand to run your thread through or you will be cursing the thread as it tangles!
Hand-Sewn Ribbon-Top Curtain Tutorial main curtain via lilblueboo.com
Once you have your main curtain pieces finished, sew 1/2 inch plastic drapery rings (you can find them in the drapery section of your fabric store) onto the main curtain piece about 1 inch down from the top edge. Space the rings out about 6 to 8 inches apart making sure that you have one ring at each corner.
Next for each plastic ring, you will need 30″ of ribbon. I like to use the kind with wire in it so I can shape the finished bow. Thread your ribbon through each loop like shown below:
For each ribbon, drape both ends over the curtain rod pointing away from you….
Hand-Sewn Ribbon-Top Curtain Tutorial hanging 1 via lilblueboo.com
Bring both ends of the ribbon around and tie in the front…..
Hand-Sewn Ribbon-Top Curtain Tutorial hanging 2 via lilblueboo.com
And then complete your bow!
Hand-Sewn Ribbon-Top Curtain Tutorial hanging 3 via lilblueboo.com
Cut the end of each bow into a “V” and add some Fray Check to the ends to keep them from unraveling.
Hand-Sewn Ribbon-Top Curtain Tutorial hanging 4 via lilblueboo.com
I used the rest of my ribbon around my daughter’s room to tie everything together. I added some ribbon to this bird cage on top of the hutch……
Hand-Sewn Ribbon-Top Curtain Tutorial extra ribbon via lilblueboo.com
….and made bows to decorate these Beatrix Potter-themed frames I put together (the bows are only decorative, the frames actually hang by themselves).
Hand-Sewn Ribbon-Top Curtain Tutorial extra ribbon 2 via lilblueboo.com
Let me know if you have any questions about making the curtains! Anyone can do this tutorial….

Filed Under: Downloads, Home Projects, Sewing, Tutorial Tagged With: , , , , , ,

What is the most random thing…..

August 3, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 10 Comments

…you’ve ever decorated with? The item that other people just don’t seem to understand…..but you just love it? Mine is this old framed vintage framed portrait I found in an antique store for $30 (Brett thinks I paid to much). It hangs in our master bathroom.

What is the most random thing you've decorated with? via lilblueboo.com
My husband thinks it is a little creepy. I’ll admit that sometimes late at night I think the children’s eyes move….
What is the most random thing you've decorated with? 2 via lilblueboo.com
The molding on the frame is falling off and cracking, but I think it adds character. I think I bought it mostly because I was sad that a family portrait was “lost” and for sale in an antique shop.
What is the most random thing you've decorated with? 3 via lilblueboo.com
I like to imagine the grand house this family portrait once hung in!
What is the most random thing you've decorated with? 4 via lilblueboo.com
Well, that is all for today. My house looks like a craft tornado came through. And I’ve got to come up with something to cook for dinner….

Filed Under: Home Projects, Misc, Photos Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Here’s an idea for all those "cash-for-clunkers" being turned in…..

August 3, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 5 Comments


Here's an idea for all those "cash-for-clunkers" being turned in via lilblueboo.com

Sienna loves painting this “bug” at our local discovery museum. I, on the other hand, love watching the cranky old man giving out the “booties” try to interact with the kids waiting to paint.

Filed Under: Friends and Family, Kids Projects, Life, Misc, My Picks, Painting, Recycled Tagged With: , , , , ,

More Crinkle Tag Toys

August 2, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 4 Comments
I guess babies DO love these! If you remember, I made these for two of my friends’ babies a while back (used them as present toppers). Monique asked me recently if I would make several more for her daughter.
More Crinkle Tag Toys via lilblueboo.com
Thanks to Julie at Joy’s Hope for the Baby Crinkle Tag Toy Tutorial!
More Crinkle Tag Toys for baby tutortial via lilblueboo.com
I love making these toys because I get to sort through my ribbon stash.

Filed Under: OPT, Sewing, Things I've Made, Toys and Accessories Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Generations – Brownie

August 1, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 5 Comments
I was looking for some teal thread this morning and found it in an old sewing kit that was my step-grandmother’s. I took a photo of the vintage thread spools….check out the beautiful colors she was using: teal, fuschia, dark pink, aqua! I wonder what she was sewing with them?! One of the spools says “15 cents”, another “30 cents” and another “60 cents”…..they are almost a sewing timeline.
Generations - Brownie via lilblueboo.com
When my grandmother Marjorie passed away in 1985 (I was in the 1st grade), my grandfather re-married to the most wonderful woman named Cynthia, who we called “Brownie.”
Generations - Brownie 2 via lilblueboo.com
Brownie and my grandfather “Paw-Paw“
Brownie was the most amazing cook (my husband would have chosen to eat dinner at my grandparents over any restaurant). One of my favorite things that she made was pickled cucumbers….. here is the recipe she wrote out for me:
Generations - Brownie pickled cucumbers via lilblueboo.com
My grandfather passed away in 2003 and Brownie passed away very soon afterwards. They spent 18 wonderful years together active in their church, traveling all over the world and bringing both of their families together for holidays and annual beach trips. As their house was being cleaned out, I came across Brownie’s sewing kit in the “to throw out” pile. I made sure no one else wanted it and I knew immediately that it was perfect for storing all my sewing tools……and that it would remind me of her.
Generations - Brownie pickled sewing kit via lilblueboo.com
Some of her tools have her initials “C.Y.” carved into them like this pattern marker.
Generations - Brownie pickled sewing tools via lilblueboo.com
Brownie was “lucky” (sarcastic) enough to experience the “worst” of my teenage years when I was rebellious and overly-independent. She was the most supportive, loving step-grandmother and accepted our family as her own.
That sewing kit brought back a ton of memories this morning!

Filed Under: Friends and Family, Life Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Fairy Forest Mural Paint Colors

July 29, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 4 Comments

I’ve had several emails asking what the paint colors were for my fairy forest mural, so here they are:

Fairy Forest Mural Paint Colors via lilblueboo.com

Images from Disney
For the pixie dust, I also used Rustoleum Glow-in-the-dark paint.
For the chalkboard, you can find the materials used at my Magnetic Chalkboard & Growth Chart post.
Also, the Disney website has some cute templates you can download here.
You can download the TV frame here.
Here is my cup that you can thrown change into ;)

Filed Under: Home Projects, Murals, Painting, Things I've Made Tagged With: , , ,

Making your own mural border template (and I added the large butterfly!)

July 29, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 11 Comments
I talked with a woman a few days ago about painting mural in her son’s room. She basically wanted the exact “waves” border shown in this photo on the Pottery Barn website:
Making your own mural border template via lilblueboo.com
Then she said the magic words “I just wish I could do it myself but I can’t figure out how.” Even though painting murals is a passion of mine, I love when people want to try it themselves, especially when it is a “doable” project like a simple border (which she had already received a bid of around $600 from someone else). I drew up a quick waves sketch and uploaded it to my favorite photo altering website to rasterize it into a “printable” template.
So here are the steps for making a border:
First I drew the waves using the Pottery Barn Kids photo as a guide. I draw in Powerpoint, which would make most people cringe (I got this weird habit from my days writing bond offering memorandums). You can just draw by hand and scan to your computer just as easily.
Making your own mural border template waves via lilblueboo.com
Then I placed two of the sketches side by side to make sure it looked okay as a continuous border.
Making your own mural border template waves 2 via lilblueboo.com
Then I uploaded it to the Homokaasu website and selected what size I wanted it to print out.
Note: Make sure to select “letter size” paper if you are printing at your home computer. It will print it out on 8.5″ x 11″ paper and you can piece it together like a puzzle.

Just in case anyone needs a wave stencil, you are in luck……below are the two I did for the woman that called for the mural. The small one prints out on 7 pages of paper, the larger one on 18 pages of paper.
This “rasterizing” process is the same I used for the butterfly chalkboard template in the fairy forest mural I painted a few months back!
Making your own mural border template butterfly via lilblueboo.com
I only had to do half the butterfly and then I flipped it over to trace the other side.
I went ahead and uploaded that one for you too. This one prints out on 20 pages of paper. Again you would piece it together like a puzzle and use packing tape for all the seams. I use a sharpie to draw around the border and then cut my template out. Email me if you have any questions!

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Filed Under: Downloads, Home Projects, Kids Projects, Painting, Printing/Stenciling, Things I've Made, Tutorial Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,